Based on a video game and a subsequent animated TV series, both created by Nightow (Trigun
), this volume recounts the first six episodes using screen captures from the anime. The series features Brandon Heat—aka Beyond the Grave—an undead gunman hell-bent on revenging himself against Millennion, an organized crime syndicate which favors undead monsters as enforcers, lead by criminal mastermind Harry Mac Dowel, once Heath's best friend. This touches off a gangster/crime story full of double crosses and showdowns at gunpoint. All of these elements could add up to an entertaining piece of work in more competent hands, but the material's video game origins leave readers feeling as though they were watching someone else playing the source game. The full-color art is taken directly from the anime and is clean and attractive without being particularly interesting. Considering the story's intent, it is surprisingly short on action and very long on panel after panel of blank-eyed talking heads. Fans may enjoy playing the video game more. (Apr.)
