What do you think?
Rate this book
The Morbidly Obese Ninja
These days, if you want to run a successful company . . . you're going to need a lot of ninjas.
Neo Tokyo, California is a city built so high that none of its residents have ever seen the ground. It is a place where citizens cosmetically alter their bodies to look like Japanese anime characters. It is a place where ninja battles determine the fate of corporate business ventures. It is the home of Basu, a 700 pound killing machine who uses his grotesque excess weight as a deadly weapon. In this city, there is no ninja more deadly than Basu. He's well-trained, well-armed, and well-fed. And if you work for one of his competitors, he's coming to kill you.
The Morbidly Obese Ninja is like anime in written form. Dark, funny, violent, and subtly disturbing. From the award-winning author of Warrior Wolf Women of the Wasteland, The Haunted Vagina, and Satan Burger.
Neo Tokyo, California is a city built so high that none of its residents have ever seen the ground. It is a place where citizens cosmetically alter their bodies to look like Japanese anime characters. It is a place where ninja battles determine the fate of corporate business ventures. It is the home of Basu, a 700 pound killing machine who uses his grotesque excess weight as a deadly weapon. In this city, there is no ninja more deadly than Basu. He's well-trained, well-armed, and well-fed. And if you work for one of his competitors, he's coming to kill you.
The Morbidly Obese Ninja is like anime in written form. Dark, funny, violent, and subtly disturbing. From the award-winning author of Warrior Wolf Women of the Wasteland, The Haunted Vagina, and Satan Burger.
92 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2011
13 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Carlton Mellick III
119 books2,168 followersCarlton Mellick III (July 2, 1977, Phoenix, Arizona) is an American author currently residing in Portland, Oregon. He calls his style of writing "avant-punk," and is currently one of the leading authors in the recent 'Bizarro' movement in underground literature[citation needed] with Steve Aylett, Chris Genoa and D. Harlan Wilson.
Mellick's work has been described as a combination of trashy schlock sci-fi/horror and postmodern literary art. His novels explore surreal versions of earth in contemporary society and imagined futures, commonly focusing on social absurdities and satire.
Carlton Mellick III started writing at the age of ten and completed twelve novels by the age of eighteen. Only one of these early novels, "Electric Jesus Corpse", ever made it to print.
He is best known for his first novel Satan Burger and its sequel Punk Land. Satan Burger was translated into Russian and published by Ultra Culture in 2005. It was part of a four book series called Brave New World, which also featured Virtual Light by William Gibson, City Come A Walkin by John Shirley, and Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan.
In the late 90's, he formed a collective for offbeat authors which included D. Harlan Wilson, Kevin L. Donihe, Vincent Sakowski, among others, and the publishing company Eraserhead Press. This scene evolved into the Bizarro fiction movement in 2005.
In addition to writing, Mellick is an artist and musician.
Mellick's work has been described as a combination of trashy schlock sci-fi/horror and postmodern literary art. His novels explore surreal versions of earth in contemporary society and imagined futures, commonly focusing on social absurdities and satire.
Carlton Mellick III started writing at the age of ten and completed twelve novels by the age of eighteen. Only one of these early novels, "Electric Jesus Corpse", ever made it to print.
He is best known for his first novel Satan Burger and its sequel Punk Land. Satan Burger was translated into Russian and published by Ultra Culture in 2005. It was part of a four book series called Brave New World, which also featured Virtual Light by William Gibson, City Come A Walkin by John Shirley, and Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan.
In the late 90's, he formed a collective for offbeat authors which included D. Harlan Wilson, Kevin L. Donihe, Vincent Sakowski, among others, and the publishing company Eraserhead Press. This scene evolved into the Bizarro fiction movement in 2005.
In addition to writing, Mellick is an artist and musician.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 20, 2019
I’ll get the one negative out of the way: it is too short.
That’s it for negatives.
