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Vermonia #1
Vermonia #1: Quest for the Silver Tiger
As an ancient prophecy awakens, four friends must discover their true warrior spirits in en epic battle to save the planet of Vermonia. Many years ago on the far-off planet of Vermonia, two brothers, Uro and Boros, waged a fierce battle against each other. When Uro finally triumphed, Queen Frasinella's peaceful reign came to an end. Replaced by the dark and destructive rule of Lord Uro, Vermonia and its people suffered greatly. Yet it was foretold that four brave warriors from the planet of Blue Star would return to challenge Lord Uro again. Four ordinary, twelve-year-old skateboarders have no idea the time has come for them to fulfil an ancient prophecy. But when Mel is suddenly kidnapped by one of Lord Uro's soldiers and imprisoned far away, Doug, Naomi and Jim know they have to find and help her. They will each need to release their own special power animals - their true warrior spirit - if they are to succeed.
208 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2009
About the author
YoYo .
8 booksYoyo is a group of creative artists, designers and storytellers who got together to create a new kind of manga. Vermonia is their first published series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 19, 2016
The first manga I have ever read, I found Vermonia interesting and, of course, different. In English (and, of course, many other languages) we read from left to right, but in manga, which comes from the Japanese culture, it is read right to left, starting from the back of the book, and took me a while to get used to. It’s easy to get the hang of, though, despite being difficult to follow on occasions, where I wasn’t sure which box was next.
Vermonia is a series of books in which the four main characters are from another world, which has been at war. Their queen have sent them to earth to be reborn, and, when we meet them during their teenage years, they are getting a call to arms to go and save the kingdom once more.
If Vermonia had been a book, I am not entirely sure if I would have read it, as the story seemed to be quite abrupt. However, I think I will read the other volumes, which tell the stories from the other teen’s point of views.
One thing I really loved about the book was the head-over-heels love story of Jim and Princess Rainbow which made me ‘aww’ and coo at from when it was introduced.
I would give this three stars – it was a good read, but happened to fast, and the plot could, perhaps, be better explained. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this, as I know not everyone likes manga, but I think if you want to try something new, you might as well go for it.
Vermonia is a series of books in which the four main characters are from another world, which has been at war. Their queen have sent them to earth to be reborn, and, when we meet them during their teenage years, they are getting a call to arms to go and save the kingdom once more.
If Vermonia had been a book, I am not entirely sure if I would have read it, as the story seemed to be quite abrupt. However, I think I will read the other volumes, which tell the stories from the other teen’s point of views.
One thing I really loved about the book was the head-over-heels love story of Jim and Princess Rainbow which made me ‘aww’ and coo at from when it was introduced.
I would give this three stars – it was a good read, but happened to fast, and the plot could, perhaps, be better explained. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this, as I know not everyone likes manga, but I think if you want to try something new, you might as well go for it.
June 25, 2018
A great story that I enjoyed - another quick read that I enjoyed. Loved the artwork throughout and can't wait to get onto the next one in the series
July 17, 2016
People know things for no reason. The characters don't really do things -- they just have things done to them. The plot keeps happening without meaningful justification. The path the main characters' quest must take were set up by people who made senseless decisions (from an in-character perspective) just because of the fact they had to make those decisions for this plot to exist. The pacing is indescribably bad. People accept things they're told without any thought or good reason to accept it just because they have to accept it for the plot to move forward. Everyone in this story is a stereotype or a juvenile power fantasy.
The art is actually pretty good at times, but it's inconsistent, and sometimes pretty half-assed. In fact, the art is actually more disappointing because of the fact it is obvious the art could have been better if the creators were more willing to throw away the occasional bad result and try again. The worst thing about the good art in it, though, is the fact it illustrates such an awful story.
It's best avoided in favor of something better written.
The art is actually pretty good at times, but it's inconsistent, and sometimes pretty half-assed. In fact, the art is actually more disappointing because of the fact it is obvious the art could have been better if the creators were more willing to throw away the occasional bad result and try again. The worst thing about the good art in it, though, is the fact it illustrates such an awful story.
It's best avoided in favor of something better written.
