Saint Seiya : The Lost Canvas
Meiō Shinwa — The Mythology of the King of the Underworld
Synopsis
It is 1727. Three children grow up together in an Italian orphanage: Tenma, an impulsive boy with a heart of gold destined to become the Pegasus Knight; Sasha, a radiant young girl who carries within her the soul of the goddess Athena; and Alone, a prodigiously gifted painter with a gentle smile who will become the reincarnation of Hades himself. These three intertwined fates form the tragic heart of this forgotten holy war.
Alone, whose pure soul is slowly corrupted by Hades' consciousness, undertakes to paint a gigantic canvas — the Lost Canvas — meant to represent all the souls of humanity before swallowing them to offer the god of the Underworld a world of eternal silence. Tenma, desperate to save his best friend, enlists as Athena's Knight and fights to wrest Alone from this divine possession.
Considered by many to be the finest Saint Seiya spin-off, The Lost Canvas stands out for its elegant artwork, its deeply human characters, and its ability to make each Gold Knight unique and memorable. The tragedy of the broken friendship between Tenma and Alone remains one of the franchise's most beautiful stories.
Narrative Structure
The invasion of the Sanctuary by Hades' Specters. The Gold Knights defend their home against a supernatural army. Introduction of the twelve 18th-century Gold Knights, each with their own personality and story.
Descent into the Underworld. Tenma and his allies face the Judges of the Dead and advance toward the heart of Hades' kingdom. Truths about reincarnation and the cyclical nature of the conflict are gradually revealed.
The paradise of the gods, Hades' last stronghold. Hypnos and Thanatos guard the gates of Elysium. The Gold Knights sacrifice their cosmos to allow Tenma to advance.
The inevitable face-off between Tenma and Alone. The cursed canvas must be destroyed before it engulfs humanity. The final sacrifice and the resolution of a friendship broken by the gods.
All 25 Volumes
Main Characters
Prequel set 243 years before the events of the original manga. The Lost Canvas depicts the previous holy war between Athena and Hades, revealing the origins of the eternal cycle of conflicts. The events of this story directly influence the present of Saint Seiya Next Dimension, with the two works complementing each other.