Claymore (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese dark fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Norihiro Yagi.

The series was transferred to the newly launched Jump Square, serialized from November 2007 to October 2014.

A mysterious group, known as The Organization, creates human-Yoma hybrids to kill Yoma for a fee.

[5] Yoma and Claymore warriors alike are powered by a demonic energy, Yoki (妖気), which allows shape-shifting and extreme strength.

The act of awakening is likened to the feeling of sexual climax, so while both male and female warriors existed in the past only the women proved to be successfully able to resist the allure of the awakening, and so the creation of male Claymores stopped altogether.

1 through 47 are ranked on their baseline Yoki potential, strength, agility, intelligence, sensing and leadership.

In addition to all having different names, most warriors (usually high in rank) further their individuality by possessing a unique sword technique, fighting style, or Yoki ability.

The first is Galatea's ability to control her opponents' Yoki for brief periods during battle, usually to cause the enemy's attack to miss.

Written and illustrated by Norihiro Yagi, Claymore debuted in Shueisha's Monthly Shōnen Jump on June 6, 2001.

Dream Partners, Avex Entertainment and Madhouse aired from April 4 to September 26, 2007 in Japan.

[24] The anime is directed by Hiroyuki Tanaka, with Yasuko Kobayashi handling series composition, Takahiro Umehara designing the characters and Masanori Takumi composing the music.

As of February 2008, seven DVD volumes, each containing three episodes of the anime, have been released in Japan by Avex Trax.

On February 16, 2010, Funimation released a boxed set containing the complete series in Blu-ray format.

[30] The series made its North American television debut when it started airing on the Funimation Channel September 6, 2010.

The ending theme is J-pop singer Riyu Kosaka's single, "Danzai no Hana: Guilty Sky" (断罪の花 ~Guilty Sky~, lit.

Claymore: The Witch of the Silver Eyes) was released by Digital Works Entertainment, 28 May 2009, in Japan.

About the part in the story where Raki and Clare are separated, he states that it is more like "leave now because that's the obvious next step in the plot".

[38][39][37] However, in his review of volume sixteen, Theron Marton says that "Yagi is back on track", and that "he provides a good mix of old friends popping back up, new allies, startling revelations, dire threats, and of course good-ol' beatdown action, in the process returning the series to arguably its strongest level since volume 12".

He stated that "while not without some flaws, the first five episodes generally get the series off to a strong start, practically assuring that Funimation has a solid hit on their hands".

[41] In ICv2's list of "Top 50 Manga—Summer 2008", which subjectively ranks manga based on sales and perceived popularity, Claymore placed 42nd.