Sienkiewicz brings this four-part story to a fairly satisfying conclusion. I got used to the borderline incomprehensible art that was nonetheless4.3/5
Sienkiewicz brings this four-part story to a fairly satisfying conclusion. I got used to the borderline incomprehensible art that was nonetheless beautiful and disturbing to look at. The story meandered a bit here and there but its threads came together in a nice, surreal bow that compliments its themes well. I'll be reading this one again....more
It's all slowly coming together but in the most borderline roundabout, incomprehensible way possible.
The so3.3/5
This is some quote kooky shit unquote.
It's all slowly coming together but in the most borderline roundabout, incomprehensible way possible.
The sometimes confusing artwork is a double-edged sword for the material in this issue, and it's grimy in both atmosphere and subject matter. Sure makes you wanna take a shower after reading it....more
Big Sienkiewicz fan here. I don't have a fucking clue what I just read, but I liked it. Really adore the design of the Toaster Man (is that what 3.5/5
Big Sienkiewicz fan here. I don't have a fucking clue what I just read, but I liked it. Really adore the design of the Toaster Man (is that what he's called?) and the art is amazingly dream-like. Now that it has my attention, let's see where this goes....more
DUNE. My joy when I found this in my collection given to me by my father was spectacular. I've always wanted to read Ralph Macchio and Bill Sienk3.5/5
DUNE. My joy when I found this in my collection given to me by my father was spectacular. I've always wanted to read Ralph Macchio and Bill Sienkiewicz's graphic novel version of David Lynch's adaptation of Frank Herbert's original sci-fi classic for a number of reasons: I like Bill Sienkiewicz, I like David Lynch (and his adaptation in spite of its flaws), and I like the original novel.
This is the most barebones version of the story you're ever gonna get. Given the Marvel Super Specials format, somehow Macchio had to condense an already extremely condensed story into 64 pages. Given what he had to work with, I'd say he did a good job. He got all the important stuff in there, even without the nuance or additional material to make it all flow with natural grace. Sienkiewicz also did a fantastic job conveying the visuals on each page, though sometimes panels were a little too pressed together. The presentation of the story is still incredible. The aesthetics of the '84 film translate well with Sienkiewicz's art style. Always liked the colours and otherworldly grunginess of Lynch's film, so I was glad to see that here, too....more
I had to read a scanlation of this since for some Godforsaken reason this has never been officially licensed or published in English in the 14 ye3.4/5
I had to read a scanlation of this since for some Godforsaken reason this has never been officially licensed or published in English in the 14 years since its original publication. A shame, too, because Hideout is a fun, if flawed, read. There is nothing particularly original about this story, but it's executed well. Story beats and new information are revealed organically as it goes on, and it's short, so it's not like this thing that's barely under 200 pages is going to overstay its welcome.
Masasumi Kakizaki's art is superior to his somewhat pedestrian writing. Atmospheric, creepy, and very detailed, the character (and monster) designs and environment are both rendered spectacularly. It's a little too dark (literally too much blackness on the page) and cluttered to tell what the hell is happening sometimes, so details can sometimes get lost in the murkiness.
Overall, this is a decent read. No character is without sin, which makes this a more interesting read in this case. It's not bad at all....more
This brisk collection of side stories doesn't disappoint. Yukito's artwork (most done without assistants) is pretty great, though a bit simpler than lThis brisk collection of side stories doesn't disappoint. Yukito's artwork (most done without assistants) is pretty great, though a bit simpler than later chapters of the original series.
Most of these stories are kinda sad, but the last two end on more optimistic notes, which is nice to see for a change. Artwork looks cleaner, the writing is simpler (as it should be, since these are shorts). I don't really have anything to say about any of them individually, as they all had about the same impact on me. I will say though that Holy Night was definitely the strongest of the bunch....more
The finale to this still-impressive series is quite rushed, I'll give its detractors that. And while its alternate non-canon ending chapters pose4.5/5
The finale to this still-impressive series is quite rushed, I'll give its detractors that. And while its alternate non-canon ending chapters pose no real value to the actual canon story, they do serve as a mostly satisfactory end to the original saga. Kishiro's interviews delve into the problems that caused these endings in the first place, and I can't blame the guy. I know how hardcore Japan can be with its work culture, so in my eyes it's a miracle we'd gotten an ending as good as this, even if the end of Vol. 9 before the non-canon chapters felt like some kinda dumb, sick joke.
