So we all know how popular manga is in the western world these days. The Auckland Central Library’s comic section is steadily being overtaken by little squarish books in impressively long series, even my 9 year old brother knows the basics of Japanese honorifics.

Inevitably, once manga proved its popularity (and commercial viability), Westerners decided to get in on the act too. Marvel’s Mangaverse imprint, various Tokyopop publications, by and large they’re awful. So when I saw a couple of books of Scott Pilgrim at the library – small, squarish, in with the manga – I assumed it would be awful too. But I gave it a look, because I’m open minded, and I still had twenty minutes before my meeting.

Scott Pilgrim is one of the best comics I’ve read in a long, long time. I say this without any exaggeration. It is awesome. It has everything – drama, humour, carefully observed human interaction, knife fights, save points... while it rides the absurdity curve quite hard at times the story never strays too far from its core narrative, and the characters are authentic and convincing. The Globe and Mail described it as “Canada’s answer to Tank Girl” according to the back cover of volume 3, and who am I to argue with that?
Plus I laughed my arse off. This is such a good comic, and Todd the Vegan is possibly the most awesome super-villain ever.

Scott Pilgrim is written and drawn by Bryan Lee O’Malley, an award-winning Canadian cartoonist who I had never heard of but who is now my favourite Canadian cartoonist. And yes, I’m sure I could name another one if I tried.

Auckland Central Library has the first three volumes for loan, and to date volume 4 has also been published and #5 is on the way. Oh Oh and the website just told me that there’s a possibility that it’ll be made into a movie, starring Michael Cera (the guy from Juno and Superbad and stuff)!
Awesome.