There it is, Plain as Daylight

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 20
By Hiromu Arakawa
Published by Viz Media

Buy This Book

Falling victim to a double-cross, Envy tracks down Dr. Marcoh, only to walk into a trap that ultimately reduces him to his original, pre-humanoid form. “I know more about making philosopher’s stones than anyone else in the country,” says Dr. Marcoh, hanging mangled and bloody from Envy’s horrific tongue. “But because I know how to make them, I also know how to destroy them!” Afterwards, Scar entreats May to take the now-powerless Envy back to her country for study on immortality, though Envy does what he must to increase his chances of survival. Al, Winry, and the others then head out to the city of Lior, where Al is reunited with Rose as well as his father, Hoenheim, who finally shares the truth about himself, including a piece of information vital to the upcoming conflict. Meanwhile, Major General Briggs discovers the terrifying truth hidden in the bowels of Central City, and Ed–now recovered from his injuries–fails utterly to track down Al’s whereabouts, though he does encounter another long-lost companion with whom he forges an unlikely alliance.

Continue Reading »

Guest Review: Black Lagoon, Vol. 7
By Rei Hiroe
Published by Viz Media

Review by Megan M.

Buy This Book

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.

Nabari No Ou, Vol. 2
By Yuhki Kamatani
Published by Yen Press

Buy This Book

In the aftermath of the first volume’s attack by the enemy clan Grey Wolves, Miharu and his companions recover in care of the Fuuma, many of whom were lost in the conflict. With the Banten shinobi having no official leader, Kotarou Fuuma, leader of his clan, assumes control and assigns teacher Kumohira and his young charges to retrieve (or steal, if necessary) the forbidden arts belonging to each of the other remaining clans. Though revelations about the motives and methods of the Fuuma leave Miharu even less sure of who to trust, he eventually finds himself feeling some sense of responsibility and even friendship towards would-be samurai Ramei and classmate Koichi. This volume’s major drama, however, is left for its final chapter, in which Miharu is offered alliance by an extremely unlikely source.

After the suspense and high action of this series’ first volume, the second begins slowly, churning out additional exposition without quite enough momentum to sustain it. Fortunately, this volume’s final chapter is thrilling enough to make up for early shortcomings, bringing real tension back into the story as well as highlighting the complexity and pathos behind Miharu’s carefully practiced apathy.

This volume takes pains to deepen the backstories for much of the series’ supporting cast, though most of these characters remain weak in comparison to the story’s most compelling characters–Miharu and deadly human weapon Yoite. Both of these characters possess potentially lethal abilities that endanger their own lives in one way or another, and it is fascinating and sad to witness the blatant sense of entitlement their respective shinobi clans appear to feel regarding their powers. That the clans have gravely overestimated their ability to control these two boys seems obvious, but it is yet unclear just how dearly this miscalculation might cost them or the boys themselves.

Though pacing is a weakness in this volume, even the least urgent chapters succeed in terms of dramatic content, thanks to Kamatani’s frequent use of close-ups and full-page images which give just the right weight to exactly the right moments. That a sense of stillness would be one of the greatest strengths of a manga that is ostensibly intended as an action series may sound a bit strange, but that is absolutely the case here. This quality plays a great part in creating the dark, moody atmosphere of the series, which remains one of my favorite aspects of it overall.

With its complex anti-hero and melancholy feel, Nabari No Ou’s second volume ultimately overcomes its somewhat uninspired early chapters to maintain its position as my favorite new shonen series so far this year.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 2
By Karuho Shiina
Published by Viz Media

Buy This Book

Yano and Yoshida first laugh off the rumor that Sawako has been spreading stories about them. After overhearing Sawako deny their friendship, however, they begin to doubt themselves, ultimately learning just how deep their feelings for her go. Certain that her association with Kazehaya, Yano, and Yoshida is destroying their popularity, Sawako tries to distance herself from them but she too learns a lesson about her own feelings in the process.

Continue Reading »