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Undertown #1
Undertown Volume 1
Meet Sama, a 10-year-old boy who is so sad that tears have literally stained his cheeks. Sama's father has had a heart attack, and doctors give him a month to live. With his teddy bear in tow, Sama crawls under his bed and finds a magical portal to a strange realm called Undertown. What is this dark new world? To find out, Sama begins a journey through the depths of Undertown, where he searches for The Sugar Stone, a magical object that might be able to save his dad! This is volume 1 of the Undertown manga series.
208 pages, Paperback
First published December 5, 2014
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132 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 19, 2017
I have a long relationship with this volume where I'm always on the verge of getting rid of it, but at the very last moment decide to keep it.
I really want to like Undertown. The art is so beautiful and the story appeals to me.
But the way in which the story is told is just... not very good. Undertown's biggest problem is its pacing: too much story in too few pages. We don't get a lot of time to breathe and/or experience the beautiful art, because there's just so much going on. The protagonists are constantly on the move to different locations (five in this volume alone!) in search of the Sugar Stone. Meanwhile, the author forgets to explain how this McGuffin actually works.
I wish the events in this one volume were stretched out over two, and that a bit more time was spent elaborating on the Sugar Stone and its abilities.
I really want to like Undertown. The art is so beautiful and the story appeals to me.
But the way in which the story is told is just... not very good. Undertown's biggest problem is its pacing: too much story in too few pages. We don't get a lot of time to breathe and/or experience the beautiful art, because there's just so much going on. The protagonists are constantly on the move to different locations (five in this volume alone!) in search of the Sugar Stone. Meanwhile, the author forgets to explain how this McGuffin actually works.
I wish the events in this one volume were stretched out over two, and that a bit more time was spent elaborating on the Sugar Stone and its abilities.
March 11, 2019
Undertown by Jim Pascoe and illustrated by Jake Myler is about a boy whose father had a heart attack, and a mysterious man told the boy about how he can help his dad survive the heart attack. The guy tells him he has to get the sugar stone from Undertown to save him. Now in my opinion this manga (Japanese graphics book) is obvious about how the ending is going to happen, but I still enjoy the story. Main reason is that it’s a story revolving around what in the real world we call furies (animals with a human built structure as in skeleton form, but still keeping some bone structure of an animal as well). It’s rare to see a manga like this because others usually use hybrids (two different species mixed into one organism) and although I like those too it’s just that I like to see actual furry mangas for once and the author and illustrator actually made one.
Another thing I like about Undertown is the characters. They (the characters) actually can have more serious moments than funny unlike most mangas that I have seen. It helps the reader understand how serious the situation is but at the same time get cheered up a little whenever possible. The characters also have their own way of showing their seriousness. One of the main characters, Sama, shows his seriousness like he should by showing how upset he is but at the same time won’t stop to try and help when he can, or think of a good way to get out of a situation or to get what he needs. He also has his partner Eddie who keeps trying to do… what he wants… Like the time when (spoiler alert for one of the funny parts) he steals some sugar from B.W.’s pouch. He starts to “trip” for a few seconds then he somehow manages to get back into the Sama’s backpack unnoticed. Then at other times he tries to find other ways of getting around to shortcuts, but the gang ignores it for the most part. Eddie is also one of those guys who acts like what did you say?! Then they try to punch you and stuff but you block their attack as they still struggle to try and punch by just holding their face at arms length (he’s short in other words by the way). I don’t have a favorite character at the moment; I’ll have to read the second manga and see who I like then.
Another thing I like about Undertown is the characters. They (the characters) actually can have more serious moments than funny unlike most mangas that I have seen. It helps the reader understand how serious the situation is but at the same time get cheered up a little whenever possible. The characters also have their own way of showing their seriousness. One of the main characters, Sama, shows his seriousness like he should by showing how upset he is but at the same time won’t stop to try and help when he can, or think of a good way to get out of a situation or to get what he needs. He also has his partner Eddie who keeps trying to do… what he wants… Like the time when (spoiler alert for one of the funny parts) he steals some sugar from B.W.’s pouch. He starts to “trip” for a few seconds then he somehow manages to get back into the Sama’s backpack unnoticed. Then at other times he tries to find other ways of getting around to shortcuts, but the gang ignores it for the most part. Eddie is also one of those guys who acts like what did you say?! Then they try to punch you and stuff but you block their attack as they still struggle to try and punch by just holding their face at arms length (he’s short in other words by the way). I don’t have a favorite character at the moment; I’ll have to read the second manga and see who I like then.
