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Bleach vol. 59 (manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : January 10, 2014
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Bleach 59 Bleach vol. 59

Author: Tite Kubo

Distributor: Viz Media

American Release Date: Feb. 4th, 2014

Format: Traditional Manga

Genre: Supernatural, Action, Adventure, Drama

Publisher Age Rating: T (Fantasy Violence)

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

After Captain General Yamamoto’s death at the hands of the Vandenreich’s King, Ichigo travels to the palace of the Soul King in order to train. Meanwhile, Kenpachi undergoes his own training as he fights against Retsu. Can Kenpachi finally achieve Bankai?!

Ichigo and Renji find themselves getting a good rest in order to being put into a fight for the reconstruction of their Zanpaku-tos. Of course they are at a loss when they meet the one and only Oh-Etsu Nimana, the creator of the Zanpaku-to. He is willing to fix their weapon / partners but they must prove themselves worthy in battle. At the same time Kenpachi finally meets his Zanpaku-to and he too must prove himself worthy of obtaining Bankai.

Will these relentless warriors discover the true meaning of the Zanpaku-to they have been joined with for so long? Are these trials part of the task needed to save the Soul Society from the wrath of the Vandenreich?

Commentary:

I was wondering when we would get to the learning stage of this arc. Without fail Tite Kubo falls prey to his all too common plot devices. Rather than teaching us about the past and providing Ichigo with the understanding he needs to defeat the enemy we are treated to another period of training and education for the hero’s. This time it is not just Ichgo, but we also find Kenpachi in the mix. That added layer just might be the saving grace for this phase of the arc. It is clear that Ichigo must learn about his roots and is connection to the enemy, but to do it the way it is being done almost seems counter productive. On the other hand, it is about time that Kenpachi takes his place along side the other captains and obtains his Bankai by discovering the Zanpaku-to that he has been living with for so many years.

This volume does manage to get us to the next step, but in doing so it drags us into the slow muck that these training phases tend to be. I hope that Tite Kubo wraps this up quickly and gets the series back on track. At least it looks like the ending will be exciting and maybe even fulfilling.

Overall Grade: B

Bleach has been a truly entreating series and I am very excited about seeing it come to a conclusion. I find it unfortunate that we find ourselves trapped in another training period, but I guess it wouldn’t be bleach without this period of discovery. My only question at this time is whether or not Ichigo manages to find peace with who he is and eventually making his way in becoming the ultimate hero with a huge chip on his shoulders. There is plenty to like about Bleach volume 59 and I have a feeling that the hard core fans will be focused on the battle of Kenpachi and his Zanpaku-to. Out of all the captains Kenny manages to maintain a solid fan base that see him as the bad boy who doesn’t really care about all that other stuff that the other captains are wrapped up in. I think that Kenny will discover something very special and eventually be a vital part of the up coming battle. I am looking forward to the next volumes. So, come on lets do this!

Naruto volume 64 (manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : January 8, 2014
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Naruto 64Title: Naruto volume 64

Creator: Masashi Kishimoto

U. S. Distributor: Viz Media

U. S. Release Date: Jan. 7th, 2014

Format: Manga / Paperback / 192 pages

Genre: Shonen, Action, Adventure, Supernatural

Age Rating: T for Teen

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

With Tobi’s identity finally revealed, Naruto will have to summon the strength from within to stand up to him. But as the Gedo statue is used to awaken the Ten-Tailed Beast, it’ll take the entire Allied Shinobi Forces working together to win this war! Naruto and Kakashi continue to battle against Obito and are discovering that his will is very strong. Naruto exhibits some of  Obito’s youthful idealism and he uses it against Naruto to try and break his will. Naruto almost sub comes to this strategy, but with the help of his friends and fellow ninja he just might be able to regain his focus.

The real question now is if Naruto and Bee can manage to take on the Ten Tails and defeat it before all is lost. They have a good idea of how to and the only question is if they can pull it off. Will the natural optimism that drives Naruto manage to give them the edge they need or is it possible that Obito and Madara have the power to destroy everything they love?

