Choujin X

This haunting manga by Ishida (the Tokyo Ghoul series), set in an alternate Japan, follows high schooler Tokio Kurohara's transformation into one of the choujin--individuals with bizarre abilities such as animal-shifting and control over smoke. Constantly overshadowed by his megapopular best friend Azuma Higashi, Tokio has always faded into the background. His reliance on Azuma's leadership has caused Tokio to doubt himself in all aspects of his life, but he sees no reason to search for an identity beyond being a loyal sidekick, because "when Azuma's popular it makes me feel popular too!" When the pair impulsively inject a strange serum to battle a superpowered thug set on revenge, however, only Tokio is affected, turning him into an überstrong creature with a bone beak and razor-sharp talons. As he grows into his newfound powers, he's forced for the first time to forge his own path. Intricately detailed b&w art renders gruesome fight scenes that pivot rapidly into comical chase sequences, lending an abruptly shifting ambiance. Tokio's complex friendship with Azuma, and the ways that this relationship affects his own self-perception, steeps his evolution into a crime-fighting choujin in engrossing frankness and heart. Most characters are Japanese. Ages 16--up. (Feb.)

Gr 9 Up--It's been decades since the rise of the Choujin (humans with dangerous supernatural abilities), which saw world nations collapse. Now in present-day 1998, 16-year-olds Tokio and Azuma, friends despite Azuma's being more popular and outgoing, lament the fact that they live in a world where Choujin always seem to get their way due to the powers they possess. One night, after the two friends bite off more than they can chew trying to save a woman being harassed by a Choujin, they decide to do something they never thought they'd consider: become Choujin themselves! Created by the mangaka behind "Tokyo Ghoul," this new series features a similarly dark tone, including scenes of body horror and gore, peppered with comedic zingers. While readers may feel they're still in the information-gathering stage by the end of this first volume, there's a lot to be excited about in the setup of the premise. It's a fast-paced plot, and the artwork for the Choujin and their supernatural battles is striking. The art features a dark, shady ambiance, which fits well. While there's enough happening in this volume that some readers may feel overwhelmed, and some of the character designs (notably scantily clad Nari) veer toward objectification, it works as a solid foundation, establishing a lot of the main players in the game, what they stand for, and what their vulnerabilities may be. VERDICT While this first volume is more setup than payoff, the suspense is undeniable, and readers of series like "Attack on Titan" will have a good time embracing this manga's eccentricities.--Joe Pascullo