Sokora Refugees, Volume 1

Another of Tokyo Pop's original manga-styled graphic novel series. This new title is put together by writer Segamu(assuming that's his real name)and artist Melissa DeJesus who is a part of the all-girl Estrigious Studios. It's take on the time honored tradition of a girl travelling to other dimensions. But Alice and Dororthy didn't have monsters and fanatical elves to deal with. In it, Kana is a girl who is suffering from lack of cleavage. Her friends Julie and Tamara try to cheer her up, but to no avail. Then, a new transfer studend named Tien shows up. He always wears a hat on his head, and it turns out its to hide the long elf ears he has. Tien is on Earth because his elvin brother Tristan is forming a resistance group in their dimension of Sokora against an army of monsters who are ravaging the land. These monsters had taken a voluptuous elvin sorceress called Veila hostage, but she just barely managed to escape being roasted alive by them. Tien grows restless, and plans to escape Earth and go back to Sokora. For some reason though, he creates the portal between the two worlds in the school's girls locker room. Kana accidently falls through as Tien makes it, and ends up running into Veila. Veila is badly injured from her encounter, and transfers her essence into Kana. Unaware of this, Kana ends up running away back through the portal, but now with her body altered resembling Veila's gorgeous physique. From here, the story fluctuates with Tien and his brother going back and forth from Sokora to convince Kana to come with them, Kana realizing the spirit and new power dwelling within her as well as how her new body will affect her social status, plus Kana's friends get in on the action too. All this while the forces of evil in Sokora plot to destroy all traces of the elves in their world. Anime fans will totally dig the authentic manga artwork and storytelling. Plus, furries will undeniably fall for Salome, the sexy racoon girl/nymph who's a part of Tristian's resistance movement. There's lots of gratuitous fan service and fun in this ongoing jem.

This was pretty good, the art was nice, and it had a cute story, but I think that they relied to much on the crude jokes. I guess some people like that, it's just my own opinion. Otherwise, I thought it was really good art, and it was a story that you could get in to.

Sokora Refugees is a fantastically funny new graphic novel from TokyoPop combining fantasy elements and modern day humor in a refreshingly original story. Kana Tanaka is having a very bad day. She's late for class, hasn't studied for the big test, and her friends, the athletic and patronizing Tamara and the ever-inquisitive Julie have little sympathy for her. Add to that she's the butt of jokes from the boys in school who call her "no-can" due to her under-developed chest and things just can't get any worse for poor Kana....Oh, but they do get worse! A geeky new kid in school gets the desk right behind her. Later, when Kana is showering after gym class, the new kid springs out of hiding, slamming into the naked Kana. Suddenly both are transported to the mystical realm of Sokora and end up in a swamp, Kana wearing nothing but a towel! And it keeps getting better for Kana as she finds herself face-to-face with a demonic Goyle who was hunting for an Elven sorceress. Kana is about to become Goyle food when she's rescued Tristan, an Elven Warrior and Salome a wood nymph. Joining them is that geeky new kid who turns out to be Tristan's younger brother, Tien. After escaping the Goyle, Tristan explains how portals to demon worlds have been popping up and their once peaceful land has been invaded. Tien was sent to Earth for his own protection but has no desire to remain there. He wants to use his magical abilities to help fight the demons. It's all very Greek...or Elven to Kana who just wants to get back home. She's sent back but now it's in the body of that same Elven sorceress, hunted by the Goyle. What's more, this body is EXTREMELY voluptuous and Kana struggles mightily to get her shirt buttoned around her huge new assets. Kana soon is contacted by Veila, the sorceress who tells her the two are now bonded together and she needs Kana's help. Soon Kana, along with Tamara and Julie travel back to Sokora and find themselves attacked by demonic insects, eventually driven off by their master the Vampire Demon Kogurai who destroys the portal to our world leaving Kana and her friends trapped. This Manga had me laughing out loud on several occasions at poor Kana's plight. She instantly finds herself disliked by Salome who doesn't want any other females around Tristan. Little brother Tien is like an Elven Dennis the Menace who can work magic. He's always getting into trouble, and getting others into trouble with his antics...like anchoring a portal in the girl's shower! The art by Melissa DeJesus balances a humorous and cartoonish Manga style that blends well with the adventurous part of the storyline. The story was written by Segamu who definitely had a feel for the hardships of teenage girls and the problems they face and had great fun, all at Kana's expense. This 196 page graphic novel was the first volume in this new series and I can't wait to see what is in-store for the characters in future volumes. Another winner from TokyoPop!

I first became familiar with Sokora Refugees thru their website. When I heard it was going to be published by Tokyopop, I got so psyched! I ran to find a copy as soon as I heard it was available and it was so worth it! The characters are hilarious, the artwork is brilliant. I can't recommend this book highly enough. I'm cosplaying as Salome at the next con I attend... Do yourself a favor and pick up this book! They call it gaijin manga. I call it great.