X-Men: Misfits Volume 1
Story: Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman
Art: Anzu
Rating: Teen
East meets west as the X-men make their long awaited debut in manga form. Thanks to a deal between Del Rey and Marvel, X-Men: Misfits is the second title starring the merry mutants to be published in the format. With the character’s wide range of powers mixed with their teenage angst, it’s easy to see why manga makes the perfect fit for the classic superheroes.
Kitty Pryde is a teenage mutant with the ability to phase through walls, causing her parents to send her to Xavier’s School for the Gifted. Of course what she finds is anything but normal as she encounters other teens with powers far more destructive than her own. Out of all the students she meets, the Hellfire Club is the most prominent, coercing Kitty to join them with the promises of popularity and power. After establishing friendships with other students, Kitty learns that being a member of the Hellfire club isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
The art is reminiscent of the shojo genre with many wide-eyed faces and beautiful men filling up the pages. Layouts range from decent to almost gorgeous depending on how cluttered they are. Especially weak are action scenes, which thankfully are few and far between.
X-Men: Misfits is unique in that it will most likely appeal to both mainstream comics fans and manga fans alike. The characters are relatable while still being recognizable and the story is fun, making it a winning combination. Diehard fanboys may gripe, but those who actually give it a chance may find themselves pleasantly surprised.
X-Men: Misfits Volume 1 – B+
Haridama: Magic Cram School
Story and Art: Atsushi Suzumi
Rating: Teen
Hokuyo and Harika are a pair of sorcerers training to hone their skills for their level three sorcerer exams. Unlike normal students, the two are “Obsidians”, beings who require stones to cast spells. As the two encounter magical creatures and rival students from other schools, they discover that they are more powerful than they initially believed. By working together they are able to overcome their obstacles.
The story follows the two in their quest for knowledge and to improve their skills so that they can advance to the next level. Eventually, when it comes time for the test, they discover that they may have gotten more than they bargained for.
The plot may be unoriginal but it does carry the morally positive message of never giving up no matter how hard things get. Unfortunately, the one major downside to Haridama is its length. Being a one-shot series, it is too short. At only one volume, there just isn’t enough room for the character’s or the story to develop.
While it may be an easy recommendation based on its appeal for fantasy and adventure fans, its length keeps it from being anything more than a fun diversion for everyone else.
Haridama: Magic Cram School – C+
