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Wednesday, 31 January 2007 |
 | | ▪ | PUBLISHED BY: | | DEL REY | | | ▪ | ART/AUTHOR: | | KEI TOUME | | | | ▪ | FORMAT/COLOR: | | JAPANESE FORMAT / BW | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 272 | | | ▪ | RATED: | | 13+ | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 12/26/2006 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 02/01/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
A reflective and at times unsettling story, Kuro Gane continues to show the strength of despair through the eyes of the assassin Jintetsu. A hired swords man forced to live in a body mostly metal and only some of his own flesh, he wanders without the ability to speak, his only companion a talking sword, forced to live out his potentially endless existence drifting aimlessly.
In the most recent volume of this serious manga, Jintetsu is lost in a forest beset by an unnaturally thick fog. He encounters a man who gives him shelter. Soon the swordsman will discover the horrifying secrets the forest holds. Afterwards, Jintetsu becomes enmeshed in a long abiding grudge. Gang leaders and vengeful women take center stage and with Makoto’s arrival, Jintetsu must unravel who is telling the truth and which side he is on. In the last story of this volume, Jintetsu investigates the rumors of a murderous ghost in a nearby village, however, Makoto is on his trail and she may yet discover the truth about the man behind the metal…
As compelling as ever, Kuro Gane uses the feudal era and the unusual plight of Jintetsu to cut quick to the heart of the matter. In this case the story explores the varying costs of love, loyalty and revenge. It shows in one breath the worst of humanity and at the most unexpected times, gives as a whisper of compassion, a hint of kindness to give Jintetsu hope, or perhaps to impart to the reader those feelings as well. It makes for powerful emotive story telling done in a subtle manner in a story set in a ruthless world.
Extras include translation notes, pin up art work by Kei Toume, and a preview of volume 4.
IN SUMMARY:
Kuro Gane is a mesmerizing manga series that shows despair while subtly giving hope to the swordsman of metal, drifting, looking for reason amongst all the madness. |
