Fire Force, Vol. 3

炎炎ノ消防隊 [Enen no Shouboutai] #3

by Atsushi Ohkubo

THE HERO AND THE PRINCESS

Captain Princess Hibana is hiding secrets about the origins of spontaneous human combustion, and it's Company 8's job to expose them! Shinra and the team head to Company 5 to learn the truth and to rescue Sister Iris, who has fallen into Hibana's clutches. Can Shinra defeat the princess and prove that heroes really do exist?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Comics, Shonen, Fiction, Action, Graphic Novels

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2016

About the author

OHKUBO Atsushi

Atsushi Ōkubo ( 大久保篤), also romanized as Atsushi Ohkubo, is a Japanese manga author and fantasy artist known for his work on the manga series Soul Eater, which has been adapted into an anime. Okubo worked as an assistant under Rando Ayamine, on the manga series Get Backers. He also created artwork for various cards for the Lord of Vermillion game.

Atsushi Ōkubo was not a model student and was more attracted to drawing than to learning. At the age of 20, after finishing studies at a manga school where he met Rando Ayamine, the author of Get Backers, he became Rando Ayamine's assistant for two years. Finally, he won a competition at Square Enix's Gangan magazine with his first manga series B.Ichi and it was published for four volumes. After the end of his last manga, he created Soul Eater, still for Square Enix's Gangan magazine, which brought him worldwide success.

Reviews

[Gabriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Que nivel de velocidad el de la trama.

Siento que las cosas se están desarrollando muy rápido y no sé si me gusta o me disgusta viendo que faltan bastantes capítulos.

El caso es que si bien me ha gustado la subtrama de Hinaba (sobre todo su backstory con la hermana Iris) siento que se me quiere vender una parte heroica del protagonista muy idealizada que la verdad no me convence por ahora. Le tiran muchas flores y lo veo muy caricaturesco para tomármelo en serio y más cuando tiene toda la pinta de ser evangelizador.

En fin, y encima no me convence las frases tan cutres y poco brillantes que soltaban en medio de la batalla que tenía contra la líder del 5to escuadrón. Tanto de él como de ella.

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

“In this world, it’s burn or be burned... And I AM ONE OF THOSE WHO BURN!”

Tercer tomo de Fire Force. La verdad es que la historia sigue enganchándome como la primera vez. El punto fuerte es la idea de la novela y el trasfondo religioso de por medio y el dibujo, porque los personajes se me quedan un poco planos; sobre todo los protagonistas y no puedo evitar compararlos con ciertos personajes de su otra obra. A pesar de ello, me lo estoy pasando en grande.

“None of that is true salvation. ”

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good volume and is mostly Shinra trying to rescue Sister Iris and we see his fight with Hibana and her past and its epic and re-affirms his stance of being a hero and Co. 5 and 8 together investigating the reasons of the infernal and we get great moments of comedy between them and next up training in Co. 1 and maybe they are getting closer to finding whose causing this. Loving how this series is progressing and its not holding back and continues to get better and better and also the art particularly around the flames is getting better and I love the action sequences of Shinra!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series has a lot of potentials, suspense permeating throughout the plot. Shinra is kinda adorable sometimes and that stupid Arthur, unbelievable! Hahaha! I love the captain!! Seriously, I think I have captain-complex now...

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book via Kindle Unlimited.

So in the last book, it was revealed that the Fire Force is more corrupt than it lets on and this book sees Company 8 working closely with Company 5 captain, Hinata, to get to the bottom of the mystery. This leads to Shinra and Arthur infiltrating Company 1 as trainees to attempt to answer the question of, is someone creating infernals and for what gain. I liked this volume, but I'm still not sure I'm completely sold on this series. It's interesting, I like the mystery and the issues faced by our main characters but I'm struggling to really connect with this series. I will keep reading but I'm not sure why I can't rate it any higher than "I liked it".

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good addition to this fast-paced series. I liked learning more about the different fire stations and having them work together to find out what is causing all the spontaneous combustions. I find the whole Captain Hibana and Iris thing a little out of place for what is going on and it’s not my favorite part of the story so I’m hoping that particular arc is fleshed out and moved away from sooner rather than later. It just doesn’t fit.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series remains a blast!

We get to finish up the last arc here, and let me tell you, it ends in an explosion of awesomeness. We also get some more fights here, really clever ones, with learning how to use fire and such in different ways. I also loved getting to see new units and what the other fire houses look like. The murder mystery keeps getting better and I'm curious who is running it all.

I enjoyed just about all this. The art is great, the fights are good, the dialogue is pretty funny. I think this series keeps getting better though the ending fanservice really isn't needed (Though I do like boobies but still). Overall check this one out! 4 out of 5.

[L.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

The pacing of the story seems odd to me. But, I still enjoyed this volume. The artwork is wonderful and easily conveys emotions and movement. Since I previously watched the anime, there have been no surprises so far.

The mysteries and secrets are still hiding the source of the evil and greed. The 8th, and now individuals from other groups, are starting to gather to figure out the truth behind Flame People.

[Frédéric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a transition toward the first consistent arc I guess. Hibanata ends up being a dud but the second part seems to be leading to more (covert) action.

And nude girls too.

[Chelsea 🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, this just isn't for me.

Captain Hibana has an interesting backstory, and that took focus for like one whole chapter before she just becomes a background character that gropes Iris in the shower "to see if she's maturing well" (*vomits*) and seemingly is in love with Shinra because he punched her... what? Also, him punching her was the catalyst for her to see the light and fight for justice or whatever. Weird?

Anyway, Maki is just here to be boycrazy, mindless and get groped (this time by complete strangers). This character has potential but this is all they intend to use her for. Again, this series is stopping dead for these moments like the men in the other firehouse groping her and the pointless shower scene.

The characters continue to blend together for me with no real personality. Like... Shinra is fighting people and I don't really care if he lives or dies because I'm not attached to this character.

I can get past some fan service, I mean MHA has fan service (though, imo, nowhere near as bad as this series) but MHA also has a compelling story and characters I want to root for. This series has a somewhat interesting story and that's all I can give it props for. (Sidenote: I'm referring to it as "fanservice" because that seems to be what people use to refer to things like this but I'd like to note... it's only for certain fans. Scenes like the shower scene feel specifically intended for men who are attracted to this kind of peeping/voyeurism thing with female characters. I am a woman that likes women and I am fully aware these scenes are not meant for me. They do absolutely nothing for me and I like boobs. So, I wish there was another term because this "fanservice" is only "servicing" (poor choice of words?) certain types of fans)

I'm glad others enjoy this series a lot more than me.

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as part of a 3-in-1 Omnibus
The story is going along just fine. We have the fight with company 5 and suddenly company 5 & 8 are best friends getting along just fine thank you very much. In fact the head of company 5 shows up at station 8 and has a nude shower with the other women in the company. This shower scene has three of the four main female characters nude fully unclothed facing the reader. I guess it is OK if they are depicted as angelic Cherubs with no visible nipples or sex organs. But still maybe some steam or soap bubbles strategically placed next time if you are not going to go full on nudes. Just kind of distracting and not really advancing the plot here - oh and turns out the nun Sister Iris is only 16 years old according to her bio at the end of the volume...
So. Now looking for the conspiracy company 8 is sending the least socially skilled (least spy like) members to infiltrate and spy on Company 1. Company 1 is currently the main suspect in all the evil going on.
The over the top "fan service" dings my rating (even if my teen self would love it). The rest is a solid 4 stars.

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I waited a bit too long to start on this volume after the last one, because I already finished the cour that was airing, and I completely forgot where I was plot-wise in the manga.

