Customer Reviews

Tokyo Tribes, Vol. 1

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Tokyo Tribes author Santa Inoue is a cult celebrity in Japan and his Tokyo Tribe characters have been printed on skateboards and made into toys. This first volume FINALLY gets translated and released in America six years after it was originally published in Japan back in 1998. This prolonged period between its Japanese and American debuts leaves some in jokes falling flat and can have readers wondering why characters are playing the "new" Nintendo 64 instead of an Xbox, but minor details like that don't diminsh the entertainment value of Tribes at all.

Santa Inoue uses Tokyo's vibrant hip-hop scene as a backdrop to weave a comedic tale of drama, love, murder and betrayal through a story of young gangs (or "tribes") and their turf wars over the various areas of Tokyo. These tribe members represent their areas with all the passion and intensity that their American counterparts "rep" the Bronx, Brooklyn, or Harlem back in New York. However, bravado turns into all-out war once former friends become the heads of two seperate tribes.

Inoue manages to really capture the Tokyo hip-hop scene, but still keeps it somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Anyone who has been to Tokyo knows the hip-hoppers there do look like they walked off the set of a rap video and do have afros and do say things like "wassup, playa" in heavily accented English.It's true that many hip-hoppers in Tokyo tend to take themselves too seriously, Inoue manages to give these wannabe gangstas heart while also poking some fun at them. If you're into hip-hop culture or just want a keen and entertaining peek into the Tokyo hip-hop scene then pick up TOKYO TRIBES now.

Tokyo Tribes is nuthin' but dope comix!
If you don't know,you better try this world!

Raw like SUSHI!

Classic!