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BOOGIPOP DUAL: LOSERS’ CIRCUS (VOL. 2) |
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Wednesday, 21 February 2007 |
 | | ▪ | PUBLISHED BY: | | SEVEN SEAS | | | ▪ | ART/AUTHOR: | | MASAYUKI TAKANO / KOUHEI KADONO | | | | ▪ | FORMAT/COLOR: | | JAPANESE FORMAT / BW | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 192 | | | ▪ | RATED: | | 16+ | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 01/10/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 02/22/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | CHRISTOPHER SEAMAN |
Boogiepop, the “Angel of Death” to those who cause suffering to people in school or society, may wear the same costume in each tale. However, ‘he’ can inhabit different bodies as women or men are called upon- whether they like it or not- to act as the vessel for the spirit of this being. This successful string of stories involving the many incarnations of Boogiepop has been entertaining readers and anime fans through its video incarnations since 1998. Dark in tone, full of complex plot twists and turns, these tales keep you glued to the page or the screen as you bounce back and forth through an often non-linear narrative to get to the end of the work. If getting there is half the fun, taking a ride on the BOOGIEPOP express is a trip worth taking.
BOOGIPOP DUAL: LOSERS’ CIRCUS VOLUME TWO concludes the latest story about our urban legend. Boogiepop has taken over the body of a young ‘loser’ named Akizuki, abandoning a woman on staff who had been the ‘host’ for some time. Facing off against them is Honjou, another teacher on staff with a twisted passion for manipulating others and breaking their spirit. Preying on a troubled girl at school, he sets the stage for a frightening confrontation that dominates much of the last third of the book. There is a real danger with Honjou, as well, as the new Boogiepop is not as strong as some of the others, and takes heavy punishment whenever he gets into a fight. Can Boogiepop stand up to Honjou and survive bullying at school by thugs acting on the twisted desires of a girl who, at the beginning of the story, sets the gang onto Akizuki in a Science lab, which she blows up when things fall apart. High school is a dangerous place, even if you are possessed by the spirit of an avenging angel.
Kouhei Kadono’s writing keeps the story fresh and engaging, playing with flashbacks to set the scene effectively before the final action takes place. Once again, the story is paced with care, and there are moments of strange beauty in the tale. There is not a soul that isn’t in pain in this work and the writing establishes this with sensitivity and finesse. The fine artwork by Masayuki Takano complements the narrative well, using skillful framing and an economy of line in the images that is expressive and yet not overpowering with too many distracting lines. As with other BOOGIEPOP stories, the panels are expertly laid out with multiple angles and varied lighting. Now, there are couple a good things about the story in addition to the story itself. Seven Seas has provided some very helpful notes at the end of the manga on the history of the Boogiepop stories, and has also supplied some essays on the author and illustrator of the work. However, the lack of a summary of events in Volume One made getting into the work a bit harder as a result. Being only a two part story, readers really need to buy Seven Seas’ first volume to put events into the proper context. It makes a rich story even better, and simply put, completes the tale. This is a manga best read in its entirety, as, one is sure the author intended it.
IN SUMMARY:
BOOGIEPOP DUAL: LOSERS’ CIRCUS Volume Two is a compelling tale of revenge, betrayal, and loss. It is a worthy addition to the canon of work that is BOOGIEPOP, blending action and mystery with some fine plot twists and narrative devices to you’re your attention from beginning to end. |
