Taka

First things first, I loved the art and the little bit of story I read. I decided to DNF this shortly after starting it. I decided I really wanted to buy it (or have my library buy it) so I could truly enjoy the story without the watermark. I always find the watermarks get seriously in the way.

A Special Thanks Goes To IDW Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC.

We’re jumping into another YA Graphic Novel review! This time, it is Ryan Jampole’s (Sonic the Hedgehog, Mega Man) TAKA. The newest title from IDW Publishing is continuing the tradition of bringing the wonder of Tokusatsu and Superheroes to a new generation. Keep in mind, that this is a SPOILER-FREE review, so, the details are kept minimal.

The story begins with Taka, who has quite a reputation in her city for being a notorious delinquent. She soon stumbles upon an abandoned temple, where Taka accidentally unleashes a horde of evil robots called Chimecha, violent creatures from another world that are bent on destroying anything in their path! She begrudgingly took on the mantle of the MECH-FIGHTER, a cyborg warrior who uses a special power that could take down this evil new threat! Now, she has to protect the city that doesn’t care for her, or her antics before Taka took on the mantle.

While I give the publisher and the creator credit for giving a chance for a younger generation to experience what Kamen Rider and other Tokusatsu-themed shows with this approach, it felt more like a light approach to more anime shows such as TRIGGER’s Kill-La-Kill (in terms of mannerisms in regard of emotions, action sequences). That isn’t a bad thing, the atmosphere of the story, character interactions, reactions, and the artwork. Other than that, Taka was a fun book to read.

Speaking of the story atmosphere, Jampole does a great job of setting up the story and its premise, making it easier for new readers not to get lost or lose interest. As I mentioned previously, it does feel like there are also elements from anime that are included in this manga-style YA Novel. Subtle hints of Kill-La-Kill, Dragon Ball, and One Piece when it comes to the action and humor, which by the way didn’t feel forced in certain situations. The plot is fast-paced but it helps to have some good humor to keep the reader focused on the premise of the story, with some action-packed fun along the way. Finally, what was most enjoyable about this story aside from the theme was the characters and their unique personalities. While Taka may be a delinquent and a wickedly cool hero, my favorite was Meg. Her witty humor and heroism won me over.

The artwork was another great quality of this book, the Chimecha, these creatures are intriguing, well-designed, and a clever easter egg of Capcom’s MEGA-MAN (if you haven’t checked the Archie Mega Man comic book series, be sure to check out your local comic shop for back issues.) game and comic book series. Speaking of well-designed characters, the Mech-Fighter armor has a unique look that sticks out and stays true to the Kamen Rider vibe.