Summary
No matter how much of an “anime-only” a fan is, there is a point where the dam breaks, and they finally make their high-school English professors happy for once by deciding to read a book. Of course,Bungo Stray Dogsalready makes fine reading propaganda, but series author Kafka Asagiri wrote a few novels of his own -Storm Bringerbeing one of the most beloved.
Released in 2021,Storm Bringeris the ninthBungolight novel, the eighth written by Asagiri himself, and it’s the sequel to 2019’sDazai, Chuuya, Age Fifteen, the story of how the two titular characters met. It’s set one year after that previous novel, and anime fans who have seen episodes 26-28 - the first three of Season 3 - can jump into this novel with little issue.
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Chuuya Versus The King of Assassins
It’s been one year since Chuuya Nakahara was betrayed and joined the Port Mafia in a last-ditch effort to save his former friends. Now he’s ina race against his rival, Osamu Dazai, to see who can rise to the rank of executive first, and so that he can acquire information about who he really is and where he comes from. Chuuya has made new friends and has found a place in the Mafia, though he might not be the first to admit to either of those two facts.
First impressions are strong thanks to Chuuya’s interactions with the Flags, a group of young men who hold high positions in the Port Mafia in spite of their age. They’re all new characters, but it doesn’t take long for them to win the reader’s heart. A year’s worth of history between them is easily felt in just a handful of pages, just as Chuuya is made to realize how important these guys have become to him after receiving a thoughtful gift.
It’s not long before Chuuya’s one-year employment celebration is broken up, though. Adam Frankenstein,an A.I. detective from Europe, and the story’s deuteragonist, wants Chuuya’s cooperation in an investigation. It’s here that his world is torn asunder by one Paul Verlaine, the king of assassins. True to his name, he’s a gifted individual who has committed numerous high-profile assassinations, leaving a unique calling card at every scene.
Worst of all, he claims to be Chuuya’s “brother,” and won’t stop until Chuuya comes with him, even if it means killing everyone who has given him a reason to stay in Japan. After a violent first encounter with him, setting the tone for the battle to come, the story primarily revolves around Chuuya, Adam, and returningfrom the previous novel, Buichirou Shirase.
It begins as a race against time to figure out who Verlaine is targeting and get to them before he does, all while figuring out how to defeat him. But between Dazai’s typical scheming in the background and some other new faces, it seems to switch gears halfway through, keeping the reader on their toes, and presenting something far crazier.
“Would You Like To Hear An Android Joke?”
Adam is a fascinating character to watch unfold across the novel because despite how lovable he is by the end, the “fish out of water” trope is a rather tired one. He’s an android who doesn’t understand humans or social mores and who unapologetically espouses how much better robots are than humans with the irony practically dripping from the ink on the page.
However,like everygoodfish out of water story, Adam definitely finds his footing. His deadpan analytical narration reveals a compelling character as his logical thought process leads to some satisfying and genuinely funny moments. He’s the only character with a first-person narration and it actively enhances his character. A great example of this is his interactions with Shirase.
When Shirase first appeared, he wasn’t the most lovable character. He jumped to conclusions when he found out Chuuya was temporarily partnering with Dazai, and it led to their falling out. One could say thatStorm Bringerattempts to redeem Shirase in a way, but not without first fully embracing what a tool he can be. If anything,this story exacerbates his most annoying qualities, but thankfully, there is some value to this.
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Shirase is portrayed as a kid who acts like he’s in charge and has all the answers but is really just immature and pretty weak. The wound between him and Chuuya is entirely emotional, wrapped up in misunderstandings and irrational grudges. It’s for this reason that Adam is the perfect counter to him. He’s able to cut through the immature pride keeping Shirase from acknowledging his responsibility for what has happened to him.
In the end, it’s not as though Shirase will be topping any fan-favorite lists, but he gets a satisfying arc that sees him and Chuuya work through their issues from the previous story. This is part ofwhy Adam is such a great character, and why the occasional cringe of a fish out of water story can be worth it. Asagiri didn’t just make a robot character because they’re cool but because Adam’s inclusion ties in directly with the story’s core themes.
More Than A Line Of Code
The central narrative is about Chuuya figuring out if he is human or not and far more importantly, determining whether it even matters.Storm Bringerhas some of the darkest moments in the series yet, and Chuuya’s strength in the face of these horrors and other revelations is what makes him such a powerful protagonist. It’s about him deciding for himself what his truth is, regardless of the answers that he finds.
To that end, the core themes are remarkably consistent through every story beat and character. Who better to join Chuuya on his journey to discover his origin than a straight-up robot?And who better to play the villainthan a mirror image of him who has accepted his lack of humanity? Verlaine is a fine villain, but it’s his tragic past with Arthur Rimbaud that truly captivates and even more so when one understands the real-life Verlaine’s romance with Rimbaud.
Finally,Storm Bringermight have one of the most creative and elaborate climaxes in any story that Asagiri has written. It’s one that exemplifies Dazai’s intellect as well as the sheer might and skill of the Port Mafia, employing both established Mafiosi and some new characters to make things all the more chaotic. Best of all, readers get to witness Chuuya’s final transformation into the character the fandom fell in love with way back when he was introduced.
Bungo Stray Dogs: Storm Bringeris Asagiri’s longest novel yet and as many fans will attest, it’s one of his best. Of all the stories yet to be animated, this isthe one that is begging to be adaptedthe most. Its climax alone demands a theatrical treatment. It is a moving piece that places Chuuya firmly as one of the story’s greatest characters. Overall, it is an essential and engrossing read for every fan of the series.
Bungo Stray Dogs: Storm Bringer is published in North America through Yen Press and is available through most major online book retailers.
