Berserk: Volume 32

Two great forces clash as the Kushan army lay siege to the port city of Vritannis.

This is one of the best volume of berserk I have read which sees several plot threads pulled together as Kentaro builds towards the conclusion of the Falcon of the Millennium Empire arc. It opens with an unlikely alliance between Guts and Zodd which is a great read. I'm a big fan of Zodd who has been in this series since the fifth volume, his appearances are always enjoyable but this is one of his best moments.  I can't wait to see the inevitable final duel between these two.

This book was a roller coaster ride filled with thrilling moments.It was good to finally get to see what the new band of the hawk can really do. I was blown away by the artwork. Somehow Kentaro manages to draw a two hundred thousand strong army and perfectly capture the chaos of an enormous battlefield. He is such a master of his craft, I loved his use of breath taking two page spreads which added to its epic feel. Griffith is pretty cool in this volume although I find it rather unsettling seeing him wielding so much power.

I love the ending which shows our heroes on a ship finally beginning their journey to Elfhelm.

Berserk: Volume 31

Monstrous soldiers swarm the city of Vritannis in the thirty first volume of Kentaro Miura's fantasy epic.

This volume is essentially one giant brawl. What I liked most about it was seeing Guts protecting his new party members. With the berserker armour on he looks like some sort of super hero as he mows down hordes of beast solider and takes on a Kushan magician. There are some great moments involving the other party members especially Scheirke. It was interesting seeing how far she has come since the earlier volumes. She is much less timid now and there is a determination about her that I find really endearing. I liked how Kentaro uses Roderick and the cowardly Magnifico, as outsiders to Guts' world their reactions to the events help ground the story very nicely.

The bulk of the volume is taken up with Gut's fight with a Kushan magic user. It is an interesting change of opponents for him as up until now he has only taken on monsters. The choreography is brilliant which really helps to showcase the terrifying power of the berserker armour. The end of this book is a bit of a cliffhanger as first Emperor Ganishka appears in all his apostle glory and then Zodd steps into the fray. I like seeing heroes struggle, if things are too easy they are boring but Kentaro is brutal to Guts in this book.

Volume thirty sets the tone for the next few volumes and begins the conclusion of the Falconia chapter.

Berserk: Volume 30

Opening with one of the most exciting fights of the series Berserk is back to its bloody best.

I love Serpico.

Truth be told I really like all the new characters that were introduced after the eclipse but there is something about Serpico that is extra special. His back story is brilliant certainly but for me it is his intelligence that sets him above the others.

In the opening scene of this volume we see him got toe to toe with Guts in one of the best duels in the entire series. The brilliance behind this fight is how he uses tactics to level the playing field. I like that Kentaro shows Guts is still able to have an honourable fight and more importantly that his strength is not reliant on gimmicks like his cannon. Right near the start of this series we are told that Guts is a master swordsman so its great to see a good old sword fight again.

The later half of this book is one monster battle as the Kushans make their move. There is a brilliant scene at a banquet which nicely showcases Guts' new parties skills. Lady Farnese who is so often reluctant to fight finally seems to develop a back bone and it was fun seeing Isidro showing off in front of the aristocrats. I really liked the new monster designs that were used, their uniformity certainly made them seem more like a military unit or weapon. Roderick who was introduced in volume twenty nine gets some good scenes too, it was good to see a 'normal' person fighting the demon beasts.

My only gripe with this volume is that it is significantly thinner than any other book in the series. A lot happens but it ends abruptly and feels as though there is a chapter missing, there isn't its just shorter. Still its another great read, thanks Kentaro!

Berserk: Volume 29

The monsters take a back seat as the heroes of Berserk take a break in the city of Vritannis.

Kentaro Miura slows the pace down and looks at the relationships that have formed between the characters in another brilliant volume of the series. I really liked that we got some insight into Sonia's life and her motivations. I thought it was a nice touch showing us how human the enemy can be. The development of Schierke and Isidro was excellently done, I thoroughly enjoyed Isidro's fight on the docks and there are some very poignant involving Farnese. Some new characters introduced and others make their return which helps to spice up the volume and there is a lot comic moments thanks to Puck and the Pirates.

There is a slowness in this volume that is very refreshing after the frantic pace of the previous books. Kentaro takes his time to once again expanding on the world. He reintroduces nobles and all their scheming reminded me of the Golden Age arc. Everything is rendered in Kentaro's amazing artwork which perfectly captures the elaborate outfits of the nobles. The ending of this book is one of the best yet leaves you desperate to read the next volume.

Berserk: Volume 28

Guts and his companions reach the port city of Vritannis in the twenty eighth volume of Berserk.

Kentaro should be praised for his depiction of Guts after using the Berserker armour. After twenty seven volumes the indomitable hero is finally showing signs of weakness, even his hair has started to turn grey. Seeing him so much weaker than before helps humanise him after his monstrous performance in the previous volume.

However there's no rest for our heroes as they are confronted by a pack of Pishaca, the demon foot soliders of the Kushan empire. Its a great fight which ends with a particularly nervy sequence centred around the berserker armour. I thoroughly enjoyed the discussion between Guts and the Skull Knight which helps give us some more insight into the past this enigmatic character.

The second half of this volume shifts focus to Vritannis where all the armies of the Holy See have rallied. I loved the way Guts companions talk about him without even knowing it, its funny to see them refer to the raiders captain in such revered tones. Schierke takes centre stage here and there are some touching scenes as she wanders around the alien city. Her unexpected meeting with Sonia is really good and I loved allegorical tale of the Duck and the Kite, especially the visual metaphors and caricature.

I have to make a point that the art is simply stunning, there is one page that has literally thousands of hand drawn bricks and tiles that surely must have taken ages. Well done Kentaro.

Berserk: Volume 27

Monsters fight monsters as Kentaro Miura's fantasy epic continues.

Volume twenty seven begins with a superb fight between Guts and Grunbeld. It is the first time we get to see what the Berserker armour can really do. I loved the additional information Schierke gives us about how the armour functions and really liked Grunbeld's apostle form.

I can remember being frustrated the first time I read this volume as there is a large section that focuses on Griffith's new Band of the Hawk. The story follows the war demons as they perform a task for their new master. I felt annoyed that the Guts had been left out for the bulk of the volume especially as I had little emotional connection to the inhuman warriors.

Rereading this volume certainly changed my mind, I almost feel foolish for being annoyed. The story shifts focus to Windham and shows us a grisly depiction of a demon city. It is cleverly used to help introduce Ganishka, the emperor of the Kushan people. I had actually forgotten that Silat was used so much during this arc. Kentaro uses him as our eyes as he stubbles across a horrific truth which is messed up even by berserk standards! There are some great little moments and some surprising returning characters that made this section more fun than I had remembered.

Certainly it was much better the second time around but I do think Berserk is at its best when it is centred around Guts.

Berserk: Volume 26

Our heroes enter the terrifying realm of Qliphoth and Guts gets an unexpected boost as Berserk turns twenty six.

I really enjoyed rereading this volume, it has it all. There are Trolls and Apostles, Zodd and the Skull knight have a fight and one of the God Hand even makes an appearance. Normally I would have written about them however, these things are all over shadowed by something else. The Berserker armour.

