ピポチュー 1 [Pipochū]

Peepo Choo #1

by Felipe Smith

They say you cannot choose where and when are born; we are gifted into the worlds are parents are living at the time.  Whether a blessing or a curse, as individuals we must make the most of our environments to advance as best possible given the circumstances present.  For the cast of Peepo Choo, their places of birth, whether they be the suburbs of Tokyo or the South Side of Chicago, appear to be a curse they cannot escape...until they realize the world is a much smaller place than they thought.

On the surface Milton appears to be your average a high school student living in the thugged out streets of Chicago's South Side. As is the case with many teens looks can be deceiving.  When he's not at school or riding the metro, he is at the local comic shop cosplaying as his favorite Japanese animation character Peepo Choo!  A hardcore fan, Milton knows every line from the Peepo Choo animation by heart.  He can happily replicate the Peepo Dance with ease, and genuinely believes the world depicted in this cartoon is "the real" Japan.

On the other side of the Pacific lives Reiko.  A teenage model on the rise, she also has another side of her.  Reiko is a feminist working hard to someday move overseas to a place where she could be treated equally and fairly by men and women.  In Japan, Reiko feels she is a teenage sex object, and after a number of interactions with young Americans in Tokyo she begins to believe that her American dream is going to be painfully similar to her worst Japanese nightmares.

Chance would bring the two teens together. But in this case fate comes in the form of the underworld!

"Now that Smith is producing works for a Japanese audience under the editorial guidelines of Kodansha--doing what Paul Pope in the 1990s ultimately could not do--it's going to be fascinating to see how his already amazing talents change and grow."--Jason Thompson, ComiXology

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Japan

250 pages, Paperback

First published April 23, 2009

About the author

Felipe Smith (フェリーペ・スミス)

Reviews

[zxvasdf · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a book by a non-Japanese to be accepted in a Japanese publication, to be read by the Japanese public, in the style pioneered by the Japanese, is, I think, a great honor.

How Smith does the switch and bait of Milton's personality in the opening of the story, not once, but twice, is pure genius. Then it goes into some really weird place which, I guess, is predominant in this kind of book. I like weird, and am amazed by the ability to express extremes in emotion shown in mangas.

Admittedly, I don't really read manga, but the few I have tried wasn't as funny and inspired as Peepo Choo.

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like salacious, envelope pushing graphic novels and manga as much as the next avid reader of such...but this is juvenile, offensive (not in a good way), poser drivel. Lotsa sex if that's what you're after. Not a lot of story...or character development of any sort. You'll feel you need a shower after reading it. Just plain yuck.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

[review is for all 3 volumes]
I found this series by accident at a thrift store a year ago and finally got around to reading it. What on the surface seems like an exploitative romp of sex and violence is actually a thoughtful commentary on identity, friendship, and cultural expectations. I interpreted some of the extreme nature of the sex/violence as satire, meant to provoke a response that could potentially open dialogue about the actual themes of the story. And, yes, at times it was so extreme it was just fun. If I'm being honest. I was sorry it was so short, and was surprised to learn that Smith has written Ghost Rider for Marvel, which I'm looking forward to checking out soon.

[The McRib · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is for all 3 volumes.

The main plot with Milton is really good and I love the theme of stupid foreigner misconceptions, but the Yakuza/Fate subplot is just far too graphic and kinda disgusting. And what the fuck is Peepo Choo?

The stuff with Jody and Reiko is also a bit too sexual though I do like how it eventually ties into the central theme with Jody pretending to be 'gangsta' with the Yakuza and Reiko finding acceptance among otaku nerds who share her interests and don't sexualise her.

As a whole I do enjoy it but it feels almost like it wants to be 2 separate stories at the same time and only just about manages it.

[Mateo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first chapters are interesting for what manga it is... But the rest is a mental trick...1/10

[Vee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felipe Smith has a great personal story. I read his MBQ series and its good to see him produce a new series in Peepo Choo. Offensive? Yeah, I expect many will be offended by volume 1 alone. He explores some of the same themes he addressed in MBQ, so there's a feel of continuity. Smith's story telling is straight to the point to excite and incite. You have to kind of take it or leave it. What I really like about Peepo Choo is how the art is used to tell the story. Ok, I'll admit, there's really not a whole lot of story or character development here but I didn't expect a whole lot in the story. However, the theme about cultural stereotypes and expectation rings loud and clear.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felipe Smith brings a kinetic feel to his satirical look at American and Japanese subcultures, whether it's comic books or organized crime. Like much of mainstream manga, Smith exaggerates: anatomy, weirdness, violence, sex. But in bringing his art and story to such extremes, he lays the groundwork for finding out the complicated truths and disheartening assumptions about people and subcultures on both sides of the Pacific. As evidenced by the cover, there are many sexually and violently explicit images, but they are similar in tone to pulp fiction (and I don't mean Tarantino's movie, either) or to a grindhouse movie, only better. This is an odd, manic, and exciting introduction.

[Lord · Rating 1 out of 5]

This OEL manga tries so much to please the reader with non-sensical violence and erotic situations that it's almost embarrassing to imagine that it was published in a japanese manga magazine. I'm really disappointed in Vertical advertising the English edition as a "victory parade for us all". The only good thing about this comic is the art that has its moments. But that's not nearly enough. A bizarre effort and probably the worst OEL manga I've ever read.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #6 of the Readathon

Weird little manga series that was actually written in the states. There are several story lines going on throughout this book and I liked some more than others. Interesting though and very different from most manga I've read. Since I have #2 I'll go ahead and read it and then that will determine whether I want to order the 3rd and final installment of the series

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but it is definitely not for everyone. There is graphic sex and violence throughout. If you don't like gritty underbelly sort of stories skip this one altogether. The art is well done and I can't wait to see how the 2 seperate story arcs come together.

[Jake Forbes · Rating 2 out of 5]

As satire, Peepo Choo is clever but never subtle as he holds a funhouse mirror to East/West stereotypes of the exotic other. I admire Felipe Smith's anarchistic exuberance more than I actually enjoyed it.

[David Gallin-Parisi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is offensive and trashy manga, and guess I love it. If you like overblown violence, voluptuous sex, and playing with stereotypes (racial, class, comic-reading, cute-dance-enacting, and cultural), check it out. Ridiculous.

[Mza · Rating 4 out of 5]

33 distinct kinds of pornography all bundled under one cover.

[Morbus Iff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh dear. Oh dear lord. For every "not bad", there was "ARGGHHH, LAME."

[Elias Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I want in a manga. Humor. Over the top violence. Nudity from both sexes. Cringe factor. And to top it all off, written by a non-Japanese.