Guest Review: Black Lagoon, Vol. 7
By Rei Hiroe
Published by Viz Media
Review by Megan M.
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This book continued the Roberta arc that began in the previous volume. I think it says much for this series that combat maids, typically considered to be a form of fanservice, are interesting, dramatic, badass, and very, very angsty. Well, one is angsty. I’m sure Fabiola will grow into it in time.
The beginning of the volume, despite actually featuring the main cast very prominently, is devoted to explaining why Roberta has returned to Roanapur planning to begin a war and who Fabiola (the younger, less violent, combat maid who appeared in volume 6) is. I admit I would happily read a book about Garcia Lovelace and his maids, especially if his other maids (who Fabiola claims aren’t trained for combat, but who knows?) are half as fun as Fabiola and Roberta are. The volume then spirals into Rock and (surprisingly) Benny, deciding to help Garcia and Fabiola look for Roberta, despite the fact that this is simply not the strength of either character.
I’m of two minds about Roberta’s storyline. Thematically and for the character I love it, right down to her hallucinations, her tenuous connection to reality, and her careful plotting to sink the entire town into a full scale war. On the other hand, her rampage (and possibly some of her current instability) seems to be fueled by misuse of Ritalin, about which there are already so many misconceptions that I can’t help but automatically cringe at its use here.
The volume also features an interesting conversation between Rock and Revy (much of which Revy spends naked, out of Rock’s sight) in which typical allegories are reversed, and Rock compares Revy to a gun and himself to a bullet that’s a useless lump of lead unless she fires him. In truth, far too many interpretations could be read into that scene. Revy actually has comparatively little page time in this volume, but what there is is very interesting and highlights how lost she is. I’m particularly fond of her reactions to Fabiola, who is physically able to withstand the harsh lifestyle of the Black Lagoon’s world but is still very young and innocent.
Little is seen of the supporting cast outside of Chang, who is assisting Garcia (I particularly missed Shenhua, who is my favorite character), but Eda’s brief appearance goes a long way towards explaining her role in Roanapur and her association with the church. It also seems to make her a little older than I had thought, as I had pegged Eda and Revy as being about the same age. I also wonder how much of it Revy knows and how she’ll react if she doesn’t know much.
This is a very solid addition to an already strong series, and according to the author’s note, the storyline it sets into full gear will impact the series for some time.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
