#IReadsYou Review: SAMURAI 8: The Tale of Hachimaru Volume 2

SAMURAI 8: THE TALE OF HACHIMARU, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CREATOR/STORY: Masashi Kishimoto
ART: Akira Okubo
TRANSLATION: Stephen Paul
LETTERS: Snir Aharon
EDITOR: Alexis Kirsch
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1538-1; paperback (May 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £7.99 U.K.

Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru is a shonen manga series created and written by Masashi Kishimoto (of Naruto fame) and illustrated by Akira Okubo.  Samurai 8 was serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, from May 2019 to March 2020.  VIZ Media published an English-language edition of the manga as a five-volume graphic novel series from March 2020 to February 2021 under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru introduces Hachimaru, a boy who has always dreamed of becoming a samurai.  Samurai carry special souls within themselves and can travel through space as easily as they walk the earth.  Only the most powerful warriors are able to transcend their human bodies and become samurai!  Hachimaru is weak and so sickly that he can’t even eat solid foods.  But one day, his father's secrets and the arrival of a samurai cat named “Daruma” combine to give Hachimaru a chance to live his dream.  With enough heart, could Hachimaru become a true samurai?

As Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru, Vol. 2 (entitled “Who and Why” – Chapters 7 to 15) opens, Hachimaru asks, “What is fate?”  Now, he begins his samurai training under Master Daruma, but he is not a good student.  However, this day will also bring new people into his life.  One is the samurai, Sir Hagamichi; the other is Princess Ann, a “princess of fate.”  Hachimaru finds a new source of confidence in Ann – his princess of fate, and he is delighted, although Ann is somewhat wary of him.  Elsewhere, Ata the Peerless, a new enemy, approaches, and he is a threat to Hachimaru's existence.

THE LOWDOWN:  The Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru manga is creator Masashi Kishimoto's follow-up to his legendary, smash hit manga, Naruto.  [The Naruto sequel, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, is written and drawn by a new writer-artist team.]  Kishimoto created Samurai 8 and writes the story and produces the storyboards, and newcomer artist Akira Okubo draws it.

Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru Graphic Novel Volume 2 has a perfect title, “Who and Why.”  The first volume was quite a read for all the wild and inventive characters and concepts it introduced.  In Vol. 2, Kishimoto and Okubo give us the adversary, Ata, that will vex Hachimaru, and, as Master Daruma explains, the vast conspiracy that threatens the world of Samurai 8.  Granted that it is not until this volume's last chapter (Chp. 15), but the narrative gets there:  the conflict and the competing ideologies.  We also get the origin story and back story of Hachimaru and his father, with plenty of shocking reveals.

I like Akira Okubo drawing style, although it can tend to create cluttered panels that are difficult to read.  Okubo draws like the late Moebius, but the younger artist's compositions are not as streamlined as Moebius'.  Still Okubo and Kishimoto seem like a perfect pairing, and translator Stephen Paul does a good job making the narrative clearer.  Snir Aharon's lettering also goes a long way to creating a rhythm that captures the fun of this story.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Naruto will want to try the Shonen Jump title, Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru.

A
8 out of 10

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


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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: PLATINUM END: Volume 10

PLATINUM END, VOL. 10
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Tsugumi Ohba
ARTIST: Takeshi Obata
TRANSLATION: Stephen Paul
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
EDITOR: Alexis Kirsch
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1054-6; paperback (December 2019); Rated “M” for “Mature”
208pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Platinum End is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata.  It has been serialized in the manga magazine, Jump SQ, since November 2015.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint since late 2016.

Platinum End focuses on Mirai Kakehashi.  He attempts suicide by jumping from the roof of a building simply because he is tired of living.  Instead of dying, however, Mirai is saved by an angel named “Nasse.”  Through her, Mirai learns that 13 humans have been chosen as candidates to replace God, who plans to retire in 999 days.  Each candidate has a guardian angel, and Nasse is Mirai's, and the two have befriend another candidate/angel duo, Saki Hanakago and “Revel.”

As Platinum End, Vol. 10 (Chapters 32 to 36) opens, Kakehashi, Saki, and Minamikawa continue to search for other god candidates.  In a suburban house, they meet Shuji Nakaumi and Ogaro, the Angel of Darkness.  All Shuji wants to talk about, however, is committing suicide!  Plus, Minamikawa has a big announcement!

Meanwhile, police agent, Mr. Hoshi, and his subordinate, Ms. Yumiki, who are both secretly working with the god candidates, are at the center of a plan to gather all the remaining living candidates.  But no one knows who the sixth remaining candidate is.

THE LOWDOWN:  The Platinum End manga is another odd and alluring and oddly alluring manga from the mangaka super duo of writer Tsugumi Ohba and artist Takeshi Obata.  Their previous work includes the controversial Death Note and the illuminating industry insider manga, Bakuman。.

