'Joan' is a Japanese manga comic that is based on, wouldn't you know it, Joan of Arc. It was published in 2001 and has a rating of 5 1/2 stars according to Amazon. The author, Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, is a manga artist, animation director and character designer. He is best known for Mobile Suit Gundam, Crusher Joe, and Venus Wars. He also went on to create such manga series as Arion, Venus Senki, Namuji, Niji Iro No Trocky, Kurudo No Hoshi, C Koto, Odo No Inu, Jannu and Jesus.
Set during the Hundred Years war between the nation France and England, the story follows a young girl, Emil of Lorraine. She is raised as a boy by the man who helped Joan of Arc and shares the same powers as Joan, but doesn't see saints just of Joan herself (As the story takes place 11 years after she was burned). Emils sets off to follow in Joan's foot steps and gains the same resolve to lead France under the rule of God. But Emil is opposed by Louis, the 17 year old dauphin. The dauphin, sees his father, King Charles, going soft and wants to seize power of the throne for himself.
The artwork with full-color watercolor panels are just so gorgeous. I have never seen a manga like this one! The characters are wonderfully inked with very realistic shading and tones. The series may be only three books long but with the story line and the art work, the is no doubt in my mind that lovers of Joan of Arc and The Hundred Years War would not appreciate this manga.
