The first volume of Claymore ended with a half-finished flashback arc, those episodes, depicting Claire's heart wrenching and tragic past and her doomed companionship with Theresa, took the fledgling series to new heights. Volume Two concludes this arc, resulting in some most gripping storytelling in modern day anime. The viewer knows Clarie and Theresa are doomed, but the ending still leaves you awestruck and breathless. The remainder of the volumes episodes take us back to the present, with new found admiration and investment in Claire. The "organization" assigns Claire to accompany a small group of Claymores who are seeking out an awakened being said to be living in a remote mountain pass.
It is very interesting seeing how the other Claymores interact with each other, we learn that each Claymore has a number ranking, and needless to say Claire's ranking is a bit of a surprise. In several episodses leading up to the inevitable battle are very compelling, we see Claire in a completely different light than the powerful heroine we are used to, she is a misfit; vulnerable and mistreated by her peers. Along with plot and character development, the action has improved significantly from the first volume, it is much more visceral and graphic, and while the technical issues I spoke of in my review for the first volume persist, they are less noticeable. Also, while they are working for the moment, the series introduction of shonen elements could be a problem down the road.
That being said this volume of Claymore raises the series into a definate must see staus, its dynamite.
Grade: A Reviewed: Vol 2 (episodes 6-10) Format: English Dub, DVD
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