| SharpDressedMan | 10-07-2003 01:54 PM |
Well I finally got my final two mangas of the original series in today and let me say I'm very impressed. The packaging of the mangas is superb. The covers consist of slip covers that are in color while the normal cover is in black and white. On the first page of each manga is a totally awesome looking mini poster. (volume 5 is Roger and Dastun walking down a snow street and volume 6 is Roger standing together with Dorothy in front of the head of the Big O. The main section of the manga is perfect as the pages are done beautifuly while the back seciton is no less than amazing. It is far greater than anything we have ever seen in our US versions because the bonus sections are much bigger and contain certain sketches and layouts for the mechs and characters included in the volume. By any case any of these Japanese versions come very higly recomended by me whether you are just getting into the manga or have been a fan for a good while. I'm certain that anyone who already owns some of these already will agree totally that they are modern masterpieces. I've yet to sit down and give them a deeper look but I'm certain I will be even more pleased with each passing glance.
Now on to my review of volume 4 if you can call it that. I really enjoyed the first story "To the One I Can't Forget" being that we got to finally see another version of Roger how he could have been 40 years ago. The first story was very interesting though I thought in some ways it was very similar to bring back my ghost but just with a man "claiming" that he needed to find a bar that his father used to own before he lost his memories and became little more than a bump on a log. But as it would turn out everything was not as it seemed and the son would turn out to have alterior motives. This was by far not one of the best stories but none the less it kept me wanting to read on till the last sentance. While I enjoyed the questions presented of Roger's past others might find them a little bland or invalid.
The second story "The Chosen Ones" was the story of an area that was located between the domes. So the manga put it, it formed sortof an island but was still considered by the paradigm group to be nothing more than the outside. Thus it being the outside and since most dome dwellers could care very little what goes on outside of their artificial paradise, two "scientists" discover a way in that they can revive memories through the minds of outsiders. This also was a very good story and it contained a great line from Dastun in which he says "They say lost memories are more precious than diamonds... but they're not more precious than human lives, scumbag!" I thought that this line alone just totally summed up Dastun's way of seeing peoples role in the world. Also Roger towords the end gets major credit for being a lot more of a cool hero character towords the end when he manages to foil the plans of the villains. This was also a really nice story and while I didn't think it was as well executed as it could have been it still did a lot for showing Roger's inner feelings for the Paradigm Corporation.
The final story "The Sun Will Shine Again" Was much more than I had thought it would be from what I had heard so far from other members of the forum that had read volume 4. While I went into the story thinking it would be nothing more than Roger's first big tangle with Schwarzwald but somehow it mangaed to grasp something more. Mainly due to the get rich quick scheme Beck has in the middle of the story that ultimately ends up with an outcome that I found very similar to the scene in Independance Day (ID4) when the aliens first made their atack. I also liked that fact that it revolved around a song that made a lot of sense for the image it was trying to get across. It was all about the sun rising and angel which is meant to sybolize so you are lead to belive towords the end of the story Angel and Dorothy. Also toword the beginning of the story thanks to the song there is also a cameo by Oliver from Daimon Seed which I thought was pretty cool. Interesting pictures included the scenes of Big O and Big Duo throughout the fights... I mean just take a look at their faces as they pummel one another! Look familiar? And still just like always the fight scene prooves to be great and quite possibly the best battle from the manga so far. Of course it might not be up to par to the anime battle but music and motion in your pictures can add a lot to your story.
Now on to other matters. If anyone enjoyed my manga scans that I sent to Krang then I'll be more than happy to make some more. I've finally found a place where I can order the new "Lost Memories" manga and should be receiving it very shortly. While I'm not to huge on screwing up my brand new mangas... cause they are so GREAT looking I'd be more than happy to if they can help answer any questions of the manga or just help someone get interested.
Now on to my review of volume 4 if you can call it that. I really enjoyed the first story "To the One I Can't Forget" being that we got to finally see another version of Roger how he could have been 40 years ago. The first story was very interesting though I thought in some ways it was very similar to bring back my ghost but just with a man "claiming" that he needed to find a bar that his father used to own before he lost his memories and became little more than a bump on a log. But as it would turn out everything was not as it seemed and the son would turn out to have alterior motives. This was by far not one of the best stories but none the less it kept me wanting to read on till the last sentance. While I enjoyed the questions presented of Roger's past others might find them a little bland or invalid.
The second story "The Chosen Ones" was the story of an area that was located between the domes. So the manga put it, it formed sortof an island but was still considered by the paradigm group to be nothing more than the outside. Thus it being the outside and since most dome dwellers could care very little what goes on outside of their artificial paradise, two "scientists" discover a way in that they can revive memories through the minds of outsiders. This also was a very good story and it contained a great line from Dastun in which he says "They say lost memories are more precious than diamonds... but they're not more precious than human lives, scumbag!" I thought that this line alone just totally summed up Dastun's way of seeing peoples role in the world. Also Roger towords the end gets major credit for being a lot more of a cool hero character towords the end when he manages to foil the plans of the villains. This was also a really nice story and while I didn't think it was as well executed as it could have been it still did a lot for showing Roger's inner feelings for the Paradigm Corporation.
The final story "The Sun Will Shine Again" Was much more than I had thought it would be from what I had heard so far from other members of the forum that had read volume 4. While I went into the story thinking it would be nothing more than Roger's first big tangle with Schwarzwald but somehow it mangaed to grasp something more. Mainly due to the get rich quick scheme Beck has in the middle of the story that ultimately ends up with an outcome that I found very similar to the scene in Independance Day (ID4) when the aliens first made their atack. I also liked that fact that it revolved around a song that made a lot of sense for the image it was trying to get across. It was all about the sun rising and angel which is meant to sybolize so you are lead to belive towords the end of the story Angel and Dorothy. Also toword the beginning of the story thanks to the song there is also a cameo by Oliver from Daimon Seed which I thought was pretty cool. Interesting pictures included the scenes of Big O and Big Duo throughout the fights... I mean just take a look at their faces as they pummel one another! Look familiar? And still just like always the fight scene prooves to be great and quite possibly the best battle from the manga so far. Of course it might not be up to par to the anime battle but music and motion in your pictures can add a lot to your story.
Now on to other matters. If anyone enjoyed my manga scans that I sent to Krang then I'll be more than happy to make some more. I've finally found a place where I can order the new "Lost Memories" manga and should be receiving it very shortly. While I'm not to huge on screwing up my brand new mangas... cause they are so GREAT looking I'd be more than happy to if they can help answer any questions of the manga or just help someone get interested.
