Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning Side A, Vol. 1
Gr 9 Up—In this manga adaptation of the movie, Wild Tiger has lost his edge in a world in which superheroes compete on live television. To help improve his ratings, his corporate sponsors pair him with rising star Barnaby, nicknamed Bunny by Wild Tiger. Bunny is great at tactics and problem-solving but usually only thinks about himself and his time in the spotlight. This conflicts with Wild Tiger's joking and easygoing attitude, as the two comically butt heads in the midst of danger. But through gradual reveals, readers understand why these two became heroes in the first place, and they eventually learn to work together as a team. Although their characters are well developed and introduced, the supporting cast of heroes is not. The two females, Blue Rose and Dragon Kid, either flee from danger or get sidelined, while the transgender hero, Fire Emblem, flirts with or grabs the male characters inappropriately. Scenes like this are meant to be funny but come off as immature. Action scenes are well drawn and dramatically show each hero's power, and the various chase scenes through the city are gripping. Die-hard manga fans will pick these two books up, but on the whole, they are additional purchases.—Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI