#ThrowbackThursday - Back in the '90s, I used to write comic book reviews for the website of a now-defunct comic book retailer called Rockem Sockem Comics. (Collect them all!)

From the March 1998 edition with a theme of "Science Fiction":

INTRODUCTION

Science Fiction. Sci Fi. SF. It's a genre with incredible flexibility, isn't it? This month alone, I have been able to locate a space opera, a farce, a post-apocalyptic road trip, and a fantastic fairytale that all fit comfortably under the label of Science Fiction. (An interesting side note: Japan seems to be having a huge impact on Science Fiction comics in America today. Of the four comics below, one is directly imported from Japan, and two others are obviously influenced by the art of manga -- Japanese comic books.) While I wait for some capable soul to revive the straight Western in comics, I'll be content knowing that the popular genre of SF is well represented every month in PREVIEWS.

FROM THE BACKLIST

AKIKO #19-22 (Sirius Entertainment)
AKIKO TRADE PAPERBACK VOLUME 1 (Sirius Entertainment)

Alice tumbled down the rabbit hole to Wonderland. Wendy flew via the power of pixie dust to Never Never Land. Dorothy rode a tornado to Oz. And, now, Akiko has rocketed in a spaceship disguised as an ice cream van to the planet Smoo. Welcome to the age of hi-tech fantasy lands.

AKIKO is an amazing all-ages comic that blends fantasy, science fiction, and children's literature into one tasty concoction. The skeptical adult readers out there may have been skipping AKIKO -- and are about to skip this review, perhaps -- because AKIKO looks child oriented, but I'm here to tell you that this is an "all-ages" book that will absolutely entertain adults as well as kiddies. Writer/artist Mark Crilley's AKIKO stories have as much drama and adventure as any comic being produced today. Sure, the seriousness is leavened by outrageousness and slapstick humor, but it is in no way overridden by that wild streak. That AKIKO is also infused with the wonder and sense of awe of its young female protagonist is a bonus in my eyes.

Akiko is a fourth-grade schoolgirl who travels to the fantastic world of Smoo to save the day. Smoo, you see, is a planet of dichotomy: on the one hand, its inhabitants have developed advanced technology; but on the other hand, the people of Smoo seem to lack even an iota of common sense. Akiko is the voice of reason, the steady hand, and the font of initiative needed to guide Smoo through its various crises. With the help of the reckless and roguish Spuckler Boach, the learned and cautious Mr. Beeba, and the incomprehensible and bodiless Poog, Akiko crisscrosses the planet getting captured by various exotic cultures. The adventurers invariably escape and achieve their goals through a combination of spunk and luck. (Heavy emphasis on the luck.) Akiko's extended absences from Earth, by the way, are covered by a robotic doppelganger thoughtfully provided by her friends from Smoo.

Crilley's writing in AKIKO is brisk and humorous. Sure, the plots are simple and depend heavily on capricious turns of luck, but that suits the type of tales Crilley is telling. Once you understand the funky logic of Akiko's adventures, it's easy to suspend disbelief and simply let the torrent of action carry you along. Besides, Crilley is smart enough to reward the reader with plenty of dramatic revelations and thoughtful moments in order to prevent motion sickness. The best part of AKIKO is the character interaction. I'm particularly fond of the amusing personality clash between the over-the-top Spuckler and the head-buried-in-the-sand Mr. Beeba. I also like the innocent, oblivious hypocrisy of the supporting cast as they alternate between condescension and acquiescence toward Akiko, sometimes in the same breath.

I can almost justify purchasing AKIKO based solely on the pictures. While a Japanese manga influence is obvious, Crilley's linework is still very unique. His major strength is in distinctive character design. Akiko has big, black button eyes and a nub of a nose, while many of the side characters look like they've just stepped off the "Muppet Show." Crilley's monsters and alien critters are truly bizarre and wonderful. His spectacular sense of design is also showcased in elaborately detailed backgrounds. Castles, fortresses, ruins, villages, and vehicles are rendered with care rarely seen outside of such visual masterpieces as Dave Sim and Gerhard's CEREBUS (Aardvark-Vanaheim) or Katsuhiro Otomo's AKIRA (Epic/Marvel Comics). Though printed in black and white, Crilley adds incredible depth to AKIKO through masterful toning and shading. This guy has the complete package, folks.

I usually try to review only comics where I have read the entire series. In this case, however, the eleven issues of AKIKO I've read are so delightful I can't help but rush a recommendation, especially when so many of AKIKO's back issues will be available this month. I'll be ordering the ones I'm missing. I strongly suggest that you follow suit.

Grade: B ( )

Excellent all-ages series. Wonderful characters and beautiful illustrations. The Pocket Size ed. are affordable and have an excellent binding. There is also a novel series that is written by Crilley.
ALL AGES!! ( )