About Heroes

Buso Renkin vol.1
Story & Art: Nobuhiro Watsuki
Translation & Adaptation: Mayumi Kobayashi
Lettering: James Gaubatz
Publisher: Viz

I first got a small taste, or rather the first chapter of Buso Renkin in volume 28 of Rurouni Kenshin. I really didn’t think much of it then; just another guy gets granted powers by sheer luck and has to save a girl from being eaten by monsters. Although completely different than Kenshin, the story was one that I didn’t find unique. However, after reading the first volume of this series, Renkin shows a great promise. Kazuki Mutou is mortally wounded when attempting to save a girl from a strange monster, but is given a new life through the power of the alchemically made Core Iron. Along with a second chance, this grants him the ability to use his own Buso Renkin (Alchemy Weapon). Joining forces with Tokiko, the Buso Renkin user he'd saved earlier and who gave him the Core Iron, he uses his newfound powers to fight the malevolent Homunculus. Watsuki’s art style seems to have developed into something new and unique. While still borrowing techniques from western artist, this book feels more like a natural manga. Weird to say, but I think that was the only small flaw of the book, because I think with a stereotypical story like this, Watsuki would have benefited from a style that stands out. The book is very action packed and has plenty of comedy that is surely to make the most cantankerous person crack a smile. I’m glad I gave the book a shot, because it shows promise for another classic in the making. B+

Cannon God Exaxxion vols. 4 & 5
Story & Art: Kenichi Sonoda
Translation: Dana Lewis & Adam Warren
Lettering: Susie Lee
Publisher: Dark Horse

There is something that always clicked with me in this series. There is plenty of mecha, gun suits, sexy aliens, gunfights, and Sonoda’s classic storytelling and beautiful detailed art found inside the pages of this series to make the biggest otaku drool. Hoichi must now face superior firepower while also dealing with what people think of him. The aliens may be leading in the information war that is almost as important as the physical war and there are more secrets revealed. There is a cease-fire between Earth and the Riofaldians, but that doesn’t stop everyone from having danger lurk in Hoichi’s life. There are more moral dilemmas in these volumes that the action takes a step back. You may have heard that the art had been altered, particularly in volume 5, because of the heavy sex scenes. I do have to say that it had to be rough for Dark Horse to see what stays and what goes in a sex scene between two under age characters. While most of the time I can’t stand altered artwork; I really thought it was handled well in this particular story. The ending of the story leaves you with a big cliffhanger and with only two volumes left to go in this series, I really hope that Dark Horse decides to wrap it up and translate the finale. B

Kamui vols. 1-3
Story & Art: Shingo Nanami
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
Adaptation: Elizabeth Hanel
Publisher: Broccoli Books

There was a great title back in the day when I first started reading manga called Dagger of Kamui. This book has absolutely nothing to do with the aforementioned. Kamui is a book about Atsuma and his quest to reclaim the Okikurumi (a stolen sacred spirit from his village). Spirits in this book are known as Kamui and they seemingly walk the Earth and wage wars. Atsuma shows up in the remains of a former major metropolis and finds that it’s still inhabited by people, has problems with rampaging monsters known as atanans, and is policed by a group known as NOA. The NOA is a group of young people who wield the power of the kamui and who may have the location of the Okikurumi. He is eventually recruited by the beautiful Sumire and is on a quest with his new found group to recover the lost sacred spirit before the world ends. The story was difficult to get into and just flew by with no direction in the first volume, but by the third volume the deep story surfaces and goes into full speed and really starts to move. The art is exquisite with splendid character designs and the women are some fantastic eye candy. To be honest the character designs remind me of something from a videogame and funny enough this book was published by Square Enix in Japan. I look forward to reading more of Atsuma and his quest. B-

Naoki Urasawa’s Monster vol. 11
Story & Art: Naoki Urasawa
Translation: Satch Watanabe
Adaptation: Agnes Yoshida
Publisher: Viz

