Kamui

Publisher
Broccoli Books
Writer
Shingo Nanami
Artist
Shingo Nanami
Country of origin
Japan
Year
2001

Kamui V. 3

By David Rasmussen
20th May 06

Are you waiting for the hammer to drop? Waiting for the moment when the title goes ballistic and things just get crazy all of a sudden? Waiting… and waiting… well fine, if you were waiting for that point before you jumped in then here you go, everything is going downhill now.

For the past two volumes this series has been a mix of few bursts of energy mixed with slow pacing, right up to the second half of Volume 2 when Atsuma went to the prom with this girl he saved, and who seemingly had a crush on him, and ended up going dark side as this “spirit” apparently cohabitating his body took control during an attack by those out to get Atsuma, and proceeded to wipe the floors with them which caused the deaths of several students (guilty or otherwise).

As of this volume, however, if Atsuma was hoping that the title would give Atsuma piece of mind he’ll find anything but as the volume ends in dire straits and the deaths of a few secondary characters is highlighted, meaning that the title is about to trip over a corpse or two on the long plunge down the Atanan hole to hell (going down).

How did it turn out so badly?
It looks like, in the aftermath of Volume 2, Atsuma is thinking of getting a divorce from his “pals” at NOA, which just doesn’t work out because he’s compelled to go with Surmine and one other to check out someone whose acting weird, only for Atsuma to realize that he’s been right near that spirit he’s been looking for for the longest time (slumbering away).

From that point forward it’s a dark dark turn of events that puts at least two characters into the dead column, with the promise of many more secondary and minor characters to be snuffed in Volume 4 as the twist of the plot knife digs up twists and turns, as well as revelations about the pasts of certain characters (including the whole cohabitation thing in Atsuma‘s body with that spirit that went nuts last Volume), which clears up somethings and points towards others that you didn’t even realize you needed to know about.

If you thought the mix of slow and fast pacing was going to drag on for awhile longer then you are mistaken, as the title takes it turn towards very shaky grounds with Volume 4, which should reveal a whole can of whup(bleep)… oh, and new revelations as well.
But that’s for next review, sometime in the near future (stay tuned). Let’s break this down.

Kamui V. 3 Breakdown
Kamui is finally going into high drive, and things should get more interesting as we roll onwards.
What bad turn of events happen in Volume 3? What gets revealed and who do you see in a clearer light? And how will it all play out towards Volume 4? Find out. If you’ve been waiting for a good reason to pick this is I think now is as good a time to try this title out for yourself.

-- David Rasmussen 20th May 06