A tense, grim volume, Yan sees its titular character drag the past kicking and screaming into an unprepared present. From the moment of her introduction as she livestreams her first act of vengeance, I was enthralled. The bombast of so public a performance promised thrills that would have made any revenge an enticing read, but Yan is a slow layering of mystery upon mystery that tangles you up in its intrigues and dances with other genres, wondering where it will take you next.
Yan brings violence that could pass for cartoonish in its extremity, and a sense of something wrong that sends Yan running to the carnage upon which she swears revenge, but as with its bold opening, it isn’t afraid to throw you into the depths. It makes masterful use of flashbacks, each time re-orienting your understanding of the world and its happenings. The one exception to this is Miku Higa’s disappearance, reported twice, in consecutive chapters. Admittedly, it’s difficult to keep hold of that fact in the face of a talking origami dinosaur and the revelation that ghosts exist.
It isn’t only the piling mysteries and action that thrill, however. From the shadows around Tieh Hua’s mouth as in that grin, or the way light reflects in an eye, Yan is gloriously expressive.
The one unfortunate element is the way that Tieh Hua’s body is presented. While I wouldn’t appreciate it, I would understand if the profusion of crotch shots were meant to be titillating. However, reasons aside, her suit shouldn’t be so revealing that I can see the exact shape and depth to her navel.
That aside, I still find myself incredibly excited at the prospect of reading the next volume.