#IReadsYou Review: PERSONA 5: Volume 1

PERSONA 5, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Hisato Murasaki
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
LETTERS: Annaliese Christman
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1175-8; paperback (January 2020); Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”
216pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Persona 5 is a role-playing video game that is an installment in the Persona video game series, which is itself part of the larger Japanese media franchise, Megami Tensei.  In 2016, manga artist Hisato Murasaki began producing a manga adaptation and spin-off of Persona 5.  It is published on the Web comic site, Ura Sunday, and (apparently) on the app, “Manga One.”  VIZ Media is publishing an English language edition of Persona 5 as a series of graphic novels, beginning this month (January 2020).

Persona 5, Vol. 1 (Chapter 1 to 6) introduces high school student, Akira Kurusu.  An act of bravery got Kurusu in serious legal trouble (showing, once again, that no good deed goes unpunished).  Now, banished to Shibuya (a ward in Tokyo), Akira lives in a back room of “Cafe LeBlanc,” owned by his caretaker (of sorts), Sojiro Sakura.

Living with very little room for error or for mistakes, Kurusu is now enrolled in Shujin Academy, a prestigious private college preparatory high school.  On his first day, he meets an eccentric cast of characters, including a fellow “delinquent,” Ryujin Sakamoto.  Shortly afterwards, a mysterious app on Kurusu's smart phone seemingly transports him and Sakamoto to a strange place called, “the Palace.”  Now, Kurusu finds himself thrust into the world of “Personas” and also discovering that he has a “very rare and unique power.”

[This volume includes an afterword and “An Extra Bonus.”]

Until my VIZ Media rep sent me a copy of the first volume of the Persona 5 manga, I had never heard of the video game of the same title.  I don't play video games, but I must admit to being a fan of several manga adaptations of various video games, such as Resident Evil and The Legend of Zelda.

Persona 5 Graphic Novel Volume 1 introduces a lot of characters, settings, and plot lines – enough for three volumes of graphic novels.  However, I am intrigued.  Right now, Akira Kurusu isn't a particularly interesting character, as far as his personality goes, but I want to know more about his powers and his past.  There, on the other hand, are some interesting personalities among the supporting cast.  I would say that Hisato Murasaki writes in a manner to constantly and consistently intrigue his readers into wanting to keep reading.  That's a good thing.

Murasaki's illustrative style is pretty and also nicely shadowy and mysterious.  In fact, the graphical storytelling relies on a sense of mystery and on making the reader wonder what hides in the shadows of the unknown and in the characters' dreams.

Adrienne Beck's translation is edgy and captures all the tension in these first chapters.  Annaliese Christman's lettering is very good at helping readers understand the meanings and moods in the dialogue.  Her sound effects totally sell the moody, mysterious, and darkly magical atmosphere of this manga.  I can't imagine that I would let everyone's efforts here go to waste by reading only this first volume.  Heaven forbid it.

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 syndication rights and fees.


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Review: KENKA BANCHO OTOME: Love's Battle Royale Volume 2

KENKA BANCHO OTOME: LOVE'S BATTLE ROYALE, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Chie Shimada
TRANSLATION:  JN Productions
LETTERS: Inori Fukuda Trant
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9911-3; paperback (July 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Original concept by Spike Chunsoft; video game developed by Red Entertainment

A series of video games that debuted a decade ago for the Playstation Portable, Kenka Banchou follows the efforts of a male “bancho” (delinquent) to beat up other delinquents.  Manga creator, Chie Shimada, created a manga, entitled Kenka Bancho Otome: Girl Beats Boys, based on the game, but it focused on a female character as the lead.

VIZ Media is publishing that manga under the title, Kenka Bancho Otome: Love's Battle Royale, which focuses on Hinako Nakayama, an orphaned girl.  She is about to start her first day at the all-girls school, Kotobuki Girls' High School, when she accidentally bumps into a teen boy whose face resembles her face.  His name is Hikaru Onigashima, and he is her long-lost twin.  Hikaru demands that because Hinako has hurt him, she must disguise herself to look like him and take his place at his new school, Shishiku Academy, an all-boys school of delinquents – who fight all the time!

