3 x 3 Eyes, Vol. 6: Key to the Sacred Land

Pai, the beautiful 300-year-old amnesiac mystic, and her companion-cum-immortal slave, Tokyo student Yakumo Fujii, search China for ancient relics to provide clues to the location of Pai's hidden Tibetan homeland, where Pai's memories can be restored. But the two are not the only ones in search of these objects. Both the dashing relic-hunter Jake McDonald and the nefarious Choukai, are trying to get their mitts on a certain mystic incense burner. And when Choukai traps Pai within a sorcerous binding circle, Yakumo is torn by the fateful decision of whether or not to pay the artifact as ransom to free Pai and by doing so, dooming Pai's memories and his own chance of returning to his mortal existence.

Adult/High School-Sanjiyan Pai and her faithful bodyguard Yakumo finally locate an artifact that is rumored to be the gate key to the Tibetan homeland of the Sanjiyan. The only problem is that Jake MacDonald, a treasure hunter obsessed with the Sanjiyan, and Choukai, Pai's enemy, are also trying to get their hands on it. What follows is a series of fights, kidnappings, escapes, and sudden team-ups straight out of an adventure movie. Sacred Land focuses less on the characters and their relationships than does Summoning of the Beast (Dark Horse, 2002), but the action is exciting and propels the story even closer to the legendary homeland of the Sanjiyan-because of course Pai and Yakumo end up with the key. The black-and-white art moves the plot along swiftly, with lots of cinematic angles and action. Pai spends most of the book in her underwear, but despite a few girlish moments like shrieking at a bug, she pulls through and shows more spine and compassion than the average adventure heroine. There's also some brief nudity from a few of Choukai's magical servants. Yakumo continues to be a charming and resourceful hero in this fun blend of action, horror, and romance.
Susan Salpini, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Takada's latest stars Pai, a 14-year-old girl who houses a 300-year-old Sanjiyan in her body. The Sanjiyan, an ancient and mystical Tibetan people who posses a third eye, were mysteriously wiped out, and Pai is the sole survivor. Through the Sanjiyan, she has strange, magical powers, but she has no memory of her Sanjiyan past or that she is part Sanjiyan. In this tale, Pai experiences a rude awakening as her Sanjiyan unleashes itself and takes over her body. Its first act is to throw out Pai's school bag, which contains a precious amulet that has the power to control the Sanjiyan. It then proceeds to wreak havoc on the people of downtown Tokyo, tearing up pay phones, streetlights and mailboxes. When Pai wakes up, she finds her room full of these things but no memory of how they got there. The Sanjiyan awakening is due to its desire (and Pai's) to regain her memories. Pai's boyfriend, Yakumo, who's distressed because Pai doesn't remember loving him, facilitates much of the research in regaining Pai's memory. Takada's masterful story flows smoothly and fairly quickly while unraveling the mystery at an even pace. He focuses on and develops different facets of Pai's life: her third eye, the wakening being inside her, the history and mystery of her Sanjiyan and her involvement with and growing love for Yakumo. The startlingly cute b&w drawings of Pai and graphic frames of Yakumo getting chewed up and spit out will delight young readers.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.