Dogs: Bullets & Carnage
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese manga
series by Shirow Miwa
. The manga was first published in 2001 as Dogs: Stray Dogs Howling in the Dark. In 2005, the series began serialization in the manga magazine Ultra Jump
as Dogs: Bullets & Carnage, which continues the storyline. The first part of the series has been adapted into a four-episode OVA by david production
.
The main storyline is now being presented in the manga and continues the adventures of the four main characters. In August 2008, Viz Media
announced that it has licensed the manga series and expects to be releasing it in April 2009. The series took a short hiatus and returned in the March issue of Ultra Jump. A one-shot called Dogs: Hardcore Twins introduces Luki and Noki, as they are sent out to capture a former local gang-boss. Another one-shot called M.M.M. Works Annex Featuring Badō Nails details a brief glimpse into Badou's past.
and featuring the same voice cast as that of the drama CD. It will adapt the prequel manga series, Dogs: Stray Dogs Howling in the Dark, with the first DVD volume, scheduled for release on May 19, 2009, featuring Weepy Old Killer and Gun Smoker, and the second DVD volume, slated on May 29, 2009 (limited release) & July 17, 2009 (wide release), featuring Blade Maiden and Stray Dogs Howling in the Dark.
stated that Shirow Miwa raised "gunplay to the level of art" and that the loosely connected characters "provide the backdrop for mouth-watering eye candy". He also states that the "bent-perspective and striking layouts" will dazzle the reader "with split-second bullet-time acrobats". The most striking aspect is how the sparse backgrounds and lack of special effects make each scene more effective because the critical moments have a "frozen in time" quality more effective than a comic book's attempt to capture motion in a still frame. Santos also credits Miwa's ability to "craft a manga storyline about an old man who's the very opposite of a spunky teenage protagonist". However, Santos believes it is another "pompous, preening '_____ with guns' series" and that it is hard to find any substance of artistry when the Miwa is "cycling through all the usual tough-guy tropes". The characters fall into clichés and the entire series is "cliché city". He believes that the stories are too loosely connected. Even though the characters encounter each other eventually, it is "not the same thing as actually kicking off a storyline together".
Leroy Douresseaux of Comic Book Bin stated the volume is "a stylishly violent crime thriller in the vein of Asian film-influenced movies like Pulp Fiction
and The Matrix" and that Miwa's art reflects the elegance such a manga needs. He thought that the characters dress well and that most of characters "sport top of the line hair styles". The series is not empty either. Douresseaux called the series "visually sharp" and said that it bears some weight behind each swing. He believes that Garth Ennis
fans and fans of violent anime will like the series.
Manga Recon's Ken Haley stated that although all four stories in the volume were enjoyable and entertaining, the fourth story involving Heine "feels cut off and adrift from the other three" because it incorporated science fiction
elements the other three did not hint at. He felt that Miwa's artwork is engaging and the characters designs are interesting and "contemporary with a vague hint of industrial
/goth
at times". Miwa's use of heavy blacks and stark whites reminded Haley of Shou Tajima
, illustrator of Multiple Personality Detective Psycho, although there is no further similarity. He says that Miwa's style is dynamic and the action sequences are "fast-paced and kinetic" because of liberal use of extreme depth cues, an artistic technique which exaggerates the sense of distance. However, the technique does seem a bit overused as it is used in every action sequence, causing it to lose impact. Haley does entertain the idea Miwa used the technique in a satirical
manner and if so, it worked. He praises the lack of backgrounds as they give the stories a "universal feeling" and allows them to be set in any modern-day city. However, the lack of backgrounds means that important setting information needs to be expressed through dialogue. Despite this, Haley is curious to see what will happen next and how the plots will connect to one another.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series by Shirow Miwa
Shirow Miwa
is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator. He is best known as the writer and artist for the Dogs manga series, but has also contributed illustrations to various tribute books, and magazines, including Square Enix's Monthly Shōnen Gangan. Miwa sometimes publishes under the circle name of m.m.m...
. The manga was first published in 2001 as Dogs: Stray Dogs Howling in the Dark. In 2005, the series began serialization in the manga magazine Ultra Jump
Ultra Jump
is a Japanese monthly seinen manga magazine published by Shueisha under the Jump line of magazines. Originally, the magazine was a special issue of Weekly Young Jump which first issued in 1995. On October 19 of 1999, the special issue became the new monthly publication Ultra Jump...
as Dogs: Bullets & Carnage, which continues the storyline. The first part of the series has been adapted into a four-episode OVA by david production
David Production
is a Japanese animation studio. Its name has also been typeset as david production.The company was founded by former Gonzo president and producer Kōji Kajita and fellow producer Taito Okiura in September 2007 upon having left Gonzo...
.
