Speed Grapher vol 1 by Tomozo - Manga Review

 

'The first volume in the hit GONZO anime of the same name, in the seedy underbelly of near future Tokyo, the famous Roppongi Club is shadowy hall of secrets. When photojournalist Saiga manages to infiltrate this elite association he discovers Kagura, a young girl whose touch bestows incredible and horrific powers. Now, anyone Saiga captures on film is doomed to die: the click of the shutter as sure as a trigger pull!'

Super powers are a staple of comic fiction, with the biggest comic book companies in the world making super powered heroes their main thing. And manga is often no exception to this, whether it's overt super powers, ki energy, chakra based ninja skills, or abilities bestowed by eating special fruit, super powers are a part of this medium across the world. The thing that often makes these powers different is how people get them, and origin stories are some of the most popular works in comics. Speed Grapher is a story all about people getting unusual powers, and this first volume makes for an interesting new twist on the formula.

Set in a near future Tokyo, the book follows photo journalist Saiga, a man who's willing to go up against organised crime and to put his life on the line to help get his story. When investigating a corrupt politician Saiga discovers a dead body, tortured and mutilated, and an inhuman killer responsible for the crime. Getting a tip about a mysterious club, Saiga manages to sneak his way inside, and discovers a building filled with bizarre sexual fetishes and twisted members. However, when he sees a ritual involving a teenage girl he steps in and gets caught; when the girl touches him, however, it bestows him with powers that allow him to cause destruction whenever he takes photographs, able to kill anyone in his viewfinder. Saiga takes the girl and goes on the run, but the powers behind the club will do whatever it takes to get her back, and end Saiga permanently.

From the very beginning it's clear that Speed Grapher is not not going to be your ordinary kind of super power story. If anything, the powers and the more outlandish elements are more garnish for the main dish, which is a psychosexual thriller. This is a much more mature story, one that features violence, horrible deaths, and lots of sex and fetish. Having gone into the book knowing nothing about it, I was somewhat shocked at the tone and the adult nature of the book. However, I'd since learned that the manga is based upon an anime series that was marketed towards adults.

Whilst the tone of the story was something of a surprise, it actually works very well, and created a reading experience that was different to other manga that I've read. It was darker, had more disturbing elements whilst avoiding going into the realms of outright horror, and it made some parts of the book uncomfortable to read. The main reason that it's uncomfortable at times is the second lead character, Kagura, the teenage girl who grants Saiga his powers. Kagura is only fifteen years old, but is incredibly sexualised throughout the book. 

In the early chapters she's having strange dreams about men in fetish wear, dreams that imply sexual acts were done to her. Once she's in the club she seems to be in a trance like state (something confirmed later in the book), wearing next to nothing. She makes mention of having vague memories of men 'doing things' to her later in the book. So we have a teenage rape victim, a young girl barely more than a child, and she's also being sexualised by wearing lingerie and being shown naked in the shower. It makes for an uncomfortable experience, especially as these scenes are balanced with others where she's very much just a kid, going to shops, playing with plushies. The result is that you feel connected to Kagura in a protective way, wanting Saiga desperately to keep her safe from the people who will return her to her sexual slavery.

The powers in the story are also a bit different and weird, and give Speed Grapher its own flavour. Kagura is able to grant people their deepest hearts desires, things that they themselves might not even be fully aware they want. Saiga, it transpires, wanted to capture a photo of someone in their moment of death, and as a result is able to cause death with his photography. There's another character who is able to turn their body into diamond (kind of a mix between Emma Frost and the T-1000) and becomes a beautiful but deadly killing machine. The fact that most of the people who have gained powers from Kagura are part of this twisted criminal underworld also guarantees that future volumes are going to include some very bizarre and monstrous foes for our lead duo.

Speed Grapher vol 1 is a great, fascinating introduction to this world. I actually read through the book twice before writing this review, something I don't normally do. I was entertained by the book the first time round, and was intrigued by the story it was creating. The second time round I found that I was understanding it more, that once I wasn't surprised by the content I was able to appreciate it more and found it to be even more interesting than I first thought. Because of this, I'm very much excited to read the second volume. 

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Three Exorcism Siblings Vol 1 by Shinata Harekawa - Manga Review

 

'In the mountains above Japan, Mamoru Yamaemori spends his days tending to his family shrine, fighting Tengu— monsters who feast on human flesh—and, making sure his two younger brothers will never have to pick up his mantle. Unable to escape the life forced upon him by his parents and a dark ritual involving Tengu blood, all he knows is that his existence is a curse: he is destined to die young in the service of others.

'But to fight monsters, Mamoru must dance that line between loving older brother and mindless beast – or else he risks becoming that which he is sworn to destroy.'

Three Exorcism Siblings opens with a grim image. Deep in the woods, something huge and monstrous eats the head of a child whilst another lays nearby, unconscious, with the warning that 'Deep in the mountains... Dwell the Tengu.' This is something of a dark, horrific beginning to a story that isn't as frightening as this first page would have us believe, as whilst there are indeed monsters to be found within these pages, there are also brave young warriors whose mission is to stop them.

