”A shoe-wearing enigma was approaching from the depths of the gloomy hallway.”
Creative Staff:
Story: Ryohgo Narita
Art: Katsumi Enami
Translation: Taylor Engel
What They Say:
The year 1934.
After the incident at the Mist Wall, the Martillo Family’s youngest capo finds himself on his way to prison to protect the one he loves. The rest are there for their own reasons: the homicidal maniac wants to taste the thrill of killing an immortal, the thief simply got himself caught, the hitman is there on a mission for Nebula, and the alchemist was incarcerated years ago. As their friends back in New York go about their lives and the FBI pursues its own goals, another ruckus is set to erupt across the San Francisco Bay–deep in the heart of Alcatraz!
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
I usually hate it when books serve as one big teaser for the next volume over standing as its own separate story, but somehow Baccano! is able to get away with this.
In a light-novel series that’s usually had story arcs continue for two volumes at most, Baccano! volume 8 is the first of a three-volume story, and the first entry released after a two year hiatus by author Ryohgo Narita. Like the volumes before it, Narita takes the unorthodox route of putting less priority on the story itself, and more on tossing certain characters together and seeing what happens from there. In general, the results have been hit or miss, but at least within the moment, they come off as endearing and entertaining.
This volume, we have the unlikely trio of Ladd, Firo, and Isaac all being sent to the impenetrable real-life prison that is Alcatraz. Narita spares no expense building up Alcatraz as its own character of sorts, really building up its history and notoriety among civilians and hoodlums alike. So once Ladd, Firo and Isaac eventually meet up, you already know just how deep the trio has gotten themselves into. Of the large cast of characters the series has introduced so far, these three are obviously the most memorable, and pitting them all in the same prison makes for an interesting setup.
Ladd alone is a heavy-hitter, whose craziness has only worsened now that he knows the existence of immortals. Of the cast, he’s like a classic shonen protagonist given an evil paint job; he is confident in his strength, yet is still craving someone to challenge him just so he can immediately prove them wrong. He has little rhyme or reason to any of his actions, and Narita clearly enjoys writing his nonsensical dialogue, even if it does sometimes ramble on for a bit too long. Firo meanwhile serves as the more grounded of the trio. While he is still a criminal in name, that doesn’t mean he lacks a heart of gold, choosing to be sent to Alcatraz and inspect fellow immortal Huey for the FBI in exchange for Ennis’ protection. We finally start digging deep into the lore surrounding the elixir of immortality, as Firo wonders what having the thoughts of previous immortals in him means to him and it leads to some thoughtful introspection.
While Isaac remains the weakest link of the three, both in character and purpose to the plot, it’s small additions to the cast like this that better round out the inherently hectic nature of the series. Additional characters like Jaccuzzi and his gang somehow meeting up with Chane, who in turn meets with Huey’s gang as well as her semi-love interest in Claire Stanfield continue to stir the plot. And while the plot itself is sparse (FBI agents ask Firo to keep an eye on Huey… action happens), it’s in these multiple chance interactions that the volume finds its spirit. And while certain moments like the intentionally confusing identity of Felix Walken becomes grating the further it bores its way into the story, that too resolves itself by volume’s end, making way for a cleanly unclean ending.
In Summary:
While Baccano! volume 8 is ultimately the first entry to a story told in three volumes, there’s still plenty to enjoy from it. Hard-hitting characters Ladd and Firo hold down the fort well, for as little plot that’s offered to them. And even in the case that a full story isn’t told this volume, author Narita knows his characters well enough to figure out who’d be the most interesting to follow, even if nothing truly comes from it just yet.
Content Grade: B-
Art Grade: A
Packaging Grade: A
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Yen On
Release Date: August 21, 2018
MSRP: $20.00
