28 December 2012
Unfortunately, the curse of Zombie Powder is that it will always be compared to the insanely popular Bleach. In fact, you're probably reading Zombie Powder because you are a huge fan (as am I) of Bleach. The stories are different, but it is obvious where Bleach got its beginnings.
Picking up Zombie Powder, the one thing that stood out to me was how much the cover looked like the cover of Bleach, Volume 24: Immanent God Blues.
So, naturally, I couldn't stop making the comparisons as I read through. Undeniably, Tite Kubo's artistry has become more refined over the years since his first manga publication. There is a definite maturity to his skill that can be seen in Bleach. To be fair, though, that will be the only comparisons I make as this is a review for Zombie Powder.
Zombie Powder is a Western-style story adventure complete with gunslingers and outlaws. When tragedy strikes, Elwood joins the infamous Gamma Akutabi in search of the 12 Rings of the Dead. The story wasn't all that exciting until Mr. Smith appeared, and then it started to get interesting. I loved that his favorite words are "D Cup"! Perv!
The characterization and story aren't strongly developed, but it's interesting enough to continue. It's a decent debut manga that I'm curious enough about to find out what happens next. The characters, although not fully fleshed out, have their own charm. Elwood's determination in the face of tragedy is relatable, and Gamma Akutabi's mysterious nature adds an element of intrigue. Mr. Smith, with his rather inappropriate catchphrase, provides some lighthearted moments in an otherwise serious plot. Overall, Zombie Powder shows promise and has the potential to develop into a great story with more depth and complexity in future installments.