Reviews (1)

Vol. 1 = get on with it. Vol. 2 = much, much better.
Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 1 left me with the feeling that Byrne was really keeping his good stuff in his back pocket until he had established himself on the FF. In Volume 2, you get a much better sense of the kind of Fantastic Four Byrne was trying to create. His art is its usual outstanding self, but the "just get on with it" feeling you got from most of the short vignettes of Vol. 1 is nowhere to be found.

You can't talk about FF Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 2 without talking about the Galactus epic. Galactus' rebellious herald Terrax comes to Earth, battles the Fantastic Four, and then holds the entire island of Manhattan hostage unless the FF kills Galactus. It's pretty much everyone versus Galactus in a melee that most of comicdom wanted to see happen for years. The panels with Spiderman and Daredevil deciding to sit this one out ("We'd just be in the way.") are priceless. One note, though: I should call it a half-epic, as the Trial of Reed Richards, and the fate of Terrax that happened after issue #250 are not included in this volume (hopefully there will be a Vol. 3). A bit disappointing, but only mildly so.

There are other good tales here as well - the fate of Frankie Raye, Dr. Doom enlisting the FF's help to reclaim the throne of Latveria, the revelation of Franklin Richards, etc. However, the other jewel in this volume is the finale - issues #249 and #250 - which features Gladiator (of X-men and Imperial Guard fame), as well as guest appearances by Spiderman, Captain America, and the aforementioned X-men (sort of).

All in all, I'd have to say that if you're trying to gather the best graphic novelizations of Byrne's work, this title is a must-have. ... Read more

Book Description

The Shinsengumi might be a crack-team of samurai peacekeepers, but sometimes the peace is disturbed from within. When Vice-Commander Hijikata loses a personal collection of haiku, Captain Okita makes it his mission to play-keep away with his boss! Dark clouds dim this sunny episode, however, as another vice-commander - Yamanami - gradually distances himself from the rest of the Shinsengumi. This unspeakable act speaks volumes concerning the regulations of this cabal-like organization. Loyalty to the Shinsengumi reigns supreme and bond-breaking carries heavy handed justice! What exactly is Yamanami up to, and where will it lead him? The answer is certainly not for the squeamish! Meanwhile, self-involved Suzu plans his next treacherous move. The swords of the Shinsengumi will clash against unwise political maneuverings in Peacemaker Kurogane Volume 2. ... Read more

Book Description

On the planet Aqua, a world once known as Mars, Akari Mizunashi has just made her home in the town of Neo-VENEZIA, a futuristic imitation of the ancient city of Venice. The technology of "Man Home" (formerly Earth) has not entirely reached this planet, and Akari is alone, having no contact with family or friends. Nonetheless, the town, with its charming labyrinths of rivers and canals, becomes Akari's new infatuation, along with the dream of becoming a full-fledged gondolier. Reverting to a more "primitive" lifestyle and pursuing a new trade, the character of Akari becomes both adventurous and heartwarming all at once. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

LET'S LAZE ON MARS
After 150 years of terraforming, the barren planet of Mars has been turned into a new water-covered planet named Aqua. Akari Mizunashi, parentless and alone, has come to the city of Neo Venezia (modeled on Venice) to become an undine (gondolier) on the labyrinthine water boulevards. She's made a couple of friends after 11 months, such as her mentor Alicia and fellow co-worker for the Aria corporation. She also has a strange overweight cat/dog named President Aria that serves as her good luck mascot on her travels as a sort of wholesome taxi driver.
You can't just become a full-fledged gondolier without meeting some prerequisites, which are not made very clear in this first volume. Akari loves her work, if you can call it that, since she loves to introduce tourists, or anyone for that matter, to the charms and beauty of her new home. Along the way she brings some light into people's lives, meets ancient spirits, and competes in a race.

Aria has a gentle beauty to it. It's not an action manga. It's more like a haiku with words and pictures. Sometimes a couple of panels will take up the subject of the motion of the boat through the water as leaves twirl in the air around it. What we're really dealing with here is the daily life of a person who just happens to be an undine on Aqua. Whether you find joy in simplicity should be the gauge for this manga. The characters are a little sketchy yet and you wonder how long the story can survive on charm alone. There's a great gem of a story in this volume about Akari and a friend visiting a shrine and encountering a spirit that bodes well on the storytelling aspects that need to equal the visuals. I'm curious as to how volume 2 will turn out.

Like an Afternoon Stroll through Venice
Aria has some of the most beautiful artwork of any manga I have ever read. Both the characters and the city are rendered with excellent detail. This is reason enough to buy the book.
Akari, the star of the series, is cute and innocent without being too ditzy. She's genuine and heart-felt, making it easy to like her. The other characters aren't entirely fleshed out, but it's only the first volume, and it does seem promising that we'll get to know them better later on.

