Manga Review: Golden Kamuy, Volume 5, by Satoru Noda

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2018

Volumes: 15+

Spoilers?: Some.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A tale of high adventure and survival!

In the early twentieth century, Russo-Japanese War veteran Saichi Sugimoto searches the wilderness of Hokkaido for a hoard of hidden gold. With only a cryptic map and a native Ainu girl to help him, Saichi must also deal with every murderous cutthroat, bandit and rogue who knows about the treasure!

Sugimoto and Asirpa’s hunt for the tattooed treasure map has led them to a fishing village on the coast, where a deranged serial killer lies in wait. Lieutenant Tsurumi and his renegade soldiers are also hot on their trail, and if he catches up to them it’s guaranteed that there will be hell to pay. Toshizo Hijikata also closes in, while an old friend shows up with a secret about Asirpa that no one wants to believe—but it just might take them closer to the gold than ever before…

Review:

This volume showed the two contrasting sides of this series in vivid detail.

In the first half, Sugimoto and Hijikata are trying to hide, separated from Asirpa. Hijikata keeps fantasizing about Sugimoto killing him, and decides he'll attack him so that they can fight to his end. His visions are utterly disturbing, and the deaths around them are just as unsettling. This whole thing was disturbing, though I did appreciate the surprise whale attack.

And then, in the last couple chapters, we get some history and food lessons, the second thing this series does well. During this, we get some new information regarding the gold, but more importantly regarding Asirpa and the old man who keeps showing up.

This series is a lot. It's not generally something I would read, but I don't mind it, and even enjoy some of the characters and the humor mixed in.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Golden Kamuy, Volume 4, by Satoru Noda

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2018

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2. 5.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

A tale of high adventure and survival!

In the early twentieth century, Russo-Japanese War veteran Saichi Sugimoto searches the wilderness of Hokkaido for a hoard of hidden gold. With only a cryptic map and a native Ainu girl to help him, Saichi must also deal with every murderous cutthroat, bandit and rogue who knows about the treasure!

Tetsuzo Nihei, the legendary Bear Killer, is determined to become the hunter who kills Retar, the last remaining Ezo wolf. Asirpa will never allow this, and she and Immortal Sugimoto race to stop his bloodthirsty quest. Meanwhile, in the port city of Otaru, Hijikata, the relentless head of the reborn Shinsengumi, leads a band of death row inmates against Lt. Tsurumi and his 7th Division. In this clash of iron resolve, only the strongest will survive.

Review:

There's even more blood and death and awfulness in this volume. I will admit, though, that the wolf attack was very well-deserved.

I also didn't really understand what they were all fighting over until this volume. Now I understand the whole gold-search thing, and it even makes sense why exactly there's so much brutality. It's still awful, but I get it.

We get a backstory for some characters, and then we meet a new, truly terrifying character.

The use of humor, and food, mixed with all of the fighting and history is admittedly well-placed. And I don't mind these volumes, but I do think they aren't really for me.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Golden Kamuy, Volume 2, by Satoru Noda

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2017

Volumes: 12+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A tale of high adventure and survival on the Japanese frontier!
In the early 20th century, Russo-Japanese War veteran Saichi Sugimoto searches the wilderness of the Japanese frontier of Hokkaido for a hoard of hidden gold. With only a cryptic map and a native Ainu girl to help him, Saichi must also deal with every murderous cutthroat, bandit and rogue who knows about the treasure!

Review:

I missed the first volume, so I really had no idea what I was getting into in this volume.

Sugimoto and Asirpa are in wilderness, hiding. Sugimoto is running from someone, and it appears that Asirpa is helping him, until they get attacked at least. It's a bit violent, but smart in character and in information regarding the area and the people.

We meet Asirpa's village, and we also get to see the people Sugimoto is hiding from, and there's some messy stuff regarding that. There's also a surprising use of cooking and information regarding the land and the animals, I thought. But maybe that's only because I wasn't really expecting it, nor is it much of my interest.

While this isn't usually something I would read, I found this volume quite interesting. It was dark at times, funny at others, and smart in all ways, and the artwork is very nice. I'm a bit intrigued, actually.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!