Gangsta., Vol. 3

Gangsta. #3

by Kohske

Ergastulum is a tough town, a place where the rule of law takes a backseat to the law of violence, where Handymen like Nic and Worick make a living doing odd jobs from routine deliveries to extrajudicial killings. Discreet, ruthless, and efficient, the men are respected by both the police brass and the Mafia dons, but it took many long, hard years for them to make their names. Behind those years is the hidden history of how the scion of an elite family and a boy soldier of the Twilights ranks formed an improbable, unbreakable bond.

Genres: Manga, Seinen, Comics, Graphic Novels, Crime, Fiction, Action

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 9, 2012

About the author

Associated Names:
コースケ
Ko-suke
Kosuke
Koosuke

Kohske made her manga debut in 2009 with the short story "Postman" in Shonen GanGan magazine. Her first ongoing serial, GANGSTA., began in 2010. Her second series, DOODLE, began serialization in 2013. She currently resides in Hokkaido and owns a pet java sparrow named Fumi.

Reviews

[Lauren Lanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE CHILDHOOD BACKSTORY ☹️ (I’m in shambles)
Worick teaching himself sign language as a kid so Nic—being deaf—wouldn’t have to rely solely on reading lips?? How am I supposed to cope with this, they are so precious.

This was easily the best volume so far; no foreshadowing could have prepared me for the event that shattered their easy friendship as kids. I can't wait to see how the future storyline progresses, knowing what happened in their past.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of this is centered on Nic and Worick when they were kids. Gives you an idea oh how/why they became who they are as adults. Some of this story gets a bit confusing with all of the different factions though. Hard to remember who the good guys are ... if you can call any of these people "good."

Not a bad or boring series, but I'm losing a bit of interest.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is by far the best volume of the series.

So we take a break from the ultra violent stuff and focus more on the two main characters as kids. We learn more about the structure of the world they live in, the characters, what Twlights are, and why someone loses a eye and the other nearly dying all the time. The childhood story of the two leads are also met with them going around the city kind building up some big war coming to them. The end results not looking good for our heroes.

Good: I loved the backstory. Tragic in so many ways, but also the quiet moments are the ones that hit the most. Also the fights, while minimal, are still highly entertaining. I also thought the end set up big events coming nicely.

Bad: Some of the shots make it hard to follow and confusing but I assume that's because we're following the backstory in the head of a person and not played out, and so it's bits and pieces.

Overall this is easily the best volume of Gangsta. It's pushing story before action, and that's the best approach a series should go for. A 3.5 out of 5 but I'll bump it to a 4.

[Feri Ketabkhor · Rating 5 out of 5]

متقاعد شدم که دیگه هیچی نمی‌تونه به اندازه‌ی بک‌استوری وُریک و نیکولاس قلب منو بشکنه. :_)_____

[bri ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

worick and nics past ☹️ they were so cute and alex and woricks scene make me so soft

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Volume 3 of Gangsta continues to impress: beautiful art, layered story, and a host of fascinating characters mix with a heady blend of action to create the perfect manga. Volume 3 gives us the history of Nicolas and Worrick as well as much needed information about the Twilights. In effect, it is a lot of story payoff for the previous, action-heavy, volumes.

Plot: Worrick remembers his past, living in a sheltered mansion as the unwanted second son of a city Lord (one of the 'family'). He's given a Twilight, Nicolas, as a bodyguard. It's an insult - a child to protect a child, by a father whose only attention to his offspring is to beat him. As anti-Twilight protests involve Worrick's family, the boy will teach Nicolas to read, to sign, and to want to live. But Nicolas is unstable and will prove just why Twilights are feared as monsters. Meanwhile, in the present, the murders of Twilights continue and Worrick knows it is only a matter of time before a family-less 'ronin' like Nicolas is targeted and erased. Allie, meanwhile, has a secret of her own...

While there is a LOT of info dumping in this volume, it was greatly needed to establish the relationships and history of the main characters. I really appreciated that Nicolas and Worrick's relationship wasn't one of mutual respect and their history is an ugly one. As well, the startling reveal about Allie was quite a surprise and says a lot about an author who can unfold a story so well. There's still much to learn and read about the characters and world: this isn't simply an excuse for mindless violence.