Kenka Bancho Otome: Love's Battle Royale, Vol. 2 (Chapters 5 to 8) finds Hinako-as-Hikaru the boss of the first and second year classes.  However, she is in for a surprise when she meets Houou Onigashima, the real Hikaru's older brother, and that means she also has a big brother.

Meanwhile, Hinako is so happy to finally have friends.  She grows closer to Totomaru Minowa, Rintaro Kira, Takayuki Konparu, and Yuta Mirako.  Totomaru and Kira are secretly rivals for Hinako's affections, but it may all end when one of her friends is being forced to leave the school

The Kenka Bancho Otome manga has a familiar premise, as it reminds me of the recent shojo manga, So Cute it Hurts!!, from mangaka Go Ikeyamada.  Kenka Bancho Otome, however, will not run as long at the latter manga did.

Kenka Bancho Otome: Love's Battle Royale Graphic Novel Volume 2 is the final volume of this series.  It is a nice volume as it solidifies the relationship dynamics so that readers can recognize Hinako's immediate circle of friends.  I don't know if there will be more of this series, but this second volume makes me think that there is more story to tell.  In the meantime, I recommend this to fans of gender-switch manga.

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: 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.

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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.

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Review: RESIDENT EVIL: The Marhawa Desire Volume 5

RESIDENT EVIL: THE MARHAWA DESIRE, VOL. 5
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Naoki Serizawa
CONCEPT: Capcom
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamazaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Stan!
LETTERING: John Clark
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7376-2; paperback (July 2015); Rated “M” for “Mature”
168pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

VIZ Media's publication of the seinen manga, Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire, has come to an end with the publication of the fifth volume or graphic novel in the series.  An adult horror manga, Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire, serves as a comic book prequel to the story line of CAPCOM’s bestselling video game, Resident Evil® 6.  This iteration of Resident Evil introduces the highly virulent C-virus, and the manga explores the origins of this new outbreak.

The story begins with Doug Wright.  He is a professor in the Department of Sciences and Engineering at Bennett University, and he specializes in bacteriology.  He receives a letter from Mother Gracia, headmistress of Marhawa Academy, Asia's largest and most prestigious school.  Wright, who had a past relationship with Gracia, rushes to the school, with his nephew, 20-year-old Ricky Tozawa, in tow.  Deep in the jungle, Marhawa Academy is located within a giant, self-contained and self-sufficient complex.  There, Prof. Wright and Ricky find themselves caught in a deadly and growing tragedy that is an epidemic of zombie proportions.

Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire, Vol. 5 (Chapters 33 to 39 – Final Chapter) opens as the remaining humans in the Marhawa Academy complex make their last stand against a legion of students, faculty, and staff turned zombies.  Ricky has joined a three-person team from the B.S.A.A. (Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance):  Chris Redfield (team leader), Merah Biji, and Piers Nivens.

They believe that they have found a way to escape the campus, but before they do that, they must fight their way not only through zombies, but also through monsters.  The bio-organic weapon (B.O.W.), Nanan Yoshihara, swings her horrible tentacles when she isn't spewing deadly virus gas, and Bendi Bergara has undergone a horrible transformation.  Meanwhile, the Hooded Woman lurks in the background, carrying the truth behind the Marhawa Incident.

[This volume includes a “Special Epilogue.”]

Sigh.  The Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire manga has come to an end.  I want more.  No, I have never played any Resident Evil video games, nor do I play video games in general.  I have not read previous Resident Evil comics, but I am a fan of the Resident Evil live-action film franchise that began with the 2002 film, Resident Evil.  I enjoyed reading the manga more than I have enjoyed watching the films, which I have, for the most part, found entertaining.

Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire Volume 5 offers a satisfying ending, relatively speaking.  Zombie apocalyptic fiction has to break your heart for every time it gives you a good outcome.  Writer-artist Naoki Serizawa gleefully poured on the gore and violence, and he gave us some attractive characters, so that he could use some of them to break our hearts.  He put the reader right in the middle of the action.  I felt that I had to run every time the heroes did, and I felt like every page was about a fight for my life, just as the heroes were fighting for their lives.

Yeah, you might say that this is “just” a Resident Evil comic, so it can't be that good.  Well, it is just a great Resident Evil comic, and it is that good because it is classic monster comics.  Read it by flashlight, under a bed sheet, while something scratches at your window.  Fans of horror manga and zombie comics will want the VIZ Signature title, Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux (Support Leroy on Patreon)


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

Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire - B.S.A.A. on Site

I read Resident Evil, Vol. 4: The Marhawa Desire

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

Review: "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past"

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST
VIZ MEDIA/Perfect Square – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Shotaro Ishinomori
TRANSLATION: Dan Owsen
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7541-4; paperback (May 2015)
192pp, Color, $19.99 U.S., $22.99 CAN, £13.99 U.K.

The manga-ka (artist-creator), the late Shotaro Ishinomori (1938-1998), was an influential figure in manga and anime and in the live-action film and television genre known as “tokusatsu.”  Ishinomori is the creator of such series as Cyborg 009 (1964) and Kamen Rider (a manga and tokusatsu).  VIZ Media recently brought a “lost” work of Ishinomori back into print.

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: A Link to the Past, loosely based on a 1991 game of the same title, was published in 1992.  Written and drawn by Shotaro Ishinomori, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past was a twelve-part series originally published in the magazine, Nintendo Power, from Volume 32 (January 1992) to Volume 43 (December 1992).

VIZ Media brought the long out-of-print The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past back to readers through its “Perfect Square” imprint.  VIZ published the new The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past as an 8” x 11.75” full-color, paperback, graphic novel.  This special, single-volume, print edition, which is exclusive to VIZ Media, carries an SRP of $19.99 U.S. and $22.99 CAN.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is set in the kingdom of Hyrule and focuses on a young man named Link.  One night, he receives a telepathic summons from Princess Zelda, who is being held prisoner by Agahnim, an evil wizard.  Agahnim wants to use the life force of seven maidens to open the Golden Seal to the Dark World, which would allow a great evil to come into the world of light, of which Hyrule is a part.

Rescuing Zelda and keeping her safe turns out to be quite a task.  Link goes on a quest to retrieve the “Three Symbols of Virtue,” a trio of pendants that will make it easier for Link to find and to wield the “Master Sword.”  Is Link really the legendary hero who appears once every hundred years to use the Master Sword in order to save Hyrule?  A difficult journey and quest will answer that question.

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.  VIZ Media sent me copy-for-review of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and as soon as I flipped through it, I was impressed with this graphic novel.  The colors are dazzling and really show well on the high-quality coated paper stock upon which this book is printed.

As for the story, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is an especially fun read.  What “little kid” is left in me loved it.  In fact, I think that this is a perfect graphic novel for elementary school age readers.  It is a simple quest story that jumps around a lot – sometimes in a manner that makes for awkward transitions within an scene and from one scene to the next.  However, the inventive supporting characters and imaginative locales, as depicted by Shotaro Ishinomori, are captivating.

I am surprised that I find myself thinking that VIZ Media's publication of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a good comics reclamation project.  I think some American manga fans will also be glad for the return of this lost comics video game adaptation.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire - Secrets of a Hooded Woman

I read Resident Evil, Vol. 3: The Marhawa Desire

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter and at Grumble.

Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire - A Hooded Lady

I read Resident Evil, Vol. 2: The Marhawa Desire

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.

