Two-in-One Review: Viz Publications Don and Randy take a look at some of Viz Comics' recent offerings. Randy: It's that time again, as Don and I have a new package of recent graphic novel releases from Viz Comics to review. This time around we're taking a look at the prequel/sequel to Dragonball (depending on your point-of-view), the adult crime drama Banana Fish and the first volume of robot adventure title Zoids. Don: Last month, Randy and I took a look at seven other Viz graphic novels in two of these Two-in-One review features. A number of readers wrote to correct us on our manga-speak (and politely so... thanks to all who wrote). In case it wasn't clear before, let me make it clear now: Randy and I may have read a lot of comics in our time, but few of them have been manga. We're rookies when it comes to this stuff, so bear in mind we're approaching the material from an outsider's perspective. Banana Fish Vol. 6 by Akimi Yoshida Don: "Banana Fish" refers to a synthetic drug that drives the user insane from pain and fear, and makes them highly suggestible. In other words, it can turn the most docile human being into an assassin, and the drug is under the control of a mob boss by the name of Dino Golzine. Standing by his side is the sadistic young criminal named Arthur, and opposing them are street-gang leader Ash and his friends. Randy: I've been hearing about the virtues of Pulp for some time, and I had sampled and enjoyed Benkei in New York, but had not gotten around to checking out Banana Fish yet. Banana Fish is collected from installments that are published in Pulp, and like Benkei (and indeed, much of Pulp's output) it is adult-oriented crime comics. In other words, it's a genre that's right up my alley, moreso than much of the manga that Don and I reviewed on the last outing. Don: Banana Fish was far more intense than I ever expected. Yoshida manages to convey near unimaginable levels of anguish, cruelty and human horror with this script. There's a complexity and atmosphere at play that would rival that of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's 100 Bullets. Don't let the somewhat goofy title fool you; this book is not for the faint of heart. Randy: As with all of these books, it's a little difficult to come in late, and Banana Fish does seem to have built up a fairly complex story. I was at times a little lost as to who the various characters were, as the cast encompasses over a dozen different characters, each with complicated motivations. However, the confusion is mostly due to my not having read the first five volumes, and the complexity of motivations and expansive cast is actually a boon for the title. The story encompasses everything from rival gangs to delicate balances of trust to crime lords in bed with government officials, and the plot and character relationships are very compelling. Don: Accessibility is a problem here. I was surprised to find that this graphic novel -- instead of starting with a standard jumping-on point like American trade-paperback collections -- picks up instead from a cliffhanger. Adding to the confusion is the fact that far too many of the characters look alike. There are three blond men in tuxedoes in the first scene alone. The main players eventually come into focus, but I could have used for differentiating visual cues and some more exposition at the front of the book. Randy: I definitely agree with you here. The characters tend to look very similar in appearance, and I had a real hard time distinguishing who was who. Ash and Max were near-identical, and so were Shunichi and Eije, and so I often found myself having to backtrack and figure out who was doing what. Banana Fish is heavy on the action, with this particular volume focusing on an escape from a criminal's compound that would not be out of place in any Hollywood movie. The gunplay and martial arts are somewhat traditional, more John McClane than John Woo, but they're still well executed and exciting. Indeed, Yoshida's action storytelling is very strong, and she's not at all shy about showing the bloody effects of violence. Dragonball Z Vol 8 by Akira Toriyama Don: In this edition of Dragonball Z, Freeza has managed to gather all seven of the Namek Dragon Balls, but a new glitch gets in the way of his wish for immortality. Meanwhile, Son Gohan, Kuririn and the evil Vegeta find themselves outmatched in battle against the Ginyu Force, but Goku finally arrives to help them out. Only he returns to the battlefield a changed warrior. Randy: In our last round of reviews, I expressed surprise at how much I enjoyed the action-heavy (and somewhat mindless) Dragonball. Since that time, friends have warned me that I might not enjoy Dragonball Z as much, as it was about an older Son Goku and they didn't enjoy it as much. Happily, they were wrong, because everything I liked about Dragonball is present in Dragonball Z. Indeed, this issue was a lot of fun because it featured a few climactic battles, and a nice build from the tension of an unbeatable foe to the reintroduction of a powerful hero who could face them. Don: Unfortunately, I'm in the same camp as your