Master Keaton, Vol. 2

Master Keaton: Kanzenban #2

by Naoki Urasawa (Illustrator), Hokusei Katsushika (Story), Takashi Nagasaki (Story)

Scritto da Hokusei Katsushika e Takashi Nagasaki, e serializzato dal 1988 al 1994, il fumetto parla di Taichi Hiraga Keaton, figlio di un uomo giapponese e di una ragazza inglese. Laureatosi a Oxford in archeologia, è un ex membro della SAS. Ora lavora come investigatore, e i suoi modi sono alquanto originali. Consigliato a un pubblico adulto.

Genres: Manga, Seinen, Comics, Mystery, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Adventure

322 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2015

About the author

Urasawa Naoki (浦沢直樹) is a Japanese mangaka. He is perhaps best known for Monster (which drew praise from Junot Díaz, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner) and 20th Century Boys.

Urasawa's work often concentrates on intricate plotting, interweaving narratives, a deep focus on character development and psychological complexity. Urasawa has won the Shogakukan Manga Award, the Japan Media Arts Festival excellence award, the Kodansha Manga Award and the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. In 2008 Urasawa accepted a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University.

Series list (not including short stories collections):
- Pineapple ARMY (パイナップルARMY) 1985-1988, written by Kazuya Kudo;
- YAWARA! 1986-1993;
- Master Keaton (MASTERキートン) 1988-1994, written by Hokusei Katsushika;
- Happy! 1993-1999
- MONSTER 1994-2001
- 20th Century Boys (20世紀少年) 1999-2006
- 21st Century Boys (21世紀少年) 2007
- PLUTO 2003-2009, based on Tezuka Osamu's Tetsuwan Atom
- BILLY BAT 2008-2016
- Master Keaton Remaster (MASTERキートン Reマスター) 2012-2014
- Mujirushi (夢印-MUJIRUSHI-) 2017-2018, collaboration with Musée du Louvre
- Asadora! (連続漫画小説 あさドラ!) 2018-ongoing

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the first volume of this series, mainly due to the title character. Master Keaton, amateur archaeologist, occasional professor, and oddly successful insurance investigate is more than he appears; his aloof and childlike demeanor hides sadness and self-doubt that rarely comes to the surface, not to mention a number of survival and combat skills from his military training. This volume presents a series of cases (or, sometimes, spontaneous interactions) that lead him to help others using his skills, knowledge and perception.

My issue with this volume is that most of the individual stories end VERY abruptly. One of them seemed to just end in mid-story; I wondered if a chapter was just outright missing from the volume due to the storyline ending with so little resolution. Another ends with an encounter with someone from his past -- I can't understand why the reader isn't given the opportunity to see how that interaction turned out. I'll keep reading the series, but I really hope to see more multi-part stories and chapters that don't end with so much unresolved.

[I read this during the October 2016 Dewey's Readathon.]

[Tar Buendía · Rating 4 out of 5]

La verdad es que preferiría que no saliesen mujeres en este manga, porque para la crítica constante a las prostitutas y el resto, me ahorraría disgustos.
En la parte en que te cuentan que para un perro "el hombre de la casa" es su verdadero dueño me maté yo.

Pero bueno. El caso es que me gusta mucho el planteamiento del tebeo, el protagonista tiene un carisma muy especial y me resulta muy divertido. A medida que vamos sabiendo más cosas de Keaton me parece más interesante y el formato de historias cortas funciona muy bien.

[Mook Woramon · Rating 4 out of 5]

เล่มนี้คีตันเล่นบทนักสืบเหมือนเดิม สงสัยว่าเป็นผู้ตรวจสอบประกันภัยนี่ต้องสืบขนาดนี้เลยเหรอ คดีใหญ่ๆทั้งนั้น เกี่ยวข้องกับการก่อการร้าย มาเฟีย โบราณสถานยุโรปเยอะแยะเลย
ใครสนใจประวัติศาสตร์ยุโรปและโบราณคดีน่าจะชอบ

แต่ละตอนในเล่มนี้สั้นเหลือเกิน ตัดจบแบบไม่แคร์คนอ่านเลย

[Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"As years pass, the flowers always bloom, and humanity changes continually..."

