Is There Ever A Valid Reason For A Character Makeover (Ragnarok Manhwa)?

What is the reason why some of the characters in Ragnarok: Into The Abyss manhwa changed their outfits and looks? Is this a valid or pointless reason?

We first see some of the characters of the graphic novel change their outfits in Volume 8.

This seemed to have come from out of the blue and completely without rhyme or reason because we've already spent about 7 volumes getting used to how these characters look.

We're practically in the middle of the series already (especially considering that the manhwa abruptly ends in volume 10), so, if one or some of them was going to change their look, then it should have happened much earlier. What's wrong and what could possibly be the problem with this change in the getup of some of the characters?

First of all, upon initially being introduced to a character, readers start getting to know this person. Readers will begin to get used to the character's outfit, looks, hairstyle, weapons and the like, so much so that, when this person shows up, there is no question or doubt as to his or her identity because it's easy to tell right away who this person is.

However, if things abruptly change and seemingly without reason, then this just comes across as extremely unbelievable. Let's take a look at a good example of a believable character makeover.

We can see this in the anime and manga series called Card Captor Sakura by CLAMP.

In the aforementioned series, we see the main character, Sakura Kinomoto, is pretty much always changing her resident outfit though she does have a few regular staples.

But why is this not a problem? Why is it that people wouldn't and shouldn't mind if Sakura wears a different costume every time she goes off to capture the Clow Cards?

This is because we are given a valid and believable reason as to why she has to wear different costumes all the time. Furthermore, this costume change doesn't happen in the middle of the series. We see this occurring even in the early parts of the show, so we've come to expect that this is how it goes in this particular anime.

Moreover, even though Sakura's outfits constantly change, her look remains the same, ensuring that readers of the manga and viewers of the anime will always recognize her. This is especially so since her hairstyle doesn't really change and she pretty much looks the same as always, only with a different outfit in each episode.

In contrast to that, let's take a look at Iris Irine and Fenris Fenrir who both undergo a complete and total makeover. With regards to these 2, there is such a drastic change not just in their choice of clothing, but even in their hair style that it makes it difficult to recognize these 2 at first. With how they look right now, it almost seems as if they're new characters.

The question now is why? Why is it necessary for these 2 to change their outfit and looks? Why do they have to look different? What was wrong with how they used to look? Did they have to change their outfits because their fight with Bijou and her troll caused much damage to their old clothing?

This is possible since we did see how damaged and torn their clothing were. However, what was wrong with getting those clothes fixed instead or even just buying clothes that were similar to the ones they always wear? Why the need to change the way their clothes look?

And what about their hair style? Why would there be a need to change that as well?

If you look at it in that way, it's hard to see why there's a need for either of these women to undergo such a drastic makeover.

They were already perfectly recognizable before as readers got to know them and how they looked for the past volumes.

But now, thanks to all these changes, there is a need to get used to these characters all over again.

Could this makeover be just an excuse to give existing characters new clothes and new hairstyles for no clear reason? After all, it's not like their new outfits gave them special powers or something.

Perhaps, if the new clothes were actually special, it would make for a very good reason as to why the 2 ladies had to change their outfits. As it is though, this whole makeover just comes across as completely pointless and useless.

Moreover, even if you can somehow attribute Iris and Fenris' makeover as being due to the fact that their former outfits sustained much damage during their fight with Bijou and her troll (though that wouldn't explain the need to change their hair styles), how can anyone possibly explain Skurai's sudden and unexpected makeover?

Skurai was not part of the fight against Bijou and her troll or even against Sara Irine and Himmelmez.

We never see him get his clothes torn or damaged. In fact, it's more likely that he would be the one to destroy other people's outfits as opposed to getting his own destroyed.

So what's the reason for his makeover? Why the sudden need to change his hairstyle and even his clothing?

At the moment, his new look comes across as more than a bit disconcerting, disturbing and even unappealing.

Simply put, he doesn't seem to look right at all. He looks very strange and odd and weird. If there's no real good reason for him to change his hairstyle and his clothes, then why do that? What's the point of his makeover?

What do you think of the 3 aforementioned characters' makeovers? Do you like their new looks and hairstyles? Do you think there's a good reason why they had to do this or was this just an excuse for the characters to look different and sport new clothing and hair styles?

*Notes:
- Image with added text was modified by Freya Yuki based on the image by Rusembell (CC:BY) from deviantArt
- Image is meant to symbolize the changes in a character's looks and outfits
- The rest of the pics are enlarged product images from Amazon.com; links shown above via Amazon's Native Shopping Ads widget

What's Wrong With The Fenris Fenrir, Iris Irine, And Bijou Fight (Ragnarok Manhwa)?

In Ragnarok: Into The Abyss manhwa, we see Fenris Fenrir and Iris Irine battling against Bijou. What could possibly be wrong with this fight scene?

The fight between the aforementioned women starts in Volume 5 and is continued in Volume 6.

Needless to say, the fight is quite long and drawn-out (but let's not focus too much on that as there is already a post that discusses the seemingly never-ending fight scenes in this comic).

Let's take a look at some of the things that make this fight rather frustrating and even aggravating (aside from how long it is).

