Review by Ian Keogh

Speed Grapher is based on a 2005 animated movie that starts as relatively normal, but swiftly swerves into strange and possibly disturbing territory. Tomozo’s graphic novel adaptation over two volumes follows suit, opening with a paparazzi photographer being beaten up by bodyguards and caustic remarks about a schoolgirl from her classmates despite her father being phenomenally rich. Their introduction is accompanied by background news broadcasts indicating an increasingly unstable political situation, and we also see the strange assassination of a politician.

Whether due to Gonzo’s original anime or Tomozo’s adaptation, Speed Grapher jumps from place to place jerkily, with events difficult to follow during action sequences, although the certainty is that photographer Tatsumi Saiga will get a beating. Just as well he has military experience, while the shy Kagura’s story becomes stranger almost by the page. The paths of both converge at a fetish club where the identities of the elite are hidden by masks. It’s here that a turn for the worse is taken as after yet another beating, Tatsumi is kissed by Kagura and thereafter anyone he’s pointing the camera at explodes when he pushes the picture button.

If you’re able to work past that piece of silliness and Kagura escaping with Tatsumi, then what follows is an action thriller in which others with super powers turn up to exploit Tatsumi’s inexperience with his new ability. Kagura is viewed as extremely desirable property, meaning both have to go on the run.

So far Speed Grapher is efficient button pushing without offering an emotional core. The simpering Kagura as power awakener is overplayed, and too many others aren’t greatly credible. It may be that the conclusion pulls everything together more satisfyingly, but you have to believe in the power of the camera.