Rating: 5/5
The Rai series just keeps getting better for me. Rather than continuing the story from volume three, which is picked up in the separate 4001 A.D. story, this volume goes back to the beginning. It shows the birth of the first Rai, the role Rai has played in New Japan over the centuries, and a couple of other previous incarnations.
It also lays the groundwork for the entire series by showing how certain issues have come up repeatedly related to Father and his control over New Japan, as well as leading directly into the very first issue of the series. That could be confusing for some readers, but it actually does a great job explaining some of what happens early on.
I love the art. Cafu does a wonderful job with the characters and the environment. Clayton Crain's art on the rest of the series is fantastic, but Cafu is more than capable of picking up this part of the story. There are multiple panels that caught my attention because of how great they look, particularly involving Aboto, one of the former Rais.
While this doesn't tie directly to the 4001 A.D. miniseries, it provides a good deal of background for the setting that makes it worth reading. There are a lot of pieces that could be picked up and expanded in other books. A solid addition to the series.
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