In today’s ever-changing comics industry, there are two universal truths. The first one is dog man Still the defining comic of our time. The second is that more people are reading comics and online comics (also known as vertical comics) than ever before. So, we at Comics Beat are continuing our Beat’s amazing adventures. Each week we ask three authors to recommend some of their favorite books and series from Japan, Korea, and elsewhere. This week we have an eco-witch fable, another great chick-lit series for hopeless romantics, and the first book from our master Jiro Taniguchi.
Witch’s Garden of Eden
Writer/Artist: Mengji
Translator: Jesse O’Leary
Engraving: Thomas
Publisher: not at all
Witch’s Garden of Eden is a captivating comic set in a post-apocalyptic world where nature abandons human cruelty and finds refuge in hidden sanctuaries. These sanctuaries are home to witches, the last creatures capable of communicating with plants. The story revolves around Pili, a young witch apprentice who grew up in one of these sanctuaries. Guided by the powerful Tula, Pili struggles to awaken her powers until one day armed invaders destroy her sanctuary. But then a mysterious seed she receives from her mentor comes to life, summoning a giant wolf-like creature that becomes her protector and guides her to the fabled Garden of Eden.
While its premise of humanity versus nature is familiar, its execution isn’t as mature as its predecessors Princess Mononoke, Witch’s Garden of Eden Has huge potential. Its narrative balances the harsh reality of human destruction with the resilient beauty of nature, creating a story that is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
One of the comic’s greatest strengths is its stunning artwork. MengjiRichly detailed and dreamlike illustrations bring to life the mesmerizing designs of lush sanctuaries and witches. The shrine set and the witches’ costumes are particularly striking, giving off a magical atmosphere that is both ancient and otherworldly.
The main character, Pilly, is initially portrayed as timid and uncertain. I found her relatable but not immediately likeable, especially since I prefer proactive characters. By the second volume, however, she’s found her footing, and her abilities continue to grow as she learns the harsh realities of the world outside the asylum. Her relationship with the wolf-like creature Oak also becomes more complex, providing moments of tenderness and tension that enrich the story.
Volumes Three and Four then pick up momentum, delivering gripping developments and emotional payoffs. comprehensive, Witch’s Garden of Eden This is a visually stunning and thought-provoking story that readers of fantasy and eco-fable will appreciate. — Ilkin Side Soybeans
Sakura, Saku
Writer/Artist: That Sakisaka
Translator: Max Greenaway
Modification Art and Lettering: Fukuda Inari·Trant
design: Alice Lewis
edit: Nancy Thistlethwaite
Publisher: Visualization area
Saku always felt invisible, playing an unnamed character in the school play that no one remembered. When she suddenly feels dizzy and about to pass out on a crowded train, a stranger saves her. After this incident, Saku decided to do her best to help others in order to repay the strangers who had helped her. Although this “Sakura Ryosuke” left his name and phone number that day, Saku could not contact him. So it feels like fate that one of the boys in her high school, Sakura Haruki, has an older brother named Ryosuke. She immediately wrote a thank-you letter to Harshu and sent it on her behalf, but Harshu rudely rejected it!
I’m in the shojo manga reading age (as everyone should be), and Sakura, Saku It was recommended to me by a friend. artist That Sakisaka Needing no introduction, they are a well-known shoujo manga artist youth riding. I immediately gave it a chance.
Sakura, SakuLike other romance novels written by Io Sakisaka, it is very comfortable to read! The pages are so beautiful and clean and the story flows smoothly. Io Kasaka takes her time introducing the characters one by one and setting up the scenes at a relaxed pace.
My only criticism of the art is that while I understand that shoujo heroines have to be cute and/or pretty no matter what, this sometimes comes at the expense of Saku’s expressiveness. Although she experiences different emotions throughout the book, she almost always has a slightly surprised look on her face. Everything else is polished to perfection.
In terms of plot, Sakura, Saku Offering everything you expect from a shoujo manga. A kind-hearted and energetic heroine who just entered high school meets a good-looking, equally kind-hearted male protagonist who always loses his temper for no apparent reason. The emotional roller coaster ahead. Blushed. The way you find yourself sighing, oh so young again. All neatly packed into 9 rolls.
Currently, five volumes of the English version have been published, and the sixth volume is available for pre-order. If you want to invest in a short film about teenagers becoming friends, falling in love, getting heartbroken, and more, Sakura, Saku is a good choice. — Melvi Guire
Search for missing girl
Writer/Artist: Jiro Taniguchi
Translator: Elizabeth Tiernan and Shizuka Shimoyama
Publisher: Bonante mine
the late Jiro Taniguchi is a cartoonist who can create any type of story. Historical biographies, rock climbing and hard-boiled crime comics are just a few of the genres represented in his bibliography. All of these stories are presented in beautiful lines, influenced both by and from European comics. Osamu Tezuka. It’s not surprising to work with him Mobius Create science fiction wonders Icarus. His comics give off a sense of calm. A stillness that captures the beauty in comics walking person or escalate the violence like this Benkei in New York.
Search for missing girl found a middle ground between his men’s wandering tales and hard-boiled crime novels. The leader, Shiga, lives alone in the mountains and serves as a guide for tourists and climbers. When his “niece” Megumi goes missing, Shiga returns to Tokyo to search for her. Police don’t know what happened. Shiga may not be a private detective, but he feels obligated to find Megumi. So he began to investigate the dark side of Shinjuku.
What makes this story so compelling is how Taniguchi transplanted the conventions of film noir into Japanese culture. His stunning attention to detail brings Shinjuku, Tokyo’s famed fashion and entertainment district, into dark life. Anyone can escape their troubles here, but not necessarily in a legal way. For Shiga, in order to face this darkness, he must first face the darkness within himself. . Perhaps he went looking for Emi because he felt guilty for abandoning Emi’s father on the last climb. Maybe he was even her illegitimate father. What Shiga told people may not be the truth he knew.
climax to Search for missing girl Probably one of the best in Taniguchi. While I recommend going in when it’s cold, know that he took full advantage of Shiga’s climbing skills. This is a caricature of a great practitioner of the art form at the peak of his craft. — D.Morris
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