It's been too long since we've done a round-up of some of the many manga sequels, prequels, and spinoffs out there around here. Let's rectify that this March, starting with a series that dares to ask "What does Sword Art Online look like from the perspective of someone who isn't Kirito?"
SWORD ART ONLINE PROGRESSIVE (Sodo Ato Onrain Puroguresshibu), based on the light novel by Reki Kawahara and character designs by abec with art by Kiseki Himura. First published in 2013 and first published in North America in 2015.
PLOT:
Asuna Yuuki seemingly spent all her time studying in the hopes of getting into the best schools and pleasing her cold, demanding mother. She only meant to check out her brother's virtual game system out of curiosity, but now she finds herself trapped in the virtual game world alongside thousands of others. It's only after meeting a mysterious lone gamer that she finds the determination to not just survive, but get out of the game.
STORY:
My enthusiasm for Sword Art Online has never been high, but I did have some legitimate hope for SAO Progressive. It was not only an opportunity for Kawamura to take a second pass at the story that made him famous, but also a chance to get away from the power fantasy that so many people took SAO to task for and expand Asuna as a character beyond her role as a love interest. Those are legitimately good reasons for this series to exist.
Now, is it successful at any of that? Eh....that's debatable.
There's definitely something relatable in Asuna coming to the realization that most of her life was spent chasing academic achievement with no end goal in mind beyond pleasing others. I also like how she applies her study skills to improving her performance in-game - in a sea of Potato-kuns who are god-tier, game-breaking players out of the gate, it's nice to see someone who actually has to get good through grinding and strategy.
Then Kirito shows up and it all kind of goes to hell.
I know, I know, they can't avoid him forever, particularly this early on in the franchise. I do the effort Kawamura is putting into establishing these two having some sort of connection before Asuna becomes his video game wife. Alas, this is Kirito in his obnoxious loner phase, so he's kind of obnoxious here. Even in this revision, though, it all comes back to highlighting how awesome and good Kirito is and from the first boss battle onward more or less sticks to how the original story goes. The more SAO tries to change, the more its Kirito-worship stays the same.
ART:
Unlike most light novel-to-manga adaptations, Kiseki Himura is not a total nobody. He's even had a work adapted into an anime! Of course, that work was Tawawa on Monday, which is a series of shorts about ludicrously busty office ladies, but it is more fame than most of these guys can brag about. Learning this fact did explain a few things, though.
Himura does make a better-than-average effort at retaining the look and feel of the world of SAO, even if his faces are a little off. He also tries to bring some shonen manga flair to the battles and big impact panels with low angles and lots of light beams whenever we're meant to be impressed with Kirito. Alas, he can't seem to stop himself from getting pervy. Once Kirito shows up, there seem to be a lot more excuses for Asuna to strip to her undies or enjoy long and leisurely baths, often as she twists herself for maximum butt and boob coverage. Even when fully dressed and hiding under a cloak, men around her comment on her having "a nice figure." Inserting this objectification in a story meant to de-objectify its heroine is downright disappointing.
RATING:
This series is published by Yen Press. This series is complete in Japan with 7 volumes available. All 7 volumes have been published and are currently in print.
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