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Writer & Artist: Akira Kanou
Translator: Molly Rabbitt
Letterer: Bensidi Ayoub
Publisher: Titan Manga
Price: $12.99
Release Date: June 17, 2025
Ema wonders why her sister hasn't returned home. Yuko was attending an office party in Yurakucho. Using her phone's GPS, she tracks her sister to the abandoned district. Ema may only be 16, but she leaps onto her motorcycle and races to find her sister. What will Ema do when she spies a vampire holding Yuko in his arms, and a werewolf snarling about revenge? Let's grab a crucifix and wolfsbane, leap into Outsiders Vol 1, and find out!
Story
While the werewolf rages, the vampire holding Yuko explains that he only drank a little of Yuko's blood. Then he grows confused, as his hypnotic stare doesn't work on Ema. So, the vampire introduces himself to the teenager. Tamaki runs an interior design firm. Taiga, the werewolf, works for him. Despite hailing from rival families, the two keep an eye on each other. But Tamaki enjoys getting a rise out of Taiga. And as a vampire, he needs a little blood now and then.
In Outsiders Vol 1, Ema amuses Tamaki. The vampire has lived a long life, and his race has conquered death. But vampires are not immortal. Nineteen years ago, the vampires and werewolves nearly wiped each other out. Ema worries about Yuko, who is weak from blood loss. But the girl also feels responsible for others. Ema isn't a cop. Still, she prowls the city at night, seeking out trouble and protecting her friends and neighbors. Her parents died in the line of duty. She honors their memory by emulating their heroism.
In Akira Kanou’s story, appearances can be deceiving. Worse are suppositions without firsthand knowledge. Ema initially assumes that Tamaki and Taiga are menaces to society. But the more she gets to know them, the more she comes to care for both men. In Outsiders Vol 1, she and Yuko will become employees at Tamaki's interior design firm. The teenager will learn more about these two ancient races that live alongside humans. Ema will fight to protect them from each other, instead of protecting humans from them. Still, the 16-year-old girl has a lot of learning and maturing to do.
Art
Ema is a young girl with long hair, a fierce nature, and an expressive face. Her sister Yuko seems demure by comparison. Taiga is a match for Ema with his propensity for action. He vanishes into a whirlwind of destruction when he runs and fights. He pauses to snarl in his wolf form. The blond man with dagger earrings matches Ema's expressiveness. But like Yuko, Tamaki rarely loses his cool. With his long dark bangs hiding one eye, he regards Ema with amusement. The centuries have taught him to enjoy life in The Outsiders Vol 1. Still, that doesn’t mean the easygoing vampire takes Ema’s assumptions about him lightly.
Bensidi Ayoub fills dialogue balloons with uppercase letters that grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices. Thoughts appear in panel backgrounds. They also hover before characters as Ema tries to understand the new world she inhabits, and Tamaki realizes that Ema is immune to his charms. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a review copy.
Now, let's take a look inside:
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Final Thoughts
As Ema learns more about Tamaki and Taiga, the teen discovers that their ancestry doesn't make them evil. In this story about growing up and embracing others, Ema's world enlarges as she becomes part of a larger community. Tamaki and Taiga care for her in Outsiders Vol 1, and Ema watches out for them. That means Ema can't relax, as vampires and werewolves always need someone to make them behave!
Rating 9/10
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