Kingdom Hearts

    (Tokyopop, 2005-2006)
™ and © 2005 Square Enix Co. Disney Characters ™ and ©2005 Disney Enterprises

Based on a popular videogame, this series combines the world of manga with the world of Disney.

Sora, wielder of the keyblade, is on a quest. He encounters Donald Duck and Goofy, searching for their missing king. (Who’s the king? Hint: He’ll see you real soon. Why? Because he likes you.) They join forces to battle Maleficent and her minions, The Heartless.

They travel to exotic locales, from Wonderland to Agrabah. They make new friends, from Peter Pan to Pinocchio. And they encounter wonderful villains, from Hades to Ursula.

Some Disney purists might not appreciate teaming their childhood favorites with manga characters. Some manga enthusiasts might think that Disney is a level less mature than their usual fare. In truth, this is a seamless blend of two styles. Many earlier attempts, such as DC’s Superman/Bugs Bunny crossover, fail to capture two disparate spirits. Even the Archie-Punisher crossover doesn’t really do both styles simultaneously; it’s mostly “Frank Castle in Riverdale.” Kingdom Hearts actually does two things at once—and does them well.

— Jack Abramowitz

From the Publisher: Kingdom Hearts—based on the mind-alteringly popular Square/Disney videogame—is the story of Sora, a 14-year-old boy whose world is shattered when a violent storm hits his island-paradise home, and he's separated from his two closest friends, Riku, a 15-year-old boy, and Kairi, a 14-year-old girl. At the same time, there’s turmoil in Disney Castle. King Mickey is missing, and Court Wizard Donald and Captain Goofy set out to find him. On their travels they meet Sora, on his own search for his lost friends. Kingdom Hearts has entranced millions around the world with its unique combination of classic Disney storytelling and characters coupled with cutting-edge gameplay and innovative character designs from Square Enix, the creators of such mega-hits as Final Fantasy. The Tokyopop manga version of Kingdom Hearts takes this partnership to a new level by adding yet another element to an already rich tapestry.
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