Princess Ai, Volume 1

November 1, 2004
Rocker and controversy magnet Love is listed as cocreator of this cross-cultural manga project, while the actual writing was done by Milky and artist Kujiradou. Ai (which means "love" in Japanese) is an amnesiac extraterrestrial princess who wakes up on a Tokyo sidewalk and is helped by a young man named Kent. She's hired as a bar hostess and fires up the club with her singing, drawing the attention of a hot talent agency. Her only connection to her home is a small, heart-shaped box (a reference to a song written by Love's late husband, Kurt Cobain). Ai, whose look was designed by Paradise Kiss creator Ai Yazawa, is gorgeous, and the other artwork is just fine. But the story, with Ai being chased by a demon and gradually regaining memories, is trite and shallow and relies too much on unlikely contrivance: Kent has a gay cross-dressing roommate whose frilly costumes just happen to fit Ai perfectly, and Ai manages to get a standards-only combo to play heavy metal just by humming something to them. Though this title (for ages 13 and up) may be popular, buy only after multiple requests.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 30, 2004
A petulant, doll-faced amnesiac named Ai finds herself on the streets of Tokyo, wondering why she is on Earth at all. She meets Kent, a long-haired young rocker, who helps her discover she has vocal talent. Along the way, Ai unearths some clues to her past, grows a pair of wings and destroys various characters' clothes in the name of fashion. Although rocker Love's name is on this modern fairy tale series, it's not clear what role she had in its making. The story, appropriate for older manga audiences, bears some resemblance to Love's life, as Ai undergoes some existential angst and complains, "It sucks being homeless!" Ai's story isn't convincing, though, and the book's creators can't seem to decide if this series is a fantasy, a mystery, a thriller or a romance. In what must be a strategy to stretch the plot out over several books, no story line is developed enough to hold readers' attention (and Ai's antics—kicking and punching her way out of most scrapes—don't make a good substitute). It's a shame Kujiradou's excellent art doesn't have a more interesting subject. Kujiradou gives Ai a gentle, childish air, and her action sequences are terrific. This series may attract fans of Love and her former band, Hole, but it probably won't draw a devoted readership.