Today’s review is a mostly-word for word quote from my review of this volume in Japanese. The plot hasn’t changed. ^_^

In MURCIÉLAGO, Volume 15 , we wrap up the Gold Marie redux arc with a somewhat unexpected reward for Kuroko. Narumi asks for physical contact. Kuroko is glad to oblige. When Narumi backs off, we see that Kuroko requires consent, which makes her a better person than most love interests in romantic comedies. ^_^

Kuroko and the gang are then launched into a creepy Elder God-inspired circus, (like circuses need to be any creepier than they already are.) A criminal from the past known as the Comedy Writer is back, and with the cover of the Bugg Shash circus, is manipulating people’s consciousness. It seems like more of the same – almost-supernatural hijinks and murder, except…

…what it actually becomes is kind of a cold case police procedural, in which questioning suspects is more than just a motivation for expository commentary.  What are the nature of the drug Francis and its relationship to Ceasare? Are they how the Comedy Writer manipulates people into deeply creepy actions or is it something else? Tsuru and Chacha are on the case! And, compared, with some of the previous arcs, this case might actually take their specific skills to crack.

My thanks to the folks at Yen Press for making what is kind of mush of a plot with three too-many things that really aren’t all that sensible, into something coherent and still pleasantly creepy. I do not envy translator Christine Dashiell’s job here. ^_^ Alexis Eckerman’s lettering gets a little chance to shine, with GIANT VOICEOVER shots. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8 Horrific and freakish more than violent this time
Story – 8 Inexplicably weird
Characters – 8
Service – 4 Other than straight up nakedness, surprisingly not
Yuri – 4 In a different timeline Narumi and Kuroko would make a decent pair

Overall – 8

Many thanks to Yen Press for the review copy!