Writer & Artist: Yako Gureishi
Translators: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements
Letterer: Ayoub Bensidi
Cover Artist: Yako Gureishi
Publisher: Titan Manga
Price: $12.99
Release Date: December 18, 2024
When the forest guardian finds a shackled child, something in her sad eyes touches his internal mechanisms. The metal man frees the Human girl. He packs supplies, puts on traveling clothes, and escorts her out of the forest. Where is the metal man taking her? And why did he give the Human girl a hooded cape adorned with horns? Let’s grab our walking sticks, leap into Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1, and find out!
Story
The first town they visit proves pivotal in the traveler's burgeoning relationship. The child knows her name is Somali but little else. The metal man knows about civilization but lacks experience with those living outside his forest. The inhabitants clamor to meet the forest guardian. They may live in a town. Still, they revere the woodlands for their life and vitality.
Toad Ma offers them free food, hoping to fill her restaurant with curious customers. The forest guardian tells them he is searching for Humans. Some townspeople recall Humans for sale in the marketplace. Toad Ma ate one once but prefers other foods. When the townspeople inquire about Somali, the forest guardian introduces her as a Minotaur. The locals don’t question his declaration. Still, a False Cat with five eyes thinks she smells delicious.
After finding no trace of Humans in the town, the forest guardian and the girl continue their journey. In Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1, the metal man has limited funds for their journey, so he buys an old map. The seller warns him that some landmarks may have vanished. Sadly, the golem gets lost following the obsolete map. The pair end up in a Relict Forest. The only healthy plants sprout from the giant animal carcass of the former guardian. The gray trees and white leaves remind the metal man of his sacrifice. By escorting Somali on a mission to find her parents, he condemned his forest to wither and die.
Yako Gureishi shares the wonder this odd couple feels for each other. The girl delights in the taste of food and each discovery. The forest guardian claims he has no feelings. Yet he argues with her, tends to her wounds, and grows unsettled when she expresses pain. She calls him Dad and holds his hand while they walk. They meet other people in the forest as they search for clues to her heritage. One shares his tale about leaving home and carrying on the skills his mother taught him. Others practice magic and commune with fairies. The forest guardian learns new skills and gets more in tune with his feelings through interacting with others.
Art
Yako Gureishi doesn't waste time launching into Somali and her protector’s story in Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1. One page reveals a forlorn child in chains, and a metal man kneels before her. On the next page, they wear traveling clothes and cloaks, and the golem has given Somali lace-up boots. While the golem felt free to expose his inner workings in his forest, he strides through the land like Aragorn.
The Forest Guardian brings the girl into a walled city. Plants and giant mushrooms grow in the narrow streets. Trees and bridges shelter people going about their day. Mammals, reptiles, and birds wear clothes and hats. A woman with six arms waits tables and gifts Somali a three-eyed fish on a plate.
The golem can appear as fearsome as the alligator and dinosaur-like citizens who walk upright and wear clothes. He wears a lace-up mask over his face and hides the large eye in the center of his "face." After Somali wanders off and he hurries to find her, the golem suggests she hold one of his metal fingers with her tiny hand. She may wander to explore the animals and plants, but Somali returns to walk or sit beside him. When she cuddles beside him, he rests his hand on her back as she sleeps.
Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements translate the uppercase dialogue that inhabits balloons and the background. Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1 concentrates more on character interaction and growth than action. Still, the rattle of wheels through the forest alerts the golem to danger. And when someone removes her hood, Ayoub Bensidi’s sound effects help you feel the Forest Guardian's inner turmoil. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a copy for review.
Final Thoughts
Compared with the giant animals that guarded their forests, golems seem immortal. But everything has its time. The metal man in Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1 has protected his forest for hundreds of years. Now, he has a new purpose. He wants to travel and reunite a lost child with her parents. Leaving the only home he has ever known, the golem explores nearby forests, towns, and villages. As he searches for the endangered Humans, the golem gets a chance to learn and grow, just like the girl he protects.
Rating 9.8/10
To look inside see my preview of Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1.
No comments:
Post a Comment