The tragic story of Ken Kaneki continues in Tokyo Ghoul volumes 2-4. Having spent some time as a ghoul Kaneki begins to have a relationship with other ghouls throughout Tokyo. Befriending Touka, Nishiki, and other ghouls throughout the city while also balancing his own human life with his friend Hide, Kaneki struggles to balance his two lives while also facing the dangerous side of the ghoul life.

Tokyo Ghoul is an 2011 seinen manga series by Sui Ishida. It is published by Shueisha and licensed by Viz Media. Volumes 1-4  are currently available in English in both print and digital format.

The tragic tale of Kaneki Ken.

Having been a long time fan of Tokyo Ghoul since it’s original release in Japan, I’m glad the series is getting just as popular overseas in America. With the manga getting translated at a rather fast past, it’s only a matter of time before the sequel “Tokyo Ghoul :re” makes it’s jump to America and other countries.  In volumes 2-4 of the original series, Kaneki struggles to balance his ghoul and human lives. He soon learns the dangers of being a ghoul as time progresses, making his life even more hellacious.

Kaneki’s first experience as a ghoul; desiring human flesh.

THE GOOD: Tokyo Ghoul’zs excellent writing brings some well paced story and direction for the multiple key characters of the featured in the series. The lighter moments showcasing the humanity of the ghouls really shine after a super gory action scene or chapter, and the pacing is excellently time.

The balance between man and monster.

THE BAD: There’s a lot of focus on the CCG in the later half of the series, often times it felt like too much. And again, I can’t stretch enough how this isn’t for the faint of heart, when the action in Tokyo Ghoul gets going, it gets seriously gory.

The gore in Tokyo Ghoul is brutal.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Tokyo Ghoul’s latest volumes continue the tragedy that is Ken Kaneki’s life. Going even further in the exploration of the ghoul world and how many try to blind into human society (many of which enjoying it), it provides some fun light hearted moments and interactions between ghouls and humans. The super violence and gore slowly increases in depth over time, which might be hard to look at for some readers. And there seemed to be a bit more focus on the CCG than necessary. Otaku Dome gives Tokyo Ghoul volume 2 an 80, volume 3  an 79, and volume 4 an 82 out of 100.