Gantz
Volume 3
by Hiroya Oku Works
We are reminded early on in this third volume of Gantz that the entire events of the first two volumes only amount to about 24 hours. This give readers a sort of disorienting "Lost"-like separation from the events taking place, which makes for interesting reading. ("Lost" has been on for several years, although the events on the island have only covered a few months.)
Also like "Lost" we are introduced to a random group of characters who find themselves in a bizarre and mysterious situation. There are questions, and at least initially, few answers. But that is where comparisons to "Lost" end.
**Spoilers follow**
Having been among the survivors of the Onion Man Alien fight, our high school boys Kurono and Kato, along with their new acquaintance, the lovely and often naked Kishimoto are allowed to return home. What they find when they do make it home only adds to the mystery. Kishimoto comes home to find another her still there (at least according to her mother's call from the hospital). The only other survivor, Nishi, revealed a little about what he knows at the end of Volume 2, and we know it has something to do with the Gantz game players being like "copies off a fax machine".
Early on in the newest volume the emotional Kishimoto asks to crash at Kurono's apartment (he lives alone). This is probably the weakest scene in the book, as Kurono thinks this will lead to the loss of his virginity with Kishimoto living with him. (She asks to be Kurono's "pet", which may sound oddly sexual, but it's actually because she wants him to take care of her, and not the other way around. "You don't have sex with your pets, right?" she reminds him after he make a move on her.)
The rest of the volume centers on Kato and Kurono dealing with some school bullies now they have some newfound power and the beginnings of mission number 2 with some new blood to replace those killed in the Onion Alien mission.
This is where Gantz shines as a series and where Hiroya Oku and his team show incredible strength in storytelling action and violence. For this new mission we have a few more gang members and a grandmother and her grandson, among others. This time around we know what to expect, so the intensity and anticipation isn't from wondering what is going on, but wondering who will live and who will die, which is is compounded by a drastic error on Kurono's part.
**End Spoilers**
Allowing our heroes a little time to learn and reflect on their situation comes at a good time early in this third book, but there isn't much breathing room before the game is on again. The maturity level in Gantz has not wavered, and the extended shower scene and outfit change starring the curvy Kishimoto adds to the adult fun. Gantz continues to shape up to be an incredibly entertaining seinen series. There are questions, and the answers will come with time. What makes Gantz work is the reader isn't concerned as to what will happen in the end as much as what will happen on the next page. Few books achieve that level of intensity, especially in the vital first volumes.
For this reason I have voted for Gantz as the the Best New Seinen Manga of 2008 on Deb Aoki's poll here. If you agree I hope you take a moment to vote as well.
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