Manga Review – Inuyashiki Vol 3 by Hiroya Oku (4/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Manga/Science Fiction
Length: 192 pages
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Release Date: February 23, 2016
ISBN-13: 978-1632362056
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd book in the Inuyashiki series
Source: Bought
Rating: 4/5 stars
This is the third volume in the Inuyashiki manga series. This has been an interesting and ultra-violent manga series that blends science fiction and superhero elements. I have been enjoying it, but it is definitely adult only.
This volume follows a new storyline in which a Yakuza boss, named Samejima, takes an interest in a young woman who is planning to marry someone else. The Yakuza boss kidnaps her for his own uses but she escapes. However, after her escape he hunts her down to the apartment she shares with her boyfriend. At this point Inuyashiki senses their distress and interferes.
This is an incredibly dark and violent volume of Inuyashiki. I would definitely say mature audience only. The book starts with a male rape scene, goes to a male/female implied rape scene, and also contains another attempted rape scene. There is a lot of nudity and a ton of violence. I don’t ever think I have ever seen so many terror tear streaked faces in a manga before.
The main point of this book seems to be showing Inuyashiki taking his vow to help as many people as he can very seriously. It also shows how he is getting involved with facing off with big organized crime in the city.
Aside from this the storyline seems fairly unrelated to other storylines, although I am sure everything will come together in future volumes. The illustration, especially the detailed backgrounds, is incredibly well done and is amazing to look at.
I will say that although I don’t mind violent fight scenes and stylized violence I really don’t dig all the violence against innocents that has been happening in this series. I am not sure if I will continue reading it at this point. However, there are some things that happen with Inuyashiki’s mechanized parts that were intriguing and I am curious to see more background and development in that area.
Overall this was an interesting and beautifully illustrated volume in this series. However, it is incredibly…stomach-turningly violent at some parts. Not just fighting violence but sexual violence and violence against innocents. That’s just not my cup of tea, so I am unsure right now as to whether or not I will continue the series.
This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Graphic Novel Reading Challenge
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– New Release Challenge