On top of the final volume of the original run, and two interviews with Yukito himself, this deluxe edition also contains a strangely avante-garde bonus story called Ashen Victor, which is so wildly different from anything else in the world that I thought Kishiro got a different artist to do the art. It is a cyberpunk noir story that takes place in the MotorBall circuit from the first half of the series with heavy uses of silhouettes and deep contrasting shadows that heavily parallel Frank Miller's work in Sin City. Frankly, I'm all for that style, as it shows Yukito's versatility and serves a side story that is so wildly different in tone from the main series that it compliments. It carries strong street crime vibes and reminded me a lot of Yoshiaki Kawajiri's short film Running Man, a segment included in the 1987 Neo Tokyo compilation that was also introduced to many viewers in the West via Liquid Television. Being that Running Man is my favourite segment out of the three Neo Tokyo stories, I read Kishiro's Ashen Victor with great enthusiasm. It's very well put-together and I'm glad to read it in the Deluxe Edition's larger format.
I still have Holy Night and Other Stories included in this boxed set that I haven't read yet. I'll get to those, later. But currently, my thoughts and feelings toward this original run lean toward admiration and high regard. This is definitely a new favourite of mine. I'll have to start tracking down those Last Order omnibuses now....more
Most plot threads converge and culminate in this deluxe edition volume containing the seventh and eighth volumes of this nine-volume saga. The en4.7/5
Most plot threads converge and culminate in this deluxe edition volume containing the seventh and eighth volumes of this nine-volume saga. The end is nigh! And everything that occurs in this is fittingly hard-hitting, delivering gut-punching revelations and even a few surprising twists that I didn't see coming.
There's a minor character whose importance in the grand scheme of things is miniscule, but the glimpse into his background and his, um... desires completely changes how the reader perceives him and everything he's done in the short amount of time we've seen him. Yukito Kishiro is very good at balancing these sorts of dichotomies between what we see and what truths lie beneath the surface, and has displayed this skill time and again throughout this original run.
Things remain suitably bleak, with just the right touch of humour to keep it from becoming unbearably tragic. Of course, the complex themes explored through the series are occasionally brought back to the surface through character dialogue without becoming preachy or repetitive. They say all they need to and Yukito shows the rest through visuals and the battles that often ensue from various conflicting ideologies and circumstances.
I've neglected to mention Yukito's artwork during my reviews for these volumes, and that's a shame, because his artwork started off wonderfully and has only improved since then. His skill at depicting scale, battles, the expansive world, and the characters' emotions is truly top-tier stuff. I would seriously put this series on the same level as Ghost in the Shell and Akira, as a bonafide cyberpunk manga classic. It honestly saddens me that I barely touched this box set despite owning it since 2019, and it's even sadder knowing that Alita isn't nearly as popular as those other two.
Anyway, rambling aside. On to the final volume....more
The emotional weight behind this volume is monumental. From an old foe returning after a traumatic event sends him into relapse to a fantastic de4.8/5
The emotional weight behind this volume is monumental. From an old foe returning after a traumatic event sends him into relapse to a fantastic desert battle in the wake of a desperate ultimatum, this series has reached a new peak in both emotional storytelling and its intensity. While the story itself has only marginally progressed, its character development has been advancing at near lightning speed without feeling too rushed. There's a bit of a romance in the second half of this deluxe edition that feels a little undercooked, but there's still plenty of time for that to develop further.
Really excited about this series. I can't believe I sat on this boxed set for so long before really diving into it....more
Decent stories, read by the incredible Wayne June. I don't have much to say about these particular stories but June's reading of them really make4.4/5
Decent stories, read by the incredible Wayne June. I don't have much to say about these particular stories but June's reading of them really makes them better than they already were....more
Sanctuary is a political thriller that draws to a satisfying conclusion after many trials and tribulations on both the 'light' and 'dark' sides o4.4/5
Sanctuary is a political thriller that draws to a satisfying conclusion after many trials and tribulations on both the 'light' and 'dark' sides of Japan's society. Hojo and Asami are a great duo with many complexities that pursue their mutual goal with an air of understated coolness and near unwavering confidence. They're extremely intelligent and likable, but a story like this is only as good as its antagonists.
Unfortunately, most of the antagonists (especially on the yakuza side of things) are rather underwhelming, with the exception of Sorokov (maybe). But every antagonist pales in comparison to Isaoka, the man whose hands reside in every pot. He's by far Hojo and Asami's greatest foil, and one that doesn't give up without a fight. He's the kinda guy who's definitely got a lot of dirt on his hands, but you can't help but respect the old bastard. He's a man who sticks to his guns through and through.
A greater foil could have existed within the police force in the form of Kyoko Ishihara, but unfortunately she's written with significantly less intelligence and nuance than any other character in the manga. The police are often waiting for Hojo to make the wrong move so they can arrest him, but the character who's given that responsibility is some other guy whose name escapes me. It could have been Ishihara, pursuing justice in spite of her feelings for Hojo, but Buronson (Fumimura) didn't wanna do that, I guess. Half the time it seems like she's completely forgotten until she needs to motivate Hojo, whom despite her position as an anti-organized crime cop, she has fallen hopelessly in love with. That's her arc. That's it. She contributes almost nothing to the story by the middle portion and it is never really addressed again. A shame, really, because she had a lot of potential for similar character development and exploration as Isaoka. The handling of Ishihara's character has by far been my biggest criticism of this series as a whole.
Ikegami's artwork has been consistently amazing throughout Sanctuary's five-year run and I cannot praise his skills enough. His photorealistic rendering and noir sensibilities make every single panel an absolute joy to look over. I've sung praises for Ikegami's work on another of his collaborations with Buronson, Strain, and despite my disappointment with that series as a whole, Ikegami's work certainly didn't factor into why I didn't like how Strain turned out.
Overall, I don't want to get into further details or spoiler territory regarding the plot. It's immense, with a cast of about a hundred or so characters all vying for their own goals stemming from a desire for power or loyalty. Aside from a small few hiccups and outlandish twists here and there (nothing story-breaking or anything there), Sanctuary is an extremely solid series that I definitely recommend for any fans of mature manga and political intrigue....more
Election day is upon us, and tensions are rising between yakuza districts and political parties alike. I'm really enjoying how wildly convoluted 4.2/5
Election day is upon us, and tensions are rising between yakuza districts and political parties alike. I'm really enjoying how wildly convoluted this all is. Sanctuary has been all twists and turns since day one, and that never ever seems to let up. On to the final volume. Hopefully Buronson wrote a better ending for this than he did for Strain....more
The story's getting a little ridiculous and far-fetched here, with the whole legitimization thing and the continuous narrative betrayal of the po4.2/5
The story's getting a little ridiculous and far-fetched here, with the whole legitimization thing and the continuous narrative betrayal of the policewoman who once had so much potential, only to be thrown mostly to the wayside. Ikegami's art is still great, though. And despite the fantastical twists in these later chapters, the story's still entertaining....more
Another solid volume of intrigue and insane twists and turns. Politics aren't usually this interest4.3/5
Damn. Isaoka is a force to be reckoned with...
Another solid volume of intrigue and insane twists and turns. Politics aren't usually this interesting, so props to Fumimura for maintaining the entertainment value for this long....more
A lot of politicking this time around. It gets to be a bit much but luckily for the reader, Asami is just as interesting in his own way, clever a3.9/5
A lot of politicking this time around. It gets to be a bit much but luckily for the reader, Asami is just as interesting in his own way, clever and likable enough to carry the series while his pal Hojo remains comatose from an assassination attempt. Not a lot of action this time, but it sure feels like the calm before the storm......more
The plot's still cooking and I'm having a blast watching it simmer. Not much more to say so far that hasn't already been said. Asami's bold moves4.3/5
The plot's still cooking and I'm having a blast watching it simmer. Not much more to say so far that hasn't already been said. Asami's bold moves are really starting to throw everything into turmoil, and it looks like Hojo might have bitten off more than he can chew......more
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