Toriko

http://www.otakunovideo.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/toriko01-200x300.jpg

Artist/Writer: Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro

Published in: 2008 to present (Japan), 2010 to present (America)

American Publisher: Viz

Genres: Action / adventure / food / shonen

Premise: In a world of gourmets and dangerous creatures, Toriko is a ridiculously strong big game hunter.

Show x Show: It's Man vs. World meets One Piece

Length: 208 pages

Volumes: 29 so far in Japan; at least 21 in America

Availability: Currently in stock at Amazon.com.

Manga Review (Volume 1)
Is there a story? Not yet. Toriko just goes out on big game hunts.

Is it dumb? Not really; it's just light, shonen-y action/adventure.

What are the characters' relationships? At this point, they're primarily establishing the two main characters: the supremely confident Toriko, and the cowardly chef Komatsu. Each respect each other in a typically shonen way: Komatsu respects Toriko's bravery, while Toriko respects that Komatsu goes out with him despite Komatsu's fear. But it's a nice relationship, and a refreshing break from shows where everyone starts out hating or challenging each other.

How's the art? A typical shonen title: Big-muscled hero, weird creatures, and simplified backgrounds.

Can I show it to my Mom? It's too over-the-top for her.

Can I show it to my kid brother? He'd love it.

Can I show it to a non-manga fan? Depends on the fan's sophistication. This is a fun read, but there's a lot of examples of big-muscled guys yelling.

How's the dialogue? It works, and different characters have different styles to them, but otherwise it's unremarkable.

Does it have any memorable moments? There's one nice moment at the end of the volume that establishes Toriko's essential nature in a way that surprised me.

So, did you like it? Yeah! But I'm not a shonen action/adventure fan, so it's not for me.