The beginning does a great job of painting a clear image of this giant ninja. It reads like an anime looks, and there are these subtle details about the ninja’s sweat and flapping rolls of fat during the action scenes that are wonderful.
The dynamic between our protagonist and the safe is nice.
The brief love interest is too brief, but I already mentioned it was short above.
All in all this was well done. Humor is great. The stakes are high. You can laugh at and sympathize with the protagonist. And the dystopian setting at the end had a nice feel to it as well.
I just wanted another 100 pages.
I’d settle for a “Return of” title in the future though, or a prequel :)
That’s it for negatives.
The beginning does a great job of painting a clear image of this giant ninja. It reads like an anime looks, and there are these subtle details about the ninja’s sweat and flapping rolls of fat during the action scenes that are wonderful.
The dynamic between our protagonist and the safe is nice.
The brief love interest is too brief, but I already mentioned it was short above.
All in all this was well done. Humor is great. The stakes are high. You can laugh at and sympathize with the protagonist. And the dystopian setting at the end had a nice feel to it as well.
I just wanted another 100 pages.
I’d settle for a “Return of” title in the future though, or a prequel :)
November 4, 2021
Pur considerate le (non esattamente altissime) aspettative la lettura mi ha abbastanza deluso, l’estro di stampo nipponico che l’autore voleva conferirgli ci sarebbe anche tuttavia viene affossato sotto i kg del protagonista che risultano perennemente impegnati in combattimento. Vabbè che è un ninja e il ritmo frenetico può essere una scelta, però non così; il continuo ripetersi di situazioni - che definire analoghe è un eufemismo - in uno spazio ridotto come questo mal si addice ad un protagonista tanto… ingombrante, eppure dal background talmente smilzo. Troppe botte, poca storia.
Semicit: Per scrivere una storia “grande” non ci vuole un protagonista grande, ma un grande protagonista!
Semicit: Per scrivere una storia “grande” non ci vuole un protagonista grande, ma un grande protagonista!
November 8, 2023
The only book (to-date), that actually made me gag with some of its visceral descriptions.
October 11, 2023
Carlton Mellick's THE MORBIDLY OBESE NINJA is good but not quite great. This is one of those instances where I wish I could award in half star increments because this deserves 3.5 stars but not a full four.
As noted in the introduction, this is Mellick's first try at creating anime prose. And he is quite successful in terms of style. It has the feel and flavor of a manga book painted with words. Truly breathtaking to read CM3 pull it off on his first try.
Where the book fell short for me was more the meat of the story. The characters were great and very developed. The world building is intricate in such a short burst. And that's where the issue lied for me. With such great characters in a rich environment it felt like there should have been more story. The story felt rushed and unfulfilled. It's not a bad book but I'm left wanting more book.
Where THE MORBIDLY OBESE NINJA is lacking, THE HAUNTED VAGINA succeeds. The shortcomings can be forgiving as this is the first stab at prose anime for the author. His track record beyond this is stellar and this is still a star even if it doesn't shine quite as bright as the others.
As noted in the introduction, this is Mellick's first try at creating anime prose. And he is quite successful in terms of style. It has the feel and flavor of a manga book painted with words. Truly breathtaking to read CM3 pull it off on his first try.
Where the book fell short for me was more the meat of the story. The characters were great and very developed. The world building is intricate in such a short burst. And that's where the issue lied for me. With such great characters in a rich environment it felt like there should have been more story. The story felt rushed and unfulfilled. It's not a bad book but I'm left wanting more book.
Where THE MORBIDLY OBESE NINJA is lacking, THE HAUNTED VAGINA succeeds. The shortcomings can be forgiving as this is the first stab at prose anime for the author. His track record beyond this is stellar and this is still a star even if it doesn't shine quite as bright as the others.
May 16, 2015
Every single thought you have when you look at this book is exactly right. It is ridiculous. It is cheesy in its own way, pointless. The characters aren't fleshed out enough to form any real attachment, aren't complex enough for caring about. But the story was funny - laugh out loud funny, which is amazing to me, especially, because I am so far from the laughing while reading type of person that it's disgusting.
