A retelling of Japans version of the tiny hero legend, but with higher stakes. Lang opted to intensify the story, while also removing a romance that would be problematic to modern audiences. Instead of having to save a kidnapped girl from an oni (and getting to marry her as a result), Issunboshi himself is the imperiled prize. His spirit is the last missing piece of a godly sword, and if he is captured, the oni will become as powerful as the gods of creation themselves.

This is just an overall very feel-good story. Issunboshi is your standard brave and noble hero, whose only flaw is being weak...when compared to a nearly all-powerful oni. He trains hard with a husband and wife team to learn strength and how to use another's strength against them, and he never flinches from the final battle. It's not a deep story, but it's comforting, and a good pick for a middle-grade or higher reader.

I love the dig taken at Momotaro at the beginning. I actually had to check if Lang had done a Momotaro comic already, since that is the more well-known of the two hero myths. But he hasn't, so perhaps that is to come! Or perhaps the antipathy towards Momotaro isn't just Issunboshi's opinion, but ACTUALLY the author's own, as well!

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

This was a beautiful graphic novel. Love the folklore and the illustrations, Sen and Kenta are great. A+ all around

ISSUNBOSHI is an inch-high samurai who is the embodiment of the spirit of life from Japanese creation. After growing up with his adoptive parents, he is forced into adventure he never looked for.

DNF @ p100. I can't fault the artwork, it's amazing - very Disney-ish, it reminded me a lot of Mulan with the facial expressions - but the story didn't grab me at all and couldn't keep my interest. The dialogue is very modern which feels like it flies in the face of the setting and the concept (though, again, very Mulan).

Still, gorgeous artwork at least!

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun read! I've personally am not familiar with the folklore this story is based off but this retelling was a really fun and exciting read.

The story is about Issunboshi who is only 6 inches tall and one day is attacked and finds out an oni is after him! Issunboshi sets out to grow stronger to protect his loved ones and everyone else from this power hungry oni who wants to gain all the pieces of the legendary weapon to wreak havoc over the world and rule.

The story was set at a good pace and never had a dull moment. The art was gorgeous and it was a highly enjoyable read.

The author works for Disney and it makes a lot of sense since this story easily feels like a Disney movie. I would love to see it one day adapted to a full length film. That would be amazing.

I highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and Oni Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Issunboshi: A Graphic Novel

By Ryan Lang

Netgalley give me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

What’s it about?
Issunboshi is a epic graphic novel retelling of the Japanese folktale about a one-inch Samurai.

In feudal Japan a demons sets out to reforge an ancient weapon to take over the world, the only person who can stop him is Issunboshi the one-inch Samurai.

My Thoughts
I love the detailed and clean artwork very Disney like, it was a really enjoyable read a perfect middle-grade graphic novel.
I find the story ok, I found it lacks depth and the story moves very quickly lacking the development of Issunboshi’s skills and his bonds with his friends, you don’t really get to know the characters. That being said it was still very enjoyable and quick read and if you don’t mind fast paced story its a great read and the art is really good.

Rating

4 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Stunning introduction to Japanese folklore. I think this would be especially popular with middle schoolers/younger high schoolers.

Thank you Oni Press and net galley for the arc!

Wonderful adventure told with a beautiful art style.

I really enjoyed this quick read with a meaningful and heartwarming story.

I haven't read the Japanese tale this book is based on, but I really enjoyed the contrast between the action moments and the mindful conversations.
The art style is magnificent, but I wish it was coloured (I hope that only the arc books are in black and white).
Even with the wonderful cover, I didn't expect such a good representation of the creatures and nature.

Issunboshi is an impressively gorgeous graphic novel that beautifully weaves a Japanese legend into an entertaining ride. The artistry that Ryan Lang possesses is superb. Each panel is cast with such detail that it looks so whimsical, yet realistic. Lang takes complex ideas like Japanese mythology and transforms them into an approachable story that hit all the marks.

