07 Asamiya Kia $@Kc5\530!(B
Description
This article is from the Manga FAQ, by Steve Pearl starbuck@cybercomm.net with numerous contributions by others.
07 Asamiya Kia $@Kc5\530!(B
Asamiya Kia is the same person as the famous animator/character designer
Kikuchi Michitaka.
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Shinseiki Vagrants $@?@@15-%t%!%0%i%s%D(B - written by Vauxhall Production,
published by Kadokawa Shoten, 1988, 2 volumes @ Y880.
Some quotes from the net:
``The author is more lost than the readers''.
``Just when you think the story is beginning to make sense, it
ends''.
``The art is primitive, pre-Tron, low-screentone Asamiya. While
it is common knowledge that Asamiya Kia can't write, Vagrants
has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he can't read, either''.
The story, while messed up big time, is not complex in terms of
players and situations. It tried to tell 4 different stories in
utterly unrelated settings. The main characters
teleport/dimension-warp/whatever universes and solve problems,
not unlike some old network sci-fi shows. The formula may yet
work had the dialogues not been as corny, pace not as dreadful,
and situations not as uninvolving. The story writer meshed
together a space colony, fantasy kingdom, desert village, and
then a moon cult space opera into one blob; the teleporting is
just a Monty Python excuse to move from one setting to another.
It took me $25 original, $20 Chinese DX translation, 8 rereads,
and hours of soul searchings to figure this out. Now that I
have, don't bother. If the only reason you're considering this
title is because it's from Asamiya, t hen that should be good
enough reason for you not to.
Silent Mobius $@%5%$%l%s%H%a%S%&%9(B - currently serialized on Comp,
1990-present, 7 volumes @ Y950.
To combat the re-emergence of demons in 21st century Japan, the all-female
``Attacked Mystification Police'' is formed. A stylish cyberpunk/occult
manga, which was made into two high-budget anime films. However, the story
has declined drastically in recent years.
``Asamiya can draw, except he doesn't know what to draw.''
``Kikuchi used to come up with only lame ideas but these days he
can't come up with any.''
Mobius Klein $B%a%S%&%9%/%i%$%s(B is the continuation of Silent Mobius
after the demise of Comp magazine. Currently, only volume 0 (serialized on
Dengeki Comics GAO, 1994, Y980) of Mobius Klein has been released. There
is also a Silent Mobius game book.
Dark Angel $@@;=CEA@b%@!<%/%(%s%8%'%k(B - currently serialized on Newtype,
1990-present, 2 volumes @ Y850.
Set in a fantasy world very loosely reminiscent of China in the Three
Kingdoms era. The protagonist is an impetuous young boy named Dark, his
tiny assistant angel, and the mad spoiled lord who's on the verge of
stumbling into a major war in his attempts to kill Dark. Nice artwork,
though the story has also deteriorated drastically.
Steam Detective $B2w7f>x5$C5DeCD(B - currently serialized on Monthly Shonen
Jump, Y390, 1994.
Something of a departure for Asamiya - a story with a retro feel, about a
gumshoe in a fanciful 1920's setting. Uncharacteristically, there is no
screentone at all, though this seems to only highlight his artistic flaws.
Different, but nothing spectacular.
Gunhed - published by Kadokawa Shoten, 1989, Y800.
A manga version of the live-action movie.
Compiler $@%3%s%Q%$%i(B - serialized on Afternoon, 1991-92, 3 volumes @ Y500.
Two girls, Assembler (who constructs) and Compiler (who destroys), come to
earth to play a game. They soon give up, and ``senators'' from the
cybernetic dimension send two assassins, Directory and Bios, to finish
them off. There are funny moments, but the ending was disgracefully
rushed.
See also: Compiler homepage
<http://www.cs.ubc.ca/spider/edmonds/anime/compiler.html>
Assembler 0X $@%"%;%s%V%i#0#X(B - currently serialized on Afternoon,
1992-present, 4 volumes @ Y500.
Sequel to Compiler. Lots of Japanese pop culture in-jokes, and the subject
of some of Afternoon's CG covers, but there's precious little substance,
and the bright spots are few and far between. Almost dojinshi-like in its
content. (Takeuchi Naoko is credited as doing some conceptual design for
Assembler 0X.)
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