Flame of Recca, Vol. 5 [Paperback]

Nobuyuki Anzai (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 2004

Despite his own pyro powers, Recca covets the Flame of the Eight Dragons. But he must first prove he can handle such responsibility. Meanwhile, he and his crew are forced to join in a kill-or-be-killed event. If they fail, they must forfeit the life of poor Yanagi Sakoshita.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nobuyuki Anzai's Flame of Recca first appeared in 1995 in the prestigious Japanese magazine Shonen Sunday. Also the author of R Princess.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (April 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591161932
• ISBN-13: 978-1591161936
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,806,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Sudden shifts, June 20, 2008

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E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Flame of Recca, Vol. 5 (Paperback)

Recca Hanabishi's true powers and bizarre past have finally come to light -- but his literally fiery fights with his crazed half-brother aren't over yet.

And the fifth volume of "Flame of Recca" brings the unlikely band of heroes into a new battlefield with even more dangerous opponents -- and a couple new weapons to boot. There's a distinctly awkward transition from the slam-bang no-holds-barred fights of the last few volumes to a more restricted tournament style, but fortunately things promise to improve as the competition goes on.

As the volume opens, Recca and his companions are attacked by three more of Kurei's henchmen. When Kagero is badly injured, the enraged boy attacks them with fire -- and one of the fire dragons appears.

As Recca's biological mother and adoptive father get to know each other, Recca begins training himself to bring out and use the power of all eight dragons. At the same time, Tokiya, Fuko and Domon set out to become stronger -- until they receive a chilling challenge from Kurei. He wants them to come to the Urabutosatsujin Festival, an illegal martial-arts competition. No refusals are allowed.

And things get nastier when the five of them arrive at the Festival, which demands that Yanagi be put up as a wager. Their first assignment is against the powerful Team Ku, a hardened gang of lethal assassins who use incredible speed, rubbery bodies, spinning weaponry and flying paper as weapons, and who are definitely hell-bent on. Can the newly-formed Team Hokage win -- and prevent Yanagi from being claimed as a prize?

If the fifth volume of "Flame of Recca" sounds an awful lot like "Yu Yu Hakusho" -- no-refusal invites, underworld tournaments, one-on-one fights with superhumans -- that's because it reads a lot like the latter. And the very rapid transition from no-holds-barred battles with Kurei's henchmen to a series of tournament fights is a bit jarring. We could have used a little more "quiet time" as Recca worked on his training.

But despite that, the fifth volume is still quite an entertaining read at the start and ending -- we get some lovely fiery fights, as well as Recca's growing mastery over the Eight-Headed Dragon and all its powers. There's also some pretty spectacular new skills shown off by Tokiya's water sword, and Fuko makes some clever modifications to her much-treasured ninja talisman.

Along the way, Anzai continues with some enjoyable comic relief ("A bachelor? But you were married... that photo..." "That's just a movie star I liked! He's so clueless, he'll never notice!"), and a little hint of romance for the tormented Kagero and Recca's dad. They make a pretty cute couple, especially since they "share" a kid.

Recca himself is starting to grow up a little -- he's not as openly dim and childlike as he was before his battles with Kurei, and he no longer talks about being a ninja now that he knows he is one. Occasionally he has an aggressive, battle-hungry attitude that wasn't there before. The others don't develop quite as much, but Fuko and Doman show some determination to get stronger and help Recca, while Tokiya learns that he may have a chance to get revenge for his sister.

The fifth "Flame of Recca" volume has a little too much "Yu Yu Hakusho" and a rather awkward middle section. But it heats up toward the finale, and promises to only get more interesting as Recca fights on.