Issunboshi was such a fun read! I should preface this review with admitting that I've not read the Japanese tale that this book is adapting, but I do generally feel that I'm going to have to do so at some point in the near future because of how entertaining this story was as a whole. I'm honestly incredibly impressed with both the pacing (tough in graphic novel format) and the storytelling of Ryan Lang as he brilliantly illustrates one of the most gorgeous graphic novels I've had the pleasure of reading.

It makes perfect sense now, knowing that he has worked for Disney in the past. Frankly, I think this would make a phenomenal animated film.

The book follows the tale of a young man only a few inches tall whose life is turned upside down by a demon who attacks his family in their home. Having always felt he was meant for some grand adventure, Issunboshi soon sets out to train for a grand battle against a power-hungry ogre who has set his sights on reconnecting all the pieces of a mighty weapon in order to destroy the world. The ogre only has one piece left to find -- the soul.

This story had an excellent hero's journey arc with a truly beautiful plot line. I don't think it necessarily needed to give everything away all at once in the beginning, since we as readers start out knowing quite a bit more than young Issunboshi does and instead of learning with him as the story progresses, he really just needs to catch up with the knowledge we're given at the beginning of the story.

But, overall, this is a well-crafted and gorgeously illustrated graphic novel that I'd be happy to hand to many of my students and even more thrilled to see become a feature-length film!

This is a great tale that I think would be appropriate for a very wide audience. It’s fun, action-packed and a story I haven’t heard before. I adored the art style, which reminded me of Disney movies from my childhood. The thing that really went against this book for me was that it wasn’t in colour. After such a vivid and detailed cover I was so disappointed to see the story itself was greyscale. I’ve read plenty of books with no or little colour that weren’t affected by it, but this one really was. It felt like the scenes were all washed out, as though I was reading a colour book printed in black and white. It made it lack depth and expression that I feel the author is completely capable of, and made it hard to feel the emotion of the scenes and made it look overly simplistic. This is probably more of a personal preference, and would by no means prevent me recommending it to others!

It felt like I am watching a shounen anime. The illustrations are magnificent. Bravery. Action. Training then fighting against odds. It's great.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, for this eARC.

This retelling of a traditional Japanese story chronicling the adventures of a tiny man against a mighty demon (like a supernatural, action-oriented "Thumbelina") is, first and foremost, breathtakingly beautiful. The depictions of nature, the scale of a world that's a constant threat to its tiny protagonist, and the lighting and weather effects are incredibly atmospheric and absorbing. Action scenes are also incredibly exciting, with motion-blur effects and carefully chosen angles guiding the eye well. The realistic backdrops also do not clash with the novel's more cartoony characters, who are all easily distinguishable and full of charm. In terms of plot, changes have been made to the original myth, with the titular protagonist being more of a Chosen One in a classic monomyth. The dialogue has also been updated to the norms of modern action movies, with snappy comebacks that wouldn't feel out of place in a Marvel Studios film. Though this type of speech, some stock characters, and its rather obvious structure could be two points against it (at least in the eyes of older readers), they could nevertheless act as a bridge between old myths and new audiences: the book is quite accessible in terms of cultural knowledge. In the end, it is an ideal gift for any teenager interested in Japanese culture or myths (and who may or may not have just finished "Demon Slayer").

Absolutely gorgeous art--straight out of the Disney renaissance with wildly expressive characters and incredibly distinct faces and body shapes. With the exception of the artist's unfamiliarity with how gravity affects ponytails, the action is all clear and effortless to follow. And seeing a kappa that isn't cute, but actively scary? Very impressive. Many of the Youkai were well depicted, though I was sad we didn't see the Tengu in their better known form.

Story-wise this is a solid hero's journey moving along at a breakneck speed with likeable characters. As a retelling of an old story, it does a great job weaving in little bits of humor and crafting a truly page-turning tale. I would love to see this as an animated movie.

"Even the strongest of hearts can be clouded by doubt."

Issunboshi is a graphic novel full of adventure! Truly enjoyed this retelling of the Japanese folktale about this one-inch Samurai. The art is beautiful, the dialogue is great, the characters are inspiring. The only thing that took me by surprise is that this is black and white because from the cover I expected it to be full of color. I would definitely read Ryan Lang's next project!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

"Sometimes we need to reach deep within to find the strength to do what the world needs us to do, to become who the world needs us to be."

