New Post! "Not Exactly A Visual Paradise"

Is anyone still there?

Dear readers, due to the Spring 2020 outbreak of Covid-19, I have found myself in a bad position to visit my local bookstores or even the library.  And, for that reason, I have been remiss for the last 2-3 months in my posting about new and exciting manga I've been reading.

Now, for the record, I could have gone to the library (if only to pick up pre-ordered books curbside), and I actually have on and off for a while, but it's just different when you can't go inside and browse around.  And, frankly, trying to find out what new stuff they've got in, with their system, was just too much work.

But then I heard that the physical library had actually opened up a month ago, and thus I made the bold decision to pull a swift surgical strike just a few days ago.

My discovery of new manga Jigokuraku "Hell's Paradise" was the result.

Violent excommunicated ninja Gabimaru the Hollow is set to be executed by decapitation.  But the blade mysteriously fails and shatters against his skin.  After failing to die in executions by fire and being drawn and quartered, respectively, he is suddenly issued an imperial pardon, along with dozens of other murderous criminals from all across the land.

It turns out that the emperor (the fictional Tokugawa Nariyoshi, not the real 11th Tokugawa shogun Ienari) is funding an expedition of criminals, "Suicide Squad"-style, to a mythical land beyond the Southwest seas to recover the elixir of immortality.  Many men were sent before, but all returned in serious body horror shape, crumbling into masses of roots and flower petals.

The one or ones who return to the shogun with the elixir will be granted free pardons to go off on their merry way unaccosted.

Traveling with these condemned men and women are the Yamada Asaemon executioners, who are to keep them in line and make sure that their hands are bound.  One such member of this elite family is Yamada Asaemon Sagiri (or just Sagiri, as I will now call her), the only female member that we know of, who struggles with the weight of taking lives and the mighty if chilling reputation of her family.

The manga has some good world-building, as well as a general message of growing stronger by working out one's own feelings and accepting them.   Gabimaru tried to leave his village because he wanted a normal life with the simple woman who opened his heart.  Sagiri struggles with doubt in her skills and the fear of actually taking lives.  Neither side wants to kill, but they know they must.

The body horror of the transformed people is great, and we even get a little fanservice from Sagiri, albeit only in her inner monologue scenes.  And the character work is great, even down to the evil shogun, who watches gleefully as the assembled prisoners fight to the death and narrow themselves down to 10.

One downside is that, given the scratchy artwork and static nature of manga, some of the battle scenes unfold with only the wariest of readers being able to understand what just happened.  Plus Gabimaru's first major battle against a weapon-maniac named Warped Keiun, finishes completely offscreen, with only a giant body pierced through with all of his former weapons at the end of it.

Jigokuraku makes for an interesting, if weird, read right up until the end.  Because, just when we think we've seen the weirdest this volume can offer, some things that look like a cross between a Hollows and Titans go lumbering by and we end on some of our heroes preparing to fight them.

Long story short, I recommend this manga for the time being.

And, in closing, may I just say that I wish the best to you and yours during this time of global pandemic and hardship.  Just remember: as long as there's a tomorrow on the calendar, there's always hope that things will turn around.

God bless.