▪	RELEASED BY:		BROCCOLI BOOKS
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		SHINGO NANAMI
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / BW
		▪	PAGES:		208
		▪	RATING:		13+
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		09/10/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		08/23/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

Atsuma and Sumire (controlled by the Kamui Kojomaru) strike out against Shiki who stands in their way.  When Aika moves in to protect Sumire, driven by her half remembered emotions, Sumire/Kojomaru react in a startling manner.  Utsuho continues to manipulate others from the background. Shiki takes a stance that will force Atsuma or Sumire to kill the usually cold man. His emotions run high however as he taunts them. And as the fight grows more dire, Atsuma is still ignorant of the fact that the more he uses his new ability, the closer he approaches the time of his own death.

 The story begins to hurtle towards the climatic showdown imminent between Utsuho and Atsuma.  The fight with Shiki on one side and Atsuma, Sumire/Kojomaru and Aika on the other is one filled with hard feelings…and blood. The personal motivations of the characters in Kamui, however twisted, have been a riveting experience. On some level you can’t help but sympathize with each person despite thinking how corrupt, misguided, or outright insane some of their actions are. There are reasons for all of them. It is a well told story. And the gripping character developments have been a cornerstone of what has made the manga series so mesmerizing.

The most markedly changed character is Atsuma. The aloof and emotionally self-centered individual he was is so far away from the more mature and selfless character he has become. When he goes to save Anju and the other NOA members from the clutches of the ever growing Okikurumi, we see how selfless and caring he’s become. It leads to an unexpected reunion with Shui. The friend of Atsuma was given a choice by the merciless Utsuho:  kill Atsuma or be a guinea pig in the lab. Shui made his choice, and it leads to a moving confrontation with Atsuma. At last Atsuma learns the truth about his powers and their toll. Knowing with each use that he is closer to death, will Atsuma forgo his aims?

Atsuma isn’t the only one having to face hard truths and even harder choices. Upon confronting Utsuho at last, Sumire/Kojomaru learn a shocking truth about the Kamui so attached to Atsuma.  Curiously, the writer keeps the suspense high by not allowing the reader to know exactly what the revelation is that Kojomaru has suffered. It is only imparted that it is horrifically bad, not only for Kojomaru, but for Atsuma as well.
  
Extras in the manga include a full color cover page, terminology notes, translation notes, character notes, an English translated preview of the next volume, and a recap of the manga series so far.

IN SUMMARY:
Kamui holds emotionally laden showdowns and shocking revelations. It is one of the best sci-fi manga series of the year. CLAMP fans don’t miss this title!