Sometimes if you think outside of the proverbial manga box (and the major companies like Broccoli Books, Dark Horse, Seven Seas and TOKYOPOP) you might find something that you might have otherwised missed.

Bargain basement titles are all the rage, ever since TOKYOPOP started it’s affordable line of mangas. So why not one more title for your consideration? From Volo, an imprint of Hyperion Books for Children, comes W.I.T.C.H. (one of the formerly two female powered magical series that used to be fighting it out for viewers… I don’t know who won, but if I find out both collapsed in unison together without a clear winner I probably wouldn’t be all that surprised). Yes, W.I.T.C.H. is a Disney title, but why Disney’s own inhouse imprints didn’t tackle releasing this comic version of the title is -- hmm -- maybe Hyperion is one of their major imprints? Who can say.

Anyway W.I.T.C.H.
The title derives it’s name from the five female characters who lead the title.
Will - Irima - Taranee - Cornelia - Hay Lin (W.I.T.C.H.)
Chosen by the Guardians of the Veil, they are empowered with the elements of nature (Earth Wind Fire and Water, the only element not present in the musical group Earth Wind & Fire) and the power of energy (mystical energy no doubt) in order to save the Earth from Darkness.

In Volume 1 we meet the five, and find out why the Veil needs them to become champions. It’s Will’s first days in a brand new town and she’s bummed out, but soon she’s making new friends (who, yes, will become the other girls of the W.I.T.C.H. 5, as well as a six girl who will become nothing but trouble next volume (but you’ll see that next volume). The girls already have powers (or are just becoming aware of their powers), but it isn’t until a faithful Halloween themed event that the girls really begin to realize the depth of their power (and their future responsibility as guardians of the Earth and the magical world).

Too bad as the 2nd volume opens Will is not having a good morning (she seems to have abit of bad days ever since she moved to this new town with her mom).
It’s bad enough to wake up in a mood, worst to find out your missing your face (total Charlie X from classic Trek moment) yet you can somehow see what’s going on so youn can attempt to draw in your own face… only to realize you really should have paid attention in art class as you can’t even seem to do that properly.

Yeah, Will’s having a bad day.
Her pet whatever (squirrel, raccoon, whatever) has torn up her room (again).
She ends up getting dragged into an argument with Cornelia during magic practice (though they make up pretty fast).
Her mom is dating Mr. Collins.
Oh, and one of the teachers is in fact a magical being that knows all about the girls.
Before anyone can figure out what’s what the former teacher now strange magical beast thing vanishes through a portal back to Meridian, the realm of magic in this series.

They five decide to head to Meridian, which doesn’t turn out well as they get caught in a trap and one of them is captured. The other four go back to save her only to realize that she’s been locked up for longer than they realize (one day on Earth equals about 1-2 weeks for this Meridian world). And all the stupid reasons all this is happening, it had to be over a boy Will kissed (yes, the one doing all this is the missing 6th girl, the one that should have joined the team… I mean, come on, W.I.T.C.H.E. sounds cool too). Yeah. Well she (the 6th girl, Elyon) did have a thing for this guy since the beginning so I guess it’s not as stupid as I thought.

Overall?
Hmm… yeah, as always when it comes to series like this usually the first people to be drawn to it are the die hard fans (if any remain).
Second? I’d have to say maybe a more general audience of female powered titles might be reading this. The artwork is snazzy and nice, the writing is done well enough and it’s not half bad, and the overall of the title is a fairly good general audience girl power title with some oomph in it that makes it a nice pick up.
And let’s not forget the title is one of the bargain basement reads. 122 pages for only $5? You can’t get a title for much better at that good a price short of the phenomenal deal you‘re getting out of Papercutz titles ($4 to $6.50 per story in a two story book format)! (This is, by the way, a lesson Realbuzz Studios needs to learn before it’s 2008 launch in March as they are overcharging for 100 or so page books with their present pricing).

So let’s see.
It’s drawn well, it’s written well, it’s a bargain basement title.
Sure it’s W.I.T.C.H., but what the hell! Even I can get behind this title and recommend it to you if you don’t mind being a little open minded with your all ages reads!

4 Joker colorized hip hugging sock wearing ladies of magic out of 5 (the last doesn’t wear long hip hugging socks).