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MegaTokyo #4
Megatokyo, Volume 4
Piro, an anime obsessed fan, and Largo, an American gamer, are stranded in Japan and must earn enough money for plane tickets home while they explore the Japanese world of gaming and the cute locals.
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 7, 2016
I must say, I have been saving this gif for an appropriate occasion. This is most definitely the time to apply it.
Kimiko, Piro, and you too, Largo and Erika:
I also loved the bonus story, "Circuity." I teared up a bit at the end there.
It also didn't have one of the big issues with the main story, that issue being waaaaay to much dialogue. "Circuity" had just enough dialogue to get the story across, but not so much that it bogged things down or just made everything text heavy. The main story has so much text that it started to become a pain about halfway through this volume... It's like Fred Gallagher feels he has to pack the maximum amount of information into each panel and that the only way to do that is with text. I think a little less text will make the story move a little faster than the current overload of dialogue...
Kimiko, Piro, and you too, Largo and Erika:
I also loved the bonus story, "Circuity." I teared up a bit at the end there.
It also didn't have one of the big issues with the main story, that issue being waaaaay to much dialogue. "Circuity" had just enough dialogue to get the story across, but not so much that it bogged things down or just made everything text heavy. The main story has so much text that it started to become a pain about halfway through this volume... It's like Fred Gallagher feels he has to pack the maximum amount of information into each panel and that the only way to do that is with text. I think a little less text will make the story move a little faster than the current overload of dialogue...
July 1, 2022
This was my favorite book so far with our main characters; Largo and Piro.
It was cute how protective Largo became of Erika. One of the best moments was when Largo was driving around on a scooter, running any of the “zombies” over that were trying to get near Erika because he was worried about her getting hurt. Then Meimi approached Erika and pulled out a knife set that she just bought on sale to show her friend, and Largo did nothing. If anyone was going to hurt Erika, it would have been the person with a weapon.
Largo has started to change slightly from this alcoholic, psychotic, zombie hunter, to someone who is actually starting to care about the people in his circle.
Piro has come a long way as well. In this volume, he started to realize that girls could still care about and like him even if he is a bit awkward in social situations. He was differently an over-thinker in previous books, but it seems his friends are finally getting into his head that he doesn’t have to worry about such things.
It was cute how protective Largo became of Erika. One of the best moments was when Largo was driving around on a scooter, running any of the “zombies” over that were trying to get near Erika because he was worried about her getting hurt. Then Meimi approached Erika and pulled out a knife set that she just bought on sale to show her friend, and Largo did nothing. If anyone was going to hurt Erika, it would have been the person with a weapon.
Largo has started to change slightly from this alcoholic, psychotic, zombie hunter, to someone who is actually starting to care about the people in his circle.
Piro has come a long way as well. In this volume, he started to realize that girls could still care about and like him even if he is a bit awkward in social situations. He was differently an over-thinker in previous books, but it seems his friends are finally getting into his head that he doesn’t have to worry about such things.
June 14, 2014
Things heat up between Pirouette and his voice actress crush while Largo and Erika somewhat bond. There's also a surprising secret about Erika that comes out
April 10, 2018
Megatokyo volume four contains chapters five and six from the webcomic series (confusing, I know). Like the last few volumes, it also contains a bunch of bonus materials; such as the place holder images on sick days, short jokes and comics, and even a short story (Circuity).
In the last volume of Megatokyo is felt like they had finally found their rhythm, no longer having to establish the world or main set of characters. Instead they were able to focus on the characters, their antics, and their cute interactions with each other. I am pleased to say that it is the same for this volume.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
In the last volume of Megatokyo is felt like they had finally found their rhythm, no longer having to establish the world or main set of characters. Instead they were able to focus on the characters, their antics, and their cute interactions with each other. I am pleased to say that it is the same for this volume.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
December 21, 2022
I'm honestly impressed that this story feels as coherent as it did on a "three pages a week, if that" schedule. Gallagher's comics storytelling continues to improve. I enjoyed the mini-essay on p. 212 that shows us a "behind the scenes" reworking of a single panel in the comic. Chapters 5 and 6 in this volume have a good balance between interpersonal drama and chaotic action, though both chapter 6 and the short story "Circuity" show an increased leaning toward the maudlin.
While I haven't been all that fond of Largo so far, his over-the-top action-y recklessness has been a good counterpoint to mopey Piro. I've interpreted him as being aromantic, thus far. So for him to transform into a pathetic drunken mess--in a sequence that goes on for quite a few pages--in the face of doesn't seem to fit his character. If he continues to be a(n even) worse-functioning version of Piro, well, I'll live with it, but I won't enjoy the story as much. There's only so much "sad girl in the snow" I can take, come down to it.
I did like the look and feel of the setting of "Circuity," though it doesn't seem to exist except as a vehicle for emotionally torturing the characters (including the Largo analog, who is just as extremely lovesick as his version in the main story). It might be time for Seraphim to do an emergency intervention to "gently encourage" these characters to get a grip. :D
While I haven't been all that fond of Largo so far, his over-the-top action-y recklessness has been a good counterpoint to mopey Piro. I've interpreted him as being aromantic, thus far. So for him to transform into a pathetic drunken mess--in a sequence that goes on for quite a few pages--in the face of doesn't seem to fit his character. If he continues to be a(n even) worse-functioning version of Piro, well, I'll live with it, but I won't enjoy the story as much. There's only so much "sad girl in the snow" I can take, come down to it.