June 12, 2013
Reading this with my 6 year old. She loves the pictures, relates to the skaters, and is able to follow the storyline. I think the art is passable and the story simplistic, but it's still enjoyable.
edit: Just as I closed this out I glanced up at the cover and thought, 'who's that guy on the front?' There is no such character. There is a blond guy (Jim), a black hair girl (Naomi), a red headed girl (Mel), and what appeared to be an african american guy who is the spirit of the silver tiger (Doug). There is no brunet boy. I point this out because I think it's great that there is a minority in the book. It's even great that he got the first quest of the series, but was the publisher afraid to put him on the cover? Just food for thought.
edit: Just as I closed this out I glanced up at the cover and thought, 'who's that guy on the front?' There is no such character. There is a blond guy (Jim), a black hair girl (Naomi), a red headed girl (Mel), and what appeared to be an african american guy who is the spirit of the silver tiger (Doug). There is no brunet boy. I point this out because I think it's great that there is a minority in the book. It's even great that he got the first quest of the series, but was the publisher afraid to put him on the cover? Just food for thought.
February 7, 2017
2.5*
I wanted to love this, but I just didn't. It fell flat of my expectations, and I found myself losing attention at some times to where I even laid the book aside - causing it to take longer to read. I find I am doing the same with Vermonia #2. If it doesn't get better, I might drop this series.
I wanted to love this, but I just didn't. It fell flat of my expectations, and I found myself losing attention at some times to where I even laid the book aside - causing it to take longer to read. I find I am doing the same with Vermonia #2. If it doesn't get better, I might drop this series.
February 3, 2017
I like the setting and mythology and the art is easy on the eyes. It's a quick read too. I hope they give the four main characters a bit more personality in the following books because they don't differ from each other very much, except Naomi is a kind of leader of the group.
August 19, 2016
This is one of the first mangas I've ever read and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I'm excited to read more about Naomi, Jim, Doug and Mel.
November 20, 2021
A clunky mess. The review by Chad writes it better than I.
The story makes little sense. Seems a teen's tale with immature conclusions woven into a poorly thought out plot. Of all the human's in the world, 4 are chosen due to skateboards???
I get the book is trying to rake cash from dumb young minds. The attempt should be to reach beyond that.
As Chad writes, the artwork is the more serious problem. Even bad art can save a rotten story. In this case, the artwork makes it all worse. Poorly rendered figures and little contrast more often than not leaves the reader wondering what is what and who is who. There is the consistency issue as, near the end, the character expressions jolt to an abstract level.
Bottom line: I do not recommend this book. 3 out of ten points.
The story makes little sense. Seems a teen's tale with immature conclusions woven into a poorly thought out plot. Of all the human's in the world, 4 are chosen due to skateboards???
I get the book is trying to rake cash from dumb young minds. The attempt should be to reach beyond that.
As Chad writes, the artwork is the more serious problem. Even bad art can save a rotten story. In this case, the artwork makes it all worse. Poorly rendered figures and little contrast more often than not leaves the reader wondering what is what and who is who. There is the consistency issue as, near the end, the character expressions jolt to an abstract level.
Bottom line: I do not recommend this book. 3 out of ten points.
April 23, 2019
Volume 1 of a series, the story opens up with a prologue to the conflict that over-arches the story before introducing our protagonists. The story so far appears to be akin to a simple rpg game plot, which is good considering the series is directed towards younger readers. It draws you in a bit with a dynamic/animated art style and interesting designs for this fantasy world.
Though, the protagonists have a simple bond that ties them together initially and an easily simple conflict between them; it is a bond that can be empathized with by the recommended age group.
Though, the protagonists have a simple bond that ties them together initially and an easily simple conflict between them; it is a bond that can be empathized with by the recommended age group.
March 6, 2025
This book was really fun to read. I was in a reading slump while I picked up this manga and damn I'm back.
I really like Stories in which friends come together to protect someone or complete a mission while forgetting whatever misunderstanding and fights that they are having among themselves. and this book was really all that.
it is a good fun read
I really like Stories in which friends come together to protect someone or complete a mission while forgetting whatever misunderstanding and fights that they are having among themselves. and this book was really all that.
it is a good fun read
July 1, 2017
A.J. liked "all of it" and recommends it to "anyone."
November 8, 2018
Really good but you need to read all of the books.
February 4, 2020
about how four important people become friends and enemies on their quest to stop the evil uro from gaining control of the sacred bolarium, and the worlds with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2021
This was an excellent book, keeping you keen to read the next page. At least they don't end with a cliffhanger :)
September 23, 2021
Mel is the main character. And that they have a really cool power it’s like. Idk how to explain it but he can like turn into a tiger thingy
December 19, 2022
It was ok. A bit basic in story and geared for a younger generation than I am. The art is good and the world building is fine. Overall for me this one is just meh.
December 24, 2010
Many years ago two brothers fought against each other and Uro won ending Queen Frasinella's reign. She transformed four of her great warriors into animal spirits and sent them to the Turtle Kingdom where each was immediately tricked into imprisonment. Now many, many years later 4 children from earth are summoned as the counterparts to these animal spirits and it is up to them to save the Blue Star System. As the animal spirits are unleashed their powers will combine and become one with each child.
The story caught me up pretty quickly. Starting with a group of feisty skateboarding kids (two boys, two girls), the fantasy aspect starts quite quickly and they are whisked away to learn there prophetic future. The story has Native American influences; the planet they land on has a princess and warriors dressed in Native American garb, they are called the Potonawi. The camp is ruled by the Princess's grandmother who is a Magician of the 32nd line of heritage who can talk to many spirits and see both the past and the future. The story's tension begins right away as one of the four friends is kidnapped by Uro in a ploy to trap the others and the book ends on a cliffhanger as one of the bad guys, Sassella, a girl who everything she touches turns to stone comes upon our heroes leaving their fate unknown as we anxiously wait to read book 2. I also love the art. It is detailed, the fantasy creatures are unique and the manga style is for the most part realistic, there is only a small amount of the over-exaggerated expressions and all the boys look like boys. Just the way I like my manga!
The story caught me up pretty quickly. Starting with a group of feisty skateboarding kids (two boys, two girls), the fantasy aspect starts quite quickly and they are whisked away to learn there prophetic future. The story has Native American influences; the planet they land on has a princess and warriors dressed in Native American garb, they are called the Potonawi. The camp is ruled by the Princess's grandmother who is a Magician of the 32nd line of heritage who can talk to many spirits and see both the past and the future. The story's tension begins right away as one of the four friends is kidnapped by Uro in a ploy to trap the others and the book ends on a cliffhanger as one of the bad guys, Sassella, a girl who everything she touches turns to stone comes upon our heroes leaving their fate unknown as we anxiously wait to read book 2. I also love the art. It is detailed, the fantasy creatures are unique and the manga style is for the most part realistic, there is only a small amount of the over-exaggerated expressions and all the boys look like boys. Just the way I like my manga!
May 28, 2010
I wouldn't hesitate to offer this to a middle school kid. There is virtually no language, very little innuendo and the violence is mostly towards demonic type creatures. Also, the fact that the tweens/teens in the story are skaters and rockers will appeal to that age range.
So far, this story looks like a pretty good portal fantasy. Four kids get pulled from our world into a world ravaged by war in order to save one of the kids and defeat the evil general. The art style is Japanese, which I generally prefer anyway. It is slightly unusual to have a minority depicted in Japanese works, but Doug is clearly not white (or maybe he's just a really tan guy, but I don't think so). It works fairly well since no issue is made about him being different from the other kids. I'm definitely going to pick up the next one because the cliff hanger ending was pretty well done.
So far, this story looks like a pretty good portal fantasy. Four kids get pulled from our world into a world ravaged by war in order to save one of the kids and defeat the evil general. The art style is Japanese, which I generally prefer anyway. It is slightly unusual to have a minority depicted in Japanese works, but Doug is clearly not white (or maybe he's just a really tan guy, but I don't think so). It works fairly well since no issue is made about him being different from the other kids. I'm definitely going to pick up the next one because the cliff hanger ending was pretty well done.
December 28, 2009
On a distant Blue Star, Mel, Jim, Naomi, and Doug — friends obsessed with their garage band — don’t seem that different from any of the other twelve-year-old skateboarders at Union Middle School. But everything changes when Mel is kidnapped and imprisoned in a world called the Turtle Realm. As her friends rush to save her, guided by the magical squelp Satorin, they find a world terrorized by a conquering army, a land whose villagers’ only hope is an ancient prophecy foretelling the arrival of four heroes. Will they be brave enough to release their true warrior spirits — and return the rightful queen to her throne?
The action moves along pretty smoothly, artwork is decent, story is engaging enough.
The action moves along pretty smoothly, artwork is decent, story is engaging enough.
February 20, 2024
This kind of bounced around between two stars to three stars for me the yard is definitely inconsistent and there is way too much exposition dump and things that happened so fast that should’ve took longer to play out and there’s too much that happens to the characters and not because of the characters I like the fantasy world and I like some of the characters some of them seem kind of flat and boring and I’ve seen this truck done a lot better it’s not really a bad place to start if you’re looking for a fantasy world though it needs to be drawn out more and more time needs to be spent Developing the characters in the world everything just felt rushed. I might read some more of the series I’m not really sure and I’m not in a big hurry either.
