Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix Vol. 1

Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix #1-2

by Shiro Amano

After a terrible storm shatters the peace of his tropical island home, a young boy named Sora is set adrift from his world and his friends, Riku and Kairi. Meanwhile, Disney Castle is in an uproar when it is discovered that King Mickey has gone missing, leaving it up to Court Wizard Donald and Captain Goofy to find him! When Sora, in search of his friends, and Donald and Goofy, in search of their king, cross paths, their fateful encounter will change the destiny of the universe forever!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Video Games, Adventure, Fiction

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2016

About the author

Shiro Amano (天野シロ, born January 4, 1976) is a Japanese manga artist who has worked on several projects, including his adaptation on the popular Kingdom Hearts series.

Reviews

[Gavin Hetherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for the 20th anniversary of Kingdom Hearts!! Check out my reading vlog celebrating all things Kingdom Hearts here: https://youtu.be/8OKxewqlecc

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was super cute! I really enjoyed reading it, and reliving the beginning of Sora's journey. I am a huge fan of the Kingdom Hearts series and this just made me really happy while reading it. However, I found the biggest downside was that reading it made me want to be playing the game instead of reading. If you are a fan of KH, I recommend 100%.

[Mai · Rating 4 out of 5]

its a nice retelling of the story if you know the game. love the humor😄

[Reixma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having played the game, this was an enjoyable read.
I will say this is an abridged version of the game, with a lot of bits not in the game, but it was still a lot of fun to read.
I think people who haven't played or watched Let's Play's of the game might be a bit lost as to how things happen and why.

[Christian Nava · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed with it

I'm a huge Kingdom Hearts fan, but this book is a mess. With no breathing room, it jumps from plot point to plot point at a frenetic pace. It's very hard to follow at times and it won't make ANY sense unless you've played the game and watch the movies. Also, the so-called "action scenes" are lazy and messy.

[LauraBlueberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

O.W.L. Readathon - Acient Runes
heart rune: heart on the cover or in the title

This was a good read but I guess it's not for someone who didn't play the games. If I hadn't known the story and plot I would have been lost.

[Ben]

Best manga ever

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

This jumped around all over the place. It made me cringe a little bit. I'm not super invested because I'm not a Disney fangirl nor have I played the games sooo.. guess this isn't for me.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and engaging retelling of the game's plot up to some point during the Olympus world. I loved the added bits of content here and there. Very nice touch! I can't wait to read the other volumes.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is basically the first half of the first game in manga form which is great honestly

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely best if you played the game before, but I loved it!

The biggest reason this isn't 5 stars is because it is glazing over a lot. There's only Wonderland and Agrabah as far as full walkable worlds.

But all in all, I am so glad I read this! It makes me want to play the games again. I can't wait to read the rest.

[Bradley]

I love Kingdom Hearts!

[Noah Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its been a long time since I've read the older Manga (the one in the style of the actual Japanese Manga where you read backwards). This is a faithful adaptations of the games. It's a quick read.

[kristine]

i have read the entire series.

[Sherry Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the games and am really happy to read the books!!

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was awesome! I've tried reading it before but just wasn't interested. I'm so glad I tried again! I can't wait to rear more, and maybe even play the games! Awesome mix of art styles.

[WinterBat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice streamlined story, but hard to read because of the mass of tiny panels jammed into one page, yet also not really displaying clearly what’s happening in what’s presented

[Evan Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

silly and confusing, but I think I like it?

[Aaron Bisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t been reading—but I have replayed two kingdom hearts game within the span of two weeks

[Marta Rivero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obra Maestra.

[Farid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Good story like the Disney characters, good funny jokes, like the art, can't wait to read more of this series

[Sofie - sofie's bookquest · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4,5/5

[Spira Virgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adaptions are a hard subjects that a few may agree and disagree.

For a long time since the dawn of cinema, many books and novels and other books such as comic books, graphic novels have all being adapted to the big screen. Like all adaptions some are successful while other are completely disappointment of the production. The big problem of adapting something may it be into television, movies, video games, comic books and what else is, how much concept, characters, story can be brought over into something that is fun to read, see and touch.

Now, what great about comic books, graphic novels and manga, that unlike television and movies, they are not limited by either copy rights problems, too many characters that may or cannot be created for the adaption of the version of particular story or budget problem of assets, actors and etc. Graphics and drawing are easier to express emotions, easier to bring to life characters, and evolved better the story, however some adaptions are also... TERRIBLE...

But Kingdom Hearts Final Mix Vol 1 (Which Yen Press released with both Volumes 1 and 2 combined into one omnibus book) is an excellent example of a comic book or a manga can offer of an adaption of video game brought into life.

Our story revolves around three friends, Sora, Riku and Kairi. Childhood friends who lived their life at Destiny Islands and wants to live to see other worlds out there. Of course, nothing is never that simple, especially if you're planning on traveling to another world on a raft. Now as much as I would love telling more of the story, it's better that you either play the game, such as I did back in my childhood, as it is was my first video game I've ever played, or read the manga.

The manga does a great job with the story such as kingdom hearts, do to the fact the pacing and the narration as much as it seems fast, fits, do to the urgency and conflict that brought throughout the game about who and what is responsible and how are we solving this issue. The art is done by Shiro Amano, a game designer and a mangka that many know for his infamous adaption of Legend of Mana manga and Lord of Vermilion game. Shiro Amano works fits perfectly with the funny and crazy and roller-coaster of emotions that kingdom hearts is. His artwork never ceased to amazed and it shouldn't bother you to, cause it contribute so much for the manga and lighten the mood of its reader to read.

Basically, in short terms of words, Kingdom Hearts Final Mix Vol 1, is a highly recommendation to any one who has free time to read, or is the fan of series, or just a fan of reading quirky yet excellent comic book. Give it a try, why don'tcha?

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based off the video game, Kingdom Hearts, this manga follows the plot very well as well as give a bonus chapter called "Beyond the Door Secret Place". It is very well done and the expressions are just so funny, the way manga usually is. The thing that is so special about this manga (well, game series too) is that it is has very familiar characters such as those from Final Fantasy games (Aerith, Yuffie, Leon ((or Squall)), and Cloud Strife), main characters from the Disney movies in each world (Tarzan, Aladdin, Hercules, Alice, the list goes on). It also has a special treat of characters like Mickey Mouse (King Mickey), Donald Duck, Goofy, and Chip and Dale.

Sora, a child from a place called Destiny Islands--along with Riku and Kairi--make a raft to explore the seas and find other worlds. But the eve of their maiden voyage brings a dark storm. Creatures called Heartless come and attack them and in a strange way, Sora finds himself in another world called Traverse Town. It is here that he discovers that he is the keeper of the keyblade and is the only hope of multiple words, including Wonderland, Agrabah, and the Deep Jungle of Tarzan, to save the worlds from the Heartless. Along the way he meets familiar faces from each of the worlds he visits.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow the epic Kingdom Hearts adventure from the beginning, with the new Final Mix version based on the acclaimed game. Disney and Final Fantasy come together in this charming tale about the strength of one's heart, and the bonds one forms. Sora, Kairi, and Riku live on the peaceful Destiny Islands until the day the door opens and the Heartless consume their world. Each gets transported to another world. Now, Sora must join up with Goofy and Donald in order to master the Keyblade, find his friends, and save the worlds from darkness. A mixture of humour, action, and heartwarming sentiment give broad appeal to this series; both genders and all ages will find something to enjoy. The adapter is very faithful to the game, however he does add some of his own flavour, particularly in the facial expressions, and in the interactions with minor characters. This omnibus is made in the western style (reads left to right) to encourage younger readers unfamiliar with manga to try it out. The story is easy to quick-paced and easy to follow, although it should be noted that the series does become more complex the further it goes on.

[Justyn Rampa · Rating 3 out of 5]

On paper the Kingdom Hearts franchise should be everything I love, but I've tried multiple times to get into the series and haven't been able to do it.

So I selected the manga re-release as an Otaku title because the kids were clamoring for it and this time I for sure had to engage with the series.

The manga was enjoyable but it felt a little disparate. Perhaps it was written for the readers who had completed the game, but it just felt like the plot was taking huge jumps at times that were expected to be filled in by the video game experience.

That being said, I did enjoy seeing what they were trying to do with the franchise and it just proves to me that yet again, I love the idea of mash-ups and taking established characters and putting them in a new situation.

[Kami · Rating 3 out of 5]

- Why do these read from left to right? They should read the other way!

- These follow the video game pretty well. There are a couple of worlds missing though, and I wish they had included everything.

- I love seeing Final Fantasy characters mixed with Disney characters! So brilliant!!

- The story is a bit confusing. I wish they explained things better.

- I like how some of the panels overlap. Some of pages are crazy organized chaos.

- Reading these makes me want to play the game again.

- Seeing Goofy as a turtle will never get old.

- I wish these were in color. I wonder why they decided to do them in black and white?

- These were fun to read, but I probably wouldn't buy them. I'd rather play the video game.

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this game when I was younger. I love this manga! I loved seeing all the Disney characters.
So here's the thing I loved the most, this volume doesn't have all the super hyped and popular Disney characters. In fact, the rescue team is: Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto. Love that! Also love the worlds and characters in this one: Alice in Wonderland, Aladdin, Merlin and Sword in the Stone, Hercules... seems pretty random, but I love it all the same. Shout out to Chip and Dale and Jiminy Cricket who help on the ship - love them too!

This one is totally being added to my middle school collection and I may even need to invest in the next volumes in the series! I kinda want to see which Disney characters pop up next!

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This kind of is what it is. A comicbook rendering of all of the cutscenes of about 33-50% of the videogame Kingdom Hearts. Since the plot of the videogame is meant to drive you to a series of fight scenes, which are not so visually appealing that they translate well to comics, it's kind of a lot of people talking.

There are a couple of especially good panels where the author takes liberty with the material, but otherwise the value of this book is that if you want to relive the game but you're too lazy or tired to pop it in or watch YouTube videos of it. (Or if you like it so much that even this pale reflection is additive.)

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've played the video games and wanted to try out the story, remembering seeing them growing up and somehow never getting to them. I knew the story would be MUCH shorter with having to cut out gameplay or side missions, and it certainly was. The thing I was mostly invested in where the character side conversations and glimpses that were put in some of the downtime sections. Or where Sora and the others are on the ship and what are they doing between worlds.

The story was cute, the art was fun, and it was still the same story I loved playing through. If you enjoyed the games, you'll likely enjoy the manga. It's worth taking a shot at!