#IReadsYou Review: DEMON SLAYER: Kimetsu No Yaiba Volume 13

DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA, VOL. 13
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Koyoharu Gotouge
TRANSLATION: John Werry
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Steve “Stan!” Brown
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITOR: Mike Montesa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1113-0; paperback (June 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotoge.  The manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint since July 2018.

Demon Slayer is set in Japan's Taisho era (1912 to 1926).  It focuses on Tanjiro Kamado, a kindhearted boy who sells charcoal in order to support his mother and four siblings.  After one particularly taxing trip to sell coal, Tanjiro returns to his home in the forest and finds his family slaughtered.  He discovers that a younger sibling, his sister Nezuko, has herself been transformed into a demon by the unknown demon that killed his family.  Tanjiro becomes a Demon Slayer in order to find and destroy that demon, Muzan Kibutsuji.

As Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 13 (Chapters 107 to 115; entitled “Transitions”) opens, Tanjiro is up to his … neck in demons.  While recovering from injuries he sustained in battle, Tanjiro traveled to the mysterious and hidden “village of the sword-smiths.”  There, he would get his damaged katana repaired by Haganezuka, the man who forged the sword.  But once Tanjiro arrived, he started having strange experiences.

Now, Tanjiro is in a battle with the strange, shape-shifting demons, Upper Rank 4: Hantengu and Upper Rank 5: Gyokko.  Joining him in battle is the “Mist Hashira,” Muichiro Tokito, who struggles against these demons even with all his power.  Suddenly, only Tanjiro and another Demon Slayer, Genya Shinazugawa, stand against seemingly unbeatable demons.  Can the two Slayers handle a demon that can split itself into four separate bodies and regenerate almost instantly?

THE LOWDOWN:  The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba manga has become one of my favorite graphic novel series.  It is, however, hard to keep up with the series as VIZ is currently publishing it on a monthly basis, for which I don't blame them.  Demon Slayer is a huge bestseller on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Graphic Novel Volume 13 joins Vols. 7 to 12 to create a fantastic run of superb shonen dark fantasy action-adventure storytelling.  Creator Koyoharu Gotouge ended a long and intense story arc in Vol. 11, but he put his readers right back into the thick of things with another demonic mystery.  Simply put, Demon Slayer is great because Tanjiro's struggles and battles are hard to ignore once you start reading, dear readers.

John Werry's translation and Steve “Stan!” Brown's English-language adaptation deliver an engaging read, as always.  In Volume 13, their work captures Genya Shinazugawa's conflicts and internal battle in all their full dark and bitter glory.  And since that is the case, why stop reading now?

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of demon-fighting heroes will want to read the Shonen Jump title, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba.

9 out of 10

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


https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
https://www.instagram.com/vizmedia/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialVIZMedia
https://www.snapchat.com/add/vizmedia


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: DEMON SLAYER: Kimetsu No Yaiba Volume 4

DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA, VOL. 4
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Koyoharu Gotouge
TRANSLATION: John Werry
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Steve “Stan!” Brown
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITOR: Mike Montesa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0055-4; paperback (January 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotoge.  The manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint since July 2018.

The Taisho era Japan (1912 to 1926).  Tanjiro Kamado, a kindhearted boy, sells coal in order to support his mother and four siblings.  After one particularly taxing trip to sell coal, Tanjiro returns to his home in the forest and finds his family slaughtered.  He discovers that a younger sibling, his sister Nezuko, has herself been transformed into a demon by the unknown demon that killed his family.  He becomes a Demon Slayer to find and destroy that demon.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 4 (Chapters 26 to 34) opens in the wake of Tanjiro and company's battle inside a house full of demons.  Now, Tanjiro finds himself fighting Inosuke Hashibira, a young man who wears a boar's head and who may be a Demon Slayer.  Tanjiro sees him as an ally, but what an ally they will need him to be as they face demons that turn Demon Slayers into marionettes.  Plus, Zenitsu Agatsuma, a demon slayer who seems to be a coward, discovers the existence of Nezuko.

[This volume includes four-panel comics and bonus text and art.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba manga was one of 2018's best new graphic novel series.  It is still kickin' in the two-oh-one-nine.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Graphic Novel 4 focuses on the characters outside of Tanjiro.  Creator Koyoharu Gotouge has offered new intriguing characters, especially Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira, both with interesting pasts and both possessing personalities that clash with the sweet-natured Tanjiro.  More characters are showing layers and textures in their personalities, an element that makes Demon Slayer a manga deserving to be read.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of demon-fighting heroes will want to read the Shonen Jump title, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba.

A
9 out of 10

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


https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
https://www.instagram.com/vizmedia/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialVIZMedia
https://www.snapchat.com/add/vizmedia

The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

---------------------

Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).

#IReadsYou Review: DEMON SLAYER: Kimetsu No Yaiba Volume 3

DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA, VOL. 3
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Koyoharu Gotouge
TRANSLATION: John Werry
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Steve “Stan!” Brown
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITOR: Mike Montesa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0054-7; paperback (November 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotoge.  The manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint since July 2018.