Good plot advancement, and it’s nice to know some things that happen later on to be able to spot subtle hints dropped. But goodness I’m surprised the mangaka is allowed to draw all the girls while they’re straight up naked like that just because he doesn’t put nipples. That really irks me, and I detest men.

[Ally (AllyEmReads)]

plus: Hibana

minus: Rekke

bonus: Jug and Tamaki

[Noah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool story, like the characters a lot. Thermoacoustics is something I never thought I’d find entertaining. But it not a standout for me.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Cristhian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s finally getting somewhere.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fan-service is just so over-the-top sometimes. I really don’t care for it. Especially since the plot is so interesting by itself.

[Keeloween · Rating 4 out of 5]

more like a 3.5 out of 5.. i'm really looking forward to knowing who the culprit is. Also, Tamaki's lucky Lewd Syndrome is funny but so random lol

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must not have watched much of the show, because this all felt new to me, which is great. I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here.

I loooooooove the Captain of Firehouse 8. He is probably my favorite character, even though he has 0 powers. He’s just a manly strong man who wants to solve a mystery. SWOON!

[Jon (VICIOUS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is getting more interesting with each volume and definitely has more potential to unearth, but some of the dialogue and motivations behind certain characters in this volume are just the same repetitive things you see in most manga/anime that makes some parts of the story really boring. The art is really where it’s at.

[Mert · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars (%79/100)

It was a good volume in general. Shinra fights against Captain Hibana and it is one of the most important fights in the series. Meanwhile, members of the 8th and 5th continue to fight as well. We learn many things about human combustion from Hibana and 8th's mission becomes even clearer. With this, the second arc ends and the third arc regarding the investigation of 1st company begins. Though we meet a lot of new characters, Captain Burns is probably the most important and powerful among them. The problem related to pacing continues but it gets better and I can't recommend this series enough.

[The Book Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Company 8 clashes with Company 5! And Shinra become 'One Punch Man!' I also have a new deep respect for Lieutenant Hinawa.

Next we get a lot of new characters! We get to see more of Company 2's Juggernaut and we get to meet Company 1's crew including Lieutenant Flam, or as I like to call him, Lieutenant Redundant.

Plus! We get some leads on the secret of Spontaneous Human Combustion.

This series has 34 volumes.

[Ben Nealis · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best of the series so far however the gross artwork is ridiculous. Great action and finally some decent world building. I will be dropping the series at this point.

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:

Fire has always been a thing of nightmares for many. In this world, people are at risk of spontaneously combusting and turning into Infernals. An Infernal wants only one thing - to destroy. They are no longer considered human. That is where the Fire Force comes into play. It's their duty to protect the people.

The battle against the Infernals is on the verge of taking a backseat, and it's all because the different Fire companies can't seem to agree – or get along. In truth, there's a reason for the Companies to be suspicious of one another...

Review:

Fire Force is the series for you if you're looking for a series full of action (and a fair bit of humor). Fire Force Vol. 3 is even more intense than the previous two volumes, at least on the combat side of things.

There's also plenty of amusement (and fan service) to go around. So hopefully, you enjoy that balance of elements because it is something that Atsushi Ohkubo excels at.

In truth, while I am getting more invested in the plot, I did find myself tired of this current arc. Yes, the whole implication of the infighting between companies is fascinating. But the execution at times is...tiring.

That said, I still did overall this volume as a whole. And I'm looking forward to seeing where this newest arc will lead. One thing is certain; it will create more drama before all is said and done.

Highlights:
Manga – Shonen
Connected to Soul Eater
Lots of Action

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[Katherine V · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Este volumen estuvo cargadísimo de comedia, acción, revelaciones y un par de momentos emocionales. Uno de los mejores comienzos posibles: Arthur siendo absolutamente derrotado por un Infernal sin saber por qué… hasta que se da cuenta de que tiene a Excalibur en la mano izquierda cuando él es diestro. Ese es todo el problema. Un cambio de mano y ¡bam! victoria asegurada. De verdad que es un completo idiota, pero lo amamos así.

