The exploding package.

Now, I admit I’ve become jaded in my old age. I picked up this book and expected some dull formulaic shonen manga with plenty of panels with nothing but portraits of characters being melodramatic and no scenery to be had. I am happy to admit how wrong I was! In fact, there are very few dull panels in this comic, each almost always having detailed scenery, important dialogue, or both. It’s easy to see why creator Rei Hiroe admits that it takes him years in between books to compile them, given the amount of visual effort he puts into each panel to make the action flow as smoothly as if it were really a moving picture. Hiroe’s even kind enough to throw in some quirky omake comics at the end just for some comic relief to the overdose of guns and explosions he’s just given the reader. The editor also tosses in a couple of tidbits of trivia in regards to the boat “Black Lagoon” and Revy’s designated nickname of “Two-Hand.” Really, this book makes me think back on my favorite gun slinging manga “Gunsmith Cats,” minus the obsession with firearms.

Stick a fork in me; this review’s done.

Overall, I have to say that Black Lagoon was an explosively happy shock to my jaded manga system. It combines the best of both elements in visuals and story telling. I couldn’t stop myself from reading once I opened the book. The wild crew of the Black Lagoon is bad enough to save the President, and not just any action anti-heroes can do that (except, maybe, Bruce Willis). You want action? Done. Explosions? Got ‘em in great quantity. A thrilling story? Keep a change of pants. Black Lagoon 001 has it all, and I highly urge manga fans and everyone else to grab a copy. And just think, that’s just the first volume.