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Eagle:
The Making of an Asian-American President
Volumes 10 - 15
Viz
manga review by : Troy
Brownfield
Creator:
Kaiji Kawaguchi
Viz Website: www.viz.com
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Volume
10: Gone To Texas
Volume 11: Super Tuesday
Volume 12: Florida Suspicion
Volume 13: The Confession
Volume 14: The First Lady
Volume 15: The Nomination
When I
previously reviewed Kaiji Kawaguchi's Eagle, covering installments
1-9, I pronounced the book a classic in the making. Having
read a further chunk of the series (a chunk that I'm reviewing
as a group so as not to give away too much in the way of specifics),
I'm proud to say that not only was I right, but that the creator
of Silent Service has exceeded my expectations. Reading at
times like a lesson on U.S. election strategy and at other
times like a hyperkinetic thriller, Eagle takes what could
be a deadly boring premise and turns it into a propulsive,
brilliantly paced masterwork of pure story.
To
recap: Japanese reporter Takashi Jo has come to America at
the invitation of presidential candidate Kenneth Yamaoka.
Yamaoka could be the first Asian-American nominee for president,
but he's hiding one mammoth secret: Takashi is his illegitimate
son. Takashi must balance his personal feelings about his
father even as he tries to cover the amazing events of the
campaign (not to mention dealing with a surprising romantic
relationship with Yamaoka's adopted daughter, Rachel).
The
totally engrossing thing about Eagle is Kawaguchi's fundamentally
unfailing grasp on America's politics. Not only does he understand
the process, but he intuitively characterizes the import behind
such moves as courting the Cattle Group constituents or the
proper way to handle a tabloid sex scandal. If it's happened
in American politics in the last twenty years, it happens
in Eagle, and yet, it all seems new and unexpected as it goes
on.
Kawaguchi's
enigmatic portrayal of Yamaoka is the heart of the book. We
find ourselves cheering for the man on a political level,
yet are often put off by many of his personal gaffes and decisions.
I believe that it's no mistake that he's meant to remind us
of Bill Clinton. Ironically, the Clintons themselves become
characters (albeit under different names) as the sitting president
tries to hoist a truly shocking running mate on Yamaoka's
main opponent.
Viz
is still releasing volumes in the Eagle series, and they're
welcome to. This is a true landmark of manga; it's a time
capsule of a particular era that serves as entertainment,
civics lesson, and social barometer all at once. It's thrilling
reading. Eagle carries our highest recommendation.
Troy
Brownfield is the Editor-in-Chief of Shotgun Reviews. Find
out more about Eagle and other Viz manga at www.viz.com.
Email Troy at psikotyk@aol.com.
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