David Thune wrote:

Kon ban wa Minna-san!

I just read the first part of Takahashi-sama's new epos, Inu-Yasha.
It's a bit slow but what I could see, it looks good, a little bit of
Fire tripper, with the time-thing and all.
What I wonder is, have any of you read it and if so, what do you think?

	I, too, have purchased Rumiko's new series.  I am a comic book 
Manga-ka (comic artist/writer) myself, so I speek with a professional 
oppinion.
	Inu-Yasha is a great book.  Unlike Rumiko's other stories, it 
starts out slow.  You don't have a "Bam", eyecather like her other 
series, for example: Bam!  A guy who turns into a girl, Bam!  a hot alien 
chick in a bikini, Bam!  An immortal guy getting captured by amazons in a 
forest, etc...  
	Rumiko's popularity allows her to do what almost no other artist 
has been able to do: start out slow in the first issue/issues.  The story 
progresses slowly, lending to much character development while leaving 
many questions to be answered.
	Two points should be made in comparing this work to other works 
by Rumiko Takahashi.  First, the main character is a girl, unlike all her 
other major series where the main character is a male.  Second, the male 
lead bears a resembalance to other male leads in that he is flawed.  The 
macho martial artist, the discilpineless boxer, the lecherous pervert, 
have all been the male leads, in Inu-Yasha the male lead is flawed to the 
point of being downright evil.
	Inu-Yasha, as I interprete him so-far, is corrupted to the point 
where he is possesed by demonic powers, traded his soul to the devil in 
exchange for power.  Maybe like SPAWN?
	Two points can also be made in comparing Inu-Yasha to comics in 
general.  First, the "super powered hero" is of an evil nature, not 
unlike Tekkaman or SPAWN.  In that sense he is an antihero, a popular 
concept in American comics.  Second, the story takes a realistic yet 
fantastic look at Japan's past.  Many realistic-yet-fantastic books have 
been created about the present, like "Code of Honor" or "Marvels" both by 
Marvel, but realistics-yet-fanciful stories of the past are rare.  
	One more thing, this book has what many might call the 
"SCREAM-factor".  Like the new cult classic film, this comic tries to be 
both terrifying an humorous.  Graphic, pulse pounding scenes, like 
getting grabbed by the monster, are interpossed with such sillyness as 
"here, Buyo.  Lunch.".  This should only add to the series in the future, 
considering how positively people have responded to said type of 
entertainment.

Other:
	Also, I just want to say one more thing:
	Do you think Rumiko Takahashi really CARES about us?  I mean, 
sure, she's devoted to her countries fans, but what about us Gaijin?  Did 
she just sign some legal papers giving Viz the right to translate, then 
just give no more thought?  I mean, we are secondary.  A work of hers 
must get overwhelming fame before they even think of bringing it to other 
countries (at least in the past it did).  
	It's kind of a scary thought, but I'd like to hear some 
oppinions.

HAYES

P.S.  I'll still trying to get my book published.  I'll keep you guys 
informed.  I have so much Rumic influence in my work, you can't help but 
read it.