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Reviewed by Dan Polley If ever there were a home for dichotomy in a manga, “Banana Fish” would be it with open arms. If it were to have a name, it would be Ash Lynx. That’s the name of the main character of the series. Ash is a young guy who’s street smart and street tough. The book starts out as a flashback to a scene of a few soldiers passing away the night during a stint in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Everything seems to be fine until one of the soldiers starts firing — and killing — several fellow American troops. As we first meet Ash — back in the present day of 1985 — we see him prowling out in the streets of New York City. He sees a man who has been shot and is bleeding profusely. As Ash gets closer to the man, the man reaches out and hands something to Ash just before he dies. But before he does, he gives Ash a clue that will propel Ash to action. “Banana Fish,” he says. From there, Ash is hooked and out to find out just what the dying man knew. This volume also sees a key relationship start that will be prominent throughout the series: that of Ash Lynx and Eiji Okumura, a Japanese youngster who had come to New York to help a photographer. Although it would seem at first that these two youngsters have nothing in common, it becomes quickly apparent that they do — they just don’t know how quite yet. Creator Akimi Yoshida does an excellent job of pacing the story throughout the series and of developing the characters into something more than just archetypes. Each central character is complex, but it’s the complete cast taken as a whole that provides for a refreshing view into interpersonal relations. The art isn’t spectacular, but Yoshida does ensure that each character is a fit for the scene of 1985. From stone-wash jeans to extra large mustaches, the characters are developed well visually and it adds to the conflict between various factors in the book. The subject matter discussed in this volume and throughout the remainder of the 19-volume series is something that should definitely be restricted to older teens and up. Yoshida tackles some tough issues and does so with a fair amount of success. This volume is heavy on dialog and fairly light on action, but that certainly changes throughout the course of the series. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line! Charles Webb Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com |
1 September 2010
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