It is Taisho era Japan (1912 to 1926).  Tanjiro Kamado, a kindhearted boy, sells coal in order to support his mother and four siblings.  After one particularly taxing trip to sell coal, Tanjiro returns to his home in the forest to find his family slaughtered.  He discovers that a younger sibling, his sister Nezuko, has herself been transformed into a demon by the unknown demon that killed his family.  He became a Demon Slayer to find that demon.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 3 (Chapters 17 to 25) opens as Tanjiro continues his battle with the servants of Muzan Kibutsuji, the demon master.  Susamaru (balls) and Yahaba (arrows) prove to be quite formidable, and Tanjiro will need help from an unexpected place to defeat them.  If defeated, will these members of the “Twelve Kizuki” (demons that serve Kibutsuji) reveal secrets about their master?

Then, Tanjiro and Nezuko meet Zenitsu Agatsuma, a demon slayer who seems to be a coward.  He proves to be little to no help when they find an unusual house that is full of demons.

THE LOWDOWN:  The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba manga is one of 2018's best new graphic novel series.  It is one of a group of excellent titles released by VIZ Media in 2018.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Graphic Novel 3 takes readers into the grit and determination of series hero, Tanjiro Kamado.  However, creator Koyoharu Gotouge makes sure that readers how kind and considerate Tanjiro is.  That complicates a narrative that is quite gruesome at times.  At the same time, other characters begin to show layers and textures in their personalities, another element that makes Demon Slayer a manga to read.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of demon-fighting heroes will want to read the Shonen Jump title, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba.

A
9 out of 10

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

https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
https://www.instagram.com/vizmedia/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialVIZMedia
https://www.snapchat.com/add/vizmedia

The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

-----------------------

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#IReadsYou Review: ULTRAMAN Volume 4

ULTRAMAN, VOL. 4
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Eiichi Shimizu
ART: Tomohiro Shimoguchi
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamazaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Stan!
LETTERING: Evan Waldinger
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8185-9; paperback (May 2016); Rated “T” for “Teen”
188pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

Ultraman is a character that appeared in Japanese sci-fi/fantasy films and television, beginning in the 1960s.  Ultraman was an alien entity that merged with a human host, creating a superhero that fought aliens trying to invade Earth.  Ultraman (stylized as ULTRAMAN) the manga, written and drawn by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi, is a sequel to the television series, “Ultraman” (1966).

The new Ultraman is 17-year-old Shinjiro Hayata.  He is the son of Shin Hayata, the man who first merged with Ultraman 20 years earlier.  A new threat is growing, and that kind of danger requires a new kind of Ultraman.

As Ultraman, Vol. 4 (Chapter 21 to 26) opens, Shinjiro struggles with what it means to be Ultraman.  The alien enemies of Earth are brutal and unforgiving, and Dan Moroboshi, who wears an updated Ultraman suit, does not hesitate to kill them.  Shinjiro is struggling to come to terms with Dan's use of violence, especially after a battle leaves Dan's suit covered in blood.

Is Shinjiro or Dan the new kind of Ultraman for the danger the Earth now faces?  Well, there is a secret plan to force Shinjiro to take the next step in his development as the Ultraman.  Plus, The Rena Sayama 2018 Live Tour begins, but someone plans to kill Rena, an Ultraman fangirl.

THE LOWDOWN:  The Ultraman manga is an easy and enjoyable read, something that I can say about every volume.  And yes, it is such an easy read that I find myself finishing too quickly and wishing that there were more.  I really enjoy this manga, and I think its fan base should grow.  Ultraman is something like a blend of Marvel's Iron Man and Neon Genesis Evangelion, a blend I think that others can enjoy.

Ultraman Volume 4 focuses on the existential crisis Shinjiro undergoes as he deals with the realities of being the hero everyone expects to protect the Earth.  Killing and destroying the enemy seems the obvious solution, except that it may not be.  Creators Shimizu and Shimoguchi are gradually delving into complex issues, even as they continue to produce a delightfully breezy read.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Fans of Ultraman and readers looking for superheroes from another land will want to try the VIZ Signature title, Ultraman.

A

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


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

----------------

#IReadsYou Review: DEMON SLAYER: Kimetsu No Yaiba Volume 2

DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Koyoharu Gotouge
TRANSLATION: John Werry
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Steve “Stan!” Brown
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITOR: Mike Montesa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0053-0; paperback (September 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotoge.  The manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint since July 2018.

Demon Slayer is set in Taisho era Japan (1912 to 1926).  Tanjiro Kamado is a kindhearted boy who sells coal in order to support his mother and four siblings.  After one particularly taxing trip to sell coal, Tanjiro returns to his home in the forest to find his family slaughtered.  He discovers that a younger sibling, his sister Nezuko, has herself been transformed into a demon by the unknown demon that killed his family.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 2 (Chapters 8 to 16) opens as Tanjiro battles a demon as part of the final selection for the Demon Slayer Corps.  Next, he must choose the kasugai crow that he will use for mission communication with the corps.  Tanjiro must also choose the ore from which his sword will be made, but after his sword is made, something unusual happens.

Tanjiro's begins to walk the path of the Demon Slayer by heading north to a town where young girls are disappearing.  Plus, Tanjiro learns of the name of the demon he must eventually confront, Muzan Kibutsuji.

