cover image Princess Ai: Rumors from the Other Side

Princess Ai: Rumors from the Other Side

, . . Tokyopop, $9.99 (192pp) ISBN 978-1-4278-0822-6

This one is for the fans of the original Princess Ai concept created by musician Courtney Love and DJ Milky. Rumors is a compilation of short stories by various manga-inspired creators—many of whom are winners in the various Tokyopop Rising Stars of Manga competitions. The book is double formatted with some stories reading from left-to-right, others right-to-left. Princess Ai ’s original artist, Misaho Kujiradou, has a chapter as does Korean manhwa creator Mi-Kyung Kim (11th Cat ). Other featured creators include T Campbell, Irene Flores, Erica Reis and Pauro Izaki who gives a boys’ love narrative. For the most part, Rumors is a vehicle to exhibit Tokyopop’s Rising Stars of Manga—and keep Princess Ai on the shelves. (Fans, take note: the clothes/outfits are not as spectacular as in the original.) The stories in Rumors require familiarity with the story line and characters. Most focus on the romantic aspects of the original Princess Ai story and capitalize on the strip-club setting, where Ai got her first gig. Overall, contributors try to expand and develop supporting characters in Ai’s world, but the short, 20-page length impairs any substantial narrative. (Mar.)