Used Books

From Comixpedia

Used Books is a character-driven action/drama that follows the lives and challenges of three unlikely friends. One is former police officer who, five years ago, single-handedly brought down an infamous criminal organization. Another is an ex-assassin who now runs a used book store. The third is a genius with multiple PhDs who orphaned as a child. These three have very tangled pasts and many secrets, which could destroy their friendships. They also have many enemies, both old and new, that threaten their lives and their happiness.

Used Books is drawn in pencil in a style inspired by manga but with a sketchy and

organic nature. The first page of more recent chapters is digitally colored.

Used Books was created by Vickie Boutwell and is hosted on Drunk Duck.

Used Books
Used Books: Volume 3 cover
Creator(s)	Vickie Boutwell
Website(s)	http://www.drunkduck.com/Used_Books
Update Schedule	daily
Launch Date	February 23, 2007
Genre	drama / adventure
Rating(s)	T+

1 Setting
2 Characters
- 2.1 Main Characters
- 2.2 Other Characters
3 Chapters
4 External Links

[edit] Setting

This story takes place in modern times in a fictitious city of moderate size. It's not a skyscraper city or tourist trap, but one that is on the maps. The population is such that you can't know all your neighbors, but people are generally open to meeting and remembering each other in a laid-back way. The city is most likely in the United States, but could be in a fictitious country with similar culture and governing style. The emergency services (police, firefighters, hospitals) are a fairly competent and cohesive group.

The city is in a peaceful aftermath. For nearly 20 years, a crime organization held the town in an inescapable grip. Several unimpeachable crime bosses ruled everything, and no crime could be traced to any of them. Then, five years ago, spurred by unknown motivation, a rookie cop dedicated her every waking moment to collecting evidence and bringing the reign of terror to an end. She arrested all the bosses and then retired. Most of the underlings were not arrested. They live as fugitives in the darker parts of the city or in the wilds just outside city limits. Generally speaking, the police are not "hunting them down" but instead focus their efforts on the real and present threats.

Most of the story surrounds a book store called Goro Used Books. It is situated in one of the better neighborhoods, not especially wealthy but far better than the dark places of abandoned warehouses and slums. The store is in front of a park, a pleasant bit of green that Kaida sometimes considers her personal backyard. (As far as city parks go, it is a safe and quiet place, but not without an occasional purse snatching or flasher.) The bookstore itself is of unknown age and history. Kaida bought it and everything inside it without questions from either party.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Main Characters

Kaida Shibata, (introduced on page 1)

34 year old bookstore owner, previously a top assassin for a criminal organization. Stubborn and mysterious, usually wearing sunglasses and trying to remain uninvolved. She has a sensitive side that she tries to hide.

Yuki Ohtani, (introduced on page 1)

28 year old former police officer. Famous throughout criminal and police circles as the rookie who single-handedly destroyed the criminal organization five years ago. Perceptive but flighty, Yuki seems to be an empty-headed man-chaser most of the time, but when she gets serious, she is unstoppable.

Dr. Seiko Toriumi, (introduced on page 1)

24 year old genius with multiple MDs and PhDs. Seiko was a child prodigy orphaned at age 12 when both of her parents were shot. Seiko enjoys reading, especially mystery stories and has shown high reasoning skills when solving problems. Despite her intellect, she is dangerously trusting and refuses to recognize any "evil" within her friends.