Murcielago vol. 23

The stakes continue to get higher with this volume as we find out what Celine “The Perfumer” Argente has come to Japan to find.  Under Hakua’s orders, she’s to track down “Tozakura” which is described as an unnatural flower in a mountain somewhere, but longtime readers will also know it as Hinako’s last name.  Surely that’s just a coincidence, right?  Meanwhile, the fun fight-loving Urara is in a brawl for the ages against Hightower, who proves himself to be as persistent, resilient, and prone to making you go “Why won’t he just die!” just like any major boss out of the “Resident Evil” series.  Yet it’s Celine’s trip out to the countryside which provides even more opportunities for carnage as Kuroko and company encounter her and her henchmen in an explosive highway battle.  It’s explosive enough to force the team to split up and send some of its less capable members against villains who will have them for lunch (if they’re lucky).

I’m still getting the feeling that “Murcielago” is building to a climax, even though Celine’s prominence in this arc suggests that “Silver Scent” isn’t going to be the final one.  Whatever that one is will certainly be pitting Kuroko against Hakua for all of the drugs – and the women.  Until then, we’re getting to see more of this title’s old, trashy self, what with the gratuitous lesbian sex sequence near the start of the volume that’s used to convey a lot of exposition.  Urara’s fight is also ridiculously gory even by “Murcielago’s” previous standards while the showdowns at the highway and mountain provide solid action in their own way.  There’s even some intrigue at the FBI’s real motives and an ending cliffhanger that promises a big showdown for vol. 24.  What’s here gets by on style and flash more than it does plot mechanics and characterization, yet it still offers more of what I liked about this series way back in the day.