Sora, a young boy who lives a peaceful life on his tropical island home, is set adrift when a horrible storm wrecks the world he loves and separates him from his friends, Riku and Kairi. In another world, the Disney castle is in chaos when King Mickey goes missing, and it's up to Donald, the court magician, and Goofy, the captain of the army, to find their king. When both Sora and the King's allies happen upon each other and learn that the ills that have befallen their worlds are the doing of dark beings without heartsknown as the Heartless, the three recent acquaintances take up arms together in an epic quest to travel to unknown worlds, set those worlds right, and findtheir friends!!
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.
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
This volume was so cute! I actually enjoyed this one more than the first volume. I feel like they changed some things towards the end from the video game, but I am not sure if they actually did, or if it's just been a long time since I played the first game. When I got to the end of this one, I was actually really excited for more. I hope I can get them from the library soon!
One downside: one of my favorite worlds in KH is Halloweentown and it wasn't in either volume :( I'm hoping it's in one of the KHII volumes!
Täytyi "hieman" kerrata edellisen kirjan lopusta, mihin tarina jäi, koska edellisen osan lukemisesta oli vierähtänyt aikaa 😅 Nopeasti kuitenkin pääsin taas juoneen mukaan ja sitten se olikin menoa!
Piirrosjälki on todella hyvää ja selkeää. Kuvat kannattavat tarinaa juuri niin kuin pitäisi ja näkee, että on ammattilainen asialla. Välillä tarinassa on pilke silmäkulmassa ja ajoittain uidaan todella syvissä vesissä ja samalla kerronta rullaa koko ajan eteenpäin.
Suosittelen kirjaa kaikille, joita manga, hyvä tarina, upeat kuvat, Disney-tarinat, teemojen sekoittaminen ja seikkailu kiinnostavat 😊
same review as in the previous volume: a nice retelling of the story if you know the game. some newly added scenes threw me a bit off but still love the writing and the humour!
After reading the first volume of “Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix,” I just had to check out the second volume of this fantastic manga series! Behold, I had finally managed to read the second volume of “Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix” and man was this volume just as brilliant and exciting as the first volume!
In this volume, Sora and his new friends Donald and Goofy continue to search for King Mickey and Riku and they ended up going to more new worlds! They meet up with Pinocchio and his father in the belly of Monstro the Whale, end up in Atlantica and meet Ariel, go to Neverland and meet Peter Pan and ended up in Hollow Bastion while meeting the Beast! Also, Sora will soon discover that his best friend, Riku might have turned to the dark side and Sora will have to find a way to bring Riku back to normal, while defeating the heartless!
Shiro Amano has done it again with the stellar writing and the hilarious and dramatic artwork for this story! I loved the fact that this manga series remains faithful to the video game it was based off of as the characters act exactly the way they did in the games (except a little sillier in some places) and the situations from the games play out so brilliantly in manga format! I loved the fact that we get the mystery surrounding the heartless solved in this volume and after I discovered the true purpose of the heartless and the person who was responsible for creating the heartless, I was truly taken aback and I started enjoying the story even more then! Shiro Amano’s artwork is truly hilarious and dramatic at the same time as the Disney characters are drawn extremely well! I really loved the artwork of the characters from Neverland and Atlantica, especially the images of Ariel and Tinkerbell as they are the cutest looking characters in this book! I also loved the way that Shiro Amano drew the dramatic scenes of Sora and his friends trying to fight the Heartless as the scenes look truly intense and at times frightening!
Overall, “Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix Volume Two” is a fantastic conclusion to the “Kingdom Hearts” series and a possible beginning to a new story (in the form of “Kingdom Hearts Two!)” I definitely cannot wait to check out the second part of the “Kingdom Hearts” series in “Kingdom Hearts Two” and this is definitely a series that fans of “Kingdom Hearts” should check out!
So obviously this is a very biased review as KH is one of my favorite series EVER.
An adaptation of the video game Kingdom Hearts I Final Mix into manga form, this and its preceeding volume tell the story of Sora, a boy who has a weapon called a Keyblade as Sora and his companions Goofy and Donald Duck travel to various Disney worlds in search of enemies and friends, both old and new.
Some worlds from the original game have been omitted (Deep Jungle, aka Tarzan) and other worlds moved to sequentially different locations from the original game. This cuts content in favor of a line of continuity and thematic continuation. The manga cuts a LOT of content from the original game (which is worth playing if you haven't already), so this can be treated as a sparknotes-esque version of the first KH game.
Much of the dialogue is lifted from the game itself, and the additions to the dialogue are generally for the better--giving a deeper insight into some of the scenes that did not have much screentime in the original game.
This manga adaptation also includes the scenes added in the Final Mix version of the game (a handful of new chapters), including the ??? fight and Another Side, Another Story at the end of the second volume. Included at the end of the first volume are a few SoL moments for some of the characters which are quite amusing.
Many of the character drawings are cute (like the Darkside when Sora is sucked into Traverse Town, omg so cute <3). There are very stark contrasts with some of the more serious parts of the story, where the drawings seem intense and harsh. I really like Shiro Amano's work here, because it balances the seriousness and the levity that the first game really has in a way that is conducive to manga.
This is a very difficult book to reccommend, mostly because it's not a great adaptation of the game if you haven't already played it. There's a lot of stuff plotwise it leaves out, and a good portion of the game is, like, actually playing it so you lose out on that. And you don't hear Yoko Shimomura's soundtrack. :( But for those that have already played it, it's not a really necessary thing to read because there's so little added--it might just be better for the person to replay the game. But for mega-fans looking to get their KH fix, this is a fun new form to get it in.
