Slayers Special Book 2: Notorious 2001 CPM Press   Buy It Now

Slayers began its long journey as a series of stories that ran in Japan's Dragon Magazine.  Starting in 1989, the stories began to pile up and were eventually made into a series of collected novels.  There are 15 of these novels, written by Hajime Kanzaka and featuring illustrations by Tommy Ohtsuka, and they form the foundation for the Slayers television series.  In this series, fans are treated to the adventures of Lina Inverse, a loud, obnoxious swordswoman, sorceress and thief; and her companions.  The Slayers Special storyline, however, takes place well before these events and mirrors the Slayers movies and OVAs.  In these tales, Lina travels primarily with Naga The White Snake, a very chesty sorceress who has proclaimed herself to be Lina's #1 rival and has quite possibly the world's most annoying laugh.

Generally, these tales are the most riotously funny and over the top zany of the bunch.  And in this, the second volume of the Slayers Special mangas, featuring the original writer / artist duo of Kanzaka and Ohtsuka, the comedy shows no sign of slowing down.  

I particularly enjoy the format of the Slayers Special mangas, in that each volume is broken down into a series of short tales or adventures.  Each one has a mini-conflict, some craziness, and eventually some sort of ending (where usually Lina is upset because her chest is too small and Naga is convinced somehow that she has been a hero).  More often than not though, the only thing that has truly transpired is that both of the magic-using ladies cast a whole lot of fireballs and blew up a whole bunch of people.  This does, however, have a nice way of resolving most any conflict.

Since the Slayers Specials are set previous to the television series, the look of the characters is a bit different, due to their being younger.  

But even though the look is changed, the feeling of the animated works remains present.  Having the tales be so short (there are eight in this volume alone) allows you to tear through them at record speed and at times you are sure that you have just watched a quick scene unfold on-screen before you, and then realize that it is a book in your hands...not the TV.

It is hilarious to see the two "companions", Lina and Naga, attempt to backstab each other at every turn, only to find the need to join forces after all.  Then the squabbling begins over who saved who and it is on to the next dramatic situation.  But while the real written humor lies here, it is actually the small, charred bodies consistently flying through the air that brought out the biggest laughs in myself (check out the center screenshot at the left to see what I am talking about).  There are more fiery explosions in this one manga, than in most war movies, and I would say a good half of them take out unintentional targets!  Haha, what is sweeter than the maiming of an innocent..?

Fans of the Slayers anime will find this to be a great source of quick fixes.  Desperate for a little mid-day sorcery?  Take in a chapter!  Need a quick pick-me-up between classes?  Read one more!  Or, for the truly reckless, you can always attempt to absorb this volumes humor in one sitting...although this is not recommended and may carry severe consequences such as uncontrollable laughter and a bruised funny bone.  But what the hell, go ahead and risk it...

And since the Slayers Special mangas are collected short works, you don't have to worry if you go out of order.  I actually started with this second volume, but the humor doesn't care where you come in.  Laugh along as Lina and Naga go up against a love-struck rich kid, a town full of ninjas, opposite versions of themselves, some bandit maids, and a whole cast of various evil-doers.  So grab this one up; whether for the laughs, the thrills, the charred-up folks, or the busty babes...you'll be glad you did.

- aaron -