From Far Away (From Far Away)

Rating:
Summary: Classic all the way!
Review: I seem to be sucker for old classic manga/manwha. This is one of the better "snatch a girl from her world and dump her in a new one" stories. For one it deals with language barriers! That is something that has always annoyed me in the genre. There also seems to be an interesting story developing and there is a lot more to the hero than we're being told so far. I give it 4 stars because the art is old and it still isn't as good as some others in the genre.

Rating:
Summary: Different and good...
Review: Since there's nothing about the story on Amazon I'll start there:
Noriko, a normal school girl, is walking around with her friends. While retreaving a ball she comes across a terrorist's bomb and it explodes at point blank. When Noriko comes to she's not dead but in a strange land. A land where she doesn't speak the language, death and violence are so common place it doesn't effect the locals, and where no one but a strange warrior named Izark can be trusted.

That's the beginning of From Far Away and to say any more I think would give too much away. I picked up Away on a whim at a bookstore and I was pleasantly surprised. I've read my share of 'girl in another world' shojo manga, and, I gotta say, Away has just gone to the top of my list.

The world seems very detailed and vast. Political issues are all ready in play. The use of a language barrier is not only refreshing and adds a lot of character developement, but is written in such a way that it doesn't ever get confusing.

Also the heroine isn't annoying and whiny or completely calm and together. She's some where in the middle; she freaks out at her situation at first, but then realizes that in order to live, and not be a burden to her protector, she's going to have to stay calm and be useful. In fact the real reason she really starts trying to learn the language in ernest is so she can help people and not be so helpless herself.

Our male lead is very interesting and mysterious. Izark is a warrior and has great powers. He also has his own sense of humor.

The artwork has an older look (it was originally drawn in 1993 I think) making it stand out from more recent titles. Everything is clean and detailed and flows wonderfully. The character and creature designs are great and individual (I didn't have any moment where I couldn't tell characters apart). Action scenes are fast and powerful, with no throw away filler frames. There's even a sense of building dread in some parts.

In conclusion, in this first volume of From Far Away it has lots of action, humor, originality, and the beginning of something bigger in terms of story. If it helps, the tone of it some how reminded me of Yumi Tamura's stories (Basara, Chicago), though I can't put my finger on it.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful story all around
Review: This is a wonderful story. Just read it last night and was hooked by halfway through. Since someone already said what goes on it, I'll just comment on technical stuff.

Now this is a pretty typical manga with some of the typical attributes: innocent and helpless high school heroine thrust into unknown world/circumstances, some cocky magic users, a few overreactions, a good bit of sappiness, some other types of extremes and a lot of heart. You can decide for yourself if any of these is bad or good. Personally, I think they rather fit the story so nothing is too over the top. Even the two unbeatable warriors of the story aren't two farfetched and you are just rooting for them to meet their match.

Continueing, we have a good storyline that is a little hard to predict more than a few pages ahead. You're pretty sure how these guys will react, but even when you're right, it has its own , if subtle, spin. The character's are pretty well rounded in this way. They show exasperation and don't understand the little high-schooler in their midst. Now, my only bad commment is that this is where things can be confusing. I don't believe she can understand them either, but it seems she can at first. Either way, I give both her and the author credit for deciding to try to learn the new language she's exposed to now. The other characters react pretty realistically to this as well. One even finds it cute!

The art is beautiful, always with that fake quality of course, but enough of the realistic edge that you eventually forget to see that until the next surreal image (usually a chapter start page). No one's face looks alike and the animals as well as the backgrounds are all drawn with care, clarity and precision.

This is a really good story and being a manga, you won't mind stopping if you get interrupted (a LOT easier to get back into), though you might for the first read of this book. If you're looking for a quick read don't buy this book, you'll get hooked on it. However if you want a good read, go for it. You'll have no regrets.

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: Undoubtedly it will call to mind Fushigi Yuugi with its familiar "girl ends up in another world" beginning, but, as the other reviews have stated, there are significant differences. The politics of the world are entirely different (and more interesting) and the secret Izark holds has the potential to be terrible for both him and Noriko. Another good thing is that there aren't simply hordes of men drooling to get together with Noriko. I wish they'd made this into an anime; I've always wanted cels of Izark! He's so very kakkoii!