Golden Kamuy vol. 23

The main goal of the characters in this series has been to find the tattooed skin of many convicts that, when combined, will lead to a massive treasure trove of gold.  After twenty-two volumes, we’re told that there are only four skins left to find with one of them being a notorious river pirate and another being (yet one more) serial killer.  The catch is that Sugimoto, Asirpa, and Shiraishi may have figured out a way to circumvent the need for these skins, which I’m sure won’t blow up in their faces when they go looking for that pirate.  Meanwhile, Lt. Tsurumi and Hijikata’s groups are also hot on the trails of these last few skins, with the lieutenant sending Kikuta and Usami to investigate the killer in Sapporo.  This is notable because we finally get the backstory behind this volume’s cover boy and how his insanely jealous nature bound him to Tsurumi for the rest of their lives.

Usami’s backstory is twisted even by this series’ usual standards, and it would be the most disturbing thing in this volume… If it wasn’t for mangaka Satoru Noda’s decision to turn Sugimoto’s chapter-length relationship with a long-tailed tit into a comedy with a pitch-black punchline.  There’s also plenty of the title’s signature goofiness in store as Nikaido discovers meth, and Shiraishi has a late-night encounter with an unfortunate swan.  Though it appears that this volume might be all over the place in terms of plot and tone, holding it all together is Tanigaki as we find out the hold that Tsurumi has over the grizzled soldier.  It’s the kind of hold that’s tight enough to leave Tanigaki determined to squeeze through it with the woman he loves, which leads to a thrilling escape in the volume’s last third.  Said chase takes some unexpected turns which reveal that Tsurumi’s hold on his men might not be as absolute as he thinks.  This is something that also leaves me anxious for vol. 24’s arrival, if only so I can see if everyone’s all right after its ostensibly uplifting finale.