Steamboy, Volume 1 (Steam Boy Ani-Manga) [Paperback]

Katsuhiro Otomo (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Steampunk meets manga in this latest offering from Akira creator Otomo. Precocious Ray Steam is a worker and inventor in a world where the Industrial Revolution spawned giant, convoluted steam machines, and a Russian monarchy rules the United States. He carries on the family legacy started by his father and grandfather, both of whom are overseas working on new technology in Russian America. When his absent grandfather sends him a "steam ball" (a device containing water so pure it can allow for the construction of steam engines on a much vaster and more destructive scale than water alone), Ray becomes the target of bad men of unknown origin. The plot complicates quickly, as young Ray must choose between sinister old confederates of his grandfather on one side, his father (aided by the wealthy American O'Hara Foundation) on the other—and maybe even his grandfather on a third. The art is derived from cels from the 2004 full-length anime feature, and is, not surprisingly, gorgeous to look at. Backgrounds are lovingly rendered, action is clearly laid out, characters are well drawn and the coloring adds atmosphere to every scene. Otomo aims for an amped-up Jules Verne effect and largely succeeds. (Nov.)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; 1 edition (November 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1421502003
• ISBN-13: 978-1421502007
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,408,579 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Two-part comic adapted from the movie, January 6, 2007

By 

Gagewyn (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Steamboy, Volume 1 (Steam Boy Ani-Manga) (Paperback)

This comic is put together using stills from the movie and dialogue boxes. The movie came first and the comic here follows it almost exactly. It reads right to left and from what would be the back of the book, because that's the Japanese format. The plot follows Ray, a mechanically talented young English boy, whose inventor father disappeared while investigating break through steam technology. Ray soon receives a mysterious package from his missing father. Others are after the package, and Ray tries to follow his father's instructions and guard the package. Part 1 follows the plot from the beginning of the movie up to where Ray is contacted by his crazed grandfather with plans of sabotage - so about half-way through. Part 2 follows through the end of the movie.

I liked the movie, and although this isn't a bad comic, I recommend the movie first because it was pretty good, and it's the original real deal. The best use of this comic is perhaps if you want to look at art from the movie (it's sci-fi from Victorian England, so it's kind of an aesthetic mechanical look), or to see how the stills from the movie were editted into frames for the comic. It has a really nice print job and reads well.