STORY
This series is so much better when things are happening in the story, and that's exactly what we get with volume 3. No more pissing about like we did in the last volume, it's time for ACTION! Right off the bat, Yae Oda, chief of the Togakushi, approaches the Banten crew with a mission: assassinate this one bloke, and she'll give them another secret art scroll. Oda is special, though. She reads minds.
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| I can see into your sooooouuuullll. |
The Banten crew, Miharu, Raimei, Aizawa, and Tobari-Sensei, agree. However, Tobari-Sensei is having a bit of a tough time. We didn't really know this before, but he's a bit of a pacifist, and has a hard time bringing himself to kill. Thus, the main conflict of the next two volumes arrives, and things suddenly kick into high gear.
ART & PRESENTATION
The art is steadily getting better, too. Characters begin to have more detail, yaoi hands are decreasing in frequency, and backgrounds are getting lusher. It's exciting to see where Kamatani is going with her art, and it's fun to be along for the ride. This volume has it all. Cool and clear fights, dramatic angles, and great mood setting areas for the more peaceful moments. The only gripe I have with the art is that feet still look like triangular potatoes. Below are some of the best examples from this volume.
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| You know I'm intense because I have really long eyelashes! |
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| "There's WHAT of me on the internet?!" |
The presentation is once again exemplary. The color page at the beginning is a neat contrast of black and various bright shades of red, and the spine lines up almost perfectly with volumes 1 and 2.
CHARACTERS
The main five continue to grow as characters, each getting their own little moments in this volume, especially as there is mind reading in this one (spilled secrets indeed).
The first of the newcomers is Yae Oda. She gets quite a bit of development here as most of the main conflict here is because of her TRAGIC PAST (of course). Not that tragic backstories are bad.
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| Here's my card. Call me if you ever need me to spill your secrets. |
Next isn't really a new character, I just haven't talked about him yet. Kazuhiko Yukimi is a Grey Wolf and sort of acts as Yoite's guardian. He doesn't have a lot of development yet, but he has been shown to generally care for Yoite's welfare, despite constantly saying how much he hates kids.
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| He has those crazy eyes. |
FINAL VERDICT
After a bit of a snooze last volume, this volume ratchets up the story and the art in all the best ways. I'm really looking to see where this series is going to go artistically and story-wise. Plus/minus below...
+ Story expands throughout the volume with a handful of key characters and elements
+ Art is getting better
+ New developed characters
- Feet still look weird
That's all this volume! Things are definitely looking up for this series. Volume 3's final score is...
A- - BUY IT
Oh yes. This series is going places. Bring on volume 4!
(I don't own Nabari no Ou. All rights go to the author, Yuhki Kamatani, and the licensing company, Yen Press).
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