By: Shinobu Ohtaka
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Series: Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic (#1)
Summary: Deep within the deserts lie the mysterious Dungeons, vast stores of riches there for the taking by anyone lucky enough to find them and brave enough to venture into the depths from where few have ever returned. Plucky young adventurer Aladdin means to find the Dungeons and their riches, but Aladdin may be just as mysterious as the treasures he seeks.
Together with the djinn Ugo and his friend Alibaba, Aladdin sets out to find his fortune in the depths of the endless dunes.
Review: Within the deserts lie the mysterious Dungeons, vast stores of wealth open to anyone brave enough to venture there and find them. Aladdin is determined to find the Dungeons and their treasures, but he might be just as mysterious as the treasures he seeks. As Aladdin and the Djinn Ugo set out to find his fortune in the endless dunes, his friend Alibaba joined them.
The Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic manga series is based on Arabian Nights stories! A fantasy adventure with a touch of comedy. The story revolves around Aladdin’s magical flute that summons the friend Ugo. Ugo is a shy djinn with a headless body. This book begins their adventures as Aladdin attempts to restore his head. He meets another famous name, Alibaba, who wants to make it rich for himself.
The influence of Arabian Nights is clear in the setting and characters of this manga. However, the author simply uses it as a name in their creation. This manga has a lot of styles used in the art, which makes it difficult for me to decide whether I like the art style. Artistic style is just as important as the story in graphic novels! There is also unnecessary narration that I could have done without.
I found the first volume to be a generic shounen manga. Suitable for those who are just starting out in the shounen genre. Three out of five stars.