Review: RESIDENT EVIL: The Marhawa Desire Volume 1

RESIDENT EVIL: THE MARHAWA DESIRE, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Naoki Serizawa
CONCEPT: Capcom
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamazaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Stan!
LETTERERS: John Clark
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7372-4; paperback (November 2014); Rated “M” for “Mature”
176pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire is a manga that serves as a prequel to the storyline of CAPCOM’s bestselling Resident Evil® 6 video game.  This manga was originally published in Japan in 2012 by Akita Publishing Co., Inc.; now, VIZ Media is publishing the manga in North America as a 5-volume graphic novel series.

Resident Evil 6 introduces the highly virulent C-virus, but where did this new outbreak begin?   Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 6) opens at Bennett University in Singapore.  There, Doug Wright is a professor in the Department of Sciences and Engineering, and he specializes in bacteriology.  He receives a letter from Marhawa Academy, Asia's largest and most prestigious school.  The letter is written by Marhawa's Headmaster, Mother Gracia.

The fact that she had some kind of relationship with Wright in the past is probably the reason that Wright rushes to the school, which is located deep in the jungle, a giant, self-contained and self-sufficient complex.  Wright takes his nephew, 20-year-old Ricky Tozawa, with him because he is failing at Bennett and could use some extra credit work.  Prof. Wright and Ricky find themselves caught in a deadly and growing tragedy and perhaps, epidemic.  Meanwhile, Chris Redfield and his B.S.A.A. ( Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance) is looking for Prof. Wright.

First, I have never played any Resident Evil video games.  I did not read the Resident Evil comics produced by Marvel and Wildstorm a long time ago.  I am a big fan of the Resident Evil live-action film franchise that began back in 2002.  When I received a press release announcing the Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire manga, I was excited by that news.  When my VIZ Media rep sent me a copy of Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire Volume 1 for review, I was thrilled.

I like this manga.   Naoki Serizawa, the writer and artist behind Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire, offers one of those horror stories that starts as a mystery about a conspiracy that a group of people are protecting.  Of course, this eventually leads to a horror bigger and worse than anyone realized.  I tore through this manga in one sitting.

I think Professor Doug Wright and his nephew Ricky Tozawa are good characters.  The reason is because they are two-things necessary in mystery and even horror fiction – open to the mystery, adventurous, and fearless enough/foolish enough to run into the belly of the beast that will eat them or turn them into zombies.  I am surprised that this story can be contained in five volumes.  Once again, I will admit my love of the Resident Evil movies, as I heartily recommend the VIZ Signature title, Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire, to you, dear readers.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Review: AKANEIRO #1

AKANEIRO #1
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Justin Aclin
ART: Vasilis Lolos
COLORS: Michael Atiyeh
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Shu Yan
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2013)

“The Path of Cloak and Wolf” Part 1 of 3

American McGee is a game designer perhaps best known as the designer of American McGee's Alice and for Spicy Horse, his Shanghai-based independent video game developer. McGee and Spicy Horse’s latest game is Akaneiro: Demon Hunters, a re-envisioning of Red Riding Hood set in the world of Japanese folklore.

Dark Horse Comics is producing a comic book adaptation of Akaneiro: Demon Hunters, entitled Akaneiro. The series is written by Justin Aclin and drawn by Vasilis Lolos.

Akaneiro #1 opens on Yomi Island, the home of the Ainu people, who were the first to settle Nippon. The island is beset by yokai, who will destroy humanity if too many enter the world. The Red Hunters of the Order of Akane hunt and kill yokai, maintaining a balance, but the Ainu and Red Hunters, at best, only tolerate each other.

Kani is a half-Ainu girl (on her late mother’s side) who lives with her father, a shabby ronin. Her lineage makes her an outcast to the Ainu, but an Ainu ceremony, the Iomante, will change Kani’s life.

