Week ending April 5, 2019

Kot, Aleš (text) & Tradd Moore & others (illus.). The New World. Vol. 1. Image. Jan. 2019. 176p. ISBN 9781534308725. pap. $17.99; ebk. ISBN 9781534313125. Rated: Mature. SF ROMANCE/DYSTOPIAN
In the not-so-distant future, the United States has become completely destabilized after the Second Civil War. The Republic of New California is the epicenter of society and police reality TV decides the fate of all criminals. Stella Maris, cop and rising star of the Guardians show, refuses to kill for ratings. Yet her greatest current problem is her grandfather, who runs the show and is angry about her defiance. Everything in Stella’s world suddenly goes sideways after she spends a passionate night with tech hacker Kirby Shakaku Miyazaki, whom she discovers is wanted for hacking the Guardians network. Now she must hunt Kirby live on air, even as the two have fallen irrevocably in love. Yet soon Kirby and Stella find themselves on the run from the network goons controlled by her grandfather. Kot (Bloodborne) weaves an emotionally intense tale of star-crossed lovers against a corrupt world next to illustrations from Moore (Luther Strode) that render a highly colorful postapocalyptic world, adding a unique dimension to the fast-paced story.
VERDICT This highly enjoyable adventure has something for everyone, and readers will be eager to find out what happens. The story appears to wrap up in this collected volume of single issues 1–5; however, one hopes for more involving these characters. Highly recommended for mature audiences.—Laura McKinley, Huntington P.L., NY

Minazuki, Suu. Plunderer. Vol. 1 : Count 5700. Yen. Mar. 2019. 416p. tr. from Japanese by Ko Ransom. ISBN 9781975383466. pap. $22; ebk. ISBN 9781975383480. Rated: Mature. MANGA
In the land of Alcia, young Hina has walked thousands of miles searching for the Fabled Ace of the Waste War at her dying mother’s request. Having grown up sheltered, Hina is unaware the land is governed by a person’s “count,” a number specific to something special about them. Hina’s count is 441, and, as she then learns, walking counts are earned for every 100 miles. In the latest town, Hina runs into Licht, a clownish figure wearing a mask, clocking in at -999. But counts aren’t supposed to go below zero because at zero a person is sent to the Abyss, so how does Licht have a negative number? Could he be an illegal ballot holder with a counter that contradicts the number of times he’s been rejected by a woman? What is he hiding under his disguise? Here is a typical manga tale with a mysterious figure who may or may not be a hero and who has a perverse fascination with women’s underwear. The illustrations are above average, but the plot is thin and doesn’t begin to bring all of the players together until the last chapter of this first volume, which ends with a cliff-hanger.
VERDICT Since Plunderer has been picked up for an anime series, libraries may want to consider adding it to their adult manga collections.—Melanie C. Duncan, Washington Memorial Lib., Macon, GA

Scott, Sabrina. Witchbody. Red Wheel: Weiser. Mar. 2019. 80p. ISBN 9781578636648. pap. $18.95. Rated: Teen+. GRAPHIC NOVELS/NONFICTION/WITCHCRAFT
[DEBUT] Magic is everywhere—in the ordinary, the mundane, and even in garbage. It takes time to slow down and find traces of such wonder in the world, but it is rewarding once discovered. Written, illustrated, and lettered by LGBT Youthline Postsecondary Achievement Award winner Scott, this first work is dense in both content and artistic style. Carefully reviewed, researched, and cited, it combines the author’s knowledge of magic and witchcraft with her academic studies in the environmental sciences to create an atmosphere in which the supernatural is dynamic and ever present. Given the subject matter, it can be difficult to hammer down Scott’s message, but her illustrations help propel the narrative forward, culminating in ruminations on nature, living creatures, cities, and all their interconnectedness. While Scott’s lettering can be distracting and at times difficult to read, the black-and-white images are thought provoking—it’s easy to get lost in the details of each panel.
VERDICT Good for readers seeking a new kind of graphic novel that explores an author’s philosophy through the medium of sequential art. Those looking for an encapsulated story lacking philosophical theorizing should avoid.—Jackie Watkins, Kennesaw State Univ. Lib., GA