Shy, the superheroine with the sickly shyness, continues to climb the ladder of popularity since her arrival at Kana in January 2021. Skilfully mixing shônen spirit and comic book inspiration, Bukimi Miki's work is resolutely a manga to follow. Like the rise of the previous volumes, this volume 8 refuses to do in lace and confronts Teru and his partners with the most decisive and difficult fight they have had to lead.
Breaking the dome
The terrible Amalarilk organization carried out its threats. Tokyo is now enclosed under a gigantic black dome, in which the population seems to be gradually losing its humanity. The heroes, hoping to curb the situation, split into two groups. While Century, the American hero, leads the forces outside the dome, Shy takes the lead of the team that enters it, thanks to the help of Ai Tennōji, the young shinobi. Unfortunately, their opponents also seem to have moved up a gear and the group quickly finds itself separated. Even worse, Abyss, after absorbing her sister Ai, reveals a monstrous power! Shy, accompanied by the Pure Heart blade, will have to surpass herself to hope to defeat her!
Shy, Volume 8: The Urgency of Combat, The Way of the Sabre
If some still doubted Bukimi Miki's ability to deliver a powerful and profound narrative, this volume 8 should remove any ambiguity. Indeed, both graphically and narratively, it is a flood of action, impeccable accuracy and multiple references. Thus, in the first part, we have the impression of being immersed in the heart of one of the samurai films that have made the reputation of Japanese filmmakers. The aesthetics of the dialogue scenes as well as the fights is almost hypnotic. As in any self-respecting shônen , Shy will have to draw from her the strength to understand her opponent to defeat her. She will be able to count on Pure Heart, Ai's katana. Indeed, this unusual blade becomes almost sacred, confronting the aptly named Spirit of Nothingness, Mai's weapon aka Abyss. So much for a symbolic first, which is however not Manichean. Because if their name seems to reflect the use that is made of them, these katanas are actually directly connected to the heart of the person who handles them. Throughout this intense fight, Bukimi Miki distills discreet references that will speak to martial arts enthusiasts, and that are embodied in evocative chapter titles. The "state of non-self" then directly echoes the "munen muso" of Miyamoto Musashi and the "indomitable spirit" of Takuan Soho, as well as the ancestral precepts of Buddhism. The author thus inscribes his heroine in the right line of the greatest samurai. And young Shy will need this fighting spirit, both determined and open to the world, to face her opponent in the waters of the Styx.
Shy : fade to black and burst of light
While Shy's fight against Abyss dazzles us with its graphic virtuosity and evocative power, Bukimi Miki abruptly breaks the time of action to immerse us in the memories of fallen shinobi. Indeed, reinforcing total compassion for others, the young heroine manages to literally enter the heart of it. This is an opportunity to look into the past of the two shinobi sisters, but this time from Mai's point of view. And this counterpoint is striking in its delicacy as well as its brutality. Thus, we discover the whole point of tradition that Mai carried on her shoulders. His innate talents for ninjutsu led his superiors to entrust him with bloody missions. The zeal of these same superiors will lead Mai to see her deep personality and the burdens incumbent upon her confront in her heart, gradually pushing her to madness. From his escape from the village of Sôga to the fight at the top of a tower of the Japanese capital, his entire journey reflects this inextricable and destructive reality, at the origin of a tyrannical Superego that will push Mai to become Abyss. However, thanks to her meeting with Shy, the young shinobi will develop a better awareness of herself. Despite the crimes she accuses herself of, she will realize that redemption is possible and that she is strangely close to renunciation. Bukimi Miki uses his narrative power to transform a shônen-style cliché (the bad guy becomes nice after an examination of conscience) and pull it up. A new crack then appears in the canvas that enclosed Amalarilk's limbs. Will it be enough to derail their plan? Nothing is less certain, since Foufou, Furax and the priestess Angèle do not intend to let the heroes get away with it. The mangaka always adds more depth to his antagonists, through a furious monologue of the dragon-boy but also via discreet but lively facial expressions. More than a fight between heroes and villains, between light and shadow, these are two visions of the world that collide, each showing the other its flaws. Will despair lead to questioning? If the only just victory is that which does not make the vanquished, what springs does it require? The answer in the next volume, in bookstores on May 27th! In conclusion, this eighth volume of the Shy series continues and deepens the narrative shift made in the previous opus. Like the covers, the story becomes darker, and its stakes become more serious. Skilfully mixing cinematographic, literary and aesthetic references, Bukimi Miki once again takes our breath away with his talent.