THE LOWDOWN:  The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba manga is the latest in a line of excellent titles that VIZ Media has released in the last year.  A supernatural fantasy and revenge drama, Demon Slayer is demonic treat.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Graphic Novel 2 takes reader into the beginning of Tanjiro's quest and of his profession.  Creator Koyoharu Gotouge does not make things easy for his young hero.  I don't get the feeling that he will be defeated, but that he will undergo a learning process that we readers will get to experience with him.  I think that makes for a fun read.

I also like that Gotouge is not leaving Tanjiro's sister, Nezuko, as a mere victim or as nothing more than a liability.  When Gotouge gives her something to do, the cursed sister becomes a wild card character, engaging and appealing.  I almost want her to have her own manga; in the meantime, she makes Demon Slayer twice the fun to read.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of demon-fighting heroes will want to read the Shonen Jump title, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba.

A
9 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

--------------------------

Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).

#IReadsYou Review: DEMON SLAYER: Kimetsu No Yaiba Volume 12

DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA, VOL. 12
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Koyoharu Gotouge
TRANSLATION: John Werry
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Steve “Stan!” Brown
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITOR: Mike Montesa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1112-3; paperback (May 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotoge.  The manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint since July 2018.

Demon Slayer is set in Japan's Taisho era (1912 to 1926).  It focuses on Tanjiro Kamado, a kindhearted boy who sells charcoal in order to support his mother and four siblings.  After one particularly taxing trip to sell coal, Tanjiro returns to his home in the forest and finds his family slaughtered.  He discovers that a younger sibling, his sister Nezuko, has herself been transformed into a demon by the unknown demon that killed his family.  Tanjiro becomes a Demon Slayer in order to find and destroy that demon, Muzan Kibutsuji.

As Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 12 (Chapters 98 to 106; entitled “The Upper Ranks Gather”) opens, there is trouble in the demon world.  With the death of the “Upper-Rank 6” demon, Gyutaro, and his younger demon-sister, Daki, for the first time in 100 years, the upper ranks of Muzan Kibutsuji's “Twelve Kizuki” are not full.  So Kibutsuji sends the remaining upper-rank demons on a mission, but what is that mission?

Meanwhile, Tanjiro has regained consciousness after being unconscious for two months because of the injuries he sustained in the battle against Gyutaro.  While he recovers, Tanjiro travels to the mysterious and hidden “village of the sword-smiths” in order to get his damaged katana repaired by Haganezuka, the man who forged the sword.  But once Tanjiro is there, he has strange experiences.

THE LOWDOWN:  The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba manga has become one of my favorite graphic novel series.  It is, however, hard to keep up with the series as VIZ is currently publishing it on a monthly basis.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Graphic Novel Volume 12, like Vols. 7 to 11, is among the series' best entries.  Creator Koyoharu Gotouge ended a long and intense story arc in Vol. 11, but readers will find themselves right back at the beginnings of another mystery.  Simply, put Demon Slayer is a joy to read because Tanjiro's struggle continues in a way that makes for great reading.

John Werry's translation and Steve “Stan!” Brown's English-language adaptation deliver an engaging read, as always, that brings out all that is alluring about Demon Slayer's characters.  With this new mystery, the allure is as strong as ever.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of demon-fighting heroes will want to read the Shonen Jump title, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba.

A+
10 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.



-----------------------------

Manga Review: NO GUNS LIFE: Volume 1

NO GUNS LIFE, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Tasuku Karasuma
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamazaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Stan!
LETTERS: Evan Waldinger
EDITOR: Mike Montessa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1045-4; paperback (September 2019); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
248pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN, £8.99 U.K.

No Guns Life is a seinen manga (comics for adult men) series by Tasuku Karasuma.  It has been serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Ultra Jump, since August 2014.  VIZ Media is publishing the manga in English as a series of graphic novels under its “VIZ Signature” imprint.

No Guns Life, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 6) is set in an indeterminate future, after the end of a “Great War.”  One group of fighters in that war was known as the “Extended.”  The Extended are cyborg soldiers whose bodies were transformed via “physical function extension,” also known as “Extended surgery.”

After the war, the Extended were discharged.  One of them is Juzo Inui, a man whose body was transformed, and his head was replaced with a giant gun.  He has no memory of his previous life or knowledge of who specifically replaced his head or why.  Inui now scratches out a living in the dark streets of the city as a “Resolver,” one who resolves issues or takes on cases involving the Extended.  Now, Inui finds himself protecting, Tetsuro Arahabaki, a child with very powerful connections, but also possessing technology that has made him the biggest target in the city.

The No Guns Life manga is intriguing simply because of its title.  The striking cover art of the first volume – featuring Juzo Inui's gun head – is enough to encourage a reader to try, at least, the first volume.

No Guns Life Graphic Novel Volume 1, however, does not live up to the intensity that Inui's physical appearance suggests.  The six chapters contained in Vol. 1 depict violence, but not enough to earn the book a “mature” rating; it is rated for “older teens.”  There is, of course, nothing wrong with a teen-friendly rating, but, once again, that character design...  The truth of the matter is that Inui and Tetsuro are intriguing and probably have wonderful back stories, but in this first volume, creator Tasuku Karasuma focuses mainly on introducing concepts, characters, and conflicts.

