Princess Ai Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Misaho Kujiradou (Author), D.j. Milky (Author)

Book Description

Series: Princess AI | Publication Date: July 6, 2004

We open on Ai, unconscious and sprawled sexily on a Tokyo street or alley, her clothes thrashed and torn. She gets up and wanders into the Tokyo night, confused and in shock and wondering, "Where am I?" Ai is holding a heart-shaped box (which holds the Tenketsu jewelry given to her by Nora.) As she nears a busier street, a crook steals Ai's heart-shaped box and runs away. Almost immediately, the crook begins to weaken from the toxic effect the box has on humans, making it easy for Kent to catch him and knock him down. As Kent reaches for the heart-shaped box, Ai snaps at him not to touch it. Ai's reluctance to explain why she snapped at Kent makes Kent believe Ai doesn't trust him. In truth, Ai was only trying to protect him. As Kent tries to comfort the addled Ai, he asks her where she's going. Not knowing what to say, Ai reads Kent's work I.D. badge and tells him she's heading for the University library (possibly the library at Shinjuku University). Kent, clueless, tells Ai he's going there too (he's working the closing shift tonight) and they go together. When Ai tries to get into the library without an I.D., Kent discovers she's not a student but lets her in anyway. Ai's keen intelligence, naivete, and thirst for knowledge about her new world make Kent really important and special to her. As Kent familiarizes Ai with the library, romantic sparks fly between them. Eventually, Kent must close the library for the night and the two of them leave. Not wanting to admit to Kent that she's got nowhere to go, Ai wanders into the night, hungry and lost...until she's "recruited" by a nightclub scout for Club Cupid. Note: In this chapter, there may be some evidence of feathers at special emotional moments (as a hint of Ai's angelic side.) Chapter 2: Ai reluctantly accepts work in a nightclub (Club Cupid). Later that night, in the pre-dawn hours of the morning, an exhausted Ai leaves the club and wanders to the only place she knows: the University library. Ai sleeps in a doorway until she's discovered by Kent (who's working the opening shift at the library.) Kent offers to take Ai to the apartment he shares with his roommate Hikaru and Ai agrees. On the way to the apartment, Kent might mention that he has an on-again/off-again relationship with his roommate Hikaru but it should be kept somewhat vague so that the reader is surprised when it's revealed that Hikaru is male. Kent puts Ai to bed and Kent and Hikaru argue over Kent bringing Ai home. Hikaru's got stronger feelings for Kent than Kent has for Hikaru and Hikaru is jealous of Ai. After Ai has rested, she feels unwelcome at the apartment and returns to the library. We show a research montage as Ai pores over information on biology, physics, hematology, and so on. Ai will be able to see the Enoch reading of "Ai-Land" on the crest in Chapter 2. That night, Ai has her first night on the job at the nightclub. The chapter ends with a scene in the rain between Ai and Kent (a love scene?) with Hikaru spying on them. Note: In this chapter, there may be some evidence of feathers at special emotional moments (as a hint of Ai's angelic side.) Chapter 3: It's a few days later and, in the nightclub, we can see that Ai is already starting to regain her self-confidence and adapt to her new environment. To her surprise, she even finds herself enjoying some aspects of her new life. We meet Ai's boss and co-workers and see Ai's business interactions. A customer wants to hear Ai sing and, when Ai takes the stage, everyone is mesmerized. Afterwards, Ai's bitter co-worker Mika becomes jealous and bitchy. Back at the library, Ai has discovered the connection between cupid, arrows, and blood. At some point in the library, Ai finds a book about slavery which gives her a flashback of the Maraqui slavery. The chapter ends with Takeshi stalking Ai on her way to work and trying to recruit Ai to be the new "idol singer" for Hayabusa Talent Agency. Ai refuses. Note: In this chapter, Ai's wings may start to manifest or at least partially appear. Chapter 4: At Kent's apartment, Ai wakes to hear Kent and Hikaru in a lovers' spat over Ai. Ai decides she's caused enough trouble and packs up her things to leave. On the way out, Kent tries to stop her but Hikaru holds Kent back. Faang will be able to "translate" Enoch for Ai until she remembers how to read it. Faang shows up again in Chapter 4 with some sort of hint. Checking into a dump, Ai spreads out her research in the apartment and frantically tries to work out the science behind her Tenketsu dilemma...to no avail. At the club, Ai's performances always mean the place is packed. After work, Jen and Ai walk together. After they part company, Ai is being followed by a shadowy figure (a Furie). When Ai realizes it, she starts to run. The Furie chases Ai, and this could be the moment when her wings first appear. The chapter ends with Ai rounding a corner and smacking into Kent. Note: In this chapter, Ai's wings may fully appear for the first time. Chapter 5: Ai hides in Kent's trenchcoat as the Furie passes by. Kent and Ai rush into a nearby doorway and Ai tells Kent she can't see him anymore-it's not meant to be. Ai's desperate to get out and Kent doesn't want to let her go. Ai leaves Kent, thanking him and telling him to go back to Hikaru, who loves him. The chapter closes when the Furie manages to track Ai to the club. Hayabusa and Takeshi are there and, desperate to escape the Furie, Ai signs up with them backstage and leaves with them in their limo.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A petulant, doll-faced amnesiac named Ai finds herself on the streets of Tokyo, wondering why she is on Earth at all. She meets Kent, a long-haired young rocker, who helps her discover she has vocal talent. Along the way, Ai unearths some clues to her past, grows a pair of wings and destroys various characters' clothes in the name of fashion. Although rocker Love's name is on this modern fairy tale series, it's not clear what role she had in its making. The story, appropriate for older manga audiences, bears some resemblance to Love's life, as Ai undergoes some existential angst and complains, "It sucks being homeless!" Ai's story isn't convincing, though, and the book's creators can't seem to decide if this series is a fantasy, a mystery, a thriller or a romance. In what must be a strategy to stretch the plot out over several books, no story line is developed enough to hold readers' attention (and Ai's antics—kicking and punching her way out of most scrapes—don't make a good substitute). It's a shame Kujiradou's excellent art doesn't have a more interesting subject. Kujiradou gives Ai a gentle, childish air, and her action sequences are terrific. This series may attract fans of Love and her former band, Hole, but it probably won't draw a devoted readership.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Publisher

Cross-over between shojo fans, gothic fans, and rock fans!
Character design by Ai Yazawa, Creator of Paradise Kiss
Will appear in Wings magazine(RG Veda, Demon Ororon, Immortal Rain)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (July 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591826691
• ISBN-13: 978-1591826699
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,143,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I went into this hopeful., July 15, 2004

By 

Felicia R. Atkinson (Minneapolis, MN, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Princess Ai Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I wanted to check it out since Courtney Love is a good musician in my eyes, despite the fact that a lot of people dislike her. I purchased this yesterday (July 15th, 2004), and I'll be returning it within the next few days. I could not finish this title, that's something I've never done with a manga title before.

Mostly, I kind of chuckled in the beginning, since the dialogue was kind of choppy, but it kept getting worse. I could deal with the almost constant 'heart-shaped box' whenever she mentioned her locket-box. It was annoying, because it made it flow strangely. But then you meet Kent, Ai's love interest, who suspiciously looks, acts, and has a name similiar to Kurt Cobain.

I realize Princess Ai is supposed to be Love's self-insertion manga, she's mentioned it before. But the more I read, a few things became very, very apparent to me. It reads like a second grade storybook, because the dialogue phrases things in awkward ways, and not only once either; they keep repeating themselves. Secondly, Ai's supposed inability to recall memories seems to be defeated very easily, but she has to mention that's she's receiving a memory each time she does. And lastly, I feel, although personally this is my opinion, she's trying to make money off her deceased husband. Because Kent is similar to Cobain, and the number of times 'heart-shaped box' awkwardly is mentioned is uncountable. I don't know if this is due to a bad translation. Was it published in Japan before now or was it an English release first?

Another thing that bothered me was that the manga's bad guys seem very see-through. Their logic makes little sense to me, and I'm pretty intelligent, and I read parts of this manga to different people I know and none of them could get it, either. Maybe it's because I didn't finish it, I don't know if there's more. I'll admit that.

About 2/3rds into the manga, I just gave up. I couldn't read after her 'heart-shaped box' turned into a 'heart-shaped necklace' that 'beared the same crest as the book' she had found at Kent's library job on campus. The dialogue and everything completely overtook me and I couldn't read it anymore. The plot is very shallow and I'm surprised this was released, it seems more for children than adults.

On the plus side, the art is absolutely gorgeous. It's the best thing about Princess Ai, and it's a shame that it had to go to waste as it was. This however, is a good example of how pretty art does not always mean there's a good story, but rather covers or a lack of thereof.

My review is probably a frustration to people who enjoyed the story. But to me, Princess Ai is all glamour with no calories of intelligence. I had my choice between the second volume of Eerie Queerie and this title, and I took a chance because I was feeling bold. I regret my decision and will be returning this title for the other instead.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not in love., January 22, 2008

By 

Rachel K. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Princess Ai Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I can't say I was impressed with this manga. That is my sugar-coated statement to sum up my point of view. My actual feelings are that I have never felt such hatred for a manga. The only redeeming quality of this piece of tripe is the gorgeous artwork of Misaho Kujiradou, and fashion designs by renowned artist Ai Yazawa, creator of Paradise Kiss.

The book starts off with a mysterious girl in ripped clothing landing in a pile of garbage (an honest start, since the whole manga never rises from the proverbial rubbage heap). She wanders aimlessly about, attracting attention without even realizing it, since she is pondering over the mystery of the heart shaped box. From there, the plot plunges downhill, as what seems like a likeable heroine turns sour, offset by undeveloped cardboard characters and unrealistic rivalries with everyone, stemming from `jealousy' of Ai's good looks and `talent'. In fact, all of the characters in the book get no back histories, they are merely stepping stones to reveal more of Ai's `greatness'.

Before we go any further into my scathing review, I'd like to say that I'm not a fan of Love either, hence my title. But this is not a review of the co-author, so I digress. This is only relevant because Ai is Love's `alter-ego', and she is VERY clearly a Mary-Sue, probably stemming from Love's own inflated ego.

Despite the main character being unlikeable at best, and all of the other characters outshone in Ai's slutty glory, the plot fails to entice. I have sat through anime and manga with horrible characters and found myself loving them in the end. NOT so in Ai.

My summary, spend your money elsewhere. This book is gorgeous to look at, and the costume designs are beautiful, but there's something rotten on the inside.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Drawings and Great New Fashions!, November 30, 2004

By 

Mistress Koko "Aiesha" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Princess Ai Vol. 1 (Paperback)

This manga is about a girl named Ai who is from the planet Ailand. She suddenly finds herself in Tokyo, Japan and all she remembers is her name is Ai and that she is the princess of Ailand.

She meets Kent, a rocker, and he helps her discover her great singing talent. Ai gets a job where she puts her great body and vocal talent to good use! She gets into some scrapes where she's able to fight her way out and even grows wings at one point.

This book has very good drawings by manga-ka Misaho Kujiradou. The drawings in this book are better than the plot itself, but that just makes the manga even more enjoyable. All-in-all, I'd recomend this to anyone who is looking to see some great drawings or someone who likes fashion/romance mangas with a bit of sci-fi thrown in.