A comiXologist Recommends - MANGA EDITION:
Jonah Chuang recommends Dragon Ball Z
Think of these volumes as a straight up no-nonsense version of what was already, despite its minor flaws, one of the greatest action series of all time. The sequel to Dragon Ball is about the now-adult Son Goku, alien from another planet who is sent to Earth as a baby to conquer it, but after falling in love with its people, becomes its greatest hero. Together with his friends and family, he defends the planet from overwhelming alien threats with the help of the magical Dragon Balls.
For those of you who know the watered down animated Toonami versions from TV, these books have all of the stuff and none of the fluff. You do lose the dazzling animated fights with the manga version, but the story and character development are streamlined, and we’re treated to a better paced telling which makes the relationships feel more familiar and authentic. The manga version also includes more banter, quirkiness, and small, personal jokes that make you feel closer to the DBZ family than ever before.
Dragon Ball Z is father to many of the tropes that we love in action movies and animation today. Its treatment of flying/fighting, impact cratering, power levels, getting suped up, and the idea of taking enemies and making them regular heroes carry forward into pop culture today. It’s a classic series that feels just as fresh and interesting today as when it was first released 25 years ago.
[Read Dragon Ball Z on comiXology]
For fans of: Action, Martial Arts, Humor
Jonah Chuang is a production coordinator assistant at comixology. He has attended both The Office conventions in Scranton, PA and met Ricky Gervais last week.
A comiXologist Recommends - MANGA EDITION:
Emily Forster recommends Naruto
Ninja have seen a lot of action in comics, but no series has reimagined the idea of a “ninja” quite like Naruto. In Masashi Kishimoto’s fictional world, ninja are assigned missions ranging from pet-sitting to assassination. Naruto, an orphan with a loud mouth and a dedication to the color orange, is determined to become the most powerful ninja and win the respect of his whole village - but he doesn’t seem to have much talent. On top of that, he carries the stigma of the dreaded Nine-Tails, a demon fox of enormous elemental power that happens to be sealed inside him. Still, he won’t give up on his dream, though he soon finds himself fighting for a lot more than his own reputation.
Like other great Viz titles, Naruto is defined by the themes of friendship, teamwork, and the will to never give up. The action is fantastic - the focus on strategy and deception makes for a much more exciting read than your basic face-punching. But what really makes Naruto special is the pure heart of its characters; the kind that get under your skin until you want to cry when they’re suffering and cheer when they’re victorious.
Naruto is sometimes silly (get past Naruto’s battle with indigestion before you pass judgment) and sometimes tragic (you only have to read until Vol. 4 to know if this manga is going to give you feelings - trust me.) It’s an incredibly fun read and there’s plenty of it - dive in!
For fans of: Action, Martial Arts, Humor
Emily Forster is a Digital Editor at ComiXology and a cartoonist. She likes comics about food and fights to the death.
A comiXologist Recommends- MANGA EDITION:
Jose Sagastume recommends One-Punch Man
As the name suggests One-Punch Man is the story of a superhero that is so powerful that he can defeat anyone with a single punch. Saitama, our hero, was once an unemployed businessman who had grown bored of life. However, after an encounter with a monster, he decides to quit searching for a job and begin superhero training. Saitama trains so intensely for three years that he not only ends up becoming extremely powerful but he also goes bald.
The premise sounds ridiculous because it’s meant to be. One-Punch Man is meant as a parody of the super hero genre. Writer, ONE, and artist Yusuke Murata, seem to be the perfect blend for this story. Take my favorite scene as an example. We’re introduced to Saitama after he rescues a woman from being killed by a giant monster named Vaccine. The monster asks who he is and Saitama simply responds by saying, “Someone who’s a hero for fun”. This nonchalant response enrages Vaccine because he actually has a purpose for wanting to destroy humanity.
Murata is able to further enhance the scene in the way he chooses to draw the characters. While the art for Vaccine is painstakingly detailed, Saitama’s is plain, almost boring. Even in his costume Saitama appears more average and almost out of his element. While the chapters all follow a very similar formula, the book does not disappoint. Each chapter is just as good as the last and having it all topped off with Murata’s phenomenal artwork- it is definitely something that I’d recommend to just about anyone. If you’re a fan of superheroes and have never read manga before this book will not disappoint.
One-Punch Man is the perfect mix of action and comedy because it isn’t afraid to mix laughs and thrills.
[Read One-Punch Man on comiXology]
For fans of: Sci-Fi, Martial Arts, Superheroes
Jose Sagastume is a New York transplant from LA who works as a Community Support Advocate for comiXology.
A comiXologist Recommends:
Mike Isenberg recommends Big Trouble in Little China #1
John Carpenter‘s film formula is one that a lot of comic creators could learn from. His flicks tend to take cheesy B-movie premises, and then execute them with high production values, a talented cast, a good script, and a clear love of the source material; the end result is usually a film that replaces cheese with charm while still reveling in everything that was just plain fun and exciting about the original idea.
It’s a formula that translates so well to comics that many of Carpenter’s movies have actually felt like comic books. Chief among these has to be 1986’s zany supernatural martial-arts action flick Big Trouble in Little China. Apparently someone at BOOM! must have thought so as well, as they’ve just released issue #1 of a new comic based on that film.
Big Trouble In Little China #1—written by Carpenter & Eric Powell with art by Brian Churilla (brianchurilla)—picks up exactly where the movie left off 28 years ago; page one actually opens with protagonist Jack Burton’s closing monologue from the film.
If you haven’t seen the film, no need to worry; everything you need to know is explained as the comic progresses. But also, why haven’t you seen the film? Go see it. It’s hilariously fun. And the same sort of fun comes across on every page of this comic. Jack Burton (played by Kurt Russell in the film) is a charmingly bumbling hero, putting on a tough facade to hide the fact that he’s terrified, inept, and in way over his head.
This book really does everything right. The characters, the art, the humor, the action, and the dialogue all join together for an incredibly fun read. Even if you haven’t seen the film, I can totally recommend this comic. And if you’re a fan of the movie, you need to pick this up.
[Read Big Trouble in Little China #1]
For fans of: action, supernatural, martial arts, Kurt Russell
Mike Isenberg is an Associate Production Coordinator at comiXology, and the co-writer of FIRST LAW OF MAD SCIENCE. He lives in Harlem with his cats, TESLA AND EDISON
