https://blacknerdproblems.com/checking-out-the-third-round-of-the-viz-originals-one-shots-program/

Earlier this year, I went to the Viz website to look up when the second volume of Hirayasumi dropped and stumbled upon the news that the manga publisher had launched a new project tiled the VIZ Originals One-Shots program created “for aspiring mangaka,” run by former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Hisashi SASAKI!

I love manga and adore a good one-shot via manga. A one shot in manga is more commonly known as a single, sometimes standalone story. It is the manga equivalent of a short story and an excellent way for readers to get a feel for a manga creator’s storytelling and art style. The one-shots in this newer project–which are free to read–online and in the app.

I wanted to continue this series and share my thoughts on the third round of entries after reading them and give my thoughts below! This roundup is full of (good surprises!) with creators I’m already familiar with and excited to see more of their storytelling via manga and this program!

Minor and major spoilers may follow below

Sun Tribe Waffle Shack Index

Story, Art, and Created by Alissa Sallah

Lettering by Marc McMurray

The creative in this batch of one-shots that I may be most familiar with is Alissa as Image Comics’ Sleepless was the first work I remember seeing her name attached to. (Weeaboo has long been on my to-read list and it just got bumped up). When I saw her name, I immediately knew that this one shot would be a winner in my eyes and one I would gush about here in my coverage of it. And guess what, my friends? She did NOT let me down! Sun Tribe Waffle Shack Index features “two psychics and one normal guy, please enjoy this unique and funny story about one extraordinary night in an ordinary diner…” as supplied by Viz.

Here’s the thing: Sun Tribe Waffle Shack Index, as a one shot, is just a lot of fun to read. Sallah’s short is obviously influenced by many pieces of media that we love like The Twilight Zone, Doctor Who, different anime and manga series–it is uniquely its very own story. This one-shot earns an award from me just for the many great one-liners throughout the entire work from “Nothing sane about middle America” to “This ain’t the garden of Eden, b#tch, it’s a waffle shack!“. This great mashup of cosmic horror, gorgeous artwork, and a story that slips in a great ending touching upon the harsh reality of the inability of moving on, this one is worth rereading again and again.

With an obvious admiration for the real-life Waffle House (that is a part of the backbone of America), I love that this entry punches up the weird and imaginative storytelling that Sallah has brought to us with characters that I totally want to see more of, in action again. Those who are chronically online (hello that’s me), may feel rewarded with the later half of this story when the proverbial crap hits the fan and Abbey gets down to business. Bring me back to who I was when I read this one-shot for this first time! Let me experience this amazing story all over again!! Sun Tribe Waffle Shack Index blazes strong with all the really cool fights, dialogue criticizing everything from American work culture to comfort food, and comedic spots that don’t feel out of place in this wickedly hilarious and wild one-shot.

Flux Impellor

Story and Art by Naf

Lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman

Yes, yes, yes! If you read the first roundup I wrote, you know that I was a fan of Naf’s Cinematic Certitude one shot in our coverage of the roundup of the first entries. So when I saw his name once again, I got hyped for a new story from him. “Flux is the divine energy that allows its users to perform miraculous abilities. But how far will humanity go to master its potential?” is a bit of synopsis of the one-shot provided by Viz which gives us a tiny bit of context for the world we are introduced to. Our protagonist, Mr Sang is mysterious man who travels to a remote village that has seen better days with an employer who is shady at best, evil at worst.

We do find out that Mr Sang, mister main character is a Impellor–a human being with the abilities and powers that border on superhuman, early on in just the first few pages. Naf’s storytelling masterfully shows of the narrative of two men: one on a mission to put a stop to someone committing atrocities–and another man well past reason already controlled by desire for unspeakable progress. On the artwork side: I do appreciate the creator’s tight and controlled fight scenes and special attention to facial expressions so nothing looked goofy or out of place. There was a lot of really cool imagery in the laboratory where the final fight takes place that looked horrific but was appropriate to show the lunacy of the villain and just how far he went, out of control.

The later pages of the one-shot zero in the motivations of the big baddie while also allowing the minor character who initially sent for Mr. Sang, a shining role in the climax. Naf really understands the story beats in this format and how to make a simple story stand out with a great ending. While the tiniest of criticism is that the big fight’s dialogue got a little wordy , the big reveal from the hero and the satisfying ending, for sure made up for it. As I said of his first one-shot, I would love to read more of this universe as well–I would love to see Naf’s name again in another roundup coverage piece in the future–he’s earned it.

Resenter

Story and Art by Gigi Murakami

Lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman

I stumbled upon Gigi Murakami late last year and I was pleasantly surprised as I am always on the look out for more Black women artists in comics and those inspired by and who also create manga. I’m also not a huge horror fan so her work intrigued me as well as I don’t always see a lot of folks who look like in most of the mainstream face of the genre. The short synopsis Viz dropped for this one-shot was, “Rippers avenge those who have been murdered, but is revenge ever truly justified?” So Resenter is a darkly beautiful yet bittersweet introduction to Rippers, like Jackie who walk between two worlds with a very important job to do. Vital to the progress of moving souls along, Rippers hunt down the murderers of freshly dead folks and with their permission of those dead, avenge them.

Gigi Murakami brings us Jackie who is tired of her job but knows it has to be done. Readers will get the chance to see Jackie the Ripper, this avenging dark angel of sorts move between comforting and stone cold angry to the folks on her recent job. I could not help but fall in love with this dark tale with a Black female lead balancing the scale and reminding everyone that actions have consequences: regardless of intent, age, gender, or circumstances. Weaved into this one-shot’s narrative is that plight of mortality and how having a conscious weighs down on everyone–even those who aren’t fully apart of the Earthly realm anymore.

The creator’s world is a fleshed out one and the world in-between is one I had fun exploring in this short. I am intrigued and endeared to Jackie as a character and the small and subtle ways this short reminded me that was standing solidly in the horror genre but not a in overly grotesque and over the top way. Emotionally, I felt the pages that Jackie spends with both the victim and the murderer really carried the story and complimented both sides of the narrative at hand. The creator here really did a number with being able to bring out anguish, shock and despair via the artwork as well too. Jackie herself has a full palette of emotions that was super impressive to see that it is worth rereading the short just to study that. I can’t wait to see more of Gigi Murakami at this level and more of the really thought-provoking and meaningful storytelling she has up her sleeve. And that colored cover illustration? I need it on a poster, postcard, bookmark, laptop sticker, nail art decoration, and more!

About VIZ Originals One-Shots:

The One-Shots Program is a showcase for aspiring manga creators, led by renowned former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Hisashi SASAKI! The Viz website goes on to put out a call to action: “Whether you are an established creator with a new idea or are putting the finishing touches on your very first one-shot, if you are passionate about manga, we want to hear from you! Learn more about how to submit your work.”

Read all the one-shots from aspiring creators chosen as the first batch in this exciting new project here!

Read more about the VIZ Originals One-Shots Program and read Hisashi SASAKI’s thoughts on each selected entry on the Viz website!

NOTE: I’m catching tweets and bits of discourse online to the Viz One-Shots being region locked. Apologies to those possibly being outside North America–disappointing for sure! (Try a VPN, friends! And keep bringing these concerns to Viz!)

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