Review by Ian Keogh
Sui Ishida’s Toyko resembles the real city in the 21st century, but with a major difference being people share the streets and accommodation with ghouls. The ghouls can pass for human despite supernatural skills, only their craving for human flesh separating them. Ken Kaneki, though, is a first, being half human and half ghoul, and navigates both worlds, learning all the time. He’s especially concerned that there’s now an investigation opened into a ghoul he knows is dead, as she was partially responsible for his transformation.
As is always the case, each volume begins with Ishida’s spread identifying the cast of ghouls, and the primary humans, most of whom work for the CCG, the organisation that hunts ghouls. As seen in Tokyo Ghoul 5, they’ve become concerned about the number of ghoul incidents in Ward 11, and plan to concentrate investigations there. Seen on the cover is newly introduced investigator Juzo Suzuya, given a terrifying introduction last time, and seemingly as bad as any ghoul, and more unhinged than most.
On the other hand Ishida’s beginning to drop a little more of the plot, and unhinged might be exactly what’s needed to deal with the aggressive ghouls who’ve taken over Tokyo’s 11th ward. They certainly have Kaneki in their sights.
To date the ability of ghouls to generate wings or other such appendages has seemed a random inclusion, certainly broadening the visual possibilities, but arbitrary in other respects. However, via a CCG investigator Ishida now provides the complete explanation and classification, although a series feature is long information dumps for later relevance. The skill depends on consumption of flesh. It’s explained to Suzuya, whose eccentricity and appearance makes him similar to the Joker, and like the Joker he’s not always convincing, a slight figure who’s seemingly never overpowered. For this volume at least, another new introduction Atayo is a threat to be believed, endearingly drawn in distinctive beetle crusher boots.
Kaneki is still the wide-eyed introduction to aspects of ghoul society and organisations, but there’s now such a large cast he’s sometimes not seen for a couple of chapters at a time. When it comes to the primary plot, though, he’s central. There are a powerful group of ghouls who don’t believe furtive concealment among humanity is their destiny, and Kaneki’s ended up among them.
This is a better outing than last time. The tension is high, the stakes are high and it’s very possible Suzuya is high. A lot of people have been moved into place here, and hell breaks loose in Tokyo Ghoul 7.
