With game releases about every other year, a movie, and a handful of spin-off games and comics, the Assassin’s Creed franchise lore has grown into quite a beast over the last decade. This week is adding yet another piece of media to the ever-growing collection with the first volume of a new manga called Assassin’s Creed: Blade of Shao Jun.
The new manga, which is written and drawn by Minoji Kurata and published by Viz Media in partnership with Ubisoft, focuses on one of the characters from Assassin’s Creed Chronicles. As the title pretty clearly explains, the book puts Shao Jun in the spotlight and focuses on the assassin’s quest for revenge and retribution. Players who haven’t played Chronicles: China (or who don’t remember the details) may be a bit confused about when this all takes place and how it fits into the grander Assassin’s Creed timeline. Not to worry, the manga’s place in the franchise lore is actually pretty simple.
Before diving into the details, this is a spoiler warning for the events of Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China. The events of the game and the Shao Jun manga are closely connected, so some plot details will have to be shared to explain when and where the new comic book falls in the franchise timeline…
Blade of Shao Jun volume one kicks off in 1526 AD, as Shao Jun is returning to China on her mission to defeat the Eight Tigers, who are responsible for wiping out the Chinese Brotherhood and leaving Shao Jun as the last remaining assassin in China. The book actually seems to be a straight adaptation of parts of Chronicles: China, picking up right as Shao Jun arrives and begins hunting the Eight Tigers. That means that in terms of lore, the series is likely going to cover many of the same events as the game and just add some details by fleshing out side characters, motivations, and givers readers a bit of a closer look at Shao Jun.
“1526 AD—China is ruled by the Great Ming Empire. Though the empire flourishes, the winds of the new emperor’s political purge are sweeping over the land, and turmoil is brewing. With the decimation of her comrades, Shao Jun has become China’s last Assassin. After escaping to Europe, she has now returned alone to her homeland. Her purpose: vengeance!”
Fans who were hoping to cover brand new territory with this manga may be a little disappointed that it is a retread of something one of the game’s has already covered, but hopefully some of the additional details offer enough of a fresh perspective to make the read worth it. It’s also possible that future volumes could branch off into other side missions and new adventures that players will not have experienced in Chronicles. The manga is available now, so interested Shao Jun fans can pick it up and read Minoji Kurata’s take on the character.
Assassin’s Creed: Blade of Shao Jun is available now at comic book stores and other book distributors.
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