▪	RELEASED BY:		TOKYOPOP
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		KOZUE AMANO
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / B&W
		▪	PAGES:		184
		▪	RATING:		T+
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		10/09/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		10/25/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		CHRISTOPHER SEAMAN

Mars has a big future in our own.  Soon, we will journey to this world.  Someday, colonies will be born and grow on the surface of this red planet.  But will it be a red planet?  If Kozue Amano, the writer and artist behind AQUA, just released by Tokyopop, is to be believed, Mars will not be blue.  Mars will not even be Mars.  Then again, Earth will not be Earth either.  It will be called Manhome and Mars will be a richly terraformed watery world called Aqua.  On the surface of this planet will be a city that is an almost exact replica of Venice, called Neo-Venizia, complete with canals, gondoliers and yes, watery ways where streets normally would be.  

Sounds appealing?  It should.  This prequel to the popular manga and anime series ARIA sets up a beautiful world for us to behold, and introduces us to a charming leading lady in the form of Akari Mizunashi.  With the exotic setting and this lovely new character, all is set for a manga that will alternately entertain and charm readers from the recommended age of 13 up.    

So, what is the basic plot written in this exotic setting?  Young Akari is introduced to us as she descends from space to the surface of Aqua.  Immediately, she goes to Neo-Venizia, where she begins training to be an Undine, a gondolier pilot in the canals of this beautiful city.  The rest of the manga follows her adventures as she deals with the changes in the time of day, water in the streets- and her apartment- plus the strange behavior of her boss, a  Mars Cat named Aria.  Akari learns how to steer her gondola, how to navigate the various canals, how to work with customers, and how to make friends among her fellow trainees.  There are little jealousies, girl idolatry, and a gentle humor throughout the book that keeps the mood light and the plot popping along.  There is also just enough intrigue and mystery to add a little spice to this tale.  What are the steps to becoming an Undine?  What is the meaning of the uniform design and the gloves worn by the trainees?  Why are cats the presidents of some many gondolier companies on Aqua?  Is there something more to the seemingly benign appearance of President Aria than meets the eye?

Not being familiar with ARIA, the prequel stands on its own with this reviewer as being solid, yet light entertainment for readers of manga.  The artwork is certainly pleasing to the eye, and the pacing of the stories is light yet engaging.  Panels are cleanly designed, uncluttered by crazy speedlines or other distracting visual effects.  The use of half-toning is expertly handled, and the use of white space in the images adds to the atmosphere that dominates this weirdly transformed, wonderfully watery world that was once Mars.  In terms of characterizations, Akari is lovely- innocent and keen; full of wide-eyed wonder at the world she has landed in.  It becomes infectious as we get further into the story, making the process of reading it one full of pleasure from cover to cover.  You can’t help but get caught up in the piece…   

AQUA contains some lovely title pages for the different chapters in the story.  There are no notes from the author or galleries, but previews for other Tokyopop titles are present.  

IN SUMMARY:
AQUA is wonderful!  Take me there!  A charming story, delightful characters and a beautiful setting combine to make this manga a joyful read from beginning to end.