Reviewer: Mihoshi
Date: June 2, 2003
Amount Read: Shonen Jump Volume 1, Issues 1-6
Review: Sandland is a (relatively) new manga from the great Akira Toriyama, author of the well-loved Dragon Ball series. Akira's signature drawing style is evident, and many of Sandland's futuristic inhabitants bear a striking resemblance to DBZ characters. (I got a kick out of the way that Lucifer looks exactly like Dabura!)
Sandland is set on a future Earth, which has turned into a dried-up desert after a massive war. Water is more precious than gold, and the inhabitants are forced to buy it from their king at greatly inflated prices, or steal it. The sheriff of a small town eventually becomes angry with the king for placing a stranglehold on their water supply, and enlists the help of the king of demons. An unlikely alliance forms between the battle-hardened Sheriff Rao, mischevious Bleezebub, Price of Demons, and Theif (the expert demon theif Bleezebub drags along for the ride), as they search for the Legendary Phantom Lake.
Although I haven't read much of Sandland, it is a really good manga in my mind. The characters are complex, and Akira's attention to detail when drawing the furturistic tanks and machinery is astounding. Sandland is much shorter then Akira's other manga, but great none the less. I would recommend it for children thirteen and up, because it has some mature images, but not too many. (Some of the male demons in the first issue don't wear pants... ::shivers::) |
