Fruit Ninja: Jin Men Ju Tree Part 1by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 5 This review is of a preview review copy, and does not include the covers or any intro that might be in the final version. The story is complete, though. Some ninjas-in-training bring a strange fruit to their master. He begins the story of the Emperor searching for the Thing that Rhymes with Orange by following a legend involving talking fruit.My husband and I enjoy playing Fruit Ninja on our iPad, so I'm familiar with the starting point for this comic. The game itself doesn't involve characters or plot (not really, anyway), so I like that they are thinking of ways to expand on this, especially for younger players / readers. I love the fun character designs for the children / ninjas-in-training. Their outfits and hair make them look like fruit (though one guy looks like a carrot-pineapple hybrid); some are easier to see what they are than others. I wish the theme carried to the adults, or at least the adult ninjas. The desert bandits are appropriately sleazy-looking. The art quality is excellent, with good designs and colors that pop. The talking fruit storyline is a bit silly but is fleshed out. I really like the idea of questing for the Thing that Rhymes with Orange, but these are a lot of characters (and setting) that appear Asian, so they would have a different work (and not the rhyming issue). That may not matter to most readers, but it bugs me that they want to use Asian names for people, including the names they guess as part of their quest (and the Emporer chides the Chancellor for guessing a non-Asian name like "Ralph") and pun-names of Asian places (like Mangonesia), and then not follow through with the theme. It's a continuity issue they assume readers either won't notice or care about. This comic is definitely aimed at pretty young readers. Older fans of the game, like myself, will probably want to just keep playing rather than pick this up. Written: April 17, 2013
|
|
|
Home |
Features |
Columns |
Culture Vultures |
Report Card
Indicia | Contact | Archives © Sequential Tart, 1998 – 2021 |
