1 World Manga, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Annette Roman (Author), Leandro Ng (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: 1 World Manga | Publication Date: October 10, 2005

This joint World Bank/VIZ Media series addresses global issues through manga graphic novels targeting teenagers. The first 3 volumes focus on poverty, HIV/AIDS, and the environment. But the series' immediate appeal is the coming-of-age tale of orphaned teenager Rei, who dreams of becoming the greatest fighter in the world! Rei's trainer takes the form of various animals and, much to Rei's disappointment, strives to develop his student's mind, heart, and spirit more than his fighting technique! Though the themes are grim, the pages are full of action, romance, and even humor. The guises Rei's trainer assumes inevitably lead to misunderstandings and slapstick.

Rei's pride and ambition set him up for many a fall, but throughout the series, his good heart and inability to walk away from those in need makes him an engaging and likeable protagonist who will appeal to young men and women alike.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

As a child, author Annette Roman was not allowed to watch TV, forcing her to turn to comic books for visual entertainment. She has worn many hats at VIZ over the past 10 years, contributing to the development of the media giant it is today, and is well versed in the qualities that make manga so universally appealing. Her English adaptation work includes Dance Till Tomorrow and Tuxedo Gin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; 1 edition (October 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1421503646
• ISBN-13: 978-1421503646
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,153,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Manga With A Message, December 31, 2005

By 

K. McEvoy (Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1 World Manga, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

This is a slightly different type of manga in which the reader follows the adventures of a young man, named Rei, who rescues a puppy - only to discover that it can talk as it is a magical being that offers to train Rei.

In the first book (simply titled "Passage 1: Poverty - A Ray of Light"), Rei meets a young woman named Ayeesha whose husband was badly injured in a war and they do not have the money to feed their children. Rei's past of stealing the food he needs to survive on the streets begins to haunt him as he meets the family.

This is a very short manga (the only real reason I gave it a low score), but it is also a good one. The story itself is only about 32 pages long with an addition 3 pages of info about poverty and how one can help.

"1 World Manga" is creation of Viz Media and The World Bank. While older manga fans might find its short tale a bit boring and lacking of entertainment, it will be more suited to the younger crowd (pre-High School).

3.0 out of 5 stars Educational Manga, December 31, 2005

By 

K. McEvoy (Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1 World Manga, Vol. 2 (Paperback)

"1 World Manga" is the story of a young street kid claiming to be studying martial arts under a Master that change his appearance to any animal.

This edition, simply titled "Passage 2 - HIV/AIDS - First Love", is the next step in Rei's training. But his training doesn't seem to be about martial arts but rather of life as he learns about the harsh facts of HIV/AIDS when he is accepted into the home of a woman named Somalee and meets her little brother and sister - as well her mother, who is dying of AIDS. By helping Somalee's family, Rei learns more about the facts as well as the do's and don'ts of HIV/AIDS.

Like book 1, this book has over 30 pages of story plus an additional three pages of facts and info. This story is also aimed for the younger crowd - especially for the pre-High School teenagers.