Commentary: 

As we near what appears to be the end of this battle some things are coming to the forefront that are helping maintain the narrative that this series has help too for a very long time. I still have to hand it to Kishimoto for creating such an optimistic series. There is plenty of loss and more than enough reasons for a young man to give up but at the core of this story there is the undying optimism that Naruto exudes that makes this sappy tale worth reading. I have always loved the way Naruto keeps fighting even when it looks like all is lost and in the end he proves that you never give up on the people you care for. This volume goes straight to the core of this sentiment and pushes his beliefs to the edge. I guess that is the best example of why this series is so popular and also why it is a great read for people of any age.

There really isn’t anything new about the way this volume is put together that sets it apart from any other volume and at the same time it doesn’t move the story much closer to it’s finally, but it does manage to reaffirm what Naruto is all about.

Overall Grade: B+

With everything that happens in this volume I think it managed to hold itself together rather well. I could see it becoming a little confusing but it pulled the reins back in and stayed on course. Naruto is a series that people either love or hate and over such a long time it has managed to become somewhat redundant, but Naruto volume 64 reminded of what it was that attracted me and many others to the series initially. I know I am ready to see the conclusion of this battle and eventually the series, but for now I am very content with the idea that Naruto really is a hero for all the right reasons even when it would be easy to be blinded by hatred and the blind delusions others maintain.

I have a feeling that Naruto volume 64 will be a big hit amongst the hard core fans and just might have a positive effect on the ones that are beginning to fade away.

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan volume 18 (manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : January 4, 2014
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Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan volume 18Title: Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan volume 18

Creator: Hiroshi Shibashi

U. S. Distributor: Viz Media / Shonen Jump

U. S. Release Date: Dec. 3rd, 2013

Format: Manga / Paper Back / 192 pages

Genre: Supernatural, Action, Shonen

Age Rating: T for Teen

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

Harken back with us to the Golden Age of Edo, when Rikuo’s father Rihan first takes control of the Nura clan. Gain new perspectives on Rikuo’s family history, as well as the back story on some of your favorite devilish yokai (including that pesky Demon Lord Gorozaemon Sanmoto). Follow Rihan’s second heir adventures as he learns the hard way that controlling, commanding and battling yokai is not to be taken lightly, lest you be the one who’s taken.

We are also given a look at the original encounter between the 100 Story clan and gain the knowledge of why these two clans just don’t get along. As Rihan takes over for the Nura clan he is very protective of Edo and both the yokai and the humans that live there. He takes exception to any intruders that wish to take advantage of the town he cares so much about.

Commentary:

As in the rest of the series we the story is put together well and follows a very solid train of thought. I was impressed at how well everything fit together and even though this is back story I found the characters to be rather well developed. As it progresses everything stays focused on the story line. If there was any weakness is was the way in which the 100 story clan was portrayed. They cam across much weaker than maybe they should have and some of the encounters seem almost too simplistic.

Other than the weak depiction of the 100 story clan volume 18 is a nice refreshing change from the rest of the series.

Overall Grade: B+

With the flashback to the previous generation we typically see a loss in focus, but with this flashback it gave us a real solid look into a history of the 100 Story Clan and the Nura Clan and why there is such a hatred. I enjoyed the depiction of Rihan and also discovering a few new tidbits about some of the other main characters of the story. For all the Nura fan I think they will be very pleased and for anyone just picking up this issue I believe that they will find it interesting enough to check out the rest of the series.

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan is one of the more imaginative shonen series being released in the U. S. currently. the thing about that I really like is that it blends Japanese culture together with an solid ethical story that not only carries a dramatic edge but also a plot line that moves you along with out the feeling of having been there done that or having the entire series slap you in the fase for shock value. If you are looking for a fun series that will leave you wanting for more for all the right reasons then you need to grab Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan.

 

Pokemon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 19, 2013
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Pokemon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened (anime review)review provided TJ

Title: Pokemon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened 

Director: Kunihiko Yuyama

U.S. Distributor: VIZ Media

Release Date: Dec 3, 2013

Format and Length: DVD; 70 min

Genre: action/adventure

Industry Age Rating: TV Y7

Overall Personal Rating: C

Similar Series: Other titles in the Pokemon universe

Synopsis:

A group powerful ancient Pokemon has been resurrected by Team Plasma.  The Genesect escaped and destroyed the Plasma laboratory and flew off in search of their home. But what they once knew as a pleasant lake had, over the years, turned into a cold mountainous region.  Believing they had been deceived by other living things, they fly off to find a place they can call home, ready to destroy whatever may already be there.