This story was silly. It was weird. It was precisely what it said on the tin: an episode of anime in the form of written word. It was flawlessly executed -- and it's worth a mention, in my opinion, that I've not yet read anything by Mellick that wasn't. Whatever goal he sets, he crushes it. Fucking. Crushes. It.
This story was silly. It was weird. It was precisely what it said on the tin: an episode of anime in the form of written word. It was flawlessly executed -- and it's worth a mention, in my opinion, that I've not yet read anything by Mellick that wasn't. Whatever goal he sets, he crushes it. Fucking. Crushes. It.
April 15, 2020
This is Mellicks foray in to anime story with bizarro twist and it works, it works well.
Neo Tokyo, California is City built high. The citizens cosmetically alter their bodies to look like Japanese anime characters and the successful companies within its economy have ninja's who's battles determine the fate of the business ventures.
Basu is a ninja who was at the top of his game but his friend and ninja peer Susumu turns against him out of jealousy for the top position. Susumu transforms himself cosmetically in to a man with a crows head and poisons his friend. Basu is now morbidly obese after been stabbed with an iKatana that was laced with nano-poison. The only way to keep the poison from spreading and killing him is to consume 45,000 calories or more per day as the excess calories stun the nano-bots and kept them from eating part his body from the inside out.
Basu is the first infected ninja to keep working, others have become bedridden.
He exercises hard and learns ways to make his weight work for him and use it as a deadly weapon he won't let this overcome him and becomes more powerful with his training.
Basu is then hired to retrieve a piggy bank that contains corporate secrets but it turns out to hold the very last thing he was expecting and he struggles with his emotions as it tests his dedication to the ninja code.
A unique story with some funny and emotional moments. Mellick always provides that escape in to a twisted imaginatively created World. I would recommend this quick read to fans of this genre.
Neo Tokyo, California is City built high. The citizens cosmetically alter their bodies to look like Japanese anime characters and the successful companies within its economy have ninja's who's battles determine the fate of the business ventures.
Basu is a ninja who was at the top of his game but his friend and ninja peer Susumu turns against him out of jealousy for the top position. Susumu transforms himself cosmetically in to a man with a crows head and poisons his friend. Basu is now morbidly obese after been stabbed with an iKatana that was laced with nano-poison. The only way to keep the poison from spreading and killing him is to consume 45,000 calories or more per day as the excess calories stun the nano-bots and kept them from eating part his body from the inside out.
Basu is the first infected ninja to keep working, others have become bedridden.
He exercises hard and learns ways to make his weight work for him and use it as a deadly weapon he won't let this overcome him and becomes more powerful with his training.
Basu is then hired to retrieve a piggy bank that contains corporate secrets but it turns out to hold the very last thing he was expecting and he struggles with his emotions as it tests his dedication to the ninja code.
A unique story with some funny and emotional moments. Mellick always provides that escape in to a twisted imaginatively created World. I would recommend this quick read to fans of this genre.
August 19, 2011
When I try to describe The Morbidly Obese Ninja by Carlton Mellick III, there is only word that accurately describes it: FUN! I had great fun reading it. You can tell that Mellick had fun writing it. It is simply pure fun!
The story is pretty straightforward. Basu is a seven hundred pound ninja in a world where corporate espionage is a matter of daily life and hostile takeovers are literally hostile and involve the assassination of company board members. He follows a strict code of ninja ethics and obedience to his masters, the executives of the company he works for. While pulling a job to steal a “piggy bank” containing corporate secrets of a rival firm, he discovers that he is not the only one after them, including a group led by an old ninja rival. Thus begins a game of cat-and-mouse (or ninja-and-ninja) to obtain the piggy bank and return it to their executives.