I did like the look and feel of the setting of "Circuity," though it doesn't seem to exist except as a vehicle for emotionally torturing the characters (including the Largo analog, who is just as extremely lovesick as his version in the main story). It might be time for Seraphim to do an emergency intervention to "gently encourage" these characters to get a grip. :D
October 8, 2022
Book 3 is where the narrative started to really ramp up, but here is where it really strikes. A massive dramatic and action sequence opens the book and lasts a good quarter chunk as a lot happens for all the characters. It all eventually culminates to a less grandiose scene in Miho's 'Cave' club, but still has as much character weight behind it as the start.
There is a lot of evolution and growth of characters in this book, especially between Largo and Eirika, but there is also a significant moment where Piro does something emotionally for Largo, which you rarely see in Megatokyo and much of this book Piro is hating on Largo, so when it comes, it is a positive feeling that the reader gets. It is probably the best written of all Fred's books thus far, though the extent of drama and story means there are fewer one off gags, though still plenty of craziness and absurd funny moments, largely thanks to Largo and the larger presence of Ed and his 'covering fire'.
There is a lot of evolution and growth of characters in this book, especially between Largo and Eirika, but there is also a significant moment where Piro does something emotionally for Largo, which you rarely see in Megatokyo and much of this book Piro is hating on Largo, so when it comes, it is a positive feeling that the reader gets. It is probably the best written of all Fred's books thus far, though the extent of drama and story means there are fewer one off gags, though still plenty of craziness and absurd funny moments, largely thanks to Largo and the larger presence of Ed and his 'covering fire'.
January 20, 2019
I was not as impressed with this one, as I was with Volume 3. The humor was there occasionally but I feel like it has turned more into a drama than a lighthearted, fun-loving, gamer manga. The story is fully developed, which makes it much easier to follow but it just does not have the same finesse as it did in the beginning. For the most part I think the story has taken on its own development and it will be interesting the direction it will continue, but for now it is more relationship focused. I encourage anyone to continue reading, because that is the plan for myself, but be forewarned that it is not the same. Although my hope is that it will grow on me more, as I begin to read Volume 5.
January 1, 2020
Ahh, yes, plot! Finally, we're starting to make some progress with what's actually happening in the story, and it doesn't feel forced. This is one of the stronger volumes, in my opinion, because it actually digs into Kimiko and Erika a lot more than the earlier volumes did. Before they were just props for the boys to play off, now they're actually getting some kind of personality. Some other characters do fall for this, though, we don't see much of Yuki this time around and the odd whiplash with Seraphim is... Confusing. That plot point never stuck fully with me as to what was actually going on there. But it's definitely starting to get somewhere good.
April 8, 2023
The art overall continues to improve here. The story is even more focused and this volume, I would say, is a as tight a reading experience as any other manga I've read. One small gripe I have is that Piro's self doubt is as strong as ever. It's certainly an important trait to establish so he can eventually overcome it but perhaps it's gone on a chapter too long. The bonus story "Circuity" more than makes up for any shortfalls this volume might have, though.
March 21, 2019
More Miho, more Ping, more Erika! And Erika and Largo?!?!? Really? Is that where this is going? And still no concrete answer to the mystery that is Miho, but you can maybe see a glimmer of where that particular thread is heading. I highly recommend if you enjoyed the others in the series.
March 28, 2007
More fun than you can shake a stick at. Megatokyo functions as both an homage to and parody of shojo manga, where you can tell who's gonna hook up with who by the end of the first chapter, but it takes ten volumes to get there. Fred Gallagher's art has gone from functional to solid and is moving into the virtuosic territory, while his writing remains surprisingly deep, giving us a punch (comic or emotional) at the end of each page while still threading an intricate overall story-arc. All of this occurs in an imagined Tokyo that is entirely fantastical (with Rent-a-Zillas, Ninjas-for-hire, Magical Girls, and all the other trappings of an American's view of Japanese comics) yet somehow still grounded and strangely, pleasurably mundane. I'd recommend it to anyone who can get addicted to strong settings and great characters.
January 12, 2012
Story and art by Fred Gallagher. Megatokyo is a book about the characters named Piro-San and Largo. They are to americans that are stuck in Tokyo because of the party they went to. Now Piro has to work in a gaming store to get the money to get back home. Hyasaka-san is his co-worker. Her and Largo are OK friends i guess. Ping-chan is a Playstation accessory and Miho-chan is....Well I don't even know. There are little fairy people (or what ever you want to call them). There are giant turtles. Its a book for people that like random things happening. I like the book because it has random thing like Largo He says L33T M4ST3R. (it has it written like that in the book) My favorite character is Junpei he is a ninja. Largo is also a favorite because well hes an idiot and he's funny. I rate the book a 5 because its hilarious.
August 15, 2009
Another loan from the Capital Area District Library, and a good one at that. The past coincidences surrounding the video game that Piro, Largo, and Tohya-san played in fade into the background as Piro gets closer to Nanasawa-san, and Largo gets closer to Hayasaka-san. Of course, Sonoda-san's art lessons never seem to happen, she finds out more about her father's job, and her mother's past. Mostly hints, though.
I know that I keep saying it, but the series reads so much more cohesively as a paper manga than a webcomic. I really applaud the author for that.
I know that I keep saying it, but the series reads so much more cohesively as a paper manga than a webcomic. I really applaud the author for that.
November 21, 2009
Please see my review of the first one, as I feel that, despite the amazing quality of this series, there isn't a whole lot one can say about each individual volume.
November 13, 2010
touching back to the old humor amazing
May 31, 2011
I've been reading Megatokyo for around ten years now and it still brings me joy. If you have a passing interest in manga, games, and light hearted romance plots this series is wonderful.
September 19, 2011
This series gives a look at the gaming/fanboy side of Japanese modern culture. Great art and storyline.
March 11, 2013
This installment is much more soap opera like.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews