After catching up with the series, I finally had to wait a while for more Kamui. By the time I started reading the 7th volume, I think I forgot a lot of the plot. Luckily, this volume contains a “preview” that sums up a lot of the previous plot. Yay for that!
Story:
In this volume of Kamui, Atsuma decides to go to NOA to rescue the only likeable character in the manga, Anzu! Even though he’s without Kojomaru, that shota-kamui, Atsuma still has some tricks up his sleeves. Like the power to destroy Okikurumi once and for all!
Meanwhile, Sumire-Kojomaru is determined to stop Okikurumi as well. But the semi-brainwashed Aika is still totally in love with Sumire. It’s kinda cute, actually. Shui has been taken prisoner by Utusho, and he’s basically used as a plot exposition tool. You know, like how bad guys will capture James Bond and then tell him exactly what they’re planning to do?
Slowly but surely, the plot moves forward.
Analysis:
Kamui has always been a mixed bag manga for me. The plot isn’t so interesting to me as the character interactions. There’s some really complicated relationships going on. Too bad there’s usually too much going on explosion-wise to expand there. It also doesn’t help that the plot really confuses me sometimes. I think I understand it now, but half of the time I’m totally lost.
The art is also double-edged. The art is really high quality, but the layout is really hard to read at times. When there’s explosions and fighting going on, I can never tell what the heck is happening. I usually just skip looking at those parts and read the text. Otherwise it takes way too long to read.
I am enjoying Kamui, but it feels like the manga could be much better. It’s kind of sad, but I still enjoy the cartoony extras (like the 4koma manga in this volume) over the actual content. Is that wrong?
Conclusion:
It’s another volume of Kamui. If you liked Kamui enough to read to this point, you’ll also enjoy this volume. There’s actually some good plot and character development in between all the fighting. The manga ends on a semi-cliffhanger too, so I’m sorta looking forward to Kamui 8.
Many thanks to Broccoli Books for sending me a review copy of Kamui Volume 7!