Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun, Minoji Kurata's manga based on the popular Assassin's Creed series of video games, is getting a localized release in the United States this February from Viz Media.
Blade of Shao Jun follows Shao Jun, a Master Assassin of the Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins who lived during the 1500s. Set in the year 1526, the manga sees Shao Jun -- China's last Assassin -- return to her homeland to seek vengeance for the deaths of the others at the hands of the new Emperor. In other words, it takes place during the same time as the 2015 video game Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China -- the first entry in the Assassin's Creed Chronicles sub-series of games -- which starred Shao Jun as the main protagonist. It also takes place two years after the events of Assassin's Creed: Embers, the 2011 animated short film that saw Shao Jun travel to Europe and meet legendary Assassin Ezio Auditore.
Blade of Shao Jun was originally published in Sunday GX magazine as Assassin's Creed: China in October of 2019, with the first collected volume arriving in Japan earlier this summer. The cover, as well as Viz's official synopsis for the localized version of the volume, can be found below.
Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun, Vol. 1 by Minoji Kurata
A gripping manga based on Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China video game, featuring iconic Assassin Shao Jun. Unveil a tale that will engulf the world.
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!
Pub date: February 16, 2021
List price: $14.95
ISBN13: 9781974721238
Written and illustrated by Minoji Kurata, Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun Vol. 1 goes on sale in the United States Feb. 16, 2021 from Viz Media.