milkshakevoid's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This enchanting tale is so beautifully drawn, it overwhelmed me. I’m familiar with some Japanese creatures from myth and lore that have been featured in other mediums like manga and anime but I was not previously aware of this story. Issunboshi definitely follows the same energy of traditional myths/fairytales that I’m familiar with in terms of its structure. I had to remind myself a few times that it’s a retelling of a simple story because visually it had so much more to offer. I kept expecting more character development or branching out quests/topics. Admittedly I’m a bit disappointed that there was not more to it, but then again, this is an illustrated adaptation and its somewhat unfair of me to ask more from it than it promised. But damn, the art is so captivating. I just wanted more. Based on the cover I thought this graphic novel would be in color so the black and white was initially jarring but I think that was the right choice. The way light and shadow are used in these panels is nothing short of masterful. I’m not shocked in the least that the artist/author has a history of working on Disney films. The composition and fluidity of each panel sold the movement and life in each character. I’d love to see this animated as a short film.
I absolutely recommend this to anyone. The breathtaking illustrations, speak for themselves, the secondary Japanese myth/characters offer a jumping off point for further inspection, the characters are charming, and this is short and sweet enough to consume in a single sitting.
5/5 from me!
This enchanting tale is so beautifully drawn, it overwhelmed me. I’m familiar with some Japanese creatures from myth and lore that have been featured in other mediums like manga and anime but I was not previously aware of this story. Issunboshi definitely follows the same energy of traditional myths/fairytales that I’m familiar with in terms of its structure. I had to remind myself a few times that it’s a retelling of a simple story because visually it had so much more to offer. I kept expecting more character development or branching out quests/topics. Admittedly I’m a bit disappointed that there was not more to it, but then again, this is an illustrated adaptation and its somewhat unfair of me to ask more from it than it promised. But damn, the art is so captivating. I just wanted more. Based on the cover I thought this graphic novel would be in color so the black and white was initially jarring but I think that was the right choice. The way light and shadow are used in these panels is nothing short of masterful. I’m not shocked in the least that the artist/author has a history of working on Disney films. The composition and fluidity of each panel sold the movement and life in each character. I’d love to see this animated as a short film.
I absolutely recommend this to anyone. The breathtaking illustrations, speak for themselves, the secondary Japanese myth/characters offer a jumping off point for further inspection, the characters are charming, and this is short and sweet enough to consume in a single sitting.
5/5 from me!
evnaturtleduck's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
justgraceanne's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a sweet story!
The art style was Pixar meets anime, and I loved it.
I teared up a little at the end, I'll be honest.
I borrowed the library's copy, but I'm going to have to get my own now!
The art style was Pixar meets anime, and I loved it.
I teared up a little at the end, I'll be honest.
I borrowed the library's copy, but I'm going to have to get my own now!
banana83854's review against another edition
4.0
**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**
Issunboshi by Ryan Lang was really a very excellent graphic novel based on Japanese folklore about a tiny samurai destined to save the world. As a fan of Asian culture and stories, I really enjoyed this quick, adventurous read. Apparently, the author has worked in animation and comics before and it shows, with beautiful panels and artwork that look like they came straight from the Disney studio. I could easily see this as a movie. Very well done, only sorry I took so long to read it!
Issunboshi by Ryan Lang was really a very excellent graphic novel based on Japanese folklore about a tiny samurai destined to save the world. As a fan of Asian culture and stories, I really enjoyed this quick, adventurous read. Apparently, the author has worked in animation and comics before and it shows, with beautiful panels and artwork that look like they came straight from the Disney studio. I could easily see this as a movie. Very well done, only sorry I took so long to read it!
jeveuxunusername's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
fawnsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Read the digital ARC on June 20th. Special thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.
Issunboshi is a retelling of a classic Japanese folktale about a tiny samurai who needs to defeat a demon that set out to take over the world. Issunboshi shows us that heroism takes more than simply "being born a hero".
Writing/drawing - 9/10 ⭐️
The novel was stunning and the text was generally pretty easy to understand. I did have to look up some words, as I am not familiar with mythical creatures from Japan and really wanted to know what they supposedly looked like.
Pace - 8/10 ⭐️
The novel is slightly over 200 pages, so of course, it will be pretty fast-paced. Despite this, the novel did not feel rushed and I felt I could really take my time to enjoy the art.
Plot - 8/10⭐️
It's always tough for me to say something about the plot of a retelling when I am not familiar with the original story. I'm not sure which parts are from the original and which are new. However, I must say that I rather like the story Issunboshi tells and the values it tries to teach.
Characters - 7/10 ⭐️
With short novels, it's tough to create complete characters, which is a shame. Still, the characters were likable and held enough personality to make me care about them and their lives.
Enjoyability - 9/10⭐️
Yes, absolutely. And I am considering putting in a pre-order for the new hardcover edition, which comes out later this year.
Issunboshi is a retelling of a classic Japanese folktale about a tiny samurai who needs to defeat a demon that set out to take over the world. Issunboshi shows us that heroism takes more than simply "being born a hero".
Writing/drawing - 9/10 ⭐️
The novel was stunning and the text was generally pretty easy to understand. I did have to look up some words, as I am not familiar with mythical creatures from Japan and really wanted to know what they supposedly looked like.
Pace - 8/10 ⭐️
The novel is slightly over 200 pages, so of course, it will be pretty fast-paced. Despite this, the novel did not feel rushed and I felt I could really take my time to enjoy the art.
Plot - 8/10⭐️
It's always tough for me to say something about the plot of a retelling when I am not familiar with the original story. I'm not sure which parts are from the original and which are new. However, I must say that I rather like the story Issunboshi tells and the values it tries to teach.
Characters - 7/10 ⭐️
With short novels, it's tough to create complete characters, which is a shame. Still, the characters were likable and held enough personality to make me care about them and their lives.
Enjoyability - 9/10⭐️
Yes, absolutely. And I am considering putting in a pre-order for the new hardcover edition, which comes out later this year.
emilyg0663's review against another edition
3.25
A graphic novel drawn by a animated movie maker will of course be beautiful! It felt like reading a movie, and I love a classic Japanese myth. Story jumped around a bit and was very quick in moments but I enjoyed it as a whole