I really loved the art style of this book. The art is what drew me in to begin with, but the story did not disappoint. I enjoyed the story from the very first page.

It's no wonder MINECRAFT: THE MANGA came out when it did in North America—riding the wave of the Jack Black film's inevitable popularity. It's not uncommon for anything and everything to get a kids' manga tie-in in Japan, especially in the pages of CoroCoro Comic. The majority of these releases, with the exception of proven titles like POKEMON and BEYBLADE, go largely unseen by an English-speaking contingent. So it can be difficult to readjust expectations when diving into a CoroCoro title outside these big-hitters.

In the second volume, Nico White's journey to the end of the world continues. He goes on picking up new companions along the way, adding to his already colorful crew of Gray the not-a-zombie and Yamabuki the legitimately bad ninja. The most notable new member of the party is Navy: a tiny, cute Creeper who has an "evolution" mod that allows them to think, speak, and not explode forever when defending themselves.

By and large, this comic is extremely cute. It's very Saturday morning cartoon, very by the numbers (with a reminder each week of Nico's crafting powers), and very safe. Which, for kids, is great! The art is... fine. There's something about it that feels unpolished and a bit back-of-notebook. But again, younger fans won't care.

If you're a grown-up hoping for something multilayered and clever, this is not the place to look. If you know a kid who loves manga and Minecraft, though, this is perfect for them. It continues fine-to-good, great to share with kids, and wise in its decision to tell a story within Minecraft rather than trying to tell The Story Of Minecraft. And, at the end of the day, it teaches young readers that we can't always judge based on first impressions and what makes each of us special might not always be immediately evident (or even seen as special once it becomes evident). From that standpoint, it's a manga you'll feel good putting in your kids' hands for reading time.