Ratman Volume 1

Ratman volume 1
Story and Art: Inui Sekihiko
Rating: Older Teen

I like to believe that a portion of the manga reading audience are, or once were fans of superhero comics. In many ways the two are similar, stimulating the imagination and making one long to be a part of that world. Reading the first volume of Ratman is a combination of the two, posing the question: if you could be a super hero, would you?

Shuto Katsuragi is a short but determined high school freshman whose dream is to one day become a super hero. The problem is, in his world heroes aren’t costumed vigilantes foiling criminals for the sake of justice but rather, they are the faces of corporate advertising. Their powers are manmade and each one is tested, given a rank such as A-rank, B-rank, etc.

Unfortunately for Shuto, his size is detrimental to his becoming a hero as no one takes him seriously. When he and his classmate are kidnapped by the villainous organization “Jackal”, Shuto is tricked into accepting powers that transform him into an actual super hero, complete with bulging muscles and a suit. His amazement is short lived as he discovers that not only is his friend an agent of Jackal, her plan was to transform him into a super powered agent of Jackal.

As if discovering he was now a bad guy wasn’t enough, he is tasked with breaking into the “Japan Hero Association” and paired with possibly the most incompetent minions to ever grace a comic. As Shuto comes into conflict with other super heroes, he discovers that his suit may also have a mind of its own as it attempts to devour an enemy. For poor Shuto, being a super hero is hardly what he imagined.

Sekihiko Inui, known best for the tongue in cheek fantasy Murder Princess, once again manages to turn a popular genre on its head, while still managing to turn in an appealing story. There are numerous references and parodies to super hero comics that further add to the enjoyment of the series for fans familiar with American comics.

The artwork, while not the best in the market, delivers eye pleasing character designs and enough action sequences to satisfy both fans of shonen manga and super hero comics.

While there have been many attempts, Ratman may be the first successful bridge between manga and super hero comics. The skewering of super heroes is certainly entertaining but hints of a darker story and Shuto’s journey from loser to hero are what make this book truly worth the read.

Ratman volume 1 - A