This was a great graphic novel. I loved the art work and the story line. You could really hear the voices of the characters in the writing style used for different characters. This was a story set in Japan's past but with no solid time period which helped to convey the fairytale aspect of the story. I can't wait for us to get this book at our library. I know the kids will love reading it. I hope to see more from this author and would love to have a continuation of this story!

This graphic novel was such a fun adventure to read! The retelling of this Japanese folktale drew me in from the very first page and the rhythm made it hard to put it down. The art-style is incredible, it felt like watching an animation movie adapted to the page and the landscapes and backgrounds are beautiful. I spent a long time looking at the details and especially those on the cover.
The characters are fun and moving, the coming-of-age story and its moral remained classic, but it’s a nice message to the middle grade readers.
I feel like this is a book that can be enjoyed by readers of every age, and I can’t wait to recommend it to my students.

Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for proving me a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.

Issunboshi beautiful front cover perfectly portraits how I imagine Issunboshi to look like from the Japanese folk tales I have been reading as a child. I found the story flow beautiful drawn it did not graphic my interest long enough to invest myself in the novel.

The art style on this one was absolutely stunning. Learning the author has a background working for Disney didn't come as a surprise at all, everything looks like a really polished storyboard for an animation movie. The character's expressions were flawless, the shapes and shadows and dynamic poses were all perfect. I wish it was in color, honestly, just to see what Ryan can do with it.

As far as the story goes, I just don't vibe with the particular folktale being retold here. The story flowed quite well and the stakes were fine, but when you don't like the foundation that much there's only so much the author can do to make you like the rest. The sprinkled in gay couple was a really good addition in my opinion, and the characterization in general was done well. How could it have been any other way, with the mastery of body language that Ryan has?

As I'm learning Japanese right now, when I saw this title I was immediately curious. At my intermediate level, I've been able to read a lot of Japanese fairy tales, and so I recognized the name. I'm glad I picked this up because it was a really sweet story and I'm a big fan of the art style. The art felt very much like a Pixar/Disney movie, and that makes sense since I learned that Ryan Lang's life led to a career in both animation and live-action. He has contributed to films like Wreck-It Ralph, Moana, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Doctor Strange, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.

Considering Issunboshi is his first graphic novel, I think he did a pretty solid job. I'm not totally sure if I'm the target demographic in terms of my age, but my main problem with the story is the fast pacing. Because of that, I'd consider this book middle-grade. If this is supposed to be a standalone story, then I totally understand the speed. If it's a series, I wish we'd slowed down a bit and taken more time to get dwell in a moment, before getting dragged on. I'd prefer the writing include more characterization. I personally would have preferred if this whole folk tale took place over the course of 3-4 books. But I don't think I'm the right audience for this book, so I'm rating based on whether the correct audience would enjoy this.

This book is perfect for parents, I think. I feel like a book this packed would make for a great bedtime story! If I was a kid, I would love if my mom read this to me. This book would also be great for kids who are getting into reading on their own, and who need a quick, beautiful adventure book that grabs their attention and doesn't let go. That being said, had the art been colored, it would improve my rating. Overall I think this is a really well executed graphic novel. I'm impressed Ryan Lang did all of this on his own.

If you're looking for a fast and fun adventure story that wraps everything up in a single book, this is the story for you. I think it deserves 4 stars, but I'd give it 5 had it been colored like we see in the concept art at the end.

My biggest thought about this graphic novel is how cute and wholesome it is. Even though there’s more of an adventure plot line to it, the relationships and they way the main character acts is one of the cutest things ive ever come across. I really enjoyed the art style, it was very unique. The addition of Japanese mythology was something i really enjoyed, ive not really read anything before with this in it. It was very fast paced and im not sure if that was something i enjoyed, i believe this is just one volume. But one minute he was messing around with his friends and the next he’s fighting a bad guy.