Dogs: Bullets & Carnage

Dogs: Bullets & Carnage is among the top-tier action-packed manga out there. The artwork and illustrations are nothing short of epic, jaw-dropping even, especially if you're into themes of human manipulation. This is a must-read with a storyline so tantalizingly juicy that it blends seamlessly with the adrenaline-pumping, action-packed scenes.

Moreover, this masterpiece features some slick gunplay, from swords to daggers; whatever weapon you fancy, rest assured you'll see it utilized in ways like never before.

There's also an anime OVA for this manga series, which I found to be just okay. Considering how phenomenal the manga is, I felt the OVA could have been much better executed.

Dogs: Bullets & Carnage is Japan's take on Frank Miller's Sin City. From gripping gunfights, the artistry of sword slashing, to the intricate background stories of each lead character that intertwine with one another, Dogs: B&C is a manga feast for any fan of the action/seinen genre. I first stumbled upon this manga after watching Dogs: Stray Dogs Howling in the Dark (an OVA I highly recommend if you'd like more background on each character in the Dogs universe and also serves as a prequel to this manga). The OVA piqued my interest enough to read this manga, and I'm glad I did! The character development is excellent, as you get glimpses into each main character's past, woven together like threads in a tapestry, ultimately forming a crew of roughnecks who won't hesitate to slit your throat or blow out your kneecaps if you cross them (and these are our heroes we're talking about). Set in an apocalyptic world where mutants, gangs, violence, murder, and failed science experiments collide, Dogs: B&C is a worthwhile read...just a heads-up, definitely not for the faint-hearted who are squeamish about blood and verbal violence.

Dogs: Bullets & Carnage

Do you have a manga that you would consider the best one you've read so far? I do.

"Dogs: B&C," created by Miwa Shirow, is, in my opinion, unlike any other manga I've encountered. It's an incredibly atmospheric, dark, distinctive sci-fi series with its own unique style. The artwork is absolutely extraordinary, and I truly mean it.

The story focuses on four main characters: Haine, Naoto, Badou, and Mihai. Each of them has an inseparable connection to the setting where this history unfolds—an underground city filled with all sorts of people and things. One thing is certain about this place—it's dangerous. Mafia families, police, and people with animal genes interact, creating an exceptional atmosphere permeated with the smell of blood, gunpowder, and death. But there's more. Beneath the city lies the rumored deepest level of the underground, where nothing good awaits you.

The characters—oh boy. Four distinct personalities with pasts tied to the secret underground. I won't reveal too much about their backstories because discovering them while reading is much more enjoyable. Their personalities are neither stereotypical nor trivial. Each character has their own motivation to live and fight when necessary. Mihai—a calm old man who used to be a professional killer now only kills when there's no other way to protect those around him. Badou—an easy-going guy who becomes deadly without cigarettes, sometimes working with Haine. Naoto—due to some terrifying events, she lost her childhood memories and was raised and trained by a sword master from the underground. For me, she's one of the most fascinating female characters in manga. Finally, Haine—with white hair and superhuman combat abilities as a reminder of his traumatic childhood.

The plot is quite complex and full of unanswered questions. Gradually, we learn more about our characters, but there's still much left to uncover. It's really hard to predict where it's going, and I think that unpredictability is undoubtedly a strength of this manga.

The art—I'll be blunt. I've never seen a better-drawn manga. The characters are perfectly designed. The real fun begins during the fighting scenes. They're dynamic yet clear and easy to follow. Fights in this manga are delightful. Many times, I found myself just staring at some panels with my jaw dropped. I must mention that the backgrounds are truly minimalistic. Some might consider it a waste of space, but for me, it helps to focus solely on the characters.

The primary reason for writing this review is to encourage MAL users to give "Dogs: Bullets & Carnage" a try. If you're looking for something high-level, something different that offers great enjoyment, you've probably found it right now. This is just my subjective opinion, but "Dogs: B&C" is definitely worth reading.

"Living in a city teeming with diversity, yet only a handful are privy to its hidden underworld brimming with gunfights, intense blade duels, rich backstories, and let's not forget the battle-crazed twin lolitas."

One standout feature of this manga is Shirow Miwa’s distinctive art style and dynamic action sequences.

As I delved deeper into the story, I unraveled the histories of each main character, understanding their motivations and how they ended up where they are. This allows readers to form connections with their relationships and personal goals.

If you're a fan of action-packed narratives, a dash of humor, and an element of mystery, then "Dogs: Bullets & Carnage" is a must-read. Don't miss out on the prequel one-shot, "Dogs," either.

Knowing the manga from which the cover of Nightcore - My Demons is derived brings joy. However, reading this manga won't necessarily fill you with joy. Quite the contrary: it might leave you feeling indifferent. It's a shame because I don't regret having read it. There are plenty of good aspects to remember, but memories tend to idealize things, and reality will remind you that it wasn't as spectacular as you might recall. I see it as a product born from an author's passion, someone who had many cool ideas but fell short in execution.

