▪	RELEASED BY:		TOKYOPOP
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		JEFFREY NODELMAN / WAGNER FUKUHARA
		▪	FORMAT:		ENGLISH / B&W
		▪	PAGES:		173
		▪	RATING:		T
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		11/13/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		11/15/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		SCOTT CAMPBELL

Meet Dr. Dylan Oliver, a young scientific phenomenon who makes the incredible seem like child’s play. When a horrible lab accident causes him to question everything he thought he knew, Dylan and his team will embark on a globetrotting journey in a quest to literally accomplish the impossible. From Jeffery Nodelman (Fangoria Comics’ The Fourth Horseman) comes a rip-roaring tale of epic adventure and weird science. This story definitely takes cues from movies like Indiana Jones and Flash Gordon – it’s all about high adventure and tense action/suspense. The story moves fast, so anyone who enjoys quick pacing and a lot of action would do well to check this one out. 

This series is done by North Americans, but in a style that is reminiscent of the Japanese manga style. It’s always interesting to see the art style in these OELs (Original English Language works) because they are often very unique in comparison to what you might see from a Japanese manga artist. Part of this surely results from the different kind of views and schooling that we have available to us here on our side of the world. Different people coming from different backgrounds will often have a different take on things, and art style is no exception. The art in Project D.O.A. is interestingly exaggerated – that observation mostly relating to facial expressions and body language. It’s very “cartoon-like” where emotions are very over done in the way they are presented visually, rather than trying to say even semi-realistic to how real people might expression such emotion. So that certainly gives it a dynamic edge! Backgrounds are also detailed, and action sequences are again filled with over-exaggerated fun – it’s really quite eye catching.

For those looking for something unique to again fill that space that is left after we finish the last unique book we’ve gotten our hands on, Project D.O.A. might just be the fix you’re looking for. The story elements and way action is presented are especially more like how our North American Hollywood would do it. So, North Americans might be more able and willing to get into the manga scene if they could stick their feet in the shallow end with a book like this one. As for extras, there’s a preview of the story happening in the next upcoming volume, and there is also a preview for Earthlight vol. 3 complete with the visuals and everything.

IN SUMMARY:
A good introductory manga volume that really throws you into the action right away and keeps it steady. Project D.O.A. shows a lot of potential to be a high flying epic of adventure, witty dialogue, and unique visual conception.