by Alison L. Roberts

The book's back cover is the first indication that Alien Nine, Book 1, created by Hitoshi Tomizawa and published by CPM Manga, is not standard sci-fi fare. It pictures one of the series' three, sixth-grade protagonists sitting in front of a chalk board where she has written the following phrase: "I will not complain about having to put a gross alien on my head and catch creepy monsters."

Stop before you think, "O.K., this must be more of a comedy." You would be wrong. (And pleasantly so.)

Alien Nine takes place in a near future where aliens have landed on Earth, in a variety of incarnations ranging from those capable of mass destruction to annoying, semi-dangerous pests and "symbiotic" forms that manage to coexist peacefully with humans.

Elementary School 9 does its part to defend the planet and, each year, chooses three students to serve a two-semester term as members of the "Alien Party." When the otherworldly creatures infiltrate the school or attack faculty or students, party members are dispatched and required to don their official uniform: jerseys, bike shorts, knee pads, wrist guards, in-line skates and — friendly, talking aliens that are "worn" like helmets and live by consuming human waste, such as sweat.

Wearing an alien — especially on her head — is not something timid Yuri Otani considers a fun activity. She is scared of them. She doesn't want to fight them, and she can't understand why anyone else would, much less on a voluntary basis. This makes her fellow Alien Party members even more of a mystery to her.

Independent Kumi Kawamura took on the job of alien hunter because she is tired of being the perennial class president and placed in the position of helping everyone, with everything, all of the time. She considers fighting aliens a welcome and much-needed break. Kasumi Tomine appears to be the "perfect young lady" and disposes of aliens cheerfully because she genuinely finds it exciting and fun.

Under the guidance of Alien Party Advisor, Ms. Megumi Hisakawa, the three preteens navigate battles with both aliens and mischievous classmates, in addition to dealing with their resulting emotions about being selected for the team.

Author and artist Tomizawa approaches the episodic story primarily through the eyes of inexperienced, crybaby Yuri and the team's advisor, and he manages to do this without discounting any of the characters or their respective feelings toward the situations with which they are presented. This is skillfully accomplished during the chapter where Ms. Hisakawa makes visits to the homes of her students. She notes how each girl's personality is strongly influenced by her family environment. The teacher's observations about her students' strengths and weaknesses are as enlightening as they are somewhat suspect.

In what kind of competition are the students actually engaged? And what kind of educational system sends schoolgirls into potentially life-threatening battles, anyway? Alien Nine, Book 1 introduces these significant questions but does so with a dose of realistic humor that prevents the story from being weighed down by them.