Review by Frank Plowright

The plot of a young girl transformed into a magical princess is common in Japanese comics, almost to the point of its own sub-genre. So what if there was a family dynasty that protects Earth, each successive daughter taking up the mantle, but with the current generation Max is transgender?

We first meet Max on their sixteenth birthday. Raised as girl, he’s long been aware he’s a transgender boy, while his mother is either ignorant or suppressing the knowledge. So far he’s only come out to best friend Jen, who’s totally supportive. When he does try to set his parents straight, his mother misunderstands and believes Max has come to terms with a family destiny of defending the planet against an ancient mystical threat. Complicated, or what?

There have been some hints, though, that Max has unique talents, one of which is seeing colour auras around people corresponding to their state of mind. Others haven’t been obvious and are picked up during a rapid learning curve when Max takes on board that the family lineage is descended from the goddess Aurora, and if each daughter doesn’t continue the fight then humanity might be extinguished.

While much of the above has a heavy emotional subtext, creator The Kao instead opts for a generally light and cheery mood, and provides a selection of slapstick comedy moments. A prime example is Max in danger and having to accept the protection of a mystical amulet, and the reaction on realising the costume it supplies is all frills and bows with high heels. Shortly after it’s revealed the family cat isn’t all Max presumed either, and Mom proves a demanding taskmaster, single mindedly ignoring all Max’s complaints and with a large set of expectations.

The primary threat manifests as a form of creepy spider that becomes larger and a greater threat on absorbing toxic energy from people. In between that Max is taking steps to affirm his correct identity, and a nice touch is Kao pixelating out Max’s given name every time his mother calls him by it.

Kao constructs the story as manga, so although this is a hefty paperback, it’s actually designed to be a quick read as many pages come with large white gaps separating the panels, and the pace is rapid. For all that Max is a likeable character with problems beyond most high school children, Kao’s not a great storyteller. Information is dumped in sections of a few pages at a time, and the plot moves around in circles with the same problems and conflicts occurring again and again. Some of the comedy works, like Max being taught to behave more like a boy, but it can also feel forced, and the expressions being exaggerated for every panel leave little room for emphasis when danger or tragedy strikes. The more positive aspects are that Kao can charm, there’s a redemption arc, and a fair amount of viewpoints make the pages.

Perhaps without so much background to relay, Volume 2 will be a greater creative success, but this review comes with the caveat that any teenager struggling with gender issues is likely to respond far more positively to Max as a role model. There are very few others in graphic novels.