Title: Gantz Vol 7
Author: Hiroya Oku
Publisher: Dark Horse
ISBN: 9781595823731
May Contain Spoilers
The ferocious battle rages against the alien statues, and things are not looking good for our little gang of resurrected warriors. The giant Buddha statue is proving to be one tough nut to crack, especially after Kei pisses it off. Will Kei, Kato, and Kishimoto avoid being stomped to death by one very enraged statue?
Yay! This volume focused on what Gantz does best – showcasing a no holds barred battle to the death against seemingly impossible odds. Character development is kicked to the wayside as the struggle to survive takes precedence. I love this series when it’s about the primitive instinct to live at all costs, when the high intensity illustrations take over and tell the story through a tsunami of violence and desperation. There are so many human emotions showcased in these visuals, from nobility when someone sacrifices their own survival so another can live, to the lowest acts of cowardice, when character sets aside everything that is decent within them and does nothing while another dies. It is these flashes of drama that I like the best.
The statues turn out to be formidable enemies, and they are totally kicking ass. The giant Buddha proves to be far tougher then expected, but once again, Kei finds the strength and determination that he’s lacking in the real world and musters his courage to make a last stand before any of his friends end up as goo on the bottom of the statue’s sandal. He seems so noble and brave that you forget that he’s really just a horny teenager who is more motivated by the thought of getting Kishimoto naked than anything else. All of that testosterone is driving the kid nuts, and giving him the guts to rush headlong into the thick of battle.
After taking out the Buddha, the real nightmare begins. Thinking that there are only two smaller aliens left, the group divides into two attacking parties and goes in search of them. What they find is nightmare beyond anything they have had to endure so far. This fight hardly seemed fair, because the boss alien has so many nasty tricks up its 100 sleeves that there is no way everyone is going to get out of that scrape in one piece. Not even Kei’s kamikaze fighting style has much hope against flesh dissolving acid and a regenerating enemy.
This volume of Gantz hits new highs in terms of killer fight sequences, and it is impossible to not get wrapped up in the action. If you’re looking for a non-stop thrill ride, this is it.
Grade: B+
Review copy provided by Dark Horse
