Melon rules. I love these villains.

This might be my new favorite volume of this series.

Beastars has such an incredible premise, it’s remarkable that the author is able to hit the mark every single issue and go above and beyond sometimes. This is one of those times where every single scene in this volume was so good I wanted it to be double the length!

There’s so much happening here. The showdown between Legoshi and Melon is tense and wonderful. Melon is fucked up and has proven himself to be beyond saving and I adore the character so much. Juno and Louis are a strange but wonderful pairing. Both of them are so ridiculously overdramatic, I love it. Louis remains the king of my heart.

We also get more of Legoshi’s family history as he talks to his mother, who, despite being dead, is able to give him some clarity on his childhood. The allegories in this series are beautifully done, and watching the rise of the movements for purebred and interspecies relationships is so on the nose it’s uncomfortable. I love Legoshi and Juno bonding about having romantic feelings for herbivores and how to control themselves as well. Legoshi is such a great character who only feels more fleshed out with every volume. My favorite thing about Legoshi is although he is incredibly strong, determined, and iron-willed, he truly makes it out of dangerous situations because of his kindness and the friendships he’s struck up with others. He’s a fascinating character study.

I am infinitely interested in the new Kopi Luwak gang! The sneak peek of their leader had me cackling and I can already tell I will be a fan. We’re finally getting some real villains in this series (aside from society as a whole) and I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here.

Title: Beastars (Vol. 16)
Author: Paru Itagaki
Format: Paperback
Pages: 208
ISBN: 9781974719952

Three Descriptors: Captivating, Dark, Dramatic