“Reading is a blast with “A Link to the Past” from the first page to last"
Shotaro Ishinomori is a legend in his trade even in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for his number of original works. His art style is often imitated but never re-created. Imagine watercolors washed with soft greens and slight light hues of red and a classic signature of late 70’s manga. His art is magnificent in every way conceivable. Even the backgrounds are brimming with life. At the point where the main character tracks down the master sword in the “Lost Woods” the image that Ishinomori had drawn was breathtakingly beautiful every branch of the multiple trees were gnarled and entangled in a slightly different way as if it were somewhere he may have visited before and committed it to memory.
The trade paperback “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past” collects works from “Nintendo Power” from way back in 1993. It is a short yet very enjoyable retelling of the game that launched a million adventures. Tracking this amazing work of art down was near impossible before this reprint was issued. You either had to still have your old “Nintendo Power” magazines from childhood or track down roughly 13 issues from '93. Ishinomori even went as far to create a few original characters that fit right at home in the fictional land of Hyrule. Also for the first and only time in history they allotted Link a voice that did not make him look like a fan angering silly clout. All of the detail in this book’s dialogue has me hanging on every word. Keep in mind the source material was a 692 KB SNES game.
My personal favorite top-down The Legend of Zelda game but still not that deep of a backstory and little to no character development. This re-telling on the other hand actually feels as if Miyamoto himself had told Ishinomori exactly how the world of Hyrule was and compelled him to add even more lore than the creator himself could throw out. ON TO THE STORY! It starts with a literal “Ka-Boom!” Link is awoken by the distressed princess of Hyrule, Zelda communicating to him telepathically “Help Me.” During a thunderstorm alluring to a monstrous mess set up but evil itself Link finds his uncle struggling in battle with Evil’s servants ultimately failing and leaving our main character the last of his bloodline and maybe not coincidentally the last hope for the land of Hyrule during a time of darkness.
Link sets out after being thwarted by the same servants of hate that struck and stole his uncle’s last breath, to find aid in a quest to retrieve the weapon that no monster may touch. Enter the wise man who tells Link to find three pendants of virtue that will alot him the ultimate weapon, the “Master Sword.” From here on out the story widens and diverges from and directly follows the game. A journey that is truly spectacular in the scope of story and perfectly arranged in the art it uses to allure to the action.
My son Erik (two years old) call this the “Link Book” and would demand I read it to him as a bedtime story for a week straight. I was fascinated by the magic of fairies, boots that make the wearer run faster than wind, and medallions that cause earthquakes, also the aspect of a world of swords, shields, and an adventure to stop Evil from claiming a peaceful land captivated us both. I suggest this TPB especially if you have a child obsessed with magic filled quests through lands of enchantment. If not any fan of Nintendo’s “The Legend of Zelda" could enjoy it just as thoroughly.
And look for this new 20" Skyward Sword Link Variant SDCC Jakks Pacific exclusive that just popped up to pre-order early!