Author: Kia Asamiya
ISBN: 978-1-59796-134-9 Date Published: 9/29/2007 Format: paperback / B&W Number of pages: 192 Rating: 15+
Price: $9.95
Ryoko is rescued, but what happened in her captivity would scar her for the rest of her life. Hiro is filled with resentment for not being able to rescue her earlier, but as if to rub salt in the wound, a tabloid exposes Ryoko’s mother’s affair with Hiro that would tear her family apart. Witness JUNK’s punishment as Hiro’s rage and frustration explodes against the mass media.
Right,that’s the company blurb out of the way but what was the book like?
The book is a little smaller than A5/Digest so my known antagonism toward this size on Manga had to be pushed aside but then I had to read the story from volume 4 [why publishers always send books from part 4 or 5 or 6 I never know as it is very difficult,in fact,impossible to give an over-view based on a later book. But…
The printing is good. No problem there. I did wonder who Ryoko was -or even who the villain was. Then I realised the character was not a villain. Well,anti-hero is more like it. The story actually became quite captivating!
Yes. I enjoyed a Manga book.
Who just fainted?
The art style is nice and gritty though I was worried about the seeming over-use of letratone though,surprisingly,this helped the art style. I think that if I had to really say to someone there was a Manga book I’d recommend then JUNK would be it -almost [almost] similar to some 1980s Small Press work.
Love to see the other volumes because it’s Manga I..I…I…like!!!
Iron Wok Jan volume 26
Author: Shinji Saiyo
ISBN: 978-1-59796-049-6
Date Published: 9/28/2007
Format: Paperback / B&W
Number of pages: 208
Rating: 13+
Price: $9.95
Judging begins for the final dishes! There is Kiriko’s ostrich meat and salt millefeuille baked in salt, and Ransei’s stuffed lotus roots for the 21st century. With Jan’s survival-style ostrich carpaccio to be judged last, will his dish retain the magic until the judges try his dish?
I have to admit that,once again,at volume….26[!] I had grave misgivings but luckily there was character background info and that sorted out what was what!
I need to point out that it is physically impossible for the character Kiriko Gobancho to be a chef. It would be impossible for any woman with breasts the size of cooking cauldrons to cut-chop-dice or even see what was going on in saucepans on the cooking hob!!
There are the usual Manga over-exaggerated facial expressions but these are drawn,in the main characters,in a very nice style. But the question is:can a Manga about cookery work?
YES!
Some of the explanations of the dishes as well as dish names are so over-the-top that you wish some of the plethora of cookery programmes and competitions on TV might try a few!
Well drawn? Yes.
Humorous? Yes.
If you are not into super heroes,monsters,vampire-slayers or the usual comics fayre -this ought to tickle your bell!
Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword vol 3
Author: Wing Shing Ma ISBN: 978-1-59796-117-2Date Published: 09/12/2007Format: Paperback / soft cover/ Color Number of pages: 256 Rating: 13+
Price: $19.95
Fifteen years have passed since Hero made a vow to Sword Saint to relinquish the path of vengeance. Unbeknownst to him, his son Jian is still alive and has come to
The action is superbly rendered from knife-weilding,kick,punch and more! The characters are,obviously,well drawn and the colouring is bright and vibrant and there is a wonderful sequence involving mice ands rats at the end!
If you really want to get a very good example of Hong Kong Manhua then this series is highly recommended!!
You might not find these books in your local store so there is a bonus in that you can order direct from Dr Master at their site:
Alright,I know,I know -people keep saying “you know all these Chinese creators and we don’t!” Uh,don’t know them personally [Wish I did!!],but I get the point. I get quoted everywhere on Manhua so names linke Tony Wong or….
Oh,let’s cut the word-count! Some info on one of my favourite Manhua artists.
WING SHING MA
Wing Shing Ma was born in Hong Kong in 1961. He quit his studies and joined the comic industry in 1976. He started with Hei Po where he published his first series, Day Dream. His other works included Winds and Clouds in Public Housing, Wily Little One, Little Tough Guy, Great Dictator, Lau-keung the Contractor, The Invisible Weird Guest and Wonder Dog.
In 1977, Hei Po was closed down and Ma joined the Golden Comics where he began employing realism in his works such as The Five Brothers which caught the attention of many in the trade. He also published The Battle: Before and After in Hong Kong Comic Weekly.
The following year, Ma took a one year course at Hong Kong Academy of Fine Arts to enhance his drawing skills. He soon quit Golden Comics and switched to Ching Po where he, when trying to establish his own style, produced numerous works including Evil Experiment, Assault 13, Alien, I Wanna be Woman, Small Luk’s Fight at Wudang and the Eve of the Battle, Martial House, Sword and Spear, Destroyer, My Pursuit, Great Stealer 13, Knowing You, Mad Dog, Security Guard, Story of Big-Nose Boy, Hillfire and Five Affairs.
Veteran Cop and New Drunken Fist were published in 1980 when Ma was with New Waves. In August, he joined Jademan and began publishing The Chinese Hero in Golden Daily.
In 1981, he further his studies in fine arts at Des Montagnes Studio and incorporated his new learning into his work. In November, he co-authored Tong Lung with Fung ChiÄMing which succeeded in entering the Japanese market.
In 1982, The Chinese Hero periodical was published and immediately proved to be a great success, laying a solid foundation for Ma’s career.
In 1987, Ma co-organized a painting exhibition, Footsteps, with teachers and students of Des Montages Studio.
In 1989, Ma founds the Jonesky Limited, publishes Jonesky’s Collection, releases his new series The Two Extremes and holds his personal art exhibition.
Quoted from “Ma Wing Shing Creative Works” published in 1989.
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