Air Gear 01 Manga

Grade 10 Up–Itsuki is a 13-year-old inline skater who has been informally adopted by the Noyamano family. After a vicious beating and sexual assault by the Westside skate gang, the Skull Saders, he discovers that his adopted sisters are all members of the infamous and mysterious gang of riders, the Sleeping Forest. He further learns that there is an entire secret, multilayered world of skate culture that he is only beginning to understand. Combat scenes lack definition and clarity, as such flair seems to be reserved for a series of stunning set pieces showcasing the spectacle of speed and flight that the riders can achieve. Itsuki is presented both as a screwup and a success, which is a difficult dynamic to pull off, making his character inconsistent and tough to empathize with. This is compounded by the uncomfortable sexual crudity that permeates the dialogue and circumstances: statutory rape is one of the punishments levied when Itsuki loses a match. A number of Internet fans have reacted with glee that Ballantine is publishing the book, but purchasers should be aware of some of the dubious cultural content.–Benjamin Russell, The Derryfield School, Manchester, NH