文豪ストレイドッグス 14 [Bungō Stray Dogs 14]

文豪ストレイドッグス [Bungō Stray Dogs] (Comic) #14

by Kafka Asagiri, Sango Harukawa (Illustrator), 朝霧カフカ

宵闇は更に深く昏く――探偵社に存続の危機が迫る!

犯罪の証拠を改竄する異能力「完全犯罪」を操る虫太郎に、乱歩はかつてない苦戦を強いられる。推理小説家殺人事件、太宰の逮捕、謎の組織≪天人五衰≫の暗躍…そして、事態は思いもよらぬ展開を見せていく――!?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Mystery, Seinen, Action, Urban Fantasy, Comics Manga

180 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2017

About the author

See 朝霧カフカ (Asagiri Kafka).
Japanese scenario writer and novelist.

Reviews

[not an exit]

ranpo and poe being boyfriends we love to see it

[Alexandra Elend Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Abandon this mission and run. They aim to have the Agency pave the way to our doom.”

Well, things really took a turn I was not expecting here.

So far, this manga has been pretty mild. We've encountered bad guys, of course, and things have gotten hairy and dark at times but there has always been hope and light to cling to at the end of the tunnel. Now, it feels as if a dismal, dark, suffocating cloud fell over the story that harbingers despair for everyone and won't go away. It bled from the pages to the reader in a clogging manner that made me almost sick and I don't see how it'll be dispelled.

It's all really heartbreaking.

“Mushi-kun. I bet you’re laughing at me for destroying myself for the sake of mystery. But if that’s the case maybe there’s no such thing as unshakable values. Maybe it’s up to us to decide what to put value in and what to live for. After all, we have the right to turn our own decisions into our entire world. It is, foolishly enough, the greatest luxury afforded to mankind.”

As much as this arc seems to be all about suffering and tricky questions about morality there was the silver lining of having Ranpo and Poe so central and taking very active roles in the course of the story.

It's hard to not be cheered when Ranpo is around as he is such a character - with his childishness and brilliance - that always makes me smile.

Until this point, we really had gotten limited interactions with either of these characters and having a little bit of time to really stay with them felt like a treat... in retrospect, I should have wondered why we were getting such a nice deal.

“It’s time to break out of this prison! The inherent brain-washing we call morality! I seek freedom for my soul more than any kind of joy! So listen to the screams of my own free will!”

At the end of this volume, all I want to do is scream and find out exactly what's gonna happen next. And, maybe, figure out a way to save everyone.

I'm not one to complain about darker turns in a story, they're compelling and my cup of tea, but I do feel blindsided with this particular one because I used to trust this manga to be able to cheer me up and just give me a good time.

That being said, I hope that we will maintain the "good-always-triumphs-at-the-end" and return to form with brighter days.

“’What’ll It be? The answer’s obvious. I’m in. Between a despot or the devil, I’ll always pick the devil.”

[Zaiba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ranpo so much akfhdsf

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
"What has value, what to live for, even if it sounds stupid, your decisions comprise your whole world".

DÍOS. MÍO.

Este tomo es canelita en rama.

[Mizuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edogawa Rampo is in trouble, I guess, so what's next!!!!????

And I do like all these Perfect Crime thingy (nothing else can get me going like crime and mystery!) and this new character's Ability to commit such a crime. The trick isn't the best but I at least like the creativity. LOL

Not to mention Poe and Rampo have the cutest team-up ever in this series! You are welcome to fight me over this claim!!!

PS: but please don't you ever get me started with all the giggling and fangirl's exclaiming I have done for all these Bungō Stray Dogs fanfics (Edagawa Rampo/Edgar Allan Poe is a thing, mind you. XD)

PSS: Poe looks rather excited and cheerful when he mentioned "A novelist is murdered", HAHAHAHA! That's our man!!

PSSS: Perfect Crime as an Ability is a must!

My review for Murder At the Mansion of Black Death by Mushitarō Oguri: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Review for vol. 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Review for vol. 6: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Review for vol. 7: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Review for vol. 13: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Review for vol. 16: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[mik ⁠✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ranpo and Poe relationship so much.

[☾︎ Louis Raine ☽︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ah yes....still one of my favourite volumes

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

ranpo and poe <33 my best boys <33

[I.M.BookMeIn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapters 55~56 : Perfect Crime Arc [End] 3.5⭐

Chapters 57~58 : Hunting Dogs Arc 5⭐
Right off the bat, we are introduced to Nikolai Gogol (ability The Overcoat) who, alongside Dostoevsky, is one of the 5 members of The Decay of the Angel, a terrorist organization that specializes in murder and seems to be targeting the ADA. When the government requests the ADA to investigate the 4 recent murders of the organisation, they accept the case despite Ranpo's refusal. This leads them straight into a trap..

