I love the contrast of styles that Thunder 3 promises and it does not disappoint. The retro style of the Small Three to the realism of the other universe and the futurism of the mecha breathe so much life into the worlds. I love The Wizard of Oz (1939) but like many such stories the strange other world very quickly becomes the normal world for the audience. Thunder 3 avoids that – to its benefit. This world always feels at odds with the Small Three, through both the variety of styles and the pacing of their introduction. It’s as much as journey of discovery for the reader as it is the characters. 

Unfortunately I found them wanting. There isn’t much characterisation beyond one characteristic. Especially for two of the three. Though I do appreciate that they’re quite cartoonish. Futaba did surprise me. In quite a few ways. I hadn’t expected her to be quite so young. Or to be so saccharinely Hallmark – too good, too pure for this world. Thankfully the shift in genre made this bearable and her guilelessness became fantastically funny in the face of the threats (or lack thereof) bearing down on her. And I’m pleasantly surprised at the prospect that she isn’t just going to be a MacGuffin to be saved. 

The constant exclamations of the Small Three as “anime!” is tiring, however. It undercuts the stakes. Futaba was snatched up immediately, and they get to go viral. There is genuine menace to her kidnappers and I wish that had been sustained. I do really like the use of a different font to alienate and distance them, but, again, that undermines them as it’s quite hard to read. 

I’m nonetheless still really intrigued by this series. The Small Three’s discoveries about themselves and the way their cartoon physics interacts with the world excites me. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for this review copy. I leave this review voluntarily.