September 28, 2016
this is one of the greatest books I read
March 1, 2018
Undertown is an alright book because its not relatable or funny. Its about this kid his name is Sama and his dad is dying and only has one month to live and while sama is in the hospital this strange old man tells sama aout this place called Undertown it is a magical place that holds, among other things. When sama goes to sleep he ends up in Undertown and he has to look for the sugar sone which is a magical object that could help Samas father. And its about him finding the sugar stone and him meeting/making new friends to help him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2022
Dnfed at page 30. I saw this in my local library and grabbed it because the crying little boy on the cover intrigued me. Boy do I regret that decision. Not only is the dad sexist, and misogynistic, but he's emotionally and verbally abusive as well. Having a heart condition is no excuse to treat your kid that way. Also, the bugs are just creepy. Also it being printed left to right is really throwing me off.
March 16, 2017
This was a nice little book. I liked how this book was a bout a son trying to save his dad. Then a creepy man told the kid about under town and how it is so nice. Next the kid did what the man said. Lastly after going throw under town and making all of his friends in under town but to have the worst bug of them all is the girl that kissed him at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2019
Truly amazing read!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2022
A good story with very detailed artwork.
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February 3, 2017I think this book is really good because comics are very fun and alot of people read them.
November 1, 2012
I once had a dream that I was in Halloween Town, yes the one on Disney's The Nightmare Before Christmas! There, I was searching for something, I don't remember what exactly, but I never found it. Undertown reminded me of my personal experience of what you can imagine when you're a kid. Sometimes, especially when you're a kid, a dream can feel so real that it is. Like the time when I was eight and I had a dream that I was flying through Collinsville, IL, and the next morning fell into my bed! The main character, Sama, whether Undertown is real or not, is going through something remotely similar, in his mind, that I have been through. That is that he is young, naive, having a vivid imagination, being in a bad situation, and wanting to change the situation without fully understanding it.
Even though Sama and I have a remotely similar dilemna, his story is twisted in an enjoyable, adventurous teen graphic novel tale. Sama is a sad preteen that still has a teddy bear and doesn't really have a great relationship with his father, his dad just doesn't really understand him. However from there, the story starts to take a weird twist and turn in events.
Sama's dad becomes very ill, his heart is going bad. He is told that he doesn't have long to live, you know, the regular sad dad is dying story! This depresses Sama and makes him feel helpless. Here he was saying how he hated his dad and how he didn't understand him, and now, he doesn't know how much time he has left to tell his dad how much he truly loves and respects him. All while wanting to fix his dad's problem, so everything can go back to the way it used to be. From there things start to get interesting, very interesting.
Some weird looking old man came out of nowhere and started talking to Sama about how he felt sorry for him, how he liked his teddy bear, how playing with teddy bears at his age is normal, and how he could get this sugar stone thing in this wonderful, most magnificent place called Undertown. Then he tells Sama that all he was to do is to go under his bed, count down from ten and believe and he would be in Undertown. That was so the case!
So like a genius, Sama listened to the weird old geyser and actually went to UNDERTOWN! Wish I had actually went to Halloween Town:(. Whatever though, back to the story, so after little Einstein did what the old man told him and arrived in Undertown, the second he got there, he was greeted by talking roaches! Right, my thoughts exactly, any who, so the roaches locked him up, of course he gave his "I'm here for the sugar stone, I love my daddy" cliche speech, as you probably guessed already, he said to much and upset the roaches, so they wanted him dead! Then it gets even more interesting from there.
Some talking, acrobatic, walking Rat comes to Sama's rescue. He saves Sama form the insects, but gets captured in Sama's place. From there, Sama figures out that his teddy bear can talk now in Undertown, and has quite a bit of a mouth. He and the bear run into a talking porcupine named B.W. who helped Sama to steer clear of the insectcts. Next, he meets B.W.'s friend, a talking rabbit nonetheless, named Joey P.P.. Together Sama, the Teddy bear, who's name was Eddie, Joey P.P., and B.W. dodged past the insects, out of harm's way and met up with the B.W. and Joey's friend Broom, a talking, janitor penguin, with a surprising story.
Together, they all embark upon a marvelous adventure to help Sama find the Sugar Stone and save his dad. There is more to the story, but you will have to read it to find out about the rest of the adventures of Sama, his teddy bear Eddie, and their friends in the crazy world of Undertown!
Even though Sama and I have a remotely similar dilemna, his story is twisted in an enjoyable, adventurous teen graphic novel tale. Sama is a sad preteen that still has a teddy bear and doesn't really have a great relationship with his father, his dad just doesn't really understand him. However from there, the story starts to take a weird twist and turn in events.
Sama's dad becomes very ill, his heart is going bad. He is told that he doesn't have long to live, you know, the regular sad dad is dying story! This depresses Sama and makes him feel helpless. Here he was saying how he hated his dad and how he didn't understand him, and now, he doesn't know how much time he has left to tell his dad how much he truly loves and respects him. All while wanting to fix his dad's problem, so everything can go back to the way it used to be. From there things start to get interesting, very interesting.