As usual, we can't read this manga without acquiring plenty of literary references. The Decay of the Angel is the last book of Sea of Fertility tetralogy by Yukio Mishima. The title refers to the five death omens of an angel in Buddhist scriptures :

(1) Garments are soiled, dirt and grease seep into the clothes
(2) The flowery crown withers, the garland of the head wilts and rots away
(3) The body's radiance fade, a filthy odor comes from the body
(4) Axillary perspiration, sweat pours under the armpits
(5) Lack of delight in their heavenly thrown, apathy and dissatisfaction with one's position

Which just happen to be the methods of murder used by the organisation in this arc.

[Nova Syzygy]

Apparently I read this entire thing at around 3 AM and have barely any memory of reading it, so I had to find summaries of the individual chapters in order to have a loose grasp of what was going on. Maybe I shouldn't have waited for over two months after the previous volume before reading this one...

Anyway, I think this might be the most confusing volume yet, but that's probably my own fault. I'm not sure how to feel about Gogol being a clown. I read Шинель years ago, and, from what I remember, it was a fairly depressing story, so I'm not sure what's going on here.

I had no idea Dazai would be arrested so soon. What happened to Mushitaro? What was the murder thing? And what even happened at the end? Why did the Agency get framed? How? Where did Gogol get a telephone pole? Am I stupid and sleep-deprived, or is the volume itself just confusing? I guess we'll never know...

[Sapphire Bubble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one finally fucking broke me 😭

[MajesticalLion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was ONE way to end the volume. By far the worst cliffhanger this series has ever had to offer. And for once, I don't know how it ends. We're officially past the Anime. Uncharted territory. And things are looking as fun as ever.

[huna · Rating 5 out of 5]

*re-read

5⭐

How in the world this volume still gives me the freaking CHILL??!! I swear I'll get goosebumps every time I read this. Feel like I can't breathe, waiting to know what will happen. This is the beginning of the greatest disaster... Also, this volume has VIOLENCE . For those who have anxiety, please be careful if you're going to read the manga.

Here are my thought on this particular volume:

- Ranpo is so pure and kind. He's really childish but his seriousness makes him a respectable person. And the fact that he... URGHHH SPOILERS and the fact that he wants to help Mushitaro huhuuu why you're so kind, Ranpo?!

"I knew it all along. An ordinary person can't beat an ability. Even then, I'll defeat you. Because...I have friends who believe I'm invincible."

- The Decay of Angels.. URGH I FREAKING HATE THEM!!! In this volume, we are introduced to another member of this underground organization (Fyodor is also a member). Their motive URRGHGGHGHGHG...

- I really like the Armed Detective Agency's leader, Fukuzawa Yukichi. His determination... He's a great leader, for sure!!!

"To us, medals and praise mean as much as a fine drizzle. But even if we were disreputable underground sneak thieves... We must risk our lives to stop this murderer.

- FOR GOD SAKE I FREAKING HATE THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE!!!! I mean, he's not even helping anything before. Everything was done by the Port Mafia and Armed Detective Agency. He's just a free rider. F you... And then he has the audacity to ... eradicate the ADA???!!! WTF??!! DIE YOU FREAKING TERRIBLE, DESPICABLE OLD MAN URGHHH I'M SO MAD!!!

- I really want to know the person who wrote in that 'page'...

That's all from me hahaha when this is adapted to the anime, it will surely be nerve-wrecking and scary as hell. I'm looking forward to that day hahhaha

[Goblin Reaper · Rating 5 out of 5]

excuse me, but what the hell was that!!!

055: The Perfect Murder, the Perfect Killer, Part 2
056: The Perfect Murder, the Perfect Killer, Part 3
057: Sunday Tragedy, Part 1
058: Sunday Tragedy, Part 2

[Lucy Tonks (the invisible life of a reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

im so confused

[☆ Franzi ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new crazy and WTF was that even 😱

[Tobi ﾄﾋﾞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

7.9.21: one of my favourite volumes fr

7.8.22: my brain hurts

[Akshara Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

ranpoe supremacy.

[Rayajj · Rating 4 out of 5]

چه ارک خداییه...
چرا انیمه نشددددد
آرت مانگاشو دوست ندارم ولی👩‍🦯

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

[Reagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ranpo to ja

[Jackie Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have already watched the anime and picked up this volume to read about The Perfect Murder Case... and for Ranpo... and for Poe... Their friendship is just fun to read about (and strangely poetic because of their real-life admiration)!

However, the start of The Hunting Dogs Arc and the Decay of Angels Arc is *chef's kiss*. The Book is such an amazing plot device and fitting for a book about authors!

[Angie Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me in the beginning: Ranpo and Poe are working together!!!! 🥺🥺🥺🥺

Me in the end: well that got fucked up really quickly

[Shenwei · Rating 5 out of 5]

seriously wondering how much more fucked up and intensely nail-biting this story can get

[voresta · Rating 5 out of 5]

NAH DAWG THIS ISNT EVEN ABOUT SALVATION ANYMORE.

[skyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

those characters keep getting crazier and crazier, I love it here

[lady maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a roller coaster..:

[elhyza]

rendered me speechless, my agency beloveds in this situation...

[ollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m happy I got a few Ranpo centric chapters before doomsday hit. Shit is about to hit the fan at lightning speed!!

[Kacper ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

AAA?