About Heroes

Full Metal Panic! Fighting Boy Meets Girl Novel
Author: Shouji Gatou
Illustrations: Shikidouji
Translation: Duane Johnson
Publisher: Tokyopop

It seems that more and more novels keep coming their way to American shores and I think that is a great thing. This book not only ties into the smash-hit anime series and manga of the same name, but is also its inspiration. The Full Metal Panic! manga is the story of gung-ho young secret agent Sosuke Sagara, assigned to go undercover and protect high-school honor-student Kaname Chidori from a band of international terrorists. Needless to say, Sosuke's background as a counterinsurgent guerilla isn't the best possible preparation for high school and of course first impressions aren't always the best! This first installment of FMP gets the readers well acquainted with the characters of the book through a sequence of bountiful mini stories and chapters. Through these stories you also see a budding relationship between the two protagonists in the book, as well glimpses of Sagara's painful and unknown past. The only drawback I saw are the illustrations, for some reason I was expecting so much more, but to be honest they look more like blown-up versions of manga panels. If you are a fan of the series, you already know how good the book is and if you are wondering what the FMP craze is all about, why not read where it all began? B

Peace Maker volume 1
Author & Artist: Nanae Chrono
Translation: Michelle Kobayashi
Publisher: Tokyopop

I have to say that the cover for this book really stands out. I love the black and white with some red just water colored on look. The story is focused on the main character, Ichimura Tetsunosuke, your stereotypical energetic, short, and very childlike 15 year old. He and his older brother are left to fend for themselves after the vicious murder of their parents. While Tetsunosuke wants to get revenge, his pacifist brother Ihchimaru is not so inclined. Interestingly, the story develops when they take refuge working defined jobs in a special police force called the Shinsengumi, where his brother is an accountant and he is a servant to the demon of the Shinsengumi Hijikata Toshizo. The Shinsengumi, are based on a real police force and that is why you have probably heard that name and seen those outfits before. What may seem like a very the physical comedy at first will later expose itself at having a serious story that the cover portrays. Tetsunosuke is eager to "become a demon" to get his revenge, obviously not knowing what he's getting into in his hurry to become the man he thinks he wants to be. I think that is why I got hooked so quickly, well that and Souji and his pet pig Saizou. I just really wish that they would start translating more of the sound effects, because they are really important in this series. You can see that some of them had to be translated to get a better understanding of the story. Just a small gripe for an overall great story. A-

Alive: The Final Evolution volume 1
Author: Tadashi Kawashima
Artist: Adachitoka
Publisher: Del Rey

After reading Poison Candy last week, I really didn't want read another "virus" story again. But damn, I'm so glad I did. The book starts out gloomy with a sequence of intangible conversations stating that life has been found on Earth. We are then introduced to Taisuke and Hiros who are both teenagers in high school. While Taisuke is walking home he witnesses a woman committing suicide and that makes him feel kind of awkward, but it's another kind of feeling that he hasn't felt before. As the week goes on it seems that over 100,000 people have committed suicide throughout the world. When I first started reading the book I really thought it was going to be a deep commentary on the pandemic of suicide with youths in Japan, but it really turned out to be more than that. It is a very Twilight Zonish feel to it and the art is does nothing but make that story shine with its gory details and perfect panel to panel fluidity. I really can't wait to see where this story is going. A