Manga Review: Maoh: Juvenile Remix Vol. # 10 (Final)

I don’t usually review a whole lot of shonen manga, and I review even fewer violent shonen titles. Somehow, though, I wound up with the Maoh series, which has murder and mayhem in spades.(My reviews of earlier Maoh: Juvenile Remix volumes can be found here.) However, it’s more of a supernatural thriller than a gratuitous show of blood splattering and has some interesting heroes (if you can stomach all the casualties). Viz has recently released the final volume, and you can read on for the review.

Back Cover Blurb

As the world’s greatest killers assemble at the bowling alley for all-out war, the plan to assassinate Inukai begins. Can Junya fulfill his brother’s goals and stop Inukai from taking control of Japan? And when the dust settles, who will be the true Maoh?

The Review

Intrigue, suspense, and violence have been the signature characteristics of Maoh, and these elements come on strong in the final volume with Fraulein out to get both Inukai and Junya Ando. The creators do an excellent job of making Fraulein look like it has the upper hand on all fronts up until they fire at Inukai. Unfortunately, the tension breaks at that critical moment because the action in those panels is unclear, and it wasn’t until seven pages later when the Fraulein assassin says “fluke earthquake” that I realized that that was what took place.

However, once past that bit of confusion, the tension quickly picks up again with Inukai’s status unknown and Terahara’s demented killers closing in on Junya’s friends. What follows is a gripping series of upsets that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. These pages, not surprisingly, are a bloodbath as Junya proves more deadly and formidable than any of his enemies thought possible. Apparently, he took Iwanishi’s lesson in Volume 9 to heart, and as a result, Maoh’s deadliest assassins get a final appearance–on Junya’s payroll.

Despite all the dramatic changes in Junya, one thing remains constant, and that is his love for his brother. Once the killing ends, Junya has a near breakdown as he reflects upon his actions. Even Shiori’s comfort isn’t enough to save him, and it’s an unexpectedly moving moment when he finds solace in his older brother.

Probably the oddest outcome of this arc is that Grasshopper emerges from the conflict practically unscathed. Junya’s decision to destroy one enemy but spare the other left me boggled, especially considering it was Inukai whom his older brother wanted to ruin. Even when Inukai’s assassin-girl threatens him, Junya extends a sort of olive branch to her. By the way, I should mention that the finale contains quite a bit of her panty-free fanservice.

The last two chapters skip several years into the future, but even with the earth-moving events at Nekota Stadium, the series’ postscript is disappointing. Future Inukai has lost his demonic aura and seems more a run-of-the-mill politician than an agent of the devil. As for Junya, even though his brother’s spirit is closer than before, he’s more of a casual observer than an active participant in the world. He does spend a ridiculous amount to ruin Inukai’s rally but does nothing more with the opportunity than stare Inukai down. Considering the nature of their feud, I expected an ultimate winner in this conflict, but the story ends without any definite resolution.

In Summary

Given the previous showdown between Inukai and big brother Ando, I expected a similar winner-takes-all-duel-to-the-death between Inukai and Junya, but their finale turns into something completely different. It is packed with the plot twists and excitement we’ve come to expect from Maoh, but after the dust and bloody chaos settles, neither side can claim total victory. Considering how diametrically opposed Inukai and the Ando brothers have been throughout the series, the ending leaves readers without a sense of full closure, which I found disappointing.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Maoh: Juvenile Remix Vol. # 09

I don’t usually review a whole lot of shonen manga, and I review even fewer violent shonen titles. Somehow, though, I wound up with the Maoh series, which has murder and mayhem in spades.(My reviews of earlier Maoh: Juvenile Remix volumes can be found here.) However, it’s more of a supernatural thriller than a gratuitous show of blood splattering and has some interesting heroes (if you can stomach all the casualties along the way).

The story takes place in Nekota City, which is not so much a dystopia as it is a community on the decline (think Gotham City from Batman). Inukai is the mysterious leader of a vigilante group called Grasshopper, which is at odds with the city’s redevelopment plan. Inukai is hailed as a hero among the common folk of Nekota, but is he really all that he seems?

Back Cover Blurb

To get revenge for his brother’s death, Junya decides to follow in Ando’s footsteps. To get to the bottom of who killed Ando, Junya will have to develop his own special powers. But before he can deal with Inukai, another group of misfits might beat him to it.

The Review

Previous chapters have given glimpses of Fraulein, but Volume 9 provides a really good look at the organization. Unlike Grasshopper which is simply violent, Fraulein is violent and depraved, a culture that definitely stems from the mob boss and his son. Sex, drugs, and blatant disregard for human life is par for the course, and though they’ve been lurking in the shadows, they seem to be positioning themselves to join the power grab for Nekota City.

