Friday, July 20, 2018

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Review: City Hunter Complete Edition Vol. 1-6 by Tsukasa Hojo

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Title: City Hunter Complete Edition Volume 1
Series: City Hunter
Author: Tsukasa Hojo
Read copy: Paperback
Published: August 25, 2011
Publisher: Panini Comic Planet Manga
ISBN: 8865893907
ISBN-13: 9788865893906

Uno dei più grandi classici degli anni 90, una serie televisiva che è diventata leggenda, il protagonista più allupato che sia mai stato ideato: City Hunter è questo e molto altro ancora! Creato da Tsukasa Hojo (il geniale autore che ha ideato anche Occhi di Gatto e Angel Heart), questo famoso manga torna nelle librerie di tutta Italia in un’edizione definitiva che presenta per la prima volta pagine a colori e in bicromia, raccoglie tutte le illustrazioni create dall’autore nel corso degli anni, e ha nuovi contenuti speciali. Ryo Saeba, lo sweeper che si aggira per Tokyo pronto a soccorrere chi chiede il suoi aiuto, soprattutto se si tratta di una bella ragazza, è tornato e questa volta non potete perdere il suo fumetto!

My rating:


Title: City Hunter Complete Edition Volume 2
Series: City Hunter
Author: Tsukasa Hojo
Read copy: Paperback
Published: December 31, 2010
Publisher: Panini Comic Planet Manga
ISBN: 8863468907
ISBN-13: 9788863468908

L’organizzazione mafiosa Union Teope è arrivata a Shinjuku con l’intento di prendere il controllo del mercato locale della droga. Ma ha fatto un grosso errore: si è voluta mettere infatti contro City Hunter e ora tra loro è guerra aperta!

My rating:


Title: City Hunter Complete Edition Volume 3
Series: City Hunter
Author: Tsukasa Hojo
Read copy: Paperback
Published: December 2, 2010
Publisher: Panini Comic Planet Manga
ISBN: 8863469377
ISBN-13: 9788863469370

La missione era semplice: City Hunter doveva salvare la bella Sayaka dalla gang che le stava dando la caccia. Ma ora Ryo si ritrova con un problema in più: la ragazza si è innamorata di lui e ha deciso di conquistarlo...diventando la sua assistente?! Kaori ha trovato una rivale davvero temibile!

My rating:


Title: City Hunter Complete Edition Volume 4
Series: City Hunter
Author: Tsukasa Hojo
Read copy: Paperback
Published: December 31, 2010
Publisher: Panini Comic Planet Manga
ISBN: 8863469474
ISBN-13: 9788863469479

Nuovo incarico per Ryo! Questa volta City Hunter deve proteggere la figlia unica di uno degli uomini più ricchi del Giappone, morto da qualche tempo. C’è chi teme che i parenti vogliano farla fuori per impossessarsi dell’eredità. Il nostro eroe dovrà impedire che le succeda qualcosa di brutto...

My rating:


Title: City Hunter Complete Edition Volume 5
Series: City Hunter
Author: Tsukasa Hojo
Read copy: Paperback
Published: December 31, 2010
Publisher: Panini Comic Planet Manga
ISBN: 8865890355
ISBN-13: 9788865890356

Quando c’è di mezzo Saeko, Ryo è sicuro che, in un modo o in un altro, rimarrà fregato. Da un caso di semplice furto, l’incarico si sta trasformando in un qualcosa di apparentemente impossibile da portare a termine, che costringerà City Hunter a infiltrarsi nella base del nemico! Ma per il nostro protagonista, sempre ricco di risorse, nemmeno questo costituirà un ostacolo insuperabile...Oppure no?!

My rating:


Title: City Hunter Complete Edition Volume 6
Series: City Hunter
Author: Tsukasa Hojo
Read copy: Paperback
Published: March 10, 2011
Publisher: Panini Comic Planet Manga
ISBN: 8865890363
ISBN-13: 9788865890363

Essere belli, giovani e famosi non è sempre facile. I fan ti seguono ovunque e non hai mai un attimo di libertà. Può perfino capitare che ci sia qualche squilibrato pronto a inviarti lettere piene di minacce di morte. Se questo succede a Tokyo, c’è solamente una persona a cui rivolgersi in cerca di protezione: City Hunter. Un nuovo incarico per Ryo e Kaori che, come sempre, farà finire i nostri eroi in un mare di guai!

My rating:

VOLUME 1:
This was my favorite anime growing up and turned out to be my favorite manga as well. I read all volumes of the manga in Italian and when I discovered the special edition was to be published, I didn't hesitate...This is my third re-read (I think) and I still love it today.

This first special edition volume is separated in 8 "chapters" with the first few being rather dark and moody (with loads of dead bodies). And then, a couple of chapters in, the tone and "light" suddenly changed, the moment Makimura Kaori stepped onto the stage. (Knowing what will happen in the end, how things will evolve, this is foreshadowing 101.)

I loved the second half of this first volume. The story, the drawings, the funny faces, Mokkori!, the humor and the instantaneous connection both will try to deny as the story progresses.


VOLUME 2:
It was early days still in these first chapters of the manga, so it looked like the author was still deciding on the story arc and on the way he wanted to portray the main characters (Saeba Ryo and Makimura Kaori) and how he wanted their personal relationship to progress.

Union Teope was put on the back burner (until later in the series) and smaller assignments took center stage.
The design was top-notch, the story well-developed, the humor sprinkled in between as if to provide levity and the characters were slowly beginning to emerge.
It was nice seeing this initial stage of the main relationship of the series (Ryo/Kaori), and anticipate how it would evolve as the series progressed.


VOLUME 3:
Kaori is missing for most of the story and it shows, actually. There's just something missing when she's not there. The humor isn't the same, Ryo's reaction aren't the same, Ryo's personality isn't the same (he reverts to the lecherous mask he uses to keep the world at bay).

Still, the stories are intense and suspense intriguing...And Umibozu makes his first (albeit quick) appearance.


VOLUME 4:
Aaaaaand Nogami Saeko enters the picture which means an even more idiotic Saeba Ryo, which is augmented by the fact Kaori is once more absent from the story).

I didn't particularly like the heist plot Saeko embroiled Ryo in, especially since it evolved rather weirdly by visiting a fictitious kingdom with a harem of female bodyguards/soldiers.


VOLUME 5:
The absence of Kaori truly shows; the humor certainly suffers, but so does the story. There's just something about the "chemistry" between these two protagonists that brings out the best in everything.


VOLUME 6:
The story and the characters are finally starting to really shine. The banter is spot-on, the humor gives you belly aches...And the ending debacle of Ryo trying to confess his feelings and making a mess of things is both hilarious and bittersweet, since it's just the first in many such occasions.

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