MJ Review: Wild Adapter Volume Four

[Eric]

Title: Wild Adapter
Volume: 4
Mangaka: Kazuya Minekura
Publisher: Tokyopop
Originally Serialized in: Chara Comics (Tokuma Shoten)
Genre: Shounen-ai, Mystery
Rated: Mature (18+)
Price: $9.99/US

Wild Adapter, volume 4, has an overall theme surrounding the concept of kotodama, the idea that words have spirit and can have real impact on someone’s life. The bad guy this time feels defined by the harsh words of a teacher who called him ‘small’ way back when. Kubota has the misfortune of being on a drug run from Kou to the prostitute this guy is with, just after she calls the man ‘small.’ Kubota gets there just in time to see him running out after killing her.

Naturally, Kubota is picked up as a witness by the cops who would love to pin any number of crimes on him. He decides his best bet is to keep his mouth shut about everything. Kubota did, however, have time to warn Tokito away from their apartment but didn’t tell him why.

Confused and hurt, Tokito spends a lot of time acting like a spurned lover. That’s honestly the best way to put it, even though there’s no direct evidence they’re lovers, just tons of innuendo. Half convinced that this is about a woman who had called looking for Kubota, Tokito goes to meet her. Anna is a prostitute who had also been Kubota’s lover and friend. She wanted his help to protect her friend, another prostitute.

Homeless, Tokito turns to their reporter contact, Takigawa (see volume three) for help. Tokito keeps looking for Kubota, contacting all of his associates and learning something of Kubota’s past, which he really knew nothing about.

As the mystery comes unravelled, Kubota gets freed with a hint of someone powerful pulling strings for him. The boys hook back up and there’s an editorial promise that the next volume will tell us about the missing year that spans from when Kubota brings an unconscious Tokito home (volume one) and one year later into their friendship (volume two).

As always, the art and storyline are very good. My only complaint is there is not enough variation in Minekura’s faces. There is violence, drug use and nudity as well as strong language in this one. The sound effects are left in place and not translated, for those of us who like to know that kind of thing. Going from something I wasn’t sure I wanted to read back in volume one, to something I can’t wait to continue, Wild Adapter has impressed me.

Reviewer: D.M. Evans
Proofer: Eduardo Menéndez
Editor: Lissa Pattillo