friends. What I enjoyed about Dragonball -- the sense of innocence and fun -- is completely absent from this incarnation. Yes, the violence is over the top, all right... gratuitously so. Dragonball Z is the darker flip side of Dragonball, and it's far more low-brow and immature. The reference to power levels put me in mind of pointless role-play gaming battles. The plot is barely touched upon here, stringing together pointless battle scenes. Randy: Dragonball Z is a mixture of martial arts and super-heroics, taken so far over-the-top that you can't even see The Authority from here. The characters spout out colorful maneuever names in combat, remark on the power levels of the other characters with numerical power ratings of ridiculous levels, and level landscapes with their punches and kicks. It's been said that movies have reached a point where they can do just about everything in comics with CGI, but I don't even think that Jackie Chan and Industrial Light and Magic together could capture the kinetic frenzy of the action in Dragonball Z. Toriyama's artwork is very impressive, particularly on the action sequences. His characters move about as if unrestrained by gravity and physics, and his speedlines and energy effects remind me of Kirby in his prime. Don: Again, we disagree. The featureless landscape was dull, serving only as a surface onto which near lifeless bodies could collapse. The only way energy seems to be conveyed is with the same thick lines. The character designs aren't particularly inspired, and the visual approach to the seemingly constant battles was repetitive. Randy: There are also some surprises in this issue, from the dramatic return of Son Goku and the revelations of his true power to the switch that occurs late in the story, a nice way to add tension after the heightened power of Son Goku threatened to make the heroic ending a foregone conclusion. The characterization is slight, and the bonds between father and son or between friends are mostly just name-checked rather than felt, but that doesn't matter because the point of all this is fighting and action. Zoids Vol. 1: Chaotic Century by Michiro Ueyama Don: The Planet Zi has been ravaged by a terrible war and a cataclysmic meteor strike. The human population has begun to rebuild their homes and their lives, but their villages are threatened by wild Zoids, mechanical animals that are native to the planet. A teenage boy named Van hopes to find a friendly Zoid and use it to defend his home, just as his late father did. And he finds just what's he's looking for: a little lizard-like Zoid he names Zeke and with which he can merge... with shocking results. Randy: Zoids is the newest title from Viz, and it seems aimed at the same young fans who have enjoyed Dragonball, Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon. I actually found this first issue to be something of a fun read, and the relationships between the human children and the Zoids are charming and touching in their way. In fact, the characterization here is stronger than that of most of the younger targeted manga that I've read in the past. And in light of how 20-something fans are reliving their childhoods with Transformers at the moment, it's worth noting that kids like robots, especially when they're combined with children's wish-fulfillment. Don: This was a pleasant read. As is the case with a lot of similar manga, Ueyama hints at a vast history, and that suggested context adds an intelligent tone to the innocent story. Randy's comparisons are on the money this time around; Zoids strikes me as a cross between Transformers and Pokemon. I can see this connecting with kids just as strongly. Randy: I found the protagonist of Zoids to be very likable, in the same mold as a variety of child adventurers, not quite fitting in with his society and getting flack for being too curious for his own good. Van mixes this adventurous streak with a good heart and a child's enthusiasm and naivete, and his devotion to his Zoid is actually kind of sweet, based as much on genuine feelings as on the desire to live up to the legacy that his father left him. Zoids also has a touch of darkness to it, as one of the innocents is killed to motivate Van into action. Don: Overall, though, this is still very much a kid-friendly book, unlike the other two graphic novels we've covered in this review feature. Furthermore, the more compact size of this edition isn't as overwhelming. Randy: The artwork didn't quite grab me as much as the story, however. While it is good in the slower sequences, the action gets a bit muddled and hard to follow. I'm actually reminded of Lea Hernandez's work on Rumble Girls, as the Zoids have designs that are reminiscent of those of the Hardskins of that title, and the action has the same confusing qualities that I often found as well. In particular, Van's merging with Zeke and the resulting changes are next to impossible to read, which robs that fairly important sequence of story of a lot of its power. For more information on Viz Comics, visit www.viz.com. Email Randy and Don comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.