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skthereader's review
adventurous
challenging
*Recommended
I have a lot of feelings about this. I could relate a lot with the story but of course at the same time I felt detached. I'm not of mixed race but I did grow up in a country heavily suffering colonial mentality. The prejudices that Ichiro has from growing up are quite similar to my experiences. Though that's really a whole other talk that needs it own post.
I really liked the art of the story. I loved the paneling since I often felt, while reading superhero comics, that too much was happening in one page and it was pretty crammed? Well maybe that's just me but I liked the whole format of the story and how the panels flowed pretty well and the art just appealed to me as whole.
Story-wise, I feel like the parts are all so disconnected. It's like a random mush-up of these ideas the author wanted to present but it didn't really all tie up nicely at the end. In fact, it just feels confusing. while I appreciate all the issues the author wanted to bring up (a lot of quotable quotes that apply to me really), and all the Japanese myths that were involved with the story, I felt like it seemed out of place. Maybe I'm missing some context on how the fantasy element goes with the themes of everything else. I feel like they were just somehow mashed up for the sake of it.
I did still quite enjoy reading this and went through it pretty quickly. I do think that the author would be very good at putting together contemporary short comics or just myths alone.
I have a lot of feelings about this. I could relate a lot with the story but of course at the same time I felt detached. I'm not of mixed race but I did grow up in a country heavily suffering colonial mentality. The prejudices that Ichiro has from growing up are quite similar to my experiences. Though that's really a whole other talk that needs it own post.
I really liked the art of the story. I loved the paneling since I often felt, while reading superhero comics, that too much was happening in one page and it was pretty crammed? Well maybe that's just me but I liked the whole format of the story and how the panels flowed pretty well and the art just appealed to me as whole.
Story-wise, I feel like the parts are all so disconnected. It's like a random mush-up of these ideas the author wanted to present but it didn't really all tie up nicely at the end. In fact, it just feels confusing. while I appreciate all the issues the author wanted to bring up (a lot of quotable quotes that apply to me really), and all the Japanese myths that were involved with the story, I felt like it seemed out of place. Maybe I'm missing some context on how the fantasy element goes with the themes of everything else. I feel like they were just somehow mashed up for the sake of it.
I did still quite enjoy reading this and went through it pretty quickly. I do think that the author would be very good at putting together contemporary short comics or just myths alone.
not_jenn's review against another edition
2.0
I really loved the art and the Japanese mythology but I wasn't too keen on the plot. Everything felt a bit rushed and I wasn't really sure how it all tied together, and there were so many loose ends I wish I had more info on
booksonhermind's review
4.0
Immediate reaction to this book *gasp* samurais! But it's not that at all. It's actually more profound than that. Ichiro is a half American half Japanese. He idealizes his father who fought in Iraq. He carries around a solider book that once belonged to him and generally thinks he knows it all. His perspective about war changes when he goes from his home in New York to Japan as a result of his mother gaining a job opportunity. He is to live with his grandfather who shows him what war really is about.
The book interweaves the legends and past with Ichiro's story. And then it gets even better when he actually goes into a different world and sees the world of the Gods he's been hearing so much about. All of a sudden these bird creatures and all around freaky looking things are there and he soon realizes that all is not right in their world either. But before all that you might be wondering "What's up with the raccoon behind him?" Well that raccoon starts the story off. it is actually a tanuki - a shapeshifter and he'll become very important in Ichiro's story.
Wow. Not at all what I expected to be. I guess I just looked at the cover assumed and then asked for it. I loved the legends described in the book. It brought more to the story. As well as the descriptions of modern day war especially the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing. The way Ichiro reacts to it was in a way that you would think someone who just had changed their mind. And for a kid it's a big deal especially the way he acted in the beginning. Again like he knew everything. He acts like he's cool and nothing affects him with his sunglasses on but the truth is he's hurting. This was a great beginning to this story and I REALLY want to know what happens next! The end just left you with a hole wide open to the plot. Ugh. Darn you authors... so cruel.
