Copyright Date:
2006
Edition Date:
2006
Release Date:
05/02/17
Pages:
1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN:
Publisher: 1-595-32694-4 Perma-Bound: 0-605-41582-X
ISBN 13:
Publisher: 978-1-595-32694-2 Perma-Bound: 978-0-605-41582-9
Dewey:
Fic
LCCN:
2008297608
Dimensions:
19 cm.
Language:
English
Reviews:
Publishers Weekly
(Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
There's a fine line between satirizing the conventions of the fantasy genre and justifying stereotypes and mediocrity by claiming comedic intent. Thankfully, the humorous adventure of <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Van Von Hunter falls into the former group. A breezy introduction sets the tone of this Ameri-manga parody, and a refusal to take anything seriously permeates the story. The hero doesn't know what's going on. The sidekick is an amnesiac barmaid. Everyone has to be told by convenient bystanders what to do next in order to stop the nemesis, an evil prince, from finding a magical artifact that will let him take over the kingdom. As is typical of American-influenced comic art, the panels are busier and more crowded than Japanese manga. The art doesn't always live up to the story demands, as when a "packed tavern" is rather sparsely populated, or mystical artifacts under discussion are never shown. It can be hard to follow the plot, but the figures are well-designed and likable. The creators were the winners of Tokyopop's first Rising Stars of Manga competition, and their creation is an amusing quick read. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(May)
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Publishers Weekly
(Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
Book one starts off with the introduction of a cloaked figure and his werewolf companion crossing the border into the newly good-ified land of Dikay. We then explain the history of the mighty warrior Van Von Hunter. Like all Legends, his is not without embellishing. Hence, we end up telling the audience a number of inaccuracies... Von Hunter is a thousand years old, and the like. Only with slick placement of dialogue well within the books will readers eventually start to uncover the real history of Von Hunter. After the history lesson we move on to VVH's side kick. After a terrible and truly earth-shaking explosion caused by the Apoxagedon spell during the final battle with the Flaming Prince, SK lost all of her memories of fighting evil with VVH and was in turn separated from him. That was three years ago. Since that time she found her way to a little village and has been living out her life; totally devoid of her past memories. She lives with an older couple who have taken her in as the daughter they never had and she works as a bar wench. Lo, these past three years, VVH has been roaming the countryside and looking for evil to smite. Oddly, the land has become more and more peace