I can’t tell how much Little Red Riding Hood is in Akaneiro, but the influences of feudal Japan-set fiction, as well as Japanese folklore and mythology are clear. Honestly, I did not find Akaneiro interesting at first, but once Kani begins her journey, the story takes a nice, wicked turn. At that turning point, it seems as if the Japanese folklore aspect lessens. Now, Akaneiro has a Sam Raimi-Army of Darkness vibe.

Two things to keep me coming back are, first, artist Vasilis Lolos’ peculiar, but compelling drawing style. The second thing is that the part of the story that begins in the last seven pages is just too good to be left hanging.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Leroy Douresseaux on RAGE #3

RAGE #3 (OF 3)
DARK HORSE BOOKS

SCRIPT: Arvid Nelson
PENCILS: Andrea Mutti
INKS: Pierluigi Baldassini
COLORS: Michael Atiyeh
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Glenn Fabry
32pp, Color, $3.50

“After the Impact” Part 3 of 3

So Rage, Dark Horse’s comic book miniseries based upon RAGE, the upcoming first-person shooter game from id Software, has ended. I enjoyed it, but I was left wanting more post-apocalyptic shoot ‘em up. In some ways, this series is a bit thin.

This comic book series is written by Arvid Nelson (Rex Mundi) and drawn by Andrea Mutti. Entitled “After the Impact,” it is an original tale set in and an introduction to the world of Rage. I hope this duo returns if there is a second Rage comic book.

Rage takes place on an Earth that was struck by Asteroid 99942 – codename: Apophis – on April 13, 2037. Five billion people died within 24 hours, but a tiny fraction of the population survived the devastation by living in “burrowing cryo arks.” They emerged to find Earth a wasteland controlled by a global military dictatorship called the Authority. It is 2095 when scientist Dr. Elizabeth Cadence is revived. The Authority brings her to a research facility in a vast necropolis where she hopes to discover the full extent of the Authority’s deceptions.

As Rage #3 opens, Elizabeth has learned the Authority’s dirty secrets: that they murdered her husband and son and that they are responsible for the creation of the rampaging mutants. With her old colleague, Dr. Antonin Kvasir at her side, Elizabeth prepares for her final showdown with brutal Authority officer, Colonel James Casey.

If Rage the game is as fun to read as Rage the comic book, gamers will be quite satisfied. Writer Arvid Nelson’s tight script and Andrea Mutti perfect-match art should get them a second chance at returning us to the world of Rage. Overall, this is good military and monsters science fiction, although I wish there were more to this in terms of the length of the narrative.

I’m not into video games, but I enjoyed reading this video game adaptation in a way I never do when it comes to video game comic books. Are there any other good ones out there?

B+

Leroy Douresseaux on STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC – The Lost Suns #3

STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC – THE LOST SUNS #3 (OF 5)
DARK HORSE BOOKS

["Star Wars Central" review page is here.]

SCRIPT: Alexander Freed
PENCILS: David Daza
INKS: Mark McKenna
COLORS: Michael Atiyeh
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Benjamin Carré
32pp, Color, $3.50

The new Star Wars comic book, Star Wars: The Old Republic – The Lost Suns, is based upon the LucasArts online game, Star Wars: The Old Republic. Set over 3600 years before the events depicted in the first film, Star Wars (1977), this series takes place after a great war between the Galactic Republic and Sith Empire. Although the war ended with a Republic victory, the Sith gained control of seven star systems.

Agent Theron Shan, a spy working for the Republic’s Strategic Information Service (S.I.S.), reunites with the long-missing Jedi Ngani Zho. Zho trained Theron’s mother, Satele Shan, and was once Theron’s guardian. Zho and Teff’ith, a female Twi’lek Theron captured, join the young S.I.S. agent on a mission to discover the secrets of Darth Mekhis, an old enemy of Satele’s.

As Star Wars: The Old Republic – The Lost Suns #3 opens, the three, by hook and crook, enter Imperial space. They gain entry into the Vesla star system and set up S.I.S. spy rays and telescopes. What Theron discovers is beyond anything he expected.

