Betterman - Inhuman Nature -Vol. 4-

Amazon.com Apparently aware that the plot of this 1999 broadcast series has degenerated into a hopeless muddle, the filmmakers devote most of "Shadow" to flashbacks and long explanations of what's been going on. But at the end of the episode, they shoot themselves in the foot by adding more characters and further complications. Lamia/Betterman fights Bodaiju, a monklike character who recalls Ancient in Ronin Warriors. Bodaiju insists Algernon and the chaotic goings-on in Japan must be due to Kankei and urges Lamia to obey Pakila; Lamia replies he's acting "to protect our hope." Presumably the significance of the argument will be revealed in later episodes. "Revelation" and "Dream" consist largely of nightmares within dreams within other dreams, until no one can tell what's actually going on and the cast has to be rescued by the mysterious Yakusugi. Unfortunately, he doesn't make house calls. (Rated 13 and older: violence, grotesque imagery, alcohol use) --Charles Solomon