In the mountains there lies a remote shrine, watched over by three siblings from the Yamaemori family. The youngest of them is fifteen-year-old Yu, who loves sports and doesn't really do well at his academic studies. The middle brother is Kei, a seventeen-year-old student who is almost the opposite to Yu, and is incredibly smart and studious. And looking after both of them is twenty one-year-old Mamoru. Mamoru is the first of these three siblings that we meet, and the first time we see him he's killing the monstrous Tengu with a sword, saving a child's life. As the elder sibling, he's sworn to protect the shrine and the surrounding area from the Tengu. This would lead you to think that Mamoru is going to be a grim, perhaps even haunted kid of young man; where in fact he's something of a mother hen to the others.

In a delightful twist on the expected formula, Mamoru spends much of his time cleaning the home, making dinner for his brothers, and acting like a loving parent to them. He's even unafraid to cry and show is emotions over how proud he is of his two younger brothers. He's a wonderful subversion on the warrior with a sacred duty archetype that you can't help but instantly like him.

Unfortubately, things can't stay nice and happy for our three protagonists. When his brother is in danger, Mamoru heads out into the woods to fight the monsters that are threatening his family. Whilst he manages to save Yu, he's seemingly killed in the attempt, but comes back as a Tengu-like creature himself. Somehow fighting off the full infection, Mamoru must learn to control his new abilities and find a way to use them for good, lest he turn into one of the very monsters he has sworn to destroy.

Three Exorcism Siblings has a really interesting start, with a nice mix of very relaxed, enjoyable slice of life style scenes with a family that care about each other and get along well, along with some very bloody and horrific moments that feel like they belong in a horror title. Plus, there's a load of action thrown into the mix too to keep things exciting. Shinata Harekawa does a great job at balancing all of these different tones, and gets you invested pretty early on. By the time Mamoru becomes infected by the Tengu you're already on board for this story, and you care for the siblings, even though you've barely begun the story. 

This investment in making likable characters definitely keeps you on board as Harekawa spends the rest of this first volume diving into the history of this family, the mythology around the Tengu's, and this secret world of shrine protectors that exists hidden from the regular world. Like with most good Urban Fantasy books, you get small peeks of the strange and unusual before diving headfirst into the fantastical elements, and the first volume keeps racking up the stakes throughout so that by the time the first book comes to a close you're desperate to find out what happens next. 

Harekawa's artwork looks fantastic, and the action and horror moments stand out as some of the best parts in the book. The very first page feels incredibly visceral, and the image of the Tengu biting a child's head off in a single bite is shocking and rendered in a way that doesn't revel in the blood and gore, but conveys the horror of the imagery well enough that it feels haunting. There are several moments like this throughout, where it almost feels like the reader is a perverse watcher, peeking in on awful, depraved events that we shouldn't be looking at. Thankfully, the action that's in the book acts like a nice palate cleanser for these moments. And the scenes in which Mamoru gets to cut down a monster with his family sword are drawn beautifully. 

If you're looking for a new manga series that manages to juggle world building, likable characters, great action, and horror, then Three Exorcism Siblings is a book that you're going to want to pick up. It's a very addictive read, and if you're like me you'll end up finishing the entire thing in a single go and be ready for the next volume already.

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The Great Yokai War: Guardians volume 1 - Manga Review

 

'After giant kaiju threaten to destroy Japan, the guardian spirits of the nation, known as 'Yokai' appear before the young boy Kei... They tell him he is the descendant of the legendary monster slayer Watanabe no Tsuna, and may be the only person who can stop the catastrophe.'

I recently had the chance to watch and review the entire Yokai film series, a really fun experience for a collection of movies that are incredibly charming. That collection included a newer film, directed by the famous Takeshi Miike, who turned his hand to family adventure films after a career of vicious, bloody movies. This new manga series, The Great Yokai War: Guardians, is based upon his second Yokai film, a film that has not had a UK release, and wasn't part of the blu-ray collection. As such, when I learned that the film had been adapted to manga form I was excited to see what this franchise had next.

The Great Yokai War: Guardians begins with Japan in trouble, with a giant snail-like monster causing earthquakes that begin to threaten the country. Knowing that if nothing is done about it, the nation will face destruction, the guardian spirits of the land, the Yokai, seek out a young boy who can help them.

This introduces us to Kei Watanabe, a sullen, moody teenager who spends most of his time in school listening to music, and tormenting his teachers. We learn that Kei recently lost his father, and that his role as the big brother to the younger Dai is causing him stress and making him retreat away from his remaining family. Despite his grumpy demeanour, the Yokai approach Kai, revealing to him that he's the descendant of a legendary swordsman, and that he can command the various Yokai and lead them to save the country. 

Kai, however, doesn't really want much to do with this, and just wants to keep to his quiet life, mourning his father in his own way. However, when Dai is kidnapped by dark forces it forces Kai to set up and become the hero that Japan needs. 

The book has been adapted from the original film script by screenwriter Yusuke Watanabe, who seems comfortable in adapting his own work. The book reads well, and if you came to it not knowing that this was an adaptation of a film you wouldn't know, as it fits nicely into the pacing and style of various other manga stories that fit a similar theme of a young boy learning he has abilities and answering the call to adventure. Where the book does stand out in some ways, however, is that Kai is kind of unlikable at times. 

