Subject: Manga Reviews: Me2, vol. 1 | Author | Messages | Billy Aguiar
Posts: 84
 | Posted: 12/21/2007 7:58:49 AM | Me2, vol. 1
TokyoPop
$9.99, B+W, 192 pages, Available Now!
By Sho Murase
Rated for 16+
Reviewed by Billy Aguiar
3 stars
Me2 is an Original Global Manga, but it has a wildly unique art style, enhanced by computer graphics in such a seamless way that if I hadn't read about it's use, I wouldn't have known about it. Sho Murase has released other titles in the US, being the artist for the Image series Sei , along with having a booth at San Diego, so her work should not be completely unknown. Her art is so far away from both comic and manga styles, it may hard for some to get a handle on it. It seems to borrow most of its influences from illustration than anything else. But despite its uniqueness, I had no problem following the action or the storyline. Aki's older brother Ken died in a fire, and Aki feels his loss keenly and has suffered her whole life in comparison to him. Now that he is gone, it is even worse, and the fact that she has a scar on her face from a childhood accident only makes things worse in school. She is so down that she has been losing track of time, and in those lost time periods someone has been looking out for her, taking revenge on the other students that has made her life difficult. Now, you don't need a PhD to figure out the connection, but no one else in the title does, so I am sorta curious what kind of hand-waving is going to be done as the rationale of people overlooking her scar. The story itself is solidly constructed, which gives the art the opportunity to shine.
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: 1-4278-0063-4
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