If I had to compare No Guns Life, Vol. 1 to an American comic book, I would say that it has passing similarities to Marvel's The Punisher and to DC Comics' Deathstroke.  The difference is that Frank Castle/The Punisher and Slade Wilson/Deathstroke wield big guns, but neither has a big gun for a head.  Although if they did, that would make for some cool one-off stories.  Meanwhile, I really think the best of No Guns Life is yet to come.

7 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

--------------------

Review: RECORD OF THE GRANCREST WAR Volume 1

RECORD OF GRANCREST WAR, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Makoto Yotsuba
ORIGINAL STORY: Ryo Mizuno
CHARACTER DESIGNS: Miyuu
TRANSLATION: satsuki yamashita
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Steven “Stan!” Brown
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
EDITOR: David Brothers
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0188-9; paperback (November 2018); Rated “M” for “Mature”
168pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Record of Grancrest War is a light novel series created by author Ryo Mizuno, who may be best known for the fantasy novel series, Record of Lodoss War.  Writer-artist Makoto Yotsuba adapted the Record of Grancrest War novels into a manga that began serialization in 2016.  VIZ Media has begun publishing an English-language edition of that manga as a graphic novel series, entitled Record of Grancrest War, which will be published on a quarterly basis.

Record of Grancrest War is set in a world where the noble elite are supposed to fend off the threat of the terrifying and mysterious force known as “Chaos.”  Instead, these nobles engage in pointless, petty squabbles, most of it involving two political entities, the “Fantasia Union” and the “Factory Alliance.”

Record of Grancrest War, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 6) introduces a young mage named Siluca Meletes, who dreams of bringing justice to the land.  She is about to witness a wedding that will unite the Fantasia Union and the Factory Alliance when tragedy strikes.  Determined to forge a new future for the world, Siluca joins a talented fighter, named Irvin, and a knight errant with potential, named Theo, to change the world order via the magical power of “crests.”

The Record of Grancrest War manga is a fantasy adventure series that reminds me of another fantasy manga, Mitsu Izumi's 7th Garden.  Both manga have deep back stories, and the territories in which they are set have long histories.

Record of Grancrest War Graphic Novel Volume 1 introduces a lot of terms:  crest, “Grancrest,” chaos, artist, etc., and not to mention a long list of titles of nobility and levels of social class.  Luckily, this first volume focuses on introducing characters' personalities and character dynamics.

The English adaptation written by Steven Brown a.k.a. Stan! is quite efficient.  Stan! focuses on conveying to readers motivations, conflicts, and introductions.  This makes for a breezy read, for which James Gaubatz's clean lettering and art touch-up should also get credit.  I don't know if I will fall in love with this series, but I would like to read more.  Fans of medieval set fantasy may also like Record of Grancrest War.

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 syndication rights and fees.

-----------------------

Review: DEMON SLAYER: Kimetsu No Yaiba Volume 1

DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Koyoharu Gotouge
TRANSLATION: John Werry
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Steve “Stan!” Brown
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITOR: Mike Montesa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0052-3; paperback (July 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba is a shonen manga (comics for teen boys) from creator Koyoharu Gotouge.  VIZ Media is publishing this manga as a series of graphic novels both in print and digital form.  Demon Slayer follows a boy's quest for revenge against a demon that murdered his family and transformed his sister into a demon.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 7) opens in the Taisho era of Japan (1912 to 1926).  The story introduces Tanjiro Kamado, a kindhearted boy who sells coal in order to support his mother and four siblings.  After one particularly taxing trip to sell coal, Tanjiro returns to his home in the forest to find his family slaughtered.  He discovers that a younger sibling, his sister Nezuko, has herself been transformed into a demon by the unknown demon that killed his family.

Tanjiro and his sister leave their home, but they meet a demon slayer, Giyu Tomioka, who wants to kill Nezuko.  Now, Tanjiro also wants to be a demon slayer, but can he survive the cruel tutelage of Lord Sakonji Urokodaki, a trainers of swordsman?

The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba manga is the latest in a line of fine titles that VIZ Media has released in the last year.  Some others high-quality titles include the supreme Golden Kamuy and The Promised Neverland.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Graphic Novel 1 is one of Summer 2018's best comic book debuts.  What makes it so exceptional?  It is Demon Slayer's ability to convey power in simplicity.  Koyoharu Gotouge's art is nice looking, but is not overly detailed, nor are her compositions crowded.  The dialogue and exposition are straight-forward, which makes for graphical storytelling that advances with conviction – relentless like Tanjiro's quest for revenge.

Gotouge's characters are also immediately likable.  There is something universal in Tanjiro's quest; we can feel his pain.  Gotouge presents him to us as a boy full of love and focused on his family.  We can like him for that, so when he wants to cure his sister of being a demon and to slay the demon that destroyed his family, we not only buy into his quest, but we also want to follow him.  There are several good characters in this first volume, but Tanjiro is the star of this excellent manga.

9 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.

-------------------

Review: THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: Legendary Edition - Majora's Mask/A Link to the Past

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LEGENDARY EDITION (VOL. 3) – MAJORA'S MASK/A LINK TO THE PAST
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Akira Himekawa
TRANSLATION: John Werry, Honyaku Center, Inc.
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Steve “Stan!” Brown
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITORS: Mike Montesa; Joel Enos
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8961-2; paperback (March 2017); Rated “A” for “All Ages”
402pp, B&W with some color, $17.99 U.S., $24.99 CAN, £12.99 U.K.

