What's Michael? Volume 1: Michael's Album

WM? is a whimsical, goofy look at cats. It is a translated Japanese comic which has had its art flipped so that it reads from left to right. Its origins remain visible, however; for instance, you will see yakuza, chopsticks, and a themed coffee shop. You might be led to believe the titular Michael in each story is the same, but he frequently isn't. Confusingly, he sometimes is. For instance, there is a Michael who lives with four other cats and a single woman, and three stories from Michael's Album are dedicated to this Michael. For another example, there is a Michael who lives with Yakuza K, a story that is continued in other books. Once you know this, it is not difficult to follow the separate storylines. What's Michael?: Michael's Album is the first collection of What's Michael comics, and has been out of print for some years. I was delighted to receive it as a Christmas gift this year and read it immediately. The fact that this is the first collection of WM? comics shows--nonetheless, Michael's Album remains a worthy read. I especially recommend it to those who have already gotten hooked into the series.