Gangsta., Vol. 1

by Kohske

Overview

Got a problem? The Handymen can fix it —for a price.

In the city of Ergastulum, a shady ville filled with made men and petty thieves, whores on the make and cops on the take, there are some deeds too dirty for even its jaded inhabitants to touch. Enter the “Handymen,” Nic and Worick, who take care of the jobs no one else will handle. Until the day when a cop they know on the force requests their help in taking down a new gang muscling in on the territory of a top Mafia family. It seems like business (and mayhem) as usual, but the Handymen are about to find that this job is a lot more than they bargained for.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781421560779
Publisher:	VIZ Media LLC
Publication date:	02/18/2014
Series:	Gangsta. Series , #1
Pages:	194
Sales rank:	59,602
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Kohske made her manga debut in 2009 with the short story “Postman” in Shonen GanGan magazine. Her first series, Gangsta., began running in Monthly Comic Bunch in 2011 and became an instant hit. More about her work can be found on her website, http://gokohske.o-oi.net/.

Editorial Reviews

01/20/2014
In this crime manga, familiar elements show promise that isn’t realized. Worick is a one-eyed gigolo with a traumatic past. Nic is deaf, swings a samurai sword, and has some superpowers. He’s a “tag,” wearing a dog tag that serves the neighborhood as a symbol to beware. Together, they’re the “handymen,” killers for rent from corrupt cops and residents of a bad neighborhood, alike. There mystery here seems artificial, with many open questions presumably left for future volumes, including questions about what Nic’s powers are and why he has them. Early on, the duo rescues Alex, a prostitute who becomes their secretary and an agent for the reader’s curiosity about Worick and Nic. Although the lack of substantial content is frustrating, the art’s nicely attitude driven and the guys are attractive in their suits and well-done manga hair. Much of the narrative revolves around violence and abusive sex, but it’s all shown with flair and distinctive images from Kohske, a relatively new manga-ka who began drawing in 2010. Perhaps this is fresher for the native Japanese audience, but U.S. readers can see this kind of thing weekly on TV with more satisfying plot structure. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly