RahXephon, Volume 3

Today's post is on RahXephon, Volume 3 by Yutaka Izubuchi (Author),  Takeaki Momose (Illustrator). It is 200 pages long and is published by Viz Media. It is the second in the RahXephon series and you need to have read the two volume to understand what is going on. The cover has Reika on it with the RahXephon in the background. The intended reader is someone who has read the first volume, likes science-fiction stories, and heavy, dark plots. There is mild sexuality, mild foul language, and violence in this book. The story is told form third person close of the main character Ayato. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- TERRA's final battle with the MU has begun, and Ayato's fact-finding mission to Tokyo Jupiter has left him confused and uncertain. His bond with his "mother," Maya, his allegiance to TERRA, the fate of the world--Ayato's mind is a torrent of conflicting memories and half-truths. Yet while the war for Tokyo's future rages on, Ayato keeps one this close to heart--his resolution to protect his childhood friend Reika.
But now TERRA has a new weapon in its arsenal--the Vermillion fighters. Will these giant robots make Ayato's RahXephon obsolete? Or is Ayato TERRA's only true means of defeating the MU?

Review- This is a great end to the manga version of RahXephon. Ayato has learned that his mother will do anything to remake the world of the MU and he has to choose what he is doing to do next. The blurb on the back makes it sound like the Vermillion mechas can handle the MU's robots when that is seen to not be true very quickly. The heart of the story is Reika finally finding happiness and thus the missing part of the RahXephon's soul is returned to it. With the RahXephon now whole the world can be reborn into something else with only Ayato has the guide. I found the ending to be moving with Ayato choosing what he believed Reika would have wanted and in doing so they were reborn into the new world. For a three volume series, RahXephon did a lot of work in story and character building and I really enjoyed it.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.