Introduction

When I say generic, I mean it's got a girl in fancy costumes that transforms called Nijiko and a cute stuffed teddy mascot by the name of Fuwafuwa. In addition to this Nijiko uses her powers to fight evil as most magical girls do.

Nijiko herself is supposed to be normal average fifteen year old in most other respects; however she does get pestered by reporters a lot since her power is public knowledge. So you could say she is like many a young celebrity, and having known a few I can say that most take it in their stride, others let it get to them though. She seems to be the sort of girl who learns to live with this change.

This is a first in the magical girl stories I've read, her powers are public knowledge from the outset; there is none of the secrecy you might find in CCS for example, her parents even congratulate her after her missions.

The title of the comic; Nimbus base is the name of the organisation she works for. As you could probably imagine this is also a clue to where the base is; in the clouds just like the good commander!

The characters in this story are interesting and likeable; some of them are over the top and funny. Commander Rosalba for instance really has her head in the clouds, it's like she's been smoking something strange, but rather than being annoying she is rather funny and whimsical.

Poor Nijiko and probably the reader expects some grizz bloke who looks something like Hindenburg or Bismarck; instead we get some floaty, whimsical, air head who chooses random private soldiers for husbands just to clean her room. Nijiko's reaction to her says it all really.

Art & Design

Sure there are places where the consistency of the characters are a little off, but for the most part things are very good indeed. Things like anatomy for instance where even artists a decade older sometimes suffer are almost perfect every frame. No wonky hands anywhere in this story.

You'll also find some superb and very detailed background drawings and good use of background management techniques. There are some well thought out panel arrangements as well.

Overall then its one of the best looking Sweatdrop single issue comics made thus far, it's technically very good, although not perfect. But the passion is there, the story is as I said; generic. But it does have plenty of unique points and funny characters which set the story apart from other magical girl stories.