Talking about the author, Shirow Miwa is an absolute killer illustrator. The characters not only look good; they are dripping with style. Music references (Badou Nails and Heine Rammsteiner have surnames inspired by Rammstein and Nine Inch Nails) and weaponry details (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 those characters. Honestly, I would recommend you Google his art regardless of whether you want to read Dogs or not. His work oozes style you can't get enough of.

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

In an odd way, these flaws add depth to the main cast. They might ultimately be one-dimensional, but the lack of focus in the story fleshes 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 how to be fun. The main complaint is that some characters are given more spotlight than others, becoming 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, sometimes to the point of feeling minimalistic. It doesn't want to waste time or detail on anything but the action at hand. When it works, it's incredible; it gives a noir feel to some parts. But, unfortunately, it often doesn't land. It can feel lazy and uninspired, especially when the story drags 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's amazing, stylish in the true sense of the word. But most of the time, it just becomes a monotonous exchange of blows without suspense or risk. There's no sense of danger even when cataclysmic phenomena occur. The lack of danger waters down the conflict. And if it's not the lack of danger, it's the dumb humor that kills the vibe.

A great majority of this work feels like a chore to read. There's just so much talking, cheap ways to end conflicts, 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 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 satisfy 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.

A seinen with a gripping story that's also different from others. What more could I ever ask for, right?

Spoilers ahead!

Dogs: Bullets & Carnage, a manga where the story seems so very simple... in actuality, when you get far enough, it can confuse you. That's how complex it can get and it's not loopholes or anything of that sort. It's the kind of story that confuses you and makes sense when things are revealed later. At first it's pretty linear, and then what's this? Plot twists? A lot of them? Secrets being revealed? Oh what are its readers to do. DBC follows Haine, a guy anyone with common sense wouldn't wanna cross paths with. Well, if you don't know him well enough that is. He hangs around a church of all places, and has a bad past. He wants to get to the mysterious, ominous, "underground" to finally put down the evil female scientist, Angelika, who created him. He also wants to find out more of his past, and is joined by Badou, a "mellow-like" chain smoker. Joining them are Mihai, an old man who knows his combat, and the beautiful "sword maiden" Naoto. These four are the main protagonists, and the manga follows their past and futures.

The story's great, yes. However, past halfway, it starts to slow down and drag around a bit, but immediately pick up later. Anyone who can really appreciate the different world and mood this manga has to offer wouldn't wanna miss out on it.

Ah, the art. The kind of famous yet underrated mangaka Miwa Shirow. He's done work for the notable band Supercell, after already working on Dogs. His style has evolved so much, that it's amazing to see his progress. In the beginning, Dogs seems to be on the semi-realistic side, with detailed backgrounds and shadow. Halfway through this series, everything gets smoother, there are less backgrounds (which is hard to explain aesthetically, but it's pleasing and actually gives pages flair), and the characters become more well-defined. The most recent chapters have shown even more progress. Now he has a set defining style, and there are no backgrounds. Why doesn't he draw them? Let's see, he's a mangaka drawing detailed clothing wrinkles, puts in a lot of inking, works for Supercell, AND has no assistants. All in all, its become a part of his amazing style, and I respect him for it a good deal.

The characters of DBC are great. They're colorful and complement each other. Haine is interesting in that he has a lot to him, and receives character growth. He changes throughout the manga, and improves. He's broken all over mentally and physically, with the added case of a fear of women. This is partially from Angelika who experimented on him, and accidentally killing a sister-like female friend, Lily. His terrible past makes him anti-social (honestly you can't really blame him), and added violent tendencies as he was experimented on. Heck, there's "someone else" inside of him. His fear puts him at odds with our main female protagonist Naoto, who is also on the quiet side. Beautiful, short-haired, and slender, she suffers from a bad case of amnesia. Haine, coming from the infamous underground, is followed for information. Naoto is strong physically, emotionally guarded, level-headed, and the fact that she doesn't give up hounding Haine displeased him greatly. Through time, they accept one another, are able to work together, and walk side by side.

Badou, the seemingly simple and lazy smoker. Long red hair, and an eyepatch. This guy just seems so harmless, huh? WRONG. No smokes? He's going to destroy everything on the whole block, no joke. Aside from that, a sort of nervous, and comic relief character. He's easygoing and pretty friendly, even if he can be kind of crude. An information broker with many sides to him. Does a bunch of odd jobs for cash and info. Haine's "friend."

Of course we can't forget Mihai. A quiet older man, who seems to have a tragic past, which he did indeed have, just humbly hanging around a certain cafe, drinking coffee. Right. He can fight with his fists, and can shoot well. A force to be reckoned with. Sort of wise, and a nice person. This guy is not what he seems, however. Yes, he's nice, but he can be deadly serious if he wanted to be.

Dogs: Bullets & Carnage is actually my favorite manga. How? The story's great, the art's great, and these are my favorite characters; Haine and Naoto, if you noticed that. All by an artist I respect. What else could I say? Of course I enjoy this manga.

This manga's score overall is a 9. A point docked down for the story's pacing, which is a very big deal when a manga loses your interest for a time, even if it's short. It's not quick in your face ground-breaking, but it's a slow ground-breaking. You just don't realize how good it really is until later.