@Large Volume 1
Meet Rust, DNA's artist-in-residence. He has a head full of dreams and smoke. While his friend True Epic tries to goad recording superstar Broke Rogers into an MC battle in front of the @Large cafe, Rust tags Broke's Escalade with spray paint and narrowly escapes with his life. Sky, a hot chick and undercover cop, infiltrates the scene and flirts with DNA while observing the shady characters coming and going from the recording studio above. Broke shoots a rap video and has a party with his fans, thugs and hoes, but he's a little bored by it all. Next day back at the @Large, when Broke finally accepts True's challenge, the road is open for DNA to get close to the folks upstairs ... too close for comfort!
The world's first Hip-Hop Manga!
Ahmed Hoke's revolutionary hip-hop manga @Large is a groundbreaking work of graphic fiction. While at first glace this series may seem like a drastic departure to those accustomed to more traditional manga styles, on a deeper read one will find a rich world full of wildly imaginative characters and deep true human emotions. This is a really unique manga series that needs to be read by everyone—whether they are fans of hip-hop or not.
~Rob Valois, Editor
The nexus of LA vice and hip-hop life is @Large, an internet gaming cafe with a notorious recording studio upstairs. Everyone comes together in the gaming lounges of @Large—geeks, rappers, techno-ninjas, thugs, wannabes and undercover cops. The story revolves around a group of kids known as DNA as they attempt to navigate through the trials of adolescence, gain street fame and survive the ever-present threat of the underworld. When they encounter agents of the dark power behind the recording studio, the DNA crew finds themselves fighting for their lives...and for the very survival of their community.
Ahmed Hoke:
Ahmed was born in Chicago, Illinois and relocated to Southern California in the early 80's as an adolescent. He is a multi-talented and accomplished illustrator with roots in the L.A graffiti art scene as well as being a college-educated graphic artist. A man of simple pleasures, Ahmed enjoys listening to and producing hip hop music, which has been an inspirational tool for him throughout the years. A true renaissance man, Ahmed has yet to realize his true potential, which by all indications appears to be limitless. His current project is @Large, a hip hop Manga published by TOKYOPOP set in Los Angeles that deals with the comedy and tragedy of street life from a real perspective.
Hennesy:
Beautiful brown-skinned sista with long hair like Aaliyah, known to wear army fatigues and cutoffs with the midriff exposed, and old-school heavy metal t-shirts. Smokes hard, drinks hard. Kind of like a thrasher/model/thug missus. Loves Tupac to death.
The Sun (Tre'ALLAH)/Trevielle Thomas:
Mix between Rakim and Special Ed. Dresses with Adidas, headbands, sweatsuits and (for some unknown reason) viewfinders. Talks wise, acts otherwise.
Broke Rogers/Kenny Rogers:
The best MC in the camp. Flows last for 100 bars on the reg. Just got signed to Jungle Records. Flosses a Benz cuz he don't like SUVs. Likes to think he is smooth but is a complete jerk. Most women like him 'till they meet him. Really digs OutKast, The Lox, Puffy. Only old-school he really likes is NWA.
Dookie/Daniel Feldman:
Is he really a parody/spoof of the Def Jam co-owner? A cigar-smoking corporate fool. Really driven to succeed, ultra serious, possibly involved in a huge playola scam with Playa POTna. Would like to sign Broke Rogers too but doesn't like his fam.
Playa POTna (Crunk and Hot Sauce)/Jesse Campbell:
Crunk is a knockoff/parody of Steve Harvey and Hot Sauce is a knockoff of the Angels. Playa POTna is kind of a mix between the humor of Harvey and the boisterousness of Lil John, FunkMaster Flex, and other New York Mixtape DJs. He is respected and loved in L.A. but most rap artists just laugh at him.
Shoety Straight Thuggin - Hella Thugs:
Lil dude wit braids. Basically an Iverson/Bone Thugs mix. Hella Thugs rap fast with the double time style and rep the dirty south.
Prince Balla - Hella Thugs:
Fat with a full beard. Basically a Freeway Beanie Sigel knockoff wit a little bit of Baby thrown in. Wears the Platinum fronts wit the big Jesus piece. Drives a Hummer. Really cool wit some local Colombians who are trying to translate their drug money into the music game.
