Mangawhore - Jing: King of Bandits
Saturday, February 16th, 2008
Instead of the typical 10 word summary, I think I’ll talk a little more in depth about Jing.
King of Bandit Jing has really had quite an impact on my manga and anime viewing/watching. It really is a peculiar series. I got introduced through the Newtype Magazine (which is, in my opinion, a very informative and useful magazine, despite the obvious heavy advertisements that remain pervasive throughout the whole magazine), through a sample DVD that included the first episode of the anime.
It’s weird. That’s definitely a fact.
The anime is fun, but I definitely prefer the manga for many reasons. Jing is all about the art. It is absolutely incredible. The backgrounds are intricate and very detailed. Each time I crack open the books I discover something new. There are just so many subtle jokes and references throughout the entire series that it just gets me in stitches. The very helpful supplement that Tokyopop supplied at the end of the books also very incredibly helpful in explaining a lot of the references and inside jokes that the manga-ka stuck in. The cleverness and sophistication of Jing is something that I wish I could find in more manga, but I can’t really say I know of any other manga with such characteristics. Many write of the Jing series as a shallow action manga or anime, but they either simply don’t understand it or see how complex the series actually is. The fact that almost every character in the series is named after an alcoholic beverage seems to give a better idea of what Jing is all about. There are so many allusions to ancient mythology and modern literature that it is mind blowing. Sure, there’s plenty of action, but in a way, it’s almost like an I Spy book, where you look for cute little things that the author has hidden away in the art.
The art is incredibly macabre, and has some wonderful style that is superbly rich with detail. Even if there aren’t any hidden jokes, the backgrounds are just so fantastic and gorgeous that it really makes you wonder how much time was spent creating such rich environments. Bizarre characters are everywhere in the series, and all are memorable.
Ultimately, Jing is a story with style. It’s oozing with it. I really heavily recommends this series to everyone. It’s one of those things that I definitely believe to be a gem in the manga world. I seriously believe that too many people missed out on Jing, and it is very unfortunate. I know I recommend many things, but if there’s any one manga that you actually pick up because of me, make sure it’s this one.
Not to mention, Jing is a real pimp.