Review by Ian Keogh

Having started with almost pure whimsy and considerable artistic enthusiasm, Rokurou Okagi has gradually switched the emphasis, so now the bursts of action all serve an ongoing plot.

Central to is this time is the state of Towata, a heavily fortified principality in the desert not inclined to recognise the Vald, the global military power, and possessing a secret handed down through generations of the royal family. As seen in Crazy Food Truck 2, Gordon and Arisa turned up in search of sushi, the military turned up to teach a lesson, and Gordon’s old military colleague Dylan turned up in search of scrap. Arisa has been captured, and for the time being enemies have become allies to rescue her. Dylan and Kyle are very different characters with opposing views, but both have a great respect for Gordon, so fall in with his bonkers rescue plan.

That mission’s all over really quickly, but Crazy Food Truck isn’t a series that ever hangs around, and this is the final volume, which is a surprise, as much was set up in the previous book. Okagi, though still has some ideas to filter in. Gordon choosing isolation over a military life already represents a choice of freedom being more important than control, and that’s given even more poignancy by Arisa making her own choice.

A flashback occupying almost an entire chapter clears up any remaining questions about Gordon’s earlier relationship to other cast members, and the final chapter heads back into the enjoyable mayhem characterising the first volume.

As a series Crazy Food Truck swerves all over the place, but there’s an internal compass, and Okagi seems like a creator who doesn’t want to be committed to a single idea for too long. Not having that compulsion keeps the series fresh and interesting, and Okagi’s said everything he wants to about the concept in three quick volumes.