Will it turn out that the heart of the alternate dimension is actually filled with one of mankind’s oldest nightmares?
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Yasuhiro Nightow
Translation/Adaptation: Matthew Johnson
What They Say
In the interdimensional maelstrom of New Jerusalem – what New York used to be before it went to hell, literally! – the agents of Libra quietly keep the lid on the paranormal pressure cooker. When agent Klaus Reinhertz tracks the source of the super-drug Angel Scale, he is drawn into a deadly game with a mob boss from the Beyond: win and have your dreams come true, lose and have your mind absorbed by the alien godfather!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
When the world changed three years ago when Jerusalem’s Lot replaced New York City the biggest shock may actually have been to mankind’s psyche as the rules humanity had come to live by- including those of physics- were suddenly thrown out the window. Luckily for humanity at large the city came with its own walls and guardians for its gate who obsessively observe everything that passes through their gates which provided a small measure of comfort for those on both sides of the wall hoping to keep as much of the otherworld from venturing out onto the world at large. Those who would be protectors also live with the dread of knowing though that someday a time will come when something slips past the gates watchmen and unleashes hell on the world at large- and unfortunately for Libra that day may have come.
Inside the walled city a drug from the other side called Angel Scale is making the rounds in the underground and is finding willing users across the spectrum in the form of the various beings that inhabit the city, including humans. The effect of the drug on humans is rather severe as it gives the user a tremendous sense of euphoria while turning them almost into a type of superman, capable of great strength and regeneration and whose effects create a berserker stat and it can even cause the body to move and fight after having the head being separated and somehow it has managed to get past the gates with some rather disastrous results.
In order to discover the drug route Klaus is going to need to engage in a game of strategy that will pit everything he has on the line against one of the biggest mafia heads from the other side- a being that just so happens to also be possibly the greatest master of the game Klaus will need to win to get the information he needs and escape with his life. But how much of a chance does Klaus have when even one of the most highly regarded chess players in the world can’t master this game?
Sadly for Libra this isn’t even their biggest issue as an incredibly powerful and ancient threat is starting to move in the shadows of the city. The menace is such that even Mafioso heads from the human world will come to try to get power from it, though they may discover that this ancient power is far more capricious than they had counted on and one member of the entourage may have their life changed forever. This appearance of this incredibly old foe doesn’t go unnoticed though which may bring in the services of a person even the other members of Libra fear. But when Leo is involved in an accident and suddenly has his eyes change in power will the discovery of the heart of the otherworld void the city is connected to signal the end of humanity?
The second volume of the series kicks off in a somewhat underpowered way in a fashion as the reader is introduced to even more of the cities wonders in a much lower key manner than the initial volume created. Some of this is due to Nightow deciding to try his hand at creating a powerful air of tension through a new game that has a passing resemblance to chess in its outset but which changes dramatically as the game goes on. This decision is going to be one that is going to depend heavily on the individual reader’s reaction as creating a new game makes it a bit harder to really follow as the tension attempts to build but if one doesn’t buy into this aspect it can feel like a really well drawn but hollow challenge.
Then the volume brings in what appears to be a standalone tale introducing a new and rather young mob member named Tonio who is about to have his life changed forever as his boss brings him to Jerusalem’s Lot but for reasons of his own. Luckily this story point actually is a way of building up the next challenge for Libra, and it is one that will use far more action- and a far more established opponent type- than the first tale’s games master. Through the introduction though the new menace that is revealed has a chance of exciting readers with the promise of where Nightow might take the tale but it also runs the risk of alienating them as the threat is one that has become so common these days it is bordering on being seriously overexposed. While what is here seems to be handled in a pretty interesting way with a good deal of action (and unbelievably skilled and detailed illustration) this new change is probably going to decide if this book becomes as loved as Trigun or if it is simply “The work that followed Trigun.”
In Summary
While the first arc in the book may not excite all and the second one may be a bit off putting by its change in focus the book seriously picks up the action and humor that Nightow fans have come to expect from his work after a somewhat slow start. What Nightow reveals in this collection is the creatures that will become the heart of what Libra will be struggling against (at least for now anyway) as he puts his interpretation on that enemy in such a way that it may cause the reader to feel that there is something fresh here, even if it is based off of a very old nightmare. Those who care to give this volume a chance will discover that, even if the story itself may not always grab their attention, Nightow is completely at the top of his game when it comes to his artwork as the book has some of the most original artwork found on the market today. This action fueled story with its otherworldly design is a book that will find no small number of fans and which has the potential to be a sizable hit in the US manga market and heap more accolades on an already rather beloved creator.
Content Grade: B
Art Grade: A
Packaging Grade: N/A
Text/Translation Grade: B
Age Rating: 16+
Released By: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: May 9th, 2012
MSRP: $10.99
