Wolfsmund

Wolfsmund
Cover of volume 1 of Vertical edition
狼の口 〜ヴォルフスムント〜 (Ōkami no Kuchi: Vorufusumundo)
Genre	historical, fantasy
Manga
Written by	Mitsuhisa Kuji
Published by	Enterbrain
English publisher	Vertical
Demographic	seinen
Magazine	Fellows!/harta
Original run	2009 – 2015
Volumes	7

Wolfsmund (狼の口 〜ヴォルフスムント〜, Ōkami no Kuchi: Vorufusumunto) is a Japanese historical fantasy seinen manga series written and illustrated by Mitsuhisa Kuji.^[1] Published by Enterbrain, it's serialized on Fellows!/harta (ja) magazine since 2009,^[2] with seven volumes compiling the chapters released.^[1] The seventh volume concluded the run of the manga.^[3] It's published in English by Vertical^[2] and in French by Ki-oon.^[1]

Plot and Volumes

The story of Wolfsmund is a retelling of the rebellion started by the legendary William Tell. The story revolves around the oppression that took place in the Middle Ages in the middle cantons (states) of Switzerland. During this time, three cantons (the Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden) formed an "Eternal Alliance" that promised a military alliance for defense between the three cantons. The main source of fear for the cantons came from the feudal lords of Austria, the Habsburg.

The three cantons had their own independent states surrounding the St. Gottard Pass, an important mountain pass that created an efficient traveling shortcut between Germany and Italy. Each of the cantons ruled and managed their own section of the Gottard Pass, and made lots of revenue from charging merchants and travelers en route.

Starting mid-13th century, the rich and powerful feudal Habsburgs began fighting central Swiss cantons to gain sole control over the profitable Gottard Pass and the lands around it. Thus a rebellion began between the much poorer cantons against the highly powerful Habsburgs.

Wolfsmund takes place in the early 1300s, with the oppression by Austria well under way, led by Duke Leopold I. It is explained that he has already captured all three cantons, and now works to destroy any resistance, with the resistors and protesters facing harsh consequences, most often death or torture.

The Duke's partner in crime is Bailiff Wolfram, a cruel and merciless man who oversees the barrier station Wolfsmund, a passing station that checks for travel permits. Those attempting to sneak through without a permit are subject to harsh punishments sentenced by Wolfram, who always wears a cruel smile on his face.

Wolfsmund is the unapologetic stories of those unfortunate enough to be tracked by Leopold or caught at Wolfsmund by Wolfram.

• Volume 1 (February 15, 2010;^[4] English: July 2, 2013)^[5]
• Volume 2 (October 15, 2010;^[6] English: October 29, 2013)^[7]
• Volume 3 (November 15, 2011;^[8] English: January 14, 2014)^[9]
• Volume 4 (September 15, 2012;^[10] English: April 15, 2014)^[11]
• Volume 5 (October 15, 2013;^[12] English: August 12, 2014)^[13]
• Volume 6 (October 14, 2014;^[14] English: March 31, 2015)^[15]
• Volume 7 (November 14, 2015;^[16] English: March 22, 2016)^[17]

Reception

On Anime News Network, Rebecca Silverman gave volume 1 an overall grade of B, calling it "brutal", saying that it "pulls few punches and hits you in the gut" and recommending it to "fans of historical fiction that pays attention to the history or those looking for some well done seinen".^[18] Also on Anime News Network, Silverman gave volume 6 an overall grade of A-, calling it "harsh and difficult...and still nearly impossible to put down."^[19] On manga-news.com, the series has a staff rating of 17.33 out of 20.^[1]

References

External links

• Wolfsmund (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia