What do you think?
Rate this book
ブラックラグーン [Black Lagoon] #3
ブラック・ラグーン 3
街のマフィアの幹部を次々と惨殺していた犯人は、まだ幼い双子の男女だった！！部下をむごたらしく殺されたバラライカは、復讐を誓い、双子狩りを開始する。そんな中、当の少年たちは、依頼主であるイタリア系グループの事務所に襲撃をかけていた！！雇い主までも手にかける非情な双子の運命は…！？
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2004
24 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
Rei Hiroe
36 books83 followersRei Hiroe (広江 礼威, Hiroe Rei, born 5 December 1972) is a Japanese manga artist who is best known for his latest manga, Black Lagoon. When he is working on doujin comics he goes by the name Red Bear and TEX-MEX. Hiroe's manga were originally published by Kadokawa Shoten in the 1990s but none were complete. As a response Hiroe transferred to Shogakukan in the early 2000s, where all of his manga released before Black Lagoon were republished and re-released.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 27, 2019
A pirate’s life is definitely not easy and certainly not pretty either.
Black Lagoon is the type of series that fires its twin guns in a no-holds-barred, over-the-top sort of way that makes this a fun action-series worth following. It’s also able to tell an almost heartbreaking tale even among the bullet-fueled action. Volume 3 of Black Lagoon is proof of that as the story continues the story arc of child assassins that have gone too far and a man who still doesn’t fully understand the criminal underworld as well as he thought.
Volume 2 introduced two Romanian twins that go by the handle Hansel and Gretel and, much like the characters from the Brothers Grimm tale, these children suffered through and survived a horrifying fate that has branched out into a surreally psychotic epilogue. As assassins hired to take out Balalaika, the head of Hotel Moscow, the twins even turn on their employers who happened to have been the Italian mob working in Roanpur. Having already slain two of Balalaika’s trusted men, the calm Russian Commander called in help from Moscow as well as formed an alliance with Mister Chang of the Chinese Triad. In addition to that, she even set up a reward to the local bounty hunters in town.
Of course, Revy isn’t one to pass up the chance of earning some cash thanks to word from Eda who works for the gun merchants that happen to be nuns (or posing as nuns). The manhunt for the twins leads to some gunfights when Mister Chang encounters the twins and takes them on with little success. Meanwhile, Revy and Eda do manage to catch up to Hansel and Gretel and they’re even less successful as well. It isn’t until the twins are separated that Balalaika shows that she’s more than capable of carrying out an intricate plan. She’s definitely one woman you do not want to get angry.
As one part of Balalaika’s plan goes through, Gretel takes Eda hostage in order to convince the Lagoon Traders to accept her as a client looking to get out of Roanpur. Of course, this puts the crew of the Black Lagoon in direct conflict with Balalaika’s agenda. As he did in the first volume, it is Rock that keeps a very different child company. His expression when Gretel tells him how she views the world breaks his heart but the truly heartbreaking moment comes during the end of the chapter.
In the next chapter, Mister Chang comes to the Lagoon Traders with a briefcase that has already caused him plenty of grief. It seems that a Bulgarian Intelligence operative was attempting to peddle arms in Mister Chan’s territory within Roanpur but when Chang threatens him the operative hands over a briefcase with highly sensitive documents connected to Hezbollah. The mission is to transport the documents to the CIA in an island nearby. Well, this is easier said than done when Hezbollah and a Japanese associate of theirs catches wind that the crew of the Black Lagoon have the briefcase.
Having attacked the Lagoon Traders’ headquarters, Dutch and the crew find themselves in a tight spot on the journey to the island. Fighting their way to land almost becomes impossible and once on the mainland it is up to Revy and Rock to make contact with a driver. The problem is that the Japanese associate is there to greet them. The chase is on to not only deliver the documents but also save Rock as an Irish driver and a female assassin named Shenhua decide to help out Revy. These chapters are by far one of the most action-packed chapters in the series so far with an outcome that will continue in Volume 4.
I said it once and I’ll say it again, manga doesn’t get as action-packed as Black Lagoon. It’s highly-explosive, high energy storytelling really does make this an exciting read and I have to say that I am definitely looking forward to the next volume. Rei Hiroe, you have done it again.
MANGA REVIEW BREAKDOWN
STORY: A
Balalaika’s problem with the assassin twins Hansel and Gretel comes to a startling and violent conclusion and Mister Change of the Chinese Triad turns out to be totally awesome in this volume. Meanwhile, a dangerous assignment pits the Lagoon Traders up against a dangerous terrorist faction within Hezbollah.
ART: A+
Rei Hiroe knows how to make his action scenes really stand out just as good as most of his characters. Then again, since this is the third volume, you probably already knew that.
OVERALL: A
On top of the stellar storytelling, Volume 3 of Black Lagoon is powerfully emotional yet outrageously crazy in the best way possible. Despite the sad Hansel and Gretel chapter, the bullets still fly and the blood still flows in this action-packed volume that just doesn’t disappoint on all fronts.
Black Lagoon is the type of series that fires its twin guns in a no-holds-barred, over-the-top sort of way that makes this a fun action-series worth following. It’s also able to tell an almost heartbreaking tale even among the bullet-fueled action. Volume 3 of Black Lagoon is proof of that as the story continues the story arc of child assassins that have gone too far and a man who still doesn’t fully understand the criminal underworld as well as he thought.
Volume 2 introduced two Romanian twins that go by the handle Hansel and Gretel and, much like the characters from the Brothers Grimm tale, these children suffered through and survived a horrifying fate that has branched out into a surreally psychotic epilogue. As assassins hired to take out Balalaika, the head of Hotel Moscow, the twins even turn on their employers who happened to have been the Italian mob working in Roanpur. Having already slain two of Balalaika’s trusted men, the calm Russian Commander called in help from Moscow as well as formed an alliance with Mister Chang of the Chinese Triad. In addition to that, she even set up a reward to the local bounty hunters in town.
Of course, Revy isn’t one to pass up the chance of earning some cash thanks to word from Eda who works for the gun merchants that happen to be nuns (or posing as nuns). The manhunt for the twins leads to some gunfights when Mister Chang encounters the twins and takes them on with little success. Meanwhile, Revy and Eda do manage to catch up to Hansel and Gretel and they’re even less successful as well. It isn’t until the twins are separated that Balalaika shows that she’s more than capable of carrying out an intricate plan. She’s definitely one woman you do not want to get angry.
As one part of Balalaika’s plan goes through, Gretel takes Eda hostage in order to convince the Lagoon Traders to accept her as a client looking to get out of Roanpur. Of course, this puts the crew of the Black Lagoon in direct conflict with Balalaika’s agenda. As he did in the first volume, it is Rock that keeps a very different child company. His expression when Gretel tells him how she views the world breaks his heart but the truly heartbreaking moment comes during the end of the chapter.
In the next chapter, Mister Chang comes to the Lagoon Traders with a briefcase that has already caused him plenty of grief. It seems that a Bulgarian Intelligence operative was attempting to peddle arms in Mister Chan’s territory within Roanpur but when Chang threatens him the operative hands over a briefcase with highly sensitive documents connected to Hezbollah. The mission is to transport the documents to the CIA in an island nearby. Well, this is easier said than done when Hezbollah and a Japanese associate of theirs catches wind that the crew of the Black Lagoon have the briefcase.
Having attacked the Lagoon Traders’ headquarters, Dutch and the crew find themselves in a tight spot on the journey to the island. Fighting their way to land almost becomes impossible and once on the mainland it is up to Revy and Rock to make contact with a driver. The problem is that the Japanese associate is there to greet them. The chase is on to not only deliver the documents but also save Rock as an Irish driver and a female assassin named Shenhua decide to help out Revy. These chapters are by far one of the most action-packed chapters in the series so far with an outcome that will continue in Volume 4.
I said it once and I’ll say it again, manga doesn’t get as action-packed as Black Lagoon. It’s highly-explosive, high energy storytelling really does make this an exciting read and I have to say that I am definitely looking forward to the next volume. Rei Hiroe, you have done it again.
MANGA REVIEW BREAKDOWN
STORY: A
Balalaika’s problem with the assassin twins Hansel and Gretel comes to a startling and violent conclusion and Mister Change of the Chinese Triad turns out to be totally awesome in this volume. Meanwhile, a dangerous assignment pits the Lagoon Traders up against a dangerous terrorist faction within Hezbollah.
ART: A+
Rei Hiroe knows how to make his action scenes really stand out just as good as most of his characters. Then again, since this is the third volume, you probably already knew that.
OVERALL: A
On top of the stellar storytelling, Volume 3 of Black Lagoon is powerfully emotional yet outrageously crazy in the best way possible. Despite the sad Hansel and Gretel chapter, the bullets still fly and the blood still flows in this action-packed volume that just doesn’t disappoint on all fronts.
February 18, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️ STARS
“I’m not like you. Don’t wrap me into the same category that you’re in.”
“I’m not like you. Don’t wrap me into the same category that you’re in.”
January 16, 2015
in this installment of black lagoon the story of the Romanian assassins Hansel and Gretel comes to a close as they make a break from the Italian branch of the mafia they say their good byes and head off in different directions one going after balalaika the other into hiding both thinking that they will meet there goal and keep on living together forever.
but to quote a certain song no one lives forever and they both die one at the hands of balalaika herself and the other by a man that was suppose to help them escape.
as for the last part of the book the black lagoon traders are hired by Mr Chang of the Chinese triads to deliver documents,and in while doing so rock gets captured and thrown into questioning by some terrorists and as usual revy and a shenua come to rescue him
but to quote a certain song no one lives forever and they both die one at the hands of balalaika herself and the other by a man that was suppose to help them escape.
as for the last part of the book the black lagoon traders are hired by Mr Chang of the Chinese triads to deliver documents,and in while doing so rock gets captured and thrown into questioning by some terrorists and as usual revy and a shenua come to rescue him
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2019
Black Lagoon gets better and better. Vol 3 finishes the Bloodsport Fairy Tale storyline about the Romanian assassin twins and has the first five parts of the "Goat, Jihad, Rock 'n' Roll" storyline (which sees the Lagoon crew try to reach a CIA base with stolen terrorist plans with Japanese Red Army and hezbollah terrorists giving chase). I'm starting to get concerned about everyone's clothes though. They don't seem to wash them often, if at all.
September 30, 2022
I love that this series is purely loud and dumb fun. So many great action setpieces, with exploding boats, car chases, and dual wielding pistols. Just a continuous bullet opera buffet.
Speaking of bullet operas, it's revealed in this volume that the character Mr. Chang's appearance is based on Chow Yun-fat, which adds to the whole this is just John Woo movies in manga form. All that's missing is some doves.
Speaking of bullet operas, it's revealed in this volume that the character Mr. Chang's appearance is based on Chow Yun-fat, which adds to the whole this is just John Woo movies in manga form. All that's missing is some doves.
May 21, 2020
Les dessins sont sympas mais c'est bien tout ce que je relève de positif dans ce mangas. Les insultes à tout va, les explosions incessantes et les personnages qui jouent les gros durs... très peu pour moi. Je n'ai réussi à m'attacher à rien ni personne. J'ai eu l'impression d'être devant un mauvais film d'action américain =/
June 10, 2020
Best volume so far. Revy used to do some mad laughing while shooting but now she's sort of grinning confidently and I like that more. Other three characters of the Lagoon posse still pale next to her. Balalaika is interesting in her cold, calculating ruthlessness.
Action looks good. The twins were super disturbing but the arc was good.
Action looks good. The twins were super disturbing but the arc was good.
May 11, 2024
I started the series from vol 2., as my library had vol 1., out on loan.
One was okay, and two a little better and more interesting.
Vol 3., drops somewhat.
Given the the ratings in GR are favourable for BL, I'll give vol 4., a go and see if there's an improvement.
One was okay, and two a little better and more interesting.
Vol 3., drops somewhat.
Given the the ratings in GR are favourable for BL, I'll give vol 4., a go and see if there's an improvement.
September 6, 2021
Gets more and more interesting.
December 31, 2022
The action sequences are so much fun, but all the plot and build up to them are so hard to get through.
July 2, 2023
balalaika is on the cover of this one which makes it the best i have nothing else to say
February 4, 2015
Many will (and have been) disturbed and upset by the finale of the 'vampire twins'' arc. Even I found it a little depressing, but at the same time, it goes to show just how ruthless Balalaika really is. The latter half of this arc is an improvement over the great start it had, but I guess that's because this is the payoff while the first half was the buildup.
Then we have the Lagoon Company going into enemy territory to deliver documents to the U.S. Embassy while being pursued by Islamic terrorists that are bold enough to attack Chang, the Chow Yun-Fat lookalike leader of the Triads. Hell, even the Lagoon Company's office building doesn't make it out of this sticky situation in one piece! Along the way, Rock gets himself captured by the aforementioned terrorists, and Revy (along with two somewhat incompetent getaway drivers--a Thai knife-thrower and a coke-abusing Irishman) have to infiltrate the enemy camp to get Rock and the documents out in one piece.
