Beastars Vol. 5by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 8 Trigger Warning: RapeHaru is kidnapped to be fed to the head lion of a yakuza-like group. Louis is ordered by the mayor to cover it up. Legoshi goes to rescue Haru, even if it means he dies trying, and he gets a little help. This volume opens with what reads like a rape scene. Haru is "graciously" given the choice to strip herself rather than be stripped, and must show EVERYTHING to the male lion who is about to devour her -- with most panels being of him snout-deep in her crotch while she trembles in shame and anger. There's even one panel where I though he was actually penetrating her, but it turned out to be the perspective. Viz -- why wasn't this volume shrink-wrapped and marked mature rather than "older teen"? This series continues to shock me with how dark and disturbing it is. This scene is spread over the course of the volume, interspersed with the rest of the scenes, and it gets worse as it goes. Haru tries writing her "last will" mentally, to distance herself, which causes her to flash back to her upbringing (being taught to be afraid because she was a weak and easily-killed species) and her first time having sex. It's insightful in many ways, including why she views sex as an equalizer. This reminder gives her courage, but when she finds the nerve to stand up to that lion, he gets forceful and threatens to beat her till her meat's tender. Honestly, I was a bit surprised that this yakuza-like group exists, even with what we've seen of the black market, including the live food auction house we learned of in the previous volume. They hang corpses from their front gate! How is every herbivore not living in constant panic? Well, that's where the mayor comes in apparently. Louis' interactions with the mayor are quite telling about this world, but so are the expensive body modifications the mayor has undergone to appear less threatening and secure this position. It's crazy. I was pleasantly surprised to see Louis at the end of the volume, but even that went much farther down the dark hole that is this story than I was expecting. I think Louis has snapped .... Legoshi is in full hero mode, which is great. I appreciate that he's still struggling with whether what he's feeling for Haru is really love or just a twisted prey drive. I love where his help comes from, and how this help supports him in this mental struggle as well as the physical battle. I enjoyed seeing the process Legoshi went through in this volume, as his commitment to fighting increases. His taking on the head lion is amazing partially because he continues to show his "humanity" -- giving Haru something to wear and apologizing for her having to see this, and he even shows mercy to the lion. But it's still a brutal fight scene. Most of the lions have pupils that are wall-eyed, which is distracting but works to make them look crazy and dumb. There are a few panels with proportion challenges, some of which heighten the danger / fear / violence of a scene. The fear is palpable in many scenes, thanks to the art. My favorite parts include the bonding between Legoshi and Haru at the end of the volume, and seeing Legoshi's roommates get the third-degree from their dorm mother. Even with these lighter moments at the end, the volume still manages to close with an intense scene. Written: April 2, 2020
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