MANGA REVIEW | "Sakamoto Days" - Volume Seventeen
A good volume of Sakamoto Days showcases the strengths of Taro and Shin, but a great volume puts everyone’s skills on display. Volume Seventeen does exactly that, with both hero and villain giving it all that they got. And why wouldn’t they? After all, when the head of the JAA is in your sights, you’ll want to do anything you can to either kill or rescue him.
There are bombs that are about to go off at an Assassin Exhibition. Chairman Asaki is partaking in the museum, going so far as to take any artwork he desires for his own collection. But it’s not his asshole-like tendencies that are making him a target for X; it’s because taking him down means destroying an entire assassination agency. Fortunately, Asaki’s got some people within and outside the organization looking out for him.
Each of these heroes and villains gets a chance at the spotlight in this volume of Sakamoto Days. For starters, Shin faces off against Mafuyu, who has a bomb inside him ready to blow if he dies. Even when JAA member Osaragi enters the fight, her skills never overshadow both Shin’s prowess and heart. Mafuyu especially demonstrates his skills not only as an assassin, but also one who can cause a distraction when needed. (A flashback to why he joined the organization also shows why he’s been the most levelheaded person wanting to join the JAA.)
Taro Sakamoto is next, as he watches over a frightened Toramaru. Not only do we see Sakamoto at his best, but the internal monologues of fangirl Toramaru add a silly topping to this action-packed hot fudge sundae. Toramaru goes back-and-forth between fawning over Sakamoto’s skills and being outright disappointed by his dad bod. Thankfully, the fawning overpowers the disappointment, meaning that Sakamoto won’t ever fear having someone not in his corner (even though Toramaru’s obsession is worthy of a restraining order).
Lastly, there’s the battle between Nagumo and Gaku. Even as other members of X’s organization infiltrating the museum, these two overshadow everything else that’s happening. Their skills smash walls, glass, and even neighboring displays that must’ve cost millions for the museum to own. And yet, there’s no greater art that’s on display than one made from the ballet of violence these two deliver.
Time is running down for the bombs to go off, but there’s plenty of hope to be found as this volume of Sakamoto Days ends. It sure looks like Team Sakamoto and the JAA are about to take this victory. However, knowing X and how he likes to run things, there’s bound to be one more ace hiding within his sleeve. That’s why a sigh of relief can’t be breathed at the end of Sakamoto Days’s seventeenth volume. At the very least, you can give a hard fist pump for the amazing action you’ll watch unfold.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
