VALKYRIES is a full color, gorgeous collection of illustrations by Yoshikatsu Mishima. Though only B5 size and 26 pages in length, each illustration stays on theme and really packs a punch!

I'd never heard of this artist before Comiket 76, but this is definitely one on my watch list now. The theme of this collection is Valkyries, and though they are not in the traditional style you'd expect, each girl carries a weapon to show her warrior nature.

The pictures at the front of the book give the most impact, with well designed costumes as well as appropriate backgrounds.

The latter half of the book contains warrior gals dressed in maid costumes wielding weapons. Certainly not something I expected to see when I first bought the book.

Though initially I found the maids a bit lackluster compared to the illustrations at the beginning of the book, I grew to like it more, noticing the details in the weapons and the subtle differences in maid costume for each of the characters.

The book ends on a couple of fuller illustrations of the maid Valkyrie characters.

I really do plan to follow this artist now, and maybe even see if it's possible to collect some of the back full color volumes that are available. What do you think, is this a 'must have' collection? :D