Back in the City, Ash, Iris, and Cilan arrive at Pokemon Hills. Professor Oak had gotten them in to take a tour before it opens to the general public. Wandering around the facility, Ash comes across a Pokemon that he had never seen before. Discovering that the Genesect can talk, and that all it wants is to go home, Ash promises to help it find its home. The other Genesect show up and, believing Ash to be a threat, immediately attack him. Mewtwo arrives just in time and protects them from the blast.

It seems the Genesect that Ash found was there because there are flowers in Pokemon Hills that bloomed around its original home. Because the flowers are the only thing they found familiar, the Genesect begin running out all the Pokemon in Pokemon Hills and begin building their nest there.  Because the Genesect leader refuses to believe that anyone else wants to help it, a fierce battle between it and Mewtwo ensues that will determine the fate of the Genesect and Pokemon Hills.

 

Commentary:

I really wanted to like  Pokemon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened. I wanted it to be like the Pokemon movies that I grew up with and loved. But there were so many places where it just fell short of being good.  The biggest example is the setting of the movie. It was never made clear what Pokemon Hills actually was. The way it was talked about made it sound like a zoo, but they always refer to it as “the facility.” So is it a zoo? Maybe an adoption center? Or even a Pokemon retirement home? What is it that Ash is trying to save?

Other than that, there were three major problems with this movie. The first is the dialogue. The dialogue was awful. It is a Pokemon movie and it does deserve to be cut some slack for being a children’s show. But it is really hard to look past the fact that there were only around ten lines of actual dialogue and everything else was just a character stating things that were blatantly obvious.

The second problem with  Pokemon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened is Team Rocket. They just did not need to be there and it really seemed like they were put in to fill time. They almost had a purpose: they end up dropping a Rocket launcher into Pokemon Hills. Half the movie later, it gets knocked loose and starts falling and Pikachu saves a Genesect from being hit by it. The weapon gets knocked into a hallway and it seems like that would come into play later. Its a Rocket Launcher in a zoo. That is a huge firehazard. But no, it never comes up ever again.

The final problem is the lack of continuity. There is no mention at all of the huge events Mewtwo caused back in Pokemon the First Movie. Yes, that movie was fifteen years ago, but if the same iconic character is going to be used, shouldn’t there be some mention that it and the protagonist have met before? At the Pokemon Center Nurse Joy even states that she has never heard of Mewtwo. Even if it is in a different region, the events surrounding Mewtwo’s first appearance threatened the entire world, everyone should know about Mewtwo. It would have been simple to fit at least one mention of it into the movie, the backstory they gave Mewtwo in Genesect and the Legend Awakened just barely conflicts with how the First Movie ended. Just minor tweaking would have fixed this entire problem.

One thing that was enjoyable about  Pokemon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened was the music. It was lighthearded pop music about friendship, but it was bouncy and it would make a great karaoke song to just belt out and have fun with and embarrass yourself.

 

Overall Grade: C

There was too much wrong with  Pokemon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened to call it good. Between awful dialogue and no cartharsis relating to Mewtwo, the redeeming qualities the movie has just can’t save it.

 

Case Closed vol. 49 ( manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 18, 2013
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Case Closed 49Title: Case Closed vol. 49

Writer/Artist: Gosho Aoyama

U.S. Distributor: Viz Media

U.S. Release Date: Jan. 14th, 2014

Format: manga paperback/184 pages

Genre: Mystery, Comedy

Publisher Age Rating: T+ for older teen

Overall Personal Rating: A-

 

Synopsis:

The Men in Black are back – and they’ve got a political candidate in their crosshairs! After eavesdropping on their plans, Conan teams up with the FBI to stop the assassination. But if the Men in Black realize they’ve been bugged, their next target will be Richard Moore’s home!

Can Conan save the politician without putting Mr. Moore and Rachel in danger? Only if he can decipher the code words the Men in Black use to plan their hit! Then he and the school detectives are put on the case of the missing girl. It leads them down a winding path with the strange possibility that a substitute teacher just might be a men in black agent sent to do some more dirty deeds. Will they be able to solve the mystery in time and what is up with this odd substitute teacher?

