Kagetora

(Volume 9)
by
Akira Segami

Del Rey, April 2008, 202 pp.
ISBN: 978-0-345-49771-0

Genre: Comics
Subgenre: Manga
Reviewed: 6/12/2008

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Manga Page

Synopsis

At school, Kagetora notices a guy that has been watching him lately. His name is Issei Kojou and he is tall and looks kind of tough . . . but he isn't tough at all. In fact, he is rather weak and gets beat up all the time. He ask Kagetora if he can become his disciple and train to be a ninja. Kagetora doesn't want a disciple, but Yuu suggests that Kojou can be trained with her by Kagetora. Right from the beginning, it is obvious that Kojou has no skills.

As time goes by, Kojou starts to have feelings for Yuu, and there is nothing Kagetora can do about it because of his oath to protect Yuu. Later, Yuu invites Kagetora and Kojou to train at her mother's other house in the mountains so they can have a change of scenery. When they arrive, they find Kirtani already there with a few of their male friends. The guys all decide to train with Kagetora with Kirtani stays with Yuu.

One day after training, Kojou and Yuu are caught walking out in a rainstorm. While walking back to the house, Kojou tells Yuu that he likes her. He doesn't know how to react to Yuu's silence, so he sends her on ahead. When Kojou tells Kagetora that he told Yuu that he liked her, Kagetora becomes very quiet as he ponders losing the girl he loves. When Kojou finally talks to Yuu, he admits that he knew that Yuu already had someone else in her heart and backs down.

Finally, Kagetora makes up his mind that he is going to have to do something about his feelings for Yuu. But, what?

Kagetora: Volume 9 is a manga book written and drawn by Akira Segami. This collection of 5 chapters of this story was Translated by Satsuki Yamashita, Adapted by Nunzio deFilippis & Christina Weir, and Lettered by North Market Street Graphics. This book contains the following chapters:

#38 - Aim for the Night

#39 - Want to Protect

#40 - Secret Crush

#41 - Stolen Love

#42 - A Fist and Tears

There are also some sections in the book for: A) A Note From the Author, B) Honorifics Explained, C) About the Author, D) Translation Notes, and E) Preview of Volume 10. The book reads from right to left and back to front, just like a book from Japan. This manga book is intended for readers ages 13 and up.

Review

Kagetora: Volume 9 finally sets in motion something we have been waiting for since the first book in the series. With the threat of losing Yuu to another guy, will Kagetora really tell Yuu how he feels? Wow, I sure hope so. I am so ready for their relationship, or lack of relationship, to move forward. That sure would be a refreshing change.

As for the writing, it is fun and moves along at an excellent pace.

The artwork, also done by Akira Segami, is on par with the other books. Basically, it is quite nice. Nothing extraordinary, but always reliable in that I never get confused with any of the action scenes.

The translation and adaptation to English is pretty good and I quite enjoyed all five stories. So, I guess the big thing now is to see what is going to happen in the next book. Will Kagetora tell Yuu how he feels? Will he quit his job protecting her so they can go out? Will he quash his feeling and remain doing his job? Or, will he just keep ignoring his feelings and remain doing the same thing has has been doing since this series started . . . not saying a thing. Well, for all the readers out there, let me tell the creator what he should do. Kagetora should tell Yuu how he feels! Wow, is that ever simple, or what? Hmmm, let's see if that happens.

Overall, Kagetora: Volume 9 is another great book in this already terrific series and I look forward with great anticipation to find out if Kagetora is going to man-up in Kagetora: Volume 10. Let's hope so.

I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.