Because this third issue of Star Wars: The Old Republic – The Lost Suns focuses on infiltration and espionage, it is the most tension-filled issue to date. Also, the narrative grows more suspenseful as it draws the reader into the secrets of Ngani Zho’s past. The last few pages race towards an exciting cliffhanger. This was the put-up or shut up issue for The Lost Suns; it put up.

This is one of the better Star Wars comic books, so fans of Star Wars Expanded Universe will certainly want to give it a try.

A-

Leroy Douresseaux on RAGE #2

RAGE #2 (OF 3)
DARK HORSE BOOKS

SCRIPT: Arvid Nelson
PENCILS: Andrea Mutti
INKS: Pierluigi Baldassini
COLORS: Michael Atiyeh
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Glenn Fabry
32pp, Color, $3.50

“After the Impact” Part 2 of 3

Rage, the upcoming first-person shooter game from id Software, is also a comic book. Dark Horse Comics is publishing the three-issue comic book miniseries, also entitled Rage, based on the game from the developers of Doom and Quake. Written by Arvid Nelson (Rex Mundi) and drawn by Andrea Mutti, “After the Impact,” is an original tale and an introduction to the world of Rage.

Rage takes place on an Earth that was struck by Asteroid 99942 – codename: Apophis – on April 13, 2037. Five billion people die within 24 hours, but a tiny fraction of the population survived devastation by living in burrowing cryo arks. They emerged to find Earth a wasteland controlled by a global military dictatorship called the Authority. It is 2095, and Dr. Elizabeth Cadence is revived. Now, she is the scientist determined to discover the full extent of the Authority’s deceptions.

In Rage #2, Elizabeth believes that the radiation from Apophis is not the cause of the mutation that has turned survivors into mindless, bloodthirsty marauders. She confronts her old colleague Dr. Antonin Kvasir, a fellow survivor who is also working for the Authority, but whatever he knows, he is afraid to discuss for fear of being murdered. Meanwhile, Elizabeth discovers just how much of a bastard Authority officer, Colonel James Casey, is.

I’m not sure if Rage the comic book will make anyone want to play Rage the came, but if they read Rage, they’ll be getting a good read. The streamlined script by Arvid Nelson offers deft characterization and engaging conflict. The excellent art by Andrea Mutti is ideally fit for science fiction comics and has a graphic style that captures this story’s grittiness. I don’t know about the game, but the comic book is certainly good.

A-

http://www.rage.com/

Leroy Douresseaux on RAGE #1

RAGE #1 (OF 3)
DARK HORSE BOOKS

SCRIPT: Arvid Nelson
PENCILS: Andrea Mutti
INKS: Pierluigi Baldassini
COLORS: Michael Atiyeh
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Glenn Fabry (alternate cover by Stephan Martiniere)
32pp, Color, $3.50

Dark Horse Comics is publishing a comic book based upon Rage, the upcoming first-person shooter game from developer, id Software, creators of Doom and Quake, and publisher, Bethesda Softworks. The three-issue comic book miniseries is written by Arvid Nelson (the creator of Rex Mundi) and drawn by Andrea Mutti, and the story, entitled “After the Impact,” is an original tale and an introduction to the world of Rage.

In the back story of Rage, Asteroid 99942 – codename: Apophis – strikes Earth on April 13, 2037. Five billion people die within 24 hours. A tiny fraction of the population survives the attack by living in burrowing cryo arks, but they emerge to find Earth a wasteland controlled by a global military dictatorship called the Authority.

In Rage #1, Dr. Elizabeth Cadence emerges from her life-sustaining ark and is immediately confronted by murderous marauders. She is rescued by Authority forces and taken to their home base, The Dead City. Cadence is also familiar with an Authority officer, Casey. As a scientist, Dr. Cadence helps the Authority, but discovers that what she has learned is not the truth.