The first introduction to the character is him being such a pain in class that he reduces his teacher to tears. We see him being cold and distant towards Dai, a younger brother who clearly idolises hi, and it makes you somewhat weary to like the character. However, over the course of this first volume we learn more about him, we discover his recent family tragedy, and the trauma that it has caused him. Whilst it doesn't forgive some of his actions it at least gives them important context; as well as humanises him.

Outside of the character work, Watanabe keeps the story moving as a strong pace, and throws a lot at the readers in this first volume. We learn about the world of the Yokai, their roles, the wider world of monsters, Kai's family history, and internal Yokai politics. This does mean that there's a lot to take in, and there are times where the book feels a lot longer than it actually is. The masses of info, coupled with the real lack of any action in this first volume of what's supposed to be an action adventure series, it makes for a first volume that's entertaining, but might not feel completely accessible to new readers, or those that don't already have an investment in the universe.

The art on the book is done by Sanami Suzuki, and it's a style I'm not too sure of. Kai, and the other human characters are drawn very simply. They have a slightly cartoon-like style, and fit the family friendly adventure story style well. And this style is reflected in some of the Yokai too. However, there are several of the monsters that feel very different in presentation, with a lot more detail and a darker quality to them. There are parts of the book that are so detailed, and so dark that it felt more akin to a horror manga than anything else. I guess this tone does reflect the theme of the book of a kid finding himself drawn into a different world, one darker and more strange than his own, but it does take a little getting used to.

As it stands, this is a decent introduction to the series, one that lays out a lot of stuff for the reader, and doesn't really slow down or hold your hand. Without seeing more, however, it doesn't feel particularly fantastic, nor bad. It feels like the next volume is going to play an important part in how I feel about this one. I'm hoping that it has some more action and adventure elements, and if it does this will be a decent start to things; but if it carries on in the same tone as this volume the series might just be a bit too dark and dull for my liking. Hopefully volume two will help shape this into another excellent addition to the Yokai series. 

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The Poetry of Ran vol 1 by Yuske Osawa - Manga Review

 

'Torue is a young bard looking to make a name for herself, when she encounters the monster hunter Ran at a sleepy village. Ran is a 'child of impurity' capable of slaying monsters called Karma; taking their evil into himself so it doesn't pollute the world. Ran is feared and shunned, but always puts his own life on the line to do good, so Torue decides to write a poem about him...'

The Poetry of Ran takes readers to a fantasy world where monsters called Karma can draw into themselves the souls of the dead, taking on all of the cruel and evil deeds a person has done. This energy transforms them into even more powerful, and twisted creatures that are more than regular warriors can handle. The become the targets of children of impurity, specially trained fighters who upon killing the Karma, take their evil into themselves to stop its spread.

The story begins in a small town, where a young bard named Torue is trying to earn some gold with an old ballad. Unfortunately, most of the people in the village either know the song, or just don't care, and she's struggling to get by. Torue doesn't know many songs, and is finding the bardic life tough. It's then that a huge pile of coins are dumped in front of her, as a thank you for her song by a mysterious hooded figure. Torue soon learns that this figure is a child of impurity, named Ran, and who's been hired to destroy the Karma that's been tormenting the village.

An outsider herself, Torue is shocked when she sees how the villagers treat Ran, a man who has come to risk his life in order to help them. Parents warn their children not to go near him, lest he somehow infect them with darkness, and some in the village question their leader as to why they even need him. Torue follows Ran, and spends some time talking with him on the village outskirts. She learns that Ran is lonely, that whilst he's a kind and caring man he's often treated with suspicion, and even outright hatred. He doesn't even know how to smile properly. Torue decides that she's going to travel with Ran, to give him a friend on his journey, and to compose songs and poetry of his brave adventures.

The first volume of The Poetry of Ran is split into three adventures, told across its four chapters. The first one is an origin for our characters, it deals with the meeting between Ran and Torue, and shows us how the two of them end up becoming friends travelling together. It starts small, and focuses on the character more than it does the monsters or the action. We spend much of the chapter with Torue and Ran sitting around a camp fire, sharing details about themselves and building a rapport. It's a nice intro to the world and the characters, and it means that when the action does start you're at least a little invested in these lonely, kind of broken people.

The second chapter takes us to one of the bigger cities in this world, Lillbit, where the children of impurity come to help suppress the power of the impurities they draw into themselves, as well as lessen the pain they experience. It's here that we meet another child of impurity, the elf Mina. Mina seems to be something of a friendly rival of Ran's, with her treating their work as a friendly competition where she competes to see if she can beat more Karma than she can. The competition seems to be a little one sided, with Ran not really appearing to care too much, but it's a fun dynamic between the two of them. It's in this chapter that we also learn that some Karma have been appearing in the middle of cities, and that some children of impurity have been killed fighting them.

Of course, we've not long learned of this when the city bells begin to toll, and a Karma appears. This horrible amalgam of insect and chameleon begins attacking the town, forcing Ran and Mina to have to jump into action in order to save people. We get hints at a bigger plot at play here, as a mysterious robed figure with a horrible skull-like face watches over things, making cryptically evil comments to himself about needing to wipe the children of impurity away.

The final two chapters deal with one story, of a huge dragon that has become a Karma. The monster is wiping out entire villages, killing hundreds. The Knights of the Black Wolf have been sent to try and stop the monster, but need Ran's help to do so. This is by far the best part of the book. It's big and epic, and Ran basically has to fight a kaiju. the Knights of the Black Wolf begin somewhat antagonistically towards him thanks to Jill, a fierce fights with an explosive hammer weapon, who wants to take down the monstrous Rampage herself to avenge her father, who died to it a decade ago.

Jill is an interesting character, a bit weird at times sure, but she seems to be focused on killing the monster and saving the day, so she's not all bad. Whilst she does treat Ran with little respect, and is quite dismissive of him she eventually comes to admit they need his help; and her and Ran leading the cavalry charge against the monster is a really awesome moment. As is how the creature is finally defeated.

However, before Ran can absorb the curse from the Rampage's corpse the mysterious figure appears once again, this time announcing his presence to our heroes. He takes the curse and uses it to create a monstrous creature of his own, something that looks similar to himself that he calls his kin. The book ends with the skull faced man announcing that Ragnarok is one step close. It's a hell of a cliffhanger for the volume, and absolutely makes me want to read the next one as soon as I can. A lot of manga series can take a few volumes before the big story really kicks in, but The Poetry of Ran seems to want to get readers hooked quickly, and this volume certainly does that.

My only slight criticism with the book is the focus on breasts. Torue has very large breasts, something that's made a point of on the third page of the book. Ran ends up staring at her chest a few times, and there's a point in the book where they're riding horses and the art depicts her breasts bouncing up and down, once again grabbing Ran's attention. It's not just her, however, as both Mina and Jill wear costumes that show off their chests, even if it's impractical for warriors to have little to no armour. When Jill meets Torue she picks up the smaller woman and hugs her into herself, smothering Torue's face with her breasts. It just feels a little bit much. I like breasts as much as the next person, but the repeated focus on them and use of them as humour does sometimes feel like it messes with the overall tone of the book a little.

Yuske Osawa's art is really nice, and everything is crisp and cleanly presented, with some cool character designs. Where the book really looks the best is in the monsters though. The first creature they fight is a nightmare manta ray type thing made up of bones and flesh with screaming skeletal faces. Osawa has spent some time designing some really cool creatures, monsters that draw upon familiar things, such as reptiles and insects, but mashes them together in horrible ways. I really like the small pieces that we get to see of the big bad too, and the designs for these creatures are as much something I'm looking forward to seeing as the story that revolves around them.

If you're looking for a cool fantasy action manga, one that has some fun characters and some extra heart to it, but also packs in the action, then The Poetry of Ran is absolutely one that you're going to want to check out. 

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Witch of Thistle Castle Vol.1 by John Tarachine - Manga Review

 

'Spirits and magic are everywhere in the streets of Edinburgh – if only you dare to see it! Dive into this heartfelt manga about a witch and her apprentice as they try to find their place in a world that hates their very existence.

'The last in a long line of Witches of the Black Wood, Marie Blackwood lives a quiet life in Edinburgh – away from the scrutiny of the Church. But when the Church thrusts 13-year-old Theo into her hands for safekeeping, Marie suddenly gains the responsibility not just of taking care of a teenager – but protecting the world, and Theo himself, from the amazing power that lives inside of him.'

Edinburgh is a place that has become associated with magic and the supernatural over the years. From the various ghost tours and walks, to the creepy underground city, or just the old buildings and wonderfully beautiful architecture, the city has become a place where people expect to find something a little otherworldly; and literature has embraced this. The latest book to make use of the spookiness of Edinburgh is Witch of Thistle Castle, a manga series that follows a witch trying to live a quiet life, but ends up in charge of a teen with immense power.

The story is set in an alternate world, where magic and witches are real, but under the strict control of the church, who have a more active role in world affairs. Marie Blackwood is a witch living a quiet life in Edinburgh, running a magic shop and trying to keep off the church's radar. However, one day a pair of church officials arrive on her doorstep with a teenage boy, shackled and wearing a strange mask. They tell Marie that the boy, Theo, is dangerous, that he contains a powerful and destructive magic called Blood of Righteous Anger. Unable to control or contain Theo's power anymore, the church put him in Marie's care to be trained by her.

Thus begins the end of Marie's quiet, ordered life. Now she must try to find a way to care for this strange, sheltered boy, and teach him about the world of magic and spirits that he knows almost nothing about.

Most of the book is given over to this concept, with the audience learning about this world, the way that magic works, and the rules that govern it, along with Theo. We're given very little context at the beginning as to how anything works, and readers are dropped into the middle of things and expected to catch up. Sometimes this leads to some fun revelations and interesting moments of lore drops, but more often than not it ends up with the reader having to just go along with stuff that has no explanation, hoping that we eventually get one.

The relationship between Marie and Theo gets given a big focus here, with the isolated and set in her ways Marie having to slowly open herself up to not just living with another person, but actually caring for someone else too. For his part, Theo is very much a blank slate. He seems to have next to no experience of the world, as his personality is kind of a blank too. He shuffles through most of the book, just going with the flow, demonstrating very little self determination or drive.

One of the things that this first volume seems to be setting up, which often comes across as feeling slightly gross, is a romance between the two leads. We're never given an age for Marie, but based upon the way she's drawn and how she acts she feels to be at least in her twenties. Theo, however, is only thirteen. There are multiple times when people refer to Marie having 'a man' in her life now, with a bit of a wink and a nudge to imply romance, and Theo is complimented on his beauty multiple times. There's also a scene where Marie bursts in on a fully naked Theo in the shower, and another where Marie leaves her room in underwear that barely hide her ample figure. A few scenes with intimate touching and blushing faces are thrown in too. It's very uncomfortable to read. Even if Marie is as young as eighteen it would still make the relationship paedophilic, and the fact that the book not only seems okay with this romance, but pushes it multiple times makes it feel kind of gross.

Towards the end of the book a story involving the French church is introduced, and it seems like things are being set up to take the story in a fairly interesting direction. A few new characters are thrown into the mix, one of which seems so obviously sinister and shifty that he has to be a villain. Unfortunately, the book kind of just ends. There's no reveal, no cliffhanger, nothing that makes you eager to read the next volume; it just peters out.

The art on the book is decent in places, with some interesting designs and the depictions of Edinburgh feel enough like the city that they're instantly recognisable. The lead character are given a lot of attention, and are nicely detailed, but other characters don't quite get the same treatment; the two church officials who bring Theo to Marie in the beginning look more like rough sketches than finalised characters, and feel odd on the page thanks to the lack of detail on them. The spirits and magical entities that exist in the world have some good designs to them though, and there are some interesting stuff that pops up occasionally that I can't help but feel would make the book more interesting if they were given a bigger focus.

Overall, I found Witch of Thistle Castle to be a strange read. Nothing much of note happens in the book, and whilst there are hints at a bigger world and a more complex tale there's not much here to grab attention. The rules and workings of the world are given only cursory explanations, and there's still a lot of unanswered questions or things that the reader is just expected to go along with. The aforementioned strange romantic sub-plot also ends up leaving something of an unsavoury taste in the mouth too, and made me uncomfortable enough to want to put the book down more than one occasion too. This series may get better in time, and I'm sure there are some who'd enjoy it already, but at the moment there's not enough here to get me excited for volume two. 

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Alpi the Soul Sender vol. 1 by Rona - Manga Review

 

'In the magical world of Alpi, divine spirits are the source of all life, communities living in harmony under their protection. However, when their lives end, a terrible curse drives them to evil, and these malign spirits must be sent to the afterlife by the Soul Senders. Alpi is one such girl, talented despite her young age, and assisted by her familiar Perenai!'

The Magical Girl genre is a popular one, particularly when it comes to manga. Linked to female empowerment, stories within this genre usually feature young girls with immense magical powers that they use whilst on some kind of adventure or quest. Whilst Alpi the Soul Sender does away with one of the more popular elements of the genre, the transformation into another alter-ego, it is very much a part of the genre, one that takes a more fantastical bent.

Set in a world vastly different to our own, we're introduced to Alpi, a young girl who has the power to help purify the souls of divine spirits, huge, magical animals that bring prosperity to the world. Whilst these creatures are normally benevolent entities that live in harmony with the world and people around them, when they die their souls become corrupted, and a dark sickness starts to infect the land around them. Any who approach the dead spirits is burned by the darkness. Soul Senders, however, have the ability to withstand this dark curse, and can extract the spirits soul, sending in on to the afterlife and ending the curse.

Accompanied by the adult Perenai, who acts as her guardian and assistant, Alpi is trying to follow int he footsteps of her parents, who were also Soul Senders, using old letters that they sent to her whilst travelling the world. Having not seen them in years, and not knowing where they might be, Alpi is hoping that she might be able to find her missing parents, and is more than happy to help any divine spirits that need her skills along the way.

The first volume of the series contains four stories. The first of them, 'The Bright Soul Sender' is a nice introduction to the book and characters. In this story Alpi and Perenai arrive in a small village where a young man has recently encountered a dead divine spirit, and is suffering from the curse it left behind. Alpi helps to cure him of the curse, and then performs her ritual to help send the spirit on. There's not big dramatic moment in this story, no twist or sudden shocking moment, and it's a by the numbers soul sending. However, as it's the first story in the entire series this works perfectly, as it's introducing us to everything we need to know. Not only do we come away understanding the rules of the world, but we also get to know the lead characters a little too.

The second story 'The Lake With The Dark Purple Waters' follows a similar route, in being another story of a village that needs the help of a Soul Sender. What makes this one different from the last, however, is that this time the spirit has died in the middle of a lake. This means that Alpi cannot draw the required magic ring around it, nor can she reach it to extract its soul. Over the course of this story we see Alpi come up with solutions to these problems, as well as her determination to succeed no matter what, even when it looks like there's no way she can. This chapter gives us more of an insight into who Alpi is as a character, and teaches the reader not to underestimate her just because she's a little girl.

The third story is one that gives us a lot more background to what it means to be a Soul Sender. 'The Temple of Purification' sees Alpi and Perenai travel to a town that services various Soul Senders, with shops that can restock their supplies, blacksmiths to help maintain their tools, and a temple that allows them to purify themselves. During the other two chapters we'd seen Alpi being hurt by the curse left behind by the dead spirits, but it's here that we learn that those curses had also been getting inside her, and that her bod had been accumulating the dark energies. By going to the temple she can expel this darkness, though it's a process that causes her great pain. This story gives us a lot of insight into the workings of the Soul Senders, and shows us that it's bigger than just Alpi, with whole systems set up to help the Soul Senders and their mission. It also gives us some insight into Peranai, and how he's more than just a simple guardian/servant to Alpi, but cares deeply for the young girl under his charge.

The final story fills the last two chapters of the book, 'A Wish for the Fire Moth'. This story sees Alpi and Perenai come to a land where a divine spirit couldn't be helped in time, and nature in that area has died out. The local population have instead crafted themselves a great stone city, one fuelled by steam and heat. However, Alpi soon discovers that the city doesn't run on natural sources, but a chained and tortured divine spirit that the local lord has captured beneath the city. The divine spirit is weakening, and the city is struggling because of it. The lord demands that Alpi kill the spirit and send it soul so that a new spirit can come, one that he can once again enslave. This story feels like the first real adventure of the book, a story that has some twists and turns, and puts Alpi in the role of protagonist, able to make choices and affect the story rather than just reacting to events. It's also the darkest story in the book, and has some really great moments.

Overall, the book creates a really interesting and engaging narrative that acts as a great introduction to the series. Even before the end of the book it feels like you have a good understanding of the world, and know most of its rules. The main characters are set up well, and by the end of this volume you know their motivations, and understand why they do what they do. There's also a lot of wonder and magic to discover too, and it feels like this volume is giving us a small peek at an even more fantastical and amazing world that will be revealed in further volumes. 

The art on the book is also fantastic. The cover art reflects the interior art well, and each and every panel is packed with detail. The environments are all well crafted and packed with details and stuff to find, and it feels like a fully fleshed out world. The characters are also really well done too, and characters like Alpi and Perenai come with really detailed and intricate outfits. Where the book really shines, however, is with the divine spirits, huge, mystical creatures that have amazing designs, and look like they're stepped out of the world of legend. Rona makes everything in this book look fantastic, and the level of detail and care given to each and every page is astonishing.

Whilst Alpi the Soul Sender is being marketed as a magical girl book it's also a really interesting and well done fantasy novel, one that crafts a cool new world for readers to get lost in. It's going to appeal to those who love the magical girl genre thanks to the cute but fierce hero at the centre of the story, but it will also appeal to those who may not have tried the genre much, but are fans of fantasy. Whatever it is that draws you to the book, its interesting world, amazing designs, and well crafted story are sure to entertain.

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Star Wars The High Republic: The Edge of Balance Vol 1 by Shima Shinya & Justina Ireland - Book Review

 

'It's the era of the High Repubic and expansion across the stars is at its height. As trusted guardians of peace, the renowned Jedi protect the Republic and shine their light on those exploring the darkest reaches of the galaxy.

'In the aftermath of the Hyperspace Disaster, young Jedi knight Lily Tora-Asi is assigned to help displaced civilians relocate to Banchii, a newly inhabited planet in the Inugg system far in the outer rim. Banchii is the site of a new Jedi temple led by Master Arkoff, Lily's Wookiee mentor, who imagines the temple a place of peace for new inhabitants and for those who are travelling beyond. While balancing the arrival of incoming settlers with the strange mysteries of this remote outpost, Lily wonders if she's doing enough to bring peace to the galaxy. But when hidden dangers begin to emerge, the young Jedi will face her greatest challenge yet...'

This isn't the first time that a Star Wars story has gotten the manga treatment. There have been a number of stories that have been adapted over the years, but this is the first time that a new story has debuted as a manga, with a whole new story and new characters being introduced. Instead of taking a story readers are familiar with and simply giving it a new visual style we're treated to a story that feels very much made to be a manga, rather than just a new twist to something that already exists. As such, the story, its structure and the way things play out have an energy that feels unique and special.

The story follows Lily Tora-Asi, a young Jedi knight who is assisting a group of refugee's displaced after the Great Hyperspace Disaster. Travelling with them on a small ship, she and her former master, the Wookiee Arkoff, are bringing them to make a new life for themselves on the beautiful and untouched world of Banchii.

Lily is being haunted by nightmares about the Disaster, but is looking forward to returning to Banchii and the peace that will bring her, even if it does mean that she'll once again have to begin training her padawan, Keerin, as well as the two younglings Nima and Viv'nia. Whilst Lily isn't the most comfortable around children, she understands that it's important to pass her wisdom onto the next generation of Jedi, as well as learning to become a better Jedi from teaching them.

Shortly after settling back into daily life at the temple, training the young Jedi, Lily's routine is disrupted when they discover destruction deep within the forest, as well as one of the farmers having been turned into wood. They've barely got time to process this before the settlement comes under attack from the monstrous Drengir. Now Lily and the others will have to fight to protect their new home.

I really enjoyed this story, it feels like a great introduction to a new batch of heroes, ones who feel very different to some of the others in the High Republic series. These aren't big important Jedi like Avar Kriss, or Stellan Gios who are making huge, far reaching decisions in the fate of the galaxy. They're not travelling around space learning to become Jedi from Master Yoda like in the High Republic Adventures comics. These are just regular Jedi. They're the kind of Jedi who do the small jobs, who help people and live a relatively quiet life. As such, when things started to go wrong on Banchii it felt really bad, because this didn't seem like a group of big heroes left to face it, but folk who like a quiet and simple existence.

