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Title: Parasyte Vol 7

Author: Hitoshi Iwaaki

Publisher:  Del Rey

ISBN: 9780345500359

May Contain Spoilers

This volume demonstrated that there really isn’t much difference between the alien monsters and the humans that they are feeding on.  When overzealous Lieutenant Commander Yamagishi concocts a plan to destroy the alien parasites once and for all, he unleashes a bloodbath that slaughters humans and intended prey alike.  When the smoke clears, all he’s done is created a more powerful enemy, and left a trail of corpses in his wake.  Will Shinichi be able to stay alive long enough to graduate from high school, now that Goto is out to get him?

Wow, there are a lot flying body parts and blood splatters packed in here.  The police and the military are working together to ferret out the parasytes, though there is friction within their ranks.  Inspector Hirama and Yamagishi don’t exactly hit it off, and Yamagishi practically mocks  the policeman for wanting to get some advice from Shinichi.  Yamagishi even manages to come up with a killer plan to detect the aliens, but since they are telepathic, it really only works once.  Oops! That was a major miscalculation on his part, and it’s one that’s going to cost him big time.  Maybe he shouldn’t have scoffed at Shinichi’s suggestion…

Parasyte is gearing up for the concluding volume, and there are some intense battle scenes that highlight the chaos and uncertainty of combat.  While the humans seemed to have done their homework, they just can’t comprehend that the aliens have just as strong of a desire to survive as they do.  Having had to blend into society and keep themselves hidden, they have also learned how to be cunning and ruthless, which is going to give Yamagishi a rude awakening.  The stereotypical military man, he doesn’t give his enemy enough credit, and with his superior numbers and fire power, he thinks that the battle is won before it even begins.  I wanted to feel sorry for he, but he is such a pompous prick that I couldn’t.  He isn’t above sacrificing innocent civilians to win his little war against the enemy, and it had me questioning who the real monsters were.

Shinichi just opened a nasty can of worms for himself, and both he and Migi have accepted the fact that they probably aren’t going to be alive for much longer.  Goto has set his sights on them, and he isn’t going to stop until they are both dead.  That Goto is one scary guy, or would it be more correct to say he is five scary guys? Or parts of five scary guys?  Blaming Shinichi for working with the government, he wants revenge for the deaths of his companions.  Good thing he’s too tired to kill Shinichi right then and there, and instead lets the kid stew about his impending death.  Bet it will be both painful and unpleasant.  Ugh.  Will Shinichi and Migi be able to think of a way to stay alive?

Even clocking in at over 250 pages, this installment flies by, the non-stop action and drama captivating for its entire duration.  This is one series that never feels like it drags or gets bogged down.  Each volume cranks up the tension, leading Shinichi into ever greater danger.  It is probably a good thing that part of his heart has fused with an alien, because I think he would have died of a heart attack if he only had his old, too human heart to rely on. 

Grade: B+