Violence Action – Our opinion on volume 1 of Pika’s manga


In the vein of The Fable, that we have been following since the beginning, the project Violent Action published by Pika Edition invites us into the world of crime. Drawn by Renji Asai and scripted by Shin Sawada, the manga mixes action and comedy with the particularity of featuring a young student heroine, officiating as hired killers to pay for her studies.

Dark subject and colorful protagonists with a slightly crazy personality, the work has good arguments to put forward on its initial pitch. We will quickly give you our opinion on the first chapters.

Nikita

Violent Action makes the interesting choice of staging a killer who is still a student, Kei, who belongs to a call-girl service, at least on the front. What strikes you straight away are the situations. It’s quite disconcerting to have such an incongruous protagonist, moreover evolving in a dark and violent world, and knowing that Kei is of an explosive joviality and candor.

This dichotomy brings a little something to the manga. The violence expected in this kind of work is generally defused by the dialogues or the attitude of Kei who does not forget his priorities and the reasons for this job. Nothing will prevent him from reviewing his accounts or passing his exam. Despite this character which may seem counterproductive in such a profession, in a few gunfight scenes we are convinced of her talents as a killer.

More than his extraordinary precision, it is in the acrobatics executed that Kei impresses. Races on the walls, pirouettes of all kinds, etc. On the few exposed situations we take a lot of pleasure to take advantage of the confrontations and the choreographies. Especially since we do not get lost in length. The confrontations, for the moment, are fast, efficient and perfectly readable in addition.

Fulltime Killer

Violence daily action

A success that obviously goes through the drawings of Renji Asai. His realistic style anchors Violent Action in reality, and this despite chara design which are a little less so. This once again contributes to putting some distance with the work because, if humor is omnipresent, the first chapters of volume 1 suggest a few moments that are still quite dark and adult.

The latter could easily fall into the disturbing, however the authors manage to keep a good balance between humor and violence, as well as a good distance in front of the treated subjects. To see if in the chapters following the manga will be able to perpetuate this balance. Because it gives a rather singular tone to the whole, which is not displeasing to us. Finally, we may be a little surprised to see Kei’s normal daily life.

When she is not on review or on a mission, it is an opportunity to learn a little more about the operation of the call-girl agency and the killers employed, but also to see another facet of the personality of our heroine. That of a relatively immature young woman and a bit socially silly. Which, once again, breaks the image she conveys as an outstanding killer. Even if traces remain visible. It’s a particular approach, but it’s interesting.

Should we fall for Volume 1 of Violence Action?

violence action kei discussion

And why not. Violent Action makes the bet to depict us in a more relaxed way a universe usually treated in a serious and dark way. The notable difference between the heroine still a student and working as a killer, under cover of an escort girl service, and the violence present on the ground of this risky job, is a good idea. In addition, given Kei’s abilities, the manga has enough to impress on the action sequences.

Buy Violence Action on Amazon

It remains to be seen if Violent Action will manage to keep us in suspense on the following volumes without falling into deja vu or redundancy. A good start but which still needs to convince to fully get us on board. That being said, it may be suitable for those who are not used to the genre. We can see it as a good starting point to discover the world of Japanese crime, in particular thanks to a more relaxed tone, but also by its heroine.



Source link -122