Subject: Manga Reviews: Presents vol. 1 | Author | Messages | Billy Aguiar
Posts: 84
 | Posted: 10/12/2007 2:11:25 PM | Presents, vol. 1
CMX Manga
$12.99, B/W, 200 pages, Available Now!
By Kanako Inuki
Rated for 18+
Reviewed by Billy Aguiar
3 Stars
Kurumi is a strange little girl, one that appears ageless because she did not receive any birthday presents or a party when young. She doesn't regret it though, for within each present is hidden time, and when you open it you age. But Kurumi is still searching for her own present, and in the process of doing so dispenses presents to others as she travels aimlessly everywhere and everywhen possible. Sometimes the presents she gives are cursed, bringing harm to both the giver and the receiver, sometimes they are karmic, returning to the person who inflicted harm it back to them in the form of a present, and sometimes the present is just a metaphor for something greater. The stories range from touching to horrific, as the portrayal of Kurumi evolves, but even at her most sympathetic she still has a touch of madness. While the ads imply Kurumi acts like a monkey's paw she is far more arbitrary.
This is one of the genres where manga should easily attract as much attention as comics in comic shops, horror. Titles ranging from 30 Days of Night and Walking Dead show that the audience for horror is strong, and while in Presents these stories tend towards the episodic (the Cryptkeeper syndrome) Kurumi sometimes does get involved beyond just handing out the present and watching the result, for the good or ill to the story's other characters. The art style is rather dated for even when this title was first released back in the early 90s, but instead of making the series obsolete, I think it only serves to enhance the strange, bug-eyed world of the characters. CMX has learned its lessons, and this title is rated Mature and shrinkwrapped rather than altered.
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.cmxmanga.com
Vol 1. ISBN: 1-40121-392-8
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