Each of the book's chapters follow a day in Akari's life as a gondolier. While I realize that the book isn't meant to be an 'action' book, some of the stories drag on with very little action or unusual events happening. In one chapter, one of the most exciting things that happens is a bunch of birds flying by. Pretty? Yes. Exciting? Not really. Even with that said, some of the other chapters can be truly charming once things get rolling.

The language and story of the book is appropriate for all ages. There's no foul language or nudity. Aria has a very warm, family-friendly message of enjoying life and trying your hardest in everything you do. And that's a message both kids and adults can appreciate.

Makes you long for the not-too-distant future
(Out of 5)

Story: 5
Cover:5
Artwork: 5
Characters: 4
Extras?: Full Color (beautiful) first page

The story isn't totally brand-new (terra-forming Mars) but it's still very interesting. When Mars was terraformed, the polar ice caps were melted too much and this resulted in covering the surface of the planet with 99% water, that's why it's now called Aqua. The planet is also a little behind in technology, so the lifestyle is more laid-back and relaxed. That's where Akari comes in. She's an undine, and her job is to travel along the channels of Neo-Velenzia (much like modern day Venice) giving people tours of the grand city. She enjoys her job, and is a very happy girl. She loves to meet new people and man her gondola.

This is one of the first manga that I have ever seen with the cover flipped. It makes the volume both eye-catching and intriguing.

The artwork is clean, detailed, and utterly breathtaking.

The characters only got a 4 out of 5 because we're really only introduced to the main character, Akari Mizunashi. Her friends and fellow undines are mentioned and shown, but very little background is given. (This is only the first volume though.)

So far there's only 4 volumes planned for publishing by ADV Manga, but hopefully more volumes will be picked up of this wonderful new series.

The tides of life
Aria belongs to what I like to call "slice of life manga" - that is, it does not posess complicated plot, but rather follows a character and shows all the little things that happen to him/her during their days. So it is with Aria, which follows its main character, Akari. In a future Mars which has been terraformed into a planet with an earth-like environment but too much water, and renamed Aqua, Akari lives in Neo-Venezia, a recreation of earth's Venice. She is an apprentice gandolier, called undine in the world of Neo-Venezia. The manga has a slow, dreamlike pace. It shows all the little, wonderfull things that happen during our lives. You know the statement "life is what happens while we are busy doing other things"? Akari washes her gondola and notices that the spray from her hose forms a rainbow. She guides a grumpy old man on her boat through the beautiful canals of Neo-Venezia in autumn, leaves drifting gently from the trees. She meets an aquaintence and they both wait for their mutual friends on a bridge, and feed the ducks below. She goes on a trip to another island that has a japanese shrine on it and witnesses an unusual wedding.
The art is beautiful, full of joy and good at conveying the quiet (or sometimes raucus) beauty of the surroundings. The production of the manga is very good - the paper is of good quality, there is a color insert, the sound effects are in original Japanese with a subtitle in English below them. The translation seems good, without any "Americanisms", and there is a page of translator's notes in the back.
Overall, I liked this manga quite a bit. If you are looking for action, a fast moiving plot, or lots of emotional angst in your manga, this is not for you. But if you are the type that likes to stop and smell the roses, you will like this as well :) ... Read more

Book Description

Moonstar, Karma, Magma and Wolfsbane the once X-Men-in-training who helped define a generation are back! But what happens when these "New Mutants" find out Professor Xavier's up-and-coming students think of them as the "Old Mutants"? Former students become the teachers as the old guard is asked back to help prepare the next generation of X-Men! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

SCRYED
This seiries is one of the best that ive read and seen! Great if u like action. I recomend this book for ages 12+ why there is mild violence and language. i give it 5 stars in my opinion it is one of the best anime/manga ive seen YES i know ive sead it before but it is the best!!! It is defiantly worth it. The people in the book have great personalitys and the plot is great 2. ... Read more

Book Description

When Jonny Zero's blood was infused with lifesaving nanotech plasm, his life was changed forever. No longer simply a teenage boy, Jonny became GO BOY 7 - Human Action Machine! Now Jonny's life is one adventure after another as he battles the evil, nonsensical genius of The Cultist - who seeks the destruction of logic, reason, and Go Boy 7! In this graphic novel the Cultist's devastating creativity with anarchic giga-technology threatens civilization yet again as an enigmatic new player comes in town: BioAgent! Who is this sudden hero, what is happening to Jonny's body, and what is the origin of the Cultist? ... Read more

Book Description

JLA: KID AMAZO is a stimulating tale of family heritage and individual independence. With the ability to imitate all the powers of the members of the JLA, the demented construct named Amazo has loomed as the Justice League’s greatest foe for many years. Fueled by an inextinguishable abhorrence for Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the rest of their compatriots, Amazo has dedicated his existence to the singular goal of their annihilation. But now as the android’s son, Kid Amazo, comes of age, the adolescent entity must make a choice between succumbing to an inbred hatred and joining in his father’s vendetta or betraying his patriarch and becoming his own man. ... Read more