Pluto - The Review

Pluto by Naoki Urasawa and Osamu Tezuka
 

This manga has one of the most interesting ways of telling a story that I’ve ever seen. It takes a classic manga, Astro Boy: The Greatest Robot on Earth, and turns it into a murder mystery. That’s not an easy thing to do, especially when you are taking on one of the most groundbreaking works in Japanese comic history. It’s a thought-provoking experience. I especially liked the way the robots were written into the story. Some of them are extremely human looking and are even presented as equals to humans. They are built for specific purposes, however they have personalities all their own. Friendship and love are not outside their realm of understanding, and many robots marry and have children. If you are familiar with Osamu Tezuka’s original works, Pluto will be right up your alley. And just in case you aren’t familiar with his work, you’re in luck! It’s not necessary to know anything about the original work to enjoy this series. It’s truly the best of both worlds.

Cardboard - The Review

Cardboard by Doug TenNapel

This graphic novel is very unique from my usual tastes in reading. For starters, I usually don’t stray too far from the standard Marvel or DC comics. Cardboard is neither. It is by the same author who produced “Ghostopolis”, which was on ALA’s Top Ten Graphic Novels for Teens in 2011. I intend to read that book as well if that’s any indication of how much I enjoyed this one. The artwork is great. It’s unique and beautifully colored, and the storyline is incredibly original as well. Seriously, this book will keep you guessing until the very end.