 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | VIZ MEDIA | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | NAKED APE:
SAKI OTOH & NAKAMURA TOMONI | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 184 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | OT | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 09/09/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 10/03/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | SCOTT CAMPBELL |
Kai Eto may look like a squeaky clean kid, but the greater Kanto Narcotics Control Division’s new investigator hides a violent alter ego and a dangerous past. Together with his stoic partner Hal Kurabayashi, Kai is assigned to track down and stop the distribution of a dangerous new drug – Dragon Speed. In volume four, The NCD is investigating a blackmail case involving a drug dealer who is proving impossible to pin down. In an effort to get any leads, the team begins to investigate the victim, office worker Yoshio Ito. Hal and Kai go undercover to infiltrate Ito's life, and find a twisted trail of dark secrets... It’s true – this volume is pretty dark. Drugs usually have a darker side, and it certainly plays out in this particular story. Victims of the drug sometimes use because of their terrible past, and incest/molestation plays a part in the downward spiral of addiction that plagues Ito’s life. There are some pretty grotesque, but really well-drawn portions where the user feels maggots crawling under their skin and even sees them bursting out of their arms and hands, onto the floor. The flashbacks are certainly creepy, but it all stays within the realm of the older teen rating, knowing not to go too far and end up in the mature rating area, as content goes. The art is still really cool and edgy – one of the best parts about it is all the angles and close ups that are used. The visuals are very non-linear when it comes to presenting things, and it makes for a more entertaining read. It would be safe to say that the art is getting more dramatic also – there is more emotion and drama within the art, and it really helps bring out the emotion in the plot. Beyond that, the art is pretty unique in its use of blank whites – many things that would usually be shaded are stark white in this manga, and it’s a great look. The contrast between white and black is also very straight-up – things are usually either black as night or as white as snow within the art. This, and many other elements of the artistic style, give the visuals a very mature, artsy feel to them. The art on its own is well worth a look - it’s just quite different in its approach, and looks great doing it. As for extras, there are a number of previews for other book series from VIZ Media, and a humorous write-up at the back about the fantastic new chair that the artist bought to use while drawing – it apparently really made her day! A little about the author and artist for your educational enjoyment: Naked Ape is the collaboration of Tomomi Nakamura and Otoh Saki, who were born just three months apart. Nakamura, the artist, takes things at her own pace and feels no guilt for missing deadlines. Saki, the writer, also does cover design and inking and is called President by the assistants. Naked Ape’s other works include Black Tar and the ongoing futuristic crime thriller DOLLS.
IN SUMMARY:
Switch is many things, and this time around it shows it can be dark and broody. It’s really entertaining to have a story go in all sorts of directions and show us a different side of itself. Switch is always a surprise, and always a good one! |
