Train + Train Volume 1
by Pedro RodriguezSorry but, we have a problem here.
-Reiichi Sakahusa
In a distant solar system, there is an artificial planet called Deloca. Considered the crowning achievement of humanity, the people there credit all of their success to a unique form of education. Students fifteen years of get onboard what is called a School Train. These city sized trains travel from city to city where teenagers take classes. The stops vary depending on what field you plan to study under, including general education. The classes are quite abundant to the point where it's common for teenagers from other planets to join one on a daily basis. But there is one train that is different from the rest of fleet; it is a train that only comes once every so often. Its level of standards exceeds Deloca's already high expectations. It is simply called the Special Train.
Enter Reiichi Sakahusa, a fifteen year old boy from the planet Migella. Accompanied by his childhood friend Liae Igarashi, the two of them have arrived at Deloca's capital Ideo City to board the school train of general education. Upon arrival Liae accidentally offends a Winzbeel (cat like behemoth), and is physically threatened by him. Reiichi tries to intervene, but is no match for the giant being. Just then, fate intervenes when another fifteen year old girl arrives at the scene to help him (in exchange for food). Liae takes the stranger on her offer, and a few moments later, the three of them make their escape to a Chinese Restaurant. After paying her back in rice bowls and pork buns, they learn that her name is Arena, and her goal is to get on the Special Train despite her grandfather's disapproval (and hindrance). Just then one such obstruction appears in the form of a man. Hired by Arena's grandfather, he has been told to bring her back, even if it means beating her to a pulp. This time it is Reiichi that intervenes and saves her from being handcuffed to the man. Unfortunately he ends up getting handcuffed to her instead. According to the timer on the cuffs, they are set to unlock in 99 hours and 46 minutes. With only forty minutes before both trains leave, Liae goes to find something to cut the heavy duty wire with, but when she returns the two of them have already left, and the next time she sees him, he will be jumping for his life as he boards the Special Train.
If you've heard of the name Hideyuki Kurata, chances are you're familiar with his work as the screenwriter for the ROD series. He is currently working with director Koji Masunari and producer Tomonori Ochikoshi under the shared penman "Besame Mucho" and is working on his second project with them Kamichu. A year before these three introduced us to "The Paper" Mr. Kurata created Train + Train, a sci-fi comedy that hits a few snags in the relationship development, but shows promise.
This manga uses a lot of familiar themes; the geeky highschool boy, the childhood friend that doesn't want to admit that she likes him, the young nun that is out of touch with reality and has no problem converting people by force, you know the usual. The speed of the story is adequate and moving at a steady pace, but there isn't much happening in the comic that helps it stick out from the rest of the pack. The action can be an exciting, but you can almost tell what they are going to do or say before it happens. The co-stars almost fall under to your average odd couple. With his traditional black uniform buttoned up to the collar, Reiichi has a tendency to be labeled as a pushover. He does however have some sense of pride, and is not afraid to speak his mind (though the bath scene with the paper bag over his head, seriously dude). His biggest hindrance is that he lacks any kind of training in self-defense, so while he is willing to contest people's off base opinions or motives, he is prone to getting beaten up over it. Because of Arena's dominant personality overshadows Reiichi's almost submissive nature, she is usually the one that calls the shots for the duo.
Though the difference in skills and ambition help the reader get an idea of what the characters are like, it also hurts the story at times. After hearing Reiichi's plans after graduation (average home, average job...) readers may wonder why did he even come to an advanced school in the first place. It is also with a sense of irony that Aren's skills effect the story in a more subtle but negative way. While the story sets her up as a polar opposite of Reiichi, as time goes on you find that she has learned many more life lessons compared to him. To summarize, she turns out to be more of an upperclassman that is ahead in the race, instead than a pacing partner that is learning things with him. This cloud does have a silver lining. If Reiichi is able to stand his ground while in the spotlight, then he may have a chance in teaching his partner a thing or two as time goes on. The artwork has its good and bad points as well. The facial expressions and body language feel appropriate with what is happening at the time. Again, ironically Arena's issues with her personality seem to have an affect in how she looks in any given scene. And while again the issue is again subtle, it's hard to stand behind her and cheer her on with the way she looks. Maybe it's just the guy in me, who knows.
The story is currently seated in the average section, without anything to really throw it in one direction or another. Bear in mind, a lot of titles have ended in the same position and have become a hit over time, so it's too early to count it out. If Reiichi could stand more in the spotlight and strut his stuff (because he does have something to contribute) then the story could go places.
| >> To Gallery |
