Reviews: Graphic Novels and Art Books

I have great respect for Rumiko Takahashi. She is one of the six great creators whom I believe wanna-be comic book writers and artists MUST study if they are to truly contribute to the genre, whether they like manga or not. However...

I found myself dissapointed with "The Art of Ranma 1/2," eventhough it confirmed what i already knew to be true. (That's why it gets 3 Stars... it's a good book, but...)

Rumiko Takahashi is, first and foremost, a cartoonist. This is very clear in her "The Art of Ranma 1/2." This book of paintings culled from a variety of sources, such as video covers and pin-ups and posters from the 'Ranma 1/2' series' original run in a Japanese anthology comic book are pretty, but they are nothing special. Takahashi's talent shines when it is applied to panel art rather than single illustrations. 

"The Art of Ranma 1/2" is only of interest to hardcore "Ranma 1/2" fans... but if you're one of those, it's a must-own. Takahashi offers a range of insight into the how's and why's of the series and the illustrations in an interview and through liner notes. But, as an art book, it should probably be passed on. 
 

'Maison Ikkoku' is a romantic comedy that focuses on Godai, a young man who falls in love with the manager of his apartment building. The manager is Kyoko, a young widow who is still recovering from the loss of her husband, her first and (so far) only true love.

The series follows the development of Godai and Kyoko's relationship, as it is threatened by romantic rivals, the general weirdness of the other residents of Maison Ikkoku, and misunderstandings that, if featured on sit-coms, might actualy make them worth watching. The readers also get to follow the emotional growth of Godai and Kyoko, both of whom really have a lot of maturing to do when the series starts.

'Maison Ikokku' consists of 14 volumes. As with all of Takahashi's work, the art is pleasing to the eye, the characters are all likable, and the humour is genuinely funny. Some elements of the story grow out of Japanese culture, but the characters are developed enough that the reader can nonetheless relate to all their reactions, viewpoints, joys and heartbreaks.

Pick up Vol. 1 today, and follow the series through to the end. It's a great story... and you get to watch Takahashi's style evolve as well. 
 

Rumiko Takahshi has been referred as the 'Queen of Romantic Comedy.' This is a title that works such as "Ranma 1/2" and "Maison Ikkoku" proves that she richly deserves. "Rumic Theatre" certainly displays many of the touches that her fans love, but it also shows that she is capable of creating far more sedate stories that might well in some cases happen to those we know our even ourselves.

"Rumic Theatre" is a collection of six of the finest Takahashi stories that I've read so far. As always, the characters are likable and engaging, the tender moments touching, and the comedy top-notch. The stories are more down-to-earth than we are accostumed to, dealing primarily with the trails and tribulations of everyday people--all of whom are characterized in a believable and three-dimensional fashion--but that typical Takahashi magic is still very clearly evident on every page. What's more, the art in this collection is among the best she's produced.

My personal favorites in this collection are 'The Tragedy of P,' (which revolves around a pet penguin in an apartment building where animals are absolutely not allowed), 'Hidden in the Pottery (where reality, perception, and the dangers of gossip are examined), and 'Extra-large Happiness' (where a young wife sees her future happiness endangered by a gremlin that only she can see). The remaining stories are also of high quality, but the characters and situations in the three mentioned above are the ones that moved me the most.

Even those who don't typically appreciate the 'standard' style of Japanese comics should consider buying this book. If you appreciate the art of comic books for more than just slam-bang superheroics, you won't be dissapointed. 
 

"One or Double" is the second collection of short tales that don't fit into any of Rumiko Takahashi's ongoing series. Unlike the first volume, which contained mostly recent stories, this one covers a range of years, judging from the art styles. They're not all winners, but over all this book is yet more solid evidence that Takahashi is a master of the graphic story telling medium. Whether you're a fan of "manga" or not, there's no denying that she's a skilled artist and writer who deserves the accolades and success she has enjoyed.

Most of the standout stories in the book are, sports-themed. 'Excuse Me for Being a Dog!,' (a young boxer turns into a dog whenever he gets a bloody nose) 'Winged Victory,' (the tale of a rugby team that's lost 999 games in a row and the ghost who watches over it), 'The Grandfather of All Baseball Games' (a young man plays hardball with his obnoxious grandfather), and the title story (in which a kendo instructor is put in the body of the club's pretty manager) all use sports either as the backdrop or motivation for the story and its characters. The characters in these stories are Takahashi at her most charming.

'The Diet Goddess' (about a girl who buys a dress with the intention of losing enough weight to look good in it) and 'Happy Talk' (about an adoptee who embarks on a search for her biological mother) are two slice-of-life stories ala the majority of the shorts from the first 'Rumic Theater' volume, and the 'Maison Ikkoku' series. Again, Takahashi presents us with charming characters the reader can't help but care about, in stories both funny and touching.

Dissapoints in the book include 'To Grandmother's House We Go' (about a pair of hardluck cases who try to collect the large birthright of a deceased friend for themselves) and 'Reserved Seat' (a curious tale about a rock singer who is haunted by his grandmother and Tarakazuka). The first story is simply too short and it feels rushed on every level--the ending feels particularly unsatifactory--while the second is the only Takahashi story I've read where I felt no sympathy or good will toward any of the characters present in it.

Finally, there's 'Shake Your Bhudda,' a tale that appears to be early Takahashi, both based on the art style and the story's pacing. It's clear she was still mastering her craft, and there's very little to recommend this tale. In fact, I feel the book might have been better served if it had been left out all together. 
 

