By Dustin Cabeal

Umami nearly made my “best of” list for the year. The thing that kept me from adding it was the fact that I had only read one issue, but then… here’s the second issue. I’m still not sure if I’m going to add it since it’s a tight list that I’ve already completed, but don’t be surprised if on my review for the third issue I mention kicking myself or some such nonsense.

In the first issue, we were introduced to Ami and Uma, which reversed is the title of the comic. It’s also, and I could be wrong, but several volumes and hours of watching Food Wars, has taught me that umami is the flavor essence in cooking. Something like that.

Uma is on her way to the capitol to find salt or more specifically find out what’s happening to the salt. Ami is on her way to the capitol to be a chef and is trying to catch up to her colleague. Ami is the straight-laced, professional chef, while Uma is the goofy cook that will make due with what’s in front of her. They are polar opposites, the culinary equivalent of the “Odd Couple.” They get caught in a trap along their way, and Uma challenges the beasts that have captured them to a bet. If they make the best soup they’ve ever had, then they have to let them go. Everything seems fine until Ami makes a terrible discovery.

There is just a sheer amount of joy that comes from the pages of Umami. I feel happy when I read this comic and just want to read more and more. It has been so long since a comic was able to do that for me.

There’s a lot of manga-inspired elements to this story, from the characters to the setting, to the pacing itself. All of it works incredibly well, and all of it is subtle. Non-manga readers aren’t likely to be annoyed or even pick up on these elements. Ken Niimura continues to craft a beautiful story, with dialogue that bounces off the page, the character’s that while still a mystery to us, are easy to like and follow. They’re just character types at the moment with Ami being the straight man/woman and Uma being the Bananaman/woman. They’re a classic double act, but Niimura shows why a classic mismatch pairing like this is funny and exciting to read.

The artwork shines yet again in this issue. I still find myself wanting to see it all colored, but maybe that’ll happen one day. For now, I’d rather just have more issues and not have the coloring hold up the process at all. The beasts introduced in this issue are simple in design but memorable. They wear their personalities in their design. You can look at them and tell that they’re idiots, but also dangerous. Niimura continues to masterfully craft a black and white story that fully uses the medium.

I had intended to get this review done closer to its original release, but time makes fools of us all or something. At any rate, you can of course still pick up Umami as it’s a pay what you want title from Panel Syndicate. Even if it doesn’t end up in my top five list for the year, it is by far one of the best comics to release this year, and it was made entirely by one talented person.

Score: 5/5

Umami #2
Panel Syndicate