Innocents Shounen Juujigun

The Crusade of the Innocents is an extremely delicate subject to address, all the more so for an Orthodox Christian like myself, given what the narrative conveys—particularly on a theological and historical level, which, let us be honest, is deeply problematic. Nevertheless, I will attempt to express my thoughts with sincerity and restraint. Art: 8.5 / 10 Artistically speaking, Usamaru Furuya’s style is immediately recognizable. While remaining grounded in a certain realism, there is something profoundly unsettling in the gaze of his characters. Their large eyes sometimes seem devoid of humanity, creating an uncanny valley effect that is both fascinating and disturbing. The artwork is magnificent and visuallydense, often filled with intricate details. Some scenes, occasionally raw or violent, may nevertheless unsettle certain readers, whether through depictions of death or other deliberately harrowing moments. Story: 7 / 10 Development: 8 / 10 Characters: 10 / 10 It is very clearly on a narrative level that this manga proves divisive. The line is thin between those who will see in it a powerful and tragic story, and those who will judge it excessively disturbing—a reaction I fully understand. Having already encountered Usamaru Furuya’s narrative style, it is true that the blending of explicit sexual immorality with sacred and deeply religious Christian elements can be deeply off-putting. Without delving into plot details in order to avoid spoilers, I nonetheless perceived many parallels between Étienne’s journey and that of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and I believe these connections are entirely intentional. In order to clarify my point, it is necessary to briefly recall the broad outline of the story. We follow a deeply tragic narrative centered on a young child designated as the “Son of God”—a title which, in Christian tradition, applies solely to Christ Himself. This child is entrusted with a mission: to deliver Jerusalem, accompanied by his “twelve apostles” and the Children’s Crusade. Yet this journey, which begins under seemingly favorable circumstances, leads only to an ever-growing succession of tragedies. These children suffer the full force of the ignominy and perversity of the adult world: between those who seek to exploit them for personal glory and those who wish to satisfy their most sordid impulses—Hugo being the most chilling example. Étienne’s twelve “apostles” are the first victims of this violence, forced into catastrophic choices simply to survive, torn apart by jealousy, hatred, pride, and fear. The story also addresses intra-religious conflicts that, in different forms, still exist today, notably through the Vaudois and the Cathars. And all of this leads, inevitably, to a sacrifice. Yet despite the many theological inconsistencies—there can be no second Son of God—and historical inaccuracies—the Vaudois and the Cathars never fought one another, the latter in fact criticizing the Catholic Church—I cannot help but read this manga as a kind of pseudo-allegory of Christ’s ministry, viewed through a purely human lens. Where Christ is both fully man and fully God, Étienne and the other children are merely human beings: fallible, sinful, fragile. The story thus highlights the impossibility for man alone to bear a burden that exceeds his condition. The children—and Étienne in particular—carry upon their shoulders an immense weight that only Christ can bear without faltering. Certain events within the manga, notably unexplained miracles, further reinforce this symbolic reading. Yet where this fictional story leads only to disaster and unjust tragedy, the life of Christ—and above all His crucifixion followed by His resurrection—led to our liberation. Through the sacrifice of the Absolute Innocent, He who committed no sin, Christ bore upon the Cross the sins of humanity, so that “whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:15). Conclusion Some will undoubtedly think that this reading is excessive, or even that I am overreaching—and I can understand that. But if this story moves you, if it troubles you through its injustice and cruelty—and I sincerely recommend it, for it is truly unique and emotionally powerful—then I invite you to learn more about Christ, who died for us so that we might truly live. Amen.