▪	RELEASED BY:		DEL REY
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		FUYUMI SORYO
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / B&W
		▪	PAGES:		240
		▪	RATING:		OT
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		08/28/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		10/31/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		CHRISTOPHER SEAMAN

ES- ETERNAL SABBATH is a manga which deals with aspects of human evolution that have recently, with the decoding of the genome, become hot news.  It plays well with these themes, but also manages to, like many stories on these subjects, strike a cautionary note in the narration.  Over six volumes, the manga has cast a critical look on scientists experimenting with humans, while themselves remaining so flawed in their own lives.  This has set up an all too familiar theme where the creations in the lab look at their creators and find them so wanting that destroying them seems only appropriate.  Where this has gone has made for some riveting reading, and in the sixth volume of the series, it shows no sign of losing its edge.

Volume Six opens with Isaac meeting Yuri and hearing about her mother attacking her (see Volume Five for more).  Showing off his twisted mind control over the woman he has adopted as his caregiver, Isaac then terrifies Yuri with another of his possessions- a hand gun.  Yuri, disgusted by Isaac’s casual abuse of the woman whose hous he’s living in, finally acts when she sees the gun, stealing it when Isaac momentarily leaves the room.  This action, however, now puts Yuri and her mother in mortal danger, seemingly beginning the build up to what may eventually become the climax of this fascinating manga. 

Meanwhile, Yuri’s mother, distraught over her attack on Yuri seeks counseling from Mine, who has some issues of her own to deal with, having recently consummated her love with Shuro.  One hopes the therapy will be successful, but with Isaac still on the loose, one never knows.  Shuro himself must face some difficult times as the man he adopted as his surrogate father passes away after a long illness in hospital.  Mina comforts him during this period, adding more depth to their already complicated but heartfelt relationship.

Volume Six is one of the longest in the series so far.  It is also one of the best, taking time to move into some of the backstory a little more and flesh out some of the character dynamics in the plot before returning to the conflict and the ‘chase’ that drives the action at a breathtakingly fast pace.  As before, the art work in this manga maintains the high standard established in the first volume, and the dialogue remains tight without being choppy.  Having the narrative focus more on Mina trying to help Yuri’s mother actually makes an effective mirror to the tortured and twisted lives experienced by Isaac and his nemesis, the heroic Shuro.  Yuri herself becomes a kind of Mina in miniature, coming to grips with the power of Isaac and growing stronger in herself while dealing with it.  All of the characters have grown, it is true, but Mina and Yuri have probably grown the most in the story so far, and as X-FILES, which I have compared this manga to in earlier reviews was as much about Scully’s journey from skeptic to believer, this manga is Mina and Yuri’s journey to self-actualization.

Del Rey has once again included excellent translation notes that will help readers understand some of the unique cultural references that exist in the plot.  It is strongly recommended that readers consult this section, as a couple of key moments make even more sense after reading it.  Also, a preview of Volume Seven is included, setting up a critical moment in the story which most certainly cannot be revealed here.

IN SUMMARY:
ES-ETERNAL SABBATH Volume Six is a darkly spine-tingling mix of action and mystery that will have you racing to the end of the story and wanting more.  Compelling action, heartbreaking family tragedies, and psychic psychos on the loose make this one wickedly weird manga.