Manga Reviews: Aqua, Murder Princess

Manga Reviews: Aqua, Murder Princess V. 1 & 2, Nabi, and Manga: The Complete Guide

Aqua Volume 1
Story & Art: Kozue Amano
Translation: Alethea & Athena Nibley
English Adaptation: Barbara Randall Kesel
Publisher: Tokyopop

After reading the entire book I found out it was a prequel to another manga entitled Aria. I have never read Aria, but I completely understood this manga, so it is safe to say that it is a stand-alone story. This particular story takes place on Mars, which is now called Aqua, because 90% of the planet’s surface is now water. It seems that in a city called Neo-Venezia, gondoliers are now known as Undines. Our main character Akari Mizunashi hopes to become an undine and gets accepted by the Aria Company as an apprentice. She has traveled all the way from Man-home, which I assume to be Earth. This book is about her adventures becoming an Aqua and the friends she meets. I was pleasantly surprised when I read this book, because I thought that it was going to be one of those stereotypical stories how one girl’s dream is to become the best Aqua. Surprisingly it reminded me more of a Studio Ghibli story more than anything. I have to say the thing that stands above everything else in this book is the gorgeous art. It may be a stretch here, but I think if they were to rebuild Venice on Mars, it would look like Neo-Venezia. I really like how so much detail is given to every single panel, but it doesn’t outshine the main characters. That cover alone just yells gorgeous art with expressive characters (wait till you see the Martian cats). If you are looking for fast paced action, you aren’t going to find it in this title and it does move a bit slow at times, but it is still a fun read. This is one of those feel good stories that really makes me glad I read manga. B+

Manga: The Complete Guide
Author: Jason Thompson
Publisher: Ballantine Books

Before I get into the review I want to make you understand something. I swore up and down never ever to get a complete guide to manga book or anything of the sorts. I have been reading manga for the past 17 years and I thought I didn’t need anyone to explain anything about Manga to me since I considered myself a connoisseur of the genre. Then came Tokyopop and released 40 books a month (not that I’m complaining) and after that other companies started releasing more and more manga. It was just impossible to keep up with what was current. Now that you know how I felt about owning something like this book, I’m going to tell you how much you need this book. For the past week I have been reading and looking up information on Manga and guess what? I don’t need Wikipedia or Google, because it’s all right here in one big book. Every single manga released in America whether completed or not is in this book, but not only information on the creators or how many volumes it runs, but a mini synopsis of the story and a small review to go along with it. As if that wasn’t enough Jason takes us into the different genres of manga such as dojinshi, josei, otaku, and yuri to name a few; and explains the difference and the history behind each genre. There is a history of manga in Japan and then in the states. With over 540 pages of information and complete history lessons, you can’t go wrong with this wonderful book. I can’t praise this book high enough or do it justice by naming some of the chapters. If you are a manga reader, you need this book. If you want to get into read this manga, you need this book. Even if you are a veteran of manga and think that you know everything about it, you still need this book. I think I got my point across. A+

Murder Princess Volume 1
Story & Art: Sekihiko Inui
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
English Adaptation: Jason R. Grissom
Publisher: Broccoli Books

This book’s cover really caught my attention. A hot chick, red eyes, a sword, and blood splattered in the background. Sold! In the Kingdom of Forland, the evil Professor Akamashi and his two androids (who are little girls) have killed the king and want to claim his throne. Princess Alita is sent to find her brother and has an unfortunate confrontation with a root of a tree and falls off a cliff. Lucky for her the brunt of the impact is taken by the bounty hunter Falis’ head. When their two heads came in contact they seemed to have switched personalities and everyone is fine with this, because Falis is a sword wielding bad-ass while Alita is a wimp in comparison. The story is very simple and the villains are not really that bad of villains, more cartoony Wiley E. Coyote threat than World domination threat level. I have to say that this book works if you turn your brain off, but hell there is nothing wrong with that. This is advice from someone that reads comics and watches movies in the same way. Let the art take you away and enjoy it for what it is, just an adventure manga with some fantastic artwork. Speaking of which, the action sequences are right down amazing. It’s impressive to see someone draw characters in such detail, yet so clean during sword slashings. The story picks up towards the end with a twist, but really nothing to keep most people interested, but to be honest I did keep reading it for the art alone. B-

Murder Princess Volume 2
Story & Art: Sekihiko Inui
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
English Adaptation: Jason R. Grissom
Publisher: Broccoli Books

Everything that was laid out in the first volume is wrapped up in this book. Prince of Forland, Kaito who is Alita’s older brother and eight years her senior returned at the end of the last volume, but not with hugs and kisses for his little sister, but with a sword slash to the stomach. She has spoken very fondly of him, bragging of his swordsmanship as well as his kindness. Prince Kite left the country to hold peace talks with Forland’s western neighbor, the kingdom of Grandel, but no one has heard from him since. When he comes back, it is revealed that he is the man the Black Knight that accompanies Cecilia. Cecilia is a sorceress who is tracking Alita’s every move and has a connection with Falis. This book seemed to have read faster than volume 1 there was just so much action after action with very little room for Falis’ background story. I am still surprised at how clean the gory looks. Even when Professor Akamashi blows up and his hand falls to the floor; the art style is so clear and crisp, I don’t think I get the reaction I am intended to get. Nevertheless it was still a fun read about choices and friendship. I kept checking the back of the book to see if maybe it was based on a game or something, because seriously the character designs are right out of an RPG. It seems that Broccoli books really gave this book the royal treatment. The artwork looks amazing on the thick white pages and the texture on the cover makes the characters really stand out. The book itself feels solid and could probably take a beating and still be unharmed. I enjoyed this one more than its predecessor, but the same flaws still plagued the book. B

Nabi the Prototype
Story & Art: Yeon-Joo Kim
Translation: Woo Sok Park
English Adaptation: Liz Forbes
Publisher: Tokyopop

Nabi is a collection of stories that are a lead up to an upcoming on-going series titled Nabi. In this particular collection we are given glimpses into the lives of So-Ryu , Myon-Un, and Ryu-Sang. The first story is about how So-Ryu is a hostage of her father’s enemies and eventually falls for a warrior that is to be her protector. In the second story Myon-Un and Ryu-Sang, who is a tough boy on the exterior but cares deeply for Han-Ah. The stories were a bit confusing and disjointed. I don’t think I have read enough of these characters to feel emotionally attached to them so their connections are rather meaningless to me. There is not enough separation between the stories and I got confused on where some of the characters went when starting a new segment. It will be interested to see how all these characters intertwine with each other in the main title. But as of right now, it’s just little stories that I cared very little about. The artwork is completely lovely and stunning. Character designs look classy with some elaborate costumes. The eyes on the character remind me of the large dominating eyes of Clamp’s artwork. To say that the saving grace of the book is the artwork would be an understatement. B-