PICK OF THE LITTER, Volume One by Yuriko Suda
© TOKYOPOP
Mania Grade: C
Story and art by: Yuriko Suda
Publisher: TOKYOPOP
Rating: Teen (13+)
Price: $9.99
Story and art by: Yuriko Suda
Publisher: TOKYOPOP
Rating: Teen (13+)
Price: $9.99
PICK OF THE LITTER, Volume One
By: Nadia OxfordReview Date: Thursday, September 27, 2007
Pick of the Litter is yet another story about a family of half-animals who set out to claim a wayward member of their family raised by the human world for reasons that can't be revealed until the time is ripe.
Riku is a kindly schoolboy who has settled into a normal life in Japan. He has no idea what's going on when a couple of mysterious individuals suddenly barge into his business and carry him back to the magical world of Yamato, an alternate dimension populated by demons, anthromorphic animals and monsters. As soon as he's there, he's introduced to his extensive family of cats and rabbits. They're all responsible for running a busy store full of magical items--and Riku is expected to join them as a part-time employee.
Manga visits these magical animal families so often that you'd think they'd occasionally share tips on the rearing of any offspring who turn out to be black sheep. So far every cat-person and rabbit-girl seems content to simply throw the baby into Japan then collect the grown-up child years later in a storm of confusion. The main character's tendency to play along is usually predictable. There's no attempt to assimilate Riku into his crazy new surroundings, yet he suffers minimal culture shock.
Pick of the Litter carries a definite scent of Fruits Basket, but it doesn't have the same thought-out character roster or charm. Not much is revealed about the world of Yamato or the nature of its inhabitants. There's no real personality to Riku's family; their cat bells and rabbit ears are present just for the sake of cuteness.
There is an interesting subplot involving Riku and a spirit that's housed in a statue of a welcoming cat. It's hinted that Riku's power to communicate with similarly trapped spirits had something to do with his banishment to the human world, but little comes of it.
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