I can honestly say that this is something I've never seen before in manga! The story is bold as it crosses sensitive racial lines, but it's so well-crafted that it does so with ease. I really like the art style, and I think that it's lightness and balances the heaviness of the dynamic plot. And what a plot! It's awesome! This is what American Manga should be! And I wanna see more! (Random side comment: I felt SO SORRY for that chicken in the beginning... it was only trying to live!!!)

SKATORA

09.15.2009 12:00 AM

i wanna know what happens next! i really liked the way it started.

WARPRINCESS

09.13.2009 12:00 AM

honestly, i would love to see more of this 5 stars

JINJIN123

09.10.2009 12:00 AM

I loved this pilot, it is original, clean and has ideas not seen before. I would love to seemer of it. I make comigs myself, so i know how long it takes to make one. Theart really shows your experience and i'm suprised that you havent debuted earlier, then again, good work takes time. 5 stars GREAT JOB

NINA123

07.20.2009 12:00 AM

I really really really really loved this pilot. I would definitely buy it if it gets to syndication. Good art work. I can't wait to read more of your work. Full 5 rating for you...

CHERRYGRL88

07.20.2009 12:00 AM

Liked it. I thought the charictor art especially well done. But ....While the story was interesting and had a wonderfull flow, I think it will read better in the full graphic novel form as the later chapters fill in and explain more on what it is to be a "cog". I hope you're able to expand on the story

PELL

07.13.2009 12:00 AM

i really liked this story, made me want to know more!! the plot was very interesthing and original, i got a little confused at the end, i couldn't tell what happened exactly, but i suppouse that'd be solved in a second chapter!! The art was original and very well done, though i didnt' quite like the design of the short faired woman, but anyway thats' just my very personal opinion. I'll definately buy it

MONTIZ

07.13.2009 12:00 AM

Wow, this is really good. I really like this one, I will buy it if I see it in the store. My friends and I are always complaining about how there are not enough african-american characters in mangas, so I really liked seeing this one. I actually started to tear up when the boy's mother was killed, it really sucked me in. This manga is refreshingly free of cliches.

HYLIANLYCAN

07.10.2009 12:00 AM

in regards to an earlier comment, i beg to differ with slaves' quarters being decrepit and grungy. they were actually very clean. extremely sparse with dirt floors but slaves were fastidious about sweeping and keeping their quarters neat and clean.

FRANCIE

06.16.2009 12:00 AM

The whole plantation thing WAS background info. It showed how and why he became a Cog. That's obviously what it's about, Cogs. Not plantations, Cogs. The author will probably show other pieces of his past when it is relevant ,but it's probably more about where he's going. Don't bash people's artwork just because it's not what you're used to. It's called change and you should be used to it by now. I admit that it could've been darker to show just how bleak it was, but...I'm definitely going to buy this as soon as I can get my hands on it. :D

DARKFAIRYPHOBOS

05.29.2009 12:00 AM

I like this story a lot. I would enjoy reading more of it as well.

REDCRYSTAL

05.24.2009 12:00 AM

I think this is the most unique and interesting story out of these pilots! I would really like to read more into this!! I wonder about the woman with the short hair and what she was doing before. It looks like maybe she was fighting in a war or something O.o very very interesting.

FLYINGGREENHIPPO

05.09.2009 12:00 AM

What do you guys think of history genre comics? Still including the fantastical - but, like, Greek mythos or Native American stories?

TOUGALOVER77

04.29.2009 12:00 AM

I loved it! I hope more will come soon ^^ Its just interesting and the art is just absolutely amazing!

1SIMPLY2ME3

04.23.2009 12:00 AM

Wow! Amazing work! I never thought quote on quote history could be so interesting! ^^

MAUFII

04.19.2009 12:00 AM

very nice, can't wait for more! too bad he was tricked by those spirits >[ they DID say he wouldn't have to worry anymore....

SCOOBY8

02.21.2009 12:00 AM

intersting but what is next????

DRAMAQUEEN55455

01.25.2009 12:00 AM

this is very cool good enough to be an anime =]

EDWIN400FAM

12.24.2008 12:00 AM

Very creative topic! I like how you decided to go with a different approach than typical manga: a slave narrative with a manga twist. The characters are even drawn with black features. Bonus points for you. However, I have some qualms with the style. Make the beginning darker, give it edge. Make us afraid. I see that the woman that was following the mistress was a Cog. Try to make that more obvious, because I was confused as to her purpose. Create better shading on the characters. Also, the backgrounds do need more definition. The plantation that you opened the story with does not have enough detail. Try to make it look more majestic or more terrifying. Give the house a real texture. Also, on page 9, the house does not seem to be in perspective with the field. And on pages 10-13, you show the slaves’ quarters but it looks clean and neat. Make it look decrepit and grungy so we know of the slaves’ awful conditions. The last few pages could be done differently, because they just make the reader skip over them. You did a good job on this.

FADEAWAY

12.09.2008 12:00 AM

I have never understood people's obsession with art that looks like "real" manga. What does that even mean? Manga is a form of visual storytelling, and restricting it to a specific artistic style is unjust and limiting. Nichol Ashworth's work carries the simplistic, emotive power of traditional Japanese manga tempered with some of the realism more common to western art, lending it more weight and power. She has also delved into aspects of the human experience that most manga artists lack the to courage to face. For example: the only other times I've seen slavery looked at in manga, it was a a cheap, kinky farce. This was far more genuiune, and the story and characters are interesting. It is a perfect example of what I have been looking for in the new generation of manga, and I hope to see more.

IMPULSE

12.02.2008 12:00 AM

I don't think that's necessarily the point. I like Tpop's take on "manga" - that it's really just motionless entertainment. That being the case - I frigging LOVE this. I cna't wait for the next chapter - I totally see it going to a dark and scary place. AWESOME.

AAREALESTATE

10.28.2008 12:00 AM

the plot could be interesting enough, but it has no feeling to it, there's no mood to the manga, if your going for a dark and tragic beginning then you should make it feel dark etc. The art is fairly good, but it just doesn't feel like manga, feels more like an american cartoon in black and white comic book style. part of this I think is due to the way the eyes are drawn, I think you need to study more real manga, and learn how to put more detail into your art, while still keeping it balanced. your quite good, I just think you don't have a very intimate understanding of real manga, and the differences between it and american style drawing.

HARUNII

10.19.2008 12:00 AM

Hmm, I like your "cog" premise a lot. The story was pretty good, though i think it would serve to amp up the darkness of the situation. As in, even though he's a child and may not comprehend it very well, the situation needs to be presented as worse, i think. The ending was cool, but maybe needed something more about his mum? Beyond that I can see this story unfolding beautifully. I hope the continuing story would be kept dark, serious and screwed-up, it would be ridiculous and boring otherwise.

NATSUKI89

09.23.2008 12:00 AM

I do NOT like the new manga players on the beta site. the only reason to post manga on this site was because of the manga players. they made it feel like you had "published" a book without the cost. these new players are a) unreadable- in small size. b)- unusable- I cannot no matter how I try get the players to enlarge... might be because of my slow connection but still... the programers should have taken those of us who can't afford faster connections into consideration. if I had wanted to have my art in a "video" format I would have uploaded to youtube where I could enlarge the art to full screen so I could actually read it without freezing my computer. bring the old players back please... don't fix what isn't broken!!!!!

PHEONIA

08.29.2008 12:00 AM

That was awesome, I would so purchase it!

GLASSDOLL14

08.26.2008 12:00 AM

I love the artwork. I love the story and the action. I want more :D!

COCO22

08.25.2008 12:00 AM

VERY original. I'd like to see more.

VASHFAN59

08.24.2008 12:00 AM

Simply Awesome. I enjoyed this alot. I hope you continue to make more in the future!

TONYED

08.24.2008 12:00 AM

This story is unlike anything I have ever read. Perhaps this is the newest and most original story to hit the manga world. Plain and simple: I want it.

RAVENCARTEL13

08.23.2008 12:00 AM

The art was refreshingly new and interesting and the pilot made me want more! This manga needs to be published so i can buy it and see what happens next!

BLUESEASHELL3

08.23.2008 12:00 AM

this is pretty damned awesome!!! i like the art style- a nice hybrid of "American" and "Manga" style.

RYAVEN

08.22.2008 12:00 AM

Art was beautiful.. story was very interesting. I would definitely buy this if it were in print, and I'm interested in seeing what the story leads to.. some critique, the story seemed very historically accurate & interesting with adding the "cog" stuff, and I breezed through the last few pages. Hopefully, it will turn out to be more interesting than I think it will be =D

BUNNYBOY86

08.22.2008 12:00 AM

really interesting, I would buy it, I really like the art and the story! Good job

KANNATRAMOR

08.22.2008 12:00 AM

I like this story. It has a very mature theme, and it can appeal to more than just the average manga lover. I also like that Nichol has touched on some very sensitive issues that most would shy away from.

HOTICER

08.22.2008 12:00 AM

omg. That was so well written and drawn. I really want to buy this when it comes out. I love that this doesn't have a conventional plot. It really hits a nerve on slavery, which is a subject not too many people want to talk about. I think this manga could open up some new dialog on the subject. There needs to be more fresh stories like this.

JSTARR06

08.22.2008 12:00 AM

good

LILLYGREATSTAR

08.21.2008 12:00 AM

I like this manga. if I read it in a store, I wouldn't be able to put it down until I finished it and bought it. the story line is intriguing and unique and it pulls you into the story. it leaves you wondering what's going to happen next.

TOVARISCHISME

08.19.2008 12:00 AM

wow this was really good,i didnt want to stop reading it.

CHICKEN

08.19.2008 12:00 AM

How could you say that the art is ugly? D: Just because it's different from what we see everyday from manga-ka doesn't mean that it is ugly. The art is very unique. This person does not follow the same styles that many people these days do. If you look at many of the recent popular anime and even some manga, they all have the same face, the same body proportions, the same EVERYTHING! This person decided to take a chance and change his way of drawing manga. And I think that his hard work should pay off! It sort of reminds me of the American way of drawing cartoons ... and that's alright! It is this that makes his story so much more unique than the other similar stories. You can't compare something of that skill level. I think that's it's very beautiful art. It captures the emotions very well and who knows ... maybe realistic-type art in manga will become the next new thing? :]

ASUKAMAI

08.18.2008 12:00 AM

I love this one, I got into it right away.

CURSED107

08.18.2008 12:00 AM

wow, I really liked this one, I want to see more:D

SASARAI

08.17.2008 12:00 AM

the art is ugly, very ugly

ASTRO98

08.17.2008 12:00 AM

I did enjoy the story. It's one of the best out of the bunch, intriguing, actually. not to mention that it's original (I mean, come on, when is there ever a time when you're going to see a manga with this storyline?) The only thing that I wonder about is the mistress... her character is a bit shallow, and if you want to make her evil enough to kill a African American slave woman, then you should've displayed her evil side a bit more before that occurence. you did, but it was too fleeting. Maybe you didn't fulfill that because of the number of pages that you had to work with. If so, then this isn't much of a problem. anyways, her character is not a big part of the story, is it? Now, as for the art... It's all right. but the extensive use of screen tone does annoy me a bit, and I see this in alot of American manga artist's works. It's probably because in my drawing style, I try to avoid screen tones as much as possible. Not to say that they are bad, but if you want to use alot of it, make your art style match. If you rely too much on screentone, then your artwork will look a bit empty. Try to fill it up by adding extensive inking detail - especially in the backgrounds. Then it won't look like 80% of your backgrounds were of screen tone. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that you need to work on skill, it's probably just my taste. I am a strict critic, so don't take any of my comments too harshly. ^_^

LADYDARKNESS

08.16.2008 12:00 AM

I loved it! The story was very original. I like how the setting is so unusual. The art's very clean, no confusing or distracting details. I'd love to read more.

BRITTANYCHAN

08.15.2008 12:00 AM

... wow... I would bye this right now if I could, immediatly and without any hesitation.

SHMINZI

08.15.2008 12:00 AM

Well overall I liked this manga pilot. I liked the way the entities in the forest were drawn and the fact that there was a tragedy in the main characters young life.Also, I'm glad that the author took the time to introduce the characters and give a little back story, I think often that is something that many mangs writers underestimate. I would have liked to see him save his mother, failing that however I would like to see him live a full and interesting existence, and hopefully his fated path with lead him to at some point cause a reversal of fortune and enable him to utterly crush that wicked maid of the missus, and have an oppurtunity to bring some form of retribution to the missus as well, and also an oppurtunity to bring some peace to his and his then master's disquieted souls, but also enable him to establish some sort of bond or mutual respect between them before he leaves his service, and seeks his own way through his job, as a cog. I also really like the cover illustration and the look that the author decided to give the character as his older more mature self, and the wording of the contract as well, I do look forward to seeing future chapters of this manga. I also like that it is done by a female author, and it is a truly unique and worthwhile idea for a manga so please do your best and keep up the good work!!

HARUHI13007

08.14.2008 12:00 AM

Loved it. I love your style of drawing also and the layout is smooth and easy to read, most of the time it can be done wrong but i think you more than nailed it. Definatly makes me want to read more. Good job.

CRIMSONBLACK

08.14.2008 12:00 AM

brilliant, I'm intrigued and want more!!!!

JAMESU

08.14.2008 12:00 AM

NEED MORE COG!!! LOL That was slpindifferous!!! I love the basic flow and story line. Though I did love this one the last page had nothing to do with the story and seemed sorta desperate. No offense Nichol!

KANDI8584

08.13.2008 12:00 AM

I love the art work very floetic!!

KANDI8584

08.13.2008 12:00 AM