Champion Cup Theater (Digiko’s…)

(Ironcat, 2003)
TM and (c) Studio Ironcat L.L.C.

This handsomely designed (if smaller and thinner) volume of manga deals with the adventures of the real-world company mascot, Di Gi Charat, also known as Digiko. She’s just your average would-be actress, generic manga catgirl (with the oversized mitten-paws and goiter-like bell around her neck to prove it) and register monkey at the store, Gamerz. In her off-time she’s chasing the dream while dealing with the dread Black Gema Gema Gang — who are nearly as dangerous as Team Rocket.

Even with a high tolerance for cute, watching these super-deformed characters pointlessly wander around tiny panels will be one hard slog. And, although theoretically translated into English, its “jokes” go nowhere, and lettering shifts between two small, difficult-to-read fonts. It’s clearly not intended for those newly initiated into manga but, rather, hard-core fans — who might like it better than I do.

— S.A. Bennett

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