Synopses & Reviews
Ichiro lives in New York City with his mom who is Japanese. His father, an American Marine, was killed in Iraq when Ichi was very young. But now his mom has decided they should move back to Japan. So Ichi and his mom board a plane and take the seventeen hour flight to Japan, where Ichi will live with his grandfather, a man Ichi barely knows, while his mom finds a place for them to settle in.
Grandpa becomes Ichi's tour guide, taking him around to temples as well as the Hiroshima war memorial, where Ichi starts to question the nature of war. The image of his father as a war hero looms large in Ichis mind, but when hes faced with what bombs and guns actually do to people, he begins to question his belief in good guys and bad guys. His grandfather tries to explain to him that whos good and whos bad depends on what side youre on, and that actually, everyone is a bit of both.
When Ichi and Grandpa travel to Grandpas country house, neighbors tell them a raccoon is stealing the persimmons. Ichi decides to catch the raccoon. So one night, he makes a trap and ties the end of a rope meant to snare the raccoon to his arm. Its a success! Ichi catches the raccoon and has him by the foot! The only problem is, its not a raccoon. Its a tanuki, a mythological Japanese creature thats able to change its shape at will. Frightened, the tanuki transforms into a giant and takes off into the woods, dragging Ichi behind him. Townspeople come out and chase after the monster. Now completely terrified, the tanuki digs a hole to escape and drags Ichi in it with him.
When Ichi wakes up, hes no longer in the mortal world. Hes entered the land of the gods. Ichi must face his fears if he is to get back home. By so doing, he learns about the nature of man, of gods, and of war. He also learns there are no easy answers and that war and ugliness are inevitable--for gods and men. But there is still beauty in this world if you are open to it.
Review
"Beautiful and thought-provoking; questions unanswered will linger in readers' minds."--Kirkus
Review
"Beautiful and thought-provoking; questions unanswered will linger in readers' minds."--
Kirkus "Inzana uses separate visual styles throughout the book to indicate the human world, the spiritual world, and the shared past which resonates through them both.and#160; While the action is at times chaotic, it is never confusing. The excitement and intensity kept me turning the pages, each one more exciting than the next.and#160; I was captivated by Ichiro from the first page.and#160; It kept me guessing and presented me with more ideas and entertainment than I had predicted would come from this book. Make sure you get yourself a copy!"--Stumptown Trade Review "The fluid, expressive brushwork brings the streets of New York City and mythical Japanese creatures to life, allowing the fantastical aspects to be both beautiful and vividly creepy."--
Horn Book "
Ichiroand#160;is a refreshingly honest, well-conceived narrative that is sure to delight, entertain and perhaps educate readers both young and old. Ryan Inzana masterfully integrates a difficult period in history with complicated mythologies and timeless social issues into an enjoyable fantasy adventure. His beautiful black-and-white brushwork is enviable in its fluidity and expressiveness. Whether he's tackling a tender moment between a single mother and her distant son at the dinner table or illustrating mystical battles between gods, his practiced skills shine through with the perfect tone."--
Rations Magazine "This is a graphic novel that explores the Asian American experience by blending modern, ancient, and fantastic elements."--
School Library Journal "Beautiful, full-color art abounds in the folkloric scenes, which sharply contrast with the black-and-white and occasionally sepia-toned reality of Ichiroand#8217;s day-to-day activities, in which dashes of bright color punctuate the action. Inzana brings home another powerful post-9/11 fable, directed this time to a younger audience than he targeted with Johnny Jihad (2003).
