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Reviewed by David Rasmussen Ah. Parents. Can't exist without them, can't figure out why some parents have children when you see the children... and let's not go there with that mom that just bred enough children to form her own sports team (of whatever sport can use... what... 14? 15 Players?) Let's talk Anime/Manga parents! Some are allergic to cats (poor Sakaki). Some don't mind their children going out at a young age to earn a living capturing and training creatures for badges and competitions and whatever (Ash). Some have adopted parents (or had adopted parents in some cases depending on who the character was and what life altering event made said adopted parents go bye-bye). And finally some are absent (what, half of the characters in Anime/Manga have absent parental units?), while others, the children wish were absent. Case in point: Hayate's no-good gambler parents who are constantly in debt to the Yakuza. It seems since he was nine he's been running his rear off at various part time jobs (because apparently Japan doesn't observe that whole illegal to use child labor in part time jobs thing) to support his retard parents. Oh, did I mention they're evil since they eventually just up and sold their son's vital organs to the Yakuza to cover their debts... gee, how special. Well that should be it, once the organs are removed it's no more Hayate, and the show comes to an abrupt end at the length of a public service announcement sized skit that basically says "Just Say No To Gambling, Lest You End Up Selling Your Children's Vital Organs To Pay Off Your Debt" ...or something like that. I say show since, as of this volume, the (now rather old news since this volume came out how long ago in Japan) news of Hayate the Combat Butler coming to Anime is made... hmm... maybe VIZ can buy stock in Anime Network and start showing all their stuff on it (it's apparently still around, seemingly bulletproof since ADV has been dunked into recession red at least once yet the channel they made is still on TV... though I have to take On Demand's word for that since Oceanic Time Warner Cable never did add The Anime Network to their line-up as far as I know). Anyway, I did some research on Wikipedia for what came next after "removal of vital organs"... which is odd since usually nothing comes after "removal of vital organs" short of the recycling of the remains into Soylent Green... according to Wikipedia, after Hayate's loser parents run away from home (which is not as rare in Japan as you think if Anime/Manga is any indication of the rampant parental running away from home epidemic) he ends up on the run from debt collectors (or maybe just the Yakuza looking to pick up his vital organs), and runs into a young girl named Nagi Sanzen'in (sole heir to the Sanezen'in Estate). Somehow wackiness ensues and she ends up falling for Hayate, after he goes and saves her from kidnappers (some manga version of Helsinki Syndrome I think). Anyway she hires him as her new butler (since nothing quite says love like hiring the love of your life/savior as you personal live in butler), and his life becomes more complicated (than it already is). Besides cleaning after her he must also protect her from harm, since it seems she is a danger magnet because of everyone's desires to off her and take her family fortune... oh, and he's totally dim to her feelings for him, yeah, didn't see THAT one coming. According to Wikipedia the series (as of late Wiki-Update) is up to Volume 16 (and this is 10) so, well, this isn't going away anytime soon (that and sooner later if it hasn't happened already... VIZ is rolling out the Anime Series on DVD and BluRay. Lucky you.) As for this volume? First up it seems Hayate is late, he's late... for some hot chick to beat the heck out of him because of some duel... what the... Oh, then he flips out and starts hallucinating about ancient master chipmunks! Then it gets all touchy romantic up in high places... but that doesn't last. Wow, that really doesn't last long. Then we remember all about Nagi and her manga work (which we can't help but notice since it's the focus of the 100th manga Episode.) Then we find out that final exams are close and Hayate just can't ignore his studies anymore... so many what he needs is a robotic duplicate of him to sit in for him on his duties while he studies... which is all well and good until it looks like the robot may be well on its way to replacing him in the series, then it's not so good. Yeah, everyone likes the robot double until it begins to replace them in everyday life, then the robot so must die. Actually I really enjoyed reading this, though right now it's too cold to go into every last detail of what I liked about it. Hmm... I'm going to dig back into the series when I have the budget for it and review previous volumes when capable, just so I have a more complete collection (or hope VIZ rolls out an Omnibus of the first volumes soon). Until then, I can see why interest eventually rolled into an Animated Series for this title, as it is a nice read with good humor and a nice cast of characters you can really dig. Great job. A- for winning me over on review one. Bravo. 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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