Type: Manga Genre: Comedy Pricing: $2.50 US Rating: along PG

 
 

It was drizziling lightly, and the sky was overcast when I walked into the near-by comic store.  Jay, the shop owner/register person, was ringing up a few comics, and briefly acknowledged my existence with a perfunctory wave.  "Haven't seen you in a while," he said while not looking at me.  "Haven't had money in a while," I responded honestly.  I continued about my business, and he continued on with his.  It was midday, and there was only one other person in the adaquately sized store.  I had went there specifically for an American comic called "Aria" (published by Image), but ever since the comic's inception, it's always had problems being published on time.  This review was written on 7-21-99.  The latest issue at that time was from May.  "That's what happens when you publish your own comic," Jay once said, referring to the ultimate creative freedom Image gives to its comic creators.  So, I was screwed.  I finally managed to get some cash, and I couldn't get what I wanted.  I wasn't going to get upset.  I was determined to waste that money that I had begged so hard for.  So I went exploring.  And found something very interesting.  There is a company out there.  They focus specifically on American manga.  They are pratically unheard of by mainstream America, and for some reason, ignored in anime/manga circles.  They are Antarctic Press.  I had heard of them before, but like a lot of other Otaku, I had never taken them seriously.  Until I took a chance, and purchased one of their "core titles," as they call it, labeled "Ninja High School Version 2."  For those of you who might be familiar with the Ninja High School series, NHS creator Ben Dunn explains in a full page article on the back of the front cover that he wanted to start the NHS universe over again.  But he still has roots in the original NHS.  He points to DragonBall Z as an example.  DBZ is a spinoff of the original DragonBall, but DBZ has roots in DB, and never forgets them.  He's done the same with NHS.  NHS V.2 is a new universe, new characters and plots, but with the old roots of the original NHS.  The first book focuses on four very different, very promising characters; each of which will probably inspire a cult following of their own.  We have as our star character, a measly, skinny looking, red head American kid named Ricky Feeple; who is a fan of Nine Inch Nails and is easy to underestimate in battle.  We have a beautiful young ninja girl named Yumei, who is excellent with her swords, appears to love battles, and is out to defeat Feeple in combat.  Then there is Yumei's blood brother, Tetsuo (no, not the one from "Akira".)  Tetsuo is the one who made the bet with Yumei that she couldn't defeat Feeple.  So she accepted.  Tetsuo, later in the book when he is alone, and after he has made the bet and Yumei is on her way to battle, acknowleges that he knows Feeple, and that he desires revenge.  But the "how" and "why" are not elaborated on, and are left utterly wide open for later issues to answer.  Then there is Solora.  A shapely, attractive (and furry) blue-haired daughter of a rich intergalatic diplomat.  She is spoiled beyond contemplation.  She blatanly and apathetically defies orders from her father and abuses her servants, and is humorously made to pay for it in the end of the first issue....  The artwork of NHS V.2 is beautiful.  It's a mix between the really attractive manga style of Japan, ane the more detailed and slightly more realistic style of American comics.  There are things used here that you rarely see in pure manga; like use of shadows, or upclose details on facial and muscular features.  And the lead character looks...real!  Unlike a lot of manga where the lead character is unbelievaly handsome, Ricky Feeple seems to be your average Joe.  You could actually believe he was a real person.  And in full, attractive color (someting I would like to see more  in manga), at $2.50 a pop, this is a pretty sweet deal.  Anyone who ever wanted to break into the NHS universe, or American manga in general, should pick this book up.  It's a great place to start.  I give this four out of four stars.

 

 

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