Ichiro asks the hard questions for readers but challenges them to arrive at their own conclusion.."--
Booklist "Inzana mixes the mystery with the matter-of-fact in his lively artwork, creating a mood of enlightenment throughout and offering an insight into Japanese culture with a maximum of imagination."--
Publishers Weekly "What really makes the book stand out is Inzana's mixed media artwork. It's a lush looking book, with rich details and a very thoughtful handling of the world Ichiro moves through. The book is somewhat broken up visually, with mythology told in full and rich color, while the present day is told in a muted set of greens and the mythological world Ichiro finds himself color coded based on mythology (a subtle nod to Oz, assumedly), an element that makes sense the more you read the book. In one large hardcover book like this, it certainly makes for a beautiful collection of pages. Both the personal storytelling from Inzana and the illustrations go a long way to selling the title, and it's familiar yet new all the same tale of a boy discovering his ancestry amount to quite a wonderful read, and it's certainly an early contender for graphic novel of the year; a compelling story sure to wow and impress on many levels."--Multiversity Comics.com
Review
"There is always the question of whether this story is best suited for children or adults, but legions of admirers prove that it sits in the rarified air of literature that works both ways. A worthy tribute that's most worthy of its own share of applause."--
Booklist, starred review
Le Petit Prince Graphic Novel, French Edition and#160; "This life-long artist has chosen a simple layout to focus on the adventures of these two characters who share the dreams of millions of kids. Sfar keeps our childish dreams intact." Ca Se Passe Comme Ca and#160; and#160;and#8220;Always prolific, always generous, always sensitive, Sfar has succeeded in giving life to the aviator and his Petit Prince. Any successful adaptation is a revelation. This is faithful to the text, but the aesthetics of Sfarand#8230;reveal the full dimension of melancholy and contemplation [in the story]. Sfar joins [Saint-Exupeand#180;ry]and#8230; and#8216;a thousand miles from any human habitationand#8217;and#8230; where only children can venture.and#8221; Lire Magazine
and#160; The Little Prince and#160; "A lovely story...which covers a poetic, yearning philosophyand#8212;not the sort of fable that can be tacked down neatly at its four corners but rather reflections on what are real matters of consequence." and#8212;The New York Times Book Review and#160; The Little Prince (1993) and#160; "An edition of Saint-Exupand#233;ry's most famous work -- a gentle fable of love and peace -- contains a thoughtful assessment of the details of its composition...[T]he special allure of the work is still the naively sophisticated, heartwarming tale of the little prince and his small planet." and#8212;Horn Book and#160; The Little Prince (2000 hardcover edition) and#160; and#8220;This new translation into 'modern' English brings a classic tale into sharper focus for today's teens without sacrificing the beauty and simplicity of the author's writing, and the 'restored' artwork has all the charm of the original drawings. What appears to be a simple tale of two lost souls-one, a pilot marooned in the desert next to his ditched plane; the other, a minuscule prince in self-imposed exile from an asteroid so small that he can watch the sunset 44 times a day-reveals itself as something far more complex. What appears to be a fairy tale for children opens like the petals of the Little Prince's flower into a fantasy that has lessons for all of us.and#8221; and#8212;School Library Journal and#160; The Little Prince: Sixtieth-Anniversary Gift Edition and#160; and#8220;Always welcome is that charming visitor from another planet, Antoine de Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince...The fable remains as lyrically haunting as ever.and#8221; and#8212;Publishers Weekly
Review
andquot;This plot is nothing if not action-driven, the multitudinous battle scenes and abundant swordplay (and excellent sound effects) making this an excellent choice for readers interested in Game of Thrones but who perhaps arenand#39;t quite ready for some of its more mature subject matter.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus
andquot;All bend knee and hail! Barbarian Lord!andquot;
andmdash;Previews
andquot;An easy summer reading pick for middle-grade graphic novel aficionados and reluctant readers.andquot;
andmdash;School Library Journal
andquot;An accessible, memorable thrill of a graphic novel.andquot;
andmdash;Bulletin
Synopsis
This striking, full-color graphic novel follows Ichiro as he moves from New York to Japan where a shapeshifting tanuki brings him on a fantastic adventure into the mythological world of Japanese gods.and#160; This journey brings him closer to his Japanese roots, and to understanding the nature of good and evil, war and peace, gods and men.
Synopsis
Ichiro lives in New York City with his Japanese mother. His father, an American soldier, was killed in Iraq. Now, Ichi's mom has decided they should move back to Japan to live with Ichi's grandfather.
