Otaku, No Video

House of Five Leaves © Natsume Ono, Viz, Shogakukan, Viz Media

Artist/Writer: Natsume Ono

Published in: 2006–2010 (Japan), 2010–present (America)

American Publisher: Viz Media

Genres: Seinen, drama, slice-of-life

Volumes: 7, still being released in America

What about volume 1? See my previous review.

What’s the premise? Akitsu Masanosuke, our timid samurai protagonist, has fallen ill and is being tended by Goinkyo. We learn more about Goinkyo and several other characters’ backstories, which sheds some light on the origins of the Five Leaves. Anything further would be spoilers.

Does it still look weird? Yeah, even more so than in volume 1.

The atmosphere in this volume is even more quiet than the earlier one, as Akitsu remains bed-ridden for most of the volume. This allows the storyline with Goinkyo and others to blossom.

Is it confusing? The plot itself is clear, but the characters use a lot of nicknames. I had some trouble keeping track of them at several points.

Can I show it to my Mom? Sure. She might like the odd art and colorful cast.

Can I show it to my kid brother? Yep, but it probably wouldn’t do much for him. Lots of talking.

Can I show it to a non-manga fan? It’s quirky enough–and so Japanese–that this will be a crap shoot. It does look something like an indie comic, though.

Does it have any memorable moments? Several. The story involving Goinkyo’s back story, and how that relates to several other characters, creates a tense, dark plot. The payoff satisfied my sense of justice, while remaining ambiguous enough to keep me thinking about the ethics of it all.

Availability: Easily available on sites like Amazon and RightStuf.