The cuteness doesn't stop with the Mew Mew gang, a team of girl heroes who have each been injected with animal genes and endowed with supernatural powers. Their mission is to fight aliens who use animals to attack Earth. A la Mode
continues the popular series Tokyo Mew Mew,
which inspired the equally admired cartoon. This story introduces a new member, Berry Shirayuki, whose French grandfather explains the title. She's just getting used to her new school when she is mistakenly injected with the genes of an Amami black rabbit and an Andes mountain cat. Suddenly she finds herself fighting dragons and the evil Saint Rose Crusaders, who like to dine on bunny blood. Berry has to adjust to her new Mew Mew powers: super hearing, the ability to leap much higher than expected and a strange desire to snack on carrots. Ikumi knows how to mix action sequences, romantic interludes and schoolgirl anxieties to maximum effect. Darker elements combine with sugary ones for a fun, energetic and ultimately irresistible read. The adorable girls are well-drawn by Yoshida, who adds an appendix of commentary on the process of manga creation. (July)
