Review by Ian Keogh

Ayumi Mashiro is in the unenviable situation of having his mind placed within the powerful body of Neo Zero, whom the world perceives as an invading alien. In fact the entire alien invasion scenario has been contrived by the amoral Nast corporation, and in Villain Actor 02 Mashiro was contacted by others aware of the reality.

Villain Actor isn’t a series to jump into, as the background information is absolutely essential and not recapped, and opening events here just transmit as a standard superhero battle without that knowledge. It’s further obfuscated by action choreography not numbering among the strengths of artist Kentaro Harada. For those who have been reading since the start, Mikumo Seto takes a leap forward. Nast and their corrupted heroes know they need to end an impending revolution, and Mashiro is lured into what’s intended as a trap.

Seto’s plotting is devious. Having demolished the idea of an alien invasion, it’s reintroduced, and to great effect. Can readers believe what they’re being told, or is it more trickery aimed at disorienting Mashiro? Either way, it’s a grim insight into a corrupted and amoral mind. This is also a very contemporary series for having the public believing the lies and distortions put forward by the establishment even in the face of compelling evidence otherwise.

Villain Actor, though, is a two steps forward, one step back series, with Harada’s art very much a limitation. He’s a good design artist, but his pages lack focus, and even the covers are messy. This one shows Mashiro as Zero chin to chin with Lordline, chief among the villains and given to televised rantings in the manner of wrestlers.

Rather than continue indefinitely Seto and Harada stop with Villain Actor 3. Seto’s had points to make, made them and moved on. The ending is unpredictable and interesting for swerving convention for the bigger purpose, but the full potential is never achieved due to the art.