An amnesiac girl is about to find herself out of the fire and into the saucepan of Primavera.
Creative Staff
Story: Ryukishi07
Art: Nana Natsunishi
Translation/Adaptation: Caleb. D. Cook
What They Say
A young woman’s desperate flight from her would-be captors leads her directly into the path of Madam Rose–or, more accurately, Madam Rose’s car. While the accident has delivered the girl from her pursuers, the impact has left her with no memory of who she is. Now in the care of the Primavera family, “Rapunzel” has found a new home with the Wild Dogs, a trio of former street urchins in Wayne’s employ. Bit by bit, Zel discovers more about her former self as she settles in with her new friends, even as relations between the Japanese and Chinese in District 23 become increasingly tense…
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Once again we return to the post-war Japan that never was. Rose Guns Days Season 2 picks up a year after the events of Season 1. It’s now 1948, Rose Haibara is still the Madame of Primavera, and Wayne has stepped up to be her lead bodyguard. District 23 is stable, but conflict is brewing once again.
This story starts off on a far lighter note than the first season. The younger cast is more playful, and the chapters are all named after 80’s pop songs. There’s less of the weird in-your-face nationalism of season 1, although that fear of losing their culture and identity is still brewing beneath the surface. This time the conflict isn’t focused on the Americans and the lost soldiers, but on the Chinese and the orphans of war.
The first of those orphans may not be an orphan at all. We meet the new protagonist as she runs from sex traffickers and collides with Wayne’s car. Suddenly stricken with amnesia she fears for her life as she falls in with a trio of teenagers whom all work for Primavera. It becomes obvious after a moment that the teens and Rose only mean to protect her while she recovers, and she’s given the name Rapunzel for her long hair.
The trio of youngsters on the payroll include the failed lady-of-the-night in training named Nina, Charles the pickpocket, and Oliver whom appears bookish but has a mean streak and the street fighting skills to back up his bluster. Oliver worships Wayne, feeling like the older man is a role model for an orphan like him. The kids have a role in the organization, but it’s easy to see why the motley crew is looked on more as pets or pests than a legitimate asset. Zel is along for the ride until she can remember who she is.
As for Rose, she appears to have really gotten her act together after the events with Caleb. She’s confident, composed, and even Wayne seems to have gained a large amount of respect after nearly dying in season 1. However, by the end of the volume, it’s clear she’s still playing a dangerous game and is losing ground to the Chinese in her own district.
The artist chosen for this chapter of the story has a bright, angular art style. The characters have a wide range of facial expressions which really make the art pop and gives Zel a lot of character. Yet the art style isn’t so different from the first part that Rose or Wayne are unrecognizable. There’s less action in this volume than some of the previous, but that action is clean, clear, and crisp.
Yen includes the first page in color, as they usually do. The only extras are an author’s note and a couple of short gag comics featuring the kids being kids.
In Summary
Season 2 of Rose Guns Days returns to the strange, divvied up post-war Japan of an alternate past. It’s a more likable start than the first arc of the story, with less emphasis on nationalism and more focus on the characters. Much like how Leo was the draw for season 1’s story, Zel is an interesting protagonist that rises above the situation she finds herself in. The way she’s depicted with a cheerful, exaggerated style combined with her optimism makes her easy to like. The rest of the bunch of newbies are interesting but mainly fall into easily portrayed roles. The same conflicts are slowly being worked back into the story as Rose continues to fight for the workers of District 23. What Zel’s role will become in this conflict remains to be seen, but the fact that she has some connection to the Chinese doesn’t bode well for Primavera.
Content Grade: B
Art Grade: B +
Packaging Grade: B +
Text/Translation Grade:
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: November 22nd, 2016
MSRP: $12.99
