Buso Renkin, Volume 4

March 15, 2007
Plagued by bad dreams, Kazuki Matu sneaks out of his dorm room and gives his life to save a schoolgirl in monster trouble. He wakes up to discover the schoolgirl, Tokiko, is actually an Alchemist Warrior and his life has been replaced by a kakugane as his heart. In battle, the kakugane becomes a powerful weapon, a buso renkin. Together, he and Tokiko battle flesh-hungry homunculi, but a man he fails to save becomes the flamboyant and outrageous homunculus Papillon, complete with skin-tight costume and mask. Kazuki also battles a league of unusual villains including Moonface and Dr. Butterfly, while the human but deadly Hayasaka twins lurk at school. The creator of Rouroni Kenshin does not disappoint with this series filled with battles and lots of humor. The numerous flashback scenes may confuse but won't deter novice readers. In Volume 4, the series picks up as old characters become more defined and new characters are introduced: Kazuki struggles with his decision to become a full-fledged warrior under the tutelage of the warrior chief, Captain Bravo; Tokiko fights her instincts; and Dr. Butterfly plans his attack. The series is rated OT (older teen) for violence, though compared with others it is quite mild. The language is censored, but sexual innuendo is not uncommon. In one memorable scene, the boys do compare sizes (the part in question is never shown)! Overall, this is a fun series with high appeal that starts off slow but shows great promise.Sadie Mattox, DeKalb Cty. P.L., Decatur, GA

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