Review: RWBY Official Manga Anthology Volume 2

RWBY OFFICIAL MANGA ANTHOLOGY, VOL. 2 – MIRROR, MIRROR
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONISTS: KaTe; monorobu; Kuma; Mate; Ritsu Hayami; Amechan; Rojine Kio; mojojoj, EMO; Mochiyama; Mikanuji; Tsutanoha; Amaya; Sora; Kaogeimoai; ryuga; Uri; Assa; Sun Hiura; Umiya
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamasaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley
LETTERS: Evan Waldinger
EDITOR: Joel Enos
MISC. ART: shihou; Kuma; BUZZ; Ecru
COVER: Ein Lee and Meteo
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0158-2; paperback (August 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
184pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN, £8.99 U.K.

Based on the animation from Rooster Teeth Productions; RWBY created by Monty Oum

“RWBY” is an American animated series that is streamed on the World Wide Web.  “RWBY” was created by the late Monty Oum for Rooster Teeth Productions (an American company), which is known for its streaming and web animated series.  “RWBY” is produced in a Japanese anime style, although some consider it to be an actual anime series.  It is the first western-produced anime series to be distributed to Japanese television.

“RWBY” is set on the world of Remnant, which is beset by “Grimm,” horrific monsters bent on the destruction of humanity.  The kingdoms of Remnant have risen to combat these monsters by training powerful Huntsmen and Huntresses at academies around the planet. “RWBY” focuses on Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long, four such Huntresses-in-training who are collectively known as “Team RWBY.”

RWBY The Official Manga Anthology collects original short manga and comics set in the world of RWBY.  Each graphic novel in the series showcases a particular member of Team RWBY.  RWBY The Official Manga Anthology, Vol. 2 is subtitled “Mirror, Mirror” and focuses on Weiss Schnee, sometimes called “the Ice Princess.”

The stories reveal how Weiss initially struggles to work in a team, and how she comes to think of her teammates as friends, although she still sometimes feels out of place.  The stories also reveal how close she is to her older sister, Winter, and how the dynamics of her powerful family affects her as a child and still do.  Most of all the stories are about how Weiss becomes a part of the family known as Team RWBY.

[This volume contains commentary one-panel cartoons from the cartoonists that contributed to this volume.  It also includes “Message from Ein Lee” and “Message from Kara Eberle.”]

I had not heard of “RWBY” until I received a VIZ Media press release that it was going to collect Shirow Miwa's 2015-2017 manga adaptation of the anime.  My VIZ Media press rep has sent me both volumes of the RWBY The Official Manga Anthology manga published to date.

RWBY The Official Manga Anthology Graphic Novel Volume 2 is, in tone and style, similar to the first volume of the anthology.  The stories are mostly humorous, and they are lighthearted vignettes that focus on the relationships between the members of Team RWBY.

RWBY The Official Manga Anthology Volume 2 – Mirror, Mirror is a good way to let readers see various aspects of the character of Weiss Schnee.   According to the press release that accompanied the first volume's release, the mangaka (creators) that contribute to this anthology are new artists.  That shows in the fact that these stories feel like amateur press comics or “dōjinshi.”  The stories in “Mirror, Mirror,” are about relationships and friendship, but very few are about RWBY's continuity or about the series' internal mythology.

B
6 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: RWBY: The Official Manga Anthology Volume 1

RWBY OFFICIAL MANGA ANTHOLOGY, VOL. 1 – RED LIKE ROSES
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONISTS: monorobu; Ritsu Hayami; Kuma; KaTe; Xily; Uri; Sora; Amaya; Mikanuji; Moromoimaru; Koogeimoai; Siguma Koko; Mate; mojojoj; Amechan; Shiki Miou; Sorappane; Rojine Kio; Sun Hiura; Umiyo
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamasaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley
LETTERS: Evan Waldinger
EDITOR: Joel Enos
MISC. ART: Sai Izumi; Esu; Shiki Miou; Tsukasa; Omutatsu
COVER: Ein Lee and Meteo
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0157-5; paperback (May 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
184pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN, £8.99 U.K.

Based on the animation from Rooster Teeth Productions; RWBY created by Monty Oum

“RWBY” is an American animated series that is streamed on the World Wide Web.  “RWBY” was created by the late Monty Oum for Rooster Teeth Productions (an American company), which is known for its streaming and web animated series.  “RWBY” is produced in a Japanese anime style, although some consider it to be an actual anime series.  It is the first western-produced anime series to be distributed to Japanese television.

“RWBY” is set on the world of Remnant, which is beset by “Grimm,” horrific monsters bent on the destruction of humanity.  The kingdoms of Remnant have risen to combat these monsters by training powerful Huntsmen and Huntresses at academies around the planet. “RWBY” focuses on Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long, four such Huntresses-in-training who are collectively known as “Team RWBY.”