Loved the artwork. Sorry I can't find any from the book but I put the picture below because it seemed appropriate. You guys should check out his website: http://ryaninzana.com/illustration.html to get a feel of what he can do.
http://shesgotbooksonhermind.blogspot.com/
The book interweaves the legends and past with Ichiro's story. And then it gets even better when he actually goes into a different world and sees the world of the Gods he's been hearing so much about. All of a sudden these bird creatures and all around freaky looking things are there and he soon realizes that all is not right in their world either. But before all that you might be wondering "What's up with the raccoon behind him?" Well that raccoon starts the story off. it is actually a tanuki - a shapeshifter and he'll become very important in Ichiro's story.
Wow. Not at all what I expected to be. I guess I just looked at the cover assumed and then asked for it. I loved the legends described in the book. It brought more to the story. As well as the descriptions of modern day war especially the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing. The way Ichiro reacts to it was in a way that you would think someone who just had changed their mind. And for a kid it's a big deal especially the way he acted in the beginning. Again like he knew everything. He acts like he's cool and nothing affects him with his sunglasses on but the truth is he's hurting. This was a great beginning to this story and I REALLY want to know what happens next! The end just left you with a hole wide open to the plot. Ugh. Darn you authors... so cruel.
Loved the artwork. Sorry I can't find any from the book but I put the picture below because it seemed appropriate. You guys should check out his website: http://ryaninzana.com/illustration.html to get a feel of what he can do.
http://shesgotbooksonhermind.blogspot.com/
writerceliakim's review
3.0
Overall, I enjoyed it. There were some aspects that I wish were explored thoroughly, like the motif of cultural identity (esp. of a mixed background heritage). We get a few scenes of racially-charged verbal exchanges that highlight this motif but that's it. There's not a lot of introspection regarding it, and we don't get an explicit understanding of how the protagonist (Ichiro) feels about having to deal with it in both the US and in Japan, but maybe the lack of closure and precision of understanding the issues is what the author wanted to convey.
The theme of how there is evil and good in all things, both godly and mortal, I feel, was well explored. Warfare and its impact on humanity, and whether acts of war make a nation and its people evil, as well as how humanity should view and deal with its aftermath--all of these difficult topics are handled with great care and thought. Considering how the target audience is YA, I appreciated the author's inclusion of juxtaposing anti-Islamic sentiments post 9/11 to the war crimes and atrocities Japan committed during its imperialism era--especially the fact that, for the most part, Japan selectively chooses how much of its past should be remembered and passed down to later generations.
The only reason I give this 3 stars is the fact that the pacing, for the most part, felt inconsistent at times, and that certain scenes that served as info-dump moments were not creatively tweaked to lessen the realization that it was, indeed, an info-dump moment. Some scenes were either slow-paced or unclear in delivering the action, and the bonfire scene left a lot to be desired. I did enjoy the revelation of crucial character in this bonfire scene, however, as the implications of it are impactful.
The theme of how there is evil and good in all things, both godly and mortal, I feel, was well explored. Warfare and its impact on humanity, and whether acts of war make a nation and its people evil, as well as how humanity should view and deal with its aftermath--all of these difficult topics are handled with great care and thought. Considering how the target audience is YA, I appreciated the author's inclusion of juxtaposing anti-Islamic sentiments post 9/11 to the war crimes and atrocities Japan committed during its imperialism era--especially the fact that, for the most part, Japan selectively chooses how much of its past should be remembered and passed down to later generations.
The only reason I give this 3 stars is the fact that the pacing, for the most part, felt inconsistent at times, and that certain scenes that served as info-dump moments were not creatively tweaked to lessen the realization that it was, indeed, an info-dump moment. Some scenes were either slow-paced or unclear in delivering the action, and the bonfire scene left a lot to be desired. I did enjoy the revelation of crucial character in this bonfire scene, however, as the implications of it are impactful.
divineblkpearl's review
4.0
A sort of "coming of age story" (to which some are comparing to Miyazaki's "Spirted Away" of a teenager with mixed media illustrations detailing the rich history of Japan. Story wise, I loved the introduction of all the Japanese Gods and folklore.(Especially, the tanuki!) I appreciated the remembrance of history: Japan's involvement in WW II, the horrible catastrophe that befell Japan after and the acknowledgment of being conflicted because of one's heritage (The Japanese occupation of China and the abuse and massacre of Chinese people by the hands of Japanese soldiers).
