Comic Corner Roundup: January
Comic Corner Roundup is a bi-monthly segment that compiles mini-reviews of comics, graphic novels, and manga that I’ve read recently. Here are my reviews for January which include crime fighting heroes, a yakuza babysitter, and biography of a famous actress.
Crystal Cadets
Crystal Cadets by Anne Toole, Kay O’Neill (Illustrations), Paulina Ganucheau (Illustrations) (2015)
Cadets Go! Join this team of darkness-fighting, world-saving, power-packed teen girls from all over the world on their first adventure!
Zoe has always felt out of place; her foster parents are great and all, but she’s long felt like something was missing. That is, of course, until she discovers a mysterious gem left to her by her birth mother and her whole universe gets flipped around! When the crystal grants Zoe mysterious powers of light she becomes the Diamond Cadet, and she’s not the only one; suddenly she’s meeting new friends who shoot flames and glowing green arrows. It’s all fun at first, but when The Darkness possesses Zoe’s foster parents her only choice is to join this wild group of action-hero girls, traveling the globe to defeat The Darkness and find a cure!
I was excited to read Crystal Cadets as the imagery and story alone reminded me of my favorite Shojo magical girl manga I used to read while growing up. The artwork is vibrant and detailed with sequences that pay homage to notable series such as Sailor Moon. The battle scenes are entertaining and each character gets a chance to highlight their power elements on the page. The story, however, fell flat for me and as a whole was a bit underwhelming. My problem with the story is that it felt very generic and lacks heart. Everything felt very rushed and I think if the series had been extended there would have been smoother pacing. There were a few plot holes as well which leaves the story feeling jumbled at times.
Final Verdict:
The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting Vol. 1
The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting Vol. 1 by Tsukiya (2021)
Kirishima Tooru is the right-hand man of the Sakuragi crime family. For him, the job is a perfect excuse to let his violent instincts run wild, earning him the nickname “the Demon of Sakuragi”. It seems like nothing will stand in the way of his vicious nature.
But then one day, he receives an assignment like never before from the boss—babysitting his daughter!
This is the heartwarming (or is it bloodcurdling?) story of a little girl and her yakuza caretaker!
Sometimes you just need to read a manga that is silly and fun. The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting just from the title and synopsis alone fits that description. What starts out as an outlandish premise actually turns into a touching story of a bond that is formed between the duo and how they help each other to grow. It’s very cute and has many wacky laugh-out-loud moments. I felt myself connecting to the characters by the end of the first volume and look forward to where new adventures where take them I’ll definitely stick with this series and am also hoping to check out the anime adaptation of it soon. If you’re looking for a story that is wholesome story of a man learning to take care his family, but also himself.
Final Verdict:
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn by Michele Botton (Author), Dorilys Giachetto (Illustrator)
“ Everyone has their own Audrey, for some she is always twenty years old, for others she is in black and white and for others in color. Sometimes she is a European princess, a tipsy New Yorker or a UNICEF ambassador. Here you will discover her differently, made of ink and paper in a much more intimate and unvarnished dimension, without a soundtrack and with the voice you prefer. I sincerely hope that you will discover her as yours.” From the preface by Luca Dotti, Hepburn’s son. When Audrey Hepburn is mentioned, one thinks of her being beautiful and elegant, of her films, or of how her image is used to recall something immortal and fashionable. But Audrey was also a little girl who saw the Second World War with her own eyes, a woman who was at times fragile at work and in her private life, with a strong desire for motherhood and, above all, a boundless love for children that would lead her to find her true vocation, far from dancing or acting: she will in fact become a UNICEF ambassador to raise awareness in the world and help minors in difficulty. “When I started acting I didn’t have a method, I just pretended to be someone else, like little girls can do for fun!” -Hepburn.
As a massive fan of Hepburn’s movies, I knew I wanted to read this biographic of her life. The graphic novel chronicles a bit of her life before acting as her failures in ballet spurred her to take on a new career path. It also showcases some of her philanthropic values as she worked closely with UNICEF to big aid to others in need. Beautifully illustrated and heartfelt, I felt that this biography is concise and covers a good amount her life in a short page length. At times, the pictures speak for themselves as Hepburn is faced with many obstacles in her personal and public life. I think this graphic novel is a great starting point for those that want to learn about her life and are unfamiliar with her story.
Final Verdict:
What comics, graphic novels or manga have you read lately? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have any recommendations, feel free to share those as well.
FTC Disclaimer: I received a copy of Crystal Cadets from Oni Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
