Emma, by Kaoru Mori, Published by CMX

I can say with confidence that Emma is one of the best comics I’ve ever read. It’s a relatively short series (The main story arc takes place in volumes 1 through 7), which was great for me because I just don’t have the stamina to follow those lengthy manga series anymore.

Emma is set in the 1800s, following the title character on a journey that takes her from the hustle and bustle of London to the quiet English countryside. The story starts quietly, with Emma, an intelligent and quiet maid, working for a retired governess. Things go quickly awry as she starts to fall for William, a handsome man with an upper class background, and they realize quickly their love is forbidden; William’s family would never accept the match.

Now I approached this comic with some caution (not to generalize too much) because it is a Japanese comic about a maids. However, my preconceptions were quickly thrown aside as I flipped through the book: Here is a comic with surprising depth. Each character has been fully realized, each accessory and custom painstakingly researched, each page paced so perfectly that even now when I pick up a volume to glance at I end up re-reading the whole book. Yeah, it’s THAT good.

Kaoru Mori has made her mark as a modern-day Jane Austin of comics. Recommend Emma to anybody who likes period pieces or a good romance.