This volume of Master Keaton maintains the complicated socio-political analysis, but many of the chapters also revolve around complicated renderings of romantic relationships. Keaton seems to be developing as a character in very complicated ways, as the manga reveals more about his past and his ambitions. The investment in Keaton's progression maintain's the manga's status as a cut above other classic series. This volume also showcases one of Master Keaton's strengths, the low-key relaxing chapters. "An Early Afternoon Adventure," a chapter about Keaton reconnecting with an old friend and going on the search for famous ice cream, is one of the manga's high points thus far. "Black Forest" is another one of the manga's strongest chapters, using the complicated racial tension of late 1980s West Germany to tell a compelling and tense story.

[Ji Mun · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most pleasant things I have ever read. It's a mixture of McGuyver and archeology and each chapter contains interesting characters and background stories. The socio-economic/historical issues are probably mostly true. (Lots of interesting stories relating to the modern European history.)

And I also appreciate that it's not a dramatic, stressful read, unlike Urasawa's other long series. It's perfect for reading before bed.

[Michael Blackmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed volume 2 even more than volume 1. It's still essentially episodic but over times it builds the character of Keaton, his family and his world in a very touching way. The stories are more touching (to me at least), and more character centric than the first volume. Looking forward to the future ones.

[Ken Yuen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keaton's adventures continue! It's fun to see this jack of all trades doing all sorts of things and showing off his genius-level of knowledge. We even get a story about his father and his awesome ugly dog.

[Sitanan Ketkraipob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first volume

[Jesus Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another series of cases for Mr Keaton
And he comes to Mexico in this one.
Fun to read as a compilation

[David Doel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy these stories and learn from them. I wish I had kept buying this series and may try to obtain the volumes I missed.

[Davide Vardanega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il fumetto come tutti i volumi letti fino ad ora sono una serie di piccoli racconti che mi sono molto piaciuti nel complesso. Urasawa come in molte altre opere è molto bravo a costruire delle personalità peculiari anche se di contorno e con culture differenti visto che ogni storia è immersa in una città e nazione diversa. Non metto cinque perché come ogni storia corta non riesce ad emergere quel suo stile narrativo che avevo letto in 20th Century Boys

[Steve Chaput · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continues the story of Taichi Keaton, a former Special Forces instructor who now works as in insurance investigator. However, he’d much rather be working as a professor of archaeology, his true passion.

The stories range from mysteries to murder and even some light hearted tales featuring his father. I love this series.

[Juan · Rating 3 out of 5]

En la línea del primero, historias con gran carga emotiva que van dando algunas pistas sobre la vida y la trama interna.

Merece la pena leerlo como todo lo de Urasawa.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume felt more like watching a really well made investigator show where all the actors are incredible.

Really enjoyed it.

[Yeoyu · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Al Capwned · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was definitely an uneven volume. Some of the stories were pretty great but there was a bunch of very mediocre ones.

[Andy McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like these stories a lot but some of them end very abruptly.

[Breiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐

[Niko Dasilva · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was browsing the library shelves when I came across this volume and on a whim decided to read it. I'm glad I did. Each chapter is it's own self contained story and I enjoyed each one. It wasn't a particularly rushed book. I think each story took the time it needed. And I liked the main character he's low-key but he has a few quirks which I liked. Such as the story where he ran down an Ice Cream truck just to try the ice cream. Not something I would do (only because I'm lazy) but I though it funny. Since the last story wrapped up I don't feel pressured to rush to the next book and find out what happened. In fact I picked up this book and didn't feel lost since I wasn't tuning in from the first volume, this appealed to me. Now that I've had a taste I'll see if the library has any more and probably go back to the first volume.
Recommended? Sure if you don't mind episodic type manga, each chapter is a different story, since this is the second book and I haven't read any others I can't tell you if there's an underlying arch or anything. However I think this is a book that'll be easy to pick up if you want something to read and you won't feel the need to go chasing down the next as the last story does end on the last page. which is great because I'm coming from case closed and the author ends on a cliff hanger like every other book and it's killing me!
Buy or Borrow? I'd say borrow. It's a nice book but i didn't feel the urge to run to the store or Amazon to get my own copy.

[S.Q. Eries · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Summary

While Keaton continues to take adversaries by surprise with his SAS fighting and survival skills, the archaeology components of his cases fades to passing mentions of legends that have little actual bearing on the mystery or dilemma at hand. The writers compensate by focusing on Keaton’s personal struggles in academia. While Keaton’s quirky personality does keep things interesting, he comes across more as a clever detective than an Indiana Jones in Volume 2.

