Instead of working on Yakumo Mutsu, let's take a look at another Yakumo.
Nanaten's Random Review
3x3 Eyes: Victims of Eidolon Forest (Volume 1)
3x3 Eyes: Victims of Eidolon Forest (3x3 Eyes: Genjū no Mori no Sōnansha)
Story & Art: Yuzo Takada
Publisher: Kodansha
Synopsis:
Sequel of 3x3 eyes sets years after the end of the original series.
A group of mysterious people is targeting Yakumo while he’s investigating in
Paris.
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| And that's the only appearance of Sanjiyan |
It’s been more than ten years since the end of 3x3 eyes (well, I binged reading it on February so it’s not really that long for me). It’s good to see Pai and Yakumo back in action. It’s still has what makes 3x3 eyes so great: the immortal action, Pai being both comic relief and serious character, and romantic moments.
For those who didn’t read 3x3 Gaiden, here’s what you've been missing: Yakumo is still doing demon busting around the world, Han and Youko
had a daughter named Setsu, and the girls (Pai, Youko, Setsu, Ayanokouji, and
Wukai) still hangs out together.
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| Yakumo in Space |
The manga starts by showing how the gang has been doing.
The girls are hanging out in Japan with Pai being such a glutton as usual.
Yakumo is doing some work in space (yeah, Yakumo is demon busting in space)
only to be attacked by an Akidona and fell on earth. Five days later, Yakumo
took the girls (minus Wukai and Ayanokouji) for a work trip in Paris. While
hanging out in a café, Setsu and Pai are kidnapped.
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| Highschool Girls? Seriously? |
The main plot is about mysterious people who thought Yakumo as the key to Earth’s destruction. The new characters, bunch of modern highschool girls, fells out of place and just there to appeal the target audience. But since this is just a short manga, we’re gonna forget about them once it’s over (just like that Gyaru in the Gaiden).
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| "I am a human!" remember the last girl who said that to Yakumo? |
The main focus of the new characters is the girl in a
wheelchair, Kinoene Michiru, leader of those mysterious people and Gegeneis,
the big bad (Oh come on, Yuzo always make the big bad very obvious!). Anyway
the interaction between Yakumo and these two reminds me of certain people
(Youko when she’s Pai and Bernares respectively).
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| Pai's new sidekick, Setsu |
New addition to the main cast, Setsu is a fresh take itself.
The chemistry between her and Pai is so great, she’s basically small Pai with
blond hair. Her presence showed how much time has passed since the end of the
series. Without her we’d never know due to the characters being immortal.
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| "Unlike you, Setsu is a human!" |
Second plot focuses on Han and Youko. Han is angry at Youko
for letting Setsu get kidnapped. This results in a fight where Han yells at
Youko, something that Han has never done before. Even though it was supposed to
be a dramatic scene, next awkward moment and Youko stormed off turned it into a
cute scene instead (I obviously don’t know what love is).
The manga lacks Yakumo and Pai romantic moments, but there’s
a scene where Pai asking Michiru not to involve Yakumo. They miss each other every
time Yakumo is out demon busting. Pai knows that deep inside Yakumo feels empty. She doesn’t want Yakumo to become another
Bernares (who only shows up in the flashback).
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| "When is dinner time?" |
As for the comedy, the gag is still there. Pai is still a
glutton no matter where she is. But despite all that, it doesn’t ruin the seriousness
of the series. The action is still fast paced with winds blowing every now and
then.
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| "Why bath house?" |
In bonus chapter, we get bath
scene featuring the girls, something we didn’t get in the original series. It
shows how the gang accepts Wukai despite being Bernares’ loyal servant.
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| Yakumo to the rescue! |
In overall, this manga is a good addition to the series. While
the new characters are interchangeable, it shows how much time has passed in
the series.