Over the last few volumes Kentaro has made it quite clear that all this fighting monsters is taking its toll on Guts, both mentally and physically. His internal struggle has taken the form of a beast, the hound of darkness, which is forever tempting Guts to let go of his humanity. Meanwhile his body is cover in wounds some of which have even hurt his spirit. The central character is fast approaching breaking point and we the readers are all too aware of the insurmountable task he has taken on.

I love the the way Kentaro pushes Guts to the brink and when we are sure he is about to lose he gives him an olive branch. And what an olive branch. The berserker armour is a double edged sword, that allows our hero to tap into the full potential of a human body by ignoring pain. A super powered boost that will literally tear the users body apart. It also looks really cool especially after it syncs with Guts mind and takes its true form.

This book feels like a turning point, a necessary step towards the ultimate goal of the series and it was bloody brilliant.

Berserk: Volume 25

Guts and his new found party have to fight off a horde of Trolls in the twenty fifth volume of Berserk.

This volume is heavily focused on magic. I know that some fans of Berserk dislike that the series introduces magic weapons and witches but it really doesn't bother me. In fact I think Kentaro does a stunning job at explaining the core concepts of magic while still keeping an air of mystery.

From the very first panel of the series we are confronted with the supernatural and throughout the Golden Age there are numerous appearances of ghosts, monsters and demons. The series even has a fairy is a main character. To me the introduction of magic into the world is a logical progression which helps the reader establish a clear link between the inhumans and the fairy tale-esque Puck.

Art-wise the depiction of magic is beautifully done, the seamless way he manages to show Schierke delving into the interstice and beyond is brilliant as are the four elemental Gods. The Trolls, Ogres and the Kelpie make for exciting and disturbing bad guys. In my opinion Serpico steals the show in terms of combat. I loved the reaction of Guts as he see magic being used first hand and his acknowledgement of Schierke's incredible powers. A nice (gruesome) cliff hanger is used to end this volume which was once again a sheer joy to reread.

Berserk: Volume 24

With the appearance of trolls and witchs you may mistake this for a children's story but this is anything but, this is Berserk!

Volume twenty four is excellent, in the space of 200 pages Kentaro Miura manages to expand on the physics of his world and fundamentally change the series. What is really surprising is that it is done so seamlessly. I loved the magic weapons and they explanation the receive. I love the way Kentaro manages to circumvent the Brand of Sacrifice with a cleverly used plot device. I love the reason behind why only certain people can interact with supernatural. To be honest I loved it all! Rereading this made me realise Berserk is nearly without fault. The vision behind this story is staggering.

Speaking of which story wise this volume was great. It has some very nice developments of the characters, especially Isidro and Schierke. The art is gorgeous too. I've really not talked about the art for a long time. Its funny how you can get used to things over time. Each page (baring the comic relief stuff) is a work of art. To maintain such a high level of quality over such a long series is nearly unprecedented. Manga doesn't get much better than this.

Berserk: Volume 23

The epic story of Guts continues in the twenty third volume of Berserk.

This issue is all about conflicts. I loved the way that Kentaro depicts Guts' battle with his inner demon. The Hound of Darkness is a brilliant choice to represent his rage, it is so primal and genuinely scary. There was a scene where we see Guts undergoes a metaphorical transformation  which was extremely well used and down right terrifying. Rereading this I couldn't help feeling sorry for Guts.

Griffith begins his retaliation against the Kushan army as his war demons enter the fray. There are some great fights in this book and its nice to see Irvine who my personal favourites of the new Band of the Hawk. I felt that Mule was cleverly used as a way to introduce this entire sequence, his terror at seeing the inhuman army is brilliant and his reaction to Griffith was awesome. The way Kentaro moves his story from the real to the fantastic is mesmerising.

In this volume Lady Farnese struggles to deal with her weaknesses. I liked the comic portrayal of her uselessness, it was pretty harsh on Isidro! I find her character really interesting and its great to see her develop by acknowledging her faults.

It is a pretty amazing volume of Berserk, one of my favourites in fact. The best bit for me was seeing Guts accept help, just brilliant. Next time Trolls!

Berserk: Volume 22

The twenty second volume marks the beginning of a new story arc of Kentaro Miura's Berserk.

The Hawk of the Millennium Empire arc begins with one of the best fights in the whole series. Its a rematch between Guts and Zodd and it is simply amazing. I've waxed lyrical about this series for twenty one posts now but for good reason, Berserk is just that good. The choreography is in this book utterly gob smacking. This fight is just the beginning of a very memorable scene on the Hill of Swords which is superbly executed and a clever turning point for the series.

I like how Kentaro cleverly weaves new ideas into this series. This arc effectively deals with barriers between the real world and the astral world beginning the blur. There is a fairy tale-esque feel to the story now which is in stark contrast to the dark and broody nature of the Conviction arc. This book is a veritable smorgasbord of new characters as it serves as the introduction for Schierke, Locus, Rakshas and Grunbeld. More about them next time.

The later half of this volume is spent on a very detailed back story to both Lady Farnese and Serpico. Its a tragic story that was deeply unsettling to read, I liked how it sheds light on some of the characters previous actions. This was a pleasure to reread, a wordier volume than most and all the more mesmerizing for it. What a great start to the new arc.

Kentaro Miura we are not worthy!

Berserk: Volume 21

The twenty first volume of Berserk wraps up the Conviction arc in stunning fashion.

Question: How do you follow something as magnificent as the Golden Age arc? Simple. You write something like the Conviction arc.

Rereading this arc has made me realise just how brilliant it really is. Each of it's three 'chapters' help to build an over riding sense of foreboding and it fleshes out the world that the story is set in by introducing both the Holy See and the Kushan empire. It showcases some of the best characters in the series, i.e. Serpico and Isidro, and helps to expand the back story of the Skull Knight. I loved it's frequent and shameless references to the Guin Saga and all the brilliant side stories and bit characters. Of course the art, monster design and fights were simply stunning. However it is it's ending that really make it shine. Somehow Kentaro manges the impossible by making an event to rival the Eclipse. Effectively it is the same idea just done in reverse but I felt it worked brilliantly.

Question: How to do resolve the fact that Guts can't reach his nemesis? Simple. You bring him back in one of the most visually stunning volumes of the series so far.  In one fell swoop Kentaro fundamentally changes his stories dynamic.

Honestly, I can't wait to reread the Hawk of the Millennium Empire arc!

Berserk: Volume 20

The Conviction arc builds towards its conclusion in the twentieth volume of Kentaro Miura's Berserk.

If I've learnt anything while rereading Berserk its that I love the Conviction arc. 

In November I'm going to see the new Berserk films at the Leed's Film Festival. Hopefully these will be successful enough to warrant a movie adaption of this stunning storyline. Its so relentlessly dark, so utterly macabre and is totally compelling.

Thorough out the last two volumes the heroes of the story have been watched by an unseen menace. In this book we finally come face to face with this watcher and personally I loved it. Its a dark and depressing story which fits perfectly into the plot of this arc and is probably my favourite back story for an apostle yet. What I found most poignant is that this beast never gets a name.