"Inu Yasha: A Fuedal Fairy Tale" is a perfect blend of the darker side of Takahashi we see in "Mermaid Saga" and the more comedic antics of "Ranma 1/2." Sometimes, the events on the page are humorous and horrific at the same time!

The series is split between fuedal era Japan and modern day Japan, as the plucky high school student Kagome and the half-demon Inu Yasha attempt to track down the fragments of a gem that grants demons unlimited power, traveling back and forth through time via a magic well. Their adventures are varied and the stories always well-paced.

Character-driven and populated with entertaining and likable characters who simply will not admit how much they actually care for each other, "Inu Yasha: A Fuedal Fairy Tale" is another fine series that those who have liked Takahashi's other works should pick up as well. (Inu-Yasha is an ongoing graphic novel series. At the time of this writing, 18 volumes are available in English.)
 

The concept of this three-volume graphic novel horror series seems a bit goofy on the surface. Teenaged girl Kirie is narrating the increasingly horrific events of her hometown as it succumbs to a curse of.... spirals. Yep. Evil spirals are appearing everywhere and anything from a curl to a spring can be the vehicle for driving a person mad or prompting a transformation into a monster.

This premise, however, is the foundation for a truly rare piece of work: A horror comic that's actually scary. There are several truly disturbing moments in the series--the hospital sequence contains several; the desperate flight down a spiral staircase as the setting sun is about to unleash doom is another; and the realization that whatever awareness that is lurking behind the curse of spirals is growing obsessed with Kirie (who has repeatedly escaped doom) kept me eagerly anticipating the next volume. Moreso than any other horror comic I've read--moreso than many movies even--creator Ito manages to convey the sensations transmitted through the best works of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King.

If you like horror fiction, I can't recommend this series enough. This middle volume is the best of the three but the other two are four-star efforts. Even if you're the sort of person who claims to not like Japanese comics ("manga"), you should check out Uzumaki; Ito's style is subdued and realistic enough that you should be able to stand it.

Demands on my time and thoughts of more responsible ways to spend my money almost caused me to stop buying the "Oh My Goddess!" graphic novels with "Terrible Master Urd." The ending of that book was so perfect that I almost didn't want to have it ruined by knowing what came next.

Boy, am I glad I chose to stick with the series. 

"The Devil in Miss Urd," the latest installment in Kosuke Fujishima's hilarious and touching "Oh My Goddess!" romantic comedy series continues to establish new high marks for quality in the series.

The storyline of this installment once again takes a turn for the darker as Urd's evil half is exploited by the demonic Mara, partly as another scheme to drive Belldandy back to Heaven but also simply to return to the friendly relationship she enjoyed with Urd when they were kids. Mara being Mara once again fails to fully consider all ramifications of her plan... and the resulting *two* Urds may both die before the story is over.

Fujishima's characters and their relationships continue to evolve in this volume--with Belldandy and Keiichi taking a backseat while Mara, Urd, and Skuld step into the spotlight. The art is, as always, the gorgeous mix of cartooniness and realism that Fujishima becomes increasingly adept at. In fact, I place Fujishima in the same class as Masamune Shirow--a writer/artist whose style should appeal even to those who don't general like "anime" and "manga."

"The Devil in Miss Urd" may not be the best point for those unfamiliar with the series to jump on though... that would be the very first volume in the series, "Wrong Number," even if Fujishima's art is a bit rough in it. Other good choices would be "Ninja Master" or "Miss Keiichi," the two volumes immediately preceeding this one. But, if you have even a passing familiariaty with the characters of the "Oh My Goddess!" series, I give "The Devil in Miss Urd" my highest recommendation.

I've sung the praises of Kosuke Fujishima and his wonderfully sweet series about nerdy gearhead Keiichi and the three goddesses who live with him in an old Bhuddist temple. The stories contain a weird mix of comedy, romance, fantasy, science, and even science ficiton, and there isn't a character that isn't a joy to read about.

And I'm praising him again in this review. Yet, this will probably the last time, as I am saying a sad goodbye to Kosuke Fujishima and "Oh, My Goddess!" with this release.

The 18th graphic novel in the series--The Phantom Racer--is among one of the best so far. It contains two long stories. First, Keiichi and Belldandy are called upon to unlock the secrets behind a mysterious ghost that is haunting the winding road to university's sattelite campus. The second story is about a mad professor, who is obsessed with creating robots that walk as naturally as humans.... and when he discovers that Keiichi and Belldandy have such a robot living with them, he launches a scheme to acquire and dissasemble it for science. Being that these are "Oh, My Goddess!" adventures, everything works out in the end, and along the way the characters learn something about love, life, and the power of the human spirit. The art is also sharp and gorgeous as always.

So, why, after such a glowing review am I saying "a sad goodbye to 'Oh, My Goddess!'?

Well, because Dark Horse and Studio Proteus is jumping on the cost-cutting, "let's not flip the art" bandwagon.

I HATE reading books "backwards." I don't CARE that the Japanese read from right to left. I'm not reading my comics in Japanese. I'm reading them in English. And English is read from left to right. According to what I've heard from Dark Horse, starting with Volume 19 of the "Oh, My Goddess!" graphic novel series, the art will no longer be "flipped."

I have made one exception to my "I'll never spend money on a badly done translation"--the Kindiachi Mysteries series because I'm a lover of the sort of Agathy Christie-style stories in those books, and because they're dirt cheap--but as much as I love "Oh, My Goddess!" and admire Kosuke Fujishima's work, I will not make another exception.

I will not reward something I consider bad effort with my dollars, so I guess I'll be re-reading the "Oh, My Goddess!" books that are already on my shelf when I feel I need a little bit of sweet romantic comedy with fantasy overtones in my life.