Henshin!, Volume 1: Blazing Phoenix

Gr 9 Up–Alex Nolan’s hometown of Hollowstone, ravaged by chaos nine years earlier, has been transformed into a city of the future by a social media platform mogul. But when Kaiju (giant monsters) begin to appear in Hollowstone, Alex is forced to take on the new role of crimefighting ranger, lest his hometown suffer as it did the last time. While the book is advertised by its publisher as “manga-style webcomics,” it is told in a left to right format. The story moves rapidly, a little too much at times, with Alex (who is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community) very quickly going from a garden-variety journalism student to Henshin the Hero with not many obstacles to overcome. Other characters are introduced but not fully fleshed out as of the first volume; Alex’s classmate/love interest Jeon Jay-Hyun, and mysterious savior of Hollowstone Alton Grieves in particular are characters whose backstories aren’t all there just yet. The artwork is satisfying, done in a style that doesn’t scream “manga” outside of perhaps the lettering, which will appeal to those whose graphic novel selections aren’t typically manga fare. Undeniably a shonen title with its ample action sequences and fights.