Spirit of Wonder

Spirit of Wonder [スピリット オブ ワンダー] #1-3

by Kenji Tsuruta, Dana Lewis, Toren Smith

China is a lovely young woman, the kind of beauty people write songs about or name stars after. She's as spectacular as Fourth-of-July fireworks and as striking as lightning, and Jim Floyd — the technical assistant to the crazed Professor Breckenridge — just got struck! In fact, he'd give China the moon if he could. Odd thing is, he can. So that's just what he intends to do. Spirit of Wonder is a delightfully touching tale by one of Japan's most respected manga masters.

Genres: Manga, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Comics Manga, Fiction

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Kenji Tsuruta (in Japanese, 鶴田謙二) is a Japanese manga artist. Among his most famous works is the science fiction series Spirit of Wonder, which has been adapted into an anime series and brought him much acclaim.

During his years in university as a student of optical science, Tsuruta, initially wanting to be a photographer, encountered works of Yukinobu Hoshino, which had inspired him to create manga. Soon after graduating, he wrote numerous dōjinshi and was an assistant to many manga artists, prior to making his debut as a professional manga artist in 1986.

Tsuruta received the 31st, 32nd, and 44th Seiun Awards for outstanding artist of the year in 2000, 2001, and in 2013. He also received the Hayakawa Award for best illustrator in 2000.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ...yea...I'm not sure how I feel about this one... it is not what I thought it would be and there are a lot of things about it that aren't funny or cute but inappropriate...yea i was disappointed because i read Tsuruta's Wandering Island and loved it. So.

[Zingsho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sci-Fi Crazy MAnga! It's so out of normal innovation with science actually defying it along with optical illusions(in terms of my understanding in science, not a science student here hehehe!). I love the environment, the characters and specially the old pervert genius!
The illustrations are unlike the manga features since MR.Kenji Tsuruta style are more realistic alike.
Fun,rich and Yes you will learn some extraordinary physics science there !laughs!

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and humorous manga that revolves around a Chinese restaurant owner, lovingly known as Miss China, and her two good-for-nothing inventor scientist tenants who never seem to be able to pay the rent. Tsuruta's attention to detail in his drawings is what sets him apart from many of the other mainstream manga artists.

[Tiliqua · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, the art is great and the actual sci fi story parts and romance bits are very sweet.

this was the first flipped format manga I read, and it made the paneling really difficult to follow. I think the author also naturally seem to skip some storytelling panels, which added to my trouble reading it.

the racism coupled with the sexism is very in your face. I think it is not exactly a product of its time, not a grasp for the specific audience, but rather a reflection of the authors wishes.

if the Asian girl wasn't called China, didn't speak like a baby, didn't have violent "emotional" outbursts when she kept having to put up with having her body grabbed all the time then this would've been a great early cyberpunk setting. it would even have been a cute story.

[Zaki Monzer · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5, the miss china town story was the best and the other should've been as long as it, great art and story telling but it really should've sticken to whats good in the story and minimize the pervert stuff, nice imagination for inventions tho

[August West · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a good story, but there was a part in the book that i really didnt enjoy.

[Nuno · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lighthearted set of stories which have its charm. The art really adds to the characters and the overall feel.