The Legend of Zelda is a high-fantasy themed action-adventure video game series published by Nintendo.  Since 1986, Nintendo has published over 20 Zelda games and spin-offs.  For two decades, Nintendo has also officially endorsed and commissioned manga adaptations of The Legend of Zelda.  The Legend of Zelda revolves around Link, a brave knight/warrior, and Princess Zelda of Hyrule, who guides, encourages, instructs, and summons Link to battle evil.

Mangaka Akira Himekawa has produced several multi-chapter manga serials based on particular Legend of Zelda video games.  VIZ Media is reprinting these Himekawa manga under the title, The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition.  The third release in this series is The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition – Majora's Mask/A Link to the Past.  Majora's Mask is a 2000 video game in the Zelda series.  Himekawa's  manga based on the 1991 game, A Link to the Past, was originally titled Triforce of the Gods, but is entitled A Link to the Past for its new English-language release.

In Majora's Mask,  Link is a famous swordsman.  He stops to give lessons at the school of an old friend before continuing his search for his missing friend, Navi the fairy.  On his journey, Link is transported to the land of Termina, where he is accosted by someone named “Skull Kid.”  This character wears the cursed Majora's Mask, and he also imprisons Link's face inside a mask.  Now, Link must not only unravel the mysteries of the masks, but he must also solve the troubles that besiege Termina and stop Skull Kid from dragging the moon down so that it will crash into the Termina village of Clock Town.

In A Link to the Past, Link is an apple farmer in Hyrule, and he grows apples so good that they can heal the body.  With his Uncle's help, Link is ready to make his farm the best apple orchard in Hyrule.  However, one night, Link hears a mysterious female voice calling him.  The voice belongs to Zelda, Princess of Hyrule, and she is being held captive by the traitorous royal adviser, Agahnim.  He wants the legendary Triforce, and the only way Link can stop him and rescue Zelda is to find the legendary “Master Sword.”  With the help of the female bandit, Ghanti, Link goes on a journey that takes him to many lands and that may also answer questions about Link's past.

In the last year, VIZ Media has sent me several volumes of The Legend of Zelda manga so that I might review them.  I have discovered that these manga are better reads than I ever imagined – not that I took much time to think about Zelda manga.

The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition – Majora's Mask/A Link to the Past manga is not as awesome a volume of the previous volume of the Legendary Edition series, The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition – Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages, but it is still quite good.

Majora's Mask is a quest fantasy that has nothing to do with Link rescuing or serving Princess Zelda, at least in the manga.  Majora's Mask, as a narrative, has a weak opening, but the story picks up strength and momentum when Link starts looking for the “four giants.”  Majora's Mask definitely finishes better than it started.

A Link to the Past is a strong, exciting story from beginning to end, and I have to admit that I was disappointed that it had to end.  It is a pure Link-rescues-Zelda story.  Both Majora's Mask and A Link to the Past are well served by the clean drawing style of the art, which makes for clear storytelling.  Akira Himekawa presents his Legend of Zelda manga in a graphic style that makes the story attractive to readers young and young-at-heart.

B+

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

------------------------

Review: THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: Twilight Princess Volume 1

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Akira Himekawa
TRANSLATION: John Werry
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Steve “Stan!” Brown
LETTERS: Evan Waldinger
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9347-0; paperback (March 2017); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

The Legend of Zelda is a high-fantasy themed action-adventure video game series that debuted in 1986 and is published by Nintendo.  Nintendo has also officially endorsed and commissioned manga adaptations of The Legend of Zelda for over two decades.  The Legend of Zelda revolves around Link, a brave knight/warrior, and Princess Zelda of Hyrule, who guides, encourages, instructs, and summons Link to battle evil.

VIZ Media has been publishing manga based on The Legend of Zelda in America.  The latest is The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which is based on the 13th video game title in the franchise.  The Twilight Princess manga is written and drawn by mangaka Akira Himekawa.  VIZ collected Himekawa's other Zelda manga in the recent mini-omnibus, The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition – Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 8) opens with a brief retelling of the story of upstart wizards whose rebellion in the country of Hyrule got them exiled from the World of Light and into the Twilight Realm.  The darkness, however, has reawakened and stirs in the Twilight Realm with its eyes on regaining power.

The story moves to Ordon, a small and prosperous agricultural village on the edge of Hyrule.  Here, the mysterious ranch hand, Link, found a home two years ago.  The people of Ordon love him, especially the children, but Link struggles with his tragic past, which might be returning in the form of the troubling dreams he has.  Link does not realize that he will soon have to face the darkness which once destroyed everything he knew.

In the last two years, VIZ Media has sent me two graphic novels from The Legend of Zelda as copies-for-review.  I have enjoyed them, but I am surprised by The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess manga.  It is not as playful as the two earlier titles I read.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Volume 1 introduces a Hyrule steeped in a foreboding atmosphere.  Even when the sun is out and the farmers are happily bringing in their crops, there is something ominous on the edges.  The tone of the narrative is darker and maybe even a little more mature than the stories in The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition – Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages.

In Twilight Princess, Akira Himekawa makes the idea of people being transformed seem more like an act of destruction and also an act of penetrative violence.  In fact, in this story, violation seems more fearful than death.  I think this series is going to be a good read, and manga readers who normally avoid The Legend of Zelda comics may want to give it try.

A

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

-----------------------

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: Legendary Edition - Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LEGENDARY EDITION (VOL. 2) – ORACLE OF SEASONS/ORACLE OF AGES
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Akira Himekawa
TRANSLATION: John Werry, Honyaku Center, Inc.
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Steve “Stan!” Brown
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITORS: Mike Montesa; Joel Enos
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8960-2; paperback (January 2017); Rated “A” for “All Ages”
404pp, B&W with some color, $17.99 U.S., $24.99 CAN, £12.99 U.K.

The Legend of Zelda is a high-fantasy themed action-adventure video game series published by Nintendo.  Since 1986, Nintendo has published over 20 Zelda games and spin-offs.  For two decades, Nintendo has also officially endorsed and commissioned manga adaptations of The Legend of Zelda.  The Legend of Zelda revolves around Link, a brave knight/warrior, and Princess Zelda of Hyrule, who guides, encourages, instructs, and summons Link to battle evil.

The first Zelda comic was published in 1992, a full-color comic, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, which was loosely based on a 1991 game of the same title.  Mangaka Akira Himekawa has also produced Legend of Zelda manga based on video games.  Himekawa created a multi-chapter serial for each of two Zelda video games, Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, games that were first released in Japan around 2001.  VIZ Media reprinted each serial in a graphic novel edition back in 2009.

Now, VIZ has returned these two graphic novels to print in an oversized paperback edition, The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition – Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages.  In Oracle of Seasons, we are introduced to Link who has been raised by his grandmother and his grandfather.  The grandfather was formerly a brave knight of Hyrule, and that is what he wants Link to be.

Although he wants to chart his own destiny, Link leaves home to participate in a tournament of knights, but he ends up in the land of Holodrum where meets Din the Dancer.  Din turns out to be the Oracle of Seasons, who is being hunted by Onox, General of Darkness.  If Onox can capture Din, he will also have possession of the powerful relic, the Rod of Seasons.  Of course, Link, with the help of brave allies, must stop him.

In Oracle of Ages, Link gets caught up in the quest to find Nayru, the Oracle of Ages.  Veran, the sorceress of shadows, also wants Nayru, and eventually takes possession of her body.  Veran then travels through time, deep into the past of the land of Labrynna, where she uses her dark influence to build a tower that shall reach the skies.  Now, Link and someone with a surprising connection to him must stop her, a long and arduous campaign of many twists and turns.

As I have said before, I am not sure if I ever realized that there were comics and manga based on The Legend of Zelda, although I was aware of the 1989 American animated television miniseries.  Apparently, there are lots and lots of Zelda comics.

If the rest of these comics are like The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition – Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages, I want more.  These two stories are even better than the colorful (but kind of simplistic) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past   Oracles of Seasons and Oracle of Ages are some of the most enjoyable all-ages manga that I have ever read.

I like the clean drawing style of the art, which makes for clear storytelling.  There are some shifts in setting – by either time or region – that seem arbitrary and contrived, but for the most part, this straight-forward quest fantasy and epic adventure proves to be delightful.  This isn't “Game of Thrones” or Lord of the Rings, but Akira Himekawa isn't wary of offering a bit of darkness and character drama to the story for the sake of making the narrative stick with the readers.

A-

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

----------------------------

Manga Review: Mobile Suit Gundam: THUNDERBOLT Volume 1

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM THUNDERBOLT, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY/ART: Yasuo Ohtagaki
ORIGINAL CONCEPT: Hajime Yatate and Yoshiyuki Tomino
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamazaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Stan!
LETTERS: Evan Waldinger
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9055-4; paperback (November 2016); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
248pp, B&W, $14.99 U.S., $19.99 CAN, £9.99 UK

Mobile Suit Gundam was an anime series that was first broadcast in 1979 and 1980.  It is set in the year 2079, also known as “Universal Century year 0079,” according to the “Gundam Calendar.”  The series chronicled a conflict between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon, which declared independence from the Earth Federation.  The result is Zeon's war of independence, the “One Year War,” which affects every continent on Earth and nearly every space colony and lunar settlement.  The smaller Zeon has a tactical advantage through its use of a new type of humanoid weapon called the “mobile suit.”

Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt is a manga set in this classic science fiction universe and apparently takes place simultaneously with the events depicted in the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime.  Created by mangaka Yasuo Ohtagaki, this manga focuses on two rival mobile suit pilots bent on destroying each other.

Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 9) opens to find the Earth Federation trying to retake the Thunderbolt Sector, an area of space that is scarred by the wreckage of destroyed colonies.  However, Federation mobile suits are being picked off by a deadly Zeon sniper, Chief Petty Officer Daryl Lorenz.  Someone has to stop Lorenz and Federation ace, Io Fleming, is the man.  When he gets the latest in Federation tech, a Gundam, Io succeeds where other Federation pilots have failed.

I am vaguely familiar with Mobile Suit Gundam, mostly from seeing images and art related to it has a media and merchandising franchise.  I was a little reluctant to read the Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt manga when I received a copy-for-review of the first volume from VIZ Media.  Now, I can say that the manga has made me interested in learning more about Mobile Suit Gundam.

Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt Volume 1 offers classic mecha action that is as good as any mecha comics that I have read in the past.  Yasuo Ohtagaki puts the reader right into the action with battle and local space area maps.  He shoves the reader inside the mobile suits and all over the debris field that is Thunderbolt Sector.  Troop movement and mobile suit simulations make it easier to understand the position and status of chaotic battles.

Readers do not have to worry about shallow characters.  I am surprised at how deep Ohtagaki gets into the characters' relationships and especially their pasts.  So, especially because this is the beginning, I heartily recommend that readers enter Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt now.  I am willing to say that I think the series is worthy even after only one volume.

A

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

-------------------

Review: MONSTER HUNTER: Flash Hunter Volume 2

MONSTER HUNTER: FLASH HUNTER, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Keiichi Hikami
CARTOONIST: Shin Yamamoto
TRANSLATION: John Werry
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Stan!
LETTERS: John Hunt, Primary Graphix
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8426-3; paperback (June 2016); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
224pp, B&W, $10.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Monster Hunter: Flash Hunter is a 10-volume manga series written by Keiichi Hikami and drawn by Shin Yamamoto.  Monster Hunter: Flash Hunter is based on Capcom's Monster Hunter video game series that was initially developed for the PlayStation 2.

Monster Hunter: Flash Hunter is set in an age when monsters rule the world:  soaring through the sky, treading the earth, and filling the seas.  These monsters have forced humanity to survive on the fringes, so people rely on a special kind of hero to defend them from danger – the Monster Hunters.

Monster Hunter: Flash Hunter, Vol. 2 (Chapters 8 to 15) finds our Monster Hunter trio:  fledgling hunter, Raiga; veteran hunter, Keres; and hunter-scholar, Torche taking on a monster called a Rathian.  Known as the “Queen of the Land,” this creature is nearly impossible to defeat.  Can the Hunters stop a monster that can block out the sun?  Plus, the trio reunite to defend a small village from a monster rampage, but Raiga will find that this mission has summoned someone from his past.

[This volume includes the bonus chapters “Another Hunter,” Story 2 and Story 3 and also “Monhun and Me.”]

The Monster Hunter: Flash Hunter manga is a comic book for fans of the Monster Hunter game... I guess.  I don't think I had ever heard of the game before this manga.  In fact, in spite of its “Teen” rating, I think that preteen readers will like this; it is not as if this manga (or at least this volume) contains material that is inappropriate for them.

Monster Hunter: Flash Hunter Volume 1 does offer a menagerie of interesting and fearsome-looking monsters.  That is the one thing that attracts me to this manga because the characters are not doing much to interest me.  Monster Hunter: Flash Hunter, however, does have potential.  I can see the creative team getting more assured of what they are doing with each chapter.

B-

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: ULTRAMAN Volume 3

ULTRAMAN, VOL. 3
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Eiichi Shimizu
ART: Tomohiro Shimoguchi
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamazaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Stan!
LETTERING: Evan Waldinger
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8184-2; paperback (February 2016); Rated “T” for “Teen”
188pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

The character, Ultraman, appeared in Japanese sci-fi/fantasy films and television, beginning in the 1960s.  Ultraman was an alien entity that merged with a human host, creating a superhero that fought aliens trying to invade Earth.  Ultraman (stylized as ULTRAMAN) the manga, written and drawn by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi, is a sequel to the television series, “Ultraman” (1966).

The new Ultraman is 17-year-old Shinjiro Hayata.  He is the son of Shin Hayata, the man who first merged with Ultraman 20 years earlier.  A new threat is growing, and that kind of danger requires a new kind of Ultraman.

As Ultraman, Vol. 3 (Chapter 15 to 20) opens, the Science Special Search Party (SSSP) goes deeper into a sinister investigation to learn the identity of a mysterious new serial killer.  The victims are human, but the killer may not be human.  Meanwhile, Dan Moroboshi takes Shinjiro to a mysterious alien city, but the location of that city shocks Shinjiro.

THE LOWDOWN:  The Ultraman manga is an easy and enjoyable read.  In fact, it is such an easy read that I find myself finishing too quickly and wishing that there were more.  Ultraman is something like an American superhero, and I think of Iron Man with a touch of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Ultraman Graphic Novel Volume 3 continues to expand the world of this new Ultraman character.  At the same time, the creative team continues to tease the ghosts of the past, which might entertain readers already familiar with earlier incarnations of the character.  I'm invested in this series, and being unfamiliar with old Ultraman only makes me even more interested in getting answers.  I won't act as if this is an instant classic, but the mixture of science fiction action and mystery really work for this new Ultraman.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Fans of Ultraman and readers looking for superheroes from another land will want to try the VIZ Signature title, Ultraman.

A-

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


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: DEADMAN WONDERLAND Volume 13

DEADMAN WONDERLAND, VOL. 13
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Jinsei Kataoka
ART: Kazuma Kondou
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamazaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Stan!
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6419-7; paperback (February 2016); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
212pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Deadman Wonderland is a science fiction manga written by Jinsei Kataoka and drawn by Kazuma Kondou.  It began publication in the Japanese manga magazine, Shonen Ace, in 2008.  TOKYOPOP began publishing an English-language edition of the series, releasing five volumes before shutting its North American publishing division in 2011.  Then, VIZ Media picked up the Deadman Wonderland license and publishing the series in English.

Deadman Wonderland focuses on 14-year-old Ganta Igarashi.  He is framed for the brutal murders of his classmates; then, he is sentenced to death.  Ganta is imprisoned in Deadman Wonderland (DW), a privately run, carnival-like penitentiary built on the ruins of Tokyo.  This bizarre and fatal theme park is a place where the prison bosses force the inmates to perform in notorious gladiatorial fights to the death.  This is the near-future, ten years after the Great Tokyo Earthquake put 70% of Japan underwater.

As Deadman Wonderland, Vol. 13 (Chapters 53 to 57) opens, the notorious prison begins to collapse and sink beneath the waves.  Meanwhile, Ganta faces off against Shiro, as she begins to reveal her past.  It is intimately connected to Ganta's and is the reason that Shiro wants Ganta to kill her.

Now, learn the origin of the Great Tokyo Earthquake.  Why did Ganta's mother conceive him?  Who bought Shiro?  What is the source of Ganta's powers and why does he have them?  Can either Ganta or Shiro have a happy ending?  Can both their wishes come true in the end?

The English-language publication of the Deadman Wonderland manga has finally been completed.  VIZ Media published the entire series in a graphic novel format over the course of 13 volumes on a bimonthly basis.

Deadman Wonderland Volume 13 offers a satisfactory ending, in a battle manga fashion.  Still, this dark series does not push aside its cautionary tale side, as to the end, it warns about the dangers of ruthlessly ambitious scientists and savagely opportunistic politicians.  Like many sci-fi shonen manga, Deadman Wonderland offers a finale that is merely the end of one part of the story.  The theme park and prison Deadman Wonderland has legacy, and the part that creators, Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou, revealed to us was a darn good read.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Deadman Wonderland: What Ganta Learned About Ganta

I read Deadman Wonderland, Vol. 12

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.  Follow me on Twitter and Tumblr or at Grumble.  Support me on Patreon.

Deadman Wonderland: The Big Go-Back

I read Deadman Wonderland, Vol. 10

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.  Follow me on Twitter and Tumblr or at Grumble.  Support me on Patreon.

Review: ULTRAMAN Volume 1

ULTRAMAN, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[A version of this review first appeared on Patreon.]

STORY: Eiichi Shimizu
ART: Tomohiro Shimoguchi
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamazaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Stan!
LETTERING: Evan Waldinger
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8182-8; paperback (August 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
240pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

As a team, Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi created the manga, Kurogane no Rainbareru (Linebarrels of Iron, Akita Shoten), and have produced character designs for video games and action figures.  Their current collaboration is the manga, Ultraman, based on a character that appeared in Japanese sci-fi/fantasy films and television series, beginning in the 1960s.  Ultraman was an alien entity that merged with a human host to create a superhero that fought aliens trying to invade Earth.

Eiichi Shimizu worked on the story, script, and mechanical design for Ultraman (stylized as ULTRAMAN).  Tomohiro Shimoguchi provided character designs and art for this manga that is a sequel to the television series, “Ultraman” (1966).  The manga (Japanese comics) began its serialization in Monthly Hero's in 2011.  VIZ Media will publish the manga in English as a graphic novel series, beginning August 2015.

Ultraman, Vol. 1 (Chapter 1 to 6) opens 20 years after Ultraman (“Giant of Light”) left Earth after defeating the last of the alien invaders.  Defense Minister Shinjiro Hayata and his young son, Shin Hayata, are visiting “The Giant of Light Memorial Museum.”  The elder Hayata does not remember that he had merged with Ultraman even after something shocking happens to his son at the museum.

Twelve years after that fateful museum visit, young Shin is trying to be a normal school boy, trying to get the girls at his school to notice him.  His life, however, is about to change, and the truth is going to come out.  What is the “Ultra Factor,” and who possesses it?

Many years ago, on a comic book creator's message board, I posted that I wondered if there were Japanese superheros that were similar to American superheroes , such as Superman and Spider-Man.  Another board member said there was such a Japanese superhero – Ultraman.  I wasn't buying it, as what little of Ultraman that I had seen just did not look like something from DC Comics or Marvel Comics or even like superheroes from independent comic book publishers.

Years later, VIZ Media recently sent me the opening volume of the new Ultraman manga.  I don't know how close the new is to the original, as I have not experienced original Ultraman.  I can say that Ultraman Volume 1 makes me believe that Ultraman is like an American superhero.  I could not help but think of Iron Man, although neither Shinjiro nor Shin Hayata is like Tony Stark.  This manga does remind me, a little, of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

This first volume is quite an enjoyable read.  The graphical storytelling moves like a superhero comic book.  If I did not know that Ultraman was created in Japan, I would not at all think of it as manga.  That is not a criticism; I simply think that this Ultraman could work as an American comic book.  I look forward to future volumes because Ultraman has the potential to be quite good.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Deadman Wonderland: Earthquake Party

I read Deadman Wonderland, Vol. 9

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.  Support my work on Patreon.