There’s some air-trekking and love antics in this volume involving Ikki’s schoolmates. But it isn’t long before Ikki finds himself in a fierce Parts War with a top team and a couple of Road Rulers have come to observe. But when they choose to interfere, Ikki is about to learn a hard lesson about the Road of Blood!

Ikki has to make some hard choices about whether he wants to become one of the Road Rulers, join Simca’s group, or start his own Air Trek team. But before the show gets too fearsome, it gives the reader some lighter and heavily comedic entertainment with Ikki’s pal being lovelorn, a teacher who manipulates him with her good looks to do a strange errand for her, and out having a good time air trekking with Ringo. The serious stuff picks up when Ringo is shown to obviously be hiding some grave secrets from Ikki about his past and what happened ten years ago. Later, when he goes up against a top team for parts, everyone is in over their heads when the ruler of the Road of Blood gets involved. A seemingly innocent kid with an eye patch hides a deadly and vicious alternate personality. As Akito, he’s a gentle lad with a crush on Ikki. As Agito, he’s a terrifying force that revels in blood, pain and riding the edge of death. Either way, Ikki will have his hands full.

The introduction of this character is done with great effect when Agito shows no mercy to the air trekkers who cross his path. There is also the introduction of his older brother, Kaito, who is part of the Air Trek Special Ops Team. In other words, he’s the police as far as air trekkers are concerned. However, he has a vicious side of his own, shown in is dealings with his younger brother. His dealings with the brothers show Ikki’s unique character through and through as both a tough guy and a young man with a good, if reckless, heart.

There is a lot of diverse comedy in this volume as the manga has some fan service, some crude jokes, and then some very violent ones in regards to the exchanges between Ikki and Kaito. Nevertheless, it always manages to put it in context and make it funny no matter what your tastes are. The artwork is fantastic. The energy and flow of the action scenes, even the quieter reflective moments, are all exceptional to look at.

Extras include translation notes, character concept sketches, and a preview of the next volume in the original Japanese.

IN SUMMARY:
With the latest events in this manga, it will be hard to have the patience to wait to find out what happens next. Air Gear is a great entertaining read with a lot of imagination and bawdy humor.