SPEED GRAPHER VOL. 1 / Story and Art by TOMOZO / Based on the story by GONZO /  Original Character Designs by YUSUKE KOZAKI / Letters by BENSIDI AYOUB / Translation by MOTOKO TAMMURO & JONATHAN CLEMENTS / Published by TITAN MANGA

Eight years ago, Tatsumi Saiga was one of the most respected war photographers in the world. He survived almost certain death, only to be sent home and denied the chance to return to the front. His bosses saw it as a reward for good service. He saw it as a punishment. Since then, he’s sought the old thrill by turning his camera toward exposing the worst criminals in Tokyo.

A tip from an old flame led Tatsumi into the Roppongi Club. He expected it to be a BDSM club for the city’s elite, where any sin or vice can be indulged in secret. What he found was a strange cult, worshiping a “goddess” who appeared to him to be an exploited teenage girl.

The girl, Kagura Tennōzu, is a scion of the notorious Tennōzu Group. She is also, unbeknownst to herself, a catalyst, who can awaken supernatural powers in other people. This makes her invaluable to the cultists, who intend to use her to enrich themselves.

This throws Tatsumi into a tight spot, as he is forced to become the girl’s protector from the dark forces that seek to enslave her. Thankfully, Kagura just awakened a power in Tatsumi. One that may prove to be their salvation… or his damnation!

Originally produced as an anime series in 2005, Speed Grapher was first adapted into a manga that same year. Two volumes were adapted into English by Tokyopop in 2008. It is only now that Titan Manga has taken on the task of translating the entire manga into English.

Having not seen the original anime, I cannot vouch for the quality of the adaptation or translation. As a pure comic, however, this first volume is an engaging read. While unlucky blue collar men acting as knights errant to beautiful teenage girls are fairly common in Shonen, the concept of Euphorics – people who gain supernatural powers tied to their desires after contact with a “goddess” – is unique enough to separate Speed Grapher from similar comics. The artwork is also of high quality.

Fans of action manga will enjoy Speed Grapher Vol. 1. Yet it will also have appeal to those seeking a new twist on the classic supernatural superhero formula. It may also be of interest to fans of the original anime, who want to see how it fares being translated into a print medium.