Parasyte 7

It’s clear in this volume that the series is coming to a climax and will be winding down immediately after the business at hand is taken care of.

The biggest event to take place here is the roundup of parasites that work for that mayor.  The government orchestrates an elaborate scenario in order to separate civilians and single each of the the parasites out.  The parasites realize immediately what is going on, and things degenerate into a bloody mess towards the end of the volume.  Though the army does make it clear that civilians will not be harmed, they pretty much shoot anything that moves and indiscriminately kill humans that are suspicious, try to flee the scene, or just defy orders.

This is shown in contrast to a speech given on how the parasites are just like any other creature on Earth that keeps the food chain in check, and that humans aren’t so special that they can avoid the fate of every other creature on the planet… and then an insinuation that it would only be a handful of years more before humans destroyed the food chain on Earth for good and that perhaps humans are, in fact, the parasites.  It’s powerful stuff, and given the outcome of the person that gives the speech… well, it’s even more powerful after that.  It sums up most of the basic themes in just a few pages.  It’s even more interesting if you remember that Iwaaki has explicitly stated that it’s possible that the parasites aren’t extraterrestrial in nature.

There’s also an interesting plot thread involving a serial killer the army brings into the investigation.  His motives are explained in depth, but basically, because he can sense the inhuman killing urges in the parasites, he becomes the only person other than Shinichi that can immediately spot a parasite… the theory being that they are just like him, a serial killer.  He’s a pretty healthy wildcard to add to the equation so late in the game.

Towards the end, there is… a sex scene.  Given Iwaaki’s art, it’s somehow ugly, but also powerful in context.  Shinichi wrestles with himself and his nature before, during, and after.

Then the final battle with the 5-in-1 parasite happens.  But that’s for next volume.  July won’t come fast enough.