Zombie Powder #3 by Tito Kubo

Viz Media, 2007
ISBN: 1421511215
Available: New & Used

Not that the concept isn’t weird enough- a trio of people chasing after the mythical (and dangerous) Rings of the Dead, which when put together make powered life force that can make a person immortal- but in this volume things get really strange. Gamma (S-class criminal and chainsaw sword wielder), Elwood (former thief and knife thrower on a mission to bring his older sister back from the dead), and Smith (mysterious, gun slinging, suit wearing master fighter) face down the weirdest troupe of circus performers ever, over the body of a boy playing host to one of the evil rings. Foes in this action-packed manga include an undead box, a deadly assassin and his “human target” sisters and a magician who can bend space and time.

Zombie Powder #3 continues to deliver the same strong characterization and Western theme. It doles out the tidbits of mystery at a pace perfect to keep readers involved. As a plus, this volume contains a Kubo “bonus short” for diehard fans. Recommended for manga collections. When combined with the bonus shorts, these books give a fine idea of the story spectrum available in manga. Grades 9-12.

Contains: cartoon-like violence, implied sexual threats and off-color relationships