Big Hero 6: The Series, Volume 1: 10/19/21

Big Hero 6: The Series, Volume 1 by Hong Gyun An is a manga inspired by the cartoon that spun off the film. I haven't seen the animated series but there's enough continuity in this first volume that watching the show isn't necessary to enjoy the book.

The book opens in the gap of time between losing Baymax in the void and building a new body for him once Hiro discovers the CPU that Baymax gave him before they were separated. So the first chapter involves adventures with a disembodied Baymax, where he is a program on a screen but doesn't have his autonomy restored.

In this introductory volume, the plot primarily deals with Hiro's adjustment to being a college student. As he's so young, he's been paired with another young student in a mentoring situation. Unfortunately it's an extremely toxic forced relationship. Except she has fallen in love with Hiro when he's being a big damn hero. Of course.

The manga loses some of its momentum in the second chapter, choosing to spent more time on Hiro's back story and his grief. It's getting to be like Peter Parker and Uncle Henry or Bruce Wayne and his parents. We get it; death inspires some to become superheroes.

Fortunately the final adventure is back in the present and forces Hiro to balance his college responsibilities with his part on the Big Hero 6 team. There's also the question as to whether or not the group should continue to be heroes in light of what had happened to Baymax.

All in all it was a fun, quick read. I am looking forward to a second volume. Hopefully this Big Hero 6 series will get more than two volumes. As of writing this review there's no confirmation of a second volume release date.

Four stars

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