 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | VIZ MEDIA | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | RYOJI MINAGAWA AND KYOICHI NANATSUKI | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 200 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | T | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 05/13/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 06/16/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | SCOTT CAMPBELL |
Ryo, Hayato, Yakeshi and Kei are all ARMS – mere children implanted with nanotech limb enhancements that cause them to transform into grotesquely deformed and out-of-control super weapons. In volume nineteen, things are getting pretty existential, if not also ultimately apocalyptic (yay!). The battle in Manhattan draws to a climax, as Keith White launches "Program Jabberwock" on a terrible path of destruction. Ryo and the other Arms are thrust into the strange parallel dimension "Wonderland," where Ryo must fight the consciousness of the Jabberwock itself before it reduces the real world to ruins. The art style and visuals are still just as appealing as they ever were, with lots of destruction and flying rubble. The world of Project Arms seems almost made to be destroyed, and it’s pretty unlikely that anyone reading will complain! As usual, the surroundings and the destruction of the physical world around the characters showcase some of the best artistic knowhow that Project Arms has. It’s reminiscent of the classic Akira in many ways, and should be enjoyed by anyone who enjoyed that manga and subsequent film. The extras available at the back of the volume are worth mentioning. First they showcase all the sound effects made throughout the volume, which are all shown in Japanese during the manga. They basically give the reader translations for each sound effect, so that we can know what’s going on and they don’t have to alter the artwork. Besides that, they also provide some write ups about the author and the artist, including information about their backgrounds and different manga and anime projects they have worked on in the past. It’s always nice to learn something about the people that are responsible for what we are reading – it’s a good window into why the story and art are they way they are often enough. With that said, how about some information about the author and artist?
Minagawa's collaborator Hiroshi Takashige wrote the story of SPRIGGAN. Minagawa also handles both the writing and drawing duties for PROJECT ARMS, with story concept assistance from a friend, writer Kyoichi Nanatsuki. Obviously it’s a friendship that has created great things!
IN SUMMARY:
Project arms is a madhouse of mental and physical destruction that tears at the pages it is drawn on. When it comes to cyber-punk still breaking ground in this day and age, Project Arms gets it done like no other. A true sci-fi/action epic not to be missed by those in the know. |
