Kabuki vol 6: Scarab, Lost in Translation

This is the latest Kabuki volume, and it stars Scarab, one of the other Noh agents. This story spans many years in Scarab's life, most of them told in flashback.

We see Scarab at the time of Metamorphosis, while inside the Control Corps trying to get to Kabuki. We see her a few days before that, spending time with Tiger Lily. We see her first assignment as Scarab. And we see her before she became Scarab, her life as Keiko with her friend Seiko and especially when she met Yukio.

This last part of her life really reminded me of True Romance, which I watched just recently. As that movie, this story is about their love at first sight, and their problems with drug related crimes.

We also see how she eventually becomes an agent, but best of all we see her last mission. And what a twist!! It tells the events in Metamorphosis from Scarab's point of view, and even if you read Metamorphosis already, it still contains a few surprises. It not only answers a question from Metamorphosis, it also poses a question answered in Metamorphosis.

I really love this story, it has a finality to its main story that was very very surprising. The emotions are also very high thoughtout the course of the whole series. Again, it really reminded me of True Romance. I wonder if Mack was inspired by it.

The art is by Rick Mays, and I couldn't be happier. He has a very clear style, which reminds a little bit of a classic manga style (in fact he imitated that style in the Kabuki cartoon sequences). His storytelling skills are also excellent, his action scenes flow very easily. One thing that bugs me a little is that his faces are all the same. I could hardly distinguish Tiger Lily from Scarab without their masks. But it doesn't bother me too much.

Even thogh it doesn't star Kabuki and it's not drawn by Mack, this volume is one of my favorites of the series. I can't wait for future stories starring the other Noh agents.