En este tomo también nos metemos un poco más en la historia de Hibana, y aunque sigue siendo bastante insoportable al principio, se explica de dónde viene todo: fue la única sobreviviente de un incendio devastador que consumió a todas sus compañeras monjas. Además, el hecho de tener habilidades de tercera generación la hacía sentirse aún más aislada y culpable. Todo esto la llevó a alejarse del camino de la fe… hasta que Shinra le da un buen golpe de realidad, literalmente. Gracias a eso, Hibana se reconcilia un poco con su pasado y con Iris, e incluso empieza a actuar diferente: colabora con el Octavo, comparte información valiosa y, por si fuera poco, se enamora de Shinra. Lo demuestra apareciendo con comida en la base del Octavo y pidiéndole a Ôbi que le suba el sueldo, todo muy digna de princesa caída rendida ante su héroe.

Pero no todo son bromas o romances: Hibana revela algo clave en la investigación de los Infernales. Al parecer, no todos los casos son espontáneos: alguien los está creando. Y muchos de estos casos ocurren en la jurisdicción del Primer Escuadrón, así que el Octavo toma cartas en el asunto. Shinra y Arthur son enviados a infiltrarse, y desde el principio todo huele raro. En su primera misión, aparecen cinco Infernales de golpe, y Shinra alcanza a ver cómo un misterioso personaje convierte a una persona en Infernal usando un insecto… lo que deja claro que el culpable está dentro del Primer Escuadrón. Misterio asegurado para el próximo volumen.

Por último, no puedo dejar de mencionar a Juggernaut, que fue una joyita inesperada. Le tiene terror al fuego, y se convirtió en bombero solo para que sus compañeros le apaguen las llamas. Tiernísimo. Un personaje adorable que ya quiero ver más seguido.

[BriBiscuit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talk about a cliffhanger?!? This manga just doesn’t stop, there is rarely ever a moment to take a breath it feels like. It is constantly on the go! I do find that some of the character development like with Captain Hibana for example makes me feel skeptical. I know the pacing here is fast and there is no real filler or transition moments but no way the lady goes from super crazy to head over heels for a rookie she just met… I get that it can be a trope in anime, but I guess it is one that bothers me because it causes me to lose respect for her as a character and view her to be weaker than she may be capable of being. Like she folded like a dang chair when he kicked her butt… 😅 It makes it harder for me to take these characters serious when they're living in a pretty intense world while facing and even more intense situation or mission. You don’t have to take a story super serious all the time, as there are some funny moments in the manga like anytime the Tamaki is involved you know something funny and lewd will happen. Maybe if it felt like more time actually passed and there was some explanation behind more of the character's actions then I think it would feel better paced and more balanced! Not saying tell the reader everything because I love a good mystery but I wish it did not make me wonder if I skipped a page so often while reading.
Since I have seen the show way past this point in the manga I can say that I still love the story and most of the characters and feel like the anime portrays it much better! Plus the story is FREAKING WILD! I won't spoil anything, but knowing what I know from seeing what is to come may be influencing how I feel about the manga feeling a bit jumpy and missing pieces at this point. This is making me want to start to rewatch it to ramp up hype for the release of the next season!

