Kabuki vol 4: Skin Deep

Kabuki Vol 4: Skin Deep

David Mack

As I was saying, as soon as I finish reading a Kabuki volume I am compelled to pick up the next one and at least flip through it if not start reading at once. So here I am, with the next volume in my reviews of Kabuki.

Skin Deep is a short volume, but this is where Mack's painted creativity really shines. We saw colors in vol 2, but there were more of a tease. This is the real thing.

Mack uses various drawing techniques, from painted to black and white to collage etc... Each technique is perfectly chosen to suit the story, this is not just random crazyness (although some say David Mack IS crazy, a crazy genius).

The story takes place in a place similar to a mental institute, where all inmates are secret government agents turned rogue. Control Corps is another secret agency whose purpose is to rehabilitate these rogue agents and reprogram them for new assignments.

Kabuki is here after what she did to the Noh, but it doesn't really matter. You don't need to know what happened before, this story takes place in a prison, and tells the hardships Kabuki goes through in her solitary cell. Someone is slipping secret messages written on toilet paper, she claims to be called Akemi, another inmate. But is she real?

We are immersed into Kabuki's mind, and can almost feel what she feels. This story is an intimate character study, and the art and words really help with the "full immersion".

Since Mack draws everything you see on the page, including colors and letters, he can fully integrate captions and ballons into his images. Some of his letters are free flowing on the page, going around the page in circles or strange lines. This just makes it even more appealing to me.

I think this volime is the best one if you just want to try out Kabuki. It is short, you don't need to know what happened before, and it shows David's fully developed art. Give this one a try if you are on the fence.