Speaking of a quiet and simple existence, I really liked Master Arkoff, the Wookiee teacher who spends his days watering his garden and imparting knowledge upon the younger members of the temple. I've got a soft spot for Wookiees, and Wookiee Jedi are definitely thing I want to see more of. But even then I like how different he is to ones we've had before. Gungi from Star Wars The Clone Wars was impatient, and struggled with the Jedi teachings; Burryaga in the High Republic is older, but is still very much learning to be a Jedi, and is at times worried and overly sensitive. Arkoff, in comparison to both, is full of calm confidence. He's grown into the role of being a Jedi, he's found an inner peace and strength that shows what a Wookiee can accomplish once their training is complete; and he's an absolute delight to read.

Whilst the book has connections with the wider High Republic series this is very much a story that feels like it can exist on its own, a book that someone who's not read anything else in the series would be able to pick up and enjoy. Other than a brief appearance by Stellan Gios, every character in the book is new, Banchii is a place we haven't seen before, and the Drengir are given enough of an explanation to not feel confusing to new readers. Because of this, the book feels like its going to be the most accessible of any of the other titles; which I suppose is a big part of the aim here, to attract people who may not pick up a comic or a novel set within the High Republic. 

I've seen some people complaining that Star Wars was making manga, that it was trying to draw in fans of the medium into a story that isn't suited for manga, and whilst I'm sure a big part of the aim of this book is to draw in new fans I don't think its a bad thing in any way. Star Wars has always had strong connections to Japanese culture, especially their entertainment. George Lucas was heavily inspired by samurai stories, and other creators in the Star Wars universe over the years have been as well. The franchise is so obviously inspired by Japanese entertainment that it feel strange that its only really been in recent years that we've gotten manga, as well as anime in the form of Star Wars Visions.

The art on the book, provided by Mizuki Sakakibara is wonderful, and everything looks so great. The characters are all distinctive and immediately jump out of the page, they manage to make Banchii look like a beautiful and peaceful world, and the action scenes are wonderfully drawn and look dynamic. Everything here looks perfect. I loved how the Jedi temple looked, and think that it's one of the best ones I've seen, and Miziki's take on the Drengir is so different from the rest, yet so obviously still the Drengir, that they add a fresh take on the creatures.

Star Wars The High Republic: The Edge of Balance has some brilliant new characters, ones that I very quickly became attached to and want to see more of; Arkoff and Viv'nia need to be in my life more! The story unfolds at an enjoyable pace, and the characters use their inteligence and their spiritual connection with the force to help them win the day. Plus, the extra story at the end is so incredibly cute and fun, I want more of that in the future. I was deeply impressed with this first volume, and can't wait to see what happens in future ones.

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Super Sentai Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Classic Manga Collection - Book Review

 

'Shotaro Ishinomori's classic manga that helped inspire decades of Super Sentai adventures, and later gave rise to the Power Rangers, in English for the first time ever!

'An evil secret society called the Black Cross Army threatens world peace, and only an elite task force known as the Earth Guard League (EAGLE) can stop them. After the Black Cross Army destroys EAGLE’s headquarters across Japan, five young recruits survive. Hiding in a secret underground base, they are given enhanced battlesuits that empower them with superhuman abilities, transforming the youths into an unstoppable squad to combat evil.

'Tied to the first Japanese Super Sentai tokusatsu TV series ever made, this genre-defining work laid the groundwork for decades of such adventures, including the wildly popular Power Rangers franchise in North America. Read Shotaro Ishinomori’s original manga adaptation of Himitsu Sentai Gorenger in this beautiful hardcover collection.'

Like many people in the west my introduction to the world of Super Sentai was through the Power Rangers series, the American franchise that took footage from the various Super Sentai shows and edited into new footage to create their own show. As the quality of the American footage was pretty poor for the most part in those early seasons it was the brightly coloured heroes, the bold monsters, and the action that won me over and made me a lifelong fan.

Over the years I discovered more about the franchise and learnt about Super Sentai, and have since gone on to become a fan of that too, watching through several of the series that became Power Rangers shows thanks to their recent DVD releases. However, trying to watch older Sentai can prove to be difficult at times, so when I saw that there was going to be a release of the manga collection of Gorenger I was very excited to see what this first ever series of Super Sentai would have in store.

The book, rather than being a regular adaptation, or even stories that fit between the episodes, contains two completely different versions. Shotaro Ishinomori, the writer and artist on the book, created both series to run concurrently with the show as it aired, but aimed at two different audiences. The book has stories that were originally in the Weekly Shonen Sunday, and these follow the same story-line of the show, albeit with some slight differences. There is also monthly serial comics that were published in Shogaku Gonensei magazine. Whilst these two different types of stories do have slightly different tones, with the first ones having a more mature feel and a focus on the spy action whilst the latter ones feel more high adventure, they come together to make a pretty cohesive whole. As someone who has never seen Gorenger I feel like the book, with its different styles of story, give a pretty good insight into the different types of episodes, from the throwaway monster of the week to the more character driven ones that affect the plot more.

