NickMB
02-14-2005, 11:42 PM
Rating: 16+
Score:
Content: 8.7/10
---Artwork: 8.5/10
---Dialogue: 9.5/10
---Premises: 8/10
Cover and packaging: 7/10
Re-Read Value: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.1/10
The World' Most Wanted Vol. 1 is NOTHING like the TV series that is currently being released by Geneon. Even though there are chapters that have somewhat similar premises to TV episodes, the way the material is handled makes for a large difference from the TV series.
It's worth nothing that this manga is extremely adult, almost hentai, but that's only part of the fun. Another good thing about the World's Most Wanted is that it's a manga that isn't afraid to not take itself seriously, making it a good breather for someone who reads a lot of serious manga and wants to take a short break from it.
I have a problem with the cover artwork. It doesn't really capture the fun atmosphere of the manga and is not very visually appealing. I wish they would've used a bit more color and included the other characters on the cover, not just Lupin.
This Lupin manga series, originally released in Japan in 1995, has some good artwork. It's not the artwork you'll find in highly stylized manga, but it's artwork that serves it's purpose, and it does so extremely well. The characters look good, better than their designs in the TV series AND the first manga series as well. The lettering is done in a font that looks like Comic Sans (at least to me).
Synopsis (contains very minor spoilers):
No. 1 Family Reunion
Lupin, Jigen, Goemon, and Fujiko all receive mysterious invitations to go to a place on an island after being apart for 5 years. They all show up, but not everyone is who they seem to be! Very unexpected surprises!
Favorite quote:
Jigen: What's Fujiko doing here?
Fujiko: giving you a hard on.
No. 2 Lonesome Lupin
Lupin wants to meet up with a criminal with some sort of trump card, but when Lupin discovers the true identity of the mysterious criminal, he turns a bit...stiff.
Favorite quotes:
Lupin: you have two choices. Either show me your trump card, or get ready to bump hard, cause Lupin III does it with feeling. Don't worry, baby, I'm not like other mangas! I won't resort to violence. I respect women. I give them pleasure...as long as the give it first.
Jigen: (to Lupin, who's engulfed in cement) I've heard of a hard on, but this is ridiculous
No. 3 Melon Cop
Melon Cop is after Lupin III. He's very good at throwing handcuffs, and seems to know all of Lupin's tricks. But Lupin has one more trick up his sleeve that Melon Cop doesn't seem to know about.
Favorite quote:
Lupin: go to hell! That's where I'm taking you, Melon Cop! It's a bloody long trip, and I'm going to kick your a.ss every step of the way!
No. 4 Love Thy Sister
Jigen and Lupin are after the world's biggest diamond that's hidden in a mansion. Lupin hears the cry of a woman being attacked and runs of to rescue her, much to the displeasure of Jigen. It turns out that the girl lives in the mansion, and she invites Lupin and Jigen to go inside. Turns out the mansion is full of women who are planning a surprise for Lupin that he may not be ready for.
Favorite quotes:
Plo: you saved my life! Come with me. My sister will repay you.
Lupin: I'm rather busy at the moment. Run home and clean up! When I finish work, you can thank me 'till it hurts.
Kioto: A token of thanks, for saving my sister Plo.
Jigen: That's what bugs me! All this gratitude...it ain't normal.
Lupin: (rubbing against Kioto's boobs): Don't be so stubborn you big prude! I for one accept your gratitude. Your great big gratitude hee hee hee!
No. 5 Prisoner transport
A cop challenges Lupin to open a safe and steal a blueprint of an escape-proof prisoner transport pod he drew up. Lupin attempts to steal the blue prints, but it seems that the cop has bigger plans than just a mere challenge.
Favorite quote:
Zenigata: That wasn't Lupin. That was a bomb, *******!
No. 6 Tales of the Tape
Lupin, Jigen, and Goemon train a girl how to protect herself from attacks because she holds the secret of a location for a diamond mind somewhere on her body.
Favorite quote:
Goemon: I taught her the sword
Jigen: I taught her the gun. What else does she need to know?
Lupin: SEX! She needs to learn how to please a man!
No. 7 Death by Surgery
Lupin commissions Dr. Death to perform surgery on him that's supposed to make him faster, smarter, and better in bed. But Melon Cop shows up again, and things don't seem to go as planned. Does Lupin have something extra planned that no one knows about yet?
Favorite quotes:
Dr. Death: The operation heightens both physical and mental powers. For example dramatic increases in footspeet. And penispeed...ten times the ecstasy!
Jigen: Lupin's in trouble. I told him he should've gone for the boob job!
No. 8 186 Lupins
Lupin, Jigen, and Goemon turn themselves in to a stunned Zenigata. Zenigata is sure that Lupin has something up his sleeves. Melon Cop's third appearance. What could Lupin be planning?
Favorite quotes:
Lupin: The real live Lupin, in the flesh!
Zenigata: wipe that ****-eating grin off your face, you're creeping me out!
Lupin: what more do you want, inspector? I've turned myself in!
Zenigata: SHUT UP! YOU'RE UP TO SOMETHING!
No. 9 Bikini pirates
Bikini clad women are after a sunken treasure. But so is Lupin! Who will get the treasure first?
Favorite quote:
Lupin: Lady Sindbad, why fight when we could be friends? I'll give you all my seamen !
Lady Sindbad: hardy har har. (shoots a harpoon at him) So much for Moby Dick!
It's always very pleasing to read something this comedic that manages to also have an interesting story. You also don't have to read the chapters in order, since each chapter is stand alone. If you want a break from the complex plot of other mangas and are looking to spend some time with a manga that's full of zany situation, hilarious capers, and lots of sexual innuendo, then The World's Most Wanted Vol. 1 is worth checking out.
