Arm of Kannon 1
November 3, 2009
Masakazu Yamaguchi – Tokyopop – 2004 – 9 volumes
This is widely considered one of the worst manga to come out in the US. My roommate has been begging me for it for years, and I recently picked it up for fifty cents a volume, which is certainly worth it for something as infamous as this. I had originally planned to read all or part of it in October for Halloween, but it didn’t work out that way, so I’ll read it anyway.
After reading the first volume, I’m under the impression that this is the worst manga in the same way that Plan 9 From Outer Space is “The Worst Movie Ever Made.” Certainly neither is good, but both are entertaining, in their way, if you are into horror. Both are comparative masterpieces if you are willing to dig deeper into the pits of badness. There are countless movies that are far, far worse than Plan 9 (Glen or Glenda? Beast of Yucca Flats?), and there are also lots of manga series that are crappier than Arm of Kannon. It seems like it’s trying to imitate Bastard, and Bastard is a lot worse and much less coherent than this has been so far.
Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a masterpiece. The plot is a mess so far, but if you’re looking for senseless violence, it’s not so bad.
I say that, but I’m thinking of all the creepy scenes that are trying to set up the brother/sister pairing of Mao and Maya. Neither are encouraging this in any way, which is why I kept reading, but all the same, the story keeps making the jokes, and I do not like it.
Basically, Mao and Maya suddenly find themselves with a guardian who slays the inexplicable supernatural beings who begin to chase the pair to school. Turns out their father possesses some sort of horrible destructive device in the arm of a Kannon, a sacred relic that was heavily guarded by forces that are now after their father, and soon Mao, who comes into possession of the arm. This isn’t explained all that well/isn’t all that interesting, just know that there are lots and lots of fight scenes while all this is playing out.
The most annoying character, a really horribly arrogant woman, is gone by the end of the volume, but she does provide us with one of the most hilarious scenes in manga history. She notices Mao has an erection, and for whatever reason, decides to help him with it while he is strapped to a table unconscious. After he ejaculates, he continues to do so, and soon the ejaculate is overflowing and gushing out all over the table and floor while Mao is still unconscious, the woman happily proclaiming that the Arm of Kannon has released all his pent-up sexual energy.
I am intrigued, if nothing else. It ain’t great, but it does have some of the cheap thrills I like to see in my stories.
November 3, 2009 at 8:26 am
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