Platinum End Graphic Novel Volume 6 cover image

Rated “M” for “Mature”

An orphan who is just tired of living, Mirai Kakehashi attempts suicide by jumping from the roof of a building.  Instead of dying, Mirai is saved by an angel named Nasse.  Through her, Mirai learns that 13 humans have been chosen as candidates to replace God.  Each candidate has a guardian angel, and Nasse is Mirai's.  But one “God” candidate is hunting the rest.

As Platinum End, Vol. 6 (Chapters 16 to 19) opens, Mirai enters a trap.  This is his bid to save his fellow “God” candidate, Nanato Mukaido, from a trap set by the murderous “God” candidate, Metropoliman, who masquerades as a superhero to the general public.  Mukaido, who is dying from cancer, has been imprisoned with his wife and daughter; now, Mirai, risks his life to save a family.

However, Mirai seems to have done little more than make it easy for Metropoliman and his lackey, Hajime Sokotani, to kill them.  Then, a second rate angel gets her wings...

THE LOWDOWN:  The Platinum End manga is the creation of mangaka duo of writer Tsugumi Ohba and artist Takeshi Obata.  Like their previous manga, the controversial Death Note and the industry insider manga, Bakuman。, Platinum End is eclectic.

Platinum End Graphic Novel Volume 6 is filled with Obata's beautiful art.  There are also two very well played subplots, the angel getting her wings and a villain falling madly in love.  Still, Platinum End remains so dark, even cynical, and, thanks to Stephen Paul's translation, a narrative with death hanging over every word.  Platinum End should be an automatic read for manga fans.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for good comic books will want to read Ohba and Obata's latest Shonen Jump title, Platinum End.

A
8 out of 10