Toriko, Vol. 1

Gr 7 Up—Komatsu, International Gourmet Organization's chef, must prepare dishes that "boldly explore the frontiers of exotic taste." This assignment requires the assistance of Toriko, the gourmet hunter who is able to track down the most ferocious ingredients. Toriko is a larger-than-life figure who lives in the wild, chomping on huge cigars that he lights with a snap of his fingers and relishing mammoth meals of unbelievable proportions. Contracted by IGO, he battles the eight-legged garara gator and then braves the four-armed troll kongs to obtain the succulent rainbow fruit. The comedy arises from the contrast between the supersized gourmet hunter and the diminutive, overanxious chef. Readers view his constant distress as Toriko encounters epic-sized challenges that encompass full-page images of the creatures and the battles that ensue. The book is filled with wordplay. The gabara is subdued with two weapons: a knife and...a fork, which are in reality special body attack positions. Volume one concludes when Toriko is seated at IGO, enjoying the gourmet meal created by chef Komatsu. There is nothing subtle about this shonen title. It features big guys, grotesque oversized creatures, highly physical action, and plenty of slightly crass "potty humor."—Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY