MANGA REVIEW | "Tokyo Fears Rhapsody" - Volume Two
If Kaiju No. 8 is about a man trying to contain his humanity in monster form, then Tokyo Fears Rhapsody is about a monster embracing humanity and becoming a part of it. The premiere volume of Akira Sugito’s series was filled with page-turning action and humor, as it leaned heavily into the comedy with some battle sequences sprinkled in. Volume Two continues this trend, albeit with a little more fight content for those wanting a bit more shonen flavor. But it still has room to fit in a protagonist’s quest for parental love and support.
It all starts off with Agent A, an assassin looking to find an out from his current career path. He’s given one more job, and his target just so happens to be Hachiro Futami. The boss gives him one more requirement: he can’t kill him with physical force. Thinking outside of the box, Agent A mixes his knack for cooking with his main paying gig. Unfortunately, he finds out in many funny ways why Hachiro is a tough guy to keep down.
But Hachiro’s not the only one dealing with a minor headache. His father, Doctor Frankenstein, is still attempting to create the perfect Fear. However, his plans are interrupted by Jack the Fiend, and he’s swooped into an impromptu beach episode. Like most beach-themed chapters, Tokyo Fears Rhapsody focuses on the sun, buns, and a good amount of carnage thanks to the likes of Sharkskin the Merman. Oh, and Hachiro just so happens to be there to make a quick buck on ice cream, of which his father attempts to get a freebie from.
Alas, free ice cream is not the way Hachiro can earn his father’s love and respect. That has to come via growing in strength and combat. Thankfully, a fight between him and Jack the Fiend is just the way to do that, which also happens to be a solid showcase of Sugito’s battle art. At first, it would seem like Hachiro has the upper hand in battle, as he seemingly makes quick work of Jack with a solid pummeling. But when Jack reveals his true form, one that wouldn’t look out of place in a FromSoftware video game, one can see the true terror that Sugito can create when the time calls for it.
After this battle, Hachiro has the realization that he’s not as strong as he thought he was. With the aid of Bertha and Kaida, he gets out of a sticky situation, and has a solid heart-to-heart with his father’s main staff. While he doesn’t get the love affirmation he’s looking for, the fact that Doctor Frankenstein rescued Hachiro shows that he cares about him enough that he doesn’t want him dead. However, when he chats with his dead, his reasons aren’t exactly screaming parental love.
The final chapter in Volume Two has Hachiro and his Unbelievables friend Kosuke spend the day helping elderly people enjoy the sights of Tokyo. It’s a silly-yet-fun way for the two guys to bond as friends, with Hachiro close to revealing to Kosuke about his true form. However, a strange director named Baku Akujiki appears, and throws the two friends into a weird world where reality folds like old-school movie sets. Ending the volume with a wild JoJo-styled power is a good way to get readers puzzled, but in a way that’s leave them intrigued.
There’s plenty of good comedy, action, and even mystery in the second volume of Tokyo Fears Rhapsody. Jack the Fiend is shaping up to be a solid, formidable opponent for Hachiro, but I have a feeling that he won’t be the main baddie of the series. Yes, his second form is terrifying, but his part in the story feels more like a stepping stone for Hachiro’s growth. Perhaps soon, Tokyo Fears Rhapsody will show just who exactly Hachiro should be fearing the most. But one thing seems to be certain: his dad might be the cause of it.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
