Comics / Manga

Psyren: Volume 8 manga review

By Leroy Douresseaux
January 3, 2013 - 12:10

Psyren Volume 8 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

Rated “T” for “Teen”

High school student Ageha Yoshina is looking for his friend, Sakurako Amamiya, who has disappeared.  Ageha finds a mysterious phone card emblazoned with the logo, “Psyren.”.  This card transports him to Psyren, a warped alternate dimension that might actually be a near-future, post-apocalyptic Japan.  Now a Psyren drifter, Ageha can be called back to this future wasteland at a moment’s notice.  Once in Psyren, Ageha and the other Psyren drifters have to fight their way back to their world or die trying.

As Psyren, Vol. 8 (entitled Light) opens, Ageha’s latest visit to Psyren continues.  Also continuing is Ageha’s battle with Commander Dolkey, who has a score to settle with him.  Even with his friend in need of help, Kabuto Kirisaki isn’t sure he can stay around to help.  Will he run?

Then, the Elmore Wood Gang arrives to save the day.  They are the Tenjuin children, or they were in the past that was modern-day Japan.  Psyren is Japan, about ten years into the future, and now the children are older and have powerful psionic abilities – thus, the Elmore Wood Gang.  After rescuing them, they take Ageha and Sakurako Amamiya to their sanctuary, The Root.  More about Miroku Amagi and the group he leads, W.I.S.E., the psionist organization that will destroy the world, is revealed.

THE LOWDOWN:  When the narrative in the Psyren manga is set in that kind-of alternate dimension known as Psyren, that part of the story becomes a science fiction adventure.  The series loses the dark mood and conspiratorial tone that makes it such a good read.  I’m not saying that Psyren Volume 8 isn’t good, but to new readers, I say that as good as this volume is, it gets even more thrilling to read.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Readers who want science fiction thrillers hit up their Shonen Jump phone for a Psyren call.

 

Rating: A- /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12