The popular game artist takes a crack at comics.

Here at GotNext, we don't normally talk much about manga and comics, but when a game industry great like Yasushi Suzuki takes a stab at his own book, you take notice. Purgatory Kabuki is the first full-length manga for the prolific artist and he assumes the role of both author and illustrator, allowing us our some insight into Suzuki as a storyteller.

In an interesting turn for an artist that usually departs from Japanese artistic convention, Suzuki seems to revel in his heritage for this Western-market original. Perhaps because he knows he is creating for the American audience, Purgatory Kabuki revels in Japanese culture and tradition, with influences of ukiyoe painting, Japanese mythology, and, of course, kabuki theater.

Using Yomi, the Japanese underworld, as a backdrop, Purgatory Kabuki tells the story of a nameless swordsman, fighting without reason, and collecting the swords of his slain opponents. When he meets his match in the form of a young demon spawn named Enishi, he accepts her as his better, and swears his allegiance. In exchange for a powerful new body, he will assume the name of Imanotsurugi and help Enishi to collect a thousand swords, needed to escape the underworld and ascend to heaven.

Suffice it to say that the grim storyline and hellish setting mean the pages are packed with action. The bloody and intense sword fights are a perfect match for Suzuki's distinctive art style. In a departure from the digital paintings he's known for, the panels of Purgatory Kabuki feature a more minimalist pen and ink approach, with bold, kinetic strokes of the pen that wonderfully convey the energy of each stroke of the sword.

Dialog is quite minimal at times. The plot is at turns a thin vehicle for the action, and at others quite surprising. Suzuki's video game industry roots seem to show here, with a series of "boss" fights against an eclectic cast of foes. But just when you think you've gotten used to the rhythm of the story, some unusual turns save the story from repetition.

Lamentably, there are a few areas where Suzuki's inexperience becomes apparent. While the art is all quite lovely, the continuity is not always easy to figure out. The lack of dialog, stark backgrounds, and very few establishing shots for each scene make it somewhat difficult to follow the action at times. These more subtle aspects of communicating important information to the reader are the things Suzuki most needs to learn.

Despite this, Purgatory Kabuki is an impressive first effort, and there is little doubt that Yasushi Suzuki has the talent and creativity to make a wonderful manga-ka. His art is absolutely one-of-a-kind, and his unique interpretation of Yomi will not soon be forgotten. Fans will not be disappointed, and those just looking for something different in the world of action comics would do well to pay attention.