Platinum End Graphic Novel Volume 10, like Vol. 9, somewhat eschews the darkness and edginess of Vols. 7 and 8.  Ohba and Obata move the series away from the homicidal machinations of the murderous mastermind, Metropoliman.  They also offer a shocker when one of the angels reveals some information to the candidates that they need to know, but perhaps, should not know.  The creators also tease the sixth candidate, which is an example of why the more I read, the more I feel I have to keep reading

As usual, readers get another excellent translation by Stephen Paul that is filled with engaging dialogue that clearly conveys the new secrets revealed.  Also, the lettering by James Gaubatz deftly establishes conversational tone, and tone, as usual, turns out to be quite important here.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for good comic books will want to read Ohba and Obata's latest “Shonen Jump” title, Platinum End.

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.



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#IReadsYou Review: SAMURAI 8: The Tale of Hachimaru Volume 1

SAMURAI 8: THE TALE OF HACHIMARU, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CREATOR/STORY: Masashi Kishimoto
ART: Akira Okubo
TRANSLATION: Stephen Paul
LETTERS: Snir Aharon
EDITOR: Alexis Kirsch
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1502-2; paperback (March 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru is a shonen manga series created and written by Masashi Kishimoto (of Naruto fame) and illustrated by Akira Okubo.  Samurai 8 has been serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, since May 2019.  VIZ Media is publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a graphic novel series, released under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru, Vol. 1 (entitled “The First Key” – Chapters 1 to 6) introduces Hachimaru.  He has always dreamed of becoming a samurai.  Samurai carry special souls within themselves and can travel through space as easily as they walk the earth.  Only the most powerful warriors are able to transcend their human bodies and become something even greater – samurai!

Hachimaru, however, is as weak as they come, and he is so sickly that he can’t even eat solid foods.  Being too weak to leave his house has turned Hachimaru into an expert at video games, so at least he gets to play samurai video games, at which he is very good.  But one day, his father's secrets and the arrival of a samurai cat named “Daruma” combine to give Hachimaru a chance to live his dream.  With enough heart, could Hachimaru become a true samurai?

The Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru manga is creator Masashi Kishimoto's follow-up to his legendary, smash hit manga, Naruto.  [The Naruto sequel, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, is written and drawn by a new writer-artist team.]  Kishimoto created Samurai 8 and writes the story and produces the storyboards.  Newcomer artist Akira Okubo draws Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru.

Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru Graphic Novel Volume 1 is quite a read.  Kishimoto packs the six chapters that comprise Vol. 1 with internal mythology, although the cast, as yet, is not large.  The lead character, Hachimaru, seems like a blank slate.  What he does share with Naruto is a sense of determination, but Naruto was a more fully formed character in his first volume than Hachimaru is in his first volume.  However, Hachimaru's innocence is endearing, and that is the thing that draws me (at least) to him.

I don't know how much of Akira Okubo's work in these first six chapters is drawn with the aid of assistants, but Okubo's graphical style is gorgeous.  Okubo draws like the late Moebius, but the younger artist's compositions are not as streamlined as Moebius'.  In this first volume, the illustrations are so cluttered that they sometimes fill the graphical storytelling with the kind of static that comes between the artist/storyteller and his audience.

I don't want to make it sound like I have reservations about Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru.  I am excited about this series, and like Naruto and Boruto, I am eager for more.

8 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.


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Review: PLATINUM END Volume 1

PLATINUM END, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Tsugumi Ohba
ARTIST: Takeshi Obata
TRANSLATION: Stephen Paul
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
EDITOR: Alexis Kirsch
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9063-9; paperback (October 2016); Rated “M” for “Mature”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Platinum End is the new manga from the mangaka team of writer Tsugumi Ohba and artist Takeshi Obata.  They are best known for their bestselling and controversial manga, Death Note, and also for the insider manga, Bakuman。.

Platinum End, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 3) introduces orphan Mirai Kakehashi.  He is tired of life and attempts suicide by jumping from the roof of a building.  Instead of dying, Mirai is saved by an angel named Nasse.  Through her, Mirai learns that 13 humans have been chosen as candidates to replace God.  Each has a guardian angel, and Nasse is Mirai's.

Nasse gives Mirai the “angel's arrow” which can make anyone, male or female, hit with that arrow love Mirai for 33 days.  She gives him wings that allow him the freedom to go anywhere he wants.  The problem is that these new powers and this God candidate contest both have a dark side.

The Platinum End manga, like the Death Note manga, is shockingly edgy.  It is obvious from the beginning that this new manga by the Ohba-Obata team will be dark, but by the end of this volume's three chapters (which are rather longish), events reveal a sinister mood that is beyond the obvious.

Platinum End Volume 1 is the kind of first volume that practically forces the reader to return for more.  And I love this sinister.  Dear reader, I should admit that I am a huge fan of Ohba and Obata's Bakuman。and plan to read it again.  I think that Obata certainly deserves his nickname, “the god of drawing;” he is that good.  Trust me, however; Platinum End is going to be a helluva manga, and it has a heckuva first 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.