Score:
Content: 8.7/10
---Artwork: 8.5/10
---Dialogue: 9.5/10
---Premises: 8/10
Cover and packaging: 7/10
Re-Read Value: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.1/10
The World' Most Wanted Vol. 1 is NOTHING like the TV series that is currently being released by Geneon. Even though there are chapters that have somewhat similar premises to TV episodes, the way the material is handled makes for a large difference from the TV series.
It's worth nothing that this manga is extremely adult, almost hentai, but that's only part of the fun. Another good thing about the World's Most Wanted is that it's a manga that isn't afraid to not take itself seriously, making it a good breather for someone who reads a lot of serious manga and wants to take a short break from it.
I have a problem with the cover artwork. It doesn't really capture the fun atmosphere of the manga and is not very visually appealing. I wish they would've used a bit more color and included the other characters on the cover, not just Lupin.
This Lupin manga series, originally released in Japan in 1995, has some good artwork. It's not the artwork you'll find in highly stylized manga, but it's artwork that serves it's purpose, and it does so extremely well. The characters look good, better than their designs in the TV series AND the first manga series as well. The lettering is done in a font that looks like Comic Sans (at least to me).
Synopsis (contains very minor spoilers):
No. 1 Family Reunion
Lupin, Jigen, Goemon, and Fujiko all receive mysterious invitations to go to a place on an island after being apart for 5 years. They all show up, but not everyone is who they seem to be! Very unexpected surprises!
Favorite quote:
Jigen: What's Fujiko doing here?
Fujiko: giving you a hard on.
No. 2 Lonesome Lupin
Lupin wants to meet up with a criminal with some sort of trump card, but when Lupin discovers the true identity of the mysterious criminal, he turns a bit...stiff.
Favorite quotes:
Lupin: you have two choices. Either show me your trump card, or get ready to bump hard, cause Lupin III does it with feeling. Don't worry, baby, I'm not like other mangas! I won't resort to violence. I respect women. I give them pleasure...as long as the give it first.
Jigen: (to Lupin, who's engulfed in cement) I've heard of a hard on, but this is ridiculous
No. 3 Melon Cop
Melon Cop is after Lupin III. He's very good at throwing handcuffs, and seems to know all of Lupin's tricks. But Lupin has one more trick up his sleeve that Melon Cop doesn't seem to know about.
Favorite quote:
Lupin: go to hell! That's where I'm taking you, Melon Cop! It's a bloody long trip, and I'm going to kick your a.ss every step of the way!
No. 4 Love Thy Sister
Jigen and Lupin are after the world's biggest diamond that's hidden in a mansion. Lupin hears the cry of a woman being attacked and runs of to rescue her, much to the displeasure of Jigen. It turns out that the girl lives in the mansion, and she invites Lupin and Jigen to go inside. Turns out the mansion is full of women who are planning a surprise for Lupin that he may not be ready for.
Favorite quotes:
Plo: you saved my life! Come with me. My sister will repay you.
Lupin: I'm rather busy at the moment. Run home and clean up! When I finish work, you can thank me 'till it hurts.
Kioto: A token of thanks, for saving my sister Plo.
Jigen: That's what bugs me! All this gratitude...it ain't normal.
Lupin: (rubbing against Kioto's boobs): Don't be so stubborn you big prude! I for one accept your gratitude. Your great big gratitude hee hee hee!
No. 5 Prisoner transport
A cop challenges Lupin to open a safe and steal a blueprint of an escape-proof prisoner transport pod he drew up. Lupin attempts to steal the blue prints, but it seems that the cop has bigger plans than just a mere challenge.
Favorite quote:
Zenigata: That wasn't Lupin. That was a bomb, *******!
No. 6 Tales of the Tape
Lupin, Jigen, and Goemon train a girl how to protect herself from attacks because she holds the secret of a location for a diamond mind somewhere on her body.
Favorite quote:
Goemon: I taught her the sword
Jigen: I taught her the gun. What else does she need to know?
Lupin: SEX! She needs to learn how to please a man!
No. 7 Death by Surgery
Lupin commissions Dr. Death to perform surgery on him that's supposed to make him faster, smarter, and better in bed. But Melon Cop shows up again, and things don't seem to go as planned. Does Lupin have something extra planned that no one knows about yet?
Favorite quotes:
Dr. Death: The operation heightens both physical and mental powers. For example dramatic increases in footspeet. And penispeed...ten times the ecstasy!
Jigen: Lupin's in trouble. I told him he should've gone for the boob job!
No. 8 186 Lupins
Lupin, Jigen, and Goemon turn themselves in to a stunned Zenigata. Zenigata is sure that Lupin has something up his sleeves. Melon Cop's third appearance. What could Lupin be planning?
Favorite quotes:
Lupin: The real live Lupin, in the flesh!
Zenigata: wipe that ****-eating grin off your face, you're creeping me out!
Lupin: what more do you want, inspector? I've turned myself in!
Zenigata: SHUT UP! YOU'RE UP TO SOMETHING!
No. 9 Bikini pirates
Bikini clad women are after a sunken treasure. But so is Lupin! Who will get the treasure first?
Favorite quote:
Lupin: Lady Sindbad, why fight when we could be friends? I'll give you all my seamen !
Lady Sindbad: hardy har har. (shoots a harpoon at him) So much for Moby Dick!
It's always very pleasing to read something this comedic that manages to also have an interesting story. You also don't have to read the chapters in order, since each chapter is stand alone. If you want a break from the complex plot of other mangas and are looking to spend some time with a manga that's full of zany situation, hilarious capers, and lots of sexual innuendo, then The World's Most Wanted Vol. 1 is worth checking out.