World of Hartz

    (Tokyopop, 2004)
™ and © 2004 Tokyopop

This sad volume of mock manga by American Terrence Walker looks and reads like a back–up that’s been done by amateurs for an issue of Ninja High School.

It’s the altogether ordinary story of Han, a loser in life who gets sucked into a virtual–reality world where he (and, unfortunately, the reader) gets stuck into standard game scenarios. That is, until Han’s friend T decides to do a virtual–reality intervention on him, which, of course, doesn’t go well.

This one takes the whole “barely drawn” manga school of art to a new, lower level. With the genuine good manga being published in America today, it’s hard to imagine this appealing to anyone—except, maybe, other mock manga artists who have dreams of being published.

In an interview with Walker in the back of this volume, he says that the most important thing about manga is the characters. It’s a pity he didn’t think to include a single memorable or likable one in World of Hartz.

— S.A. Bennett
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#1

May, 2004
Cover Price: $9.99
1 copy available for $7.99 		Terrence WalkerTerrence Walker