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rowankgrover's review against another edition
4.0
This was wild, terrifying stuff. Rewards careful attention, as things happen at a frantic pace yet a lot can change panel to panel. And of course, it’s Otomo, so it’s a visual delight.
kazuya's review against another edition
5.0
Met this masterpiece again at a local library's used book sale. How come I was able to find this rather obscure manga in suburban Seattle? And it's the original Japanese version! I literally grabbed it upon the sight and rushed to the cashier, and was surprised again that it was priced only 50 cents. Anyway that's how I got this book in my hands again after more than 30 years.
You could say the backbone story isn't that compelling. But it's more about... I don't know. It just feels stupid to try to describe a good manga in my inept words. It's too real and too unreal at the same time. This work wouldn't exist if it weren't for Otomo's detailed depiction of the typical Japanese life style then (I think it's '70 or '80) as well as his hyperrealistic presentation of the exertion of power.
Okay, enough of banal praise. What actually I like about his works is the scarcity (or lack) of symbolic expressions particular to manga (so-called manpu 漫符). I don't really like use of them, for one they are often used as shortcuts to save the authors from constructing subtle contexts to show non verbal expressions. Imagine if your favorite literary work is sprinkled with facial emojis. Otomo takes all the effort to avoid these and that's why I love his works.
You could say the backbone story isn't that compelling. But it's more about... I don't know. It just feels stupid to try to describe a good manga in my inept words. It's too real and too unreal at the same time. This work wouldn't exist if it weren't for Otomo's detailed depiction of the typical Japanese life style then (I think it's '70 or '80) as well as his hyperrealistic presentation of the exertion of power.
Okay, enough of banal praise. What actually I like about his works is the scarcity (or lack) of symbolic expressions particular to manga (so-called manpu 漫符). I don't really like use of them, for one they are often used as shortcuts to save the authors from constructing subtle contexts to show non verbal expressions. Imagine if your favorite literary work is sprinkled with facial emojis. Otomo takes all the effort to avoid these and that's why I love his works.
sofivear's review
2.0
Maybe there's more to this than I'm seeing but I just thought: Ah, that's it? That was kind of disappointing.
nooker's review
5.0
When I first read this when I was much younger, I didn't get it. When I reread it a few years later, I got it and it quickly became a favorite. The final battle in this book is how I wish the battle between Yoda and Count Dooku had gone.
count_zero's review
4.0
This is definitely a very clear precursor to Akira, and for someone looking for a more contained example of Otomo's work, this is definitely worth giving a read.
roshonline12's review
5.0
A wonderful, disturbing manga. It had one of the most rage inducing villains I have ever read. I wished to just beat the shit out of him; and he is a senile old man! The extent to which he goes to recapture superiority over the psychic abilities of a child (our protagonist) marks the horror and bitter, bitter tragedy of this manga. It was absolutely engrossing.
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