Manga Review: Gon, Volume One

Gon is a manga that’s actually been around in the US for awhile. First released in the US in 1996, Gon has been throwing down with his global audience since his creation in 1991. This CMX re-release of the classic manga by Masashi Tanaka, is formatted in the original Japanese manga style; reading right to left.

The originality of this manga, coupled with the fact that there’s no dialog, has made Gon a fan favorite the world over. The entire series is expertly drawn and everything is conveyed solely through Tanaka’s illustrations.

What is Gon though? Gon is a relatively, tiny, dinosaur that somehow managed to survive through the prehistoric age into the paleolithic. With his tenacious attitude, incredible strength, and downright stubborn demeanor, it’s easy to see why Gon has thrived while his other dino counterparts have become petrol.

Gon is now the sole representative of his era in the paleolithic. He travels through the vast wilderness of that time, interacting with it’s animal inhabitants. He manages, through his rather unconventional manner, to tick off, save, or befriend the creatures he encounters. Many times, it’s all three at once.

Since he only has tiny stubs for arms, he must, literally, use his head to solve the problems at hand; either through head butts, bites, or actual thought processes (though the latter is a rarity).

Plot summary

In the premiere issue, Gon is traveling through, what appears to be, the Northwestern wilderness of what is now the US. Stumbling upon a greedy bear who refuses to let Gon partake in his salmon feast, Gon proceeds to dole out to the stingy beast a hard lesson in sharing.

Then Gon travels to the African savanna to lend a not so gentle hand in a starving lion’s quest for a decent meal.

Gon continues his globe-trotting adventure back in the Northwestern reaches. He’s decided to emulate nature’s busiest builder, the beaver, and builds himself a giant dam/ mansion. Being utterly clueless, however, to the effect his “engineering” has on his fellow creatures, Gon manages to put quite a damper on his fellow animals’ way of life.

Later, Gon becomes an adoptee of a bald eagle mother. He helps her out in the protection of her brood of chicks from the perils of mountain lions. Once the eaglets are grown, they never forget their bond with the irascible dino and come to his aid when his stubbornness overcomes his common sense (which happens frequently).

review

Upon first opening Gon’s pages, I was disappointed that there were no words. After “reading” the manga further, however, I found myself unable to put it down till I turned the last page.

I laughed almost the entire time at Gon’s antics as I was reading the manga. Every panel’s highly detailed illustrations showcased the critter’s emotions and expressions. It was all brilliantly done and the the sheer expressiveness of the creatures’ shock, horror, dismay, and begrudging camaraderie came through clearer than any words.

One of my favorite scenes is in the chapter, Gon Goes Flying. His encounter with the mountain lion left me laughing and simultaneously going, “Aww, poor kitty!” The depth of the animals emotions is as plain as day and easily translatable.

While each animal was drawn in a realistic style, the reactions were all manga. Sweat drops, shock lines, and angry veins helped convey the unspoken dialog of Gon’s world. I can’t even imagine how long Tanaka spent on each panel; going over and shading his creations one line at a time. I just can’t, but I’m glad he did!

This is a manga that has to be reread to let all of it sink in. The entertainment value is there the first time it’s read, but going back a second, and even third time, reveals more details and more nuances that might not have been caught the first round. Gon, Volume One, is definitely a good “read”.

out of a possible four gummies.