Author: Fujishima Kosuke
Copyright © 1997 by Fujishima Kosuke

PRETTY IN SCARLET is a delightful little one-shot comic that contains all the elements that make OH MY GODDESS! such a great manga. Magic, humor, sweetheart characters and amazing artwork—these are the best characteristics of Fujishima Kosuke's work and this 40-page comic is a terrific example of Fujishima at his best.
Even if you haven't been following the larger plot arc in Dark Horse's monthly comic, this issue has the nice characteristic of being a single compact story. Regular readers know that First Class Goddess Belldandy can summon her powerful and magical guardian angel, Blessed Bell. Belldandy's little sister Skuld comes across her other sister's Urd's angel egg and, in hilariously accidental fashion, suddenly acquires a pint-sized angel of her own.
This tiny and super-cute angel is named Noble Scarlet, and despite her small stature, she quickly proves her willingness to help Skuld and her devotion to the young goddess. In an almost painfully endearing fashion, Noble Scarlet even gets herself involved in Skuld's crush on neighborhood boy Sentaro. Top these antics off with a climactic BMX bike race and you have one of the most enjoyable comic books I've read all year.
Fujishima's artwork is simply amazing. His crisp and highly detailed renderings capture emotion and motion in magnificent fashion, depicting his beautiful characters and their astonishing toys masterfully. The presentation of PRETTY IN SCARLET is no exception, and the artist even makes some clever use of frames and point of views in this poignant tale.
Like so many other Fujishima projects, PRETTY IN SCARLET is a joy to behold and a pleasure to read. If you haven't encountered OH MY GODDESS! before, this comic might not be the best introduction to the characters but it remains a perfect representation of what makes this manga series so wonderful.

English version published in North America by Dark Horse Comics
40 pages; b&w
UPC 61568 99206
$3.50
Available now in the USA
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