The facts:

Title: The Legend of Zelda

Author and artist: written and illustrated by Akira Himekawa the collaboration of two women, A. Honda and S. Nagano.

First published: Shogakukan’s MangaONE app from February 2016–January 2022

Series: 70 chapters across 11 volumes which you can buy in a treasure chest box set.

Graphics:

 While the graphics are often criticised when compared to other manga, this is a beloved game, meaning there are animated graphics that set the limit for what this world looks like. That is a hard act to follow and I think Akira Himekawa is doing an awesome job, turning a world we move through to the page we turn.

Context in the Manga Universe:

 Zelda is the pinnacle of junior manga. Its simple hero journey plot, with all the twists and turns to be expected from a manga series based on a game keeps younger manga readers engaged.

What I like most:

I love the backstory and emotional development of Link. The game keeps him plain so we can all be Link but the Manga develops him emotionally and we see Link become likable, with likes, dislikes, goals and feelings. His reactions to events really take on a life of their own in the manga Zelda.

What I like least:

 It is not paced as well as the Manga I usually love (One Piece and Dragonball).

Recommended for age:

Look most websites would say 8-12. I really think this series is for 8 plus on the basis that you won’t get to the darker volumes until you are a bit older. I also believe that having experienced their less dark volumes and being vested in the story makes it easier to experience some darker themes like death.

Interesting fact:

 Zelda has been voted the most wanted game/manga movie by fans meaning all games/manga fans want to see this film the most.

How to explain it to your parents/teacher:

 Link, a teenage boy, is on a quest to Death Mountain to defeat Ganon, (a pig monster!) to restore peace to the kingdom of Hyrule. To do so Link embarks on a journey to awaken Zelda, a sleeping maiden. Seriously, Sleeping maidens, a quest, and an arch enemy over 11 volumes.

Film/Tv crossover:

The gaming franchise began in 1987 with the release of the 8bit NES game there is also an American animated tv series and Netflix has been in discussions about a real-life dramatization based on the games, not the manga.

In Bibliography:

Himekawa, A. 2022, ‘The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time -Legendary Edition-‘, Viz [image] Available https://www.viz.com/read/manga/legend-of-zelda/product/4995, Accessed 22 October 2022.