Yoshiki Tonogai‘s Doubt is the second book in my quest into anime/manga nerdom. It appears that my coworker has placed some sort of mind control device that has me hungry for more. Unlike Utsubora, Doubt spans across four volumes (I’ve only just finished the first, and have to wait until next paycheck to buy the second), and has a sequel.
The cell phone game, Rabbit Doubt, has several citizens of Japan playing. The premise is simple. There’s a wolf in the pack of rabbits devouring a rabbit a day. The rabbits most seek out the wolf by executing the rabbit(s) they suspect of being the wolf. The player who finds himself playing the wolf is given the rules on how to play the game and how to win. Manipulation is key. If the rabbits are successful in executing the right rabbit (the wolf in disguise), the game goes to the rabbits. But if they are wrong, the wolf wins the game.
When six young adults—five of which are players—decide to meet up in real life, they find themselves playing a real life game of Rabbit Doubt. And the stakes are raised. Can they find the wolf in the pack before it’s too late?
“Never judge a book by its cover,” the saying goes. Much like Utsubora, I chose Doubt solely on its cover. I mean look at it. A couple of teenagers wearing rabbit heads, what’s not to like? I flipped through the pages and liked what I saw so I bought it (I’m in a book buying mood lately). The book has a Saw feel to it—before it started being just about the gore. The kids wake up in a place they’re not familiar with, knowing nothing of how they got there, and concluding that one of them is a killer. The art excels and moves the story forward. And those bunny heads? Well they’re creepy as sin, aren’t they? While not as suspenseful as I’d like, it’s still something I’d pick up again (when I finish the series, of course).
You can buy your copy of Doubt on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
A quick note: I’d like to apologize for these reviews. Still being new to reading manga, I’m finding it difficult on how to review them (shouldn’t be any different than reviewing a graphic novel, but at the same time it is). Perhaps it’s the esoteric aura that shrouds them. Either way, bear with me. I’ll get better. I promise.
Side note: I just learned only two volumes exist through Yen Press. Which means, I’ll have to bide my time or something.
Chapin City Blues 