Enter the Sansons, the executioner family of France for it is through their eyes that the story of Innocent Rouge is framed.

Those familiar with the French Revolution may think they know what they're in for when reading this series but you would be wrong. Despite adhering to the historical events as they took place in actual fact, the mangaka Sakamoto puts his own spin on things utilizing some of the most creative and imaginative visual metaphors I have ever seen in the medium. By heightening the drama of these already dramatic historical events through the use of over-the-top characters and wildly creative non-linear storytelling sensibilities Sakamoto has created a real page turner as I never once knew what was coming next despite my knowledge of the French Revolution. Personalities and pre-existing character quirks from these historical figures are dialed up to 100 so you know you're in for a wild ride here. Moreover, while these characters are definitely larger than life that isn't to say they are lacking in depth. In fact with some of these characters, Marie-Josèph in particular, there is a remarkable degree of complexity.

The first thing one will notice about Innocent Rouge is without a doubt the art, which has been so meticulously rendered in loving detail. The sumptuous, gorgeous depictions of the aristocrats juxtapose so well against the abject poverty of the working class. The realistic art inspires both awe and horror as equal effort is put toward depicting the riches of the world of the royals as to the carnage and gore of the world of the executioners. Sakamoto makes use of multiple wildly varied art-styles throughout Innocent Rouge in order to make full use of the capabilities of the manga medium. For example, the main art style used in the series is a hyper-realistic one presumably making use of 3d models and/or photography to achieve, however Sakamoto also uses a moe-fied anime style on some occasions in order to drive home certain points. This clash of styles would likely lead to tonal whiplash in the hands of a less experienced author but in the case of Innocent Rouge the shifting art styles is used to great effect, whether it's seamlessly transitioning into a musical number in the middle of a sword fight or being transported to a Japanese high-school in the midst of a mental breakdown it all just works.

There's a lot of powerful themes on display in Innocent Rouge, freedom or the lack thereof, injustice, power imbalance, the gap between the rich and poor and also feminism. These themes are primarily told through the lens of the Sanson siblings but the narrative also shifts on occasion to the supporting cast which offers a fresh and often starkly different viewpoint. As mentioned before the art in this series is fantastic and the visual imagery on display does wonders to reinforce these themes that are explored in the series.

As a whole this manga was an absolute joy to read but if I had to make one critique of it it's that the characters do not appear to age. Charles-Henri looks the same in his 20's as he does in his 40's with not a single wrinkle on his face which detracts from other more realistic parts of the story (I get it, Sakamoto wants to make these characters look beautiful but come on at least give them a couple wrinkles). With gorgeous art and dynamic characters, Innocent Rouge is a feast for the eyes and the mind as it offers up some fascinating commentary on modern society that shine through despite the historical theme. I highly recommend this series for those with even a modicum of interest in the French Revolution or just someone who enjoys reading a serious story told in an unserious way.