The illustrations continue to impress. Personalities are well drawn and easy to interpret. From bittersweet pain on Worrick's usually affable face to the drawn out junkie feel of Nicolas. Even scarier, the last panel of Nicolas smiling was truly terrifying and says a lot about what is to come in volume 4.

Gangsta continues to be one of my favorite manga this year. A complete surprise and one that I eagerly look forward to with each published volume.

Reviewed from an ARC.

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread 2023:
Still love it. The attention to details! I adore it.
——
Stellar volume!

I flew through this volume! The story is so gripping, I love the illustrations. The characters and their dynamics are amazing! Simply a perfect volume from start to finish.

Some of the things I liked:
• Nic & Worick backstory, of course
• Alex interactions with everyone. I love seeing her healing and making friends
• Alex & Nic, I love seeing them doing things together
• The plot thickens!
• We get to see bits of Ergastulum history and twilights history
• the illustrations are GORGEOUS! The art style, the panel compositions, little details and touches. Kohske is my manga queen!

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two volumes were action-oriented (and violent), and entertaining and beautifully drawn and conceived. Great manga series. And that was the way to start it off, with a bang, and with a sense of mystery about who the main characters are. This one is back story about how the two main characters Nic and Worick got to where they are now; well defined character-sriven action manga.

[Rosa Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember their backstory in the anime was one of my favorite arcs. And reading the manga makes me remember why I still love that arc.
Honesty though Nic was adorable as a kid, traumatized but like adorable so was Worick. Though I didn’t know his name was Wallace, wasn’t expecting that. I literally forgot that was his name.
Plot wise with the twilights dying I want to know why and who is doing that, and I’m out here praying that Nic doesn’t die cuz if he does I’m a kill someone.
Overall this volume was really good, and I can’t wait until the next volume comes out.

[Emma's In Stock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one cause it delved into Worick’s and Nic’s past; how they met, the trauma that they both went through, etc.

This volume was also a LOT darker, like wow.

The only reason I docked off a star is because some of the dialogue was a little hard to follow and I couldn’t really tell what they were talking about.

[Angela R. Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

LITERALLY ADORE THIS BOOK.

I binged the anime twice.

The manga is AMAZING.

Art = incredible, snappy, crisp, beautiful.

The style and prose is JUST TO DIE FOR.

The characters are amazing, I'd DIE for Nic or Doug or Nina or Ally or Delico.

Overall, funny, dark, and amazing.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teenaged Worick and Nicholas are just the sweetest!

[ullianachase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Маленькие Уорик и Николас разбивают мне сердце 😭

[toni ⊹ · Rating 5 out of 5]

they were just babies ☹️

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I fall down a lot too."

Gansta vol. 3 directly continues events from previous volumes and gets into backstory of characters we've already met. Don't start here - read from the beginning.

Turf wars threaten chaos in Ergastulum, with a rash of tag slaughters muddying the waters. This volume switches between past and present and fills in a lot of backstory. Ergstulum's history and delicately balanced politics, and how it all relates to Twilights, is a big focus and quite interesting. Even better are the glimpses at Nic and Worick's first meeting. Characterization continues to be a highlight of this manga. Our leads in particular are deeply realized, flawed characters and learning more about them, good or bad, is extremely compelling.

Overall this is another strong entry for Gangsta. Several intriguing plot lines are all progressing well and things are building nicely for future volumes.

[Michael Schmid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich liebe diesen Band sooooooooo sehr! Was vor allem an der Vorgeschichte von Nick und Worick liegt, auch wenn ich den Schluss nicht ganz verstanden habe xD Dafür freue ich mich umso mehr auf Band 4 xD

[Zian B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that this volume answered the questions that I had in the previous volume. I really enjoyed the flashbacks to Nico and Worick’s youth, despite how sad it may have been.
Also...Is it bad that I like when Nico gets that crazy grin on his face?

[piratesPencil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nic and Worick's childhood is one of my favourite parts of this series. They have such a complex, interesting dynamic, and every chapter of their childhood is simultaneously so sweet and so tragic. A great volume.

