Reviewer

Alexander Hoffman

Alexander Hoffman is more often than not, studying for his latest exam. A student in Ohio Northern's six-year Pharmacy program, what time he has that isn't spent learning the ins-and-outs of the human body and the drugs we use on it, is spent on comics, Magic: the Gathering, and games of all types. Alex got his start in writing through short fiction and poetry contests, and began writing about games in the Spring of 2005 at Magic Deck Vortex. He started his blog, Manga Widget, in the Fall of 2008 to talk about comics, and he's been writing almost full-time ever since.

http://www.amazon.com/Ral-Grad-1/dp/1421518902/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227564639&sr=8-2

RalΩGrad, Volume 1 (Written by Tsuneo Takano and Illustrated by Takeshi Obata)

Viz Media

Genre: Action

Age Rating: Older Teen (16+)

Price: $7.99

RalΩGrad is an interesting manga set in the Blue Dragon universe, where humankind has been under seige by the Shadow World for 15 years. Humans can have their shadows possessed by inhabitants of this world, called Shadows, which can then take shape in the human world. Ral, the main character of the story, is one of those people. When he was an infant, his shadow was possessed by the powerful dragon Shadow Grad. This manga details his adventures as he challenges the Shadow Queen Opsquria and her minions to restore the balance between the Shadow World and his own.

RalΩGrad is a mix between ecchi comedy and action, and both are on full tilt as this novel progresses. Ral's misunderstandings and fondness for bossoms give this manga quite a few funny moments, but perhaps for some readers, this content is more offensive than humorous. When Ral isn't trying to fondle someone's breasts, he's fighting Shadows working for the Shadow Queen, and Obata imagines these fights in great detail. The art is breath-taking.

The story progresses fairly linearly, as Ral and his friends Ms. Mio and Aia move closer to the stronghold of the Shadow Queen. There's never a true lull in the action, and Ms. Mio, who acts as a teacher to Ral, helps to explain some of the more complex details of the Shadow World in the form of lessons to Ral. This style of writing is good for both Blue Dragon fans and for readers new to the setting.

Summing Up:

If you like perverse humor and amazing action, this manga is something you need to pick up. For others, it's best left on the shelf.

Contact Information:

Viz Media

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