World Trigger. Vol 1

Gr 7 Up—A gate to another world has opened in Mikado City from which invaders from another dimension attacked, causing a defense group called Border to fight back. Osamu Mikumo, a Mikado City high schooler, is a member of the Border defense, but hides this secret identity from others. New transfer student Yuma Kuga is has even bigger secrets of his own. The two boys form an unlikely friendship that has far-reaching implications for the future. This is an exciting manga with a lot of physical and psychological action, including battles against gigantic monsters, tension between members of Border, and the constant threat of secrets being exposed. Civilians' minds are erased whenever they learn sensitive information, so every time they realize that Mikumo is a hero they are guaranteed to forget it soon afterward, which adds to the pathos that readers will feel for the hero. Ashihara's artwork is very dynamic, particularly in action sequences when the movement affects the size and shape of the panels. During these scenes, panels jut out and overlap at crazy angles, heightening the narrative's pace. A thought-provoking start to a series that manga fans will snatch up quickly.—Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library