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Reviews from the Webmistress

BotP Manga #1 - A Brighter Version
October 18, 2003

The Good: Lots of action. "On character;" follows the spirit of the TV series but with a more adult feel. Excellent art.

The Bad: Too short! Some weaknesses in plot/character exposition. The previews in the back should have been for Issue #2. Advertising and presentation seem almost apologetic.

Again I've claimed that I was done reviewing this title and done bothering with it. However, a look at the new BotP manga changed my mind. This is part one of a three-issue, "manga-style" miniseries written by David Wohl and penciled by Edwin David. There has been little to no hype on it; it crept onto the shelves. Hopefully it will sell because, in my opinion, Top Cow seems finally to have a clue.

As to how and why, I'll compare what's in this issue to what I've been begging for in the past 12 color BotP issues (not counting the one-shots and spinoffs):

• This is the Battle of the Planets people remember, right down to the camera angles and use of "androids" in everything (for both benign and sinister purposes). The manga features Mark, Jason, Princess, Tiny and Keyop as the characters fans remember from the show--not as shady renamed versions of the Gatchaman characters. The characters act and talk like the American G-Force team, sometimes to our annoyance (Mark having to "fetch" Jason, and prattling about "we have a job to do"). They do sound a little cartoony, but far less than in the show. They have been updated for a more adult market.

• The art is top-rate, as always. Some may complain about the lack of color, but the tight line art and pencils are a treat, and with the "manga" style, would only be muddied by color. If folks are confused by the term, "manga," it refers to the style of the Japanese comics industry. Japanese manga is printed in monochrome on cheap newsprint--if there are color pages, they are restricted to the title or intro pages only. To add visual appeal, manga artists are masters of black and white manipulation and shading. Edwin David, the artist who handled three of the BotP series comics as well as the "Mark" and "Jason" one-shots, does the art this issue, and his adaptation of the manga style works well. Unlike Wilson Tortosa's more "anime" renditions of the characters, Edwin David's manga style softens and "updates" the original art style--something that I regret folks feel they need to do to keep up with "modern" anime trends. Still, there are more than enough original elements to keep me happy, and David has drawn some beautiful, expressive facial shots. If I had only one complaint, it would be that I miss the Alex Ross covers.

• The writing is much improved, though it could use just a touch more improvement. The story can easily be summarized: G-Force goes to an amusement park where Spectra has set up traps for the unwitting. It's a simple plot that goes back to the basics of the TV show (how many episodes featured amusement parks and symbols of youth and family?). We focus on the characters and the action. Later, the series can go into more depth, but this works for now.

  David Wohl is also the writer for Top Cow's main series, Witchblade, and his experience in the comics industry clearly shows. It's obvious he's done the research and has kept a light touch. Gone are the tired cliches, the inappropriate slang (although Jason's Terminator quote made me cringe). You can see the characters' motivations for what they do and say, and it's not like each character is trying to follow some checklist for his or her stereotype. Princess has her girly side, but also clearly displays her talents as a G-Forcer. Mark and Jason spar verbally with "alpha male" tension, but Jason restricts this to Mark and no one else. You can also see Jason observing his environment and making assessments as if he's in a combat situation (which he has already recognized).

  However, one of the most noticeable weaknesses in the writing is a too-willing suspension of disbelief (or to put it rudely, a faulty bullshit filter). Some of the "attractions" within the amusement park--Princess's motorcycle race and Jason's silly Rambo routine--step outside the boundaries of believability. There's no way a commercial property can create so many sophisticated androids ("designed to mimic humans down to the last minute detail") just for their guests to trash, and then there's the issues of injury and liability: people are likely to die during a motorcycle race where speeds can exceed 200 miles an hour, and this is in an amusement park? Jason crashes through a skylight in his jewelry heist simulation and doesn't get cut--what about anyone else who tried the same sim? I realize Wohl is trying to demonstrate the characters' individual abilities, and that similar stupidities have been shown in both Gatchaman and BotP (see the sadistic horse race at the beginning of the "Mad New Ruler of Spectra" episode). However, some things about the original, like 7-Zark-7, could be tastefully edited out and nobody would miss them.

• Lots and lots of G-Force: Where the previous BotP comic series tried in vain to establish a sophisticated universe with a large cast of characters, the manga focuses on the main draw for this title: the lead characters. Issue #1 was all about G-Force; how they interact and react. The Spectrans were introduced enough to show them as formidable enemies--these Spectran soldiers are not mindless, vulnerable goons. These soldiers think. It adds to the tension and anticipation of the battles to come.

• Less talk, more action. Dialogue was short and to the point. There was a little bit of exposition, especially around Anderson and Keyop, but only enough to be obvious without crossing the line into annoying. There were plenty of action scenes demonstrating the expertise of our heroes, both individually and as a team. Nobody has to tell the reader how "cool" everyone is.

Title: Battle of the Planets Manga #1 Release Date: October 2003 Produced by: Top Cow Productions Art Director: Alex Ross Writer: David Wohl Pencils: Edwin David Lettering: Robin Spehar, Dennis Heisler and Mark Roslan Associate Editor: Scott Tucker Managing Editor: Renae Geerlings Editor in Chief: Jim Mclauchlin Editorial Story Consultant: Chris Carlisle Special Thanks To: Philip Oldham (Sandy Frank Productions), Jason Hofius, Nicola Barrucci

One of my loudest complaints has to do with editing. There are two editors on this title--are either of them paying attention? All it takes is a couple of lousy typos to ruin a comic's "flow," and the manga has them, just like the previous comic series. Budgets may be tight, but hire a proofreader at $10 an hour, and it's money well spent.

The cover:Edwin David and Matt Milla do the cover for this issue.

The bottom line: The comic still has rough spots, but I liked it. I wish this had happened in the first twelve issues. In essence, Top Cow has addressed some of the loudest fan complaints about the first twelve issues. However, are casual readers willing to give this title a second chance after the first one failed so spectacularly? The first series was heavily hyped in Wizard and Previews and in the comic stores, but this manga has slunk in, almost apologetically, under everyone's radar. If you are a fan of BotP, or at least remember it fondly, I suggest you take a look at this issue. And tell me what you think.

Other Reviews of This Title:

http://mediasharx.com/comicreviews.php?op=showcontent&id=1227

Guest Review by "Disturbed" Foust-Martin

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