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Aron's Absurd Armada Omnibus #1
Aron's Absurd Armada Omnibus, Vol. 1
We are pirates...
Yup, we are totally pirates...
Whatever anyone may think, we are definitely pirates...
We have a captain, a crew (?), and even Robin, so we are absolutely pirates...
Captain Aron is a brainless idiot, and Robin only loves money, but we are still pirates...
Sailing in search of treasure (or not), we are unquestionably pirates...
So, in conclusion, we are pirates...!
Yup, we are totally pirates...
Whatever anyone may think, we are definitely pirates...
We have a captain, a crew (?), and even Robin, so we are absolutely pirates...
Captain Aron is a brainless idiot, and Robin only loves money, but we are still pirates...
Sailing in search of treasure (or not), we are unquestionably pirates...
So, in conclusion, we are pirates...!
258 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2012
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 12, 2016
Aron is a nobleman who decided (with encouragement from his mother) to go off and become a pirate. He was bored and thought it might be fun. Since he's his family's heir, he's accompanied by a bodyguard named Robin. Robin only cares about money and is kind of pissed that this job isn't as cushy and simple as it originally sounded like it would be.
Along the way they're joined by several new crew members: Ronnie, a girl who instantly falls in love with Robin because he's good-looking, and who everyone on the ship thinks is really a gay guy; Anton and Gilbert, two ordinary pirates who join Anton in order to avoid being killed by Robin; Mercedes, who specializes in magical makeovers and who is either a transwoman or a cross-dresser (I'm not sure the author thought about it very deeply, but I suspect the answer is “cross-dresser”); and Vincent, a man who looks like a dangerous pirate but who is actually an incredibly terrible chef.
Other characters occasionally join the story: the King, who is gentle, generous, and may have psychic powers; Aron's incredibly mismatched parents; Luther Nelson, Aron's childhood friend and occasional enemy; Admiral Nelson, Luther's father and Aron's mother's enemy; and Dorothy Nelson, Luther's niece and also the one he secretly loves. Yeah, you read that right – Luther's brother is only his half-brother, and also old enough that Luther and Dorothy are about the same age, which is how Luther justifies his incestuous feelings for her.
This was one of my used bookstore finds, and it was a disappointment. Unfortunately, I also have the second volume. I hope that one's better than this one, but I doubt it.
The best thing about this series is the artwork. Yen Press released this in full-color, and it looks great. Most of the pages loosely follow the 4-panel gag strip format, although there are occasional multi-page interludes for things like backstories and slightly more serious moments (although even those moments are never serious for long).
Unfortunately, the story, characters, and humor weren't nearly as appealing as the artwork. There was a plot, sort of, but it meandered a lot. Also, since characters rarely seemed to be emotionally affected by what was going on around them, and because so many breaks were taken for purely humorous moments, it tended to be hard to remember what was supposed to be going on. For example, at one point Luther attacked Aron's ship because he had been ordered to by his father. In theory, this should have been a deeply emotional moment, since Luther and Aron were technically childhood friends (sort of – Aron mostly just made Luther do the things he didn't want to do himself). However, the next few pages were all about how Ronnie was emotionally devastated because Robin said he hated her for lying. By the time Gilbert and Anton started going over the way people with different blood types react to being stranded on a deserted island, I'd forgotten why everyone was even stranded. Then they all took over Luther's conveniently abandoned ship.
The characters were extremely one-note and not always particularly likable. Aron was childish and didn't seem to care about anyone – even Robin was more a tool to help him keep from being bored than a true friend. Robin only protected Aron for the money, not that I really blamed him. Still, money was literally all he cared about. If he'd been offered more pay to wipe out the whole crew, he probably would have. Ronnie was mostly just an annoying excuse for gay jokes, and Anton and Gilbert were the ones usually responsible for making those jokes.
Which brings me to the humor. There were a lot of jokes about characters' lack of common sense, gay jokes, trans jokes, sexist jokes, and a few jokes that relied on anachronistic details like cell phones and even an air conditioner. It didn't work for me, and I got especially tired of the gay and trans jokes. They just would not stop.
The most similar series I can think of right now, in terms of overall style, is Hetalia: Axis Powers. For some reason that series worked much better for me. This was just an annoying and tiresome slog.
Rating Note:
I gave this 1.5 stars on LibraryThing because I did at least enjoy the artwork, but since GR doesn't allow half stars I'm giving it 1 star here.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Along the way they're joined by several new crew members: Ronnie, a girl who instantly falls in love with Robin because he's good-looking, and who everyone on the ship thinks is really a gay guy; Anton and Gilbert, two ordinary pirates who join Anton in order to avoid being killed by Robin; Mercedes, who specializes in magical makeovers and who is either a transwoman or a cross-dresser (I'm not sure the author thought about it very deeply, but I suspect the answer is “cross-dresser”); and Vincent, a man who looks like a dangerous pirate but who is actually an incredibly terrible chef.
