Many thanks to Yen Press for providing a review copy
About the Mangaka
Okubo Atsushi is better known for his more recent work, Soul Eater. However he also assisted on the older series, Get Backers. B.Ichi is his first independent work where he did both the art and story.
About the Manga
*sigh* While I was expecting it, this was a uninspiring ending. Rather a mediocre ending to a mediocre series.
As with previous volumes Atsushi’s art in this volume is so inconsistent it’s painful. The characters are so inconsistent it’s impossible to tell who’s who at times, which to be honest I found bloody annoying.
The cover art is a prime example, not to mention the worst out of all four volumes!! The cover is supposed to be Emine, but if you compare it with designs of early appearances, not to mention his appearances in this volume, there’s only a passing semblance.
Even the back drop scenery just lacks the special something that a manga needs to be really awesome. For me the scenery lacks depth and feeling, and it’s really cluttered at times.
That said Atsushi does show his skills a few times in this volume, with some really well drawn parts, I just wish they’d been more consistent. For example, when Shotaro powers up and gets all uber, while the design isn’t the best, it does look awesome. And I have to admit I did like Kyokotsu’s design.
Once again the story is what saved this volume for me, and hats off to Atsushi for this volumes story. Granted the vast majority of it is a long drawn out fight, but it actually flows fairly well.
The developments in the later part of the volume are amazing, with some jaw dropping revelations, not to mention stage setting for the ultimate confrontation. The truth behind Shotaro and Emine’s relationship is equally amazing. Not because of the friendship element, which Is generic. But rather how Atsushi developed the results of their friendship and desires.
Sadly, this is also the volumes huge fault. Since this is the final volume of he series, it ends up with a huge odd cliff hanger. While this volume did answer a lot of the questions I had about the series, it also opened up a shed load of new ones that leave a very unsatisfying end. Why he didn’t carry on for a few more volumes, or rather given the material, a full series, is beyond me. I can’t help but feel he decided to scrap it in favour of Soul Eater.
Yen Press did a great job with this, with a smooth and consistent translation. Also have to give credit for their use of fonts, which is great. The different fonts really help set the mood behind what’s being said.
This fails big time to get on my Essential Read List, and to be honest barely stays off my Junk Pile list.
Where to Buy
August 24, 2009 @ 05:48.
I never had a problem telling who’s who and I don’t mind cluttered. So ha.