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Reviewed by David Rasmussen Setting: It's raining, and an average-looking guy is standing in front of an apartment complex looking over a wee little dog pondering whether or not to give him (or her) shelter from the rain. Suddenly a strange female comes up behind him and screams "IT'S A TRAP!", promptly proceeding to bludgeon the dog into a bloody mess with a baseball bat before telling the guy that the "dog" is a "dangerous altered space organism." This nightmare of the ASPCA is the opening of The World of Narue, a series which proclaims itself to be "A Sci-Fi hit direct to your heart" …really? Even the description seems to defy description (or logic). Narue is an "adorable" schoolgirl (yeah, right) with a secret. She's really an alien with powers right out of a sci-fi ma… ok, ok, hold it right there. Problem by definition: posting your place of residence as "Galactic Federation" and posting a sign on your front door that reads "Galactic Communications Base" is not so much of a secret... This story has not so much to do with Narue, however, as it does the "hapless boy" who seems to somehow have the unfortunate distinction of being her friend, or future love interest, or just there to look at her panties. That being one Kazuto Izuka. And oh, the misdaventures he'll get into. After watching Narue become ASPCA Public Enemy No. 1 by beating a puppy, he ends up being taken to her place, where she stays with her father (who is now under assault by someone who may or may not be a Space Ninja or something like that). After some confusing scenes Narue ends up taking Kazuto on a trip to see her homeworld (holographically, I assume) where he is exposed to the grandeur and wonder of her panties… oh, what, you mean all that stuff like the planet and those spaceships and space and all that? Why, when he can see right up her skirt... If you begin to wonder if this is all fan service and no substance don't worry, it appears to be exactly that, no more and no less. --How about Narue tricking Kazuto into the date from hell (because the topic of dating came up in class one day)? --After performing the always-entertaining James Doohan "Hello Computer" gag from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Narue discovers the joys of internet porn… I mean screensavers. She promptly becomes obsessed with a SD little micro-Anime girl character dancing on screen, emulates the dance, and begins her short quick descent into madness… --A short timid young man discovers Narue's misplaced headband, and fails to return it to her… too bad, as the headband is the controlling device of her spaceship and he gets into a load of trouble wearing it before Narue can get it back. --The volume wraps with Narue's alien sister coming to visit... Uh… I guess it's popular because it's everything you expect from a fan-service, over-the-top slapstick title. Strong (sometimes risqué humor), kinda lovable characters (though a lot of situations you've seen done a dozen times before) and an overall solid art and writing style (though again dipping into the realm of things you've seen done before). It's not the worst I've seen, but it by no mean innovates in any great means either. It's fun, it's a time-killer, it's a C+. Enjoy. Comment on this review of The World of Narue v1 on the Manga Life Forums. |
22 July 2008
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