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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Friday, February 4, 2005
Sayonara, RAIJIN COMICS.
I put off reading the last two monthly issues - dated June and July of 2004 - as long as I could, but when 2005 rolled around with nary a sign of the magazine's return, I knew it was finally time to say goodbye and get on with my life.
Gutsoon's RAIJIN COMICS was a favorite of mine. When it was launched as a weekly, I was cautiously optimistic it could sustain that frequency and build a profitable readership. It never found its readership, cut back to monthly publication, and, finally, last summer, called it quits.
The last page of RAIJIN COMICS #46 announced the issue would be the last "in its present format" and that they would be "going on hiatus in order to revitalize [their] publication and marketing plan." I knew that was likely wishful thinking, but I hoped to be proven wrong. Sigh.
I'm not going to claim today's column - and tomorrow's as well - come to you "better late than never," but, as I did enjoy most of the features in RAIJIN, I beg you to allow me these mostly fond last looks at the magazine.
******
FIST OF THE BLUE SKY
Kasumi Kenshiro, the sole possessor of a deadly martial art, returned to Shanghai, China - 1935 - to avenge his brothers in the relatively benevolent Chinpan crime family. Written by Horie Nobu and drawn by Hara Tetsuo, the often violent series often focused on the bonds of loyalty and respect between men and women of honor, even when they were on opposite sides.
The Raijin run ended with the rival Kokakai gang in disarray, but still able to plan and execute an attack on Kenshiro and one of his allies. The ill-timed attack instead claimed the life of the ally's sister, giving Kenshiro new targets.
Another unresolved sub-plot involved Kenshiro's amnesiac lost love. He now knows she was not murdered by the Kokakai's assassin, but does not know her present whereabouts.
FIST OF THE BLUE SKY, a prequel to the incredibly popular FIST OF THE NORTH STAR series, was usually grim-and-gritty fun with its "Dick Tracy" villains and occasionally over-the-top violence. My favorite of Kenshiro's foes was the fatally vain gangster who wore a solid metal hairpiece to disguise his baldness. It didn't work and its weight led to his death by drowning.
If another publisher picked up FIST OF THE BLUE SKY, it could count me among its new customers.
******
SLAM DUNK
It may have taken hundreds of pages to present one basketball game, but SLAM DUNK was one of the most exciting series to appear in RAIJIN...and one of the funniest.
Reformed delinquent Sakuragi Hanamichi takes to the basketball court to impress the girl he loves and, much to everyone's shock, proves to have a genuine - if unfocused - talent for the game. He contends with the captain of the team (who is also the brother of the girl Hanamichi adores) and with the exceptional new player who has also joined the team. Writer/artist Inoue Takehiko is a genius at portraying both action and comedy.
RAIJIN lasted just long enough to bring us the heartbreaking conclusion of the game mentioned above, but not long enough for us to experience its aftermath. I think SLAM DUNK could be a *major* hit with the right marketing and, once again, I hope it gets picked up by another publisher.
******
BAKI THE GRAPPLER
Itagaki Keisuke's BAKI THE GRAPPLER was another violent RAIJIN series. The title hero is the champion of the Underground Arena, a merciless venue with no rules and more fighting styles than you shake a broken arm at.
I always had mixed feelings about BAKI. I admired the hero's resolve and lack of malice, especially after learning his initial fighting experience came at the hands of his abusive and inhumanly brutal father, but, far too often, the stories seemed consumed by an almost lust for the violence.
The RAIJIN run ends with Baki's father preparing to return to the ring with the aim of taking away his son's title. Given that the father has been portrayed as an unstoppable fighting machine, a man capable of killing a polar bear with his hands, I am curious to see how Baki could possibly beat him...but probably not curious enough to buy the series if it were continued elsewhere.
******
CITY HUNTER
There were times when I was almost ashamed at how much I was enjoying Hojo Tsukasa's CITY HUNTER. Saeba Ryo, the hero of this series, is an unrepentant horn-dog whose sophomoric sexual come-ons and urges could be downright embarrassing. But Hojo's sure hand at blending adventure and humor won me over.
Ryo is a "sweeper," a mercenary who specializes in taking out the criminal trash and protecting his clients. In his final RAIJIN assignment, he was hired to guard a nigh-psychic card dealer in the employ of a Yakuza group. While the last chapter to appear could make for a moderately acceptable conclusion of the tale, I get the feeling there were a few more chapters to come.
CITY HUNTER worked its way up through the ranks to become one of my favorite series. I would buy a continuation of the series in a Tokyo minute. In fact, though I didn't particularly care for it the first time I watched it, I'm even going to give the CITY HUNTER movie - starring Jackie Chan - a second chance. Look for a review in a future edition of TOT.
******
REVENGE OF MOUFLON
REVENGE OF MOUFLON was my favorite RAIJIN COMICS series for a long time...until it jumped the shark.
Written by Ueno Jiro and drawn by Ono Yoichiro, the opening storyline thrust rebellious comedian Sano Yohei into the cockpit of a passenger jet which had been seized by terrorists who murdered its pilots and then escaped. Against all odds, with some help from unexpected allies, Sano was able to land the plane safely...only to become himself a target of both the government and the terrorists. Cue the JAWS theme.
REVENGE almost jumped the shark when Sano's unguarded wife and son were kidnapped and tortured by the terrorists and went all the way over when the terrorist leader turned out to be a melodramatic psychopath called the Chameleon whose objective was "to shake some life into this snoozer of a society." With that, REVENGE went from being a thriller to a cartoon.
REVENGE was such a good series when it launched that I would probably give it a second chance if another publisher continued it. But it would have to earn back my respect quickly.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with the concluding installment of this farewell to RAIJIN COMICS. I hope you'll join me.
Tony Isabella
<< 02/03/2005 | 02/04/2005 | 02/05/2005 >>
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
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