Kurohime (manga)

 is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masanori Katakura. The manga began its run in 2000 and was serialized in "Monthly Shōnen Jump" until 2007. The series was transferred to "Jump Square" website in 2007 and finished in 2011. Shueisha collected its chapters into eighteen "tankōbon" volumes. In North America, Viz Media licensed the series for English release in 2007. Viz stopped the series publication after the release of fourteen volumes.
Plot.
Ten years prior to the story's beginning, Kurohime brought an end to a massive war fought to own and rebuild the Tower of the Gods, which once completed would allow the builder to become a god themselves. Upon completion, Kurohime destroyed the tower and entered the realm of the gods to slaughter them, as they were the ones who started the war in the first place. Through a combination of deception and brutality, the gods captured her and then split Kurohime into two beings, one representing her rage, and the other representing her compassion.
The being representing her rage, in a form of a small girl named 'Himeko', seeks to regain her body and powers, and attempt to take down the gods again; however the curse can only be undone with love. Throughout the course of the manga, Kurohime is able to regain her ability to love through her relationship with Zero, causing her to evolve into different incarnations throughout the various story arcs.
Characters.
Kurohime Punishment Squad.
Shortly after Kurohime and Zero killing the God of Death Darkray, Sword, the only surviving Death Angel of the battle, gathered a crew of powerful magical witch gunslingers, all of whom have a grudge against Kurohime, in order to avenge themselves by killing her, thus forming the .
Spirit Kings.
The four Spirit Kings are the only spirits who has their own free wills by each possessing a soul, while other spirits, also known as demons or devils by humans, do not. They are the life forces of the world, a power which the gods covet. Along with this, when the four spirits imbue their life forces into the Yamato Tachi sword, it can become the god-slaying sword. To these ends, the gods captured the Spirit Kings to prevent the sword's completion, as well as slowly drain them of their life forces for their lust of power. Only Seiryu, the Spirit King of the Wind, was able to elude capture. They assist Kurohime in completing the Ultimate Sword, despite their hatred for humans for polluting the world.
Publication.
"Kurohime" is written and illustrated by Masanori Ookamigumi Katakura. The manga first appeared in "Monthly Shōnen Jump" Extra in 2000 and ran in "Monthly Shōnen Jump" from 2003 until 2007, when the magazine ceased its publication. The series was transferred to "Jump Square" website in 2007 and finished in 2011. Shueisha collected its chapters into eighteen "tankōbon" volumes, published from February 4, 2002 to April 21, 2011.
In North America, Viz Media announced the acquisition of the series in July 2007. The first volume was released on September 4, 2007. Publication of the series stopped after the release of volume 14 on November 3, 2009.
Video game.
A Japan-exclusive video game based on the series was developed and published by Tomy Corporation for the PlayStation 2 on March 30, 2006.