Princess Ai: Destitution

Overview

Ai is a mysterious young woman who is searching for identity and salvation in this world and beyond who finds herself lost, alone and penniless on the cold, hard streets of Tokyo. With flickers of memory, she must piece together clues about who she is, how she ended up on Earth and the secret of the ornate heart-shaped box she carries with her. Sparks fly when Kent, a complicated young college student, offers his help...and possibly more. And when she starts singing hard rock at a hostess club, powerful forces in this world and beyond begin to take notice. Time is running out, as the clashing forces of love and chaos close in around her... Tokyopop

Editorial Reviews

A petulant, doll-faced amnesiac named Ai finds herself on the streets of Tokyo, wondering why she is on Earth at all. She meets Kent, a long-haired young rocker, who helps her discover she has vocal talent. Along the way, Ai unearths some clues to her past, grows a pair of wings and destroys various characters' clothes in the name of fashion. Although rocker Love's name is on this modern fairy tale series, it's not clear what role she had in its making. The story, appropriate for older manga audiences, bears some resemblance to Love's life, as Ai undergoes some existential angst and complains, "It sucks being homeless!" Ai's story isn't convincing, though, and the book's creators can't seem to decide if this series is a fantasy, a mystery, a thriller or a romance. In what must be a strategy to stretch the plot out over several books, no story line is developed enough to hold readers' attention (and Ai's antics-kicking and punching her way out of most scrapes-don't make a good substitute). It's a shame Kujiradou's excellent art doesn't have a more interesting subject. Kujiradou gives Ai a gentle, childish air, and her action sequences are terrific. This series may attract fans of Love and her former band, Hole, but it probably won't draw a devoted readership. (July) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.

Author Information

Bio of Misaho Kujiradou

MISAHO KUJIRADOU http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ci6r-tkhs/ Favorite Foods: Natto (fermented soybeans), crab, miso ramen Least Favorite Foods: Red beans, cherry lobster, cold noodles Desk Motto: If I do it, things will work out. So I do it. Personality: Do things at my own pace. Stubborn. Timid. High-tech but I hate the phone (laugh). Current Obsessions: 1. Dolls ( ) Especially ' Super Dolphy ' 2. Flower Patterns, especially roses and gorgeous double-blossom floral patterns 3. The color pink. Other Works: Debut Work was ' Time Trouble ' in Oct. 1997, an 8-page comic she first made for Comic Ecole that received good feedback for its artwork and cover. First work that received substantial comments and feedback was in June of 1999, which was her 40-page manga story ' You Are My God of Fame ' (a slapstick love comedy). She also received her first fan-letter for it.

Bio of Courtney Love

While Courtney Love is best known as the controversial front-woman for the alternative rock band Hole, an accomplished actress and for her marriage to Kurt Cobain, it is a little known fact that - before her meteoric rise to fame - she lived and performed in Japan and became a huge manga fan. Her interest in Japanese comics led her to TOKYOPOP, where she collaborated with D.J. Milky to create her fantasy alter ego, Princess Ai.

Bio of D. J. Milky

D.J. Milky likes to eat ramen late at night and bananas for breakfast. Addicted to digital and analog fusion, Milky is in a constant state of flux and irk. Life's one reward comes in the form of making stories, music, and lately shooting DV. Milky has composed a few songs for TOKYOPOP including School's in Session (GTO), Initialize (Initial D), and Worthy of Your Soul (Reign), as well as writing Karma Club, Stray Sheep, and Juror 13. Milky is currently in development on two manga projects as well as staring intently into the vortex.

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Additional Info

Imprint

TOKYOPOP

Filesize

40.78 MB

Number of Pages

192

eBook ISBN

9781591826705

Awards

• ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards