When the team won’t let you go.
Creative Staff
Story: Kafka Asagiri
Art: Sango Harukawa
Translation/Adaptation: Kevin Gifford
What They Say
Regaining consciousness after nearly losing his life to Akutagawa, Atsushi is paralyzed by the thought of bringing more death and destruction down on the heads of his companions at the Armed Detective Agency and vows to run away. But before he can make good on his resolution, the Mafia sends Ryuurou Hirotsu of the merciless Black Lizard squad to storm their offices! Between the bomb-tossing Motojirou Kajii and the demure, kimono-wearing Kyouka Izumi, will the Mafia’s literary giants close the book on Atsushi and the Armed Detective Agency for good?!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Atsushi awakes back in the agency with the fear that the mafia will track him there and put everyone at risk. He doesn’t stay at the agency when he hears an explosion and checks it out. A unit from the mafia called “Black Lizard” is responsible. Atsushi fears escalate for the agency. He decides to contact the mafia and run away hoping to draw attention away from the agency. Black Lizard is dispatched to destroy the agency anyway. Atsushi hears the commotion and returns, but the entire mafia unit is deposed of and Atsushi is ordered around like he never left.
Atsushi’s next task is to accompany Ranpo, master detective, as he assists the police in a murder investigation. Dazai shows up, in the river of course, and becomes part of the team. The murder is that of a young policewoman. Ranpo accurately deducts that it is a fellow police officer. The suspect admits he killed the woman, but it was an accident. She was investigating a case and he was a spy for the politician she planned to take down. He planned to warn her, but things got complicated and accidentally shot her. He covered up the murder from there. Despite Ranpo’s amazing deduction, it’s revealed he doesn’t have a skill at all. He’s actually just a normal human.
Dazai is missing again and it’s assumed that he’s off trying to kill himself again. Atsushi goes out with Yosano while she does some errands. Atsushi learns more about the doctor’s sadistic streak, but she is curious how he regenerated his leg. On the way home on the train, Astushi is targeted again. Yosano and Atsushi decide to stop the bad guys that want to kill all the passengers to get to Atsushi and the bounty on his head.
Things don’t look good for Yosano and Atsushi. Atsushi is battling with a young girl named Kyouka who control Demon Snow. She states she has killed thirty-five people in six months. Yosano is battling Motojirou Kaiji who is obsessed with death, and currently the death of Yosano. She fakes she is dead to get the upper hand and reveals all the details of her skill. Atsushi valiantly continues to fight Kyouka and Demon Snow, and when he avails, he discovers the bomb is strapped to her small body. Kyouka runs away and Atsushi runs after her. He saves her after she states she no longer wants to kill anyone. The cliffhanger is that Akutagawa has Dazai.
In Summary
As expected, Bungo Stray Dogs delivers. The characters are diverse and interesting. The writing is fun and yet serious and insightful. The characters are drawn well, but the backgrounds are thorough and detailed. Indeed Bungo Stray Dogs in a complete entertainment package.
I also like the color inserts. In general, Yen Press consistently does a superb job on packaging manga. It maybe something small like the color inserts, but fans knows it’s an extra and appreciate it. These little details enhance a reader’s experience. Pair all these good things from a good publisher and a great story, and you’ve got yourself a story you’re bound to love. I seriously can’t say enough good things about this story.
Content Grade: A
Art Grade: A
Packaging Grade: A
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: Older Teen
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: March 21, 2017
MSRP: $13.00