Heavily inspired by anime, in case you can't tell by the cover, the novel takes place in a future version of California which has been transformed into a psuedo-Japanese type of world. Cosmetic surgery to look like animals or anime characters is common place. In fact, cosmetic surgery to look like anime characters is so popular that they are considered a new race, called animese. Rather than basic weapons, the ninjas wield iKatanas, swords with vast electronic abilities in them that make them more like electronic Swiss army knives than simple swords. These are details scattered throughout the book, but they tend to be done in passing and do not become overbearing. Mellick focuses on the story and the character, and describes the people and places as necessary to paint a picture of the world in which the story takes place, but that is all. It's like some well-prepared food, where the spices are added to enhance the flavor but not overpower the food itself.
Why is Basu so morbidly obese and still a ninja? This is an integral part of the plot, so I won't spoil it. Suffice to say that there is a very good reason for it, and it doesn't glorify obesity at all, as some who don't read the book could possibly be concerned and complain about. In fact, while Basu has learned to use his obesity to his advantage in many ways, he also suffers from a number of physical problems as a direct result of his condition, which is not one that he chose.
If I have one complaint about The Morbidly Obese Njnja, it's that it's too short. The book felt like it could have been so much longer, with so much more to tell. The story could have been drawn out more, which is a rare complaint to make. It happens so fast, and I wanted to know more, have more action sequences, and I wanted a slightly more developed relationship between Basu and Chiya, the animese technician who works on his iKatana. I would have liked more history on Basu, and more history on the piggy bank itself. In short, I just wanted more. As a side note, I do like that Mellick does not go into how the world became the way it is, as usually things like that tend to detract from a story if it is too unbelievable, which it usually is. Mellick suspends disbelief by completely ignoring it, and in this case that method works wonderfully.
In the end, you wind up with a book that's got really great action sequences, interesting characters that could use a little more development than is given to them, and a straightforward and easy-to-follow plot that I would have liked to see stretched out a little more. But this book's strengths are so good that they overshadow its weaknesses very well. The Morbidly Obese Ninja is apparently the author's 31st publication, but it is only the first book of his this reviewer has read. It will not be the last one I read. If his other work is as fun as this book, there will good times ahead.
A very solid 4 out of 5 stars.
The story is pretty straightforward. Basu is a seven hundred pound ninja in a world where corporate espionage is a matter of daily life and hostile takeovers are literally hostile and involve the assassination of company board members. He follows a strict code of ninja ethics and obedience to his masters, the executives of the company he works for. While pulling a job to steal a “piggy bank” containing corporate secrets of a rival firm, he discovers that he is not the only one after them, including a group led by an old ninja rival. Thus begins a game of cat-and-mouse (or ninja-and-ninja) to obtain the piggy bank and return it to their executives.
Heavily inspired by anime, in case you can't tell by the cover, the novel takes place in a future version of California which has been transformed into a psuedo-Japanese type of world. Cosmetic surgery to look like animals or anime characters is common place. In fact, cosmetic surgery to look like anime characters is so popular that they are considered a new race, called animese. Rather than basic weapons, the ninjas wield iKatanas, swords with vast electronic abilities in them that make them more like electronic Swiss army knives than simple swords. These are details scattered throughout the book, but they tend to be done in passing and do not become overbearing. Mellick focuses on the story and the character, and describes the people and places as necessary to paint a picture of the world in which the story takes place, but that is all. It's like some well-prepared food, where the spices are added to enhance the flavor but not overpower the food itself.
Why is Basu so morbidly obese and still a ninja? This is an integral part of the plot, so I won't spoil it. Suffice to say that there is a very good reason for it, and it doesn't glorify obesity at all, as some who don't read the book could possibly be concerned and complain about. In fact, while Basu has learned to use his obesity to his advantage in many ways, he also suffers from a number of physical problems as a direct result of his condition, which is not one that he chose.
If I have one complaint about The Morbidly Obese Njnja, it's that it's too short. The book felt like it could have been so much longer, with so much more to tell. The story could have been drawn out more, which is a rare complaint to make. It happens so fast, and I wanted to know more, have more action sequences, and I wanted a slightly more developed relationship between Basu and Chiya, the animese technician who works on his iKatana. I would have liked more history on Basu, and more history on the piggy bank itself. In short, I just wanted more. As a side note, I do like that Mellick does not go into how the world became the way it is, as usually things like that tend to detract from a story if it is too unbelievable, which it usually is. Mellick suspends disbelief by completely ignoring it, and in this case that method works wonderfully.
In the end, you wind up with a book that's got really great action sequences, interesting characters that could use a little more development than is given to them, and a straightforward and easy-to-follow plot that I would have liked to see stretched out a little more. But this book's strengths are so good that they overshadow its weaknesses very well. The Morbidly Obese Ninja is apparently the author's 31st publication, but it is only the first book of his this reviewer has read. It will not be the last one I read. If his other work is as fun as this book, there will good times ahead.
A very solid 4 out of 5 stars.
August 18, 2024
An absurdly funny read.
August 7, 2024
My umpteenth book by Mellick, and this one was an absolute blast!
There is a lot of action, great dialogue, likeable characters, and a very wholesome relationship between our main obese character and a boy.
This one is not as "bizarre" as you would expect from this author, but I still absolutely loved it!
4/5
There is a lot of action, great dialogue, likeable characters, and a very wholesome relationship between our main obese character and a boy.
This one is not as "bizarre" as you would expect from this author, but I still absolutely loved it!
4/5
March 16, 2012
It's hard to imagine a character with a less congruous lifestyle/occupation, but Mellick manages pretty well with his 700 lb Basu (Japanese for "bus"). TMON tells the story of Basu's downfall and redemption, with a few clever twists on the anime conventions that inspired it thrown in for good measure.
While not poorly written by any means, the diction is rather basic throughout. Some of the scenes felt a bit forced, in my opinion, although I certainly didn't expect all of the inventive ways in which Basu turned his weight to his advantage! Points for originality here, for sure.
This isn't Mellick's finest work, but still pretty decent for a fun, short read. That said, it would be short enough at 92 pages as advertised, but the story itself is only 77, minus the 15 pages of promotional material closing the book.
While not poorly written by any means, the diction is rather basic throughout. Some of the scenes felt a bit forced, in my opinion, although I certainly didn't expect all of the inventive ways in which Basu turned his weight to his advantage! Points for originality here, for sure.
This isn't Mellick's finest work, but still pretty decent for a fun, short read. That said, it would be short enough at 92 pages as advertised, but the story itself is only 77, minus the 15 pages of promotional material closing the book.
November 10, 2011
This bizarro book is not only the best thing author Carlton Mellick has written, it’s the best bizarro book I’ve ever read. Full of so many incredible concepts and original ideas, it just reconfirms Mellick’s jaw-dropping talent and his unofficial title as the leader of the bizarro genre.
The obese ninja, on the surface, seems like a funny idea. But Mellick backs this idea up with not only why he’s so large and how he’s so large, but goes to great detail how he uses his size and weight to his advantage. This story also has some fascinating characters, vivid battle scenes, and some truly heartbreaking moments that had me tearing up. Mellick jams this little book full of emotions, suspense, origins, and a completely unique world that will keep you glued to each page. I also found the ending to be as perfect as I would ever want in a book. I absolutely love it! Just when I think this author can’t get any better, he raises the bar once again.
I really hope Mellick gets a chance to come to the east coast for a convention or something, because I’d love to get some of my books autographed! For the bizarro genre, “The Morbidly Obese Ninja” gets my highest recommendation. Even for a newbie, this is a perfect example of how amazing and creative bizarro writing can be. I’ll be reading this one again for sure. Don’t miss out on this gem.
The obese ninja, on the surface, seems like a funny idea. But Mellick backs this idea up with not only why he’s so large and how he’s so large, but goes to great detail how he uses his size and weight to his advantage. This story also has some fascinating characters, vivid battle scenes, and some truly heartbreaking moments that had me tearing up. Mellick jams this little book full of emotions, suspense, origins, and a completely unique world that will keep you glued to each page. I also found the ending to be as perfect as I would ever want in a book. I absolutely love it! Just when I think this author can’t get any better, he raises the bar once again.
I really hope Mellick gets a chance to come to the east coast for a convention or something, because I’d love to get some of my books autographed! For the bizarro genre, “The Morbidly Obese Ninja” gets my highest recommendation. Even for a newbie, this is a perfect example of how amazing and creative bizarro writing can be. I’ll be reading this one again for sure. Don’t miss out on this gem.
May 7, 2011
This book is awesome. Plain and simple. The story is full of intense action, with a definite anime feel (which gets skewered in a few places, to hilarious effect),and as usual, Mellick comes up with some oddly plausible explanations for why the people and the world they live in are the way they are.
Surprisingly clean and heartfelt for a book about Ninjas, but not so much you would feel comfortable reading it in church, and an ending that put a smile on my face that weighed seven-hundred pounds.
When I told Basu I liked this book, he grunted.
Surprisingly clean and heartfelt for a book about Ninjas, but not so much you would feel comfortable reading it in church, and an ending that put a smile on my face that weighed seven-hundred pounds.
When I told Basu I liked this book, he grunted.
June 28, 2016
This is one of those books I have nothing to say - Go try.
Basically - in the future there are corporate ninjas that steal secrets from one another. One of these ninjas is... morbidly obese. That's it. From action zone to action scene we jump around as this ninja escapes from other ninjas. There is also a anime girl (like the one on the cover) but her participant part is quite small.
If you enjoy anime - then try it. If anime is not your thing then I won't advice it. I enjoy it. Mellick really did something unique - this short novel is more anime than anime :)
Basically - in the future there are corporate ninjas that steal secrets from one another. One of these ninjas is... morbidly obese. That's it. From action zone to action scene we jump around as this ninja escapes from other ninjas. There is also a anime girl (like the one on the cover) but her participant part is quite small.
If you enjoy anime - then try it. If anime is not your thing then I won't advice it. I enjoy it. Mellick really did something unique - this short novel is more anime than anime :)
May 16, 2019
Absolutely loved this title!!! It was so much fun, imaginative, action packed, full of crazy cool techie gizmos and character's I immediately enjoyed. I highly recommend this title. This title is so awesome, I'd read it more than once and heck maybe more than two times :)
July 2, 2011
I've read quite a few Carlton Mellick books by now and from what I've read of his older stuff, I like his older - more experimental stuff - and his longer books, more. I started out with Satan Burger and Punk Land and then worked my way to Fishy Fleshed and Warrior Wolf Women, the Egg Man and a few other titles, and since then I've been keeping up with his new releases and occasionally backtracking to an older book.
My reason for liking stories like Satan Burger, Fishy Fleshed and the Egg Man is because I'm a sucker for a good narrator. The aesthetics behind the mindframe of the narrators in those books is what really sucked me in. With stuff like Warrior Wolf Women or Zombies and Shit, the focus is more on what the story is about, rather than how it is told. Which Mellick still manages to make interesting, by shifting the focus from character to character. With shorter stories, it becomes harder to do this. His last book before this, Crab Town, works with the shifting focus thing, but the Morbidly Obese Ninja doesn't (well, not so explicitly).
Sure, I like some of his books because of particular styles or attributes, but the Morbidly Obese Ninja just works despite it being one of Mellick's less radical (technically speaking) books. It's short, it's wild, it's fun. And therein lies the key to Mellick's writing. Sure, I love his books where characters can see outside themselves, or think in shapes, or have heightened senses, and I feel those are his really special stories, but at the core of all Mellick stories there is the weird, the wild, and the entertaining.
The Morbidly Obese Ninja is about a morbidly obese ninja who works for a major corporation, guarding their secrets and infiltrating the competition. There's floating buildings and iKatanas and anime plastic surgery fads. But there's something else in his writing that takes his books beyond being just entertainment. It's a well known fact in movies that you can't just start a film with a bunch of wicked explosions and end it with a bunch of wicked explosions and fill the middle with a bunch of wicked explosions. If you strip away the massive ninja fighting other ninjas and consuming copious amounts of food, there's a strong story underneath. He's fighting with other corporations over a human child/safe which holds valuable information that will revolutionise the industry. He needs to protect the child and the secrets within him from his bloodthirsty adversaries.
As the book progresses, we get to know the characters, and while the Morbidly Obese Ninja sounds kind of superficial, Mellick's storytelling skills breathe life into the bizarre world of Neo Tokyo and in amongst the furious ninja battles, a heartfelt story unfolds.
My reason for liking stories like Satan Burger, Fishy Fleshed and the Egg Man is because I'm a sucker for a good narrator. The aesthetics behind the mindframe of the narrators in those books is what really sucked me in. With stuff like Warrior Wolf Women or Zombies and Shit, the focus is more on what the story is about, rather than how it is told. Which Mellick still manages to make interesting, by shifting the focus from character to character. With shorter stories, it becomes harder to do this. His last book before this, Crab Town, works with the shifting focus thing, but the Morbidly Obese Ninja doesn't (well, not so explicitly).
Sure, I like some of his books because of particular styles or attributes, but the Morbidly Obese Ninja just works despite it being one of Mellick's less radical (technically speaking) books. It's short, it's wild, it's fun. And therein lies the key to Mellick's writing. Sure, I love his books where characters can see outside themselves, or think in shapes, or have heightened senses, and I feel those are his really special stories, but at the core of all Mellick stories there is the weird, the wild, and the entertaining.
The Morbidly Obese Ninja is about a morbidly obese ninja who works for a major corporation, guarding their secrets and infiltrating the competition. There's floating buildings and iKatanas and anime plastic surgery fads. But there's something else in his writing that takes his books beyond being just entertainment. It's a well known fact in movies that you can't just start a film with a bunch of wicked explosions and end it with a bunch of wicked explosions and fill the middle with a bunch of wicked explosions. If you strip away the massive ninja fighting other ninjas and consuming copious amounts of food, there's a strong story underneath. He's fighting with other corporations over a human child/safe which holds valuable information that will revolutionise the industry. He needs to protect the child and the secrets within him from his bloodthirsty adversaries.
As the book progresses, we get to know the characters, and while the Morbidly Obese Ninja sounds kind of superficial, Mellick's storytelling skills breathe life into the bizarre world of Neo Tokyo and in amongst the furious ninja battles, a heartfelt story unfolds.
August 30, 2012
Mellick is a very fun writer.
In this book he has written an anime story with a bizarro twist. Basu is a ninja, the best ninja in fact, but he's also morbidly obese.
A genuine hero, Basu soon finds himself saving the life of a target he was supposed to kill, all the while maintaining a huge calorie intake, somewhere around 4000 calories a day.
Some funny moments, some emotional moments, this book dances around like a ninja in a death fight. Certainly different in style to his earlier works, I think this is more like War Sl*t than other works.
Worth checking out for sure.
In this book he has written an anime story with a bizarro twist. Basu is a ninja, the best ninja in fact, but he's also morbidly obese.
A genuine hero, Basu soon finds himself saving the life of a target he was supposed to kill, all the while maintaining a huge calorie intake, somewhere around 4000 calories a day.
Some funny moments, some emotional moments, this book dances around like a ninja in a death fight. Certainly different in style to his earlier works, I think this is more like War Sl*t than other works.
Worth checking out for sure.
October 1, 2018
I love most of Mellicks work but this didn't do it for me.
I've always struggled reading fighting scenes, I kind of drift off a bit and float through them. So I feel like I may have missed some detail here as there is obviously a lot of fighting in it.
I had also just previously read Tumor Fruit and I loved it! So i wonder if i had read this first then would i have liked it more?
Dont get me wrong it's still a different and interesting story. Just lacked something for me.
I've always struggled reading fighting scenes, I kind of drift off a bit and float through them. So I feel like I may have missed some detail here as there is obviously a lot of fighting in it.
I had also just previously read Tumor Fruit and I loved it! So i wonder if i had read this first then would i have liked it more?
Dont get me wrong it's still a different and interesting story. Just lacked something for me.
May 18, 2015
A morbidly obese ninja but a very thin story... I understand that this type of writing is experimental in some ways and in this case a foray into the anime world that is usually the domain of graphic novels/comics, but apart from one or two nice flights of imagination it left me cold. I shan't be reading more of Mr Mellick's stories.
July 12, 2011
While a pretty spot-on mash-up of anime and bizarro absurdity, the story was played pretty straightforward. Anyone who's watched any ninja anime can predict the plot, and while there are a few good absurdities, nothing outside the main concept really stands out.
Not bad, but not particularly good, either.
Not bad, but not particularly good, either.
January 15, 2019
Fin da quando Vaporteppa l'ha portato in Italia, ho sempre amato i libri di Mellick. Trovo che questo autore riesca a partire da una semplice idea, e trasformarla in qualcosa di grottesco, inaspettato e straordinario.
Proprio per questo motivo, "Il ninja morbosamente obeso" mi ha assai delusa. La storia sembra scritta di fretta, senza che i personaggi abbiano una vera evoluzione, e senza quelle idee e quei colpi di scena che caratterizzano tutte le opere di questo autore.
Un vero peccato.
Proprio per questo motivo, "Il ninja morbosamente obeso" mi ha assai delusa. La storia sembra scritta di fretta, senza che i personaggi abbiano una vera evoluzione, e senza quelle idee e quei colpi di scena che caratterizzano tutte le opere di questo autore.
Un vero peccato.
January 23, 2020
Again the author delivers what he promises - a written anime. The characters are appropriately anime-ish, the necessary plot twists (more than one, as is usual in anime series) are present.
The main character is an unpleasant person who becomes more likeable and human and is in a way redeemed.
And the sad-happy ending....
The main character is an unpleasant person who becomes more likeable and human and is in a way redeemed.
And the sad-happy ending....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2025
First bizarro I have read in a bit. This one centers around a corporate ninja done in an anime style. It isn't bad. A lot of the gross out humour is there along with the outlandish elements. There is a sweetness at the core. Quick read which will make those who find this type of stuff funny. Others, stay away. We don't need your judgement.
December 9, 2020
Mellick is by far my favorite bizarro author. In this short novella of his, a 700-pound Ninja and his Anime-altered cohort team up to save a little boy piggy bank from a Ninja that looks like a crow in a cyberpunk future filled with electronic katana. Good stuff.
July 29, 2021
Unfortunately this was a swing and a miss for me. I enjoyed being back in Mellicks mind but I just couldn't get into this story/plot enough. It was a quick read that every Mellick lover should read, but I can't say this is one I'd recommend a non-Mellick enthusiast. Well, I might to anime fans!
September 16, 2022
I'd give this a solid 3.5 rounded up to four (because rounding down always seems a bit harsh?) Anyway, this book is pretty much what you'd expect given the title and cover art. A short, entertaining read with a couple of nice little details (iSwords, animese, etc).
October 8, 2022
Despite this being the first (and likely only) bizarro fiction I’ve read, I think I can safely say this story and genre are not for me. That said, The Morbidly Obese Ninja is not the worst thing I’ve ever read.
May 17, 2018
Very simple writing, but a novel idea. I rather enjoyed it.
December 9, 2019
That feel when something is equal parts gory and stupid and heart-warming and clever at the same time.
August 31, 2021
I especially liked the ending, though it was sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2022
A mindless read. Not as mind bending as some of CM3's other work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews