An Peek at Baku by Hakase Mizuki
The weather has taken a sudden, unwanted turn for worse. It was 42 degrees last night! It's only the middle of September! Not wanting to fire up the furnace just yet, as it's expected to be in the 80's again next week, I cuddled under a pile of comforters and spent the day in denial. Winter is not coming! At least I have my manga to keep me warm.
ばく: by 水月 博士
Baku by Hakase Mizuki
Rated: Older Teen 16+
Price: 9.99
TOKYOPOP - Fantasy
Review May Contain Spoilers
Takeshi Uesugi has just attained a great deal of unwanted fame. The poster boy for Cherry, a new perfume, he shrugs off his suddenly popularity and tries to carry on as normally as possible. With his abusive mother committed to a mental hospital, it's just Takeshi and his dad. When he's approached by strangers, they tell him that he's the reincarnation of "Baku," a spirit that devours nightmares. Maybe his mother isn't the only crazy one around here!
Examining themes reminiscent of The Demon Ororon, Hakase Mizuki once again ponders the meaning of family. Baku is tinged with tragedy, as Takeshi's mother, realizing that her son isn't quite human, begins to fear him. Committed to a mental institution after she begins abusing the boy, she tells everyone that she became pregnant with Takeshi after an affair with a Baku, a spirit that devours nightmares. No one believes her, which leads to her fancy new digs.
Takeshi and his father try to carry on with their lives, but they both know that Takeshi has powers that allow him to do some pretty remarkable things. Fly? No problem. Make his toys float in the air? Child's play. While Takeshi comes to think of himself as a freak, his father is gently insistent that he is his son, and he's a human being.
Imagine Takeshi's surprise then Fuyuko and Nekomata, two spirits, track him down and tell him he's the reincarnation of their guardian, the Baku. They have been searching for him for years, ever since Takeshi was grievously injured by Asura, another spirit who wants to kill Takeshi so he can eat him and gain his powers for himself. Takeshi rejects them at first, having no recollection of his previous life. Will Fuyuko and Nekomata be able to help Takeshi regain his forgotten past?
I find Mizuki's works so appealing because the characters are so committed to each other. Despite their wildly differing backgrounds, they make emotional connections and every action is motivated by their relationships. When Takeshi's sleep is disturbed, he learns that a young boy is being forced to fight against his will, and he abruptly puts an end to the violent sport. Taking in the boy, Nekomata, and the young girl, Fuyuko, he raises them as his own children. With his gentle ways, he quickly wins their trust, and they become a family. With Asura ever nipping at his heels, he comes to fear that their family will be torn apart, and he entreats the children to look for him in the mortal world if Asura should defeat him. When his fears come to pass, and they finally find him again, he has no memory of them, or of the time they spent together.
Mizuki's art is dark and brooding, matching the tone of the story. Her drawing style is unique, and though there isn't much in the way of background detail, the characters themselves are elegantly rendered. Long and lean, there isn't much screen tone to clutter the character designs. At first glance, her art may appear simple, but I think it's the lack of extraneous lines that give the illustrations so much depth. There's not much to interfere with the characters and their emotions, just delicate pen strokes that capture the eye and guide the reader through the story.
Also included are two short stories featuring Mephisto, a half-demon exorcist. He lives with his sisters, his hamster, Creamtea, a pixie, Nana, and a free-loading family friend. Their adventures, again, swirled around their domestic entanglements. The second story, in which Nana and Mephisto attempt to reunite a doll with her beloved owner, was especially engrossing, though I was distracted by the thought that Mephisto resembled Willy Wonka a little too much.
Baku will be in stores in October.
Grade: B+
Review copy provided by TOKYOPOP
This review was written by Julie for the MangaCast. Please drop by the Manga Maniac Cafe and check out the menu. There's always tasty reviews on display!
ばく: by 水月 博士
Baku by Hakase Mizuki
Rated: Older Teen 16+
Price: 9.99
TOKYOPOP - Fantasy
Review May Contain Spoilers
Takeshi Uesugi has just attained a great deal of unwanted fame. The poster boy for Cherry, a new perfume, he shrugs off his suddenly popularity and tries to carry on as normally as possible. With his abusive mother committed to a mental hospital, it's just Takeshi and his dad. When he's approached by strangers, they tell him that he's the reincarnation of "Baku," a spirit that devours nightmares. Maybe his mother isn't the only crazy one around here!
Examining themes reminiscent of The Demon Ororon, Hakase Mizuki once again ponders the meaning of family. Baku is tinged with tragedy, as Takeshi's mother, realizing that her son isn't quite human, begins to fear him. Committed to a mental institution after she begins abusing the boy, she tells everyone that she became pregnant with Takeshi after an affair with a Baku, a spirit that devours nightmares. No one believes her, which leads to her fancy new digs.
Takeshi and his father try to carry on with their lives, but they both know that Takeshi has powers that allow him to do some pretty remarkable things. Fly? No problem. Make his toys float in the air? Child's play. While Takeshi comes to think of himself as a freak, his father is gently insistent that he is his son, and he's a human being.
Imagine Takeshi's surprise then Fuyuko and Nekomata, two spirits, track him down and tell him he's the reincarnation of their guardian, the Baku. They have been searching for him for years, ever since Takeshi was grievously injured by Asura, another spirit who wants to kill Takeshi so he can eat him and gain his powers for himself. Takeshi rejects them at first, having no recollection of his previous life. Will Fuyuko and Nekomata be able to help Takeshi regain his forgotten past?
I find Mizuki's works so appealing because the characters are so committed to each other. Despite their wildly differing backgrounds, they make emotional connections and every action is motivated by their relationships. When Takeshi's sleep is disturbed, he learns that a young boy is being forced to fight against his will, and he abruptly puts an end to the violent sport. Taking in the boy, Nekomata, and the young girl, Fuyuko, he raises them as his own children. With his gentle ways, he quickly wins their trust, and they become a family. With Asura ever nipping at his heels, he comes to fear that their family will be torn apart, and he entreats the children to look for him in the mortal world if Asura should defeat him. When his fears come to pass, and they finally find him again, he has no memory of them, or of the time they spent together.
Mizuki's art is dark and brooding, matching the tone of the story. Her drawing style is unique, and though there isn't much in the way of background detail, the characters themselves are elegantly rendered. Long and lean, there isn't much screen tone to clutter the character designs. At first glance, her art may appear simple, but I think it's the lack of extraneous lines that give the illustrations so much depth. There's not much to interfere with the characters and their emotions, just delicate pen strokes that capture the eye and guide the reader through the story.
Also included are two short stories featuring Mephisto, a half-demon exorcist. He lives with his sisters, his hamster, Creamtea, a pixie, Nana, and a free-loading family friend. Their adventures, again, swirled around their domestic entanglements. The second story, in which Nana and Mephisto attempt to reunite a doll with her beloved owner, was especially engrossing, though I was distracted by the thought that Mephisto resembled Willy Wonka a little too much.
Baku will be in stores in October.
Grade: B+
Review copy provided by TOKYOPOP
This review was written by Julie for the MangaCast. Please drop by the Manga Maniac Cafe and check out the menu. There's always tasty reviews on display!