It seems as though every few years a media franchise
comes along that gets the industry buzzing. Hetalia Axis Powers appears to be
the latest sensation, with the manga hitting stateside in conjunction with the
anime. The series has garnered a storm of fan support before its licensing
which one would have to guess will be excellent news for licensors Tokyopop,
who have gone beyond their normal standards of giving this release a sense of
importance.
Hetalia Axis Powers makes no bones about being
politically incorrect. This is a series that is so off the wall in both concept
and execution that one can hardly blame it for its unorthodox approach at
comedy. Make no mistake; this isn’t a series that is going to agree with
everyone. It is goofy in every way, shape, and form.
Hetalia takes a unique look at World War II, opting to
center on a group of individuals personifying the countries involved with each
person assuming the stereotypical personality traits normally associated with
said country. Goofy? Yes. Unapologetically humorous? Definitely. Oh yes, and of
course each one is a handsomely designed young man to send girls into a tizzy.
Hetalia isn’t meant to be taken seriously. Anyone coming
into the series expecting an overarching story depicting a mangaized version of
World War II will be disappointed. Hetalia is a comedy designed to poke fun at
history. From America reminiscing about his war for independence against
Britain to Italy’s prissy demeanor, Hetalia pulls no punches when it comes to
parodying the countries involved. For readers looking for a series to tickle
their funny bone that don’t mind their country being the butt of a joke,
Hetalia should prove more than satisfactory.