"Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail" Review: Intense action and deep characters

BLACK LAGOON Roberta's Blood Trail - The Vengeful Maid returns to terrify Roanapur

"BLACK LAGOON Roberta's Blood Trail" is the third installment of the OVA series based on the popular manga "BLACK LAGOON" by Hiroe Rei. A total of five episodes were released between 2010 and 2011, and the story is once again set in the city of vice called Roanapur, and follows the story of Roberta, a maid with overwhelming firepower and a desire for revenge. Taking advantage of the OVA format, this work delves deeper into the story and characters, making it a long-awaited sequel for fans.

story

The story of "BLACK LAGOON Roberta's Blood Trail" begins when the protagonist, Okajima Rokuro (aka Rock), gets caught up in an incident during a business trip in Southeast Asia and becomes a member of the villainous courier company "Lagoon Company." Rock races through the deep blue seas in the modified torpedo boat Black Lagoon with Revy, a female gunfighter nicknamed Dual Guns, his boss Dutch, and mechanic Benny.

Meanwhile, rumors are spreading that the maid "Roberta," who once shocked Roanapur by crushing everything that stood in her way with overwhelming firepower to save her master's kidnapped son, Garcia, has appeared in the city again. As the town becomes tense with no idea of ​​Roberta's whereabouts or purpose, Garcia and his other maid, Fabiola, visit Rock in pursuit of Roberta. The Colombian Cartel try to find out the situation from Fabiola. However, Fabiola, who appears quiet and polite at first glance, is also a heavily armed maid, just like Roberta. Fabiola's gunfire starts a new battle.

character

The main characters of this work are as follows:

• Revy : A gunman belonging to the Lagoon Company, he is nicknamed "Two Hands." He has a short temper and often gets into trouble, but he has lived in the slums since he was a child and hates to have his past mentioned.
• Rock : His real name is Okajima Ryokuro. He used to be a trading company employee at Asahi Heavy Industries, but after an incident he joined Lagoon Company. He's not good at rough work, but he often uses his language skills to negotiate. He tries to stick to the truth in a ruthless world.
• Dutch : Leader of the Lagoon Company and captain of the Black Lagoon. He is an intelligent man who can handle any rough situation with ease, and his gun skills are top-notch. His skills are highly regarded by Balalaika and other forces.
• Benny : In charge of high-tech equipment at the Lagoon Company. He was chased by the FBI and the mafia, but was saved by Revy and became a member. He uses his wizard-level hacking skills to support the company's activities from behind the scenes.
• Balalaika : The female boss of the Thai branch of the Russian mafia "Hotel Moscow," which has branches all over the world. She also participated in the invasion of Afghanistan as a member of the former Soviet army, and her subordinates were members of the guerrilla unit that fought alongside her at that time.
• Zhang : The boss of the Thai branch of the Hong Kong-based international mafia "Triad." Behind his nonchalant demeanor is a strategist who coldly calculates his own profits. He is also good at rough dealing, and his gun skills are said to be superior to Revy's.

Production Staff

BLACK LAGOON Roberta's Blood Trail is being produced by a team of talented people, including director Sunao Katabuchi, character designer and chief animation director Masanori Shino, prop and mecha designer Masahiro Kimura, and music by EDISON. Animation is handled by Madhouse, and the film is produced by the BLACK LAGOON Production Committee (Geneon Universal Entertainment, Shogakukan).

Evaluation and Impressions

"BLACK LAGOON Roberta's Blood Trail" has been praised for taking advantage of the OVA format to develop a deeper story and characters. In particular, Roberta's revenge drama left a strong impression on viewers by carefully depicting her past and feelings. The appearance of a new character, Fabiola, also became a hot topic, and her battle scenes and character appeal were highly praised.

The quality of the action scenes is also very high, and the realism and intensity of the gunfights and battle scenes have the power to draw the viewer in. Furthermore, the music and sound effects are also important elements in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the music by EDISON is particularly impressive.

However, some viewers have commented that the story is a little complicated and difficult to understand. Also, because it is an OVA, there are only a few episodes, and some have said they wish it had continued for longer. Nevertheless, the series has received high praise overall, and is well-received by fans.

Related Titles

"BLACK LAGOON Roberta's Blood Trail" is a work produced as part of the "BLACK LAGOON" series. Related works include the following:

• BLACK LAGOON : The first season of the series. It tells the story of how Rock joined the Lagoon Company.
• BLACK LAGOON The Second Barrage : The second season of the series, which depicts Locke's activities as a member of the Lagoon Company.
• BLACK LAGOON Bonus Video : Bonus video for the series. Contains content that fans won't want to miss.
• BLACK LAGOON Roberta's Blood Trail advance broadcast : Advance broadcast version of this work. It was screened at fan events etc.
• BLACK LAGOON Roberta's Blood Trail Special Edition : A special edition of the game. Enjoy the story from a new perspective.

Theme songs and music

The theme song and music of "BLACK LAGOON Roberta's Blood Trail" are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the work. The main songs are introduced below.

• OP1 : "Red fraction IO drive mix" - Sung by MELL, Lyrics by MELL, Composed and Arranged by Kazuya Takase
• ED1 : "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" - Lyrics and composition: Patrick Gilmore, Arrangement and performance: EDISON
• ED2 : "This moment ~prayer in the light~" - Sung, Lyrics and Composition: Minako "mooki" Obata

Recommendations and how to watch

"BLACK LAGOON Roberta's Blood Trail" is a must-see for fans of hard-boiled action anime. Pay particular attention to Roberta's revenge and the new character, Fabiola. Also, by enjoying the entire series, you will gain a deeper understanding and be moved by it.

You can watch it by purchasing the DVD or Blu-ray, or by streaming services. In particular, you can watch this work on AT-X and Bandai Channel, so be sure to check them out.

Conclusion

"BLACK LAGOON Roberta's Blood Trail" is a work that takes advantage of the OVA format to delve into the story and characters in depth. Roberta's revenge, the introduction of new characters, and the high-quality action scenes and music have the power to draw viewers in. Enjoying the entire series will give you a deeper understanding and a deeper impression. I highly recommend it to fans of hard-boiled action anime.