Graphic Novel Review: Team Phoenix Vol. 1

Published by: UDON Entertainment

Written by: Kenny Ruiz

Illustrated by: Kenny Ruiz

ISBN: 9781772942767

Ages: 12+

Atlas, the greatest robot ever created, united all robots into the Robot Alliance, and proceeded to take control of 90% of the universe. Standing against them is a small group of rebels known as the League of Lifeforms. But there is a splinter group between the two sides: a group of knights, trained by and siding with the Robot Alliance, working with them to help stop the radical League of Lifeforms so that the remaining humans can live in peace.

Initially trained as a knight, Sapphire, Princess of Silverland (though presenting as Prince because law states that women can’t be in power) has become a pirate, skimming off both sides, while evading the robots she once betrayed, and becoming a symbol of hope for the human race. She makes a new team, who is determined to free the universe from robotic oppression.

After reading the premise for this manga, I picked it up, loving the idea. But while researching for the review, I saw “Based on the works of Osamu Tezuka”, and looked him up. I’m shocked at myself for not being familiar with the author many call “The Father of Anime”, having created most of the characters in this manga but also the universally known Astro Boy.
Author Kenny Ruiz (Dos Espadas, El Cazador de Rayos) brings together Tezuka’s characters for a new story that will hopefully bring them back to the popular light of manga and anime that they helped create. Team Phoenix Volume One was fantastic, frantic and action packed, and I will definitely be here for the sequels.

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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