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Animation:
Tomo
Did
you ever daydream when you were 13 years old? If you’re
from the planet Earth, then the answer is, undoubtedly,
yes.
All
of us, at some time in early adolescence, entertained highly-dramatized
fantasies in the classroom, at night before drifting off
to sleep, or wherever else our bored, non-occupied imagination
took us. For boys, the subject was probably amazing acts
of daring-do. For girls, no doubt romance played a part.
But, chances are, those daydreams remained just that. Which
is why Zondervan’s Tomo is attractive to
me, even as an adult.
Tomo
tells the story of a 13-year-old Japanese immigrant who
comes to America to live with her grandfather, and gets
involved in an extra-dimensional struggle for a sword of
great power. As if adapting to life in the U.S. of A. weren’t
difficult enough, she has to deal with literal dog-men hopping
through a dimensional gateway to do her ill, her constant
karate training (grandpa is also her sensei), and the mystery
of her grandfather’s pet..., friend..., or, whatever
the furry “Tomo” happens to be. Methinks there’s
quite the mystery there.
The
first volume of Tomo boasts the title “I
Was an Eighth-Grade Ninja,” and it’s credited
to writers Andrew Simmons and Rob Corley, and artist Ariel
Padilla. Simmons and Corley craft a wish-fulfillment type
of story that, besides being perfectly suited for the youngsters,
could also be a guilty pleasure for adults. Padilla’s
art has a light-hearted flair for action and drama, while,
not surprisingly, having a strong Manga influence.
Everything
comes together to form, not a classic work of sequential
entertainment, but certainly an enjoyable escape into action,
adventure, and even some morality lessons. No doubt, none
of us ever truly outgrows the need for those.
Tomo
is recommended. Four volumes are available, with four more
to come. Fans of Marvel Comics’ X trilogy and DC’s
Justice take note: Jim Krueger is the writer of volume two,
“My Double-Edged Life”.
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