Galaxy Angel II Vol. #03

By Robert Harris     May 22, 2008
Release Date: November 27, 2007



Creative Talent
Writer/Artist:Kanan
Translated by:Satsuki Yamashita
Adapted by:Jason Grissom

What They Say
After receiving a message that shocked the Lune Angel Troupe to its core, Lily C Sherbet arrives with the news of a royal kidnapping and of a sudden uprising in NEUE. But is Lily the really who she says she is? One thing is for sure: Kazuya is not her favorite person. With the life a king in the balance, can the Lune Angel Troupe come together before it's too late?

The Review
While the first and second volumes of Galaxy Angel II focused more on the members of the Rune Angel Troupe and their interactions with each other than any real story, the third installment sees Kanan taking a darker and more serious direction while retaining the character-driven storytelling that has worked in the past. With an increasingly compelling story and a diminished focus on character goofballery, Volume 3 sees the series becoming darker and, subsequently, more interesting.

Outside of one character introduction/integration chapter, which sees the series return to its light-hearted tone, the bulk of the volume is focused on dealing with Forte's coup and subsequent invasion of NEUE, the galaxy in which the series takes place. Nano's near-death early on is a prime example of the shift in tone, as it brings the gang face-to-face with Vanilla, a former Angel Troupe member, and shows the prejudices that have sprung anew thanks to Forte's announced invasion. A journey to Magiic, Kahlua's homeworld, continues to flesh out NEUE and introduces another ex-Angel. The trip also sheds some light on Kahlua's past, which features some surprisingly dark moments.

The newfound focus on tension and tragedy may throw fans for a loop, but despite the change in gears there remains plenty of shenanigans to go around, if not as many as in the past. As always, the versatile and fluid art style remains the cornerstone of Galaxy Angel II's humor. The excellent print quality assures that these sudden but drastic changes are captured perfectly, and always manage to be at least amusing, and occasionally flat-out hilarious. Aside from the art style, Lunti gets some surprisingly good moments, and as always Tequila manages to put Kazuya in hot water often enough to entertain.

Longtime fans will be left wanting more, and those who believe the series to be "stereotypical wacky harem comedy in space" are doing a disservice to both themselves and the series. Together with Broccoli Book's production quality, which is practically unheard of for its price point, any fan of light science-fiction and/or romantic comedy should consider picking this series up. You may end up being pleasantly surprised.