Bonds
Story & Art: Zenzo
Publisher: Manga Mavericks (printing & digital)
Publication date: July 16, 2025
Rating: Teen
Genre: Manga, Fantasy, Action Adventure
This review contains bond spoilers. In exchange for a review I received a free copy from Manga Mavericks.
As the publisher’s explanation points out, Bond is an alternative effort to his journey to the West, focusing on his son Goku, who adorns the cover, and Sanzo at the beginning of their journey.
The manga begins while Sanzo expresses doubts about Goku, and Goku tries to collect alms from humans. Observing the difference between humans and demons, Goku reflects that the demons do not help others. Meanwhile, Sanzo encounters an old man who tricks him into giving Goku a circlet that suppresses his divine power. Sanzo’s mistake makes him vulnerable to the devil. The devil wants to eat from him.
Goku returns as the devil prepares “dinner.” He tries to fight them, but struggles under the power suppression effect of the circlet. Sanzo notices his error and tells Goku to save himself to eat him. Goku admits that he fell in love with humanity and refuses. In an exciting moment of leveling up, he overcomes the odds and defeats the devil. Due to the danger behind them, the pair resumes their journey to India.
As a fan of Journey to the West, I wanted to read Bonds. The storyline is short and a little abrupt at both the opening and ending, but it’s fascinating and the artwork is gorgeous. Zenzo’s skill in capturing emotions and attracting readers cannot be denied. Trained under Takafumi Adachi, creator of Beyblade: Metal Fusion, Zenzo clearly has a talent for dealing with longer, more fleshed stories. Double the length to 72 pages will make a noticeable difference.
The comic reads from left to left like a traditional cartoon and comes with a shiny laminated cover. It is sized A5 (5.83 inches x 8.27 inches) and is only 36 pages long. Yes, you read it correctly – only 36 pages. The story and art are fascinating, but the $11.99 price range feels abrupt for anything thinner than I can read! Books. This is not to say that mangaka doesn’t deserve a fair wage, and it’s absolutely not to do so, but it’s difficult to compare it to other publishers. For example, Hai Tang Books offers full-length novels for $21.99, while Indie Manga Publisher One Peace Books sells nearly 200 pages of comics for $12.99.
We also feel that this product is closer to fanzine than sophisticated commercial releases. The copyright page also serves as an author’s notes, and the cover image appears to be blurry as if it were stretched. Inside there are minor grammar issues and notes that lack an asterisk that indicates that there is an asterisk.
The “Bond” panel featuring an asterisk suggests an accompanying footnote for readers. | PC: Hayame Kawachi
Ultimately, I would not recommend it unless I buy this for myself, have a strong interest in my journey to Western lettering, or care about the price-to-value ratio.
The Bond retails for $12.99 and is available from Manga Mavericks stores and Amazon.
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