Creative Staff
Writer/Artist: Kiminori Wakasugi
What They Say
Go to DMC!! Prepare to have your mortal soul devoured by the demonic Johann Krauser II, front man for Detroit Metal City, the most outrageously hilarious death metal band on the Japanese indie scene!
I AM the scum of the earth!!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Volume 6 of the twisted masterpiece Detroit Metal City starts off with three stories of each of the band members getting into situations that may start off innocently enough but end up getting them more of the negative publicity that fuels their band’s legendary status. Negishi just wants to visit Aikawa, a girl he likes, but when her dad shows up and his complete social ineptness leads to him dawning Krauser II makeup in the bathtub he just ends up streaking through the city. Wada accidentally destroys a fledgling visual-kei band from the inside and Nishida tries to enter a drum game competition but ends up molesting the employees at a maid cafe.
Of course, these events all revolve around, and eventually lead up to, the real story in this volume…who is Krauser I? Beginning with an extreme DMC fan who tries to become a member of the band, an idea Negishi loves but Boss does not for obvious reasons. I found all these chapters very amusing in the same way that DMC has always been amusing; the constant conflict with Negishi and just how ridiculous and insane he becomes once he is in full Krauser II gear! These chapters really punctuate that effect by having him wanting to quit the band and trying so hard to lead the hipster lifestyle he dreams of. But, Negishi IS Krauser II through and through, nobody else could replace him and nobody could pull it off in such extravagant manners as he does.
The last couple chapters in the book reveal who Krauser I really is and even teams him up with the kid who tried to become a member of DMC from earlier (Honestly, I don’t think they mention his name and if they did I can’t remember or find it anywhere in the book). These chapters round of the absurdity quite well by telling the story of Krauser I’s hatred for Black and Death records but never quite getting to the point.
This volume has everything we’ve come to expect from DMC: Lots of references to rape, a complete psychopath molesting hipsters with mic stands, and sheer metal prowess that make Deathklok seem slightly pedestrian. All ending in a sidewalk display of metal guitar ‘God-ness’ that brings out the true beast in us all!
In Summary:
While really enjoyable overall, this volume of DMC just never climbs the ladder to pure greatness. But it sets up a lot of events quite nicely that the next amazing volume is surely right around the corner! I immensely enjoy this series but there is only for much rape I can take in one sitting, but that’s ok; It’s been one sitting and I look forward to the next!
Content Grade: B
Art Grade: B
Packaging Grade: A-
Text/Translation Grade: B+
Age Rating: 17+
Released By: Viz Media
Release Date: September 14th, 2010
MSRP: $12.99