Some weird looking old man came out of nowhere and started talking to Sama about how he felt sorry for him, how he liked his teddy bear, how playing with teddy bears at his age is normal, and how he could get this sugar stone thing in this wonderful, most magnificent place called Undertown. Then he tells Sama that all he was to do is to go under his bed, count down from ten and believe and he would be in Undertown. That was so the case!
So like a genius, Sama listened to the weird old geyser and actually went to UNDERTOWN! Wish I had actually went to Halloween Town:(. Whatever though, back to the story, so after little Einstein did what the old man told him and arrived in Undertown, the second he got there, he was greeted by talking roaches! Right, my thoughts exactly, any who, so the roaches locked him up, of course he gave his "I'm here for the sugar stone, I love my daddy" cliche speech, as you probably guessed already, he said to much and upset the roaches, so they wanted him dead! Then it gets even more interesting from there.
Some talking, acrobatic, walking Rat comes to Sama's rescue. He saves Sama form the insects, but gets captured in Sama's place. From there, Sama figures out that his teddy bear can talk now in Undertown, and has quite a bit of a mouth. He and the bear run into a talking porcupine named B.W. who helped Sama to steer clear of the insectcts. Next, he meets B.W.'s friend, a talking rabbit nonetheless, named Joey P.P.. Together Sama, the Teddy bear, who's name was Eddie, Joey P.P., and B.W. dodged past the insects, out of harm's way and met up with the B.W. and Joey's friend Broom, a talking, janitor penguin, with a surprising story.
Together, they all embark upon a marvelous adventure to help Sama find the Sugar Stone and save his dad. There is more to the story, but you will have to read it to find out about the rest of the adventures of Sama, his teddy bear Eddie, and their friends in the crazy world of Undertown!
March 24, 2011
One day there was a boy name Sama he always cried about everything because he was very sensitive. One day his dad came inside his room and was really angry because he was crieing he said i would give you something to cry about. Thats when his mom came in and told him not that she will fix it later and he didn't do anything. His dad got all mad and got a heart attack. So his mom took him to the hospital and thats when he cried more because he said it was all his fault but then he met a guy in the hospital and asked him if he wanted his dad to get better. Of course he said yes he asked him how can help him? The guy changed the subjected and told him if he was holding a teddy bear behind his hands and said not to worry that he likes teddy bears to and asked him if he can hold it. Sama quickly swinged it away and just stayed quiet and asked him how he can help his dad. The guy told him if you go under your bed and count from ten backwards you will go to a world named undertown thats where you have to look for something named sugar stone. Sama asked him wut kinda town is that and why look for something named sugar stone the guy said well thats whats gonna save your dad from dieing. "Oh and one morw thing" he said "you have to believe." As soon as Sama got home the first thing he did was go under his bed and took a deep breath and started counting 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3...2 and out of no where woke up and land on his butt. He was really curious did i make it? Am i in undertown? But he was also really worried because he didnt know how to start or where to go and specially how does the sugar stone look like? As soon as he turned around he screamed and got scared because he saw to huge roaches or some kind of bugs and both of those bugs asked him what are you doing here and what are you. Sama responded im here for the sugar stone had you guys heard of it? As soon as he said sugar stone they grabbed him down and demanded him for answer. The bugs said what do you know bout the sugar stone and who are you. As soon as they said that they heard like if the wind was whistling and BOOM! A big gas bomb was shooted from some kind of porcupine thing that standed like a person and with human clothe. As soon as they left and got away Sama was speechless and just kept quiet and out of no where he felt like something inside his back pack was inside he took it of and it ripped open and his teddy bear came out like nothing and said was up guys like it wasnt a big deal and said how is that possible? And the teddy bear responded this is undertown right? I don't know i think and the teddy bear said well teddy bears come from there did you know? Sama wasn't surprise of course. After they had a journey to try to find the sugar stone but never did and he had one chance to go back home he did to go see his dad and his father said Sama i know that i can be tough sometimes its just that i get stressed out sometimes that i even hurt myself but i want you to know im sorry and i never mean it. But i want you to know that i love you. But as soon as his dad fell back to sleep he vanished back to undertown and was like what happend? Well that only lasts for a limited time and Sama screamed so im stuck in here? All the animal creature things just stand there and looked at each other and where like they didnt know anything.
February 5, 2010
undertown is about a young boy goining on an adventure under his bed after his father has an heart attack. he's about 12 years old and has a teddy bear named eddie. After being told that the sugar stone can save his dad he packs a bookbag and count from ten to one. then he falls into undertown but finds enemies called the insects. he get harrased by them and is in big trouble. Then eddie comes to life and they escape the insects. Then they meet a porcupine, two rabbits, some rats, and a penguine. Unlike our world the animals talk and eat sugar for food. They all form a team to search for the sugar stone and is givin a tip by a mysterious woman named raindrop, she was the first to come to undertown. She leads them to a trap but she gets caught also by the insects. Then the rat and rabbit army came and fought the insects allowing Sama the boy and the others to escape. after they come to the battle ground they fight the main insact and found out that it was raindrop. Then she falls off a building. As the battle ended sama came to an ally were three rats made a portal back to earth but it was only temperary.
This book gave a trill and adventure sense to it. it was romantic at points and very serious at others. there surprises around every corner and this book was awsome as my oppinion.
This book gave a trill and adventure sense to it. it was romantic at points and very serious at others. there surprises around every corner and this book was awsome as my oppinion.
March 19, 2008
This is a good story whose biggest flaw is that the main character's age seems undefined and a little misleading. The story has enough violence that it isn't suitable for really young kids, but the main character is just young enough that older kids and teens might not empathize. He seems to be at the oldest an immature tween who still owns a teddy bear, for reasons that become clear during the story.
The story is about a magical place that you can get to, Narnia-style, via the oddest entry points. Due to a heart attack at the start of the story, the main character's father is in the hospital, possibly dying, when a very strange man tells the boy about a magical cure. The quest to find that cure and return home leads him through Undertown. Like Baum's Oz, Undertown is a very strange place with stranger inhabitants, but it's a darker story, with violence and betrayal.
The story is about a magical place that you can get to, Narnia-style, via the oddest entry points. Due to a heart attack at the start of the story, the main character's father is in the hospital, possibly dying, when a very strange man tells the boy about a magical cure. The quest to find that cure and return home leads him through Undertown. Like Baum's Oz, Undertown is a very strange place with stranger inhabitants, but it's a darker story, with violence and betrayal.
March 31, 2018
View this review and many more on my blog at https://mikeyreadsbooks.wordpress.com/ !
Read: 1/11/18
Format: E-book, Library
Rating: 1 star
REVIEW:
It might not be fair that I give this book a rating. I am not into graphic novels, as a general rule. But because a graphic novel is one of the requirements of my Book Bingo 2018, I thought I’d give this one a go. It was meh. I didn’t like the illustrations, I didn’t love the characters, I didn’t feel invested in the story … I just need more. That being said, if anyone has good graphic novel recommendations for someone who doesn’t like graphic novels, please leave a comment.
Read: 1/11/18
Format: E-book, Library
Rating: 1 star
REVIEW:
It might not be fair that I give this book a rating. I am not into graphic novels, as a general rule. But because a graphic novel is one of the requirements of my Book Bingo 2018, I thought I’d give this one a go. It was meh. I didn’t like the illustrations, I didn’t love the characters, I didn’t feel invested in the story … I just need more. That being said, if anyone has good graphic novel recommendations for someone who doesn’t like graphic novels, please leave a comment.
February 5, 2009
In this book there is a boy how acts like a baby.His dad gets mad when he plays whith his metals.Then his dad has a heart attack.so his dad went to the hospital and the kid said it was all his fault.Then some voices told him that he had to find the sugar stone to help his dad and save there wold.
May 17, 2013
Not bad. A legacy from the heady days when everyone was debuting a new many a series every five minutes and companies like Tokyopop started turning to home-grown talent. Storyline is fairly standard and the art is pretty good, though confusing at times. Overall, not bad but not different enough to really stand out from the crowd. We'll see if things improve with Volume 2 ...
September 6, 2013
I thought this book was really good and for some reason I read it 3 or 4 times in a row! It was pretty addicting and I wanted to get the second one. Unfortunately, I let my friend borrow it and he lost it at school... I would recommend this to a'lot of people because its just that good! Don't want to spoil anything, SO I SAY NO MORE!
October 23, 2012
I think it's a cool book, was surprised at the end, how Sama didn't actually get the stone or to leave undertown. I was really pulling for him. Is The Cloud really dead? How was the girl the Cloud? Im still confused!
November 21, 2008
I like it. It's cute. Its a war between insects and the fur men. The rats have a brotherhood adn the lizards live in the desert. It was pretty good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2009
The story is a bit kid-ish but the art...I was clipping peices of this from the newspaper before buying this book...
Joey P P...
hehehe....I prolly shouldn't have said anything.
Joey P P...
hehehe....I prolly shouldn't have said anything.
May 30, 2009
I really liked this book. The main character was wimpy but there were some really cool characters. Never would have thought what would happen would happen in the end!
May 7, 2014
A not-bad standard storyline.
about the art: maybe I just don't like this teddy bear and "furmen" stuff, but I do appreciate the art itself very much! and the details are amazing!
about the art: maybe I just don't like this teddy bear and "furmen" stuff, but I do appreciate the art itself very much! and the details are amazing!
August 7, 2015
I enjoyed the artwork, but the storyline was not my cup of tea. Middle school students, especially, will probably enjoy this.
Read
September 6, 2016the book is good and it makes me want to read the next
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews