There are a lot of things to like about Jormungand….was the way I wanted to start this review, but in reality, there is *very little* to like about this series. I just happen to like it anyway. ^_^

In Volume 4, the gang is wrapped up in protecting “Dr. Miami” from an enemy she doesn’t even know is there. Most of the rest of the volume is taken up in a game of chess with an ex-actress-turned-arms dealer/negotiator.

Extra time is spent on Valmet and the good Doctor kvelling over Koko in a spectacularly impotent manner, while both USA pawn “Schokolade” and ex-actress Amalia Torohovsky are macking on Koko probably half in reality and half in my imagination. It hardly matters who likes who because the storyline is rushed and inconsistent and while it makes sense overall…it’s not particularly well-conceived or executed.

The real problem here in Volume 4, though, is that the art is utterly craptastic. There is one panel in the entire volume that looks nice. The rest look so rushed, so dashed off, so plain old *bad* that it’s hard to take seriously. NOT that we were taking a manga about happy-go-lucky arms dealers seriously or anything. It just looks like the entire volume was drawn under deadline, while the artist had the flu, while the editor shouted at him.

Other than the terrible storytelling and horribly inadequate art, Volume 4 had a lot to like about it. (^_^);;

Ratings:

Art – 2
Story – 5
Characters – 8
Yuri – 4
Service – 4

Overall – 4 if you’re anyone else but me

By Volume 4, you have either decided that you enjoy this series, or you don’t. Nothing I could say, good or bad would convince you otherwise. I like it, despite the obvious flaws. I like Valmet, I like Dr. Miami, I like Schokolade, I like insanely violent women, so, I obviously like Koko, too.