Bakune Young, Vol. 3 TPB
Review by Dindrane
Story:
Art:

Story and Art by Toyokazu Matsunaga

Published by Pulp/Viz
Price: $16.95

My verdict: Ho-hum.

Six years have passed since the events at the end of Volume 2, where Our “Hero” was stabbed in the head with a katana. Recuperating in a maximum security hospital, Bakune’s brain has not learned a thing, nor deviated from his, er, deviant path. With some new psychic abilities under his belt (if that’s the right term for a floating brain who can possess you), Bakune sets out to save Japan and the world from Renge’s new plan...and maybe just maybe redeem himself.

This volume is a wee bit better than the last one. The idea of a floating brain with the power of possession has some interest (even if that interest is rather like the interest one has in a televised bowel operation) as does the embodiment of Japan. It could be that this new turn with Renge and her melancholy could also yield some much-needed character depth. It would just be nice if the title could decide if it wanted to be surreal or not, and if Bakune’s brain could develop a clue while it was learning all these new tricks--for a genius, he’s still pretty stupid.

The art is more of the same as before--rough enough to reflect Bakune’s degenerate world, but just not all that enjoyable to look at for 260 pages. I appreciate what the artist was trying to do, but avant garde (especially just mildly interesting avant garde to begin with) can get very old, very fast.

In short, this title showed some promise in concept, but if all you want is dark satire, there are better examples of it out there. The idea of a half-mad vigilante/criminal is intriguing, as is the lady Renge, but there is just not enough here to really sustain interest or intelligent consideration, even though the title clearly wants to be satirical, witty, and wise. It is mildly fun when it isn’t being strange for sake of being strange, but that just isn’t enough. If you have enjoyed the previous volumes, then you will probably like this newest volume even more, but otherwise, I don’t think I’d bother unless you’re just really curious or terminally bored. As for me, I will read the next volume in the hope that this new psychic turn of events injects some much needed fresh air into this title.