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Dogs: Bullets & Carnage

Do you have manga that you would call the best one you have read till now? I do.

Dogs :B&C created by Miwa Shirow is in my opinion something different than any other manga I have read until now. It is very climatic, dark, distinctive s-f series with its own unique style. It has absolutely extraordinary art. And I really mean it.

Story concentrates on 4 main characters: Haine, Naoto, Badou and Mihai. Every single one of them has inseparable connection with the place where the this history takes place- underground city where you can find various kinds of ... people and things. There is one sure thing about this place- it is dangerous. Mafia families, police and people with genes of animals –they are all interacting and creating an exceptional atmosphere with smell of blood, gunpowder and death in the air . But there is something more. Below the city is the rumored deepest level of the underground, where nothing good will happen to you.

The characters. Oh boy. Four individualities with their past connected with the secret underground. I don’t want to write too much about their back stories, because it is much more fun to find out this while reading. Their personalities are not stereotypical or trivial. Each one of them has own motivation to live and fight whenever it is necessary. Mihai- calm old man, who used to be professional killer, now he kills only when there is no other way to protect people around him. Badou- easy-going, but gets deadly dangerous without cigarettes, sometimes cooperates with Haine. Naoto- due to some terrifying events she lost memory of her childhood and was raised and trained by a sword master from underground. For me one of the most fascinating female character in manga generally. And finally Haine- white hair, truly superhuman combat abilities as a reminder from his traumatic childhood.
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he plot is pretty complex and full of still unanswered questions. Gradually we know more and more about our characters, but there is still a lot to tell. It is really hard to tell where actually it is going and I think it is good. The unpredictability is undoubtedly a strength of this manga.
Art. I will be blunt. I have never seen better drawn manga. Characters are perfectly designed. Real fun starts, when it comes to fighting scenes. Dynamic yet clear and easy to follow. Fights in this manga are delightful. Many times I found myself just looking on some panels with my jaw on the desk. I have to mention that backgrounds are truly minimalistic. It could be considered as wasting of space, but for me it helps to concentrate solely on characters.

The basic reason for writing this review was attracting MAL users to give Dogs: Bullets & Carnage a try. If you look for something on high level, something different, giving great enjoyment you probably found it in this very moment. It is just my subjective opinion, but Dogs: B&C are definitely worth reading.