Title: Monster Collection Volume(s): 6 Author(s): Itog Sei, Yasuda Hitoshi, Group Sne Format: Unflipped; Right-to-Left Publisher: CMX MSRP: $9.95 Genre(s): Fantasy Rated: Mature (18+)

If "Monster Collection" sounds like the latest attempt to create a Pokemon-like merchandise machine, then you are not alone in this feeling. When I first heard of "Monster Collection" the first thought that came to my head was "I liked it better when they called it "Dungeons & Dragons." But "Monster Collection" is neither of these things. What "Monster Collection" is (in reality) a satire of "Dungeons and Dragons"...well, to an extent. You know, maybe "Monster Collection" is a knock off of "Slayers," that cute anime about a sorcerous who does just as much damage as she does good. On the other hand, it could be all the above. Well, whatever "Monster Collection" is, one thing it's not is boring. In fact, while the cover of the series promises an epic fantasy, the actual story within the pages is that of an epic comedy that has a few intense battles here and there. What is going to sound most bizarre is that I can explain what "Monster Collection" is about, and yet I can't explain exactly what "Monster Collection" actually is.

It's just too out there for me to be able to do that. In fact, you might have noticed already, but I'm stalling this review with this nonsense just so that I can make the review longer. Okay, enough of that, let's get serious. The story (as much as I could understand it) revolves around a woman named Kasche Arbadel. Arbadel is a gifted Summoner. A Summoner is a wizard who summons monsters and controls them. Think of "Dungeons & Dragons." Since Arbadel is a Summoner she needs someone to teach her how to summon (geez, even I can't find a way to make this series sound interesting). So Arbadel is a student of a Summoner school, which is brilliantly called the "Summoner Department" (hey, that name has potential for a huge corporate franchise name). The "Summoner Department" is on the verge of bankruptcy, and their best student happens to be a klutz who may save the day, but leaves behind a huge repair bill that congress would rather not have to deal with. Then a thief break into the "Summoner Department" and steals something, and Arbadel chases the thief. She catches the thief and discovers there is a huge plot to TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!! And that's what "Monster Collection" is about. As I look at the description I just wrote, the description may look poorly written, but the truth of the matter is that this is about as excited as I can make "Monster Collection" sound.

It doesn't sound exciting, and it's nothing original, but the series gets the job done and provides some good laughs and fast paced action sequences. No, this series is nothing memorable, and yes, you will most likely forget it a few days later, but while you ARE reading it you are having a good time! If anyone has seen "Monty Python and The Holy Grail," you may be aware of what made that movie work so well: It took a potentially serious story and made it into a totally ridiculous journey. "Monster Collection" does the opposite though: It takes a totally silly story and adds a tint of seriousness to it. This may sound like a natural disaster, but the end result works very well for what they set out to do. There are scenes were a character gives a long epic speech, it sounds totally silly, but the artwork gives it that epic feel. After the speech is over, one of the characters comments that the speech made no sense. During an epic battle sequence between the summoner and the thief, the thief attacks the animals the summoner summoned. Arbadel gets angry at the thief for killing her "friends," gets ready to summon a powerful attack, while the thief is trying to explain to her that he just knocked them out (and then asks if she can blame him). All this is nothing groundbreaking mind you, but it is pretty funny when you read it.

One of the things that helps this series in the funny department is that the artwork is excellent. The artwork is truly spectacular, artwork that you normally would find in an epic fantasy world, and the battles are drawn most excellently. The artwork especially helps with the humor, as when there is something funny going on the artwork remains detailed, which just adds to the funny factor somehow. I wish I could explain it better, but it does. In fact, the most frustrating thing about "Monster Collection" is that it seems to go out of it's way to be typical, yet there is an extra layer of brilliance added by this effort. I can't explain it. These pictures in the review kind of explain it. In fact, I'm not even sure if after you've read it you will be able to explain it. CMX's description of the book is right on, yet it also completely misses the point of the series. This is a series that leaves you baffled to some extent, because you're not exactly sure how to explain what it is you've just read. Yeah, I know, this isn't "FLCL," but it is different. I'm even starting to feel that writing a review is pointless, as my review will most likely do nothing but add to the confusion. So before I embarrass myself anymore, let me just say this about the series: "Monster Collection" is weird. The series is disposable, but fun. At six books in length, you may be interested in checking out at least the first volume, and seeing if this book is your cup of tea.

- -Review By Kevin T. Rodriguez- -