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Reviewed by David Rasmussen Stop me if you've heard this one. Go on. I dare you... Once again a Japanese creator has set their sights on the Old West of America. It's the 19th century and Viu, a young boy who dreams of becoming a gunslinger, is living up in Winston Town, Illinois (a bit off from the Old West). One day he meets a Gunslinger named Marcus Homer, who apparently saw that last John Candy movie "Wagons East," and decided to head away from the West. Apparently the urge to go East isn't going to stay with Marcus long, though, as he hooks up with Viu, and (after some mishaps and trouble) the two decide (once Viu realizes he wants to become stronger) to quest for a "promised land" known as "Gun Blaze West", a place rumored where only the strong (of confidence in their skills and not just brute force strong) shall be allowed entry. However an incident occurs and Marcus is shot down, leaving Viu with his gun (which he uses well against a whole lot of bad guys). Flashforward and it's five years later, and Viu is still headed west to the fabled Gun Blaze West. He started by dropping in on St. Louis, the "Gateway to the West..." This doesn't turn out well as Viu ends up getting into the troubles of others and decides the only way to resolve things is with guns blazing and a devil-be-damned attitude. Nice. This nets him first one companion (in a young man with a strong roping skill named Will Johnson (the guy that was part of the whole mess Viu got dragged into while in St. Louis). Then, on the road, he meets a young lady with a skill for knives named Korisu Sato who ends up also joining him on the road to Gun Blaze West (after another long situation he finds himself in with her and the traveling circus she called home, during which he is given a chance to hone his skills further as a gunslinger). After she joins (I think she joins) the volume ends. So we're still heading to Gun Blaze West and it looks like Viu has gone and picked himself up two new traveling companions (guess have to wait until Volume 3 to see if she sticks with him or not), but it looks like they're not the only ones headed towards the mysterious Gun Blaze West as the little cliffhanger ending hints at. What will happen next, what strange new conflict with Viu find himself drawn in David-Carradine-from-Kung-Fu style? Only time... and the next volume... will tell. OK. Truth be told, this isn't getting a high score for innovation. The read isn't all that innovative. Boy quested with locating Gun Blaze West because he wants to become stronger, along the way he is drawn into the conflicts of others as he quests for Gun Blaze West (picking up traveling companions along the way who follow his quest and him). Each time he progresses another situation draws him into some sort of conflict where he'll either 1) gain more self confidence in his trip, 2) gain a traveling companion, or 3) gain new skills to further his growth as a gunslinger. Formulatic to be certain, it's not a fresh breath of innovation powering my score. It's just the fact that the read is a fun read. Gunslinging, a bit of a quest (that is driven by something more down and dirty than treasure or respect or just because), and likable characters that really get you reading. Written sharply (maybe not innovatively but sharply) with a nice artistic style I have to say I am happy with this title as a guilty pleasure read. Just something to sit back and enjoy, take it on a flight with you to pass the time (either on the flight or waiting to get on the flight), it's a read you should have and recommended for your collection (traveling or otherwise) from me to you. Just for the fun of it. B+. 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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