The themes in this graphic novel are heavy handed, they included: war, processing the problematic aspects or your identify in regards to your heritage (the father of the book's protagonist was American), the loss of a parent, feelings of alienation and isolation.
Ichiro is a beautiful story, gorgeously illustrated with a young protagonist experiencing a familiar struggle: feeling like there is no place where he belongs but with a adventurous journey in which he steps in the footsteps of Gods. The climax of the story seemed awfully rushed to where I was nearing the end of the book with several questions still--the resolution wasn't as fulfilling as I hoped it would be.
A solid read but a bit disappointed in the later half of the book: Ichiro finds his way home with a better understanding of himself but was there any resolution for any of the Gods? Any improvement for the souls and ghouls in the domain of the Gods? What of Amaterasu? Does Hachiman remain imprisoned?
3.5-4 stars
The themes in this graphic novel are heavy handed, they included: war, processing the problematic aspects or your identify in regards to your heritage (the father of the book's protagonist was American), the loss of a parent, feelings of alienation and isolation.
Ichiro is a beautiful story, gorgeously illustrated with a young protagonist experiencing a familiar struggle: feeling like there is no place where he belongs but with a adventurous journey in which he steps in the footsteps of Gods. The climax of the story seemed awfully rushed to where I was nearing the end of the book with several questions still--the resolution wasn't as fulfilling as I hoped it would be.
A solid read but a bit disappointed in the later half of the book: Ichiro finds his way home with a better understanding of himself but was there any resolution for any of the Gods? Any improvement for the souls and ghouls in the domain of the Gods? What of Amaterasu? Does Hachiman remain imprisoned?
3.5-4 stars
reader_fictions's review
3.0
Ichiro opens with an old Japanese legend about a tanuki, a raccoon that can shapeshift and often takes the form of a teapot. The tanuki forms the frame story for Ichiro, and it is also amusing and magical.
What Ichiro is really about is Ichiro, a young boy who idolizes his father. He wears his dads old sunglasses and constantly reads an old military book of his dad's that he found. Because he misses his dad, who he barely remembers, he romanticizes war and is bored by most everything else. He gets sucked into the realm of the gods, because of that tricky tanuki and gets a lesson in war and humanity.
The drawings are really cool, although I wish I had been able to read a finished version, since the digital galleys just don't quite have the quality of a printed graphic novel. The best part of the artwork was definitely the color. Inzana clearly has a flair for it; I love the contrasts between scenes in shades of grey, scenes with just one color popping brightly and scenes just bursting with color.
What Ichiro is really about is Ichiro, a young boy who idolizes his father. He wears his dads old sunglasses and constantly reads an old military book of his dad's that he found. Because he misses his dad, who he barely remembers, he romanticizes war and is bored by most everything else. He gets sucked into the realm of the gods, because of that tricky tanuki and gets a lesson in war and humanity.
The drawings are really cool, although I wish I had been able to read a finished version, since the digital galleys just don't quite have the quality of a printed graphic novel. The best part of the artwork was definitely the color. Inzana clearly has a flair for it; I love the contrasts between scenes in shades of grey, scenes with just one color popping brightly and scenes just bursting with color.
squidbag's review
3.0
A beautiful and entertaining journey through Japanese mythology & history with a little coming-of-age/coming to terms with things thrown in as a personal storyline. Certainly a solid and fun read. The duotones are broken up by well-accented and signature colors throughout, and what could be an arcane explanation of the Japanese pantheon becomes an easy to follow story and something worth taking a look at.
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