Dogs: Bullets & Carnage

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Knowing from which manga is the cover of Nightcore - My Demons fills one with joy.

Reading this manga, however, won't fill one with joy. Quite the opposite: it will most likely make you feel indifferent. Shame, as I don't regret reading it. There is a lot of good to remember it for; but memories are prone to idealisation, and the reality will remind you that it wasn't so spectacular when seen for what it really was. I view it as a product born from passion of an author who had many cool ideas but falls short in the execution.

Speaking of the author, Shirow Miwa is ... an absolute killer of an illustrator. The characters don't only look good, they are DRIPPED out of their minds. References related to music (Badou Nails and Heine Rammsteiner have surnames inspired from Rammstein and Nine Inch Nails) and the weaponry (Heine uses a Mauser C96 connected to his belt, alongside a Luger P08) are awesome. One may forget the story, but they won't forget the appearance of said characters. Honestly, I would recommend you go Google his art regardless of if you want to read Dogs or not. His work oozes with style you won't be able to get enough of.

Miwa, on the other hand, is not a good writer. This fictional universe somehow manages to feel unimportant. There is too much explaining and barely any showing. Fighting boils down to unstructured clashing until someone falls down. There is no power scaling or hierarchy. The pacing is all over the place. The reveals and twists feel bland... Eventually, you will start numbly flipping pages. For the vast majority it feels like the story is barely moving from how much useless dialogue is being held. And when it's not empty talk, the story loves to uncontrollably digress. It's sad, as when the story is actually being told, it knows to be interesting.

In an odd way, those flaws add to the main cast. They might ultimately be one-dimensional, but that lack of focus in the story flashes them out. Each of the four "dogs" has their own story (with some fairly memorable moments), their own character traits (a smoker so addicted to nicotine he needs gun smoke to substitute for the lack of cigars is so good), and their own goals. Their chemistry, although often weak, knows to be fun. Main complaint is that some are given more spotlight than others, and that becomes more evident as the plot progresses. Their aims and journeys feel too independent from one another. The side cast, however, is mainly weak and forgettable.

Most of Dogs' value is found in the action department, and the art style reflects that. It is focused, focused to the point of feeling minimalistic. It does not want to waste any time nor detail on anything but the action at hand. When it works it is incredible; it gives a noir feel to some parts. But, unfortunately, it often does not land. It can feel lazy and uninspired, especially when the story decides to drag its feet for hours on end.

So, are the fights and spectacle worth it?... Most of the time no. Same as the art: when it works it is amazing. Stylish in the true sense of the word. But most of the time it just becomes a monotonous exchange of blows without any suspense or risk. There is no risk at all. There is no sense of danger even when these hyped-up cataclysmic phenomena occur. The lack of danger waters down the conflict. And if it's not the lack of danger that waters it down, it's the dumb humour that kills the vibe.

A great majority of this work feels like a chore to read. There is just so much talking, cheap ways to end a conflict, no stakes on the table... And then the last act happens. The story is still weak, but it plays with your curiosity. The gloves are off. It's going all in. The last chapter happens and...

And you realize this manga has been on a hiatus since 2015.

To repeat: I don't regret reading this title. You can see the passion behind it. If it ever continues, I am certain to come back and finish it. I do have a light sense of nostalgia for this work... But it wasn't an enjoyable read. It is very much flawed. For most of my reading time I just wanted to reach the end. I advise you to look for something else to sate your hunger, as I don't think this one will do it. But, of course, this is only my experience. I can't stop you.

Thank you very much for reading up to this point. I wish you all the very best. Kind regards.