About Heroes

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order Volume 9
Story & Art: Yukito Kishiro
English Adaptation: Fred Burke
Publisher: Viz Media

The first thing I want to point out is that I absolutely love the cover. It’s so unlike Kishiro to use so much black and focus on using more computer generated colors. Since volume 8 we have had nothing but visions through the software called Merlin. With Alita we experienced a past that focused on Caerula Sangius (then known as Vilma) fighting for coexistence with humans. By the end of volume 9 the humans are triumphant and Arthur assigns Vilma the task of protecting the new government and the rights to execute the Last Order. Caerula hands the future of humanity over to Alita, but Alita refuses and states that she just wants to save Lou and that the responsibility is too much for her. The story has gotten so complex, especially after two volumes of flashbacks, but it seems to work for this book. It does require a second read at times, but the mythology that Kishiro is building her is so huge that is the least you can do. Alita is finally back and so are her copies, Desty Nova, Sechs, and even Arthur makes an appearance as one of the twenty five units that make up Melchizedek. Extreme graphic violence mixed with some cheesy humor, it’s great for the whole family or anyone that likes to read about some a hot chick kicking all kinds of butt. A-

Black Jack Volume 3
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Camelliah Nieh
Publisher: Vertical

Volume 3 of Black Jack continues the story of the world’s greatest surgeon and his world of medical drama and philosophy. So at first you may be hesitant to buy this book because it is $16.95, but let me tell you that this book includes 14 chapters and is well over 300 pages. Much like the first two volumes each story manages to set up a situation where a super surgeon is necessary. However, due to Tezuka's fine writing skills and his extensive knowledge in the medical field (He did get his medical degree before becoming the god of manga), there is a humanist element to each tale, which is often depressing. Black Jack makes other's happy, but he can never find happiness himself. It’s difficult to talk about each story without writing an essay, because they are all wonderful in their own way. Disowned Son showed how stubborn a grudge can be and how forgiving the human heart is. In Two Dark Doctors we are introduced to Doctor Kiriko, Black Jack’s complete opposite who helps suffering people end their lives comfortably. Recollections of a Spinster shows us that saving one life could change history forever. I don’t think I gave volumes 1 and 2 enough praises on my review. I mean do they make a ranking above A + Can I really force you to buy a book, even if it’s one book you must buy this year. If ever there was a series that Tezuka was born to write; it was Black Jack. This is coming from somebody that adores Kimba, grew up with Astro Boy, was enthralled with Buddha, and will name his first kid Unico (alright I made the last one up). So far the strongest of the Black Jack collections released to date give it a chance and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. A+

Castle of Dreams
Story & Art: Masami Tsuda
Translation: Alethea & Athena Nibley
Adaptation: Lorelei Laird
Publisher: Tokyopop

If the name Masami Tsuda sounds familiar, you’ve probably heard of a little title called Kare Kano. I will admit that I really enjoyed the Kare Kano anime, even the cheap episodes towards the end. I only read to volume 15 of the manga, but Melanie did finish the series and absolutely loved it. Judging this book by the cover and by the author’s aforementioned book I thought this was a collection of eight love stories. I was taken by surprise by some of these stories though. Castle of Dreams happens to be the title of the third story and I noticed that the first three stories are fairy tales and fantasy stories that all include some kind of sorcerer. I Am the Mermaid is even set in the same universe as Hans Christian Anderson’s popular The Little Mermaid. The remaining five stories, well technically four stories with a where are they now back up story at the end, all focus on the theme of love that are more predictable than the first three stories and are set in present time. There is so much depth and complexity of emotion in all of these four stories to make up for the unpolished art. But then again Tsuda does have a natural gift for telling stories that draws the readers in because they get so emotionally attached to the characters. Of course the art varies from story to story because these are collections that spanned over 10 years. Not the most perfect anthology I’ve read, but certainly one of the best. You can tell where she starts planting the seeds for Kare Kano. B+

Tantric Stripfighter Trina volume 1
Author: Ken Faggio
Art: Fernando Furukawa
Publisher: Tokyopop

Ohh come on! How could I not review a book that is called Stripfighter!!!? I had fond memories of playing Strip Fighter on the Turbo Grafx-16. So anyway, you figure with a title like that, this would nothing but fan service with T&A, the book is even rated 16 and up. However, the writer and author do try to tell us a story. Trina’s home world was destroyed by a bunch of mercenaries under the Cog’s orders. Along with her two sidekicks Chrome Abbey and Bonds (one a cyber punk chick and the other just a little robot) she is taking down the people responsible for the destruction of her planet. Ohh yeah did I forget to mention that fights by taking her clothes off one piece at a time. I really have no idea how to rate this book , because there are books that are just sooo bad that they are funny and turn out to be great. This book is somewhere in the middle. The story is just too ridiculous and tries to take itself too seriously at times. The art on the other hand is actually pretty good and you can tell Furukawa has come a long way since those early sketches, sure there is plenty of fan service but it’s all done in a good sequential art form. Speaking of fan service, I may be alone here or a freaking pervert, but there wasn’t enough for me. I figure with a title like Stripfighter I would be seeing plenty of T&A that wasn’t covered up by thongs or pasties. I guess to be fair I did read the whole thing and I liked the art, but I don’t find the story interesting enough to follow. C-