Shiwa Miwa, the creator of the manga Dogs and Dogs: Bullets & Carnage, produced a manga based on “RWBY” and entitled RWBY.  It was published in graphic novel form by VIZ Media in January 2018.  Now, VIZ is introducing RWBY The Official Manga Anthology, which will publish original short manga and comics set in the world of RWBY that showcase the members of Team RWBY

RWBY The Official Manga Anthology, Vol. 1 is subtitled “Red Like Roses” and focuses on Team RWBY leader, Ruby Rose.  The stories reveal that Ruby has insecurities just like everyone else, although she is a Huntress team leader.  While her worries run deep, Ruby is determined to overcome her shortcomings in order to be a true hero.  From working with other teams to taking on evil clones, Ruby is driven to be the best... even if it means she has to change her hair color.

[This volume contains commentary one-panel cartoons from the cartoonists that contributed to this volume.  It also includes “Message from Ein Lee” and “Message from Lindsay Jones.”]

I had not heard of “RWBY” until I received a VIZ Media press release that it was going to publish Shirow Miwa's 2015-2017 manga adaptation of the anime.  As I wrote in a previous review, I was not interested in reading it, but my VIZ Media rep gave me a copy.  However, I was looking forward to the RWBY The Official Manga Anthology manga, VIZ Media came through.

RWBY The Official Manga Anthology Graphic Novel Volume 1 is a little more entertaining than the first RWBY graphic novel.  That is mainly because the stories are mostly humorous.  They are lighthearted vignettes that focus on the relationships between the members of Team RWBY.  Ruby Rose is the emphasis in these tales, but her teammates star in most of the stories here and are featured almost as much as she is.

RWBY The Official Manga Anthology Volume 1 – Red Like Roses is a good way to let readers learn more about the characters via comedy and teamwork.  Most of these stories are about 10-pages in length.  According to the press release that accompanies this first volume's release, the mangaka (creators) that contribute to this anthology are new artists, and it shows in the fact that these stories feel like amateur press comics or “dōjinshi.”  These stories are fun, but I miss the fantasy-horror-action mix of the previous RWBY manga.  Still, I think Red Like Roses will serve to make new RWBY fans just because of the friendly nature of these stories.

B+
7 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: RWBY

RWBY
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Shirow Miwa
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamasaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley
LETTERS: Evan Waldinger and Walden Wong
EDITOR: Joel Enos
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9512-2; paperback (January 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
250pp, B&W, $14.99 U.S., $19.99 CAN, £9.99 U.K.

“RWBY” is an American animated series that is streamed on the World Wide Web (or simply “web”).  The series was created by the late Monty Oum for Rooster Teeth Productions (an American company), which is known for its animated streaming or web series.  “RWBY” is produced in a Japanese anime style, although some consider it an actual anime series.  It was the first western-produced anime series to be distributed to Japanese television.

“RWBY” is set on the world of Remnant, which is beset by “Grimm,” horrific monsters bent on the destruction of humanity.  The kingdoms of Remnant have risen to combat these monsters by training powerful Huntsmen and Huntresses at academies around the planet. “RWBY” focuses on Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long, four such Huntresses-in-training.

Shiwa Miwa, the creator of the manga Dogs and Dogs: Bullets & Carnage, produced a manga based on “RWBY.”  Miwa's story was based on the initial four trailers that were released to promote the “RWBY” anime shortly before it release.  Miwa's manga debuted in the November 2015 issue of the manga magazine, Ultra Jump, and concluded in the same magazine in January 2017.  VIZ Media collected Miwa's RWBY manga in a single-volume, paperback graphic novel in January 2018 (and my VIZ Media rep gave me a copy for review).

RWBY (Chapters 1 to 12) introduces Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long.  They are four Huntresses-in-training at Beacon Academy, one of four academies that train Hunters who subdue the monstrous Grimm and maintain peace.  Together Ruby, Weiss, Black, and Yang are Team RWBY.

We see a unique side of each member of Team RWBY.  Later, the quartet is put through a grueling training test that forces them to work with RWBY's rival, Team JNPR.  Their adversary is a giant, multi-headed serpent that seems impossible to defeat.

I had not heard of “RWBY” until I received a VIZ Media press release that it was going to publish Shirow Miwa's 2015-2017 manga adaptation of the anime.  I must be honest with you, dear reader; I was not interested in reading it.  Then, VIZ Media came calling with a way to force me to read the RWBY manga.

RWBY Graphic Novel is actually fairly entertaining.  My experience with Shirwo Miwa is mixed.  He can produce visually striking manga action art, but sometimes his narrative is shallow or even dull.  RWBY has a slow start, but then, it really takes off when Miwa starts using separate chapters to delve into the mysteries of each of the series' four stars:  Ruby, Weiss, Black, and Yang.  The giant snake battle is a blast to read and makes me ready for more RWBY manga.  [VIZ Media will start publishing an RWBY manga anthology this coming summer.]

Fans of the “RWBY” anime and fans of the manga of Shirow Miwa will want VIZ Signature's single-volume RWBY graphic novel.

A-
7.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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