There’s only five minutes remaining in the final showdown between the Deimon Devil Bats and the Hakushu Dinosaurs. As the clock ticks away the two teams trade positions, Sena, Hiruma, and Kurita struggle to find a way to power through the unmatched defense of Gao and Marco. Afterward, the team decides to gather some info on their next opponents, the Teikoku Alexanders, touted as the strongest team in all of Japan. After getting caught sneaking in, they are surprised to find that they are more than welcome to study the Alexanders’ techniques. When questioning their over confidence, Sena and the others are shocked to find that not only is their top player the real Eyeshield 21, their entire team consists of the best athletes. Eyeshield 21 at this point has grown into a superb series, with well developed characters, intense action, and touching humor. While the battle against the Dinosaurs was among the series finest, the look into the Alexanders roster ups the ante, as the team prepares for their toughest challenge to date. With the Christmas Bowl in their sights it would appear the series is prepping for an explosive conclusion. As a fan, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
After the damage inflicted to their team captain in the previous volume, the Deimon Devil Bats find themselves trailing against the Hakusho Dinosaurs. Sena does his best to fill in but finds it to be much more arduous than he ever imagined. When Deimon’s power house, Kurita, begins doubting his ability to protect his teammates from Hakusho’s star player, Gao, the rest of the Devil Bats pool their strength in an effort to prevent Sena from suffering the same fate. Things get interesting when an injured Hiruma makes his return to the field stunning everyone. Despite lacking the use of his arms, his tricks manage to hold the Dinosaurs at bay.
Eyeshield 21 has always excelled at crafting an intense story that rivets its audience and this volume is no exception. The odds are once again in favor of Deimon’s opponents though this may be the first time that their victory is in doubt. Since the beginning, it’s always been assumed that the Devil Bats would win every game but with their captain injured and their lineman doubting himself, things have never looked so bleak. When the manga first started, it was described as a coming of age story. At this point, every character has grown significantly and the only thing left is their ultimate goal of making it to the fabled “Christmas Bowl”. There are some allusions made as to who they will be facing which once again foreshadows their opponents being unbeatable, which admittedly is beginning to sound redundant. However, if the series can maintain this level of quality, then there is no reason to take a halftime from Eyeshield 21.
The Deimon Devil Bats square off against the Hakusho Dinosaurs with the winners earning the right to play in the Christmas Bowl. Emotions are running high as up till now, Hakusho has either forced every team they have faced to forfeit or just out right destroyed them. Even Deimon’s usually boastful leader Hiruma is aware of the risks in playing such a team.
Though they may not seem like much of a unit, Hakusho’s true strength lies in its power. Kurita, Deimon’s defensive center, undergoes extensive training so that he can match Hakusho’s unstoppable Rikiya Gao, who has crushed every quarterback he has faced. Meanwhile, Hiruma has his attention centered on Reiji Marco, Hakusho’s captain and quarterback whose ruthless tactics include sacrificing both team’s players for the win.
As good as the series has been, this volume is where Eyeshield 21 really shines. The tension between the two teams is palpable and makes their inevitable clash all the more exciting. The match is intense as the Dinosaurs prove to be unlike anything Deimon has faced. Late in the volume, one of Deimon’s key players falls before Gao’s might upping the emotional drama.
Unfortunately, if there is one weakness to this series, it’s that its almost guaranteed Deimon will make it through to play in the Christmas Bowl. Still, even that is a minor complaint as the writer does an excellent job in stacking the odds against the Devil Bats.
Even though the book takes a more serious turn later on, it retains its comedy. Eyeshield 21 continues to provide action packed volumes that make it a fun read and will leave fans chomping at the bit in anticipation for the next volume.
Eyeshield 21 Volume 29 - A
Black Lagoon Volumes 4-5
More than a year after being abandoned by his bosses, Rock’s new life finally comes home with him as he returns to Japan. Rock is hired by Balalaika as an interpreter to accompany her to Japan where she has some “Business dealings” to take care of and of course, gal pal Revy is along for the ride.
It turns out Hotel Moscow has business to conduct with the Yakuza, turning the nearby Tokyo area into a warzone. As Balalaika lays waste to those around her, Rock and Revy sense even more conflict on the horizon after a chance encounter with a girl named Yukio and her bodyguard Ginji, both of whom are members of the Washimine-gumi and Balalaika’s newest targets.
Of course Rock can’t help but feel sorry for Yukio as for most of her life, she has made a conscious effort to avoid the mob life but in the end found it impossible. In an effort to save both his innocence and her own, Rock decides to put all his effort into saving the hapless Yukio from a life of violence and pain. Of course, as past volumes have proven, nothing ever ends happily for the Lagoon crew, least of all Rock.
