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rou_lae_88's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
heyjudy's review against another edition
3.0
~3/5
This volume reminded me of an older fashioned mystery show, especially with the art. It has some mystery elements, with archaeological and insurance related cases. But at the same time, Keaton is just taking care of stuff in his spare time, around his teaching job and things with his family.
The cases were fine, with a lot of history and backstory for each chapter that had one. And I’m sure a lot of people find that more interesting than I do. This is definitely aimed at people who enjoy this older man point of view, with history. But I enjoyed the story lines featuring his family more.
His daughter is pushy and strong-headed, and I liked her. She has a boyfriend and she’s in college, but mostly she’s fed up with her father being still not over her mother after being divorced for years. Him being in the same position as her grandfather, as well. The best chapters, for me, were when Keaton and his daughter talked, and the one where Keaton and his father get caught up in old memories of his mother.
This is very much a seinen, mystery/history, slice-of-life series. It had an older-fashioned feel to me. Not quite up my alley, but I know a lot of people are enjoying it.
A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, and Erik Jansen from MediaLab PR. Thank you so, so much!
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
This volume reminded me of an older fashioned mystery show, especially with the art. It has some mystery elements, with archaeological and insurance related cases. But at the same time, Keaton is just taking care of stuff in his spare time, around his teaching job and things with his family.
The cases were fine, with a lot of history and backstory for each chapter that had one. And I’m sure a lot of people find that more interesting than I do. This is definitely aimed at people who enjoy this older man point of view, with history. But I enjoyed the story lines featuring his family more.
His daughter is pushy and strong-headed, and I liked her. She has a boyfriend and she’s in college, but mostly she’s fed up with her father being still not over her mother after being divorced for years. Him being in the same position as her grandfather, as well. The best chapters, for me, were when Keaton and his daughter talked, and the one where Keaton and his father get caught up in old memories of his mother.
This is very much a seinen, mystery/history, slice-of-life series. It had an older-fashioned feel to me. Not quite up my alley, but I know a lot of people are enjoying it.
A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, and Erik Jansen from MediaLab PR. Thank you so, so much!
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
lunchlander's review against another edition
4.0
I don't read a *ton* of manga, but I have read everything translated from Naoki Urasawa, and Master Keaton will definitely keep me on-board as well. Urasawa seems to have co-writers (or maybe he only does the art?) on this one, Hokusei Katsushika and Takashi Nagasaki, but it still has a lot of what I like about Urasawa's projects, notably interesting characters, clever moments and compelling stories.
Master Keaton is a mix of Indiana Jones, Sherlock and MacGyver, a former SAS survival expert who is now a part-time archaeology lecturer and part-time field investigator for Lloyd's of London. This is more episodic than Urasawa's robot war epic Pluto or suspense-horror Monster, but it has some running threads with Keaton's relationship with his daughter, father and ex-wife. The stories take him around the world, investigating insurance claims, which sounds kind of boring except that he gets involved in dangerous digs in China, or a drug-running syndicate, government agents and a lot more on those cases.
Keaton will often spot objects or environmental factors that he later uses to battle his attackers or, in this book's two-part (and maybe best) story, survive a deadly desert trek while keeping some fellow archaeologists alive. There's an element of quirky humor to Keaton, not unlike how Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock has trouble relating to the world around him, but there are also lots of great moments of suspense and pathos. Definitely worth a read.
Master Keaton is a mix of Indiana Jones, Sherlock and MacGyver, a former SAS survival expert who is now a part-time archaeology lecturer and part-time field investigator for Lloyd's of London. This is more episodic than Urasawa's robot war epic Pluto or suspense-horror Monster, but it has some running threads with Keaton's relationship with his daughter, father and ex-wife. The stories take him around the world, investigating insurance claims, which sounds kind of boring except that he gets involved in dangerous digs in China, or a drug-running syndicate, government agents and a lot more on those cases.
Keaton will often spot objects or environmental factors that he later uses to battle his attackers or, in this book's two-part (and maybe best) story, survive a deadly desert trek while keeping some fellow archaeologists alive. There's an element of quirky humor to Keaton, not unlike how Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock has trouble relating to the world around him, but there are also lots of great moments of suspense and pathos. Definitely worth a read.
jennifermreads's review against another edition
4.0
Master Keaton uses his background in archaeology and S.A.S. training to investigate insurance claims and find the truth.
Just after I lost hope that I’d find a manga series I would like to read past the first volume, I read Master Keaton! Thanks to my colleague, an ardent manga reader, who turned me in this direction! Master Keaton is a quirky and intriguing character. While I wish that an investigation lasted longer than one chapter (a few did stretch over 2 or 3 chapters), I was interested enough to want to see more of him. This was extremely enjoyable – and I already put the next two volumes on hold at my library.
Just after I lost hope that I’d find a manga series I would like to read past the first volume, I read Master Keaton! Thanks to my colleague, an ardent manga reader, who turned me in this direction! Master Keaton is a quirky and intriguing character. While I wish that an investigation lasted longer than one chapter (a few did stretch over 2 or 3 chapters), I was interested enough to want to see more of him. This was extremely enjoyable – and I already put the next two volumes on hold at my library.
toastea's review
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Do you like history, archaeology, or mystery? What if all 3 were blended together into a wild tale of life insurance claims gone wrong? Does that sound bizarrely interesting to you too? Cool, cuz that's why I picked up this book from my local library!
I really enjoyed all of Keaton's adventures and seeing how he managed to get himself into and out of sticky situations! All the chapters have a very episodic vibe to them from what I can tell and the art is honestly wonderful! Already checking out the second volume from the library to continue the adventures!
I really enjoyed all of Keaton's adventures and seeing how he managed to get himself into and out of sticky situations! All the chapters have a very episodic vibe to them from what I can tell and the art is honestly wonderful! Already checking out the second volume from the library to continue the adventures!
morcant's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
mschlat's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up with a little trepidation. I love the work of [a:Naoki Urasawa|294649|Naoki Urasawa|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1247717442p2/294649.jpg] (having read the series Pluto, Monster, and 20th Century Boys), but the description of the volume said Urasawa only did the art. (Apparently, there is some dispute about who exactly did what.)
While the volume starts slow, either I got used to the pace or the appeal factors I expected started appearing, and I liked it by the end. You see a lot of what I expect from an Urasawa work --- the international focus, the interesting secondary characters, and issues of betrayal and honor. Our titular protagonist is a sometimes archaeology lecturer and sometimes insurance investigator with a background in combat survival from the British Army. While that type of background could indicate a rough and tumble hero, we get instead a gentle man in the absent-minded-but-effective role. We even get small bits of domestic drama amidst the tales of intrigue and potential fraud. Since the beginning of the volume is mostly short stories with different settings, there is a ton of exposition, some of it awkward. However, the end of the volume has some longer tales where the drama isn't crowded out by the words.
While there isn't the tension I associate with Urasawa's other works, I am planning on picking up future volumes.
While the volume starts slow, either I got used to the pace or the appeal factors I expected started appearing, and I liked it by the end. You see a lot of what I expect from an Urasawa work --- the international focus, the interesting secondary characters, and issues of betrayal and honor. Our titular protagonist is a sometimes archaeology lecturer and sometimes insurance investigator with a background in combat survival from the British Army. While that type of background could indicate a rough and tumble hero, we get instead a gentle man in the absent-minded-but-effective role. We even get small bits of domestic drama amidst the tales of intrigue and potential fraud. Since the beginning of the volume is mostly short stories with different settings, there is a ton of exposition, some of it awkward. However, the end of the volume has some longer tales where the drama isn't crowded out by the words.
While there isn't the tension I associate with Urasawa's other works, I am planning on picking up future volumes.
iffer's review against another edition
5.0
I love the Master Keaton series, and not only because I seem to reliably enjoy seinen (older teen/adult male) series and empathize with the characters even though I'm not the target demographic at all. The character of Keaton has the skills of James bond and MacGyver, but he has the stereotypical affable, sometimes spacey demeanor of an academic. Keaton is definitely a Gary Sue, and it seems like an archaeology professor/father/former SAS member might be too much, but it works, and it works well. Because Keaton is all of these things, as well as a father, the series bounces through different "types" of stories: historical, spy, slice-of-life family, and others, while containing information about archaeology, current (as of thet time the manga was written) events, and politics, while being fast-paced/entertaining to read because of the action.