3/5 Fires 🔥🔥🔥

[78sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die Reihe ist momentan wirklich meine Liebste. Ich finde sie so spannend und die Charaktere so sympathisch und interessant. Ich möchte wissen, was hinter den Flammenwesen steckt, wer da die Strippen zieht, wer der geheimnisvolle Bösewicht ist, den man bereits kennengelernt hat... Die zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen sind für einen Manga so gut dargestellt und interessant. Ich möchte wissen wie sich die Freund-Feinschaft zwischen Arthur und Shinra weiterentwickeln wird und vor allem bibbere ich, dass ein Charakter, den ich liebe, obwohl er gar nicht so viele Auftritte bisher hatte, nicht böse ist. Ich kann mich nicht erinnern, dass mich je eine Reihe so an ihren Plot gefesselt hat wie diese hier.
In diesem Band gab es eine Wendung, die ich nicht ganz nachvollziehen konnte und da dies weitreichende Folgen hat und dieser Charaktertwist einen wohl noch lange begleiten wird, fand ich das etwas störend. Aber vielleicht bin ich auch einfach nicht dahinter gestiegen, was da passiert ist. Das Ende war dann auch ein absoluter Cliffhanger und ich muss dringend weiterlesen.
Der Zeichenstil ist ebenfalls ganz mein Ding und ich blättere dann selbst nach Beenden des Mangas immer noch mal bestimmte Seiten auf, um nur den Zeichenstil zu genießen. Hier war das besonders deutlich da mein besagter Lieblingscharakter ein paar Seiten einnahm.

Story 5,0/5
Zeichenstil 5+/5
Charaktere 5+/5
Gesamt 5,0/5

[Tuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire Force V3 concludes the fight/battle which started at the end of the previous volume in which the captain of Company 5 is potentially harboring secrets about the origins of spontaneous human consumption. I found the conclusion to the “battle” to be pretty exciting and the kind of twist with it to be vastly fulfilling and kind of hilarious. I think the one thing I love about this series is the writer’s ability to faithfully keep things fun while maintaining the serious and compelling nature of the story. It’s not an all or nothing affair one way or the other in which you roll your eyes at the “too hard to take serious moments” or snort and move on from the “ill-timed comedy.” Everything just works so well together that it is a fun and exciting story.

Post-battle we get some fun times with Shinra and Arthur among other characters and get a glimpse into characters from other companies as we see what it’s like to face the main first company and see what all the captain knows about Shinra’s past. The best moments here are Shinra’s and Arthur’s opportunity to fight a big boss type guy in the company. It is very fulfilling and fun.

Overall the volume is fun and keeps the story headed in a great and compelling direction. Characters interactions remain on point and comedy and what not are fun and make me smile all the time. Really worthwhile read.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series hasn't disappointed yet, with a few slow paces, but this one picks it back up again. Volume Three gives you more backstory on characters who actually should matter more or have more interesting ideas. Admiteddtely this introduces the most annoying character personally, actually two of the most annoying, but luckily, they fit the bill of quirky characters most series have. Giving this series more of a One Piece feel, but I think that's where it shines. It takes some of the stereotypes and thrusts them all in together, while still remaining unique.

Even the parts that don't feel like they could be unique. Everyone has fire powers right? right, but there are those who use it in unique ways to alter what it means to have heat as the only power in a world. That I think is where this shines, the writer did his research and in some ways you can be educated while still enjoying, not all of it is true science, but it's nice that the ideas are even there.

It's a great series that every page unfolds more and more of this mysterious world, which makes it feel fresh and inviting, without feeling like you've to tread this territory before. It's another great installment. One that's defiently worth reading if you've made it this far in the series.

[Ashe Catlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved part of this but some of it was very tonally confusing.

So you get some really cool fights between force 8 and 5, then you get the new villain who’s blabbering on about how powerful she is. She repeats herself over and over for about half this volume, then you get fire feet and his just say I’m a hero throughout. What did that achieve? Oh and the girl who she stripped last volume she gave clothes to for some reason… She says that she’ll burn the guy to cinders but as soon as he punches her she becomes smitten and decides to team up with force 8. Not only is that very out of the blue but it completely goes against what’s been established for her character. She even goes as far to give him bread afterwards and have a shower with the girls, why it went that route from wanting to kill everyone, I have no idea.

You also get a hint that there might be a new villain, now this could have worked. But the last 2 volumes you introduced 2 villains neither of which have been fleshed out, one has disappeared and the other I’m not sure what the hell is going on. So just adding a new one makes a mess of things, couldn’t it just of had some lighthearted moments or dealing with some incarnates?