The chaos continues as Guts climbs the tower and faces off against Mozgus' goons who have been powered up with a little help from the unnamed apostle. I thought their monster designs where stunning, there really wasn't any other way that they could have been done. I thought the fights in this volume were great. This book is magnificent, the huge and frequent reference to the eclipse are brilliant and the fact that Zodd and the Skull Knight are in it was just the icing on the cake for me.

Berserk: Volume 19

Great moments abound in the nineteenth volume of Kentaro Miura's epic fantasy Berserk.

Several plot threads are skilfully pulled together as Guts finally arrives at the temple of Albion resulting in a series of brilliant moments. I thought Isidro really shined in this book, his determination to impress Guts is infectious and I found his first fight to be both funny and exciting. Guts' reunion with Casca is another stunning sequence which is beautifully drawn, utilising some jaw dropping double page spreads. The highlight for me was the tense stand off between Guts and Serpico, I love how through tactics and a clever choice of location Guts is rendered almost useless. Serpico is certainly one of my favourites and this scene is one of the main reason why.

Again Kentaro pays homage to the Guin Saga. In the second half of this book Guts assaults the temple in a huge reference to the first novel of the series. Having read both the similarities are obvious to me. For example Guin breaks into a tower to rescue the twins of Paros Guts does so to save Casca. Guin is confronted by a seething mass of Yidoh, a gelatinous beast which looks like a giant amoeba capable of dissolving a person. Guts however is confronted by a seething gelatinous beast which is capable of dissolving a person and while it name is never mentioned I'd bet good money it begins with a Y. Theres even a monster at the top of the tower in both stories. I can't tell if Kentaro was just being lazy or what but I don't care because its bloody brilliant.

Berserk: Volume 18

Berserk begins a dark exploration of religious zealots and heretics in the eighteenth volume of the series

Volume eighteen kicks off by introducing Isidro, a cheeky new character who initially really annoyed me. Eventually I grew to like him but the first time I read this book I honestly thought Kentaro had made a huge mistake. However, this time around I really enjoyed seeing his antics as he doggedly purses Guts across the wasteland. There are also a couple of very nice cameos from Silat and the Skull Knight that really lift this volume for me.

I like how Kentaro manages to juggle several plots at once and skillfully explains the general situation without ever relying on exposition. Currently there is an army invading Midland that has created a huge amount of refugees to congregate at the temple of Albion. This temple happens to be the home to both the over zealous priest Mozgus and the Holy Iron Chain Knights led by Lady Farnese plus it is also the location of Casca who is living with some prostitutes. Compared to the wonderful simplicity of the Golden Age arc the Conviction arc is brilliant in its complexity.

Even by Berserk's standards this volume is very graphic, there are orgies, scenes of sexual violence and torture. Personally I found this volume more disturbing that the Eclipse which is due to the fact this the perpetrators of these act are humans and not monstrous demons. Once again Kentaro asks the question 'How do you define a monster?'. Lady Farnese's back story was really messed up too!

I love berserk and I love the Conviction arc. Rereading it knowing how it ends is giving me a whole new experience and one I'm thoroughly enjoying.

Berserk: Volume 17

The seventeenth volume of Berserk continues the grisly adventures Guts as he escapes captivity.

The Conviction arc continues with the Binding Chain chapter which sees our hero being held captive by the Holy Iron Chain Knights. From his capture to his captors this whole section is a huge homage to the Guin Saga, even the desert wasteland setting is a reference to this fantasy epic. Being a fan of the Guin Saga I really enjoyed rereading this part of the story.

The highlight for me was a very brief scene with Serpico and Guts as they cross swords for the first time. The first time I read this I remember being pretty nonplussed about it, Serpico was a new character and I didn't epect much from him. This time however I was enthralled as I knew what Kentaro does with him as the story progresses. Later there were some touching scenes with Godo and Rickert that were really good; I like Godo, he is a really well used character.

This book introduces the Birth Ceremony Chapter which will be the focus of the next few volumes. I loved the way Kentaro slowly shows us how the world has fallen into chaos and the art used to for the mass dream is stunning. Zodd made a great cameo too which was very cool. The last chapter of this volume is used to introduce Father Mozgus which means things are about to take a very dark turn even for Berserks standards!

Berserk: Volume 16

The Black Swordsman makes some new enemies in the sixteenth volume of Berserk.

After the epic that was the Golden Age arc it was nice to read a more compact story. At only two volumes the Lost Children chapter is positively compact and thoroughly enjoyable to read. A friend of mine stopped reading Berserk when this arc began saying it had gone off the boil and was boring but I have to strongly disagree. I loved the fight between Guts and Rosine, I especially enjoyed the chapter 'Monster' which asks who is the real monster out of the two.

Kentaro has previously said that he is heavily influenced by the Guin Saga, a huge series of fantasy novels by Kaoru Kurimoto. Having read these books I can clearly clearly see the influences on Berserk, the Conviction arc is peppered homages to the Guin Saga the most obvious being Lady Farnese who plays a central role in the coming volumes. Unfortunately only the first five volumes of this series have been released in the west but their is a relatively recent anime adaptation that covers the first thirty volumes. It's pretty good.

I like the idea of the Holy Iron Chain Knight and their pursuit of Guts and the ending of this volume is superb, its an interesting new twist and one I enjoyed immensely. The Skull Knight makes a brief cameo in this book and the art and execution are both top notch so all in all another great book. Nice one Miura!

Berserk: Volume 15

Guts' bloody quest for vengeance continues in the fifteenth volume of Berserk

I really enjoyed rereading this volume, seeing Guts cutting a bloody swathe through hordes of monstrous creatures is always fun but its the little story devices that make this book shine. In the third volume of the series Kentaro introduced the idea that when inhumans are killed they revert back to their human form and in this volume he explores the consequences of this fact. I loved the way that to everyone else it appears that Guts is indiscriminately butchering people, as if he didn't have it bad enough!

I did feel that Puck was slightly over used at times. Considering the dark tone of the Lost Children chapter its understandable why, his antics are amusing and do lighten the mood but he can be a little annoying.

The fights in this volume are stunning as are the monster designs, the battle in the woods with the giant insects was brilliantly choreographed. The depiction of children playing war was pretty disturbing but well used and I liked how there is an ever present air of malevolence about this current arc. Generally it was another quality volume of manga for Kentaro Miura.

Berserk: Volume 14

Kentaro Miura concludes the epic Golden Age arc and begins the equally stunning Conviction arc in volume 14 of his dark fantasy masterpiece Berserk.

This volume reveals the truth behind the demon child which for me is possibly the most tragic part of the whole Golden Age story line. I can't think of a better set up for a revenge story than this, the utter destruction wrought by Griffith is nothing short of sublime. I love the introduction to the Dragon Slayer, its a stunning weapon and I really like the back story it gets given, very nicely done.

After the end of the flashback we begin the Conviction arc and are introduced to several new characters such as Serpico and Lady Farnese. These characters have a much bigger part later in the series but I'd completely forgotten that they were introduced so early. The Lost Children Chapter is a lot of fun, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Guts as the Black Swordsman once again and Puck is back so there is more comedy too.

The best part of this volume is the bonus chapter at the end. The Prototype is the original pilot of the series and while there are several difference I really liked seeing what was carried forward into the final series. I can't decide if I prefer the original Dragon Slayer or the final version. The art is utterly amazing too, its exquisitely shaded and significantly more detailed that the first few chapters of Berserk.

