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| image from MyAnimeList |
I wasn't surprised when anime viewers compared the spring series Jormungand to the film God of War that starred Nicholas Cage and Jared Leto.
While it's true that there are similar themes, starting with the concept of an arms dealer supplying weapons to warring nations and armed factions, the anime adaptation of Takahashi Keitaro's manga is a different creature on its own.
Jormungand chronicles the adventures of arms dealer Koko Hekmatyar and her team. Koko sells the weapons of HCLI, her father's shipping company, to different clients in Europe and Africa, whether they are armies, rebellion groups or militia, Her team, on the other hand, performs the various functions of keeping her safe and delivering the goods. Each member of her team has a specialty, whether in fighting, sniping, driving or setting up explosives. The latest addition to Koko's team is Jonah, a battle hardened child soldier who hates arms dealers but joins Koko in order to take revenge on the arms dealer who is responsible for the death of his family. The group encounters buyers who renege on their deals, competing arms dealers and law enforcement agencies, relying on their individual skills and Koko's leadership.
While the series focuses on Koko and Jonah for the most part, Jormungand is actually an ensemble piece. Although it did take all of the twelve episodes of its first season for me to become familiar with every member of Koko's team. Some, like knife fighter extraordinaire Valmet, second in command Lehm and sniper Lutz, get more screen time than others. Valmet, in particular, gets her own story line as she deals with her plans of revenge on the man who killed her entire UN peacekeeping squad and caused her to lose an eye years ago. The rest of the team is made up of driver Ugo, artillery expert Mao, former JSDF member Tojo, explosive expert Wiley and former Italian army intelligence officer R. The team is continuously pitted against dangerous situations, showing the audience that working as part of an arms dealing team can be hazardous to your health, not to mention your life. Audiences, mostly through Jonah, receive snippets regarding their lives outside of their occupation and histories prior to joining Koko.
The members of the team, Koko herself included, are always in good spirits and exhibit good humor at the expense of each other. Jonah is the most serious of the group, choosing not to smile in front of Koko, showing the audience the irony of how the one who should be capable of the most laughter is restrained by his experiences. On the other end of the spectrum, Koko is always smiling, even in the face of danger, and prone to emotional outbursts when faced with inconvenient situations. Yet, her smiling facade and childish demeanor make it difficult to gauge her real thoughts on an issue and why she chooses to sell weapons in the first place.
As expected because of its premise, Jormungand involves plenty of action sequences. And as unnerving as it can sometimes get when Jonah aims true and makes sound tactical judgement, the fast paced storytelling and the accompanying action are engaging and entertaining.
The series also leaves you wanting for more, especially when you get snippets that tease on Koko's real motives and Jonah's past, as well as the roles played by Koko's brother Kasper and their father Floyd. Jormungand's first season ends with closure for Valmet, an attempt to assassinate Koko and the entire team, and the threat of a betrayal by a fellow team member. While there are answers and resolutions, there are also new questions and challenges.
So, yes, you can bet that I'll be there to watch Jormungand's first episode of the second season this coming fall. You should be there, too.
Happy viewing!!Labels: Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Anime, Drama, Jormungand, Must-Watch, TV
