Psyren, Vol. 2: Baby Universe

The rules of psyren are explained in this volume, some interesting characters are also introduced. So far it is good.

The characters have managed to get back from Psyren -- a devastated future Earth overrun by monsters -- but unfortunately their journey is far from over.And "Psyren Volume 2" introduces new characters and new powers to this intriguing manga series, as well as more answers about what exactly is going on. Author Toshiaki Iwashiro manages to add some intriguing twists to the usual action manga tropes (power-ups, mysterious mentors who know everything about the power-ups, katanas), while also building up the mystery of exactly what is going to happen.Getting back to the present is not the end of Ageha's woes -- first he runs afoul of a telekinetic motorcyclist who apparently knows about Psyren, and then he gets extremely sick with a nosebleed and fever. Worst of all, he's apparently going to be called back to Psyren whether he likes it or not.Then Amamiya introduces the boys to Matsuri Yagumo, a former visitor to Psyren who reveals some interesting facts about Psyren: all those who go there develop psychic powers due to... well, pollution or something. She doesn't know what will happen to the Earth in the future, but is determined to find out by assisting newer time travelers. And in order for them to survive their trips to Psyren, she and Amamiya will need to train Ageha and Hiryū in how to use their new superpowers. The training will involve puppets and handcuffs. Not kidding.In the meantime, two other people become enmeshed in the Psyren web. One is an impish, devious young man named Kabuto Kirisaki, who is just out for money. The other is Oboro Mochizuki, a famous young actor who attempts to go on a talk show to discuss the Psyren card he has received... only to receive a near-fatal visit from Nemesis Q, and a more pleasant visit from an elderly psychic. When the call comes to return to Psyren, these two men will be coming along.Toshiaki Iwashiro spent the first volume of "Psyren" establishing the idea of Psyren and the first few characters of the cast. With "Psyren Volume 2," he expands the story greatly -- he lays out the mysteries that our heroes have to solve, introduces some more characters, and gives everybody superpowers. Yeah, every SF/fantasy manga series needs some kind of superpowers, especially for the main characters.And yes, the whole training thing is now kind of cliche... but Iwashiro actually keeps it pretty fresh and fun, mainly by having the heroes just doing a few mental exercises. So instead of training for days or weeks, they spend perhaps two days max trying to hit things with psychic powers or separate coffee creamer. And introducing more important characters keeps things feeling fresh, especially as we see less noble motivations for wanting to go to Psyren.The author also leavens the rather grim overall mood with some wacky comic relief, mainly involving motorcycle accidents, sock puppets or Ageha being a big goofball. But then the characters go back to Psyren, and the dark, desperate atmosphere begins to return -- especially when a giant eyeless monster-worm explodes from the sandy ground and starts eating large numbers of people. I don't know how popular "Tremors" is in Japan, but I have to wonder if there is some Graboid influence here.There is also some development of the main trio of characters -- Ageha is handling the horrors of the future about as well as possible, Hiryū's past as a dorky little weakling is revealed, and Amamiya's sad family life is touched on. But the scene-stealer is Matsuri, a spiky-haired concert pianist who is the closest thing they have to an expert. Which is to say she doesn't know much about how Psyren started or it works, but she has some theories about the Taboo monsters and can train people.And then there's Kabuto and Oboro, who are fun additions to the cast because they seem less morally upright than the established characters, and promise to cause some trouble in Psyren. The former is a sneaky, conniving little beast, albeit a funny one; the latter is pretty much a standard celebrity -- handsome but wildly narcissistic.Instead of getting bogged down when the heroes return to the everyday world, "Pysren" keeps itself fresh with new characters, new superpowers, and the occasional nosebleed. Bring on more armored worms!

Por fin puedo adquirir los volumenes de mi manga favorito de todos los tiempos

good re read

Good book

Great!!!