Manga
Durarara!! Volume 1
By Chris Zimmerman
February 10, 2012 - 15:24

Yen Press
Writer(s): Ryohgo Narita, Akiyo Satorigi
Penciller(s): Akiyo Satorigi
Letterer(s): Lys Blakeslee
ISBN: 978-0-316-20490-3
$11.99 US



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If you’ve been keeping up with my reviews then chances are you may have already guessed that I am a huge fan of Durarara!! Having watched the anime, I consumed every last bit of eccentricity the show had to offer. Upon its completion, I was left with a hunger that had to be sated, desperately hoping that the series would find an audience that would allow for the licensing of its source novels. When news spread that Yen Press was eyeing the franchise, my heart instantly leapt. My excitement diminished however when I learn that it had chosen to license the manga instead. Being a fan of the franchise, I journeyed into this venture with an open mind and keen interest.

For those not in the know, Durarara!! is a series of light novels developed by the same mind that sprung forth Baccano! The ensemble cast of disjointed personalities set amidst a deceivingly normal setting peppered with a hint of supernatural made it an instant favorite and soon found itself adapted into an anime and manga. The anime made its way over to our side of the pond and even aired on Cartoon Network.

The series’ approach to storytelling is perhaps its most unique quality, and one that has set it apart from the pack. The stories that spread across the cast are intertwined in a collection of overlapping plot lines that serve as individual tales that also act as pieces to a larger whole.  

The manga many of the same plot points of the anime with several distinct differences. Events are taken out of order and character’s personalities are tweaked slightly. Case in point: chief antagonist Izaya is a mix of his anime counterpart and the usual over the top villain, being a subtle schemer one moment and screaming into the night the next. Meanwhile, other plot lines seemingly connected in the anime act as random occurrences.

The first volume of Durarara!! is not quite up to the anime’s standard, but that in itself is not necessarily a weakness. The story moves at a brisk clip and does a good job of building the stories. The changes made for the most part are negligible, though the more noticeable ones may be cause for concern depending on future release. Still, it’s an interesting take on the story, and worth the read for fans of the show.  
Rating: 7.5/10

Related Articles:
Durarara!! Volume 1
Durarara!! Part 3
Durarara!! Part 2
Durarara!! Part 1