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Saturday, 07 April 2007 |
 | | ▪ | PUBLISHED BY: | | BROCCOLI BOOKS | | | ▪ | ART/AUTHOR: | | SHINGO NANAMI | | | | ▪ | FORMAT/COLOR: | | JAPANESE FORMAT/ BW | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 208 | | | ▪ | RATED: | | 13+ | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 10/18/2006 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 03/31/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
NOA lies in ruins. Okikurumi has awakened to begin to devour the world as suits Utsuho’s wishes. Atsuma, freed of his kamui Kojomaru, lies impaled, bloody and dying beneath the rubble, in part by Sumire’s betrayal. She survived and Kojomaru has a question for her. This confrontation leads to revealing weaknesses within both Sumire and the Kamui. Together they save Atsuma but one has to wonder for what potentially devious purpose? Or is there something kind, something worthy within either Sumire or Kojomaru? Meanwhile, these two find they have common goals and desire to use each other to attain those ends, however disturbing those desires may be. When Atsuma awakens, just what will he do about Utsuho, Okikurumi, and Sumire?
Intense, psychologically riveting and emotionally enthralling, Kamui continues to impress with its intriguing story and compelling characters. Readers get to learn a lot more about Sumire, and also Shiki and Yanagi in this volume. Freed of his pact, Atsuma goes through an existential crisis wondering what his purpose in life is now, what is his worth or value now that he is weakened, wounded, and drifting. Yet his decision may be made for him. Back at the Research Facility, Utsuho has regained his stronghold to oversee the destruction of the Earth. There, Shiki confronts him and learns the startling hidden wish behind Utsuho’s insane plan. Yanagi does not care for Shiki’s sudden usurping of Yanagi’s place at Utsuho’s side. And so he sets forth and meets up with a surprised Atsuma. An altercation between them ensues, one aided by Yanagi’s weapon – the dangerous Hyde. Within this struggle, Atsuma asks himself why, why does his body still insist on moving even when he feels no purpose left in his heart?
This volume takes a step back from all the pivotal action and revelations of the previous volumes to set into motion a crisis of conscience as it were, within the main hero, Atsuma. It also sees some interesting changes in the relationships of Sumire with Shiki and Utsuho, as well as Yanagi’s steps to ensure his place at Utsuho’s side. This volume puts into the foreground the one desire, the one wish, each of these key players holds in the deepest recesses of their hearts. For Atsuma, he no longer knows, and if the Earth is to be saved, he will need to find out and awaken that which slumbers buried within him.
Extras in the manga include a full color cover page, terminology notes, translation notes, character notes, an English translated preview of the next volume, and three humorous bonus comic panels about the members of NOA.
IN SUMMARY:
Kamui is a thrilling sci-fi neo-Gothic series that will delight fans of CLAMP’s X. It is not to be missed by anyone who appreciates an emotionally intense and psychologically fraught sci-fi manga series with attractive artwork and riveting story telling. |
