Faust 1 - Graphic Novel Review
Anthologies can be tricky things to manage, especially when the calibre of talent is so high.
As a fan, it's hard to decide what to read first and you'd be spoiled for choice with Del Rey's latest (and first) anthology collection, Faust 1.
The book is structured in such a way that you can read it backwards and forwards.
I chose to read through the manga and illustrated stories at the back first.
I was thoroughly impressed with the coloured, glossy pages of take's 'Tsukikusa' all about a mermaid, VOFAN'S 'Nikko Dance Party' about a girl and her love of dance and light and the sumptuous 'Maple Tree Viewing' by Moheji Yamasaki about a vampire in feudal Japan.
The use of colour in all three and in particular in 'Maple Tree Viewing' really made an impact on the story.
My favourite story however was not in colour but one of the black and white additions entitled 'After School 7th Class' by NISIOISIN and beautifully illustrated by Yun Kouga.
This volume is worth it for the manga and coloured pages alone but the centrepiece of the book is found in the more in-depth fiction and essays located at the front of the book.
NISIOISIN manages to take familiar xxxHoLiC characters to new heights in this excerpt from the upcoming book 'Another xxxHoLiC'.
I consider NISIOISIN's work as something of an abstract style of writing as he maintains the consistency to flow between thought and action with meticulous skill.
At times, it's difficult to fully comprehend what's really going on at any one time but that's what I enjoy about his writing style.
The following stories Outlandos D'Amour by Kouhei Kadono, Drill Hole in My Brain by Otaro Maijo, F-Sensei's Pocket by Otsuichi and The Garden of Sinners: A View from Above by Kinoku Nasu are all superbly written and extremely well chosen to represent the content of Faust.
There's a great emphasis on the psychological in quite a few of these stories and in some cases, they're quite powerful and even disturbing.
Drill Hole in My Brain is a story about a boy who has survived a vicious attack with a screwdriver and describes what can only be thought of as psychosis.
The imagery supporting the story by Maijo are both beautiful and frightening.
I enjoyed this anthology immensely.
The stories were each captivating in their own right and truly delivered the authors and illustrators to the forefront of the genre.
I can only expect the next volume in the anthology series will be even better than this although it would be pretty hard to beat.
Digital Otaku Rating 8/10
As a fan, it's hard to decide what to read first and you'd be spoiled for choice with Del Rey's latest (and first) anthology collection, Faust 1.
The book is structured in such a way that you can read it backwards and forwards.
I chose to read through the manga and illustrated stories at the back first.
I was thoroughly impressed with the coloured, glossy pages of take's 'Tsukikusa' all about a mermaid, VOFAN'S 'Nikko Dance Party' about a girl and her love of dance and light and the sumptuous 'Maple Tree Viewing' by Moheji Yamasaki about a vampire in feudal Japan.
The use of colour in all three and in particular in 'Maple Tree Viewing' really made an impact on the story.
My favourite story however was not in colour but one of the black and white additions entitled 'After School 7th Class' by NISIOISIN and beautifully illustrated by Yun Kouga.
This volume is worth it for the manga and coloured pages alone but the centrepiece of the book is found in the more in-depth fiction and essays located at the front of the book.
NISIOISIN manages to take familiar xxxHoLiC characters to new heights in this excerpt from the upcoming book 'Another xxxHoLiC'.
I consider NISIOISIN's work as something of an abstract style of writing as he maintains the consistency to flow between thought and action with meticulous skill.
At times, it's difficult to fully comprehend what's really going on at any one time but that's what I enjoy about his writing style.
The following stories Outlandos D'Amour by Kouhei Kadono, Drill Hole in My Brain by Otaro Maijo, F-Sensei's Pocket by Otsuichi and The Garden of Sinners: A View from Above by Kinoku Nasu are all superbly written and extremely well chosen to represent the content of Faust.
There's a great emphasis on the psychological in quite a few of these stories and in some cases, they're quite powerful and even disturbing.
Drill Hole in My Brain is a story about a boy who has survived a vicious attack with a screwdriver and describes what can only be thought of as psychosis.
The imagery supporting the story by Maijo are both beautiful and frightening.
I enjoyed this anthology immensely.
The stories were each captivating in their own right and truly delivered the authors and illustrators to the forefront of the genre.
I can only expect the next volume in the anthology series will be even better than this although it would be pretty hard to beat.
Digital Otaku Rating 8/10