We’ve been heading out from April showers and started with our Mega May Manga Minis! Check out our reviews of the Mega Man spinoff Little Mega Man as well as continuations of Dragon and Chameleon as well as Tokyo Aliens. Read our thoughts on these new volumes below!
Little Mega Man Volume 1 (Udon Entertainment)
I had nothing but praise for the reimagination of Mega Man earlier this year, with Mr. Mega Man being a great retelling of the series mythos and showcasing an appropriately mature take on the character. With Little Mega Man, the cast gets a little wackier with tried-and-true references mixed with some zany antics.
Little Mega Man features Mega Man, Roll, and Dr. Light as well as other characters popping in and out of the story. From Rush temporarily changing to Organic Rush (an actual dog) to Proto Man being a melodramatic whistler, there’s quite a few comedic takes on the characters here. The main conflict stems from The Men’s Six, a shady syndicate that felt the wrath of Dr. Light many years ago. (Actually, that’s false; Dr. Light was too cool for school and stole all the ladies.) It’s up to Mega Man to easily defeat the villains and save the day! (Again, he basically one-shots every bad guy here with just his Mega Buster.)
I’m feeling a bit strange about this series’ characterization of the main cast. Mr. Mega Man’s personality adaptations felt organic; oddly enough, considering they’re mostly Robots! In Little Mega Man, the characters feel more inconsistent and exaggerated. Rock himself is naïve and dense to a fault, Roll is the more responsible and no-nonsense of the main group, and Dr. Light feels like a manbaby mixed with a competent but jerkish jock. This feels a lot lighter than the Archie Mega Man comics, which I believe had a great balance between silly and serious adaptations of the source material.
Overall, these personalities work, but feel a lot more one-note than other interpretations. The jokes were admittedly funny when the storyline kicks off midway in the volume, so I’ll be reserving judgement for the next batch of chapters. I would suggest picking this one up if you’re a fan of light-hearted Mega Man tales but would wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Mega Man if you want a spinoff.
Rating: 3 out of 5 UwUs
Dragon and Chameleon Volume 3 (Square Enix Manga) – Mega May Manga Minis Advance Review!
Earlier in the year, I gave high praise to the second volume of Ryo Ishiyama’s Dragon and Chameleon. Its jarring ending mixed with the ability to flesh out a whole cast of secondary characters made it one of the most enjoyable volumes this year. It really got me thinking, “Could it get better?”
The answer, simply, is yes.
This next volume takes place as manga legend Garyo Hangami (as rookie chameleon Shinobu Miyama) processes his loss at the Serialization Boot Camp. Unfortunately, his blacklist from Shonen Wonder remains in place. However, the blacklist is only temporary, which means he’s free to return after a bit of time. However, manga rival Orochi Yamadano catches wind of the news, and persuades Hanagami into working for her.
A shrewd businesswoman, Yamadano herself was exiled due to a manga poaching scandal that Hanagami exposed. However, she is perceptive and easily deduces the body swap plot, which is exactly how she surmises that this rookie is the dragon incarnate! Will this odd partnership blossom into making a new hit that will surpass Doragon Land?
Like the previous volume, I ate this one up. A new change of scenery is always nice, and I feel the story doesn’t overstay its welcome with its settings. The introduction of a mentor figure as well as a former enemy is quite enticing, and Yamadano and Hanagami’s dynamic feels great. In addition to the main story, we get two past spinoff chapters with a rookie assistant and editor as they experience Hanagami’s signature personality. These aren’t necessary but shed some light on how great a person Hanagami and Shonen Wonder are, which helps flesh out the lore of the series.
The art carries its trademark stylish excellence, and we even get updates on Shinobu-as-Garyo. The ending sets up for a building showdown between the rookie and master, and I can’t wait for what’s going to happen in the next volume!
Rating: 5 out of 5 UwUs
Tokyo Aliens Volume 8 (Square Enix Manga)
Tokyo Aliens has really improved, raising its stakes and narrative world with each new volume. This one is no different, expanding upon the AMO’s other members as well as setting up an expansive new arc within its eighth volume.
Natsuki Hyogo is faced with a sadistic choice as his childhood sweetheart Chizuru gets infected with an alien parasite. As he wrestles with the decision of how to handle it, we get some backstory with the relationship between him and Reiji Amamiya.
While the boss is as ruthless in the past as well as the present, Amamiya also understands what’s needed for the good of society, which causes some friction between him and Hyogo. Honestly, the resolution of this arc surprised me, as I was definitely expecting something happier. However, this manga shows the good and bad of extraterrestrial forces, which causes an unfortunate change in the status quo.
Meanwhile, we get a little slice-of-life interlude as Akira Gunji tries to cover Sho Tenkubashi’s true colors from his classmate. It does clash a little with the rest of the volume, but this breather is needed due to the heartrending end of the previous arc. Afterwards, we jump into a new arc with a shady black market deal. Akira is caught in the crosshair and gets abducted, but what will happen next?
This volume is probably the best the series has to offer so far. It’s an unusual climax to what could have been a standard shonen arc. Coupled in with a much-needed breather, solid art, and a hint at what’s to come, this is a perfect blend of alien action! If you’re looking for an amazing action series, Tokyo Aliens is the one for you.
Rating: 5 out of 5 UwUs
And that’s it for our Mega May Manga Minis! Stay tuned for more anime and manga news and reviews here on Miso!
