Lupin III 14
Posted: February 11, 2008 Filed under: Lupin III 2 Comments »Here you have it, the final volume of the original Lupin III series. I didn’t really think it would have a proper conclusion since it does have a lengthy sequel series and it was really a series of one-shots more than it was a story that needed to be concluded, but it surprised me by providing a nice resolution.
There are a lot of cool things going on in the other stories (not the least of which is Lupin getting trapped in a bottle, Lupin turning into a murderous homicidal maniac at night, and a man that Lupin wants to work for him barricading himself in a hilariously impenetrable room), but the one I want to talk about is the two-part final chapter, “The Funeral March of Lupin III.”
It’s got everything you could possibly want in a Lupin story: attempted murder of Lupin et al, strangely-themed opponents (this time the murder attempts are set to a recurring piece of music), a sex scene which felt strangely filthy for not actually having shown anything, and a final showdown with someone who turns out to be a worthy opponent in a huge battle royale. Lupin even escapes to a brand new place in the end! It was great, I promise.
Really though, that sex scene was the best. It even had a scribbled, poorly written letter from a “reader” who’s age was either 11 or 19, I couldn’t tell. Either way, the joke still worked. Thank you, Monkey Punch.
It’s a shame that you’re one of the only reviewers of the Lupin III manga on the web. Mind if I link to this blog from my own Lupin manga site?
Oh, I don’t mind at all. It’s a shame more people didn’t read Lupin III, and I just read the sad news that the sequel series is being discontinued by Tokyopop.