Title: Eat-Man Vol. 1

By Alkihito Yoshitomi  (also drawn by Yoshitomi)

Nature: Fiction

Genre: Anthology  / Short Stories / Graphic Novel

Sub-genre: - Fantasy / Science Fiction /  Magna

Nationality: - Japanese

Time Period: -  20th Century  / Contemporary

First  read by Dr. Rearick:  Summer 2000

Rated: B-

Location: Knox County Community Library / Mount Vernon

Used for: Recreation

Scripture which Comes to Mind:

Comments:  I'm not really sure what I think of this work.  To begin with it is not a novel although it claims to be, but is instead a series of short stories all centering around a main character named Bolt Crank, an "explorer" in an alternative universe--and when I say alternative universe, I mean really alternative.  Yet weirdly enough characters will say familiar things like "you'd better get out of Dodge."  In this reality an explorer seems to be another name  for a mercenary.  Bolt's skills as a fighter are augmented by an ability which can exist only somewhere else than here:  He has the strange power which allows him to consume non biological items (guns, radios, gasoline, and then biologically reproduce them at will.  So he can either play you a local news bulletin from the Imperial Palace or blow you away with bazooka--all with equipment consumed by him earlier.  How it gets out in a functional format is also rather vague.

The primes is astoundingly absurd, so absurd I am not certain where to classify this work.  Image-wise it  the illustrations look like Science fiction but the main character's powers can only be accepted as magic.  One reviewer of the second book commented on this collision of genres this way: "Not entirely a superhero, fantasy, or science fiction story, Eat-Man features the kind of genre-mixing wackiness found only in Japanese manga."  He's not kidding.

The character of Bolt Crank is also rather typical for teen angst stories.  One lone guy, mysterious and not especially social who sort of grumbles from one assignment to another.  He is constantly underestimated because he carries no obvious weapon, but like Voltron the reader knows that he will always pull out the needed equipment in the end.  (There is one funny moment when a female dismantle feeds him the raw pieces of her doorbell so when he tries to reconstruct a weapon he gets instead a happy skull saying "Welcome Welcome!"

Of course women just love him.  Why I can't figure.  As I said he grumbles from one place to another and he eats toasters.  But the females of these stories are typically Japanese Manga creations--ditzy and emotional to the max.  They all want a boyfriend and they want to be included in the important stuff but they have no clue what the real situations is usually.  Females as a viable source of intelligence and strength has not made it into the world of Manga--at least not as long as they are also attractive.

One final note:  I included this work with the category of children's literature, but what I mean is actually adolescent literature which on my Children's Lit page I note is hardly different from adult literature.  I am fully aware that not all drawn material, even in comic format, is for children.  However, I do think that the lone wolf quality of the main character as well as his social lack of grace and the on going interaction with attractive women would make this work appealing to young men.  However guys, don't look for any pointers on how to impress young ladies.  In my life the "I don't care if you stay or go" attitude does NOT work as a female magnet.  Usuallly women prefer guys who talk with them and affirm their value as human beings.

Here are two reviews I lifted on the same novel from the Amazon.Com Site 

Three out of Five Stars: Good Grapgics/Lacks Plot  February 2, 1999

 Reviewer: musicfam@earthlink.net from Los Angeles, C.A.
 The art is really awesome, but the stories are short and simple. The character and idea of the book are good. What it needs are longer, more complicated stories.  If you're buying it for the art, it's good, but if you're buying it for the read, it's not worth the price.
 

Five out of five stars:  Great unique comic  December 12, 1998

Reviewer: A reader
Eat-man is the story of a mercenary/bodyguard/wanderer named Bolt Crank. Mr. Crank has the ability to eat things--piece by piece if necessary--and then grow them out of his hand. He gets himself into all manner of wacky situation, and always keeps his cool. Very good storytelling and memorable characters. There's also a second book.