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MANGA: Saiyuki Reload #1
by Kazuya Minekura. 196 pp. Chuang Yi Publishing.
1. Run - The boys roll into a village that's having demon trouble. Maybe. An entertaining look at the effect of a growing reputation. Lots of humor, lots of fighting, small children in mortal peril. Works for me.
2. Snowdrop i & ii - Sanzo and the lads take refuge from a storm with some unusual company A touching, if predictable story. The freebie postcard is the splash page for this chapter, and a very pretty splash it makes too. The artwork in this story is especially striking, with nice use of screen tone and patterning. Visually my favorite.
3. 3 Years Ago - He isn't my favorite character, but I thought this was an excellent Goku story, lighting on some of the issues caused by his imprisonment. Also a good 'buddy' story.
4. Deathmarch - When Gojyo, Hakkai & Goku go out to get supplies, something happens. Not really much I can say about the story without spoilers so I won't. The art has a couple of excellent frames.
Overall I very much enjoyed Saiyuki Reload #1. It was well worth the 8.50 cover price (the 11.00 postage is another matter - I'm going to have to see if I can get a local comics shop that will ship it cheaper).
Personal Enjoyment: 9/10 Excellent. I'll be buying the next one.
Public Rating: 9/10 Highly recommend it - strong writing, wonderful art, likeable and distinct characters. A good mixture of humor, violence and philosophical concerns. Just what manga should be like.
Slashiness/Yaoi factor: 6/10 Nothing overt, but so easily slashable it's ridiculous.
Quotable Quote: "Humph! I didn't become Sanzo so that I can go around saving lives."
by Kazuya Minekura. 196 pp. Chuang Yi Publishing.
1. Run - The boys roll into a village that's having demon trouble. Maybe. An entertaining look at the effect of a growing reputation. Lots of humor, lots of fighting, small children in mortal peril. Works for me.
2. Snowdrop i & ii - Sanzo and the lads take refuge from a storm with some unusual company A touching, if predictable story. The freebie postcard is the splash page for this chapter, and a very pretty splash it makes too. The artwork in this story is especially striking, with nice use of screen tone and patterning. Visually my favorite.
3. 3 Years Ago - He isn't my favorite character, but I thought this was an excellent Goku story, lighting on some of the issues caused by his imprisonment. Also a good 'buddy' story.
4. Deathmarch - When Gojyo, Hakkai & Goku go out to get supplies, something happens. Not really much I can say about the story without spoilers so I won't. The art has a couple of excellent frames.
Overall I very much enjoyed Saiyuki Reload #1. It was well worth the 8.50 cover price (the 11.00 postage is another matter - I'm going to have to see if I can get a local comics shop that will ship it cheaper).
Personal Enjoyment: 9/10 Excellent. I'll be buying the next one.
Public Rating: 9/10 Highly recommend it - strong writing, wonderful art, likeable and distinct characters. A good mixture of humor, violence and philosophical concerns. Just what manga should be like.
Slashiness/Yaoi factor: 6/10 Nothing overt, but so easily slashable it's ridiculous.
Quotable Quote: "Humph! I didn't become Sanzo so that I can go around saving lives."