Meanwhile, Junya’s normal life is turning into a distant memory. Our favorite assassin, Semi, and his boss Iwanishi show up again, this time at Junya’s behest. In addition to seeing Semi slit more throats and throw a couple tantrums, we get more insight into Junya’s power. Just as Ando and the Duce bartender had their limits, Junya’s “against the odds” power has limits as well. It’s more complicated than a radius of influence, but the fact that Junya isn’t completely omnipotent will force him to think (just like his brother!), making for a more intriguing plot.

As for Inukai, his political popularity continues skyrocketing while Nekota’s puppet mayor loses his tenuous grip on what little control he had. As it turns out, the seemingly upright Mayor Tatsumi has a weakness, one that Fraulein gleefully exploits. Inukai, on the other hand, they’ve targeted for elimination, but even having learned of Fraulein’s plot, Inukai maintains a calm, fatalistic attitude of the future. Junya, however, is determined that Inukai’s death comes at his own hands, even if that means saving Inukai from Fraulein (yes, there’s irony in that). This volume ends strongly, with the anticipation of how one lone youth will fare against an entire organization.

In Summary

Junya gets more embroiled with the underworld, he gains a new enemy: the shadowy organization Fraulein. But Junya’s quickly picking up the rules of survival, plus he’s learned to harness his own special powers. The tumultuous battle for Nekota City continues with more intrigue, more killing, and the introduction of some new degenerates who make Inukai look like a decent fellow.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Maoh: Juvenile Remix Vol. #08

I don’t usually review a whole lot of shonen manga, and I review even fewer violent shonen titles. Somehow, though, I wound up with the Maoh series, which has murder and mayhem in spades.(My reviews of earlier Maoh: Juvenile Remix volumes can be found here.) However, it’s more of a supernatural thriller than a gratuitous show of blood splattering and has some interesting heroes (if you can stomach all the casualties along the way).

The story takes place in Nekota City, which is not so much a dystopia as it is a community on the decline (think Gotham City from Batman). Inukai is the mysterious leader of a vigilante group called Grasshopper, which is at odds with the city’s redevelopment plan. Inukai is hailed as a hero among the common folk of Nekota, but is he really all that he seems?

Back Cover Blurb

Still trying to recover from the shock of his brother’s death, Junya decides to follow in Ando’s footsteps. First on the agenda is revenge on the ones who caused his brother’s death. Can Junya succeed where Ando failed…?

The Review

Having chosen to dive the underworld, Junya can’t seem to take two steps without running into assassins. He starts off by arranging a showdown with the Duce bartender, but their confrontation gets abruptly cut off when the Pusher, the greatest killer in the business, interferes. (The images for this scene are pretty intense. You can practically feel the rumble of the truck as it crashes through.) The Pusher’s meddling is a wholly unexpected twist and sends Junya on a journey that takes him to other supernaturally gifted individuals; a sadistic shadowy group known as Fraulein (you’ll be gripping your fingernails after meeting them); and ultimately, Inukai.

As angry and vengeful as Junya is, he’s still very much grieving for his brother. Every now and then, something triggers a memory, and he winds up in tears. It’s proof of his affection for his brother, and with a bond so close, it makes absolute sense that Junya’s the critical link to Ando’s dramatic reappearance when Junya confronts Inukai.

In the meantime, reform in Nekota City isn’t proceeding the way its good citizens would hope. The convenient demises of Grasshopper’s opponents is weighing on the new mayor, forcing him into the very tricky position of striking a deal with unsavory characters to try to gain an upper hand on the underworld. Whatever’s going to happen next, it feels like all involved are going to sink further into darkness.

In Summary

Junya’s out for revenge, and not even the threat of death or violence can stop him. It’s one gripping encounter after another as Junya gets to the bottom of what happened to his brother. He’s gone through a dramatic transformation in the last few chapters, but that’s nothing compared to what happens when he discovers the truth from Inukai himself!

This title is rated Older Teen for lotsa blood and violence and an intense plot.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Maoh: Juvenile Remix Vol. #07

I don’t usually review a whole lot of shonen manga, and I review even fewer violent shonen titles. Somehow, though, I wound up with Maoh, which has murder and mayhem in spades.(My reviews of earlier Maoh: Juvenile Remix volumes can be found here.) However, it’s more of a supernatural thriller than a gratuitous show of blood splattering and has a fairly interesting hero (if you can stomach all the casualties along the way).

The story takes place in Nekota City, which is not so much a dystopia as it is a community on the decline (think Gotham City from Batman). Ando is a high school student who has the power to make others say out loud what he’s thinking (he calls it ventriloquism). Inukai is the mysterious leader of a vigilante group called Grasshopper, which is at odds with the city’s redevelopment plan. Inukai is hailed as a hero among the common folk of Nekota, but after a few disturbing run-ins with Grasshopper, Ando senses that Inukai is not all that he seems.

Back Cover Blurb

Weakened from fighting and overusing his powers, Ando heads for a final confrontation with Inukai. Ando will risk everything to stop Inukai from reaching his objectives, but is it enough? When the dust settles, the world will be changed forever.

