Mangaphile – A person infatuated with manga
Manga - Japanese Comics
What is it about beautiful woman who wield dangerous weapons that continues to fascinate us? Black Lagoon may not have the answer but it sets out to remind the audience why we love them.
Black Lagoon follows the exploits of Rokuro Okajima, or “Rock” as he later comes to be known, as he becomes entangled in the dealings of foul mouthed outlaws and fearsome gangsters. When he is caught in the middle of his company’s industrial crisis, he is abandoned by his superiors, forcing him to make the fateful decision of beginning a new life as a member of the outlaw crew who reside on the Black Lagoon.
Each member of the group serves a purpose aboard the ship, carrying out specific duties best designed for them. Dutch serves as the calm calculating leader, Revy as the guntoting beauty, and Benny, the computer genius and engineer. As the book unfolds, the crew becomes involved with one crazy mission after another, all in the name of earning a quick buck.
The idea that a woman could be just as capable as a man when it comes to kicking butt and taking names is prominently featured throughout the book as some of the toughest characters are female. From the malicious mafia leader Balalaika to the rocket wielding maid Roberta, Black Lagoon provides a breath of fresh air in not just its knack for over the top characters but also its willingness to show women who are as respected as they are feared.
Being an action series, Black Lagoon shamelessly pumps out page after uber-violent page of blood inducing gore. Make no mistake, this is not a title for youngsters. Blood is prevalent and profanities are strewn across every other page. Fortunately, the series never tries to be something it isn’t. Part of what make Black Lagoon so fun is its acceptance of its own violent nature.
The main strength of the series would have to be its art, which is provided by Rei Hiroe, who serves as both its artist and writer. The artwork delivers in both the design and the action. Each page is layed out carefully, populated with cleverly unique characters and perfectly paced action choreography that looks to have come straight out of a movie.
Reading Black Lagoon almost feels like watching your favorite Quentin Tarantino film. The graphic non-stop violence and the foul mouthed personas that run rampant act as parts of a whole that when combined, form a brutal sexually charged thrill ride that will leave you wanting for more.
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