Between the title page synopsis and this first issue, comic book readers will have a nice introduction to the world of Rage, and they will certainly have an entertaining read in this comic book.

The script by Arvid Nelson is clean and streamlined, and Nelson manages to introduce the personalities of and the conflict between the two characters that are the focus (at least at this point), Dr. Cadence and Casey. The only problem here is that this first issue seems like a prologue to the real action, which, in the context of a three-issue miniseries, suggests that there may not be a lot of story in the series. [Of course, I could be wrong.]

Artist Andrea Mutti’s graphic style is perfect for this science fiction tale. Mutti’s clean compositions make for good storytelling, and Mutti has a knack for drawing faces that convey personality traits and complex emotions. Cover artist Glenn Fabry may be the big name here, but Mutti’s interior art is the star.

B+

http://www.rage.com/

Dark Horse Announces New "Mass Effect" Comic Book Miniseries

DARK HORSE TO GIVE FIRST LOOK AT MASS EFFECT: EVOLUTION AT COMIC-CON!

Dynamic creative team of Mac Walters, John Jackson Miller and Omar Francia return for a follow up to the massively successful first series

Following the incredible success of Dark Horse Comics’ Mass Effect: Redemption, the publisher will join forces again with BioWare, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc., for an all-new comic book series based on the blockbuster sci-fi action videogame Mass Effect 2 that sold two million copies in its first week and earned a 96% score on the industry-watched review aggregator Metacritic. Scheduled to launch on January 19, 2011, Mass Effect: Evolution will take fans to a new corner of the Mass Effect universe, shedding light for the first time on the origin of the Illusive Man and the founding of his black-ops outfit, Cerberus.

Mass Effect: Evolution reunites the creative team of Redemption with Mac Walters, Lead Writer of Mass Effect 2 and the upcoming Mass Effect 3, writing the story and bringing his unmatched understanding of Mass Effect’s characters to the comics. Walters is joined by John Jackson Miller (Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, The Invincible Iron Man), who scripts the series, and Omar Francia (Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2), who returns as artist. The team will be joined by Massimo Carnevale (Y: The Last Man, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), who provides stunning painted covers.

“It's exciting to be working once again with Dark Horse and the creative team from Redemption,” Walters said. “I really enjoyed taking this series in a darker, grittier direction—a fact that's reflected in Massimo's outstanding covers. I'm sure fans of the universe and comics alike will enjoy this new glimpse in to the Mass Effect universe!”

"Our first Mass Effect series exceeded all expectations,” Dark Horse Publisher Mike Richardson said. “We're very excited about continuing the adventures of these great characters and working with the great folks at EA."

The four-issue series offers the most revealing glimpse to date of humans’ first steps into the wider universe of Mass Effect. Opening in a time of war, Evolution introduces a younger and very different Illusive Man, fighting to maintain human autonomy from alien interference, a cause that takes him behind enemy lines and into conflict with some of Mass Effect’s most dangerous figures. His journey from dissident to power broker presents new insights into the Mass Effect saga for existing fans, while the focus on the earliest days of Cerberus provides a riveting story of action and intrigue for sci-fi readers of all stripes.

Dark Horse will be revealing more about the series and cover art from issue #1 at San Diego Comic-Con International. Comic-Con attendees should head to the “Video Game Comics—The Next Big Thing” panel on Thursday, July 22 at 1 p.m. in Room 5AB or the “Dark Horse Comics: Make Contact in 2010” panel on Friday, July 23 at 11:30 a.m. in Room 3 for more!


About Dark Horse Comics
Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way and comics legend Will Eisner, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as The Mask, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Additionally, their highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, Serenity and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the U.S. and is recognized as one of the world's leading publisher of licensed comics material.

About BioWare
BioWare develops computer, console, handheld, mobile and online video games focused on rich stories and memorable characters. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world's best-selling titles, including the award-winning Baldur's Gate™ and Neverwinter Nights™ series, Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™ and Sonic™ Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (for the Nintendo DS™). Original BioWare-created intellectual properties include Jade Empire™ and the 2007 Game of the Year, Mass Effect™. With studios in Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), Montréal (Québec), and Austin (Texas), BioWare is hard at work on the epic fantasy roleplaying game, Dragon Age™: Origins, Mass Effect 2™, the epic sequel to Mass Effect, and the story-driven massively multiplayer game, Star Wars®: The Old Republic™, as well as several unannounced projects. In 2008, BioWare was acquired by the world's leading electronic entertainment publisher, Electronic Arts. For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com

About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA SPORTS Freestyle™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

*BioWare, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. . All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Devil's Due to Produce "Battle Bears" Graphic Novel

BATTLE BEARS TEAMS WITH POPCULT FOR CROSS-MEDIA COMIC BOOK


Devil's Due Publishing to Produce Print Graphic Novel Collection

PopCult Solutions and SkyVu Pictures have partnered to bring the iTunes chart-topping game to life in comic book form. In the coming weeks and months ahead, the world of the BATTLE BEARS will be expanded upon through original comic book stories available via the web, the iTunes App store, and more.

BATTLE BEARS is a hot new character franchise created by Benjamin Vu and his team at SkyVu Pictures. The first BATTLE BEARS game has garnered over 2 Million downloads on iTunes and its fan base continues to skyrocket globally. The game has won two major app awards and continues to attract thousands of new fans daily from around the world.

"We're very excited about bringing BATTLE BEARS to the world of comics with PopCult Solutions," said Vu. "The millions of people who've downloaded our iPhone game will now be able to discover more about the BATTLE BEARS saga and bridge the funny action-packed story lines that happen in our games."

Vu adds, "OLIVER the BATTLE BEAR is already one of the most recognizable characters on the iPhone and iPod Touch. His adventures in the these comics will reveal more about him and other new characters that will be appearing in upcoming BATTLE BEARS games."

"BATTLE BEARS represents where so much of modern entertainment and gaming are headed," said Josh Blaylock, Managing Partner of PopCult. "It's an original idea that's executed completely outside of the traditional 'rules' of how games are made and sold, and we're going to do the same with the comics by creating a truly interactive experience available to all of the BATTLE BEARS fans."

Vu and Blaylock plan to announce more details on the BATTLE BEARS comics soon, including print plans, and the print collaboration with Blaylock's comic book publishing company, Devil's Due, which publishes SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND in collaboration with Starz Media and JERICHO, based off of the acclaimed television series. Fans of BATTLE BEARS can no doubt expect OLIVER to have a presence at the Devil's Due Booth at this year's Comic-Cons, Game Developers' Conference, and the PopCultour after-parties.


About SkyVu Pictures
SkyVu Pictures Inc. is a hybrid animation/game studio started by Benjamin Vu, a CalArts graduate and animator on the Academy Award nominated film CORALINE. The company is headquartered in Omaha with satellite studios in Singapore and Vietnam. SkyVu's international production system allows it to rapidly produce original content for film, TV, and mobile devices. The studio's most successful properties are the BATTLE BEARS iPhone game and the StoryBoy Kids Books Series for iPhone & iPad. SkyVu Pictures is backed by the Nebraska Angels group.

http://www.battlebears.com/

About PopCult Solutions, LLC
PopCult Solutions, LLC provides turn-key solutions for parties seeking to enter into the pop culture space and an incubator of intellectual property. It is a collective of movers and shakers in the pop culture world with instant access to hundreds of thousands of fans and influencers. PopCult's team of creative entrepreneurs boast specialties in publishing, video games, music, film and television yet with a laser focus on the aspects of those mediums that intersect with the geek chic, comic-con going, box office influencing community.

http://www.popcultivator.com/

To inquire about creative solutions contact: solutions@popcultivator.com