The Review

I have a feeling a lot of readers are going to be unhappy with the end of Act One. It’s not that the story drops in intensity. All the fighting in Volume 6 finally catches up on Ando, and you can practically feel the strain in his wrecked body as he tries to get to the Grasshopper meeting in time. And it’s not for lack of action. We get a crazy battle involving Grasshopper fanatics, a riot squad, a psycho fighting chick, and the Duce bartender (who somehow gets himself to the party).

The creators do an amazing job of building and building up the tension, but when Ando and Inukai finally do have their confrontation, what follows is anticlimactic. It’s such a letdown that I would’ve thrown the manga across the room if not for the beginning of Act Two, which takes up the second half of the book.

Whereas Act One focused on Ando, Act Two centers on Junya, who’s no longer the carefree fluff-head he was before. Considering his prophetic dream about Ando, I suspected he’d eventually come into his own ability, but the power he winds up having is completely different than I anticipated. At any rate, Junya’s transformation is utterly compelling as revenge takes over his existence.

One thing that has me anticipating the next volume is whether or not Junya’s power has the debilitating side effects that Ando’s did. I always thought it unfair that the Duce bartender had a larger range, could do more damage, and had no side effects from his power (plus take a manhole cover to the head and survive) while Ando’s ventriloquism seemed to take out more than he ever got from it. For now at least, Junya seems unharmed when he taps into his power, though he does have a real bad case of crazy eyes.

In Summary

Maoh builds to a heart-pounding climax only to end Act One with a whimper. Fortunately, Act Two has Junya picking up where Ando left off, and the crazy transformation in Ando’s goofball brother is more than sufficient to keep readers hooked.

This title is rated Older Teen for lotsa blood and violence and an intense plot.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Maoh: Juvenile Remix Vol. #06

I don’t usually review a whole lot of shonen manga, and I review even fewer violent shonen titles. Somehow, though, I wound up reviewing Maoh, which has murder and mayhem in spades.(My reviews of earlier Maoh: Juvenile Remix volumes can be found here.) However, it’s more of a supernatural thriller than a gratuitous show of blood splattering and has a fairly interesting hero (if you can stomach all the casualties along the way).

The story takes place in Nekota City, which is not so much a dystopia as it is a community on the decline (think Gotham City from Batman). Ando is a high school student who has the power to make others say out loud what he’s thinking (he calls it ventriloquism). Inukai is the mysterious leader of a vigilante group called Grasshopper, which is at odds with the city’s redevelopment plan. Inukai is hailed as a hero among the common folk of Nekota, but after a few disturbing run-ins with Grasshopper, Ando senses that Inukai is not all that he seems.

Back Cover Blurb

As Ando continues to try to uncover Inukai’s plans, Grasshopper prepares for a major event to take control of the city. Just when Ando gets close to the truth, standing in his way is the most dangerous challenge he’s ever faced.

The Review

At the end of the last volume, Ando wasn’t looking too good. In fact, he looked like he was ready to keel over. As it turns out, he’s nowhere near finished. With as much sleuthing and running around as he does, you’ll be exhausted by the time Volume 6 is over.

The story gets off to a slow start with some machinations on the political front and fanatical stirrings at Ando’s high school. After a while, I almost got tired of Ando being the lone voice of reason among the strident, brainwashed mob. But then the story moves toward the Grasshopper Action Meeting, and the story really picks up.

The lead up to the meeting all but screams “epic battle coming!” Even the way, Ando sends Junya out of town very much has a “Farewell, Brother, I go to die” feel to it. So does the action that follows actually live up to the anticipation? I think it does.

The creators convey a definite sense of urgency with the countdown to Inukai’s plan, and the situation worsens when the Duce bartender shows up to thwart Ando’s efforts. At certain points, Ando and the bartender get ridiculously chatty for two guys involved in a life or death battle, but Ando’s frantic race to figure out the secret behind the bartender’s power will definitely keep you riveted.

To be sure, the last moments of their fight seem to defy the laws of physics and the action is a little hard to follow (it took me three reads to figure out what exactly happened with the bridge). The ending is also rather over the top with its image of the planet Earth. Overall, though, it’s a thrilling finish for this volume and our hero Ando.

In Summary

Volume 6 is all about wits. Inukai has a secret plot to bring the city to its knees, and Ando must uncover it before it’s too late. But in the middle of his investigation, he’s attacked by Inukai’s dangerous henchman, the Duce bartender. The ensuing battle has plenty of crashing and flying projectiles, but it ultimately boils down to whether Ando can crack the secret behind the bartender’s power before he gets killed. For those who like smart heroes pitted against enormous odds, Volume 6 of Maoh will be a treat.

This title is rated Older Teen for lotsa blood and violence and an intense plot.

First published at the Fandom Post.