 

Commentary:

One thing that I have to say right out of the gate is that Case Closed is one of the very best in juvenile detective series ever made. It makes the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew seem like they only get the easy ones and when compared to Scooby Doo it just isn’t even worthy of the mention. Of course Case Closed doesn’t have the silly humor of Scooby Doo and that makes it even better. The overall quality of the writing is wonderful and for a younger reader the complexity might be a little tough at time but it pushes them to stretch a little and maybe ask a few questions.

The pacing of the stories was rather nice. It didn’t feel to slow or too quick in solving the next clue. There was also the added possibility of failure built into each case. The beginning with the Men in Black closed off a little too pat, but the fact that it was such a close call made it much more enjoyable. With the missing girl and the last case of the love affair gone, bad they both ran their corse but at the same time didn’t feel forced. They managed to use different groups and show a rather analytical side of this master detective that makes him one of the best out there.

 

Overall Grade: A-

I would love to see Case Closed find a wider market share in the U. S., but I have a feeling that the days of fun detective stories may have seen their peek some time ago. Now a day the hero needs to have some crazy super power and a uber dark person to be the hit. Case Closed is a wonderful series that provides a slick, fun story line to tell some interesting mysteries. They can be from a few pages long to several volumes, but Case Closed holds your interest and keeps you wondering what is next without making the answer too easy even when in the end it appears to have been rather strait forward all along. I am very much looking forward to volume 50 and would recommend this series to any 10 year old boy or girl who loves a good mystery.

Toriko Volume 19 (manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 3, 2013
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Torkio volume 19Toriko Volume 19

Artist and Author: Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro

U. S. Distributor and Publisher: Viz Media

U. S. Release Date: Dec. 3rd, 2013

Format: Manga / paper back /  200 pages

Genre: shonen, action, adventure, comedy

Publisher Age Rating: T

Overall Personal Rating: B

 Synopsis: 

Toriko is set in a world in which food is highly prized. In this world,  Gourmet Hunters are a special breed of mercenary treasure hunters dedicated to scouring the Earth for rare delicacies and strange delicious animals. The IGO (International Gourmet Organization), a group organizing these brave explorers, even gives special capture difficulties to these various creatures and foodstuffs, from bizarre things like beer mammoths to building sized “BB corn”. Toriko, a legendary gourmet hunter (and exceedingly buff guy) goes on various quests to search for the ingredients for his perfect full course meal, along with friends like successful chef Komatsu and his genetically modified bio-wolf Terry Cloth. He is also allies with various other powerful Gourmet Hunters, such as the Four Legendary Kings.

Toriko and friends face off against the gruesome head chef of the Underground Cooking World, Livebearer, who wants nothing more than to eat their memories of food. In order to keep the contents of their brains from being scarfed down, Toriko will have to eat the grossest, squirmiest, biggest and most explosive foods ever to win a high-stakes game of “Gourmet Tasting”!
Commentary:
Now that they are facing off against a true cheater they know that they have to be at their best and of course they are. The way that Coco pulls off his magic and understands exactly how to take the head chef on it ends up being a rather entertaining game of cat and mouse. Shimabukuro does a fine job of bringing this along with explaining some of Coco’s choices, but not everything. There is also the way that Toriko manages to eat everything even when it looks like it should kill him. It also manages to showcase Komatsu’s talent as a chef. Even though Toriko is a rather odd story it is put together extremely well. There are moments when it comes across with a rather simplistic view point, but when you stop and think about the audience it seems to fit.
Much of this volume is set during the big battle and it play out rather easily. I still get the feeling that there is something missing. Maybe with the action being so subdued it just fell a little flat. For a series that sets up a rather strange premiss it does a fine job of delivering an entertaining product.  The art style fit well also. It runs with the best in shonen artistic handling of the subject matter. The writing stays imaginative and snappy. This keeps everything moving and maybe that might be a little out of the ordinary for some shonen, because we don’t get bogged down in a endless fight that comes to a lack luster conclusion. One thing that Toriko does do that is typical and that is make it a little too easy for the antagonist to switch sides. I guess there is still a solid grounding in my western ideals that the bad guys can’t switch side with a drop of a hat.
Overall Grade: B
Toriko is a fun series that has plenty to offer and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a strange action series. I would not jump in at volume 19 but rather start at the begining. The real winner behind Toriko is that it is for all ages even though it has a T for teen rating. I have a feeling that plenty of boys and girls under 10 enjoy this series just the way they enjoy Dragon Ball Z. The bottom line is that Toriko is a winner and that it should make it on all action adventure readers list if it is not already there. Toriko does prove that not every series has to be about fighting for fightings sake. Have fun and don’t be afraid of the food it could kill you but probably won’t.

Rin-ne volume 13 (manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : November 23, 2013
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Rin-ne 13Rin-ne volume 13

Creator: Rumiko Takahashi

U. S. Distributor: Viz Media / Shonen Jump

U. S. Release Date: Nov. 13th, 2013

Format: Manga / Paperback

Age Rating: T+ for older teens

Personal Grade: B

 

Synopsis: 

While out looking for a place to have his scythe repaired, Rinne runs into the rabbit-eared twins Right and Left, scythe smiths and proprietors of the Crescent Moon Hall forge. The first repair is free, but the fix might leave Rinne looking for a refund!

The Crescent Moon Hall offers more than just scythe repairs, they offer Rinne the use of the new scythe wax which great at keeping your scythe from collecting mud. Of course Rinne had never run into a mud spirit, until now. They also manage to talk him into trying out the new cat spirit scythe. The question is does it help or hurt? Will the Crescent Moon Hall be the end of Rinne?

 

Commentary:

One thing about Rin-ne is that it is a rather self contained story. It is easy to pick it up at any time. Even though the story follows Rinne it also manages to give us some short episodes that are only connected by the characters and their silly interactions. Of course there is a overlapping plot line, but it is only there because the plot leads these characters through their lives.

Rin-ne is a wonderfully light story that provides humor with supernatural aspects in a way that is not something that weighs you down. It is one of the those few series that is so non-committal that it become something that you are happy to be apart of. If you think about the older works of Rumiko Takahashi like Inu Yasha or Ramna 1/2 it is easy to understand where Rin-ne comes from and volume 13 follows the standard fun loving model that she has set for her stories.

Overall Grade: B

Volume 13 is just plan fun it doesn’t require the reader to do anything but just move along with them. If you are looking for a series that is trying to say something special then you need to look elsewhere, but if all you want is a story that offers a simple comedy that covers a series of events with no hidden plot or dark story then this one is for you. There is a reason that Rumiko Takahashi is one of the most beloved manga artist in Japan and Rin-ne is proof that you don’t need deep meaning to be considered a good manga.

Ooku: The Inner Chamber Volume 8 (manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : November 20, 2013
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Ooku volume 8Ooku: The Inner Chamber Volume 8

Created by Fumi Yoshinaga

U. S. Distributor: Viz Media

American Release Date: September 17th, 2013

Format: Manga / Paperback / 224 pages

Genre: Historical Edo Period

Age Rating: M for mature Theme

Overall Personal Rating: B

Similar series: Vagabond and maybe Tactics

Imagine a world where the population is 85% women and 15% men. I know that for me it might be a great life, or would it?  If I were a 20 year old handsome guy I would think it might be heaven.

Synopsis:

The year is 1636, a terrible plague hits Japan and only one-fourth of the male population survives. The plague is known as the Redface Pox. The effect it has on  Japanese society is unbelievable. The Japanese society during the Edo period was ruled by the Shogunate and male dominated in every way. The utter devastation of the male population forces the Japanese to completely reverse roles. The women become the workers and rulers and the men that survive become pampered playthings for the sole purpose of ensuring the continued existence of the Japanese race. Or should I say the bearers of the precious seed.

Now we have moved through several Shogun and Yoshimune has secured her place in history as a cunning and capable ruler, but the time has come for her to officially declare an heir. Many in her court hope she will pass over her oafish older daughter Ieshige in favor of the urbane Munetake. Yoshimune has never been one to bow to convention, but this time the future of her country is at stake.

Commentary:

Volume 8 of Ooku had hit a wall. It seems to be spending plenty of time exploring the fate men and making sure that they live a similar life of what women did in our history, but at time the path of these men feel a little cliché. Over the years I have enjoyed many of the Edo Period  stories such as Vagabond and Samurai Champloo, but I was very afraid that Ooku is loosing it’s touch at being poignant and at the same time giving us a cultural statement about the battle of the sexes. It started off strong, setting the premise well, but appears to be falling apart quickly when the story turned to Yoshizo and his life of trying to be a cook in the Inner Chamber.

The one thing that bothered me most was the translation. The English was written in a heavy Quaker speak and the thee and thous  were very much out of place. I know that the Japanese had some minor contact with the West, but I doubt that it had the effect of changing the way they spoke. I realize that it was done for dramatic effect, but there is no reason for it.

Overall Grade: B

Being a Viz Signature series manga I expected more from the series and it was not until the last 25% of this volume that something of value began to unfold. The use of old English or the puritanical speech betrayed the intent of the author. I find it very hard to accept that style of language, I would have rather it been in a contemporary voice rather than the 16th century style.  I felt like I was on a Quaker Farm in Ohio rather than 1700 Japan. I begin to understand what Fumi Yoshinaga  is beginning to do. It may be a slow development of the true plot line but it does look to be intriguing. I am looking forward to the next volumes and the direction this parallel universe is going.

Similar Titles:

If Ooku is something for you, be sure to check out Vagabond and Tactics, then when you need a little humor with the Edo period give Samurai Champloo a ride.

Dogs Volume 8 (manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : November 10, 2013
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Dogs Volume 8Review provided by Camille
Title: Dogs Volume 8
Author: Shirow Miwa
Distributor: Viz Media
American Release Date: November 19th, 2013
Format: Viz Sig Manga,da
Genre: Action, Suspence, Shonen
Publisher Age Rating: M (Mature)
Personal Review Rating: A-
It’s all fun and games until Mother arrives…
Synopsis:
Though many questions were still to be answered, life was going back to the regular daily struggles. Wounds were finally starting to heal, but the mind behind the attack wasn’t going to let that happen. 
She was supposed to be dead, and one of her was. Mother is turing out to be more difficult to destory than anticipated. However, her appearance in the Underground city has answered some of the most important questions. However, some of the answers aren’t all that welcomed. If Mother is still alive, that means the missing children from the Underground were actually the soldigers that attacked the city. That those who were surching for these kids were the ones who killed them. This is unforgiveable. Hein and Bishop knew about what happened to the children, and now the Underground is more than angry. Hein and Bishop may be immortal, but can they really survive and attack from all the fruriated citizens?
Commentary:
I was first drawn to Dogs because of the art style. It’s got that edgy, fine lines, dark look that I tend to gravitate towards. I knew nothing about the story, but it looked good enough to flip through. After I read volume 1, I went out the next day and got the rest of the volumes available at the time. The story was so interesting, full of depth and the constant twist and turns was almost to much, but I couldn’t put it down. I was excited to see this volume come in, it’s been almost a year since the last volume was released. I wish I could say it didn’t dissappoint, but it felt like it was lacking something. 
One of the things that makes Dogs one of my favorite series is the cleanliness of the action scenes. They are well illistrated for as dark as this series is. There isn’t much in the way of background detail, but the caracters are stunning. Maintaining the detail of the characters durring fight scenes is tough and most often is lost, but not with Dogs. There’s a balance between the characters, the story, and their movements that I really appreciate.
Dogs is a character driven series. But this volume didn’t really expand or shine on any one chacter. They were all just kind of there. Personalities weren’t a priority. With that I would have expected more of the illistrative focus to be on the surroundings, but there were more plain white, empty panels then I would have liked. Just a little somehting to fill those awkward voids. It’s a manga, not a novel, but this volume felt more like I was just reading words, and the pictures where nothing more than decoration. 
This volume is a set up volume, right before the “final fight”. It brought all the information we already know into one coherent, interconnected plot line. I think it was well timmed. Other series, especially shorter series, tend to rush the connecting of plot points, but with there being a volume 0, which explains Hein’s past, volume 8 came just at the right time. 
Overall Grade: A-
I’ve enjoyed Dogs from the beginning, and I don’t ever see myself not liking what Shirow Miwa releases. This volume was a well timed point when all the backstories and revealed information became one solid plot, but there were a few to many blank pannels. I still can’t wait for the next volume!
Similar Series:
Dogs is a fairly dark series, about humas being the real moster that we are all afraid of. Other series with similar vibes are March Story, Dorohedoro, and D. Gray-man to name a few.