Library Wars: Volume 15 manga review

Manga
Library Wars: Volume 15 manga review
By Leroy Douresseaux
April 3, 2016 - 22:33

Viz Media
Writer(s): Kiiro Yumi, John Werry
Penciller(s): Kiiro Yumi
Letterer(s): Annaliese Christman
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8585-7
$9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, 192pp, B&W, paperback

Library Wars: Volume 15 cover image

Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”

Some time in the near future, the federal government of Japan can seize any books it deems offensive for any reason because of the Media Betterment Act. In response, libraries and local governments create a military group that protects library collections – the Library Forces. Library Wars focuses on two characters, both of whom are stationed at Musashino Main Library. Iku Kasahara is a young woman who is new to the Library Forces, and Atsushi Dojo is her instructor and a Sergeant First Class.

As Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 15 (Chapters 69 to 42 to Final Chapter) opens, the war between the Library Forces and government censorship has reached a peak. Formerly a lowly recruit, Kasahara is now a high-profile militia member of the Kanto Library Forces. Her current assignment is an undercover mission to get censored author, Kurato Tomas, to a foreign embassy so that he can escape from Japan.

Meanwhile, Atsushi Dojo is recovering from a gunshot wound, but Kasahara does not know the status of his recovery. Is he dying? Are Kasahara and Dojo destined to be together?

[This volume includes a bonus manga story.]

THE LOWDOWN: The Library Wars manga has come to end. Yes, one can describe it as a silly concept. The idea of an armed force that protects libraries and their collections might seem ridiculous. As I wrote in my review of Vol. 13, however, the Patriot Act might end up making this manga seem a bit prescient. [This manga is based upon author Hiro Arikawa’s light novel series, The Library War, which I want to read.]

Library Wars: Love & War Volume 15 is filled with the series' usual puppy love. Before the happy ending, though, we get the thrill of Iku Kasahara doing a bit of Jason Bourne as she tries to save an endangered and censored author's life. I won't pretend that Library Wars is a great manga, but if you have come to love this manga, you will miss it. I am sure that I will miss it. Of note, Kiiro Yumi, the creator of the manga, will continue to produce new material featuring these characters on at least a semi-regular basis.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE: Readers who want science fiction with their shojo romance will want to try Library Wars: Love & War.

A-

Rating: A-/10