Metroid: Hissho Tekunikku Kan Peki-ban

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Metroid: Hissho Tekunikku Kan Peki-ban

Metroid - Hissho Tekunikku Kan Peki-ban - Cover.jpg

Paperback - USA - 1st edition.

Author Minazuki Yuu
Published 1986-??-??
Type Fiction, Comics, Strategy guide
Genre Science Fiction
Themes Action, Science fiction
Age Group Children

Metroid: Hissho Tekunikku Kan Peki-ban is a manga and strategy guide for the Famicom game Metroid published in Japan by Tokuma Shoten in 1986. It is issue WC-17 of Wanpakku Comics and volume 10 of the Hissho Tekunikku Kan Peki-ban series. The manga was produced by Minazuki Yuu with design assistance from Izanami Roh and Rindo Itzumi and was written as a complete walkthrough for Metroid. It also provides backstory, describes each enemy and power-up, has detailed maps, and reveals secrets and useful strategies, all through a fully-illustrated 192-page comic.

Personal

Own?No.
Read?English translation.
Finished2018.

I didn't learn about this comic until 2018, but I was very impressed by it when I saw it. It still amazes me how much work the Japanese put into their video games even as early as 1986. Although the quality belies a manga clearly intended for children, the length of the manga and how closely it ties to the game is mind-blowing.

Review

Overall:

Rating-5.svg

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • Despite being made for children, the comic is drawn quite well.
  • Samus's eyes do a great job of emoting the helmeted hero.
  • There are lots of silly jokes that appeal to kids.
  • Early in the comic, it explains even the more basic parts of the game, like how to open doors, defeat basic enemies, use the Maru Mari ball, and ways to collect energy quickly.
  • I like how, even though the walkthrough spoils most of the game, it still doesn't spoil Samus's sex.
  • The maps not only show the location of all the power-ups, but they also give helpful hints.
  • The inclusion of a couple other Famicom games is pretty funny.
  • Like many Japanese comics, the language is more adult in places than is accepted for American children. It's nice they don't censor words that children of the intended reading age would certainly already know.

Bad

  • Because it follows the game so closely and teaches you how to play, the comic can be boring at times and fairly disjointed compared to a typical comic.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Media

Representation

Strong female character?Pass
Bechdel test?Fail
Strong person of color character?Fail
Queer character?Fail

Links