Iron Wok Jan Volume 1 (Iron Wok Jan (Graphic Novels)) [Paperback]

Shinji Saijyo (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Series: Iron Wok Jan (Graphic Novels) | Publication Date: April 4, 2005

Iron Wok Jan! Vol.1

Jan is a talented young chef at a top class restaurant in Tokyo called Gottancho. Jan is really arrogant and full of self-confidence regarding his cooking technique. He always challenges Kiriko -- a talented chef of Gottancho. Both Jan and Kiriko have entered a cooking competition. Who will win?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Chinese restaurant, throw in talented teenage cooks, and anime styled cooking, and you have the ingredients for a great manga." -- Animeage

"If you're entertained by the Japanese T.V. import Iron Chef, you'll no doubt fall in love with Iron Wok Jan." -- Ain’t it Cool News

"theme like cooking and not just making it into the central point of the series, but making it absolutely enthralling." -- Greg McElhatton ,icomics, Jan 2003

Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: ComicsOne (April 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158899256X
• ISBN-13: 978-1588992567
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,738,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expertly served up, with lots of ham, April 11, 2003

By 

Daniel R. Cassino (Princeton, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Iron Wok Jan Volume 1 (Iron Wok Jan (Graphic Novels)) (Paperback)

This is volume one of the "Iron Wok Jan" series- new volumes are coming out on a monthly basis. It's a bit shy of 200 pages, b&w, in the original Japanese format (that is, backwards). This volume introduces us to cocky young chef Jan, who cooks only to defeat his opponents! If this sounds over the top, it assuredly is- but you'll be caught up in the high melodrama and the bizarre recipes. Now that Food Network is out of new episodes of "Iron Chef," there's no better place to get that "they're eating what?!" thrill.

3.0 out of 5 stars It's a manga about . . . cooking?, June 9, 2009

By 

J. Maxon "Fantasy Author" (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Iron Wok Jan Volume 1 (Iron Wok Jan (Graphic Novels)) (Paperback)

It's a manga about . . . cooking?

Not being much of a cook myself, this idea did not really appeal to me. Even if I did love to cook, I mean, it's a manga about . . . cooking . . . okay, so I said that already, but really, the idea seemed so absurd to me that of course I had to give it a shot.

Story overview:

Sixteen-year-old Jan shows up at the number 1 Chinese food restaurant in Tokyo Japan. His aggressive demeanor instantly rubs everyone the wrong way, however his talent and skills soon prove him a worthy Chef.

Jan's goal? To become the #1 best Chinese food Chef. How does he go about attempting this? By insulting, challenging, and antagonizing everyone in his path. One being a girl named Kiriko, who is another trainee at the restaurant. She insists that cooking isn't about "competition" but "heart".

A glimpse into the past shows Jan's tyrant of a grandfather, which gives us an idea as to why Jan acts the way he does.

My thoughts:

I have to say that my mind is not totally made up yet about this one. There was a lot more to the plot and story than I had imagined, and a lot more action than I would have guessed, but I think I need to read a few more before I'm convinced either way (I have the next two volumes at home as we speak). I admit that it's nice to see a manga that's not about kung-fu, robots, girls in skimpy school uniforms, or men waiving around big swords. One thing's for sure: this one's unique and very original, and its easy to get caught up in the melodrama and bizarre recipes.

James D. Maxon

Author of, "The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440485275

Manga and speculative fiction reviewer:
http://booksforyouth.com/

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A testatment to my obscure taste in comics., February 28, 2006

By 

frankwolftown (Elgin, Il) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iron Wok Jan Volume 1 (Iron Wok Jan (Graphic Novels)) (Paperback)

I love this series. The writer of this comic new exactly what he was doing when he write this. If there was an American TV show of this I would watch in an instant. Alas It seems the availablilty of this comic is some what sarce where I live. You would think living near chiacgo and being next to a bunch comic stores would help right? NOOOOOOO! I can't find the second volume anywhere. (Except for here.) It seems this is a classic example of what I want to is what other people don't seem to be to interested in. I love watch the character Jan talk about food and how he can really manipulate to be just about anything he wants it to be. The only problem is that DIAMOND DIRECT DIDN'T HAVE ISSUES 2 AND 3! Comic book distributors didn't have the freakin' comics! I went to other store only to see the had all the later issues. My quest must continue!