Udon’s ‘Kill la Kill’ Manga Translation Cuts to the Chase [Preview]
They say clothes make the man, but what they don't tell you is that sometimes clothes make you into an unstoppable bad-ass. Such is the case for Ryuko Matoi, who discovers a sentient school uniform comprised of Life Fibers that, when activated, give her incredible powers of durability, strength and agility, provided she doesn't slip into a berserker rage.
Of course the school uniform also transforms from a humble outfit into battle armor that leaves so little to the imagination it would make an exotic dancer blush. But that kind of fan service is part of Kill la Kill's gimmick, and it's a bit of what makes the anime-turned-manga such ridiculous fun.
It's hard to be more over the top than Kill la Kill. The anime, produced by Trigger and written by Kazuki Nakashima, made a big splash when it first aired stateside. Not very many shows in this style can blend action and slapstick humor the way that Kill la Kill does, and the elaborate world-building only furthers the idea that there's a lot more going on under the hood than girls in skimpy clothes fighting one another. Though that's a pretty big part, to be honest.
Last year, Udon announced it would be bringing the manga adaptation of Kill la Kill to the US, and the first volume was released last week. We've got a 10-page preview for those who want to check it out.
The story of Ryuko and her nemesis, Honnouji Academy's senior class president Satsuki Kiryuin, starts out relatively familiar, but thanks to the super suits everyone dons, things quickly spiral out of control. There are a lot of anime action tropes that many longtime viewers will recognize, but it's Kill la Kill's no-hold-barred execution that makes it something special.
It'll be interesting to see how the anime's lightning-quick pace translates to the page, and how some of the more bombastic action sequences are broken down. Since the show only lasted one season, this is the only way to get more Kill la Kill at the moment, even if it is treading ground the anime already covered.
Here is the official solicitation from Udon:
Welcome to Honnouji Academy – a school ruled under the iron fist of the Student Council President and her underlings, the Elite Four. Bestowed with incredible powers from their special Goku Uniforms, only one person dares to stand against them – transfer student Ryuki Matoi! Wielding her fabric-slicing Scissor Blade, Ryuki aims to bring Honnouji Academy’s fascist overlords to their knees!
ISBN: 978-1927925492
DETAILS: 180 pages, 5.75x8.25", B&W
MSRP: $12.99 usd
STATUS: Available Now