ES: Eternal Sabbath, Vol. 2

The second volume of this manga series fills in the entire backstory of hero Ryousuke Akiba and his ability to manipulate the minds of strangers. Sataki, a character introduced at the end of volume one, was a doctor in an experimental lab where Akiba and a new character, Isaac, were developed. As it turns out, Akiba and Isaac are genetically engineered human clones, their powers of mental manipulation a side effect of their incubation at the lab. But while Akiba attempts to blend in with human society, Isaac chooses to use his powers to hurt people. The story in this volume continues with the hunt for Isaac. Soryo's thriller is a well-paced, meticulously drawn manga that reads like a movie. The characters' inhibitions and doubts about each other play out as they struggle to trust and understand one another. While ES is best read as a series, Soryo's heavy level of detail makes volume two a more compelling read when partnered with volume one. With scenes of violence and some adult themes—genetic engineering, clones vs. humans—this is a sophisticated series best suited for the mature reader. (Sept.)