ALICE IN THE COUNTRY OF HEARTS Vol. 3

(by Quinrose X Soumei Hoshino, Tokyopop, $10.99)

FROM THE BACK COVER:

"Alice's comfort level in Wonderland continues to grow. But something very strange is happening. Confusion, memory loss and sudden pain become associated with thoughts of home. Meanwhile, Peter cunningly finds a way into Alice's bedroom, and Vivaldi reveals a peculiar secret! And what will Alice do when she is suddenly attacked by Blood Dupre?!"

EVIDENCE FOR:

Goodness, did I just feel a twinge of moe for Peter the White Rabbit when he tried to win over Alice's heart? Yes, it seems that the characters really do grow more endearing over time in this bishounen-infused take on Lewis Carroll's classic book. Most of the guys in the story are still jerks in some way or another, yet it's those personality flaws that make them alluring: Julius the clockmaker's quiet overprotectiveness, Ace's free-swinging blade, the ruthlessness of Blood (the Mad Hatter), and yes, even Peter's beta-male desperation. More than just the delicious harem of males, though, it's the dark and deviant side of Wonderland that will keep readers hooked: the Queen of Hearts's private audience with Alice is not what one may have expected from a prim and proper royal, and the declaration of war in the final chapter is the biggest shake-up yet in the storyline. As always, the cleanly drawn character designs and uncluttered layouts maintain the series' high level of visual appeal—the perfect manifestation of shoujo style without resorting to the cheap gimmicks that often come with it.

EVIDENCE AGAINST:

Maybe a few cheap gimmicks wouldn't be such a bad idea—considering that a lot of what goes on in this volume is downright boring. Let's see, at the beginning Peter tries to put the moves on Alice, at the end some of the main characters pull guns on each other, and in the middle there's ... what? Absolutely nothing! Well, there's lots and lots of talking, but talk is cheap, and by about the twentieth page of Julius and friends shooting the breeze about how mysterious Alice is and how everyone loves her, no one cares anymore. In between there are also flashback scenes showing Alice's memories of her real life, and apparently they're supposed to be in danger of disappearing or something, but the sense of peril never really comes through. In essence, they become flashbacks for the sake of flashbacks. So aside from that declaration of war, the entire rest of this volume is about Alice having various interacttions with the denizens of Wonderland ... you know, just like the game this manga is based on. Except less interactive. Welcome to Alice in Slumberland.

FINAL VERDICT:

If it weren't for the appealing art and occasionally amusing characters, this plot-impaired snoozefest would be in danger of falling even lower than a C-.