Other characters occasionally join the story: the King, who is gentle, generous, and may have psychic powers; Aron's incredibly mismatched parents; Luther Nelson, Aron's childhood friend and occasional enemy; Admiral Nelson, Luther's father and Aron's mother's enemy; and Dorothy Nelson, Luther's niece and also the one he secretly loves. Yeah, you read that right – Luther's brother is only his half-brother, and also old enough that Luther and Dorothy are about the same age, which is how Luther justifies his incestuous feelings for her.
This was one of my used bookstore finds, and it was a disappointment. Unfortunately, I also have the second volume. I hope that one's better than this one, but I doubt it.
The best thing about this series is the artwork. Yen Press released this in full-color, and it looks great. Most of the pages loosely follow the 4-panel gag strip format, although there are occasional multi-page interludes for things like backstories and slightly more serious moments (although even those moments are never serious for long).
Unfortunately, the story, characters, and humor weren't nearly as appealing as the artwork. There was a plot, sort of, but it meandered a lot. Also, since characters rarely seemed to be emotionally affected by what was going on around them, and because so many breaks were taken for purely humorous moments, it tended to be hard to remember what was supposed to be going on. For example, at one point Luther attacked Aron's ship because he had been ordered to by his father. In theory, this should have been a deeply emotional moment, since Luther and Aron were technically childhood friends (sort of – Aron mostly just made Luther do the things he didn't want to do himself). However, the next few pages were all about how Ronnie was emotionally devastated because Robin said he hated her for lying. By the time Gilbert and Anton started going over the way people with different blood types react to being stranded on a deserted island, I'd forgotten why everyone was even stranded. Then they all took over Luther's conveniently abandoned ship.
The characters were extremely one-note and not always particularly likable. Aron was childish and didn't seem to care about anyone – even Robin was more a tool to help him keep from being bored than a true friend. Robin only protected Aron for the money, not that I really blamed him. Still, money was literally all he cared about. If he'd been offered more pay to wipe out the whole crew, he probably would have. Ronnie was mostly just an annoying excuse for gay jokes, and Anton and Gilbert were the ones usually responsible for making those jokes.
Which brings me to the humor. There were a lot of jokes about characters' lack of common sense, gay jokes, trans jokes, sexist jokes, and a few jokes that relied on anachronistic details like cell phones and even an air conditioner. It didn't work for me, and I got especially tired of the gay and trans jokes. They just would not stop.
The most similar series I can think of right now, in terms of overall style, is Hetalia: Axis Powers. For some reason that series worked much better for me. This was just an annoying and tiresome slog.
Rating Note:
I gave this 1.5 stars on LibraryThing because I did at least enjoy the artwork, but since GR doesn't allow half stars I'm giving it 1 star here.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
March 29, 2023
DNF
I knew this was a comedy book when I picked it up, but I was hoping for a little more plot. I read 64 of the 197ish strips, but I never found any of it funny. In fact, I just grew more bored as I went along.
The most interesting character is the "main" one of Ronnie. I call her the main because the story seemed to mostly focus on her, and she had the most interesting things going on, of everyone thinking she's a guy trying to hide her gayness by insisting that she's a girl while she's in love with one of the guy's on the ship. Even then, it's kind of a weird angle that's done just for comedy.
The captain of the group, Aron, just wants to have a fun time as a pirate. He does have a noble background, which could make him interesting, but it just doesn't.
I do like Robin's design. He is meant to be attractive, and the artist nailed that. I like Luther's design as well, and I kind of liked his character from what I saw.
I do like the art style, though I wish the manga wasn't done in such tiny four panel comics. I assume this was originally published online, but there's so much unnecessary white space in this book. The times it switched to full-page for a few pages was so nice and looked so much better.
My only other complaint is the dialogue. The speech bubbles rarely indicate who is speaking, so sometimes I had to re-read a set of panels to figure it out (and there's a few bubbles I'm still unsure of).
Overall, I can't call this a bad book, but the comedy just didn't do it for me, and, since there isn't much of a plot, I grew bored reading it. So, did not finish.
I knew this was a comedy book when I picked it up, but I was hoping for a little more plot. I read 64 of the 197ish strips, but I never found any of it funny. In fact, I just grew more bored as I went along.
The most interesting character is the "main" one of Ronnie. I call her the main because the story seemed to mostly focus on her, and she had the most interesting things going on, of everyone thinking she's a guy trying to hide her gayness by insisting that she's a girl while she's in love with one of the guy's on the ship. Even then, it's kind of a weird angle that's done just for comedy.
The captain of the group, Aron, just wants to have a fun time as a pirate. He does have a noble background, which could make him interesting, but it just doesn't.
