Product Description
Jubei has been hired to find the Figurehead of Souls, a magical item that grants immeasurable power to whoever wields it. Joined by his loyal sidekick Carpet and novice adventurer Pipilotta, Jubei enters the mysterious island where his treasure lies hidden. But nobody ever said that being a Treasure Hunter was easy, and Jubei finds himself face to face against a possessed Carpet! What happens when friends become enemies?
In many ways Treasure Hunter reminds me of those old Sinbad fantasy films of the 1970’s mixed with a heavy dose of slapstick Manga humor. Hitoshi Tomizawa’s Treasure Hunter vol. 2 picks up right where the first volume left off as Jubei, the world’s greatest treasure hunter along with his faithful companion Carpet, and spirit medium-in-training Pipilotta are hot on the trail of the artifact known as the Figurehead of Souls. Jubei had been contracted to find the artifact by Admiral Brad who wants the figure head to make him the greatest power in the seas. The trio have tracked the Figurehead to Jelly Island, the place where the souls of criminals go when they die and no human dares to set foot…except for our insane group of heroes. Jubei is battling off the spirits who want to steal their bodies with cans of spirit repellant and just as his last can runs out they are rescued by the warden of the island who’s amazed to see humans on the island.
She tells the group that they can find the Figurehead deep in the Underground Brig and off they go, blindly into even more trouble with the Trees of Happiness who aren’t so very happy. Then further they go underground where they will encounter giant land eels, talking and over protective crab mothers, and an artistic frog who likes to use living subjects as models for his multitude of statues. And why are there hundreds of Figureheads of Souls lying about? Treasure hunter is part Sinbad, part Indiana Jones (if someone like Will Ferrell played him). Jubei seems to have more tricks in his little bag than Batman has in his utility belt, one of the best being the “Compass Turtle”. All great fun with a less traditional Manga art style, Treasure Hunter is a blast to read and the ending is just hysterical.
Reviewed by Tim Janson
Comment by Haldis — November 21, 2009 @ 10:38 pm