Comic Review: Aggretsuko: Little Rei of Sunshine

 

 

Overview:

Retsuko has found a glimmer of hope in her mundane life when her favourite childhood band announces a reunion tour. She even manages to swindle her way out of a mandatory work meeting for the chance to see The Brides of Resonance in concert. But, unfortunately, as capable as the band’s new lead singer is, her dark side is a little much, even for a metal band.

Rei, the former pop star turned lead metal vocalist, has gained a reputation for not playing by the rules. Now, she is wreaking havoc in Retsuko’s world. First, Rei starts dating Haida, which causes him to lose sleep and work. 

Next, she wants to buy Retsuko’s favourite karaoke bar to turn into her personal recording studio. Worst of all, her antics give The Brides of Resonance and the metal genre a bad name.

When enough is enough, Retsuko must go face to face – vocals to vocals – with this fiery little rock star in a winner-takes-all karaoke showdown.

 

Our Take:

Recently, Oni Press has been able to release multiple Aggretsuko comic books. Three individual miniseries’ have explored the world of Retsuko and her friends. Unfortunately, the limitations of those comic books have been evident. The limited page counts have kept any of the books from getting beyond surface-level storylines. Thankfully, this new graphic novel is not just another collection of short, isolated stories.

Aggretsuko: Little Rei of Sunshine is a full-length graphic novel with a complete 80-page story. The book is written and illustrated by Canadian self-publishing upriser Brenda Hickey. The result is a well-rounded, fully fleshed plot that is a true-to-form adaptation of the beloved hit animated series.  

This title manages to touch on the multiple complex areas of Retsuko’s life. Unlike many of the one-shot comics we have seen recently that isolate specific elements. Instead of a couple of recognizable characters, this book gives everyone you love the attention they deserve. Additionally, all the beloved side characters are written with distinguishable traits, adding value to the story uniquely.

This did feel like a massive heroic venture for Retsuko. But, much like a Spider-Man depends on the people in his life, those close to Retsuko played a significant role in her stepping into herself by the climax. Gori steps up to play the fairy “goth-mother” and get Retsuko to the ball. Fenneko plays an essential piece in checking in on her friend. And even Retsuko’s mother helps her to find herself before the final clash.

Easily, the highlight of this book is the introduction of a new villain, Rei. The popstar turned metal rocker is a mirrored reflection of our hero. She is small, unsuspecting, with another side of her that is packed full of rage and anger. The book shows what Retsuko could have been like had she followed another path. But by encountering one another, both female metalheads can balance each other out.

Ultimately, this was a refreshing take on Aggretsuko. This title managed to blend the source material with the medium to create something new and exciting. Combined with the attentive art style, this graphic novel managed to outperform the expectations. And while this may not be a blockbuster book to replace anything else on your pull list, it does offer more to the franchise than its counterparts.