The first story in the collection tells the origins of the Gorengers, and introduces readers to Tsuyoshi, a young martial artist whose father is secretly part of the global military organisation EAGLE (Earth Guard League). EAGLE fights against the sinister Black Cross Army, a terrorist spy group who use stolen information to dominate the world. Tsuyoshi is asked to test out a specialised suit by his father, a suit that's able to enhance his natural abilities and make him into an even better fighter. It's revealed that this suit is one of five, and that those who wear it will become the Gorengers, a special team to fight the Black Cross Army.

At first Tsuyoshi is against becoming a part of this team, but when the Black Cross Army attacks his family home and kills his father he decides to join EAGLE and fight against the villains as Akarenger, the leader of the Gorengers.

The second story jumps forward in time somewhat, and we rejoin Tsuyoshi after he's become a part of the team. It's here that we meet the other members of the Gorengers, and get a bit of a sense of the different types of people they are. This story sees the team going into combat with the Black Cross Army when they go in investigate a sighting of them in the remote ghost town of Sangai Village. This turns out to be a trap, and the team have to fight against the Black Cross Army forces, as well as Warrior Mask; the second of the five original Black Cross Masked Monsters. This story not only sees the Gorengers having to fight against overwhelming odds, but has a deeply personal cost when Akira, the blue Gorenger, has to confront his best friend who betrayed them to the Black Cross Army, something that has a tragic conclusion.

After this story the book takes on a bit of a lighter tone and we get to see the Gorengers deal with a number of enemy threats, including a giant sea monster robot attacking the city, remote controlled flying pirate ships that kidnap a kid, a villain that uses mirrors to trap and trick the Gorengers, and a slightly different retelling of the first episode of Gorenger, that expands upon the one at the start of the book.

Overall the book has a lot of silly fun in it, as you'd expect from a Super Sentai manga. It leans into the ridiculous parts of the show and does all out in doing over the top and funny things with both the heroes and villains. That being said, the stories in the first half of the book aren't afraid to include some dark moments too, and these come along and really shock you out of the silliness the rest of the book has, making them all the more affecting.

One of the things that I really enjoyed about the book was that it game you a brief introduction to things too, where readers not only get to know about how the book came into being, but who Shotaro Ishinomori was. I had no idea that he was so prolific a comics creator; to the point where he holds the Guinness World Record for most comics published by one author. It made me curious to learn more about him and his work, and that's something I'm grateful for.

I hope that this isn't the last of these collections that we see, and that Seven Seas publishing will find some other Super Sentai Manga to bring to the west. I adored being able to learn about these old shows, to see these stories presented fresh and new, and the fact that it comes in a gorgeous hardcover volume just makes it even better. Even if you're not a huge Power Rangers or Super Sentai fan, this is a book worth checking out just for something different; and if you are a fan it'll look gorgeous on your shelf.

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Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia – BookReview

 

Originally published on Set The Tape

Adapting pre-existing things to comics can be hard, and more often than not something will end up being cut out to make sure that the broad strokes fit the length the creators are given. I’m struggling to really think of any film adaptations that don’t fall afoul of this. However, the first part of manga Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia manages to stay pretty close to the source material and includes most of what’s in the episode.

The manga follows the same plot as the first episode of the second series of the BBC show, and sees Sherlock and John brought in to a very delicate case to try to retrieve compromising photographs of a young royal from a dominatrix, Irene Adler. This simple task ends up becoming more complex than the duo expected when Adler proves to be a more than capable match for the detective.

The artwork for the book is provided courtesy of Jay, and they do a great job at not only capturing the actors’ likenesses, but also recreating a lot of the energy of the series. The scenes where the leads are taking out a room full of CIA agents manages to capture a lot of the flash and dynamic energy that the sequence has in the show. And this is by no means the only place in the book where this happens. Jay is able to capture a lot of the visual style that makes the series stand out in some very subtle ways, and many of the scenes have a sense of movement and energy to them, even if they’re quite static moments.

Whilst the artwork is great, and really elevates the book, much like the show it’s the writing that lets things down with this story. In the original story, ‘A Scandal in Bohemia’, Sherlock and Watson are the bad guys. They’ve been hired by a king to steal a photograph from his mistress so that she has no evidence of their relationship. This woman genuinely loved the king, and has the photo as a keepsake, and doesn’t intend to do anything malicious. But Gatiss and Moffat have changed things to make Irene the villain, to make her a sexy antagonist.

Irene Adler became an iconic Sherlock Holmes character because she managed to outsmart Holmes, and he gained a great deal of respect for her because of her resourcefulness and smart mind. Over the years other adaptations have had Holmes falling in love with her, and Sherlock really pushes this idea to the point where I just really wished this version of Irene had a completely different name, because this is not Irene Adler.

There are a few moments like this throughout the book, moments where the story goes just a bit too far and tries to be too clever and flashy. The montage of the different cases that are being presented to Sherlock, and his attitude towards them is just bad (yes, I know this comes back later on but that doesn’t make it great), and the whole scene at Buckingham Palace is amusing at first, but the pettiness and snark goes on just a bit too long for it to be charming. And the boomerang mystery. Dear god the boomerang mystery. I don’t think I can explain just how bad this whole thing is, a man is killed by a boomerang for god sake.

Despite these flaws – and I would say that the story has some glaring flaws – this is down to the original series, not the work done her by Jay. Jay has managed to translate the show incredibly well, and if you enjoy the series you’re going to really like this book.

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