Been a while since I reviewed an issue of Raijin, but that's largely because what I have to say doesn't change much from issue to issue. Raijin is probably the best manga anthology out there as far as I'm concerned, and the selection of manga, while not universally to my taste, represents a great variety of stories and talent. This issue features the debut of a new feature, presented for about half its length in color, and it's an interesting take on Feudal Japan, making a solid addition to the lineup of politics, action, sports, romance and martial arts that makes up the magazine on a weekly basis.
Debuting this issue is "Keiji," a story set in Japan's past during a corrupt and failing regime that showcases a lone deadly warrior who stands for justice. It's not an uncommon type of story in manga, especially samurai manga, but Keiji himself is an interesting protagonist, a type of samurai who is neither mercenary nor tool of a lord but instead someone who fights for his own conscience, and who dresses not just in ornate armor but decorated with all manner of finery and colors. The choice to present this one in color is a good one, as it brings Hara Tetsuo's artwork to life and dramatically makes the point about Keiji's flamboyant style, showing how he might be underestimated by his foes. I'm not as sure about the decision to finish the story in the sort of one-color (orange) tones that was used for Slam Dunk originally, but at any rate the story looks gorgeous and is an interesting new feature in a genre untouched by Raijin so far.
Tetsuo is also the artist for Fist of the Blue Sky, and he brings the same intricacy and detailed backgrounds to a tale of 1930s era Shanghai as he does to feudal Japan. There's not as much of the setting to see this issue, as it's largely a showdown between the lead, one of his old enemies and a mysterious new player who is neither enemy nor ally inside a private fight arena. It's a nice payoff for the long build-up of the destruction of the Chinpan, with a spectacularly bloody finale for one of the main villains. Baki the Grappler has also grown on me to some degree, because while the characterization isn't terribly deep, the notions of an underground fighting arena and the exceptionally strong anatomy and martial arts action by Keisuke is so well done it's hard not to enjoy it.
If I had to pick a favorite feature this issue, though, it's a toss-up between Slam Dunk and City Hunter. Slam Dunk is entertaining to me largely because it's a genre I never see tackled elsewhere, and because Inoue Takehiko has a terrific sense of whimsical humor that plays out in the story, particularly when it comes to Sakuragi's arrogance and desire to move too fast in learning basketball. City Hunter has a similar humorous tone to it, and I find that I'm liking the cleverness and arrogance of Saeba Ryo more and more entertaining, as he finds ways to fight criminals through trickery and (if need be) fists and guns.
Probably least interesting to me in Raijin are those features that fall into the romance category and feature more fantastic elements. That genre doesn't really hold much interest for me, and so I've sort of fallen off reading Guardian Angel Getten, although I expect readers of the very similar Oh My Goddess would find a lot to like there. I'm slightly more interested in relatively new feature Bow Wow Wata, thanks to a general love of animals (and especially dogs) and a particular appreciaton for Wata's strange mix of sour disposition and absolute loyalty to his owner. However, Kazumi's cartoony style, while appropriate for the piece, doesn't really appeal to me, and overall I'm more interested in the "Dr. Doolittle" aspects of the story than the romance at the center of it.
