Released in Japan on May 8, 1996, the latest installment of Takada Yuzo's SAZAN EYES series is a real "eye opener" (pun intended), with Takada doing an excellent job as usual in both story and art work. Also, as a note to fans of the series, I will be updating current events to the series, so naturally, spoilers will follow.
The story currently is set a year or two after the second series of OAV episodes, which end at about volume 6 or 7. For then until volume 22, many things have happened. Yakumo has become much more powerful and skilled than what he will be by the end of the new OAV series. Also, he has gained some more abilities as well as new allies in the forms of the mystic Han, the shape-changing Youko, and a few others. Further, a new set of powerful enemies have emerged to follow Benares, such as Talisman and D.D. However, in a recent battle that blew apart a significant portion of Shinjuku (Tokyo), Yakumo helped his enemies out after he defeated them, and in exchange for a promise from Benares not to tell them that Yakumo saved their lives, Yakumo agreed to go into deep space -- where Benares sent the remaining Sanjiyan (Triclops) -- in an attempt to retrieve the last surviving member of that race so that Pai, Kaiyanwan and this third Sanjiyan can use the Statue of Humanity (which takes three Sanjiyan to operate).
Yakumo's quest takes him and Pai (whose consciousness was placed in a vessel made by a magician) to the land of Andaka, deep in space. The Sanjiyan who awaits there has created a little colony of beings -- all of whom just happen to be beautiful females who resemble elves -- to protect her and be her "family" while she awaits for someone to take her back to Earth to fulfill the prophesy. This Sanjiyan (her name is "Ushyas") lives in the heart of the colony, protected by scores of defenses all of which are very difficult to get past with a group of trained warriors, much less alone. So, in order to fulfill the prophecy, Yakumo, Ruru (a newfound alien friend), Negurouni, Kiilu (Andaka natives) and a few crack Andaka troops travel to the core of Andaka (called Neraka) to retrieve Ushyas. Little do they know what awaits them when they get there.
As I have said before, this volume has great artwork -- especially when compared to the beginning of this series. Of course, the storytelling is just as good as ever, if not better. In just a few pages, Takada can give real depth to what would normally be simple characters, yet keep the story moving and mix it with action to keep readers interested. That alone would be enough if it weren't for the fact that the characters are almost as alive as any normal guy walking down the street and that the series really entertains. Naturally, I wholeheartedly suggest this if one is into manga, despite the length of the series. Definitely worth the ¥520 a volume, although I think it would be worth that at twice the price.

--Orin Starchaser