I actually liked Takenaka, one of the leaders of the Jihad that captures Rock, and the calmer side of the partnered leadership--the hothead being (I think) an Arab named Ibraha. The conversation between the two Japanese men is a highlight of the volume and it's something that I won't spoil the details of for the sake of the story.
The artwork is good, as usual, and the action scenes are exciting. Aside from the cold-hearted ending to the Bloodsport Fairytale arc (even for my tastes), it's another solid volume in the series.
Then we have the Lagoon Company going into enemy territory to deliver documents to the U.S. Embassy while being pursued by Islamic terrorists that are bold enough to attack Chang, the Chow Yun-Fat lookalike leader of the Triads. Hell, even the Lagoon Company's office building doesn't make it out of this sticky situation in one piece! Along the way, Rock gets himself captured by the aforementioned terrorists, and Revy (along with two somewhat incompetent getaway drivers--a Thai knife-thrower and a coke-abusing Irishman) have to infiltrate the enemy camp to get Rock and the documents out in one piece.
I actually liked Takenaka, one of the leaders of the Jihad that captures Rock, and the calmer side of the partnered leadership--the hothead being (I think) an Arab named Ibraha. The conversation between the two Japanese men is a highlight of the volume and it's something that I won't spoil the details of for the sake of the story.
The artwork is good, as usual, and the action scenes are exciting. Aside from the cold-hearted ending to the Bloodsport Fairytale arc (even for my tastes), it's another solid volume in the series.
March 6, 2011
In this volume, the story of the murdering twins concludes and the Black Lagoon company is hired to deliver secret documents and to protect them from Islamic terrorists.
"Bloodsport Fairy Tale" - even though the twins were crazy sociopaths and mass murderers, I still got all teary eyed when they died. Maybe because Rock showed them compassion, because he was the only one who ever treated them well and didn't try to abuse them. He was so heartbroken on their behalf. Yet I still admired Balalaika for killing the kids, that she had the guts - and the determination - to avenge her men. My favorite part? How protective Levi was of Rock on the boat.
"Goat, Jihad and Rock'N Roll" - Wow, that was some bloodbath. Levi and that other female Chinese killer, they went along fabulously, their "hate-hate yet fight side-by-side" relationship reminded me of Levi's... erm, friendship - if you can call it that - with Eda, that gun smuggling nun. They really reveled in killing those terrorists. Levi's totally nuts - yet she always comes to Rock's rescue. What a weird friendship. On the other hand, I sometimes feel that Rock is the only normal person there.
Another great volume. Rei Hiroe really knows how to write female heroines. They are just as gun-toting and bloodthirsty as men, maybe even more.
"Bloodsport Fairy Tale" - even though the twins were crazy sociopaths and mass murderers, I still got all teary eyed when they died. Maybe because Rock showed them compassion, because he was the only one who ever treated them well and didn't try to abuse them. He was so heartbroken on their behalf. Yet I still admired Balalaika for killing the kids, that she had the guts - and the determination - to avenge her men. My favorite part? How protective Levi was of Rock on the boat.
"Goat, Jihad and Rock'N Roll" - Wow, that was some bloodbath. Levi and that other female Chinese killer, they went along fabulously, their "hate-hate yet fight side-by-side" relationship reminded me of Levi's... erm, friendship - if you can call it that - with Eda, that gun smuggling nun. They really reveled in killing those terrorists. Levi's totally nuts - yet she always comes to Rock's rescue. What a weird friendship. On the other hand, I sometimes feel that Rock is the only normal person there.
Another great volume. Rei Hiroe really knows how to write female heroines. They are just as gun-toting and bloodthirsty as men, maybe even more.
July 13, 2011
The series keeps getting better and better for me. The story of the Romanian siblings comes to a close. Sure, they were psycho assassins, yet they do come across as sympathetic figures at the end. A new storyline begins where the crew is hired to deliver some secret documents, all while trying to ellude an Islamic terrorist organization. The action is still hot and fast. The art continues to be very good. And we are finding some more depth in the characters. Overall, this is become a favorite series, and given that each volume leaves you hanging for the next part of the story, well, you know you will want the next one. This was definitely a good read.
December 7, 2008
Ah, they admitted that the Triad boss is supposed to remind one of Chow Yun Fat. Okay, then!
September 28, 2009
Truly a guilty pleasure...
January 26, 2011
More craziness with the crew of the Black Lagoon.
March 14, 2012
Awesome manga, highly recommend.
August 4, 2015
Entretenido
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews