GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEWS
Momo : Legendary Warrior Volume 1 Published by : Alien Books Written by : Naoto Tsujima Illustrated by : Z-ONE ISBN : 9781962201131 Ages : 16 +
A young woman watches the sky as a ship soars through the atmosphere . The ship crashes , and the only passenger , a young man named Taro , begins to search the desolate wasteland for water . He finally passes out , and when he awakens , he is fed by the young woman , who announces she is Momo . Suddenly , they are attacked by demon-like creatures known as Oni , and Momo shows her brutal and combative side .
Why has Taro come to the parched planet of Bizarrearth ? What is Momo ’ s story ?
And … what do the Oni want with them and the other villagers ?
All this sounds like a good setup for a science fiction story , and since this is only the first volume , you would be right . What you may not know is that this story is a remake of an old Japanese legend called Momotarō . Originally published in the Early Edo Period ( or late 1700s ), Momotarō tells the story of a man born from a giant peach who teams up with talking animals to take on the Oni ( demons ) who rule over the land . The story was originally reimagined in manga format by Kazuto Okina and published back in 2011 . Author Naoto Tsujima ( Transformers , Goemon ) brings it back for modern audiences , along with the amazing artwork from Korean artist Z-ONE .
I will definitely be keeping up this title . I must know what happens next !
Ages 16 +. Contains two images of fan service .
Two Graves Volume One : Wish You Were Here Published by : Image Comics , Inc . Written by : Genevieve Valentine Illustrated by : Ming Doyle , Annie Wu ISBN : 9781534325975 Ages : 18 +
Buckle up for a road trip of despair .
Emilia wants to take her mother ’ s ashes to the sea . A personification of death offers her a ride . People die along the way .
The action of the story in Two Graves Volume One : Wish You Were Here is simple , but the exploration of the characters is the true force of this graphic novel . Loyalties are tested . Characters speak in clipped dialogue that withholds truths and feelings . Emilia and the personification of death have both a sympathetic relationship and a toxic one . They are intertwined in ways of mutual benefit and destruction . The push and pull of which character is more dangerous than the other keeps the story exciting .
Two Graves is not an uplifting tale . Much of the story is involved in mysterious dialogue and melancholy situations . The tone is introspective and reads like poetry about loneliness . There are moments of action in the form of fight scenes and revenge , but Two Graves is more concerned with thoughtful philosophy and character development . The ending provides a twist that proves how interconnected the two main characters are . After six chapters , Two Graves offers a satisfying conclusion with enough leeway to continue into volume two , but this would be a satisfying read as one volume purchase .
The artwork is moody and atmospheric . Smoke and shadows cover the face of the personification of death adding to the mystery and melancholy of the story . All panels are full color , and the use of blues and yellows add to the visual emotion of the graphic novel .
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