The past always catches up to you, no matter how far you run.
Creative Staff
Story: Ryohgo Narita
Art: Suzuhito Yasuda
Translation/Adaptation: Stephen Paul
What They Say
“Could you kill someone? Working as an information broker in Shinjuku, just toying with all those people… But could you, Izaya Orihara, kill someone? Directly, by your own hand? Not stabbing someone with your knife just right to keep them from dying while you keep dodging the question, I mean. Well, whatever… In the end, you’re the kind of guy who uses other people to do your dirty work. You’re hilariously cowardly.”
Tokyo, Ikebukuro. Loads of baggage from the past are starting to turn up: A boss trying to escape the past. A pair of high school girls with consciences. A boy unaware of his friend’s feelings for him. A man planning a takeover. A boy who uses information to manipulate others. And a headless rider on a pitch-black motorcycle–all headed on a collision course that will decide who will overcome their past and who will become nothing more than a memory…
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
First there was Mikado, and then Anri, now it’s Kida’s turn in the spotlight. He’s gunning for the slasher, as revenge for what the slasher did in attacking Anri. He couldn’t possibly know the truth of the situation, as crazy as it is. His friends don’t know his secret as the former and once again leader of the Yellow Scarfs color gang or the girl who has been hospitalized for two years because of a gang war Kida was a part of.
The ramp up over the span of the volume is slow. Unlike the previous two volumes there is no huge reveal about anyone’s secret identity here. Breaking from the flow and pace of the first two books this volume turns into more of a character study. Kida feels more fleshed-out than Anri or Mikado, mostly because we don’t have to skirt around his identity as the leader of the Yellow Scarfs. Which is a smart move because Kida needed to have his motivations laid out. He’s been the obnoxious yet charismatic friend, and it’s hard to picture him as a gang member. He has no supernatural hooks or anonymity to fall back on.
The plot unfolds around the cast like a mob movie because that’s the life Kida has created for himself. In fact, these kids all feel like they’re playing a game of pretend that got way out of their control. The fact that one single gun causes an untold amount of chaos and that the real mob, in the local Yakuza branch, are ignoring these groups proves that they’re small fry. Even so, as the situation swiftly escalates you start to fear for Kida’s life. Or at the very least his well being. He’s in way over his head before this volume even begins, just a puppet dancing on Izaya’s strings.
Even with everything working against them, reason prevails. Kida, upon learning about Mikado’s role, doesn’t seek to angrily confront his friend but talk it out. Anri rushes to Kida’s rescue, instead of running away from him. The network of allies the kids have formed rush in angered at being made to dance to Izaya’s song and dance and start smashing heads. Even the side characters get a bit of time to shine. Kodata’s crew is finally given a reason and purpose for being involved in the plot. It helps that the otaku talk is dialed back. Celty comes face to face with the man who orchestrated the separation of her head and body and isn’t able to act on her impulse to maim him.
The payoff comes when Izaya’s best-laid plans don’t take into account friendships. Izaya looks to walk away getting only partially what he wanted, with his ultimate goal to draw out Celty failing. He doesn’t account for one girl’s plea to reach the ears of the one man Izaya can’t manipulate. Someone who has to remind Izaya that the games all these youngsters are playing pale in comparison to actual warfare, and if they get in too deep they’ll start mixing with forces they can’t handle.
It’s not a completely clean break as the volume ends. Not all situations are mended, but the lingering unresolved actions don’t feel like they’re leaving the reader hanging. Instead, it’s a natural point to step away from the kids and their unusual secret lives, for now.
The translation and adaptation continues to read well, and I didn’t notice any glaring issues. Yen continues to include the fold-out color illustration at the front of the book, and there is a short author’s afterword which alludes to where the story goes from here.
In Summary
Durarara volume 3 closes out the trilogy of the starting story arc with a satisfying rumble of one storm drifting away and the next on the horizon. Kida’s part of this tangled tale is laid out, and ends up being far more compelling than I originally anticipated. A slow start builds up to a showdown far larger than just a trio of teenagers should ever find themselves a part of. Everyone manages to get in on the action, of which there is plenty, all while several new characters are introduced setting up the next story heading our way. It’s not a tidy or clean break, but one that makes sense. With the teenagers love triangle settled, for now, it’s time for Celty to take center stage. I’m looking forward to it.
Content Grade: B +
Art Grade: B
Packaging Grade: B +
Text/Translation Grade: A –
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: March 22nd, 2016
MSRP: $13.99
