Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Vol. 1: The Labyrinth of Magic - Softcover

Shinobu Ohtaka

Softcover

ISBN 10: 142155951X ISBN 13: 9781421559513

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC, 2013

Synopsis

An epic dungeon-busting adventure inspired by One Thousand and One Nights!

Deep within the desert lie the mysterious Dungeons, vast stores of riches there for the taking by anyone lucky enough to find them and brave enough to venture into the depths from where few have ever returned. Plucky young adventurer Aladdin means to find the Dungeons and their riches, but Aladdin may be just as mysterious as the treasures he seeks.

Together with the djinn Ugo and his friend Alibaba, Aladdin sets out to find his fortune in the depths of the endless dunes...

About this title

Reviews

Although characters like Aladdin and Ali Baba appear in Ohtaka's (Sumomomo Momomo) riff on One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, they bear little resemblance to their namesakes. Instead, they, and the series, have more in common with typical shonen fare (i.e. manga aimed at adolescent boys): Aladdin, a naïve yet extraordinarily powerful youngster, partners with Alibaba, a materialistic yet good-hearted caravan driver, to explore and conquer 14 mysterious and treasure-laden dungeons scattered throughout the world. By blowing into his magic flute, Aladdin can summon the hulking body parts (but not the head) of his djinn, Ugo. It's a highly effective and visually comedic power reminiscent of the elastic body of Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece. In fact, the series reads remarkably like a landlocked version of that bestselling pirate serial, but ultimately lacks enough distinction to avoid feeling like a retread. Ohtaka's art also does little to distinguish the series from the herd of comedic adventure manga, but it doesn't misstep anywhere and is sure to please its target audience. (Aug.)

Edition details

• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 142155951X
• ISBN 13: 9781421559513
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 200