Tokkô, Vol. 1

Five years ago, Ranmaru Shindo survived the mass murder of almost everyone living in his apartment complex, including his parents. Now, as a recent graduate of the police academy, Ranmaru has vowed to solve the still-open massacre case, although he initially has no way of knowing that his foes are demonic or that he'll need more than just excellent detective skills to survive (let alone avenge his parents' deaths). Ranmaru is drawn to the covert Tokkô section of his own elite police force, comprised of agents who suddenly appear in the middle of conflicts, wipe out zombies with their swords, and then cover up any traces of either the attack or their own existence. Ranmaru soon discovers that one of the Tokkô agents—Rokujo Sakura—is both a fellow massacre survivor and a haunting figure in his own nightmares. Rokujo soon lets Ranmaru in on the biggest surprise: the force behind the original bloodbath is now hunting all survivors. From the creator of GTO and Rose Hip Zero, Tokkô switches between snarky banter and supernatural evil, while also plumbing the horrors of personal loss. The good-natured joking between the characters lightens what could have been a very grim story, yet the raw emotions and sense of danger lend emotional weight to the proceedings. Although “unrated,” the dismemberment, bits of fan service, and—in the English dub on this dual-language disc—frequent swearing, are all in keeping with a 17-up rating. Compiling the first five episodes, DVD extras include an excerpt from a cast forum, an image gallery, and a screensaver. Highly recommended. [Note: Tokkô, Vol. 2 is slated for release on May 15.] Aud: P. (R. Brenner)