February 19, 2019
Language - G, Sexual Content - G; Violence - G
Doug, Jim, Naomi, and Mel are just regualar humans with regular teenage problems. That is, until Mel is taken and Doug, Tim, and Naomi get transported to another planet to try and save her. Then they find out they have magical powers and are supposed to save the new planet they're on.
I think that this book is too short but is very exciting. The adventure of traveling to a new world with new creatures, people, and surroundings just draws me in. I think these characters will draw you in too if you pick it up.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Doug, Jim, Naomi, and Mel are just regualar humans with regular teenage problems. That is, until Mel is taken and Doug, Tim, and Naomi get transported to another planet to try and save her. Then they find out they have magical powers and are supposed to save the new planet they're on.
I think that this book is too short but is very exciting. The adventure of traveling to a new world with new creatures, people, and surroundings just draws me in. I think these characters will draw you in too if you pick it up.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
September 12, 2016
The book that I just read for the past 9 days is Fiction. The main characters of the story is 3 teenagers named Doug, Naomi, and Jim. Doug, Naomi, and Jim are great skaters until one day the mayor had Restricted A Area That Was Supposed to be a Skaters Park But instead of that, the Mayor Decided to restrict the area for nothing. Doug, Naomi, and Jim discovered a underground portal under the restricted area. The Characters went into the portal and discovered that they were in a another dimension of a distant universe. The Main characters were in charge of keeping a Mysterious Egg safe in order to make dimension they were in purified instead of corruption.
July 18, 2016
I was looking around the library for a new manga series that I could try and I came across this graphic novel. The artwork for one thing is amazing and the story, also terrific as well. You probably won't find a manga similar to this one because it seems to have a story all on it's own. The female characters didn't act like little girlies afraid to go anywhere but instead they took the situation for what it is. But one of them is missing in this weird world. I won't spoil anything for you guys but I really do think you should go ahead and read this.
July 16, 2010
There was something about the art that took my attention. I later found out that the shading and rendering was done in photoshop, which is a refreshingly different technique in a manga. The art also had a more western look to it, as were the characters and their names. Art-wise, this is a great book for someone just getting into manga.
The plot however, moved a bit too fast for my liking, even though I still found it enjoyable. Overall, it's a nice book for a quick read.
The plot however, moved a bit too fast for my liking, even though I still found it enjoyable. Overall, it's a nice book for a quick read.
October 20, 2013
I liked this book because it interested me and made me keep on reading on ,it has a cool storyline/plot and it is a graphic novel which is personally my favorite type of book.
The drawing style is really good because it shows emotions through the drawings and helps you understand the event thats happening better.I am reading the whole series which is a 6 book set and it is really enjoyable and reccomend it to people aged from 11-15.
The drawing style is really good because it shows emotions through the drawings and helps you understand the event thats happening better.I am reading the whole series which is a 6 book set and it is really enjoyable and reccomend it to people aged from 11-15.
December 18, 2009
I really enjoyed this :)A great fantasy with fantastic art. The story flows well, but of course as with all manga, our story has just really begun and the book ends!! Who knows how long I will have to wait for the next one. This one is great for both boys and girls as there are 4 main characters, 2 boys and 2 girls. There's something for everyone and it's great for introducing someone to manga.
March 6, 2010
this was a g.n. I would never read personally, but needed to as an Eisner judge. It is aimed at the middle school crowd, and succeeds in being a nice simple well drawn story. Four kids who grew up together are enlisted to become warriors to fight evil on a different world.
June 9, 2010
Great bk. good action. fantasy. would have prefered a less abrupt ending, but I guess thats part of the suspension of the series. I like the whole 'gaurdian spirit thing' and the responsibilty put on the characters is pretty grave, so its really interesting.
November 26, 2011
There were a lot of great illustrations in this one, and I expecially enjoyed the unicorn-tiger and other fantasy beasts. However, I'd be lying if I said I knew what the hell was going on with the story.
Vermonia: Quest for the Silver Tiger v. 1
by YoYo
Vermonia: Quest for the Silver Tiger v. 1
by YoYo
March 19, 2013
When I first read the book, I had to read it again to understand what was happening. The best part about the book was when the people got special things from the village that made them turn into animals. You should read this book because it is cool and you should give it a try.
Abby
Abby
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews