Grenadier

Publisher
Tokyopop
Writer
Sousuke Kaise
Artist
Sousuke Kaise
Country of origin
Japan
Year
2003

Grenadier Volume 1

By David Rasmussen
17th May 07

Sometimes what a title says, and what a title gives you, are two entirely different beasts.
Grenadier is not one of those titles as, while it is not screaming it out in large print, is pure titillation wrapped in a strange (I’m guessing post apocalyptic world but that’s just me) land where the main lead lady is a hot looking woman with bouncy assets, a sharp eye and powerful guns named Rushuna.
This golden haired beauty is out to bring peace to the land, but mostly the title sells you on the titillating beauty of it’s lead amped with an action shooter and some humor thrown in for good measure.

I guess at this point explaining what’s going on in the story isn’t going to do you any good… yet.
Why? Because it’s not the story that’s going to sell you on this one at first glance. No. No. No. No.
At first glance the selling points are entirely shallow and obvious, but it won’t stay that way for long once you open the pages and look inside, I promise you that. Yes. It’s all about Rushuna, her hot bod, and her strange sense of honor which leads her into many a vicious situation (which gets her beat up badly in this first volume, though she bounces back with style) and not so vicious situations including bathing scenes and fighting stark naked once. Yeah. That can be good too, but again that’s just when you start out.

Story? Yes there is a story. Is it a good one? At first it may seem only readable, but once you get into it you’ll see why this is (in anime form) quite a popular series (and not just for the obvious reasons).
Well written, finely drawn, and with the lovely Miss Rushuna (who will keep you coming back for volume after volume after volume) you’ll find the “Treasures” of Rushuna (and her title) go far beyond her physical charms and extend into her beautiful personality, her charming presence, and the kicking action that rips from page to page here. And again it doesn’t hurt that she’s hot looking because for those of you who don’t mind a shallower read you’ll come for her herself and stay for the more substantial less titillating aspects of the read which will keep you reading for more than just her herself (because this title is well rounded… yes, bad pun, my apologies… in all aspects making it a read that is more than just skin deep in it’s beauty).

Grenadier Volume 1 may hook you with it’s hot female star, but it’ll keep you with it’s more substantial elements that extend well past the mere hook of a beautiful starlet and her bouncy assets.
That’s why Grenadier Volume 1 goes past a mere common score and lands an uncommon 4 Shining Stars of possible First Person Shooter stardom out of 5.

-- David Rasmussen 17th May 07