I do like Robin's design. He is meant to be attractive, and the artist nailed that. I like Luther's design as well, and I kind of liked his character from what I saw.
I do like the art style, though I wish the manga wasn't done in such tiny four panel comics. I assume this was originally published online, but there's so much unnecessary white space in this book. The times it switched to full-page for a few pages was so nice and looked so much better.
My only other complaint is the dialogue. The speech bubbles rarely indicate who is speaking, so sometimes I had to re-read a set of panels to figure it out (and there's a few bubbles I'm still unsure of).
Overall, I can't call this a bad book, but the comedy just didn't do it for me, and, since there isn't much of a plot, I grew bored reading it. So, did not finish.
April 11, 2019
Entertaining...
I just can't stop reading this 😹
I just can't stop reading this 😹
November 26, 2012
Uhhhh.... how to review this.
The art is decent, varying between a chibi style and a more pretty style. And some of the humor works.
But unfortunately, most of it doesn't. And the characters are a little one-note. Okay a LOT one-note characters. The plot seems terribly meandering and directionless, and not in a good way. Plot points come in seemingly out of nowhere, and go back out just as quickly. It doesn't make sense a lot of the time.
Oh, and gay jokes. I hope you think gay jokes are funny. There's definitely a bunch of gay jokes.
Overall, I see what the aim was, but I either was not the right audience or it just fell short quality-wise.
The art is decent, varying between a chibi style and a more pretty style. And some of the humor works.
But unfortunately, most of it doesn't. And the characters are a little one-note. Okay a LOT one-note characters. The plot seems terribly meandering and directionless, and not in a good way. Plot points come in seemingly out of nowhere, and go back out just as quickly. It doesn't make sense a lot of the time.
Oh, and gay jokes. I hope you think gay jokes are funny. There's definitely a bunch of gay jokes.
Overall, I see what the aim was, but I either was not the right audience or it just fell short quality-wise.
July 28, 2013
A tediously mediocre work rendered intolerable by its sexism and homophobic rhetoric (the fact that the "gay guy" is actually a "misunderstood" girl does not make the bias acceptable or funny).
January 17, 2013
In Summary
Beware Aron the pirate! Actually, the ones that really need to look out are Aron’s misfit crewmates as their inept leader gets into one scrape after another. If you want to see all the havoc that one self-centered duke can cause country, family, and friends by charging onto the high seas with a gender bending crew, give Armada a try. And while the $18.99 cover price might seem a bit steep, the book is printed in full color and actually contains Volumes 1 and 2 of the original Korean releases.
The Review
If you’re looking for an introductory manhwa (Korean graphic novel) for someone used to Western comic strips, consider Aron’s Absurd Armada. Buccaneers on the high seas and European-style royalty in castles comprise the characters and settings, and although story arcs last several pages, they’re presented in comic strip-sized bites.
The format is similar to the Japanese 4-koma with four panels read top to bottom, but Armada’s format is slightly wider. Occasionally, Kim divides panels into smaller sections to squeeze in more details. Each strip also includes a side illustration based on the main punchline. Some Korean cultural references are made, but they are explained with footnotes. In addition to the strips, a few arcs in full-page format are interspersed through the book. The entire manhwa is printed in color on glossy stock, and except for smudges on a couple pages, the print quality generally does justice to Armada’s elaborate period costumes.
The title is Aron’s Absurd Armada, but while the main character is Aron and he is absurd, he doesn’t really have an armada. Instead, as the back cover declares, Aron and company are pirates. But it would be more accurate to say Aron is a wannabe pirate with a crew of misfits compelled to follow him.
Most of the comedy stems from the fact that Aron has no business being a pirate. The son of a duke, Aron is a spoiled imbecile with zero fighting ability and no sense of responsibility. Wealthy as he is, he has no need for nor interest in obtaining booty. The one time his crew goes on a treasure hunt, he doesn’t bother to join them. He simply wants to be known as a pirate because he’s bored and thinks they’re cool.
Obviously, such an idiot can’t survive on his own. Thus we have Robin, Aron’s bodyguard. Beautiful and vain, Robin’s narcissism is only matched by his love for money. Between the sizable allowance received from Aron’s overindulgent mother and Robin’s unsurpassed sword skills, they keep the rest of the crew in line. That crew, by the way, consists of a girl whom everyone thinks is a gay boy; a transvestite assassin hairdresser; a brawny chef who can’t cook; and two flunkies who serve as the straight men for this ridiculous cast.
With this hodgepodge of characters, the plot is less action and adventure and more about the mental damage they inflict upon one another. In one arc, Aron’s ship has a run-in with the Marines, but it’s not so much a naval battle as it is about Aron putting the Marines’ lieutenant Luther, who just happens to be Aron’s childhood pal, into a pinch. By the way, this Luther is also the illegitimate son of an admiral; gets no respect from his subordinates; endures a peculiar bullying from his half-brother; and is madly in love with his half-niece who happens to be his ensign. That’s the type of craziness Armada has in store for readers.
