Tokyo Alien Bros, Vol. 1

トーキョーエイリアンブラザーズ [Tōkyō Alien Brothers] #1

by Keigo Shinzō

Fuyunosuke’s been living the good life in Tokyo. In fact, he’s almost got the whole “being human” thing down. His brother Natsutaro, on the other hand, can’t figure out the first thing about blending in on this strange planet. There’s still a lot they don’t know about humans, but with any luck, Fuyunosuke might just be able to show his bro that life on this little blue ball isn’t so bad after all.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Science Fiction, Slice Of Life, Graphic Novels, Japan, Seinen

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2016

About the author

See also: 真造圭伍

Reviews

[Ghostcat]

What a good surprise here. The plot is just a way for the author to share their view on what it is to be human, how we enteract with each other and what are we doing here. It is done in a sincere and very funny way, I laughed a lot through this.
It has more deep that we can expect at first and it's easy to identify with one or more characters.

[Amber]

What the hell was this silly ass manga?

And where can I get the next volume?

[Corn8lius]

Un bon moment drôle et un peu déjanté.
J’ai découvert Keigo Shinzo avec Hirayasumi, que j’aime vraiment beaucoup.
Tokyo Alien Bros a un côté beaucoup plus décalé et drôle qui, même s’il m’a plu, m’a tout de même moins parlé.
J’ai tout de même passé un agréable moment de lecture et je lirais la suite avec plaisir (si je la trouve en occasion)

[Ibbo]

Lo rileggo perché ho scoperto che nel volume di storie brevi che sto leggendo ce n’è uno che è il sequel dell’opera (che ho letto 3 anni fa e di cui mi ricordo ben poco+leggere o rileggere keigo Shinzo è sempre un’ottima idea)

[khaz.]

for fuck sake I brought this for the university's library before reading it thinking it would be fun - it is - and cute and the guy DRINKS PISS? Don't let my superior read this please.

[Leila ✨]

En mi grupo de discord de anime me dieron este manga como intercambio de este mes, y por ahora podría ser peor xd Arrancó muy raro, pero después remontó mucho. Todavía estoy medio mmm porque no se muy bien qué esperar jsjsj pero veremos~

3 de 5 estrellas.

[Dxdnelion]

Tokyo Alien Bros. is a quirky and weird manga that delivers humor through its unique exploration of a "foreign world."

The story follows two alien brothers, Fuyunosuke and Natsutarou, who are on a mission to observe human beings and determine whether Earth is suitable for their people to migrate to. In the first volume, we are introduced to their strange lives as they navigate life in Tokyo, attempting to blend in while struggling with their extraterrestrial nature.

Although I wasn’t sure what to expect, since this is the author who made Hirayasumi, I immediately got interested. The storyline in this first volume is still somewhat unclear. Rather than diving into complex world-building or grand alien lore, it takes a grounded, slice-of-life approach. The focus is on the brother's attempts to adapt to life on Earth, adopting human identities and trying to lead ordinary lives in the bustling city of Tokyo. Of course, things don’t go as smoothly as planned, and while the volume starts out confusing, it takes a dark turn toward the end, which was so unexpected.

The center of the narrative pretty much lies in the relationship between the two brothers. Their contrast personalities are the major source of the story's humor, but there are also some genuinely tender moments that reveal the depth of their bond. However, despite the comedic setup, the story isn’t as funny as it initially seems. I was taken aback by some baffling moments that came out of nowhere, such as an inexplicably kinky scene (including a porn video). It was random, unsettling, and honestly, felt out of place in the otherwise quirky tone of the story.

Despite some confusing and off-putting moments, Tokyo Alien Bros. is still an entertaining start to the series. It doesn’t reveal much about what’s to come, especially concerning the fate of the older brother at the end, but I’m still curious to see how the story develops. I’ll definitely give the next volume a try to see where it goes. Giving this 3 ⭐️ Thank you Viz Media LLC and Edelweiss for the digital review copy 💕

[D.T. Henderson]

dnf @ 42

not for me

[Samuel]

3.75/5.