Earlier volumes carried more action than story, while here we are given a change of pace with more talking heads than we are used to. While there are still countless pages of explosions and gun battles, the fun and adventure is replaced with a more somber feeling. There is a feeling of helplessness as most of the cast struggles to prevent the inevitable from taking place.
Rock wants save Yukio despite realizing he doesn’t have it in his power to do so, while Yukio wants to live a normal life, knowing she never can as long as the lives of members of the washimine-gume depend on her, and Revy wants to shield Rock from horrible truths of the situation. Revy’s relationship with Rock is at its strongest in these volumes as we see that while she has acknowledged and accepted what she has become, she refuses to let Rock walk the same path.
As one has come to expect from Black Lagoon, the writing and art are powerful. Every panel is a collage of blood and emotion. One can’t help but look forward to the developing relationship between Revy and Rock as his influence slowly begins pulling her away from the shadows that have haunted her past.
While these volumes weren’t as flashy or fun as the previous ones, they still retained the series heart.
Black Lagoon Volume 4 - A
Black Lagoon Volume 5 - A+
Dogs: Bullets and Carnage Volume 2
Expounding style and violence, Dogs: Bullets and Carnage continues to provide some of the most beautiful visuals seen in a series today. Shirow Miwa pens edgy images depicting all manner of violence that would make even Quentin Tarantino blush.
Volume 2 provides more of the same, delivering exactly what one would expect from the series. The core characters of Heine, Badou, and Naoto continue to decapitate and eviscerate everyone that stands between them and their various goals. This volume pits the trio against a pair referred to as “the Hardcore Twins” Luki and Noki. Not only is the pair psychotic but like Heine, they are genetically altered be perfect killing machines.
Included as a bonus is a one-shot chapter starring the Hardcore Twins themselves as they rampage across a city, wreaking havoc against a fallen mafia boss. It’s a fun little extra that shows a more lighthearted side to the crazed duo.
Despite being more about style than substance, Dogs gets a pass based on its inventive characters and exquisite art. True, it may not be as fun as Black Lagoon, but its cinematic sequences and over the top characters make it an addictive read.
Since its inception, Football has been the preferred past time for sports fans. Here in the States, it is considered an institution amongst many, its popularity unrivaled; perhaps then, is it any wonder then why a manga based on the sport has reached the level of success that Eyeshield 21 has?
Despite the fact that Football’s popularity is almost nonexistent in Japan, Eyeshield 21 sets out to prove that well written characters, amazing artwork, and an entertaining story can produce a quality manga that can be appreciated by everyone. Not to mention make the sport more exciting than any game in real life.
Eyeshield 21’s story follows the meek Sena Kobayakawa whose daily routine usually consists of running errands for school bullies. After doing so for years, he develops an amazing level speed that makes him the perfect match for the fledgling football team at Deimon High School.
Whereas other stories of the genre follow someone who dreams of being number one, what separates Sena from other protagonists is his reluctance to do anything. For most of his life, he has been picked on by bullies and has come to accept this as the status quo. He knows next to nothing about football and has little interest in the sport. This all changes however, when the head of the Football team catches a glimpse of his amazing speed and blackmails him into joining the team. From there its nonstop action as Sena is thrown into game after game where he encounters godlike players whose skills make them incredible threats to overcome.
Accompanying Sena is a host of characters that range from insane to downright bizarre. The captain of the football team is Yoichi Hiruma, a demon faced student whose frightening visage is contrasted by his genius level intellect. Few in the story can match his strategic plays making him a feared adversary. Despite putting his team through unbelievable levels of pain and torture, Hiruma is respected for his never say die attitude and his willingness to take chances. Joining him is the kind yet overly sensitive powerhouse Kurita, whose head resembles that of a chestnut.Its characters like these that populate the pages of the series, each one with a distinctive look to call their own. The plot is perfectly paced, giving enough depth and background on each character without having to sacrificing the story or action to make each one relatable.
As the series progresses, Sena’s main goal is to help his team reach the Christmas Bowl, the most watched football game in Japan. Think of it as their version of the Super Bowl. However, standing in his way is a rival player, Seijuro Shin, who is dubbed as the perfect player. He also has aspirations of reaching the Christmas Bowl and his intense speed coupled with incredible strength make him a nearly invincible opponent for Sena.
Artwork starts out rough but gradually progresses to the point that it is among the best in the business. Its amazingly detailed as emphasis is placed on capturing the action from a wide variety of angles. The amount of energy that went into each panel is evident as exaggerated expressions burst forth from almost every perspective. The artist uses a number of different techniques to convey the movement of each character using speed lines and blurring the images.
Eyeshield 21 is definitely worth checking out. Its an original concept highlighted by exceptional art, appealing characters, and a fantstic story. At its heart, it is an underdog story with a message that anything is possible with enough hard work and determination. Even though football and manga usually attract fans on opposite sides of the spectrum, this is a series that fans of both can enjoy.
