MANGA REVIEW | "Beast Complex" - Volume Four
In the afterword of its fourth volume, author Paru Itagaki says, “Beast Complex has become my life’s work.” Although she’s moved on from BEASTARS to the Christmas-themed realm of Sanda, it’s nice that she can find many reasons to return to the world of her first popular series. After all, this anthropomorphic setting has plenty of meat on its bones to last readers a very, very long time. And while not every story is a home run, the fourth volume of Beast Complex still finds ways to be interesting.
Made up of five one-shots and a continuation of BEASTARS, the fourth volume of Beast Complex dives deep into the complexities of multiple species sharing the same space. After all, even with its laws in place and alternatives to be found, carnivores still have a slight craving for their herbivore cohabitants. As “The Black Panther and the Sea Otter” shows, these two species find a way to be buddies, even when the black panther is salivating over the otter’s meaty paws. With that being said, it’s the one story here that feels too similar to a lot of other Beast Complex/BEASTARS plotlines.
Mixed dating is on display a couple of times, with “The Zebra and the White Tiger” attempting to find common ground on a date that got off on the wrong foot. But as the two species talk, get to know each other, and even figure out each other’s comfort zones in ways that are endearing and relatable. “The Rabbit and the Wolf” revisits our favorites Legoshi and Haru, as the latter is trying to get the former to initiate sex. It’s a hilarious look into the evolution of their relationship, as the unlikely couple find new ways to bond and push their love to new boundaries.
There’s a good bit of horror mixed into the Beast Complex formula with “The Wolf and the Dog”. The latter is a retired detective who has taken up stalking a beautiful wolf woman. However, when the ex-cop finds the wolf embarking on some nasty illegal activity, it results in some mind games. A good lesson wraps it all up, showing why one shouldn’t always follow their instincts, even if it’s a part of who they are.
Where the fourth volume shines is whenever its heart is on display. “The Snake and the Mouse” shares a story about a terminal patient and a slithery hospital worker. Itagaki goes to great lengths to show the care the snake has for the mouse patient, as their bond becomes as strong as, well, the snake’s grip when it’s cuddling. (The whole snake penis part still confuses me though. Seriously, what was up wth that?!)
However, the best story in this volume is certainly “The Iguana and the Penguin”. What starts as a reptile’s quest for booze becomes an alcoholic’s pathway to recovery. The visuals of the king penguin taking up the iguana’s fridge for his home are pretty funny, but the longer he stays, the more he winds up helping the scaly guy with his booze problem. It also finds ways to be funny, especially in the climax when the penguin’s losing its feathers.
Volume Four of Beast Complex isn’t perfect, but it still finds plenty of great tales within the world of BEASTARS. Some are funny and relatable, and one is pretty grotesque. However, it’s in the heartfelt stories where Itagaki shines as both a writer and a character developer. If Itagaki aims to keep on revisiting Beast Complex for the rest of her life, then I’d be very much okay with reporting on this series for the rest of mine. Of course, you'll have to go onto our new website to read those future reviews...
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
