Library Wars: Volume 13 manga review

Manga
Library Wars: Volume 13 manga review
By Leroy Douresseaux
April 6, 2015 - 19:40

Viz Media
Writer(s): Kiiro Yumi, John Werry
Penciller(s): Kiiro Yumi
Letterer(s): Annaliese Christman
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7742-5
$9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, 192pp, B&W, paperback
Rating: T+ (Teen Plus)

Library Wars: Volume 13 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

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Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”

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. 13 (Chapters 59 to 63) opens, the Library Task Force stops an abduction attempt of author Kurato Tomas by the Media Betterment Committee. Toma is sheltered at the Kanto Library Base because he and his bestselling novel, The Nuclear Crisis, are blamed for a terrorist attack. Now, the forces of censorship want him punished... perhaps, even silenced.

While protecting Toma, Kasahara and Dojo experience a semi-intimate moment... with some comic relief. Meanwhile, Mikihisa Komaki visits Marie with a ring, and Kasahara comes up with an obvious solution that no one else considered.

[This volume includes three bonus manga stories.]

THE LOWDOWN: As I usually say, an argument can be made that the Library Wars manga is a silly concept. The idea of an armed force that protects libraries and their collections might seem ridiculous, but with Section 215 of the Patriot Act about to be re-authorized, some of us may one day consider this manga prophetic or at least 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 13 is filled with some puppy love and even a scene of a guy who decides to “put a ring on it.” I have to admit that I sometimes find myself enjoying the “Love” in Library Wars' “Love & War.” However, I must give credit to Vol. 13 for its easy-to-digest discussion of censorship and of the public's general disinterest in how books are banned by governmental (both federal and local) entities. This manga may keep is simplistic, but at least it is having this discussion.

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

Rating: A-/10