Graphic Novel Review: Momo: Legendary Warrior Volume 1

Published by: Alien Books

Written by: Naoto Tsujima

Illustrated by: Z-ONE

ISBN: 9781962201131

Ages: 16+

A young woman watches the sky as a ship soars through the atmosphere. The ship crashes, and the only passenger, a young man named Taro, begins to search the desolate wasteland for water. He finally passes out, and when he awakens, he is fed by the young woman, who announces she is Momo. Suddenly, they are attacked by demon-like creatures known as Oni, and Momo shows her brutal and combative side.

Why has Taro come to the parched planet of Bizarrearth?

What is Momo’s story?

And… what do the Oni want with them and the other villagers?

All this sounds like a good setup for a science fiction story, and seeing as this is only the first Volume, you’d be right. What you may not know is that this story is a kind of a remake of a very old Japanese legend called Momotarō. Originally published in the Early Edo Period (or late 1700s), Momotarō tells the story of a man born from a giant peach who teams up with talking animals to take on the Oni (demons) who rule over the land. The story was originally reimagined in manga format by Kazuto Okina, and published back in 2011. Author Naoto Tsujima (Transformers, Goemon) brings it back for modern audiences, along with the amazing artwork from Korean artist Z-ONE.

I will definitely be keeping up this title. I have to know what happens next!

Ages 16+. Contains two images of fan service.

ADAM FISHER, Reference Associate

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Adam Fisher

Adam Fisher has worked for more than a decade at Lane Libraries in Fairfield, Ohio, where he is a Reference Associate. He creates and leads programming for all ages, manages the graphic novel, sci-fi/fantasy, and magazine collections at his branch, and has recently seen great success with his self-created Escape Room programs. He writes reviews for everything he reads and can be found on Goodreads @FisherAd80 and on Twitter @adamreadscomics.

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