 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | VIZ MEDIA UK | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | TITE KUBO | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 169 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | OT | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 08/04/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 08/27/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | SANDRA SCHOLES |
Elwood, a rogue teen kid goes through life as a pick-pocket for a gang called the Grey Ants in order to look after his sister who has heart trouble and needs treatment badly. Gamma Akutabi, a man of mystery who stands out in a crowd and is searching for the 12 rings of the dead, the source of the Zombie Powder, which can give the owner eternal life, or bring the dead back to life. Not an easy thing to do when he has a price on his head by the very gang Elwood works for – but when the two of them collide in a chance meeting, and Gamma is mugged, he has a mind to punish the kid, but when he realises Elwood is poor and needy due to his sister's illness and his own need to do right by her he has a different view of him. What will Elwood be able to do when the gang find out who Gamma really is and want to start a fight Elwood could not get out of if he tried? This is the first offering from the man who brought fans the Bleach series. Originally debuting in 1999 in Japan, UK readers of his work will get this, a fun, deep and intriguing novel but also a series about two people who are destined to come together in a duo in order to find the twelve rings of the dead so they can get their hands on the Zombie Powder, the source of eternal life that in a way they both need, though Elwood has more of a need for it is the start rather than Gamma. This first novel concentrates on establishing the main characters, getting readers used to their personalities. Sheryl, Elwood's sister, C.T.Smith, Gamma's partner, Ranewater Calder, a boy with nearly as huge a sword as Gamma are enough of a reason to read this than the humour and plot alone.
Tite's art style does not really differ in this from how it looks in Bleach, but the character's personalities and genre lean more towards an old Western theme. Fans will enjoy reading the characters profiles as they read on. If this is the basis for the manga, they will love to finally see the anime.
IN SUMMARY:
Tite Kubo does it again! This looks to be the start of a gripping and powerful series of novels. |
