Mega Manga Challenge (2): Maximum Ride: The Manga #1

Title: Maximum Ride
Author: James Patterson
Artist: NaRae Lee
Series: Maximum Ride: The Manga #1
Format: Manga
Pages: 192
Genre: Science Fiction
Publication Date: January 6th, 2009
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: C

Summary
From Goodreads: Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time...like when Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were experimented on by a crew of wack jobs. Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb--now her betrayed and greatest enemy--that her purpose is save the world--but can she?

My Review

Why did I read this book? I had a copy from BEA 2011 and I'm trying to read more manga so I gave it a try!

What I liked: I have mixed feelings about this first volume in the Maximum Ride: The Manga series. The things I like are definitely the interesting science fiction premise: a group of kids genetically altered to have wings and fly. I like the theme of flying and it's rare to find it in books other than American style comic books. For that new perspective I was grateful. I also like the idea of a group of young people on the run from bad guys, who also have mysterious abilities, and also some group of scientists who want to study them. I don't know if the story lived up to it's potential yet, but the foundation is definitely there.

What I didn't like: This manga series is based on a novel series by James Patterson and I don't know if it's because I didn't read those books that I was a little lost in it all, but I found I was trying to come to grips with everything that was happening (or wasn't happening). We aren't revealed a lot about the characters or their past, which I assume is explored in other series, before the action of the plot takes off, so I found it hard to connect with any of them since I didn't know them yet.

I also found the transitions between serious events in the story coupled with cutesy chibi manga-style drawings were a bit odd. I'm not sure if that flowed correctly.

Thoughts on the cover: LOVE the cover. I love that it's a close-up of Max. You can really feel the intensity in her eyes.

Overall Thoughts
It's a decent read but I'm still not convinced. I have the next three issues so I'll be able to find out if my issues get resolved or not. I'm guessing this series is great for readers of the novels, but I can't really say since I haven't. I want to though after reading so much good things about them!