[Selena Pigoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back story! At long last, real back story!

[Isabelle (the Book Dutchesses) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite so far!!

[Chad Jordahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the art, digging the flashback story.

[Jacquelin Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The background Story of how Nicolas & Warren became inseperable. So in Love with this Manga Series. It's adult. It's real. It's honest. So, SO, in LOVE.

[Illy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALL THE BACKGROUND ON WORRICK AND NICK AAAAAAA. I LOVE IT. I LOVE THEM. SO GOOD.

[Jablabla · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE STORY, it just keeps getting better

[Olivia Thames · Rating 4 out of 5]

As predicted in my review of Volume 2 of Kohske's "Gangsta" series, plot thickens as the bodies, head count, and answers to previous questions grow. While not all plot lines are tied off by the end of the final chapter in Volume 3 it will entice the reader(s) to quickly request Volume 4+ for the graphic and exciting thriller.

The explanation of the origins of the Handymen takes place in this volume, and it is both heartfelt and brutal. Like other elements of this particular volume (from words used to illustrations shown), this is one that readers should caution due to the potential of it causing a trigger effect. While it did not fully spark my own, there was still a collection of pages that caused me to stop and take a breath before continuing onward.

As I complete this review, and fill out a request for Volumes 4 and 5, I am comforted in knowing the answers to certain parts of the character's lives while not having the full story when it comes to the other parts. I feel for both Handymen as they continue to grow, and grow alert to the ways their world is changing. Whatever happens next, I am ready for the ride.

[Mads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this may be the first book where I can honestly say I gave me more questions than answers, and it's all thanks to those flashbacks. How did Worrick lose his eye? Was it Nic? If so, why would he hurt him, considering he's never shown any displays of ill will towards the kid? How did the two get to Ergastalum? Where's Worrick's mother, and how did she survive? Why do present day Nic and Worrick have such weird and cryptic dialogue? We may never know, but I hope that's not the case.

Other than the flashbacks, this volume is pretty good. I still adore the art style, though Kohske has a little trouble with side profiles at times. The action is amazing as always, as is how the volume deals with darker subject matter. I like the how the relationships are developing between the three main characters, especially Nic and Alex. We meet the head of the Christiano family, Loretta, and she is probably one of my favorite characters, though we don't see much of her this volume.
Can't wait to read the next one!

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great background story and awesome plot.

Art: 5 stars
-->Characters: 5 stars
-->Background: 4 stars I'm happy the backgrounds are looking better in every page!!
Story: 5 stars
Characters: 5 stars

I'm very pleased with this third volume. I got my Nic-Worrick story (incomplete, but there's more volumes so...), I got wordbuiling (a lot of information about the Twilights and Célèbre), character development and the most important... I got... Alex and Nico. YAS.
I really appreciate the mangaka took her time with their 'relationship', it feels so natural, so cute. Not forced AT ALL.

Still very curious about how the 'past' of Worrick and Nico finished but as I wrote, I'm satisfy for what I got.

[Lexyloowoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I genuinely forget how quick read this book is for me. Not only is it interesting and funny, but also I am obsessed with these characters. To watch them on television and then read them on manga form gives me the ultimate form of satisfaction especially because the TV show never got finished. More than anything else I would love for this show to be brought backand if black Butler can do, so, so can this show. There are so many thoughts and questions I have, but I know I’m gonna be able to read about in the next few volumes.

[Tesutamento · Rating 3 out of 5]

İlk iki ciltteki kadar aksiyon yoktu. Onun yerine Nic ve Worick'in çocukluklarına ve nasıl bir araya geldiklerine odaklıydı. Bu kısımlar bence güzeldi. Ne yazık ki odak tekrardan günümüze dönünce seriden neden soğuduğumu hatırlamış oldum. Maalesef hikayede sayılan gruplar ve onların çatışmaları hiç ilgimi çekmiyor. O kadar ki isimlerini dahi hatırlayamıyorum.

[Maisie Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is getting better and better, I loved the backstory between my children Nic and Worrick, precious babes. Decent amount of action to balance out the backstory and I hated both Nic and Worricks fathers.