Plot
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where violence, crime, genetic manipulation and other scientific experiments have become common, the story focuses on four main characters who, through a series of coincidences, meet as they search for a way "below", looking for answers to their individual pasts.Manga
The manga originally began with : a oneshot that was succeeded by Dogs: Bullets & Carnage. The manga now serves as a prequel to Dogs: Bullets & Carnage. The manga introduces the four main characters and the majority of the support characters in four chapters that are mostly independent of each other.The main storyline is now being presented in the manga and continues the adventures of the four main characters. In August 2008, Viz Media
VIZ Media
VIZ Media, LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, is an anime, manga, and Japanese entertainment company. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ LLC and ShoPro Entertainment merged to form the current VIZ Media LLC, which is jointly owned by Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha, and...
announced that it has licensed the manga series and expects to be releasing it in April 2009. The series took a short hiatus and returned in the March issue of Ultra Jump. A one-shot called Dogs: Hardcore Twins introduces Luki and Noki, as they are sent out to capture a former local gang-boss. Another one-shot called M.M.M. Works Annex Featuring Badō Nails details a brief glimpse into Badou's past.
Drama CD
The audio presentation of the original Dogs volume, introducing the main characters. It was released in 2007.Anime
On November 19, 2008, it was announced in Ultra Jump that Dogs would be adapted into a four-episode anime OVA series, produced by David ProductionDavid Production
is a Japanese animation studio. Its name has also been typeset as david production.The company was founded by former Gonzo president and producer Kōji Kajita and fellow producer Taito Okiura in September 2007 upon having left Gonzo...
and featuring the same voice cast as that of the drama CD. It will adapt the prequel manga series, Dogs: Stray Dogs Howling in the Dark, with the first DVD volume, scheduled for release on May 19, 2009, featuring Weepy Old Killer and Gun Smoker, and the second DVD volume, slated on May 29, 2009 (limited release) & July 17, 2009 (wide release), featuring Blade Maiden and Stray Dogs Howling in the Dark.
Reception
Carlo Santos of Anime News NetworkAnime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
stated that Shirow Miwa raised "gunplay to the level of art" and that the loosely connected characters "provide the backdrop for mouth-watering eye candy". He also states that the "bent-perspective and striking layouts" will dazzle the reader "with split-second bullet-time acrobats". The most striking aspect is how the sparse backgrounds and lack of special effects make each scene more effective because the critical moments have a "frozen in time" quality more effective than a comic book's attempt to capture motion in a still frame. Santos also credits Miwa's ability to "craft a manga storyline about an old man who's the very opposite of a spunky teenage protagonist". However, Santos believes it is another "pompous, preening '_____ with guns' series" and that it is hard to find any substance of artistry when the Miwa is "cycling through all the usual tough-guy tropes". The characters fall into clichés and the entire series is "cliché city". He believes that the stories are too loosely connected. Even though the characters encounter each other eventually, it is "not the same thing as actually kicking off a storyline together".
Leroy Douresseaux of Comic Book Bin stated the volume is "a stylishly violent crime thriller in the vein of Asian film-influenced movies like Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction (film)
Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote its screenplay with Roger Avary. The film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, ironic mix of humor and violence, nonlinear storyline, and host of cinematic allusions and pop culture references...
and The Matrix" and that Miwa's art reflects the elegance such a manga needs. He thought that the characters dress well and that most of characters "sport top of the line hair styles". The series is not empty either. Douresseaux called the series "visually sharp" and said that it bears some weight behind each swing. He believes that Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis is a Northern Irish comics writer, best known for the Vertigo series Preacher with artist Steve Dillon and his successful nine-year run on Marvel Comics' Punisher franchise...
fans and fans of violent anime will like the series.
Manga Recon's Ken Haley stated that although all four stories in the volume were enjoyable and entertaining, the fourth story involving Heine "feels cut off and adrift from the other three" because it incorporated science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
elements the other three did not hint at. He felt that Miwa's artwork is engaging and the characters designs are interesting and "contemporary with a vague hint of industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
/goth
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
at times". Miwa's use of heavy blacks and stark whites reminded Haley of Shou Tajima
Shou Tajima
, born February 7, 1966 in Saitama, Japan, is a manga illustrator and anime character designer. He has done character designs for the anime Kai Doh Maru, Otogi Zoshi, the CGI OVA Galerians: Rion, as well as Kill Bill Chapter 3: The Origin of O-Ren....
, illustrator of Multiple Personality Detective Psycho, although there is no further similarity. He says that Miwa's style is dynamic and the action sequences are "fast-paced and kinetic" because of liberal use of extreme depth cues, an artistic technique which exaggerates the sense of distance. However, the technique does seem a bit overused as it is used in every action sequence, causing it to lose impact. Haley does entertain the idea Miwa used the technique in a satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
manner and if so, it worked. He praises the lack of backgrounds as they give the stories a "universal feeling" and allows them to be set in any modern-day city. However, the lack of backgrounds means that important setting information needs to be expressed through dialogue. Despite this, Haley is curious to see what will happen next and how the plots will connect to one another.