Subject: Manga Reviews: Portus | Author | Messages | Billy Aguiar
Posts: 84
 | Posted: 11/16/2007 8:03:44 AM | Portus
Viz Media
$9.99, B/W, 232 pages, Available Now!
Story and Art by Jun Abe
Rated Mature/18+
Reviewed by Billy Aguiar
2 1/2 stars
Portus is an old computer game, intended for use in an old console system, such as the early Nintendo or Atari. It is also the subject of an online urban legend, that there is a hidden level and a game within the game that if you discover it, you will die. At least that is what Asami has heard, but her teacher Kie insists that he played Portus himself when he was younger, and he didn't die. But when Asami friend Chiharu dies after playing the game, Asami finds herself pulled not into the computer game, but the game within the game, where a cursed doll entangles them all with the slaughter of a village 50 years ago.
When I read Portus, I feel that there is a real disconnect between the first half of the book, as the nature of the game Portus becomes deeper and more mysterious, with the second half of the book with the goal of returning the doll in time for the characters to save themselves. It is like there are two different stories, with the images of the cursed doll being replaced by images of the ghost. Horror needs to have some internal logic, or at least a set of rules. That was the basis of the whole joke about Scream for examplea. While I found myself creeped out at places, by the same token I was often confused in the second half of the story until I decided to let it go. It also did not help that several characters had names that were too similar and stayed off-camera making it hard differentiate between them when they were being discussed. If there had been some more ties between the two halves of the book, I think it would have been far more effective, but it still has managed to convince me to stay away from any old console games that I may come across.
This is a weekly review here on the CBG site, but don’t forgot to check out my other review site, Prospero’s Manga for more reviews.
www.viz.com
Vol 1. ISBN: 1-42151-383-8
| walking man comics
Posts: 325
| Posted: 11/20/2007 1:41:04 PM | Hi, Billy,
Do you know anything about the long delay since last issue of Vagabond, from Viz/Mensa, maybe 24 volumes published so far?
I'm mostly a historicals reader, or that and politics--the first I thought of just now is Eagle, a hypothetical US Presidential race. I'd really like to know if Vagabond's going to continue, though, and appreciate your help.
thanks,
Matt
Walking Man Comics
10 years' mini-comics monthly
Favorites: Age of Bronze, Autumn, Boneyard, Conan, Colonia, Castle Waiting, Daredevil, Fables, Fell, Jack Staff, Jonah Hex, Lone Wolf, Mouse Gaurd, Next Wave, Powers, Strangers, Usagi, Wolff & Byrd. | Billy Aguiar
Posts: 84
| Posted: 11/20/2007 2:37:27 PM | Well, volume 26th just was released late last month, but for how much longer it will run, I can't tell you because the series is still being serialized in Japan. Probably vol. 27 has been released in Japan and it takes anywhere from 5-8 months between the Japanese and US release of a GN.
All I can tell you is hang in there, the series is still alive and producing new material!
| walking man comics
Posts: 325
| Posted: 11/28/2007 2:45:17 PM | Thanks, Bill!
And, please-- any suggestions along the lines of what I sort of outlined above as my interests are very welcome!
best wishes,
Matt
Walking Man Comics
10 years' mini-comics monthly
Favorites: Age of Bronze, Autumn, Boneyard, Conan, Colonia, Castle Waiting, Daredevil, Fables, Fell, Jack Staff, Jonah Hex, Lone Wolf, Mouse Gaurd, Next Wave, Powers, Strangers, Usagi, Wolff & Byrd. |
|
|