King of Kings

Publisher
HKComics
Writer
Hoi-on Siu
Artist
Samuel So
Country of origin
Japan
Year
2006

King of Kings Volume 1

By David Rasmussen
4th Feb 07

Japanese comics is known as manga. Korean is known as manhwa… so what do we call Hong Kong “manga”? They’re presently under the thumb of China so do we consider it Chinese “manga” or is it a category all it’s own? I’m not entirely certain.
Whatever the case may be if you are not familiar with this title don’t worry, this is a small press independently published title that is about as subtle with it’s religious influence as whoever the latest celebrity that is having whatever problems is subtle with their problems… as in “not”.

Sometime in the future Hong Kong has become a city divided by religious stereotypes. One side is the overtly rich who live in sinful decadence and are highly sexual beings… cough cough… somebody drag a rich televangelist in front of these comic creators, please!
The other is the bitterly poor who are turning tricks as prostitutes and vice is rampant.
Bleah bleah bleah. Let’s get to the religious ramblings!!

This is the story of sisters named (and I’m not making this up) “Gopher” (a hot looking female who is a “prostitute in the Old Region) (the poor areas devastated by endless disasters and let to rot by the rich) and her sister slash preacher girl (hot looking preacher girl) Ruhamah… who named these people!
Anyway if the entirely sexless religious discussion between Gopher and her favorite client wasn’t enough of a warning about the content of King of Kings (guess who that’s a reference to), the long long conversation between the sisters about the coming apocalypse is even worst… gee, you two seem so calm about having this discussion about the end of days and all, are you two alright?

And then the story ends the way most hack writings should end.
That’s when the rampaging evil controlled violent flesh decapitating Hokkaido crabs attack!
Yeah. Right. Wonderous. Let’s break this down… might as well.

Breakdown of Downs (halleujah halleujah!)
It’s not like I’m overtly anti religion and all, but this is so religiously slanted it should smell like a church fresh from it’s printing presses! It’s dialogue is either unbelievable at times or incredibly talkative (and by that I mean long) about it’s religious content which just goes on and on and on for an eternity (and this is only 20-ish pages for a so called Volume… I think they meant “Issue #1” but saying “Volume One” makes it sound… longer… which it’s not). The talk between the sisters, for instance, goes on for this side of forever it seems as they seem to just talk and talk and talk, with such weird dialogue! I shouldn’t say more though, I don’t want to get people irritated against me.

Then, if that’s not bad enough, the creators spent a few pages just talking to you about Jesus and their discovery of religion and all that… ok, you didn’t shove it down my throat hard enough, please sir I’d like some more. If it wasn’t bad enough, mind you, let’s take a look at my next review (and yes we’re going to have a next review down the line).
- Possessed by evil spirits, evil out of control Hokkaido long legged crabs (genetically farmed as food) run rampant and destroy Hokkaido!
- Who will survive the March of the Hokkaido Long Legged Crabs!!
- Meanwhile back in Israel the Jerusalem Temple is reconstructed, 103 sacred tools are in place… now who’s going to deliver the Ark of the Covenant… put your hand down please, Mr. Ford. Thanks.
- And… THE ANTI-CHRIST APPEARS!! ARRGG… yeah.

Oh, did I mention this is a future shock story with enough religious tones to choke a unicorn?
On the bright side if people ever come to doubt China’s hands off policy over Hong Kong then here you go, a title with heavy religious themes that nobody censored, and even got here to the US for people who want to read this. If you liked the “Left Behind” series, and the “Left Behind” comic series, and whatever else out there with a heavy handed religious theme then by golly you’re going to like this book.

However if you’re like me then you’re going to be disappointed with this one.
Not a 1 out of 5, but not far off, this not so interesting long winded Babylon of religious overacting unfortunately gets 2 moonlight discussions about the coming apocalypse out of 5.

-- David Rasmussen 4th Feb 07