By Susan Kemp
If the kids from “South Park” signed up for a course in world history, it might take the shape of “Hetalia: Axis Powers,” the popular manga by Hidekaz Himaruya based on his web comic by the same name. Embracing the same slapstick humor as the comic strip, the first volume provides a speed course from the fall of the Roman Empire to the onset of World War II through the eyes of three new friends: Germany, Italy and Japan.
No, I mean they’re actually friends. The short and flamboyant Italy, seeking the protection from all the bullies out there in the big, scary world, takes the shape of a short and flamboyant adolescent boy.
A surprisingly large number of countries make cameos in “Volume 1,” although this first book focuses mainly on the growing pains of the three Axis boys. Japan learns to make friends, flamboyant Italy must outlive the reputation of his family—especially his grandfather Holy Roman Empire—and across the street on the Allied team, America attempts to be taken seriously as a young adult.
The manga’s tendency to understate the giant elephant in the room may be offensive to some, but Hetalia takes care not to walk too far into the realm of offensive. Himaruya glazes over the largest tragedies of World War II, leaving these for the true history books, while instead focusing on poking fun at cultural differences in food, horror movies and modesty.
However, Hetalia diverges from other contemporary cartoon-driven satire in never actually taking itself seriously. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. When I watch “South Park” or “Family Guy,” I tune in for more than a few laughs.
Ultimately, I know all the slapstick humor will climax in a final “Oh, snap!” moment—a stinging one-liner that reinforces my shared liberal worldviews with the show’s creators. “Hetalia,” or at least “Volume 1,” contains no such moments.
Initially, I found myself disappointed by this. That sarcastic tone on page one when America declares, “Let’s join hands and solve all the world’s problems one by one!” promised some giant mockery of the U.N. down the line. I just knew it! Unfortunately, turning the page only revealed Italy running away from a fight (again) and begging his new best bud, Germany, for more pasta.
For readers expecting “Hetalia” to say something beyond the jokes, you too may meet Volume 1 with disappointment. “Hetalia” pokes fun then lets things be. Readers may find substance in the numerous historical allusions, but the narrative jumps around so much that it becomes hard to create a cohesive timeline of how history actually came together. Readers must also take note that some events diverge from the history book entirely (to the author’s credit, these moments are usually indicated by footnote).
The scattered flow of the narrative may remind readers of “Hetalia’s” history as a web comic. For many pages the punch line is self-enclosed within the same page, in the same way a punch line is forced into a four-frame comic. The first fifty pages or so of “Hetalia” exemplify senseless humor at its finest, but eventually I found myself longing for something a little more developed.
However, for readers just looking for a careless laugh, the lack of an agenda does help “Hetalia” keep its carefree tone. Himaryua’s technique of stringing together individual jokes united by a common theme, allows the humor to feel lighthearted instead of judgmental. “Hetalia” laughs at each country’s flaws as if they are seated at a table amongst friends.
If “Hetalia” wishes to say anything it might simply be, “Can’t we all just get along?” Of course, if this plea immediately proceeds Germany throwing a stick-figure rendition of Italy out of his window, we might just have to wait for Volume 2 for world peace. Volume 2 is set for U.S release on December 28, 2010.
Rating: 3 / 5
Released to U.S. markets on September 21 by TokyoPop. Available at local bookstores.
Rated: Older Teen 16+ (For language, violence, nudity and alcohol use)
