XOGENASYS (VOL. 1), from Noir Caesar Entertainment and TokyoPop on 7/25/23, follows young Darius Smith, an artist and fighter who can’t get away from the social ills troubling his neighborhood… until he receives an offer he can’t refuse.
The Details
- Written by: Tre McIntosh, Nikolas Draper-Ivey, Johnny O’Bryant III
- Art by: Nikolas Draper-Ivey
- Colors by: Nikolas Draper-Ivey
- Letters by: Nikolas Draper-Ivey
- Cover art by: Nikolas Draper-Ivey
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $13.99
- Release date: July 25, 2023
Is It Good?
XOGENASYS (VOL. 1) is the latest Manga-inspired collaboration from Noir Caesar and TokyoPop about a young man who catches the eye of a fight promoter and receives an offer to fight in the future’s most brutal gladiator-styled sport. Filled with hard-hitting art and harder-hitting drama, Tre McIntosh’s script gives readers a legendary hero in the making.
McIntosh’s story centers on Darius Smith, a fifteen-year-old student with an artist’s eye and a brawler’s fists. When Darius gets in one-too-many fights defending himself against the local gang, landing him in trouble with the law, Darius receives an unexpected offer to take his fighting skills to professional levels.
What’s great about this volume? McIntosh takes the Manga-inspired writing to heart by creating, in Darius, an underdog you immediately want to root for. Darius has natural talents, but he has to be forged into the champion he might be, so McIntosh puts Darius through the wringer with outlandishly tough training, run-ins with the local gang that could spell trouble down the road, and the beginning of Darius’s first match, which looks like an impossible fight. All the standard Shonen tropes are present, so Manga fans or fans of the classic hero’s journey will take to Darius instantly.
What’s not so great about this volume? Storywise, nothing. McIntosh delivers the goods on practically every level. However…
How’s the art? Nikolas Draper-Ivey almost gets it. The character designs are distinctive, the action choreography moves with intensity and energy, and Draper-Ivey hits the dramatic beats perfectly. That said, the inks are too sloppy. Yes, you could argue that blotchy inks are a specific creative choice and style, but style should never come at the expense of clarity. There are several panels where the inks are so loose, you can’t tell what you’re seeing. A blob is not an artistic expression. The inks need to be cleaner/tighter.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with an introduction to Darius Smith, a good student, artist, and fighter who constantly worries about his mother and sister after his father died in an off-world accident. Darius would love to fight in the XO games, and he even has sketches to design his own XO suit, but he’s too young, and the troubles of life make the prospect of a professional career seem far away.
Those troubles hit home when Darius gets in trouble for too many fights with the local gangs. His fights are all self-defense, but the authorities don’t care. Darius is warned that he risks juvenile detention and jail if he gets into another fight. The Flaming 60 gang is determined to recruit anyone who can handle themselves, so they eventually set their sight on Darius. The Flaming 60s won’t take no for an answer, leading to another fight and arrest for Darius.
At the police station, Darius is approached by famous fight team owner and promoter, Prince Mustafa, after Darius’s fight was caught on video and went viral. We continue the volume with an offer, brutal training, brutal fighting, and unexpected revenge.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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XOGENASYS (VOL. 1) delivers a classic, Manga-inspired underdog in the form of a student, artist, and fighter given the chance to overcome his poor circumstances by stepping into the ring. McIntosh’s sense of timing, character-building, and plot progression are excellent. Draper-Ivey has the right eye for drama and fight choreography, but the inks are too loose and sloppy.
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