From School Library Journal
Adult/High School?This first volume of a new series features the unstoppable, indefatigable Jubei, a merchant who will take almost any job that involves high stakes. A sidekick who is half-man, half-flying-carpet, and all attitude assists him. In “Jelly Bun of Youth,” an attractive young woman hires Jubei to breach a temple to obtain some age-defying pastries. After braving unfathomable peril to get in, he discovers a trap set up by his client to steal his vitality in order to make more jelly buns. With the help of a tooth-eating bug that cultivates a nearly indestructible sword the way an oyster cultivates a pearl, Jubei eventually escapes and emerges triumphant. In “Figurehead of Souls,” a pirate from the skeleton clan seeks a statue that will help him to rule the seven seas and asks the merchant to find it. To do so, Jubei must travel to and successfully enter Jelly Island, the product of an apparently very large gelatin mold. Both stories are told and illustrated with humor and pizzazz, without the spastically relentless fight scenes that typify many manga adventures. Tomizawa’s characters are creative and interesting, and his plots keep readers turning pages. Better-than-average art and easily interpreted layouts make “Treasure Hunter” a series to keep an eye on.?J. M. Poole, East Rochester Public Library, NY
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Product Description
He is the greatest adventurer that has ever lived! His name is Jubei, and he is the Treasure Hunter! He’ll go anywhere to get anything for you…if the price is right. In his first adventure, Jubei is hired by a mysterious woman to retrieve a mystical food that grants eternal youth. It’s a simple job, but when Jubei learns the secret of the special ingredient, he realizes that this job won’t be a piece of cake! In Jubei’s next mission, he is recruited to find a powerful statue that grants unlimited power to those who possess it! Will Jubei survive this swashbuckling adventure?
Treasure Hunter is a blend of Japanese manga along with Arabian Nights lore that combines to make a fun and adventurous ride. Jubei is the greatest treasure hunter alive. It is said there is no treasure that he cannot obtain…if you pay him enough. Jubei finds himself contracted by a beautiful young woman who wants him to endure the dangers of a mysterious temple in order to find the legendary “jelly bun of youth” which can restore youth to the person that eats it.
Jubei accepts the contract and is joined by his faithful sidekick, a magic flying carpet called “carpet”. As he tries to breach the entranceway to the temple he finds that the entrance is actually a gigantic, 100′ tall golem who has no intention of letting Jubei through. But this is a minor setback compared to when the true nemesis is revealed to Jubei and he has the fight of his life to survive.
In the second tale the leader of a Skeleton band of pirates wants Jubei to locate the artifact called the Figurehead of Souls on Jelly Island. This story is continued in the second volume of the series. Jubei is a fun character, part Robin-Hood, part Dennis Miller with his swashbuckling, wise-cracking ways. There seems to be nothing he can’t do! Writer/Artist Hitoshi Tomizawa produces fun, adventurous story brimming with exotic and humorous locales and equally entertaining characters. His art is top of the line as well.
Reviewed by Tim Janson