About 15 years ago I was introduced to Naoki Urasawa’s art style with Pineapple Army and fell in love with his realistic take on characters. To my surprise he was not only a great artist but after reading Master Keaton, the man was a fantastic story teller as well. With that being said, you can probably tell what I think of this series. Monster follows the adventures of Dr. Kenzo Tenma as he pursues a young psychopath named Johan, whose life was once saved by Dr.Tenma. Part of the charm of the story is that it rapidly progresses through a number of locations such as Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, and Prague. So far, along with Dr. Tenma we have discovered the origins of Johan (Monster). His story starts with the former East Germany's attempt to use a secret orphanage called Kinderheim 511 (where Johan came from) in order to create the perfect soldiers (no, not Captain America), through psychological reprogramming. We have also learned of an of a children's book which was used in a eugenics experiment in Czech Republic. We have seen the aftermath of Johan’s capabilities and it’s damn scary. Who uses poisoned whiskey bon bons? That’s just wrong! This manga works in so many levels: it is full of suspense, drama, well paced storytelling, psychological trauma, and has enough thrills to put be put on a pedestal along with Silent of the Lambs. I’m so glad I was introduced to this book and cannot recommend it enough to fans of CSI, Law & Order, and pretty much anyone who enjoys a great story. A+

Orifina vol. 1
Story & Art: Kitsune Tennouji
Translation: Sheldon Drzka
Publisher: CMX

A lot can be said about a cover. I’m very guilty for buying comics, manga, and movies just based on covers. While the cover to Orfina is very simplistic, it really lured me into reading the book. There is a war in the kingdom of Cordia and it all leads back to the kingdom of Granza. Fana is a soldier who is also happens to be her squad’s last survivor. While attempting to escape from Granza she passes out near the palace of Cordia. Princess Orfina is heir to the throne of Cordia and what do the two girls have in common? They look like identical twins; so identical that the King and Queen are in awe by their likeness. The two become fast friends and Fana teaches Orfina the ways of the sword. But, it is all in vain when the castle is attacked during a festival. In the midst of the attack the Queen is killed and Orfina is captured while trying to lead her people in a revolt. Fana is then made to take Orfina’s place as Princess and figure out a way to get Orfina back. I really enjoyed the fantasy take on the classic tale of the Prince and the Pauper. I love the ideas of swords, armors, dragons, and guns existing at the same time. While the artwork, much like the cover remains simplistic, it gets hard to follow during action sequences, because everything just moves too fast. But that is just a small gripe for a book that I cannot wait to see what happens next. A-

Vampire Hunter D vol. 1
Digital Manga Publishing
Original Author - Hideyuki Kikuchi
Adapted and Illustrated by Saiko Takaki

Before I start off with this review, I think you should know that at my wedding this summer I am walking down the aisle to the last song in the movie Vampire Hunter D. The one where he’s riding off in the distance and Doris and Dan are yelling and waving goodbye is so heroic, moving, and the drum machine provides a nice rhythm to march to! So…, yeah…, I love the movie and adore the novel. What? You didn’t know there was a book? Hideyuki Kikuchi only wrote 17 of them! He also chose his close friend, Sato Takaki, to illustrate his story in a manga format, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed.

D is a vampire hunter who is hired by Doris (a seventeen-year old bosomed beauty who tries to break his concentration while fighting by ripping off her clothes) to kill Count Magnus Lee. The count has bitten Doris, and she doesn’t want to be his victim again. She soon finds out that D is a dhampir: half human and half vampire, but he seems to have extraordinary powers beyond those of a normal dhampir. And he’s really hot. D is a bit more personable in this version than he is in the movie or novel. He seems to talk more, and Doris is even able to halfway flirt with him. It may be due to the humor that Takaki sprinkled into the story, but I enjoyed the tad bit gentler D. Besides, girls love reading about good “bad” boys anyway, and develop crushes because when we’re daydreaming we imagine we can open their hearts…, or is that just me? Oh, well, anyway….moving along!

The artwork reminded me of the second Vampire Hunter D movie, Bloodlust. The eyes are on-point and carry the story very nicely. And Digital Manga Publishing translated the sound effects - yeah! If you have only seen the movie, this would be a great read because you can compare the movie to the original story. And if you’ve read the novel, then it will be like revisiting an old classic. A