Customer Reviews

Vertigo Pop: Tokyo Days, Bangkok Nights

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Bangkok Nights is well written and thoughtful. Like any graphic novel, it can be read relatively quickly. Unlike most graphic novels it's a story that stays in your mind after you finish. I don't know anything about the author but it's obvious he has a talent for dialogue and characterizations. I tend to think he has spent some time in the far east -- none of the characters are truly likable, they are merely human and there is a ring of truth to their actions and motivations.

This graphic novel is two separate stories. Both share the theme of Americans abroad and the cultural differences that can confuse and bewilder.
The first tale is set in Tokyo, and follows a young man who is addicted to gadgetry. He has a job to cover his expenses and spends his free time getting the latest electronics. Through a twist of fate he meets a young Japanese girl who helps bail him out of some trouble, only to lead him into bigger trouble. Rich pop stars, Yakuza and a girl who just wants to have fun are a just a few of the things making life , shall we say more challenging? For Steve, our unlikely hero.
In Bangkok Nights the adventure follows two people from LA, a couple trying to fix a relationship which seems to be pretty screwed up. Marz Kay and his girlfriend Tuesday are both people with their own agendas. Marz is a minor actor with some B movie credits, Tuesday likes spending his cash and messing with him. Soon after landing they realize that the way they behave back home won't work here. There adventure gets more interesting when they steal an elephant, get caught up in a hassle with sex workers and their bosses, and go to a kick boxing match with a transvestite champion.
The stories here move at a nice clip and are very interesting. I'm guessing Vankin spent time overseas because it just feels to authentic to think otherwise. I love the way he plays the Americans, rather oblivious to the way other people live and getting in trouble as a result. It seems like they eventually catch on, but maybe just enough to keep from getting in serious trouble. It's a big world out there and TOKYO DAYS, BANGKOK NIGHTS does a groovy job of showing some of it.

This novel contains two stories: one about Japan and one about Thailand. I've lived in both countries, dated women in both countries and studied both languages so I know something of the settings. I've also read books in both languages and watched their TV, videos and movies.

The author gets one star for using his imagination. I would guess that he researched a little bit about each country. Did he limit his research to reading comic books or internet bashing based on stereo-types? Perhaps. Did he do extensive research so that the stories would seem plausible? Extremely doubtful. Are the stories good in and of themselves anyway? Not really. Could the author have done a better job? I would like to believe so. The Japanese story does include some written Japanese but opening credits thank two J-girls so most likely that was thrown in at the end.

The Japanese story takes place in Tokyo. The theme is a visiting American experiences culture shock. It reads a bit like Scott Pilgrim vs the World in that the protagonist is living in a fantasy world because none of this would ever ever happen. The basic problem being that every cliche about Japan that one can imagine over a beer is intertwined in this story making it appear to be a parody or spoof rather than a story with a point. In that sense, it is like 99% of most manga, something written to kill time and easily thrown away. Unfortunately, the cost of printing it with colors makes one wish it had more consistency since it is an expensive throwaway but still very much a throwaway. The author has probably played The World Ends With You on his DS to be familiar with the names of famous Tokyo locations and does a liberal job of name-dropping. He also probably watched the movie: Lost in Translation as many of the cultural differences are cited. Did we really need Godzilla? Did the yakuza hitman really need an Elvis hairstyle? Is the author even aware that Ko-gal are older than 16? Does the author seriously believe that Japanese parents will allow their 16 year old daughter to bring home a strange American to spend the night? Do Japanese parents really proudly phone up the local yakuza boss and ask him to hire their children? How can the American get hired to translate English to Japanese yet not know enough Japanese to understand anybody outside his office and therefore depend totally on the girl for the entire story?

The Thai story takes place in Patpong district of Bangkok. The theme is the same: a visiting American experiences culture shock. With two such themes in the same book, one wonders how the author will stereo-type every other country that he chooses to write about next. :( The same strategy exists: watch a cliche based movie like Broke Down Palace, read a news article about prostitution and then create a story. Again the author doesn't get the point that people who can speak English well in either country have so many doors opened to them financially that they will not spend any time in either imaginary world and more importantly to speak English well requires such a strong support system that such characters would never be involved in any of this behavior. The protagonist cannot speak Thai at all but somehow manages to bump into fluent English speakers in even the least educated people working the most menial jobs. Is the author aware that monks do not talk to women and would strongly object to getting hugged by American girls? Is the author remotely aware of how much an elephant eats in a day or how much effort is required to care for one? Is the author aware that prostitutes come from the North East as well as the North almost always by choice? Does the author really think a prostitute will enjoy sleeping in the same room as two Americans and willingly watch them have sex?

My major annoyance with the graphic novel, hence the two stars, is that the author wrote two boring stories then crossed out names and locations and inserted local names and locations so the story flavor may feel authentic to the uninitiated but to an experienced traveler, it reads like insulting ignorant propagation of stereo-types. My minor annoyance is that neither story had anything to say about the human condition so they lack staying power. You won't reflect on the wisdom gained or even recall a particular moment later for reference in a conversation. The stories are completely forgettable like the billboard on a passing bus.

The first half of the book, "Tokyo Days" is really, really good. Very high level of detail, innovative style, many Japanese in-jokes, many great scenes. The story moves along at a good clip and has great characterizations. Coloring, linework and humor rate very highly.

The second half, "Bangkok Nights" is not good. The style is that Cartoon Network, fake brushwork look that I find very irritating. The characters are cliches--even the katoey kickboxer--and the Thais are basically just window dressing for the Caucasians to react with. The plot is rather cliched and the climax disappointing.

I would have give the book five stars if it had only included "Tokyo Days".