While a bit strange to start with (the piss thing came out of nowhere), this had some proper heartfelt and interesting moments. And it was pretty chill for the most part, so I’d say it’s a solid slice-of-life manga (if you don’t mind a little bit of weirdness).

[Do]

Quick and funny but not my favorite

[Koda]

Me gusta lo raro y divertido que es. Sensei, como siempre, haciendo cosas únicas 🌟

[Karl Vosatka]

3.25. Love the art. These silly alien bros are sweethearts.

[Jam]

One alien being a player fuck boy gets along with everyone and the other is just a Redditor. Perfect

[riley ♡]

This is too quirky and silly, but I love it. These Tokyo Alien Brothers remind me of Saint Young Men. I'm definitely picking up volumes 2 and 3 next!

[em]

LOVED IT!!!!

great art style & actually funny! i never find dialogue funny, but this one actually made me laugh.

a really amazing premise that i’m excited to see progress, but i don’t think there’s any other volumes being published/translated so i may be out of luck :((

[Julie Kgr]

Gros coup de coeur pour le premier tome de Tokyo Alien Bros! J'ai vraiment adoré l'histoire, c'est drôle et très intéressant de voir le point de vue de nos deux comparses extraterrestres sur le genre humain. Je me réjouis déjà de découvrir la suite bien que je n'ai pas encore trouvé de date pour la sortie du tome 2 chez nous.

[Marie-Eve Bibo]

3 étoiles. La relation entre les 2 frères "alien" est comique, mais j'ai été mal à l'aise par les scènes plus sexualisée (golden shower et relation sexuelle avec une fille à qui on efface les souvenirs ensuite, site de pornographie, jupes des filles qui se lèvent sous l'effet du vent). Ces détails font en sorte que je ne lirai pas la suite.

[Pikobouh]

Déjanté, humain et bienveillant, ce manga loufoque a su me séduire par la grande qualité de ses dessins et de son coupage, mêlée à la finesse et la justesse de son analyse de l'humanité. J'ai hâte de mettre la main sur les deux autres tomes de cette trilogie du tonnerre.

[Irene ➰]

3/5

Vista l’immensa popolarità mi aspettavo una storia sinceramente più avvincente e meglio strutturata.
Al momento il tutto è molto nella media…

Vedremo come si evolve negli altri due volumi.

[Elo]

2,5

[Susanna]

Fuyunosuke is an alien passing as a human while he assesses whether earth is suitable for his people to colonise. He's a university student liked by everyone, and he spends his time in student activities and chatting up girls. Not that it always goes well, baffling him greatly.

Then his big brother Natsutaro--so named by Fuyunosuke--shows up to tell him he hasn't made enough progress. But Fuyunosuke isn't ready to leave, so he convinces Natsutaro to stay and observe humanity too. Natsutaro is constantly baffled by everything around him and what Fuyunosuke does. He doesn't blend in at all, causing Fuyunosuke great frustration, but the younger brother isn't much help, as he doesn't really teach Natsutaro at all.

The chapters are sort of amusing, but also kind of mean in the way Fuyunosuke treats Natsutaro, culminating in him tattling about the older brother to their supervisors. Fuyunosuke is generally goodnatured, so his treatment of Natsutaro is a bit baffling. But the two get into great adventures together and seem to like one another. The end is a bit of a cliffhanger.

This isn't as funny as it could be though. There are some baffling things out of blue, like a kinky sex scene that turns out to be something else completely. This doesn't work as an insight into humanity either, as the aliens don't really make any important observations about humans or earth. So while this is a decent start to a series and the art is good, I'm not continuing with this.