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One Piece: Smile

I read One Piece, Vol. 77

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

One Piece: Just Keep Going

I read One Piece, Vol. 76

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One Piece: Repaying the Debt

I read One Piece, Vol. 75

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One Piece: Operation Dressrosa S.O.P.

I read One Piece, Vol. 73

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations (cause 12+ years of free is bad).  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.

One Piece: Dressrosa's Forgotten

I read One Piece, Vol. 72

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One Piece: Coliseum of Scoundrels

I read One Piece, Vol. 71

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One Piece: Enter Doflamingo

I read One Piece, Vol. 70

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One Piece: S.A.D.

I read One Piece, Vol. 69

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One Piece: Pirate Alliance

I read One Piece, Vol. 68

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics - which you can also purchase).

One Piece: Cool Fight

I read One Piece, Vol. 67

I posted a review at ComicBookBin.

One Piece: The Road Toward the Sun

I read One Piece, Vol. 66

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Maoh Juvenile Remix: Testing Powers

I read Maoh Juvenile Remix 8 / Name Your Link

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Maoh: Juvenile Remix - Grasshopper Action Meeting

I read Maoh: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 7

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Maoh Juvenile Remix: Grasshopper Action Meeting

I read Maoh: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 6

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I Reads You Review: BUTTERFLY, VOL. 1

Creator: Yu Aikawa with Stephen Paul (translation and English adaptation)

Publishing Information: TOKYOPOP, B&W, paperback, 208 pages, $10.99 (US), $13.99 CAN

Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4278-1852-2

 

Fantasy/Horror; Rated “T” for “Teen 13+”

 

Butterfly is shonen manga from creator Yu Aikawa. It is about a pair of ghost busters, but the story always seems to ask this question: what are the protagonists really busting?

In Butterfly, Vol. 1, readers meet Ginji Ishikawa, a young man who despises all things related to the occult. This hatred causes him to do something careless and stupid, which puts him deep in debt. Enter a boy named Ageha who pays off Ginji’s debt, but to repay Ageha, Ginji will have to partner with the child in a ghost-busting business.

As one would expect of a comic book series built around ghosts, Butterfly does have a creepy edge. However, this series, at least at this early point in the story, seems intent on hunting and busting the ghosts of the characters’ pasts. This kind of ghost is more metaphysical and family-related than it is supernatural. It makes for an intriguing read.

As I read Butterfly, I kept hoping that it would get scarier. I was also drawn into the mysterious of the characters’ pasts and into the seemingly odd relationships these characters have with one another. While the art is not spectacular, it does serve Butterfly’s vibe, style, and character-heavy drama quite well.

I won’t give Butterfly a grade, yet, but I very much look forward to reading the next volume of this peculiar tale of strange ghost busters. I like this kind of haunting.

I Reads You Review: PSYCHO BUSTERS, VOL. 6/7

Creator: Akinari Nao (manga) and Yuya Aoki (story); Stephen Paul (translation and adaptation)

Publishing Information: Del Rey Manga, paperback-B&W, 400 pages, $17.99 U.S., $19.99 CAN

Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-0-345-51896-5 (ISBN-13)

Rating: “OT” for “Ages 16+”

Psycho Busters is a manga created by Akinari Nao from a story by Japanese novelist and screenwriter, Yuya Aoki. It follows the adventures of Kakeru Hase, a boy who discovers the world of psychic powers when a girl named Ayano visits him via astral projection. Soon, Kakeru is on the run with Ayano’s friends: Jôi, Kaito, and Xiao Long. Their adversary is Ikushima, the wicked and murderous supervisor of the “Greenhouse,” a laboratory where experiments on psychics are conducted. In time, Kakeru learns that he is also a psychic, a very powerful kind.

In Psycho Busters, Vol. 6/7 (which collects Vols. 6 and 7 of the regular series), the battle between Team Kakeru and Ikushima comes to an end, but not before shocking revelations in the origin story department. Ikushima manages to destroy the world, but there exists in a crack in time a place called the Tower of Time. If Kakeru and his friends can reach the top of the Tower and find the mysterious Akashic Records, they can restore existence. However, Ikushima has a mind-bending connection to one of Kakeru’s friends that will complicate the race to restore the world.

Psycho Busters is a like a shonen manga version of the X-Men. The characters here are essentially mutants, and they are hated and hunted for their powers. Like the X-Men, Psycho Busters has well-drawn characters in which the author provides enough details to keep the readers interested. Akinari Nao offers some visually imaginative sequences in the Tower of Time episode that propel this manga in a way that will keep the readers delightfully surprised. Too bad, this is also the end of the series. I enjoyed reading it, but these characters have more to say than what this relatively short series presented.

B+