Anime Vice Anime/Manga News

If you've been keeping up with VIZ's releases of the Black Lagoon manga, then you know the arc we're in: El Baile de la Muerte, the Dance of Death, featuring the return of deadly maid Roberta. I won't say more for fear of spoiling.

But it's a really cool, extremely violent and angry arc. And now it's going to be animated! Word from Moon Phase is that this third season of the Black Lagoon anime, to be titled BLACK LAGOON: Roberta's Blood Trail, will be released on five DVDs/Blu-Ray releases, the first of which is due out on July 17th.

I am a huge huge huge fan of Black Lagoon, so you bet your modern-day pirate booty I'm excited for the series. Here are several reasons why.

1. The Opening. Seriously, the bad Engrish combined with the really catchy but edgy style is awesome.
    
2. Revy + Rock forever. Yeah, I ship them. You want to fight about it? I'll sic Revy on you.
3. Sawyer the Cleaner. I don't think she has a big role in the arc, but any Sawyer is better than no Sawyer. This chainsaw-wielding gothic lolita mercenary-slash-meatpacker speaks through an Ultravoice because during some gig gone bad, her throat was slit. Man, Sawyer is awesome.


4. Roberta. View this image. It is all you need to know about Roberta.


If you want a jump start on this OVA, pick up volumes 6, 7, and 8 of the Black Lagoon manga, and then twiddle your thumbs until July 13th, when VIZ releases #9, which concludes the arc. Yum. And if you're not familiar with the show at all, but you love a good action series with some dark humor (and dark drama, for that matter)-- a little more adult and dark than, say, Bleach --you should really consider picking up FUNimation's box set (Right Stuf still has some of the individual releases too, but it'll be a lot more expensive that way).

Share your Black Lagoon love in the comments!