The Review

Master Keaton continues to deliver a series of mostly single chapter stories with settings ranging from Switzerland to Mexico City. Those who enjoy watching the unassuming yet amazingly capable combat soldier take his opponents by surprise should be entertained by a third of this volume’s contents. Keaton raids terrorists with a bunch of bounty hunters in “Little Big Man” and turns the tables on far-right extremists trying to hunt him down in “Black Forest.”

The writers seem to be having trouble continuing to deliver the archaeology aspect into Keaton’s insurance cases however. “Fire and Ice” opens with an ancient Greek drawing, but the case just involves regular sleuthing and some modern history. In “Red Moon” and it’s conclusion “Silver Moon,” mention is made of werewolves, but the story ultimately turns out more of a dark sci-fi. Ultimately, the chapters without a strong action component wind up showing Keaton more like a clever detective than an archaeologically minded investigator.

As if to make up for the lack of archaeology-related insurance cases, the writers create turmoil for Keaton in his academic life. He loses his university position, and struggles to find a way to continue pursuing his passion for things ancient. These segments are more character studies, and while not quite so exciting as his run-ins with underworld criminals, they’re an exploration into Keaton’s eccentric personality and personal life.

As in Volume 1, he talks about his ex-wife, but there’s no sign of her. Daughter Yuriko makes an appearance though, and Dad Taihei gets its own chapter in “Flowers for Everyone,” the only story that takes place in Japan.

Extras include the first pages of Chapter 1 and Chapter 5 in color and a sound effects glossary.

For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!

[Jason]

Not quite as consistently excellent as the first, but some episodes are really great while the rest is "just" very good :). I like how some of the endings are sort of non-endings, where not everything is resolved but there is still a sense of closure. It complements the moments of contemplative dialogue that happen between characters during the breaks in the action, and establishes the focus of the books ever so gently on those moments. I'm in the middle of the third volume now and that sort of thing seems to be happening a little more regularly.
Keaton is such a compelling character because his ego does not rise to match his competence. It gives him the edge in almost every instance, as others consistently underestimate him. He provides an interesting contrast to a character like Sherlock Holmes, who may only slightly edge out Keaton's cleverness, but is woefully inferior when it comes to Keaton's compassion and humility. Too bad I can't meet him and hear him tell some of his stories.

[CountZeroOr · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent continuation from the last volume. This is still very episodic, but it's an enjoyable work. If you're expecting a long running epic like 20th Century Boys or Pluto, that isn't what you'll find here. However, Urasawa's excellent art, and his attention to detail in his plotting and characterization is in full display. The one significant unfortunate note in this series is with the abusive boyfriend in the volume's final chapter is an African-American man who feels like too much of a stereotype.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Public library copy.
How odd, I could have sworn I'd already indicated I read this book, but I guess I didn't. As was the case in the prior volume the short stories here (mostly mysteries) were very good, some better than others. In fact, one tale didn't even include the titular character and still managed to be interesting.

[Mark Schlatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much in the vein of the first collection --- mainly short stories (one or two chapters) which take place all over the world as Master Keaton investigates a number of insurance and archaeological mysteries. There's some advancement in character, as we learn more about Keaton's divorce and academic mentor, but overall we just roll from one story to the next.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads like a collection of short stories about Keaton's adventures, which is absolutely fine but quite different from the first, more linear, volume. It also eschews adventure for more human stories with a few guns thrown in, with the chapter about teaching being my favorite. If you loved the first book, you won't necessarily love this one, but in many ways, it is the better written.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros: I really like the more personal stories, esp. the ones that draw from Keaton's past. The blue amaryllis one, which didn't even feature Keaton, was esp. well-done. I also liked the one with Keaton's former instructor who was taking down the cartels.

Cons: Some of the mysteries were not as good as the others but okay.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some excellent chapters with some great emotional beats. I really like Keaton, he's such an easy-going guy. Unfortunately, that's it for the volumes I own. Looks like I'll have to wait until next Oz ComicCon to pick up some more. Hopefully I get to meet his ex wife.

[Paolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of the same, for better or worse, but it's still Urasawa's signature style of writing and illustration, so it's more of the same level of quality. All the stories are interesting, but they tend to blur into the same sort of thing. Still, it's a good read.

[Bouilloire · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5 Assez inégal mais plaisant à lire.