Durarara!!

Title:  Durarara!!
Mangaka: Ryohgo Narita (author), Akiyo Satorigi (artist)
Length:  4 Volumes (Completed)
English Translation?  Yes, 1 volume so far by Yen Press.
Demo/Genre:  Shounen/Fantasy/Action

How did I hear about it?  The anime began airing on Adult Swim last summer.

After a little convincing from his childhood best friend, Mikado Ryugamine decides to move to Tokyo for his high school career.  Upon his arrival, his friend Misaomi gives him the rundown of the city, introducing him to his friends, telling him about the people that you "absolutely never piss off," warning him about the gangs that are about, and most importantly telling him about the legend of Ikebukuro, the Black Rider, which Mikado happens to see in the flesh on his first very day about the town.  As we get the story from Mikado's perspective, we also see things from the point of view of the Black Rider herself.  Her name is Celty, and she is an Irish Dullahan, a type of Death figure.  Twenty years ago, her head was stolen, and she has followed the sense of her head all the way to Tokyo, but is still unable to find it, even after all these years of searching.  As these seemingly unrelated stories unfold, the lives of many who live in the Ikebukuro district become interwoven.

It was difficult to write a description of Durarara (often typset as DRRR!!) without giving everything away.  Though I've only experienced tiny pieces of this manga/anime, I really, really like it, and it makes me sad that I will probably never have the whole story.  It is based on a series of light novels, which are currently at ten volumes and still ongoing.  The anime spans only one season, and I believe it covers volumes 1 - 3 of the novels, and the manga stops after only 4 volumes, which if I am not mistaken, tell a condensed, rushed story of the same length.  Since there's no market for the publishing of light novels in the US (except for yaoi, of course) and little hope of a continuation of either the anime or the manga, this story will most likely remain unfinished in North America.  I realize that that's not a very good argument for trying to convince anyone to read/watch this series.  Still, it's well worth the look.

There is a rather large cast on hand, and while each one's story seems separate and unrelated to the other characters, we slowly watch their paths cross throughout the series.  We see many of the same events through the eyes of the different characters that witness them, and view many strange friendships and alliances that form as the lives of the characters intersect.  I really loved that aspect.  Even within the tiny portion of the story we get, it's great seeing the web connecting all of the characters.  I particularly loved Celty.  Without a head, she can only communicate by typing into her cell phone or a computer (though her thoughts and dialogue are voiced in the anime).  I took a particular interest in the romance that develops between her and the doctor she lives with.  Yes, I know it sounds a little strange, but just trust me, it's well done.  Another favorite character is that of Izaya (voiced by the talented Johnny Yong Bosch in the English dub).  He's not really a villain, but not really a good guy either.  He's an information broker who knows everything about everyone in Ikebukuro and greatly enjoys pulling people's strings just to watch their reactions.

Another aspect I loved about this manga was the presence of technology.  Many of the conversations take place on an online chatroom, and it's some time until the owners of the usernames are revealed.  I like how the anonymity of the internet is used as a story-telling device.  They show how rumors start, spread, and grow, and how you really never know exactly to whom you may be talking when you're on the web.

Yes, this was a difficult manga to describe.  Its only a portion of the big picture, but it tells such a unique and fascinating story with such an interesting cast that I can't help but like it.  It has only recently been licensed here in America, and I've gotten everything released so far (a whopping one volume!).  I would also love to have the anime, but it's not very common, which gives it a rather expensive flavor... I really hope that its run on Adult Swim leads them to release a box set of the whole series at a reasonable price.