Once again Kentaro weaves his magic and creates another amazing manga.

Berserk: Volume 13

The eclipse continues as the Golden Age arc reaches it's bloody peak.

Kentaro, how could you? This book is pure unadulterated horror, the scenes in this book are just terrifying and as with the previous post I think it would be unfair to discuss them at length. What I will say is that Guts has every reason to be angry. There is a lot to like in this book and I really am impressed at how all the plot threads are all pulled together. Void, a member of the Godhand, discusses causality and fate in a way that I found very interesting. I loved the characterisation of Guts in this book, he is at once more human and more inhuman than we have ever seen. The human side is centred around issues of loss and we see some rare glimpses of weakness from him. His actions are definitely inhuman, the experience of the eclipse to me seems to rob him of what little innocence he had left. Its powerful stuff.

I loved that this book contained both my favourite the side characters. The Skull Knight and Zodd reappear in this volume and we get a little more back story about them both. Kentaro is certainly master story teller and has brought this arc to an amazing crescendo of gore but the arc isn't over just yet, the true conclusion is in the next book.

Berserk: Volume 12

The Golden Age arc begins its horrifying conclusion in volume twelve of Kentaro Miura's fantasy epic B.

What can I say about the Eclipse?

It would be rude of me to spoil this volume so I will simple say this, never in a series have I seen such a horrifying spectacle. The events in this volume completely change Berserk and you have to give credit to Miura this is a seriously drastic change. I'd have loved to been in the room as he pitched the plot for this event, getting to see the editors faces as he describes the sequences he had planned would have been priceless.

This volume is pure horror done in an exquisite way, the imagination behind the art is astounding! It is a prime example of high octane nightmare fuel. What a great way to conclude the Golden Age and it was stunning to reread as well. Plus there are cameo appearances by Puck, The Skull Knight and Zodd! Brilliant.

Berserk: Volume 11

The events that take place in volume 11 were not in the original anime adaptation. The plot centres around Wyald and the Black Dog Knights who have been ordered to hunt down and kill the remaining Hawks.

I thought that Wyald himself was an interesting character and Kentaro's portrayal of his debauched natured is very nicely done. I liked how we were shown that his troops only serve out of fear. His duel with Guts is excellent, definitely one of my favorites, I love how relentless it is and how ultimately it could be called a draw. Great stuff.

Wyald is completely merciless and thanks to him this volume contains some very graphic scenes of violence and rape. I have heard people critise Kentaro for having several scenes of sexual violence in the series but I don't mind as he never glorifies it and the sequences are always deeply shocking. I can honestly say I've never felt that the series is gratuitous in its depiction of these topics, it is after all a dark fantasy horror but to each their own.

Zodd was in it too, I love Zodd, so yeah I really liked this volume even though it is a pretty horrific one.

Berserk: Volume 10

The tenth volume of Kentaro Miura's Berserk is a blood splattered roller coaster of a book and a great addition to the series.

The fall of Griffith in volume nine was amazing but it is only in this book that we see just how far he fell. The sequence where Guts is reunited with Griffith is superb. While its harrowing to see his severely tortured body the true genius of this scene is what Kentaro doesn't show. In a series that doesn't shy away from deeply disturbing plots and graphic imagery the idea that something was too shocking to show is pretty scary. Personally I thought Guts' reaction was more than enough and what a reaction it was! The action in this volume is some of the best in the series and some of the bloodiest to date.

This volume reintroduces both the Apostles and the Skull Knight in a really grisly scene that is just the beginning of a much greater nightmare. Speaking of nightmares I loved Griffiths dream sequences that give us both an origin story and an insight into how his mind works. Plus there were several references to the Godhand, the first since volume three. Oh and it also introduces Godo the blacksmith and give us the history of Midland too. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed rereading this one!

Berserk: Volume 9

The Hawks fall from grace in another brilliant volume of Berserk.

Obviously I already know what is going to happen but rereading the downfall of Griffith and the Band of the Hawk was still griping. The highs of the previous volume make the lows in this one even worse and you can't help feeling bad for the members of the Band who receive punishment for their leaders actions. This volume has some nasty scenes of torture and attempted rape that are unsettling to say the least but Kentaro manages to portray the horror of these events with real skill.

This volume also introduces the Knight of Skeleton, one of the most enigmatic characters of the series and also one of my favourites. His entrance is brilliant, I love the mystery that surrounds him and Guts' reaction to him is reminiscent of his encounter with Nosferatu Zodd. Silat, another new character, also makes his début in book nine. He has an interesting fight with Guts that I really enjoyed. Neither Silat or the Knight of Skeleton appear in the original series but as far as I know they are in the new movies which are being screened at Leed's Film Festival in November.

There are some really touching moments at the end that were great and generally I feel whole structure of this book is excellent.

Berserk: Volume 8

Today I reread another solid volume of the stunning Berserk manga.

This book contains pivotal scenes that change the story of Berserk as Kentaro brings the Hundred Year War to an end. It shows Griffith and the Band of Hawk celebrated as heroes and sees Guts leave the Hawks in search of his own dream. I thoroughly enjoyed rereading it and really liked seeing Guts explaining his motivations. In later volume Guts is much less talkative and I loved to seeing him being reflective. There is some great character development of some of the other Hawks as they discuss their feeling about becoming entitled and Guts' choice to leave.

The twists and turns of the plot are very nicely handled, I particularly liked Griffith's ruthlessness as he deals with his enemies off the battlefield. The events of the Golden Age arc are building toward its truly epic conclusion and I am really excited about rereading them.

The thing about Berserk is that it is consistently brilliant. From the art to the characters and the plot Kentaro never misses a beat and as a reader its an absolute joy to read. Obviously I am biased, I wouldn't have collected the series if I wasn't a fan, but I would highly recommend giving it a read if you haven't before.

Berserk: Volume 7

The Golden Age Arc continues in volume seven of Berserk.

In my humble opinion the seventh book is one of the strongest of the series. I remember watching the anime series with my friend Chris about seven years ago and how I was hooked instantly but there was one scene in particular that captured my imagination. It was when Guts had to face off against one hundred other soldiers. It was and still is one of my favourite scenes in any anime and is a real contender for my favourite scene in the Berserk manga. Volume seven contains this scene so it is unsurprising that I love it. I felt its impact was even better in the manga than in the anime as we have an insight into what he is thinking whilst he is fighting. Actually volume seven is the first volume were we actually see Guts discussing his motivations or lack there of and for me it was griping to reread.

After this magnificent sequence the Band of the Hawk face their toughest fight yet as they attempt to recapture an impenetrable fortress and end the Hundred Year War. I like the battle for Doldrey as it feels very different to the previous fights, its on such an epic scale and was really fun to read. The book ended midway through the battle leaving it on a cliffhanger which is also nice.

For the first time I have a slight criticism of the series. Kentaro has done an excellent job of fleshing out Griffith and Casca but the rest of the band of the hawk are left a little vague, I'd like to know more about them personally but maybe that's just me.

Berserk: Volume 6

Kentaro's masterful fantasy adventure continues in volume six of Berserk.

