There’s some really solid work in Tokyopop’s Rising Stars of Manga People’s Choice competition. Some entries have lovely, accomplished art, and others have nicely crafted, imaginative scripts and stories. These are my five favorites, though:
Ares Maier by Daniel Lucas Cross: It’s great-looking and makes really good use of the short format. I particularly admire how well Cross pulled off the twist ending.
B is for Bishie by Margaux Hymel and Russell Herrick: Superb teamwork from Hymel and Herrick here, combining a perversely funny premise with pitch-perfect art. It got my vote.
Bloomfield Memory by Yujin Chung Moon: The premise is familiar, but Moon executes it with style, verve and sincerity, and the art is just breathtaking.
Minion by Alyssa Farris: Steam of consciousness and dream logic are difficult to evoke in a coherent narrative, but Farris seems to have just the artistic arsenal to pull it off.
The Cacti Boys by Sarah Adams and Christine Wu: Of all of the submissions that suggested a larger narrative, this is the one where I really want to know what happens next.
March 12 is the last day to vote.