COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Kada Dia! #1

A slice of life with different tastes.   

Kyusi Kompanie and friends has recently published and released an anthology called KADA DIA! during Komiket 2015, it features three different comics from Anabelle Laureola, Maya P. and Milo Galang, with a comic preview from Cy Vendivil.

All comics in the small anthology share the slice of life genre, but with different takes.

The first comic in the anthology features a comedic slice of life series around the life of the author, The Life and Times of an Anabelle. From different forms of the author up to her struggles, this comic manages to humor you throughout.

The art style of the comics matches its humor, simple and appealing. Simplicity from its light lineart and appealing from the use of tones. After going through its strips, this comic will surely make you wish there were more.

Next in the anthology is an adorable mini-comic called Play with Me Please. It’s about a girl that finds a doll at the lost and found section. She ends up playing with the doll everywhere she went, day and night. But unfortunately, she has to return the doll to lost and found section since it isn’t hers.

‘Misleadingly cute’ is how to describe the art, just like its story. As for the construct of story, the pacing matches being a mini-comic, it wasn’t too much nor too little. There weren’t any pointless scenes/panels which makes Play with Me Please a good story overall.

For the main event in the anthology, it is the first chapter of PE DAY!, a school life comic that’s focused on the Physical Education class.

Chapter 1 of PE Day! revolves around the struggles of Thea, an introverted student, with her PE class. Everyone in the class has to pair up for a relay race activity. As Thea loses hope of finding a partner for the race, she is approached by Paula, a concerned classmate that chose to partner with Thea even though she already had one. Surprised by her classmate, Thea mentally and physically challenges herself to do her best in the race to not let Paula down.

Covered with light humor, PE Day! tackles one’s psyche on being an introvert. Such as one’s mentality when being helped, and the determination of not letting down those that helped. Not to mention the struggles of socializing, fitting in, and doing well in physical education. The balance of comedy compliments the comic as to not distract readers from such issues.

My only issue with PE Day! is it’s panels, they seem to over maximize the pages. Though the art is good, the panels of each page seems forced to fit. However that aside, the comic itself is good, both in art and story. Hoping for more to come from the expected Chapter 2 of PE Day!

A great way to end an anthology, is having a bonus comic. The bonus is a preview of Decaf, a comic that showcases a slice of life with anthropomorphic characters. There’s little to say based on the preview. The expected release of this is some time in 2016.

All in all, Kada Dia! #1 has a good arrangement of comics that compliment and balance each other. This being the first issue, I’m looking forward for the next issues to come.