Manga Review: BONDS is a gorgeous but pricey JOURNEY TO THE WEST retelling

This review contains spoilers for BONDS. I received a free copy from Manga Mavericks in exchange for a review.

As the publisher’s description notes, BONDS is an alternate take on Journey to the West, focusing on Son Goku—who graces the cover—and Sanzo at the start of their journey.

The manga opens with Sanzo expressing doubts about Goku while Goku heads out to gather alms from humans. Observing the differences between humans and demons, Goku reflects that a demon would never help others. Meanwhile, Sanzo encounters an old man who tricks him into giving Goku a circlet that suppresses his divine powers. Sanzo’s mistake leaves him vulnerable to demons, who are eager to make a meal out of him.

Goku returns just as the demons prepare their “dinner.” He tries to fight them off but struggles under the circlet’s power-suppressing effects. Sanzo, realizing his error, tells Goku to eat him to save himself. Goku refuses, admitting he has fallen in love with humanity. In an exciting level-up moment, he overcomes the odds and defeats the demons. With the danger behind them, the pair resumes their journey toward India.

As a fan of Journey to the West, I was eager to read BONDS. The story, though short and a bit abrupt in both its opening and ending, remains engaging, and the artwork is gorgeous. ZENZO’s skill in capturing emotion and drawing readers in is undeniable. Having trained under Takafumi Adachi, creator of Beyblade: Metal Fusion, ZENZO clearly has the talent to handle a longer, more fleshed-out story. Even doubling the length to 72 pages would have made a noticeable difference.

The comic reads right to left, like a traditional manga, and comes with a glossy laminated cover. It’s A5 in size (5.83″ x 8.27″) and just 36 pages long. Yes, you read that right—only 36 pages. While the story and art are captivating, the $11.99 USD price point feels steep for something thinner than an I Can Read! book. This isn’t to say the mangaka doesn’t deserve fair pay—they absolutely do—but it’s hard not to compare it to other publishers. For example, Hai Tang Books offers full-length novels for $21.99 USD, and indie manga publisher One Peace Books sells nearly 200-page manga for $12.99.

The production also feels closer to a fanzine than a polished commercial release. The copyright page doubles as the author’s note, and the cover image appears blurry, as if stretched to fit. Inside, there are minor grammar issues and a missing note where an asterisk indicates one should be—things an experienced editor or proofreader should have caught.

Ultimately, I wouldn’t buy this for myself or recommend it unless someone had a strong interest in Journey to the West retellings and didn’t mind the price-to-value ratio.

BONDS retails for $12.99 USD and is available through Manga Mavericks’ store and Amazon.