In order to fulfill his vow to kill Prof. Einstürzen, Heine resumes his search for the entrance to the Below and the experimental facility where he was born. As he and Badou move further into the depths of the Underground, they’re tracked down by Giovanni, who offers to help—but what are his real intentions? Meanwhile, Naoto confronts Magato, seeking the key to her past, and Director Neubauten sends the Special Defense Force to attack Einstürzen’s fiercest troops.
It's a shame it takes so long to get an English translation of this because I end up forgetting things (there's like one a year). I had to reread #8 to make sense of this. Just like in #8, a lot of big reveals happen in this.
Things came to an ugly head between Granny, Heine and Bishop in #8 and this picks up with the aftermath. Heine and Bishop are healing after Naoto's sword interfered with Heine's spine and it's healing ability (and after Bishop was shot). Badou is back in the picture, teaming up with Heine to go underground. Naoto is unaware she's been left behind as Heine doesn't fully trust her after what Mother (i.e. Dr. Einsturzen) was able to do with Naoto last time. (see #8).
Magoto and Naoto mix it up again and we learn a lot more about their history underground, especially Magoto. Mikhail runs across several of their former enemies and Heine and Badou get waylaid by Giovanni but even there, there are some twists (Poor Giovanni).
The art is lovely. There might be just a bit too much fighting and not enough plot this time out. This thing takes a lot of twists so rereading before a volume isn't a bad idea. It takes some of the confusion out. I particularly like Heine and Badou so I do really like this manga, violent as it is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Meh. There wasn't anything in this that made me particularly not like it, just didn't do a whole lot for me. There were some good moments, and a few twists, but the spark this series had wasn't there for this one. I know the next one is the last book that was published/translated, so I'm very wary of it just in case it's amazing and leaves us on a cliffhanger and then never resolves it... Yes, I am chicken. I admit it. I'll still read it though and fight through this.
I love the Miwa's art, and the story is interesting...but confusing. That probably has more to do with the time between volumes than anything. Fight scenes are pretty hard to read, too, but that's just the downfall of the medium