The shōnen anti-narcotic detective mystery Switch continues with volume 12. This volume continues the back-story of sixteen years ago with Akimune “Aki” Narita when he was a gumshoe. When the flashback finally ends, the story with Kai Eto and Hal Kurabayashi continues with Aki explaining how the events in the flashback probably link with the drug Seed. While this is going on, the last of the known Seed drug dealers attempt an enforced suicide, leaving the field clear for a civil war against the drug cartel who supplies Seed.
Most of the volume focuses on the flashback with Aki and Yoshiaki Saiga. The chapters explore the trans-formative case for Aki; it dealt with the drug Switch which is eerily similar to the drug Seed used during the story's present day. The tragedy that unfolds for the younger Aki, an eager rookie, and the subsequent treatment by his peers helps transform him into the jaded detective. After we return to the present we learn about a civil war developing within one of the drug cartels, the one that is behind Seed.
Overview:
If there are works that can be said to depict the continual circular nature of life, volume 12 of Switch would be one of the better ones. Here we have Saiga, the veteran detective in the flashback, who started out like the young Aki. However, after going to crime scene after crime scene, a lot of them brutal murders, his faith in humanity turns into disgust and eventually loathing. To escape, Saiga turns to drugs—specifically Switch (pre-Seed drug)—which he acquires from a drug cartel as a favor for looking the other way. With revelation and Saiga's subsequent death, Aki's innocent outlook becomes tarnished and the events that unfold because of it jade his outlook upon humanity with similar disgust as Saiga, but for different reasons; he is continually bounced about and his peers keep their distance from him, so that he takes up smoking to help him escape. The parallel comes to a final conclusion in two two-page spreads that are nearly identical. One has a young Aki meeting up with Saiga and his partner, Masataka Hiki, while the second one has an older Aki meeting up with Eto and Hal. The artwork is almost identical; it is so close I had to do a double-take and at first couldn't tell the difference. Only when I studied the two images in detail could I see the difference.
That brings me to the artwork. The two scenes with Aki mentioned previously show why Nakamura Tomomi's artwork can be confusing to a new reader; at times it is intentional. Eto is clearly reminiscent of Saiga and Hal moreso with Hiki because they are father and son. Given Tomomi's use of stark contrasts with light and dark in her artwork and the overall higher quantity of dark colors it helps set the mood of the volume much better. This volume does not contain any happy endings. The few panels that are a bit lighter have far less negative events than those with more black. The cover art by Saki Otoh is a bit more of a mixed bag. While it's a quality piece, its relevance to what most of the volume is about, Aki and Saiga's relationship, isn't shown and the artwork itself looks like it would fit better on a shōjo manga.
While Switch volume 12 keeps things interesting enough so you'll want to read the next volume, I have to admit that nothing really happens. This volume is entirely setup and very little action or resolution. This, along with the cover art, may put off some readers. However, it's still a good read when you need to pass time, such as waiting in the doctor's office.
ComicsOnline gives Switch volume 12 2.5 out of 5 jaded detectives.