Omigosh the art is adorable ahh. I love these volumes. As I've been in a Kingdom Hearts kind of mood these past couple of, eh, months (years?), I'll be rambling a bit below in the spoilers section. Feel free to ignore as it's not a proper review, just me comparing things to the game and general comments and generally not making a lot of sense out of context.
This second volume wraps up the Final Mix version of the Kingdom Hearts 1 manga adaptation - pretty big volumes to fit in the original five, I think it was? Anyway, you read this left to right. ETA: apparently this is how it was released in Japan too? I haven't found 100% confirmation yet but it would make sense, considering the panels run the right way (Sora wields the keyblade righthanded etc). Nothing's mirrored, then! EDIT END
A lot of the original dialogue from the game was kept, but some extra things were added too, and small details were changed as well. Not all worlds were featured in the manga, by the way. No Deep Jungle (copyright issues?) or Halloween Town. (Oogie Boogie's fault? Since it's supposed to be All Ages and all.)
Some general (sometimes spoilerific) commentary as I read the volumes:
Um. This one was *a lot* less clear as far as scene transitions and overall plot than the first volume. For those not already familiar with the world(s) within the game, there maaayyy be a bit of head scratching in the end. But hey, that's okay... it's Kingdom Hearts. We rookies all know how convoluted the plot has become, anyway. Even still, the artwork is gorgeous, the humor is endless, the "heart" of this story still takes center stage. I'm looking forward to reading through all of the books in the series... as well as playing 2.8, the Final Chapter Prequel, starting Jan 24!
I really did enjoy this manga - only the second one I've ever read! Very glad I started with the two volumes of the Final Mix version of my favourite game series, Kingdom Hearts! If a little on the light side when the characters visit different worlds, it still makes for a great read! Roll on the next manga!
This was just like the video game (without spending endless hours grinding to level up Sora...) It made me feel very nostalgic and now I want to re play the game again! I also want to read the rest of the graphic novels within there series!
En la misma línea que el anterior, seguimos viajando por los mundos disney igual que en el juego. Pero siento que se pierde gran parte de la historia y que es muy difícil entenderlo si no se ha jugado o conocido este universo antes.
Seriously, this brought all the joy of the game and none of the anger of those stupid bosses. I will definitely re-read this again when I want I feel nostalgia for my childhood.
Another awesome volume! I am loving this series so much! It is like Final Fantasy meets Zelda meets Disney. I love the artwork and the suspenseful storyline.
As with vol. 1, 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.
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?
Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix Volume 2 picks up where volume 1 ends. Sora, Donald, and Goofy continue their adventures across the worlds fighting Heartless and Disney villains while collecting Ansem’s reports. Along the way, they run into Riku, but he’s changed. He’s become cold and cruel, and believes Sora abandoned him and Kairi to play hero. All while the plan of the villains threatens to reach fruition. Will our three heroes manage to stop it? Or are the worlds doomed to fall? As a fan of the games, I still enjoy reading the adventures in manga format. We get to see more personality from each of the characters who are allowed to behave more like themselves. Plus we also get to see some additional faces in the worlds that didn’t make it into the games. If you love Disney or the games, I would recommend you picking up this title. There isn’t anything to be worried about in this manga. Some of the Heartless are scary in design, and there are moments of intensity. This manga could be used to discuss the struggle between good and evil, and how in the end good will prevail. This story can also be used to illustrate the power of having faith and hope even in the hardest of times.
This book was literally shoved into my hands by a friend – “It’s REALLY good.” And it is, but there are also a host of problematic elements, especially that it glamorizes suicide. The author likely didn’t intend such a message, but it’s there. It also reeks of stereotyping, misogyny, “friendzoning”, and other issues that should be as outdated as the plot-centric cassette tapes. This Goodreads review sums it up better than I could, as well as a couple others that rightfully criticize Clay’s “nice guy” status and how virtually all of Hannah’s problems revolved around boys. But it is super suspenseful, and I read the whole thing in a few late-night hours.
Part two of Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix Volume 1, this follows Sora, Donald, and Goofy through worlds like Atlantica, Neverland, Monstro, and even Hollow Bastian as they look for King Mickey, Kairi, and Riku. But is Riku okay, or is the darkness on its way to swallowing him up?
There is also a cute little blurb in here about the worlds' characters--little comic strips, as you will. A great read and final chapter of this adventure based off the game of the same name. But there's much more to come. Chain of Memories follows right after this one.
Now I want to play the games even more. And I need the Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts 2 manga volumes, but my libraries don't have them and I don't see them in my local bookstores either. I don't feel like buying from online for a while either.
Full review soon to come.
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Some small differences and extras (including a Winnie the Pooh extra), but nothing extremely different from the original volumes. I would say this one is the better buy because it does add a few things and for a die hard fan, even the smallest additions are good. I love KH and, though game 1 is a small story in comparison with the others, it was the beginning. It was where my love for the characters stemmed from and I'm happy to read it again and again.
The problem with this is the author is not interested in showing the action sequences. And then had to rush the climax of the story. The art tells the story pretty well, but I think they probably should have made a similar story rather than tried to tell the story of a videogame without battles.
De este si no puedo decir nada mas que lo ame y es perfecto para mi, de nuevo, algunos inconvenientes como en el primer volumen, pero simplemente adoro este formato para contar la historia de mis vídeo juegos favoritos <3