 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | TOKYOPOP | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | KEI SANBE | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 224 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | M | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 03/11/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 06/26/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | SCOTT CAMPBELL |
In a dark future, a biological disease that transforms humans into monsters called the Kamiyadori plagues the city. The forces formed to fight against the disease and its victims are a specially trained team called the Right Arms. These agents are paid to keep the tightest control possible on those who become infected – and the only response they offer is swift execution. But there’s a glimmer of light when one Right Arms officer is unable to kill a young boy and his sister. His mercy sets off a chain of connected events – events that may bring a ray of hope to an entire world filled only with despair and chaos. The series is sure to go out with a band as it concludes with this fifth and final volume. Kamiyadori is thankfully still going strong, bringing us to volume five of this cross between the sci-fi and horror genres. Readers may also be thankful for the few, but noticeable hints of cyber-punk influence that are so hard to come by, but so good when they happen. The art and story continue to be just as entertaining as in the first few books, if not more so. The revelations about the characters are the high points this time around, with the action just barely managing to take a back seat for a moment while the plot thickens and bursts. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: This manga, without a doubt, should be made into an animated series. People would just eat it up – especially fans of gory sci-fi and a mature story. It has so much potential for movement because everything seems to move on the pages. It gives you a really clear idea of how great it would be to see this story made into an anime so you could see it really move. Cross your fingers and it might happen, but the manga is entertaining enough to keep readers busy while they wait. In volume five we learn more and more of the past and what it means to the present in the world of Kamiyadori. The flashback into Jillald's past continues, as we learn how the newfound guilt and pain in Jillald's once cold heart places him at deadly odds with his best friend, Caros. How Jillald met Vivi as a feral child is also unveiled, as well as what forged their special bond. But most importantly, a cure to Kamiyadori seems to finally be within their grasp. Will Jillald and Vivi be able to wipe out the deadly virus once and for all? Find out in the thrilling conclusion to Kamiyadori! The art is still dark and grungy as ever, like the world being depicted. Any humour supplied is tongue-in-cheek, making it all the more enjoyable for its subtlety. The buildings and structures drawn into the backgrounds are excellent and really add to the whole atmosphere of a ruined, barely holding on world that the characters are immersed in. The character details are just as good – everyone looks fairly different and it’s easy to recognize who is who due to how much actual detail has been put into each of them. It’s so great when an artist takes the time to make each of their characters identifiable – it’s so much more realistic and makes the story easier to follow and therefore enjoy. This series is for a mature audience, so it certainly gets violent at times. It doesn’t spare us the blood and guts, but it’s not over-used in any unattractive way. When it’s needed, it’s there. There’s also a bit of nudity smattered here and there, but again nothing that could be seen as distasteful or completely unnecessary. All in all, it has a lot going on for it, and everything is in moderation. A trend that most readers appreciate is the “extra(s)” now being made available in the back of most manga coming out nowadays. Volume five has a short cartoon drawn by the author/artist that relates to a trip to Nepal he once took – it’s a continuation from the last volume. It’s fun to see the artist break out from the expectations of the manga they are drawing and just draw in a less serious way. The cartoon is done in a sketchy style with little chibi characters – it’s actually pretty cute. Extras like this won’t always make or break a book, but they are better than no extras at all! The more extras, the better – as long as they don’t start charging more for them. But at $9.99 US, Kamiyadori is still a great choice to get your mature reading needs filled. It’s got great action and characters, but still manages to pack a good story to back it all up. And it’s only gotten better with each book – so how can we ask for more than that?
IN SUMMARY:
Kamiyadori is now a quintessential player in the cyber-punk genre, but it brings its own unique grunge and despair to the theme of apocalypse and the possible destruction of everything as we know it. It’s a wonderful mess of violence and emotion from start to finish. |
