Usually, sociopaths and knives rarely mix well. In the case of Shinji Saijyo’s Iron Wok Jan though, it’s a combination that results in a hilarious, informative and entertaining manga.

As far as sociopaths go however, Jan Akiyama gives them a good name. Compared to some other shonen manga characters, Iron Wok Jan takes the arrogant, self-assured lead character archetype to new highs… and lows. Talented beyond his years, Jan storms the kitchen of the world-famous Gobancho Restaurant and beats one of the lead chefs at his own game: Fried Rice. And while it may seem like a simple dish to most, the amount of variation found in the first chapter alone shows that the author, as well as Jan, know their way around Chinese cooking.

And that’s one of the main draws of Iron Wok Jan. While the character design and background visuals are generally simple and accompanied by more speed lines than most action serials, Saijyo’s strong point lies more in the near-encyclopedic information that he imparts through the explanation of culinary techniques and foods. A little “wordy” at certain points, IWJ doesn’t skimp on the how’s and why’s of the on-page action all while inserting terse background commentary and Bruce Lee-like howls. Cooking is almost a martial art in the world of Iron Wok Jan and like any good martial arts flick, makes it look easier than it probably is in real life. This can probably be attributed to the editing of supervisor Keiko Oyama, who does the technical legwork for Saijyo.

The artwork is just as impressive and entertaining as the dialogue, if not more so. Every bit of food that isn’t in motion looks delicious and incredibly detailed. And when each chef does their thing, the action involved is nothing short of an organized frenzy of speed lines. Think Iron Chef meets Initial D, in terms of movement, which is somewhat appropriate considering that speed is a huge part of Chinese cuisine. Character wise, design is kept to a stereotypically manga-ish minimum, with each cast member’s eccentricities kept on their inordinatelylong sleeves. Jan Akiyama’s features are heavily angled and when he’s cooking, he looks like a man possessed by the God of Cooking. Or the Devil, since many of Jan’s cooking scenes are accompanied by heavy inking and a cluster of dark speed lines. Kiriko Gobancho, the female lead and Jan’s adversary/co-worker, is drawn like many similar manga females, with an unintentionally comical bust-to-hip ratio. However, her personality is more balanced, with her personal cooking philosophy and good nature often tempered with a desire to beat the smile off of Jan’s arrogant face. And let’s not even get started with the grotesque weirdness that is Kiriko’s grandfather and owner of Gobancho Restaurant, Mutsuji Gobancho. Best way to describe him would be a cross between Yoda and Scar from FMA, with two lazy eyes.

Speaking of facial features, Saijyo usually sticks to simple expressions for most characters outside of Jan Akiyama. The introduction of renowned food critic Nichido Otani brings not only added drama to the series, but also more detailed facial expressions. To call Otani’s responses to Jan and Kiriko’s cooking exaggerated is an understatement. The amount of ecstasy shown on his portly face is ultra-realistic compared to the other characters, which is a great companion to the incredibly detailed (and delicious-looking) food that’s laid out on the page (and table).

Story-wise, the first volume of Iron Wok Jan does what it’s supposed to. It establishes the characters that we’ll be seeing in future volumes and lays the groundwork for what’s to come. However, there’s a surprising amount of insight into Jan’s past, which is full of a lot of physical and emotional pain. There’s a reason why he’s so good, and it goes hand in hand with Jan’s attitude. You’d be a dick too if your skills were literally beaten into your body and mind.

So to sum up, Iron Wok Jan is a deceptively simple story about a young man trying to be the best he is at what he does, while dealing with an ever hostile environment and competition coming at him from all sides. And if it sounds like damn near every action shonen manga, then you know why I waited to say so at the end of this review.

-RZ