Subject: Manga Review:Mail Order Ninja, vol 1 | Author | Messages | Billy Aguiar
Posts: 84
 | Posted: 9/15/2006 1:26:58 PM | Mail Order Ninja, vol 1
TokyoPop
$5.99, b/w, 96 pages, Available Now!
Story by Joshua Elder and Illustrated by Erich Owen
Reviewed by Billy Aguiar
Three stars
Previously I reviewed Agent Boo from TokyoPop’s Manga Chapters program, melded graphic novel and children’s light novels aimed at the 6-8 age bracket. Manga Readers, on the other hand, are aimed at a slightly older audience, 8-12-year-olds, and bridges the gap between beginning readers and ones ready for standard manga titles. Unlike Manga Chapters, which I had to convince myself that needed to be reviewed and carried in comic shops, Mail Order Ninja was a much easier to justify. Unlike Chapters, Readers do not have any text pieces, except as extras at the end of the volume.
Mail Order Ninja is the story of Timmy, victim of bullies, snotty little sisters and downtrodden by the school elite. Fortunately, he is able to get a ninja through mail order, and uses the ninja’s powers to take care of the bullies and offer protection to all those being trodden down. But by the end of the 96 pages of the first volume, Felicity, daughter of the town’s richest man, after not being able to trod on anyone, decides to take extreme measures.
This is the best kind of kid’s book, funny and witty without being stupid and letting adults enjoy it too. Sure, the story is goofy, but it holds together once you accept the world’s rules, and the art matches the tone. It does hold cues of seriousness to come that says not everything will be all fun and games, but for an introduction manga or comic, it is excellent.
This is a weekly manga review here on the CBG site, but don’t forgot to check out my other review site, Prospero’s Manga for more manga reviews.
www.tokyopop.com
Vol. 1 ISBN: 1-59816-728-6
|
|
|