I should mention that this title is rated older teen, partly because of violence and language, but also because the characters continually rip on one another about cross-dressing, sexual orientation, and BL (boys love).
Regarding the artwork, don’t let the front cover fool you. Kim does use deformed characters when the occasion warrants, but for the most part, illustrations are clean shojo-style artwork with a predominantly attractive cast. And although Yen Press presents this book as Volume 1 of Armada, it actually contains Volumes 1 and 2 of the manhwa as released in Korea and provides the character introduction pages used in both.
Beware Aron the pirate! Actually, the ones that really need to look out are Aron’s misfit crewmates as their inept leader gets into one scrape after another. If you want to see all the havoc that one self-centered duke can cause country, family, and friends by charging onto the high seas with a gender bending crew, give Armada a try. And while the $18.99 cover price might seem a bit steep, the book is printed in full color and actually contains Volumes 1 and 2 of the original Korean releases.
The Review
If you’re looking for an introductory manhwa (Korean graphic novel) for someone used to Western comic strips, consider Aron’s Absurd Armada. Buccaneers on the high seas and European-style royalty in castles comprise the characters and settings, and although story arcs last several pages, they’re presented in comic strip-sized bites.
The format is similar to the Japanese 4-koma with four panels read top to bottom, but Armada’s format is slightly wider. Occasionally, Kim divides panels into smaller sections to squeeze in more details. Each strip also includes a side illustration based on the main punchline. Some Korean cultural references are made, but they are explained with footnotes. In addition to the strips, a few arcs in full-page format are interspersed through the book. The entire manhwa is printed in color on glossy stock, and except for smudges on a couple pages, the print quality generally does justice to Armada’s elaborate period costumes.
The title is Aron’s Absurd Armada, but while the main character is Aron and he is absurd, he doesn’t really have an armada. Instead, as the back cover declares, Aron and company are pirates. But it would be more accurate to say Aron is a wannabe pirate with a crew of misfits compelled to follow him.
Most of the comedy stems from the fact that Aron has no business being a pirate. The son of a duke, Aron is a spoiled imbecile with zero fighting ability and no sense of responsibility. Wealthy as he is, he has no need for nor interest in obtaining booty. The one time his crew goes on a treasure hunt, he doesn’t bother to join them. He simply wants to be known as a pirate because he’s bored and thinks they’re cool.
Obviously, such an idiot can’t survive on his own. Thus we have Robin, Aron’s bodyguard. Beautiful and vain, Robin’s narcissism is only matched by his love for money. Between the sizable allowance received from Aron’s overindulgent mother and Robin’s unsurpassed sword skills, they keep the rest of the crew in line. That crew, by the way, consists of a girl whom everyone thinks is a gay boy; a transvestite assassin hairdresser; a brawny chef who can’t cook; and two flunkies who serve as the straight men for this ridiculous cast.
With this hodgepodge of characters, the plot is less action and adventure and more about the mental damage they inflict upon one another. In one arc, Aron’s ship has a run-in with the Marines, but it’s not so much a naval battle as it is about Aron putting the Marines’ lieutenant Luther, who just happens to be Aron’s childhood pal, into a pinch. By the way, this Luther is also the illegitimate son of an admiral; gets no respect from his subordinates; endures a peculiar bullying from his half-brother; and is madly in love with his half-niece who happens to be his ensign. That’s the type of craziness Armada has in store for readers.
I should mention that this title is rated older teen, partly because of violence and language, but also because the characters continually rip on one another about cross-dressing, sexual orientation, and BL (boys love).
Regarding the artwork, don’t let the front cover fool you. Kim does use deformed characters when the occasion warrants, but for the most part, illustrations are clean shojo-style artwork with a predominantly attractive cast. And although Yen Press presents this book as Volume 1 of Armada, it actually contains Volumes 1 and 2 of the manhwa as released in Korea and provides the character introduction pages used in both.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2020
If you like transphobic and homophobic jokes, this book is for you! Can't even count the number of times the main characters outright say these topics are disgusting and abnormal. This was printed in 2012(!!!???) so there's no excuse. Fuck you.
Other than that:
The art is nice, and in glorious full-colour, too. I also liked Master Robin, he's pretty and his personality is just twisted enough that it's funny.
Other than that:
The art is nice, and in glorious full-colour, too. I also liked Master Robin, he's pretty and his personality is just twisted enough that it's funny.
October 15, 2013
This is the kind of stupid funny I can embrace. A book that both my 12 year old son and I can love together.
January 26, 2014
It had a little bit of everythingin the story, it is weird how nobody can tell what gender Ronnie is
November 8, 2013
it amazes me how airheaded aron is
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews