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Title: Alive: The Final Evolution Vol 8

Story by: Tadashi Kawashima

Art by: Adachitoka

Publisher: Del Rey

ISBN: 9780345500830

May Contain Spoilers

The showdown at the lake is raging on, as the comrades are intent on beating the snot out of each other.  Katsumata is cleverly orchestrating the battle, giving a few key players a nudge to keep them focused on fighting.  As the chaos burns out of control, Hirose has been left out of the fray.  Will Katsumata be able to unite his “vessel” with Acro’s Heart, unleashing the final evolution?

Yeehaw, this was an exciting, breathtaking read.  The action is so intense that it is impossible to put the book down.  There are several key confrontations occurring, and the high velocity pacing maximizes the tension and suspense of each fight.  Nami is determined to have her revenge against Kanon, but Yura has decided to stick his nose into their business, Taisuke can’t let go of Megumi or Okuda’s grim reaper will kill her, and Yuta is getting cut to ribbons by Morio’s wind attacks.  How are any of them going to survive to put a stop to Katsumata’s plans?

The action sequences are exhilarating, as each combatant strives to become stronger so that they can kill their opponent.  All of their negative energy is feeding off of each other, fueling Acro’s Heart and driving everyone to the brink of insanity.  Everyone becomes so caught up in themselves, in getting their revenge, in getting stronger, that they lose their minds, and as they teeter more and more out of control, they play right into Katsumata’s hands.

We get a glimpse here of what Taisuke could become if he’s pushed hard enough.  There is a darkness lurking within him that makes Hiro seem inconsequential.  The vessel that could have contained all of Katsumata’s aspirations and more isn’t Hiro.  It’s Taisuke, who has learned to put on a better face than his friend, who has learned to live a lie and hide the decay that lurks deep, deep inside him.  He is scary, he is ruthless, and he could easily cause the evolution that Katsumata so desperately craves. 

Alive has surprised me, easily becoming one of my favorite action series.  The art is explosive, but the true champ here is the high octane suspense.  Like the best summer action flicks, the plot twists just keep coming, driving the cast forward in a frenzy of motion that they can’t stop.  They are being dragged closer to their destiny, whatever it may be, and there is nothing that they can do to avoid it. 

Grade: A

Review copy provided by Del Rey