06/01/2022
The second volume in Maruyama's "Overlord Light" series follows powerful guild leader Ainz Ooal Gown as he embarks on a dangerous undercover mission to gather information about the world in which he has been trapped. In reality, Ainz is merely a character in the massive, multiplayer role-playing game Yggdrasil. He is the character that gamer Momonga has taken for his own. Yggdrasil was scheduled to be shut down, but a bizarre glitch has kept Momonga locked into the character of Ainz, rather than ejecting him from the game. Momonga decides to explore this new world, fully inhabiting Ainz's persona and traveling along with his battle maiden companions as the dark overlord. Narrator Chris Guerrero, known for his role as Ainz in the English-dubbed version of the "Overlord" anime series, ably voices the many colorful characters that occupy this world. His narration is adept and responsive, creating a cinematic feel that mimics a full-cast production. Guerrero's portrayal of Ainz's deep-voiced bravado and strength is particularly effective. VERDICT Highly recommend for fans of anime and graphic novels. This fast-paced and surprisingly funny adaptation is a treat for the ears.—Sarah Hashimoto
