RahXephon

    (Viz, 2004)
™ and © 2002 Takeaki Momose & Yutaka Izubuchi
Graphic novel; Read right to left; b&w.

In another tale of a Japanese teen predestined to pilot a giant robot and battle evildoers, Ayato Kamina is an ordinary high-schooler who just happens to be the object of affection of many girls. He is protective of Reika, with whom he has grown up, but she’s ready for a little more affection. However, both don’t expect that Ayato will be summoned to man the mysterious machine known as RahXephon and fight on behalf of the Earth.

Haruka, a sly spy from the United Nation’s TERRA, saves the pair from the nefarious agents of Mu, the alien cabal that has commandeered Tokyo. But the Mu won’t let their valuable cargo go without a fight and, so, unleash their own secret weapon. Stuck in the middle of a bevy of bikini-clad babes, can Ayato come to grips with his new awesome responsibility?

Part of Viz’ exclusive six-month distribution deal with Barnes & Noble, this title is based on an anime and videogame franchise from the creators of Patlabor. However, this introduction is underwhelming on all fronts. With its embarrassing perverted fixation on girls in various states of undress, derivative plot, and stiff character interactions, the series provides superficial eye candy but little originality.

— Oliver Chin
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