Customer Reviews

Robot Volume 4 (Robot (Udon Entertainment)) (v. 4)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Robot is not so much a manga book as it is an art book. Few of the stories have any clear-cut meaning, especially since few of them are more than five pages long. And almost all of the stories have as confusing an ending as you'll ever find in an anime or manga. The book is officially called "Super Color Comic: Robots 1: Works in Progress" so none of what is found in this book is a surprise. What is shared by all the stories, however, is that they are smart, and beautifully drawn and colored.

The stories cover all ranges of genres. A lot are haunting tales of murder, while some deal with childhood and the love. One fantasy story deals with witches who are curious about their human neighbors, while a horror story deals with necrophilia and murder. There is a Cowboy Bebop-like actioneer, and not one but two stories about angels, both with a disturbing slant. There is even a few pages donated solely to manga art, no story whatsoever. However, even though some of these stories seem very innocent, this is not a book for children. Nudity, blood, and gore can be found in every other story; there are no "bald spots" in this book (long time anime fans know what I mean).

Range Murata, who created characters for Blue Submarine #6 and Last Exile, compiled this book of supreme Japanese art, and I'm praying that it sells extremely well so that others in this Robot series are released. He was able to get the liveliest collection of artists around, including the character designer for Burst Angel. In the future, there is no telling who else could make an appearance in these books. So, for fans of manga out there, please buy this book. If not for the stories then definitely for the art. Artists or fans of fantasy art should also take a look at this book. It's only so long before this type of art gets recognized in art books like Spectrum, so get a grip on it now while you can.

Beyond that, I'd recommend it to veteran fans of anime. The names and the art styles in this book may seem familiar to some of you. For those of you who like those artsy anime wallpapers that can be found on many websites devoted solely to this, I'd also recommend you take a look. It will be a matter of time before the art in this book becomes available as wallpaper.

There really isn't much to be said about this artful collection of manga, other than that it is a masterpiece. Visually, it's one of the best art books I've ever purchased, and I'm a collector of books on art and the like. The artists that contributed their work to this collection, while not all seasoned professionals, are some of the best in the digital manga field, and it's apparent that they put a lot of love into these stories and the artwork in them.

My personal favorites were "Dragon Fly 2" a continuation of the action story presented in the first Robot; "Wasteland 2," another continuation from volume one from the creator of Lain; "Delicious Adventures," a cute story about three ants' first day out of the hole; and "Eventyr" another continuation though in this it explores a different part of the Eventyr world than in Robot 1. But still, very little in this book left me disappointed, so saying these stories are my personal favorites really isn't saying much. I liked every story in this book, only some a little more than the others.

In the end, though, this isn't a manga. Yes, it uses the manga styling and has some story in its pages, but it is, more than anything, simply an art book showcasing some of the greatest works in digital manga art around. While I'd love to recommend this book, and the first one, to everyone, I really can't because for those of you looking for great stories you'll likely be disappointed. However, if you just want to see some high-quality artwork, then Robot is the top of the field there, and I'd say pick this up as quickly as possible.

With its striking cover and impressive collection of artists, Robot is sure to draw quite a bit of attention, and for the most part it lives up to expectations.

The only reason you should be buiying this collection is for the art, and it certainly delivers on that aspect. Most of the artists have backgrounds in animation, and it shows. While I'm not a huge fan of anime art, it's undeniable that every story in this is stunningly drawn. With a wide range of styles and techniques, there's something in here for everyone. Each style lends to the story, and some of the atmospheres created (particuarly in the second story and third) are breathtaking.

As for the stories themselves, the fact that many of the artists have little background in manga shows. Most of the stories really aren't worth mentioning. Some don't even attempt to have a coherent narrative, instead focusing strictly on the atmosphere. There are several tales that really leave an impression on the reader, in particular the wonderful slice-of-life story set in the future as well as the haunting "Bitting Summer Play". Even if most of the other tales don't reach this level of exellence, none are particuarly horrible. Besides, you shouldn't be buying this collection for the writing; it's stricktly eye-candy.

So while it doesn't break any new ground in terms of narrative or storytelling, Robot fufills its promise of providing gorgeous visuals. As of October, it looks like this is the best manga artbook of 2005.

*Concerning the other reviewers complaint that the binding came loose, DMP has fixed this issue in time for the first printing.

To my great surprise, I happened to win a copy of the third Robot book from the publisher (DMP) a few weeks ago. This was a series I had always been interested in - I'd heard praise from friends and read reviews - yet had never been sure if it would appeal to me. I now believe that was only because I didn't know what I'd been missing.

From the moment I opened the cover, the rich and detailed illustrations captured my attention. I was both delighted and impressed by the diversity of the stories, each one evoking a different emotion, be it humor, nostalgia or just sheer confusion. It's fun to re-read the stories and attempt to figure out not only what they mean, but what they mean to myself as well. I have since picked up the first two books and found them just as enjoyable.

Overall it's a fun, engaging and visually stunning read, and at Amazon's price is it well, well worth the investment. Give it a try. There truly is something for everyone in this series. (rated 18+)

Highly Recommended.

This book is well made with brilliant color design and firm, glossy pages. Each artist went all out to create a beautiful conglomeration of stories. While this book is not for everyone, due to its sometimes graphic content, it is most definately worth ones time and money. Range Murata has done a beautiful job on the cover design and the first three or so pages. The book is not just done by Range Murata, but also by other artists, each style of drawing and color distinctly different. My only qualm with the book is that the comics are some times too short! However, I believe they will be continued in the next volume.

Initiately, I brought this book because I thought it is a colored compilation of short stories by various graphic artists. And it is. I had very high hopes for the artistic quality of this book and I admit that the art is beautifully colored, printed on glossy paper, and the quality of the printed images are good. The reason why I give this book three stars is because the content is much less poetic and more hentai/perverted than I expected. Not that all the stories are tastelessly hentai, but some are. I probably won't buy the other volumes in this series.

as with the rest of the series the quality is beyond beleath .[ dont know about a kids review . this side of the world its way byond a kids price range ]

After reading the first four books in the Robot series, I was eager to get my hands on the fifth. The books carry a wide variety of art, all of which is impressive and unique. The fifth book carrys these traits on perfectly. All of the reoccuring stories, such as Pez, Wasteland, and even the bizarre Suzume Robo, are entertaining and feature amazing art. This is definitly a good buy, if you are a fan of the series, or just enjoy artbooks.

Robot Volume 1 is a collection of 20 short stories (if you even want to call them 'stories'). It is considered more of an artbook than manga. The pages are stunning with it's vibrant colors and beautiful artwork. Range Murata only contributes to the first four pages of this Volume which I found a bit disappointing because I love his artwork, but it really doesn't take away from the collection.

Amazon sends the book with a Parental Advisory sticker on the front cover which I could imagine (if taken off impatiently) could end up leaving marks. Mine came off fine without any marks so I can't complain.

the stories are amazing. the earlier volumes are out of print in the US. however, i was able to purchase the missing volumes plus #9 and #10 from elite store in Taipei. they run about $5 USD each and the books are equal quality to what they publish in the US.