Series: Peepo Choo
In this final volume of Peepo Choo, Milton and Reiko begin to develop their own dialog. Milton has begun to understand that there is much more to appreciate about this culture than he imagined. He also realizes that there was nothing wrong with being who he is as long as he is being earnest. Sure that might isolate him in certain conditions, but it may also prove to be charming; as in the case with his new friend Reiko.Reiko’s views on American people also begin to change. People are who they are no matter where they hail from, and while the media and geo-political issues may influence subcontext it does not change individual personalities. She knows what she wants and she is willing to do whatever possible to achieve her goals in life. Her future might not be in Japan. They might not be in the US. But she will clearly be looking forward to a future where she is judged on her merits and talents with equity and honesty. Together they have much of that, but they are also very young. The future has many options for these two. So when they part ways at the end of this trip, one has to wonder…Will they ever see each other’s home the same way again?
About Artists & Writers:
Felipe Smith was born in 1978 in Ohio. Raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Felipe comes from the most unlikely of backgrounds for a manga artist published in Japan. Educated in an international school, while other kids where playing soccer and basketball, Felipe was considered the school’s artist.Upon moving to the US for college, Felipe studied at Chicago’s Institute for the Arts where he was exposed to a number of art styles and forms of visual animation. Influenced early by the hyper-real designs found in Heavy Metal and later on by cartoon styles found in Japanese animation, Felipe’s art style is a unique blend of East and West that is destinctively Felipe. Felipe work has been published by IMAGE and TokyoPop; with his first serialized comic MBQ receiving critical acclaim. Felipe went on to win a number of comic awards, eventually earning him international attention. Now working in Tokyo, Felipe is currently developing his second series this time for Morning Japan’s leading comic anthology.