[BOOK REVIEW] Black Cat: The New Weapon Volume 12 by Kentaro Yabuki

Title:  Black Cat:  The New Weapon Volume 12


Author: Kentaro Yabuki

Genre: Action / Adventure / Comedy / Crime


Year Published: 2007


Year Read: 2014


Series: Black Cat #12


Publisher: VIZ Media


Source:  Library


Content Rating:  Ages 13+ (Violence and Some Threatening Situations)


Buy on:  Amazon  //  Book Depository 

Man, I have loved Kentaro Yabuki’s “Black Cat” series ever since I picked up the first volume and this series just continues to get better and better with each passing volume!  “Black Cat Volume 12: the New Weapon” is no exception to this as we finally learn more about Dr. Tearju and her relationship with her creation, Eve!

 In order to change Train from his child form to his normal adult form, Train, Sven and Eve travel to find Dr. Tearju, who might be the only person who knows how to change Train back to normal due to her formally working on nanotechnology for Torneo in the past.  Also, it turns out that Dr. Tearju was responsible for creating Eve and this may lead to Eve finding out more about her creation.  Unfortunately, the Apostles of the Stars started attacking Sven, Eve and Dr. Tearju in order to force Dr. Tearju to join their team and create more nanotechnology for them.

Will the Apostles of the Stars finally get Dr. Tearju and will Train change back to normal?

 Wow! This volume was just as exciting and interesting as the previous volume!  I loved the way that Kentaro Yabuki explored Dr. Tearju’s character as I have been wondering ever since I read the first volume about Eve’s creator and what she was like as a character.  I like the fact that Dr. Tearju is a kindhearted character who was willing to help Train through his predicament and it was also interesting in seeing her relationship with Eve.  I also loved the side story about Kyoko trying to redeem herself in the eyes of Chronos since it showed how much her character is progressing and it would be interesting to see what direction Kentaro Yabuki will take Kyoko in the next few volumes.  Kentaro Yabuki’s artwork is as usual spectacular as the characters look realistic yet cute and I have always admired the way that Kentaro Yabuki drew their facial expressions as they really capture the emotions that the characters feel during certain situations such as showing fear when the Apostles of the Stars shows up and happiness when they reunited with each other.

 Even though this volume is not as violent as the previous volumes, there are some intense moments in this volume such as the Apostles of the Stars trying to kidnap Dr. Tearju and threatening to kill Eve and Sven.  These moments might worry some readers who do not like the idea about a beloved character getting threatened with death or the fact that some vicious strangers invade your house in the middle of the night.

Overall, “Black Cat Volume 12: The New Weapon” is a brilliant volume that really explored Eve’s back story while providing a satisfying conclusion to Train’s story arc of being trapped in a smaller body.