I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan Beamon]

I haven't checked out much manga. I'm not all that favorable disposed toward the artistic style, and I have a little trouble with the whole start from the back and read right to left. So, I was a little slow reading this story of a couple of alien creature brothers studying humans. After I got into it, things turned around for me, as you can tell from the rating.
This little charmer concerns two aliens, sent here by their government to study our planet. The younger brother, Fuyunosuke, has been here the longest. He's fitting in very well, pretending to be a college student. His older brother, Natsutaro, is a very recent arrival. He is not fitting in at all. He thinks he's here to push his brother into reporting more information on the planet faster. That doesn't seem right, and it isn't. While colonizing our planet is his government's ultimate goal, he's not sure that should happen.
This is volume one in a new series. I may seek out the continuing drama. It looks fun.
I want to thank the publishers who gave me this book through a Goodreads contest. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

[James Garman]

A young boy in high school is going home from school and finds himself alone in the train car he is on when he sees an odd individul that seems unreal and they are fighting with another person. He hardly is about to see them clearly but they look "weird". For whatever he is worried and finds out the odd person is an alien and is returning to earth to try and stay with a man she has been in a relationship with and doesn't want them to die alone.

Thought this, he gets more and more involved with the alien side of Earth, specifially Toyka and ends at the headquarters of the alien and human interaction control group. He even takes a test to see if he might be capable of being a part of the agency and thinks the whole time that he is going but manages to pass and becomes the newest agent.

It seems, he is the second member from his family that has been in the organization and he and one other person goes after the alien that killed his relative that was the first of his family to be agent.

[Cami]

I picked up this book because I recognized the mangaka from "Hirayasumi," and there's something about the formatting of his books that appeals to me. They are a comfortable size, with large panels and easy-to-see text. Plus, the Shiba Inu on the cover really sealed the deal.

So far, though, this series is just OK. I might continue with the next volume to see if it picks up, but so far, I prefer "Hirayasumi." The emotional moments are more impactful in "Hirayasumi," while the humor in "Tokyo Alien Bros" falls a little flat for me. Still, if there are only three volumes total, then I don't see why I shouldn't finish the series out. Each volume is a quick read, and I do enjoy the art style.

[Jeff Morgan]

I’m quite selective when it comes to manga. I’m not a fan of a lot of it. I picked two volumes of Tokyo Alien Bros. because they were Eisner nominees. They weren’t really my thing . . . but here’s a summary and some comments.

An alien comes to earth and adapts pretty easily to human ways. His brother, however, doesn’t. The whole plot is a vehicle for the author to wax poetic about what it means to be human.

The art is fine. Nothing especially stood out to me. There’s some humor . . . and some really weird sexual stuff that would not be normal in an American version of a comic in this genre.

[Latifah S Ningrum]

I found another manga series that is interesting to follow and the theme is quite unique, namely aliens. Even though the picture is a bit familiar, it turns out the author is also the one who made Hirayasumi.

Rather than Hirayasumi's label of living slowly, simply and as is, this manga has themes and storylines that are difficult to predict; we can be serious, a little uncomfortable, laugh, and be moved in just one reading of this manga. Always curious about the relationship of Fuyunosuke the younger brother and his older brother, Natsutaro.

[Jane]

This was so fun. I loved the concept of two alien brothers observing Earth, trying to fit in at the same time. The art style did such a great job of conveying that, too. This first volume was a great introduction, especially in showing Fuyunosuke as the more established brother, enjoying life in Tokyo, as news of a meteor (his brother's ship) crashing to earth begins our story. Natsutaro being awkward and learning to be human was also a fun worldbuilding. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.

[Sarah AK]

This kinda seems like a Drawn & Quarterly book in manga form, as in it feels weird and hipster. I mean... WTF other kind of book is gonna feature a golden fucking shower within the first 20 pages? Despite that, it's actually not terrible, and says a lot about fitting in and trying to understand humans. I don't always understand people either. Anyway, I quite liked the art style, and may or may not continue the series.

[Daniel]

*Disclaimer: I won this through a Goodreads Giveaway
I enjoyed this book quite a bit! It had a good storyline and I liked the way the art was drawn. The main characters are very quirky and the humor is sometimes raunchy, but it doesn't take away from how great this manga is! I'd suggest that people read it because I enjoyed Tokyo Alien Bros. a lot.

[Casey Halvorsen]

Thank you NetGalley and Viz Media for this arc!

4/5 stars

This was a silly manga about two alien brothers trying to figure out how humans operate in preparation for colonizing earth! This started out with a wild scene, and thankfully got more tame from there lmao but this is definitely going to be an interesting story and I'm here for it!