There are no monsters in the sixth book of the series instead the focus is mainly on the court of Midland. Sir Griffith and the Band of the Hawk have been given the honour of guarding the king, much to the disgust of the other Counts and the repercussions of this take up most of the first half. Guts has some tough choices to make and this is generally a more emotionally charged book.

There is of course some graphic violence but this volume is much wordier spending much of the time looking at Griffith's motivations and ideology which I found riveting to read. I really admire the way Kentaro depicts Griffith, his ever changeable moods shown by switching between quite cartoonish art to heavily shaded and toned panels which have a very sinister air.


A new campaign in the hundred year war begins and we get to see more of the Chuder Empires knights. I liked Adon who is both comic relief and the set up to a great sequence with Guts and Casca. In this book we learn how she joined the band and it's good to see her character fleshed out more. Its another solid book from Kentaro with everything you could want from an epic fantasy novel.

Berserk: Volume 5

Today I reread volume five of Berserk which continues to look at Guts' life with the 'Band of the Hawk'.

 

Berserk's consistent level of quality is stunning, from the art to the plot each volume has been great and volume five continues this trend. It focuses on Guts' role within the mercenary band as they move from battle to battle and also introduces one of my favourite characters, Nosferatu Zodd.

In terms of the Berserk's time-line Zodd is the first demon that Guts meets and I really liked the way Kentaro dealt with this scene. Zodd isn't just any enemy he is also a messenger who delivers a prophecy regarding Griffith which helps explain and progress the plot. This sequence is one of the few times we see Guts show fear and shows us just how stubborn and resilient he is and it is amazing.

The book also expands the world of Berserk by explaining that there has been a hundred year long war between the kingdoms of Chuder and Midland. The Band of the Hawk are in the service of the Midland King and we see Griffith knighted for services rendered. I particularly liked the politics of this book and to me it felt like the story matures as it focuses on the power plays of Griffith and the other nobles.

The Golden Age Arc is a fantasy epic easily as good as Game of Thrones and I am loving ever second of rereading it.

Berserk: Volume 4

Today I reread volume four of Berserk.

I really can't fault this volume, it is simply amazing. The entire book is set around Guts' childhood and tells the tale of how he became embroiled with Griffith and the 'Band of the Hawk'.

Gut's origin is extremely well crafted but very harrowing to read, the mistreatment he receives is nothing short of appalling but it does help explain his attitude from the previous volumes. While the 'Golden Age' arc moves away from the demon filled madness of the previous books it still has it's fair share of monsters namely Gambino and Donovan who are used to great effect. This certainly isn't a happy tale and I really noticed the absence of Puck who so often lightened the mood.

We also see why Guts is capable of wielding his monstrous sword. I love Kentaro shows Guts who has been mistreated by people finding solace in an inanimate weapon. There are some fantastic duels in this book and the fight between Griffith and Guts is one of my favourite sequences in the whole series. I enjoyed the introduction to the Band of the Hawk, I thought the characterisation of the main members was especially good. Plus the final battle is a great way to round off this book.

The art is sensational, the fights are stunning and the characters are brilliant this book is rock solid and it is just the beginning of this epic fantasy adventure.

Berserk: Volume 3

Today I'm rereading volume three of Kentaro Miura's relentless fantasy epic Berserk.

The majority of this book is taken up with the conclusion of the 'Guardians of Desire' chapter in which Gut's is finally brought face to face with his nemesis Griffith. It then moves on to the 'Golden Age' chapter which was the inspiration for the original anime series and probably the most widely known story arc from Berserk.

The introduction of Griffeth is handled very well, I love that there are so many mysteries at this point and while some of the greater mythos is made clear it also poses many more questions for reader. The depictition of the Godhand's domain with its Escheresque imagery is one of my favorite part of the volume. The Godhand themselves seem to be inspired by the cenobites from Clive Barker's Hellraiser. They really are the stuff of nightmares. It also dawned on me whilst I was reading that the Behelits are very similar to the puzzle box too.

Yesterday I said how I understood why people might be put off by this series but if I wanted to convince someone of its merit I tell them to start reading the 'Golden Age' Chapter first. It is essentially the history according to Guts. It follows him from birth up until to the present day and while the previous chapters are key to the overall plot you could easily be read afterwards. In fact in Japan the manga only truly became popular after the start of this story line so its small wonder it was the focus of not only the ninties series but also the new film adaptions too.

Frankly, I loved this volume and rereading it was an absolute pleasure. Kentaro's art is pitch perfect, the characterisation, especially of young Guts, is excellent and the overall plot is well structured and brilliantly executed. What we have here is essentially Berserk in a nutshell and it is magnificent.

Berserk: Volume 2

The black swordsman's quest for vengeance continues in this the second part of Kentaro Miura's dark fantasy masterpiece Berserk.

I am sure there would be many people who would be put off by Berserk. Its strong frequent violence, disturbing plots and often gruesome imagery are not for everyone but it would be wrong to dismiss it as a gratuitous exploitation piece. Despite its explicit content at its core there is a very strong story with a rich mythology and a wonderful cast of characters. Volume two continues the 'Guardian's of Desire' storyline which gives us greater detail about the world and showcases Guts' fighting skills. This part of the story was skipped in the original anime series which is a shame because I think it is superb, hopefully it will features in the forthcoming anime film adaptations.

Kentaro is a master at conveying a sense of movement and speed. There are plenty of fight scenes in this book and he excellently arranges the panels so that the action flows seamlessly. Each swing of Guts' enormous sword is beautifully rendered and already its clear that Kentaro's art is improving. I love how we are shown that Guts himself isn't just a mindless brute but is in fact a master swordsman who is also skilled with other weapons too.

The characters in this volume are great, I really liked Vargas who is central to the plot of this book. His back story is tragic but is nicely used to help develop our understanding of Guts who appears more complicated than he did in volume one. Through Vargas we explore the mythology of the Behelit and the Godhand are mentioned for the first time. There are some great monster designs, some very shocking moments and the art is very good. I loved the ending too but that's probably because I know what's about to happen next...

Berserk: Volume 1

Kentaro Miura's Berserk is a fantasy epic centred around Guts, a man who's quest for vengeance is as relentless as it is bloody. It is a dark, harrowing and extremely violent story which certainly isn't for the faint of heart. The ongoing series has been running for twenty two years and currently spans thirty six volumes. Many people, myself included, feel that it is a masterpiece but what will I think after I reread it? 

The first thing that struck me as I reread volume one was the art, which is much simpler than that in later volumes. It is still very impressive but lacks the insane levels of detail he uses in the more recent chapters. The monster designs are very good and there are bucket loads of gore but it lacks the finesse I'm used to but seeing as it is his early work its seems unfair to criticise it.

The central character Guts appeared a lot younger and his attitude is more unforgiving, crueller even, than I remembered, I'd forgotten just how much he had developed over the course of the story. Its good to see Puck whose comic antics help keep Berserk from being too oppressive and whose actions help move the plot along nicely.

Speaking of he plot, the stories are in book one are excellent and it is very clear that Kentaro had a solid vision of what he wanted to create. This volume introduces ideas and items have have relevance to the series even today and at its core it feels like Berserk. The setting is vague, a sort of pseudo European medieval world, but you can get a good sense that there is more too it than that. To his credit Kentaro doesn't feel the need to explain everything at once, so what if there are elves and monsters, just deal with it. The dialogue is strong and the fight scenes are both grisly and enthralling, all in all it is a great first volume for a wonderful series.

Banya: Volume 5

This is it, the final volume of Banya: The Explosive Delivery Man.

Years ago when I first read Banya I was so chuffed that I'd got a bargain I over-looked some of its faults, like the often puerile dialogue or the terrible censorship that happened in volume four. Although maybe I just had less discerning taste back then. Either way I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I do however remember being somewhat disappointed with the ending which I personally felt was too abrupt.

After rereading the series I still feel the ending is rushed but it isn't really that bad in fact the final part of the story is pretty epic. I had actually forgotten how much I liked the main antagonist, even if his outfit makes him look like a member of the Legion of Doom. Once again there are some very impressive monster designs, I loved the orges which made me think of the cave troll from Lord of the Rings. The highlight of this book was a great scene where the heroes work with the villains for a shared goal.

Banya has it flaws and certainly isn't going to win any awards for originality but I can't deny that I thoroughly enjoyed reading it for a second time. With its dark fantasy setting, violence and monsters Banya often made me think of Kentaro Miura's Berserk which as it happens is the next series I will be rereading. So its goodbye to one bloodstained hero and hello to another.

Banya: Volume 4

Its time for the penultimate volume of Banya: The Explosive Delivery Man by Kim Young-oh.

Part four contains everything you expect, great action scenes, nice monster designs, cool looking bad guys and childish dialogue but it also had a few surprises too. Like the introduction of two new characters, one of which is an inanimate object that can talk. There are some nice comedic moments and we get to see more about Banya's past which I really liked so all it all I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I was rather unhappy to realise that this section of the story has been censored.

Like the last volume this one is pretty dark and once again the violence has been ramped up. With all the extra gore I started to notice some of it had been covered up with a white fog. It was as though someone had used the spraycan from ms paint to do it! It looked tacky, amateurish even, and basically I found it both annoying and distracting.

I don't know who did it, it could have been the author himself for all I know, but I just don't understand why now? Why start censoring an already violent series in volume four? Dark Horse have released some pretty risky manga and I own many of them, series like Berserk and MPD Psycho for instance. These extremely graphic books have been released uncensored so what happened here? I don't know, still it was a good book building up nicely for the final act.

Banya: Volume 3

Sometimes childish often thrilling Banya: The Explosive Delivery Man is a Manhwa by Kim Young-oh and today I am rereading the third volume of the story.

Part three was a lot of fun to read and I definitely feel it is the strongest book so far. The enjoyment for me came from the world building that takes place throughout the stories. Early on we are shown that magic exists in this world and I loved how the author didn't feel the need to explain how it worked. Too often I have read stories that get bogged down in the mechanics of magic, yes it can be interesting to find out how things work but I quite enjoy not knowing. Personally I think the ambiguity makes it more magical. We are also shown that monsters can be summoned by certain people, I've mentioned before that I am a fan of Kim's monster designs but I think the summoned creatures are his best yet.

The dialogue seems tighter with far fewer cringe inducing moments and generally book three feels more mature. The stories have more serious plots and they are significantly more violent. There are some pretty dark sequences, especially one involving a dog which is particularly gruesome. It is well used as a way to introduce a new bad guy so it doesn't feel gratuitous.

I was happy that Kong, Banya's mate, got his own story and we also get to see him fight. Speaking of fighting, the action sequences are very nicely done, they have a frenetic energy that makes them a joy to read. Plus there is even some clues to our heroes past so all in all volume three is a great little book. So far Banya has been episodic in nature but as of this volume we have begun the final and longest story arc. There was a great cliff hanger ending too so roll on volume four. 

Banya: Volume 2

Today I am rereading the second part of Banya: The Explosive Delivery Man by Kim Young-oh.

Part two of Banya literally explodes out of the gates as it continues the story from the previous volume. The first half of this manhwa is dominated with Banya and Mei fighting with five skilled warriors. The fight scenes themselves are really impressive, being both well structured and fun to read. The enemies that the heroes face are nicely designed, they aren't too flashy and each have their own unique fighting style. The violence in this volume is often strong but used sparingly so its impact remains.

Once the first story has been wrapped up its time for Banya to do some pro bono work for an elderly woman. I thoroughly enjoyed this short adventure and I felt the pay off at the end was superb. The nice thing about the delivery men in Banya is that they will literally deliver anything which open up the possibilities for different types of stories. The final chapter sets up volume three nicely, introducing a new bad guy for our hero to defeat.

A good volume of a good series but once again I found the dialogue to be the weakest element. I don't mind slang terms being used, there is certainly a time and a place, but I'm not sure they work in this fantasy world. The terms they use are puerile and generally lower the tone, I actually found them to be quite tedious. I don't know, maybe I'm just getting old.

Banya: Volume 1

Banya or to give it its full title 'Banya: The Explosive Delivery Man' is a fantasy adventure created by Kim Young-oh. It is the only manhwa that I own and while it is technically not a manga I still count it as part of my collection.

I first encountered Banya four years ago while I was browsing my local comic book store. They were having a stock clearance sale and I love a bargain so when I saw that the complete set of Banya being sold for the princely sum of £8 I had to buy it. I felt pretty confident that I'd got a good deal as it is a Dark Horse series who consistently licence quality titles. When I got home I read through all five volumes in one sitting and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. At the time I thought it was possibly the best £8 I had spent in a long time. The question is, how does it hold up to a reread?

The story follows the trials and tribulations of the eponymous Banya, who is essentially a post man, as he carries out his work delivering messages to clients. The plot of this first book flows very nicely and its easily digestible. I think I finished it in about forty minutes. Its pretty action packed and surprisingly violent but there are enough slower scenes so it feels balanced. I do like the characters in this series, they have an energy about them that makes them feel quite real and I think Kim's use of comedy really helped me to form a connection with them. Banya is a good lead for the story, I like his cheeky nature and the obvious enjoyment he gets from his work.

The art is very slick, it has a distinctly different look to Japanese art, its clean lines and character design make each page exciting to look at. For me the stand out element for this manhwa are the monsters. Kim has created some fantastic beasts to populate his world, I particularly liked the Gabble, a reptilian scavenger that hunts in packs. The giant hound was also impressive and so much more interesting than a wolf or a bear.

My only gripe is the dialogue. Its full of colloquialisms and slang terms which to me felt a little forced and, considering the setting, quite anachronistic. I don't know if it was like that in the original or whether it was a decision made by the translators but its a bit annoying. Still it doesn't effect the way the story plays out so its not really a problem.

Does Banya hold up to being reread? Yes, I think it does and I'm looking forward to reading more tomorrow.

Appleseed: Volume 4

Today I will be reading the final volume of Appleseed by Masamune Shirow.

What can I say about the final part of Appleseed? Well it is certainly entertaining so I can say I enjoyed it. The art is the best I've seen from Shirow so I can certainly say its the nicest looking volume so far. Even the action sequences are very well structured, thought out and paced so I can't complain about them. However, and its a big however, I can't say I cared about the story.

This book begins very well. There's some nice development of the characters and even the background guys from previous volumes get fleshed more out which was good. I particularly enjoyed the mission briefing, I really got the sense that I was looking at an early blueprint for Section 9, the central team from Shirow's later work Ghost in the Shell. I'm sure Deunan wearing an eye patch is another reference to Snake Plisskin and I must say it suits her.

By the centre of the book however things start to change. There is a lot of talking about foreign powers, imminent war and the death of a senator but I felt nothing regarding them. They were too distant and too vague for me to really care and ultimately for me that is Appleseed's biggest flaw. Too often things left unexplained, there are sections that feel cloudy or muddled and I often found reading it frustrating. I can easily see why this series is loved by many and I realise it is an early work of his but as I read this volume I was a little disappointed. Personally I thought book three was the highlight of this series but I'm glad I read it all.

After reading all this science fiction I think its about time I read some fantasy. Luckily for me the next series I'll be rereading is Banya: The Explosive Delivery Man.

Appleseed: Volume 3

The ideas that Masamune Shirow came up with for Appleseed are very interesting but unfortunately for me its execution so far has been less than superb. You can see the genius behind the the story but poor pacing and clunky panels have stopped it from being great. I had hoped that volume three would be better and I wasn't disappointed!

What a difference. The third book in the Appleseed series is fantastic, the change is so dramatic that it actually felt like I was reading a different manga. Every little gripe I had about the previous volumes is gone and it is simple a joy to read. I am beginning to see why it was such a popular manga.

The plot is on much smaller scale which benefits the story greatly and the balance between action, character development and philosophy is perfect. This book is mainly centred around of issues of race, religion and identity which makes for a nice change from all the politics in the previous books, although there are elements of that still present. Shirow spends alot of time world building and for the first time Olympus becomes part of tangible world which certainly improved my enjoyment of the story.

The devastated scenes of Manhattan are some of the best I've seen and the opening of this volume is equal parts blade runner and Escape from New York. In fact there is even a little Snake Plisskin cameo at one point. The choreography is significantly better than before and while there are still some disjointed sequences it is miles ahead of its predecessors. There was a very impressive action sequence centred around a French mansion that would would not have been out of place in any action movie.

All in all this was a great book, hopefully the last volume will be more like the third.

Appleseed: Volume 2

You can't have a perfect society without perfect people. Whether this is true or not is the central theme than runs through volume two of Masamune Shirow's sci-fi classic.

I was intrigued by the ideas that had been set up in volume one and I really liked the way that Shirow developed them in this second book. The thought of programming a human to eliminate undesirable traits is a very unsettling concept. How do you deem what characteristics are good and which are bad and who makes the decision? Its pretty deep stuff when you think about it. In the context of this story humans have nearly destroyed the world with war and the cloned humans or 'Bioroids' feel it is time to control their human nature. In recent years I have seen a couple of anime series that have used the I idea of a new human race as a central plot point, Gundam SEED for example, and I am almost certain that Appleseed must have been a large influence on them.

There are some nice action scenes and some great pieces of dialogue in this volume but things aren't all good. If I'm completely honest I was a little underwhelmed with volume one although I think this can be attributed to the fact I had just finished rereading the unquestionable masterpiece that is Akira. Volume two was certainly thought provoking but it is flawed. It is often confusing and at times feels like important scenes are skipped. The characterisation is still a little two dimenstional and aside from Briareos i'm pretty indifferent towards any of the people in the story. That being said it has some stunning artwork and I did enjoy reading it.

Appleseed: Volume 1

Before he wrote Ghost In The Shell Shirow Masamune created another cyberpunk manga called Appleseed. It began in 1985 and so far four volumes have been released. I haven't actually read Appleseed or any of Shirow's manga before so I don't know what to expect.

Appleseed's artwork is charming, its no where near as polished as Katsuhiro Otomo's but there is a great deal of detail and it has an almost cartoonish nature that I really like. The mechanical designs are superb and there are lots of them, in the first chapter alone there was a tank, a heavily armoured battle suit and of course there was Briareos, the main character Deunan's cyborg sidekick.

There's no escaping it, this is a very eighties manga, there are mullets everywhere! It is meant to be the future but most people have very classic look, its not a bad thing it just made me smile. In the sixties everyone thought we'd all be wearing silver jumpsuits after the turn of the millennium. It seems during the eighties people assumed we'd all be sporting dayglow sweat bands and sleeveless shirts.

This story is set after the end of a global war, a war that ended with no one true winner. Seemingly there are still lawless parts but there is now new hope in the form of Olympus, a glittering super advanced city. I love the setting of Appleseed, the idea of an oasis of civility in a world gone mad is pretty cool. The pacing is good, each chapter has a clear aim and there are no wasted panels although there was a sequence where our heroes were quarantined which is completely glossed over, which seemed odd to me.

For a first volume things shape up well, I do hope we get more characterisation as the story goes on but I'm definitely intrigued by the plot. The struggle between two types of people is an interesting idea and the whole book reminded me of Aldus Huxley's Brave New World where Deunan was the savage and that's certainly not a bad thing.

Akira: Volume 6

Here it is the final volume of Akira but is it still as good as I remember?

The conclusion to Akira is expertly thought out and superbly executed. There are so many awesome moments in this volume that after finishing it you actually feel drained, but in a good way. The visuals are the real star as Otomo pushes the boundaries of his already stunning artwork. His depiction of Tetsuo's body failing to maintain its original form is utterly disgusting, the panoramic views of the city are breathtaking and the collage pages just blew me away. With art this good you almost didn't need the words.

In previous posts I have made references to different films but after rereading volume six I realised that each section of Akira could be compared to a different type of film. The first part of the story is a science fiction mystery, like Dark City or The Matrix, where our hero is caught up in events far bigger than they realise. The second book, with its fast and furious pace is undoubtedly the action movie of the series, I genuinely would love to see an adaptation of this part of the book. Volume three is more of a thriller, its filled with political intrigue and we now know the threats our heroes are facing. Its a classic panic filled adventure like the Fugitive. Part four is obviously a disaster movie, part Day after Tomorrow part Doomsday with the fifth book being a post apocalyptic epic like the Postman or Waterworld. Except its actually good.

If I had to compare book six to a type of film I'd say it was a monster movie. It is filled with many different monsters in various forms. If we ignore the obviously monstrous form of Tetsuo we still have the foreign military, biological weaponry and the orbital lasers. Otomo's Akira has an underlying message of the dangers of misusing power. It was written and set in the only country that has been attacked with nuclear weapons and I think its no coincidence that Akira's power evokes the memory of an atomic blast. There is a sequence were a foreign general orders the indiscriminate bombing of Neo Tokyo that made me feel sick.

What I truly loved about this final chapter was the nods to the previous books. In volume one we see a ghost-like Kaneda appear and it isn't explained until the very end of volume six. When you consider the ghost first appeared seven years before thats pretty impressive. Its this attention to detail that really set Akira apart from other mangas. Rereading this masterpiece has been an absolute treat and I honestly think that if you only ever read one manga you should make it Akira.

Akira: Volume 5

Today I am rereading volume five which is the penultimate part of Akira.