Grandfather becomes Ichi's tour guide, taking him to temples as well as the Hiroshima Peace Park, where Ichi starts to question the nature of war. After a supernatural encounter with the gods and creatures of Japanese mythology, Ichi must face his fears if he is to get back home. In doing so, he learns about the nature of man, of gods, and of war. He also learns there are no easy answers--for gods or men.
Synopsis
Ichiro lives in New York City with his Japanese mother. His father, an American soldier, was killed in Iraq. Now, Ichiand#8217;s mom has decided they should move back to Japan to live with Ichiand#8217;s grandfather.
and#160;and#160;and#160;Grandfather becomes Ichiand#8217;s tour guide, taking him to temples as well as the Hiroshima Peace Park, where Ichi starts to question the nature of war. After a supernatural encounter with the gods and creatures of Japanese mythology, Ichi must face his fears if he is to get back home. In doing so, he learns about the nature of man, of gods, and of war. He also learns there are no easy answersand#8212;for gods or men.
Synopsis
The gorgeous graphic novel adaptation of The Little Prince is now available in a paper-over-board edition.and#160;
Synopsis
Saint-Exupand#233;ryand#8217;s The Little Prince has earned millions of fans worldwide as an imaginative, dreamy study of the meaning of life.and#12288;How horrible to be a grown-upand#8212;they all seem to be needy, lonely, vain, or power-hungry. All the Little Prince cares about is being useful to the flower heand#8217;s left behind on his very small planet, with only a few thorns to protect her from the world. Sfarand#8217;s comic-book illustrations of the wide-eyed boy prince and disheveled pilot he encounters in the African desert are edgier than the original watercolors...and his style and humor work modern magic.and#160; An inspiring gift to longtime fans orand#160;newcomers!and#160;
Synopsis
For over sixty-five years Antoine de Saint-Exupand#233;ry's The Little Prince has captured the hearts and minds of its readers. The whimsical story with a fairy tale touch has sold over 80 million copies in 230 languages. This exciting graphic adaptation features beautiful, new artwork by Joann Sfar. Hand-chosen by Saint-Exupand#233;ry's French publishers for his literary style and sensitivity to the original, Sfar has endeavored to recreate this beloved story, both honoring the original and stretching it to new heights. Aand#160;vibrant, visualand#160;gift for longtime fans and those experiencing the story for the first time.
Synopsis
The classic Conan the Barbarian meets Mike Mignolaand#8217;sand#160;Hellboy by way of Norseand#160;mythology andand#160;Icelandic sagas in an epic graphic novel adventure of innocence wronged and vengeance taken.
Synopsis
"A sword untried is a sword untested," says one raven to another as they set out to witness the fate of the finest farm in Garmrland and its owner, Barbarian Lord. When he is cheated out of his lands and banished, Barbarian Lord begins a quest for allies and for justice, encountering monsters, ghouls, gods, and mediocre poets along the way.
Combining the rich traditions of the Vikings and Nordic lore with sword-and-sorcery-and slyly understated humor-this graphic novel introduces an original hero with classic flair, brought to life in Matt Smith's beautifully drawn, detailed, and action-filled black-and-white illustrations.
About the Author
ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPand#201;RY, the "Winged Poet," was born in Lyon, France, in 1900.andnbsp;A pilot at twenty-six, he was a pioneer of commercial aviation and flew in the Spanish Civil War and World War II. His writings include
The Little Prince,
Wind, Sand and Stars,
Night Flight,
Southern Mail, and
Airman's Odyssey. In 1944, while flying a reconnaissance mission for his French air squadron, he disappeared over the Mediterranean.
andnbsp;Joann Sfar is a French comic artist and author of The Rabbi's Cat,andnbsp;Little Vampire Goes to School (a New York Times best-seller), and the Eisner Award-winning Little Vampire Does Kung Fu! He was awarded the Rene Goscinny Award for young comics in 1998 and has continued to garner international critical praise. He was most recently nominated for a 2007andnbsp;Ignatz Award for Best Series. His original French edition of The Little Prince graphic novel was released in 2007.