Fenris Fenrir and Iris Irine are teamed up for this fight, but Bijou isn't outnumbered because she has a troll to help her. Why is it that either Fenris or Iris have the tendency to just stand there, watch and do nothing while the other is busy battling the troll or Bijou?

For instance, in Chapter 49 of Volume 6, we see Fenrir just standing by and watching. But why? Why isn't she doing anything? Why isn't she helping her friend? Why can't the two women work hand-in-hand together in order to defeat Bijou and her troll?

We later on see that Bijou has almost gotten to the Heart of Ymir, but if the 2 main characters had just split up the job between themselves, then this might not have happened.

Why didn't they agree and decide that one of them will take care of the troll while the other battles Bijou? This could have helped ensure the safety of the shard, so that their enemy will have a harder time getting to it.

As it is, with how one of the protagonists is just standing by and doing nothing and with how none of them pay much attention to Bijou, this was practically an invitation for the latter to go and get the heart shard. They might as well have just handed it over to her without a fight if they weren't going to take this seriously.

Besides, doing it the way they did just seemed to prolong and draw out the fight even more when it could have ended far sooner. It was wonderful and about time when the troll was finally defeated.

However, don't you wonder why Iris Irine had to be the one to land the finishing blow with her sword? Why couldn't it have been Fenris instead? What was the reason why she couldn't be the one to kill the troll?

She has an awesome and cool weapon too and we've seen how good she is with her staff and how magical and powerful said staff is, much like Iris' weapon. So, why was it Iris' job to destroy the troll? This is especially baffling considering how it seems that Iris isn't really much of a fighter.

She's pretty good at fighting, but we mostly see her as being the support or the healer of the group. Do you think that the 2 protagonists should have split the job and decided who will fight with who? Who do you think should have destroyed Bijou's troll?

*Notes:
- Image with added text was modified by Freya Yuki based on the image by Rusembell (CC:BY) from deviantArt
- Image of two fighters is meant to represent Fenris Fenrir and Iris Irine who fought side-by-side against Bijou and her troll
- The rest of the pics are enlarged product images from Amazon.com; links shown above via Amazon's Native Shopping Ads widget

Things To Dislike About Iris Irine (Ragnarok Manhwa)?

This post is also known as "Changing opinions or thoughts about Iris Irine." What do you think about the character named Iris Irine from Ragnarok: Into The Abyss manhwa? What's there to like and dislike about her? What's your opinion about her? What can you say about her?

We are first introduced to Iris Irine in Volume 1 of the comic. Initially, we knew absolutely nothing about her except what she looked like and how she was apparently traveling with this guy (Chaos) for one reason or another.

What initially drew me to this character or what got me interested in wanting to know more about her was noticing that she was wearing what appears to be an ankh. If you know Death of The Endless from the Sandman series by Neil Gaiman, then you might have recognized said object too.

I thought it was pretty cool that she had that with her. Her ability seemed pretty cool too even though I still didn't know much about her or why and how she could do all these magical things.

However, things soon changed as she seemed to quickly evolve, or maybe the right word is devolve, from a pretty cool character into a whiny, childish and pretty annoying character that was rather hard to like or find interesting. She can come across as really quite annoying with the way she can be so childish. It also seems as if she is merely there for purposes of comic relief, much like Lidia.

But there are some pretty rare moments where we see Iris Irine shine and become somewhat likable. It's only too bad that these moments don't last. It appears that there is much wasted potential with her.

For instance, in Chapter 11 of Volume 2 where we see Iris being so mature, determined and insistent on wanting to protect her family and her people, she is actually likable and even cool. Unfortunately, this doesn't last.

Later on, we see her eating in what is meant to be a humorous way, but this scene just falls flat because this is pretty much right after her father was killed and the city of Fayon destroyed. As such, shouldn't she still be grieving about her tragic loss? How could she recover so quickly?

It doesn't seem believable for her to be acting like this when she should have been sad about what just happened to her family and her people. With her acting like this, she seems very immature, so much so that, if the traveling trio were a family, she would be the kid with Chaos as the father and Fenris Fenrir as the mother.

When we see her fighting though, such as during Volume 6 when she and Fenris battled against Bijou and her troll, she is actually pretty cool and even likable.

It's quite unfortunate that she has to be all childish and immature a lot of pretty much all the time.

Of course, this isn't to say that she can't be funny at times.

In fact, she can be pretty funny especially when paired with Lidia such as when you see the two bantering in Volume 8.

If the graphic novel had actually been finished, perhaps we would have seen her evolve into someone more likable. Perhaps we would have seen her become more mature and serious and stop being so childish and annoying although, honestly, it seems more likely that we'll just end up seeing her paired with Chaos, which is a horrible thought. What do you think?

*Notes:
- Image with added text was modified by Freya Yuki (CC:BY-SA) based on the image by mikanxsakura (CC:BY-SA) from deviantArt
- The figure in the image is meant to represent Iris Irine because said figure can be said to be childish
- The rest of the pics are enlarged product images from Amazon.com; links shown above via Amazon's Native Shopping Ads widget