When I first started to read Akira I had to rent each book from a library and I often had to wait several weeks before I could get my hands on the next instalment. I started to buy the books a few years afterwards but I did so sporadically as they were quite expensive. In fact volume six was given to me by a friend as a present (thanks again Nath) although he was also reading the series and think he just got sick of waiting for me to buy it. My point is that this is the fastest I have ever read Akira.
     
Like marathoning a series of movies or a T.V boxset you become immersed in the world of the story. I understand that reading each chapter as its released gives you the thrill of anticipation but it can't compare to to the satisfaction you get from gorging on something you love. There's something quite hedonistic about taking a story that took the author seven and a half years to create and devouring it in six days

Part five of Akira is unsurprisingly good. The first half really felt like a Mad Max movie, which to me is a good thing. Joker, a gang member last seen in volume one, is back and he has rebuilt some motorbikes, among other things. Its great getting to see Kaneda tearing through the wasteland on some cobbled together motorbikes and a caretaker robot. Sadly Chiyoko isn't really in this volume but Kaisuke is a good replacement character. Having him as a foil for Kaneda works perfectly and it's good to have some comic scenes after the grim nature of book four.

In this volume Katsuhiro introduces characters from foreign nations which gives an interesting perspective on the whole situation. It was nice to see the collective of scientists try to ascertain the nature of the powers we've seen. I was shocked by how Tetsuo choose to treat them, I'm really surprised that I had forgotten that scene entirely. Speaking of Tetsuo I think the way Otomo choose to subtly change the way he draws him is genius. Its very apparent that he's undergoing a profound change and its all done with shading, very clever.

There are several plots going on at once at this part of the story yet it flows very smoothly. There is an equal weighting given to each storyline that helps keep things on track. This is another mammoth book though and it is a wordier volume that the others so its good that there is plenty to keep your interest. There are some of my favourite parts of the story in this volume but he highlight of part five for me is seeing Tetsuo's struggle to maintain human form as his power reaches unprecedented levels.

With so many different stories all gearing up for a conclusion this volume has a palpable energy and while the pace is slow it moves with a certain purpose. The last scene lets you know the flood gates have opened and there will be no stopping now until it is finished. 

Akira: Volume 4

I'm now half way through my reread of Akira, the science fiction epic by Katsuhiro Otomo. Today I will be reading the fourth volume of the story.

After the events of volume three the city is in ruins. The book begins with some colour pages of a helicopter flying over the devastated city, the double page spread is especially impressive. It would be fair to say that this book is the beginning of the second arc of Akira as everything we have known to be true is now turned on its head. Currently there is a stand off between two religious cults, those who follow Akira and the Great Tokyo Empire and those who worship Lady Miyako, with thousands of innocent refuges caught in the middle.

One of the highlights of volume three was Chiyoko the unstoppable housewife and her reappearance in this book does not disappoint! I remember getting this volume from a local library and how I had to reread the sequence several times because it was simply fantastic. The caretaker robots are still around too although now they are being hunted by the survivors. Maybe its because they look a little like the Tachikomas from Ghost in the shell but I feel rather sorry for them.

You have to admire Otomo for such a radical change of direction. This devastated landscape filled with desperate, lawless people is completely different to what we've seen before and yet the book still feels like Akira. There is a great series of scenes in a bar that helps explain the new status quo, I particularly liked the little nod to a barter system.

Tetsuo was barely even in volume three but in book four it is Kaneda who takes a break. Since the beginning Akira has been a serious story but Kaneda's antics always helped to lighten the mood and without him there is a darker more broody nature to the story. The early scenes with Kei and Chiyoko are tense and nervy while Tetsuo's attempts to create an army of people with the power are quite horrifying. Tetsuo's harem is another example of the growing darkness of the story.  I really rather miss Kaneda.

Eight years after Akira Otomo wrote another manga called The Legend of Mother Sarah. It was the story of a women called Sarah who was looking for her lost children while walking through a blighted world. If I had to guess I'd say that Chiyoko's struggle to save little Kiyoko in book four must have been an inspiration for that manga. I've also noticed that on rereading Akira Chiyoko is fast becoming my favourite character of the series.

The pace is slower in this volume which works well. It's great to get some back story from Lady Miyako and the politics of the budding empire are equally interesting. The wanton slaughter in the temple and the subsequent assaults after continue the darker tone of this book. I love that even with all the psychic powered people in this volume its actually the 'normal' humans that are the truly scary ones.

I must say I'd forgot how much longer this volume was than the first three. At nearly four hundred pages you get a third more than normal. Yet even with so many more pages this volume never dips in quality. The scenes with Colonel traipsing through the ruins with his pet caretaker robot made me think of Wolverine and his reprogrammed Sentinel. If I happen to survive the end of the world I hope I'm lucky enough to have a robotic friend too.

Tetsuo's rebirth brings about a new type of phenomenon, one which dumps upside down sky scrappers of out the air and brings Kaneda screaming back into the story. The last thing we see is Kaneda asking: 'Is it over?' which for me is a really nice way to end this volume. But to answer your question Kaneda no its not, there are still two more volumes to go and I can't wait.

Akira: Volume 3

When I first read Akira the events in volume three truly blew me away. While parts one and two contain elements that were featured in the animated film the contents of book three was completely new to me. I am really looking forward to this.

 

Picking up seconds after the end of part two we are once again treated to some full colour pages showing Tetsuo screaming as the Colonel fires another shot from Sol. I found this scene very powerful as throughout volume one and two we have seen Tetsuo grow progressively more and more powerful until he seems unstoppable but seeing him clutching his arm and crying in terror you are reminded that he is just a fifteen year old boy.

At the end of volume two a scientist triggered a code seven alert and now Neo Tokyo is in lock down. In this volume we see that martial law is in affect and the city is crawling with caretaker robots, the military's merciless enforcers. They remind me of ED-209 from Robocop, especially when they butcher some looters only then to read them their rights.

Kaneda and Kei are now in possession of Akira and are hiding with Chiyoke, the machine gun toting housewife on the cover of this volume. Unfortunately for them a minion of Lady Miyako appears and kidnaps him. I love the way the plot flows back and forth as Akira is passed between different parties. At one point there are four different groups all trying to seize Akira for themselves.

The start of part three spends a lot of time dealing with the political ramifications that stem from the code seven alert which is a refreshing breather after the furious pace of the second volume. However, this does result in a military coup spearheaded by the Colonel and the chaos that ensues afterwards is mesmerising.

The first half may have been slow compared to volume two but the second half is pure adrenaline fuelled madness. There are bridges being destroyed, Kaneda driving a tank through houses and groups of psychic children doing battle in the streets. Meanwhile there is fighting going on between the treacherous Nezu's personal guard and the military's soldiers. As dawn breaks things come to a head and there is a really great sequence were the Colonel and Kaneda come face to face again.

And then page 231 happens.

The next sixty pages are simply breath taking, I can honestly say this is one of the greatest sequences I have ever read in any manga. You are bombarded with epic imagery that boggles the mind and each page is a work of art. The final pages show Tetsuo approaching Akira leaving you to wonder what can possible happen next.

I said at the start I was looking forward to rereading this volume and I did. I really did. Katsuhiro Otomo, we are not worthy.