Rust/Raul - DNA:
Goofy graffiti artist character with an anger management problem. Has fits of manic depression usually related to his frustration and inability to get some. Above all else he merely wishes to fit in. Hangs out at the @Large cafe playing X-Box and Playstation 2 and gets really heated when he loses. Tends to get his ass kicked a lot. Bigtime daydreamer.
Kimiko (Happy) Shimuza:
Kimiko is an Internet whiz who works for the owners of @Large. She is a reclusive cyber-nerd with really bad breath. She also loves iguanas, soap operas, and coffee. She conducts a silent unrequited love affair with Kim Chi.
Comrade:
Really bugged-out Russian mobster who loves reading books. His favorite expression is "Read any good books lately?" But this is not good, because that phrase usually precedes him kicking some ass, or even killing somebody.
Amani:
A stripper chick who's kind of like a mix between Lil' Kim and Jada Pinkett. Really thick with a New York accent, and dresses like a high-priced call girl.
Danny (Skye) Castro:
Skinny undercover cop chick posing as a thrasher/slash skater chick. She spends time hanging with Henny and is really good at videogames. Really cute with short hair and tribal tattoos on her arms and belly. Keeps a low profile, reports to Priest regularly.
Fred (Federator):
Wino/dope fiend/panhandler who orbits around the local doorways philosophizing and begging. Federator wears glasses and an old members only jacket. He narrates episodes occasionally.
O.G. Sasquatch - DNA:
Graffiti artist and rapper who runs around with oversized hoodies and fright masks, no one has ever seen his face before. Doesn't speak except if there's a cipher or open mic night going on. Most people think he's weird and stay away from him.
Gary (Coach) Wiggins:
Muscular former surfer and star football player who runs the computer/DVD section with Kim Chi. Coach is a mix between the Jeff Spicolli character of Fast Times and David Hasselhoff from Baywatch. He's purely there for the chicks and knows nothing about computers. He really digs the whole scene but is generally out of touch.
John Wong (Kim):
Slightly paranoid computer/IT expert. Loves gaming, manga and is infatuated with Skie. Very concerned with @Large and works very hard to maintain the order. He gets highly frustrated when the more thugged-out clientele disrupt things. Hates Coach with a passion because of his ignorance of computers but accepts him out of necessity.
Ron Ski-Mask:
Local MC. Wears beanies, skullcaps and baggy pants. Chain-smokes cigarettes, blunts, raps wit the grimy voice. Looks really young, wants Hennesy but is afraid of angering her boyfriend, Rock. Aspires to getting a record deal like Broke Rogers. Pretty much a groupie, very much untrustworthy.
True Epic:
Fat Afro'ed MC character who wants to battle everybody. Pretty good as a rapper. Usually brings his little son Carlos everywhere. Is always on the phone—doesn't matter what phone. Drives a beat-up Nissan truck. Wears football jerseys. Good friends with Skie and Priest.
Rock:
Huge bodyguard for the club scene around Hollywood. Friends with some powerful people high up. Looks like a cross between L.L. Cool J and Lord Jamar from Brand Nubian. Stays in the gym, studies philosophy and pretends to be deep. Loves Hennesy to death, and spoils her with all kinds of gifts like jewelry and free entry into the clubs.
The Owners:
A mysterious group of businessmen and industry types (thugs) who congregate in the offices upstairs from @Large. They are involved in all types of racketeering, pimping and pandering, street pharmaceuticals and other vice while using the @Large Cafe as a front for their illicit activities. The true extent of their influence and power is unknown.
Mr. Dolo:
Pimp character who drives an old vintage Cadillac and parks outside the clubs. Looks like a mix between Bishop Don Magic Juan and Superfly. His persona is really colorful, but his money-making days are pretty much behind him. Always has a cup with cheap liquor in it trying to take advantage of the young girls.
Bassline:
Tall white MC and dealer with limited mic skills. Seeks membership with the DNA crew. Is generally respected more for his basketball skills than his rhyming.
Rochelle (Wisdom Earth) Pickney:
Slender sista with a fat behind and a Nubian style of dress. Looks like Erykah Badu. Graduated from Howard University with a degree in fundraising and hangs out with The Sun Tre' Allah. Quotes famous black authors and revolutionaries (incorrectly), eats healthy and generally annoys everybody around @Large.
Doug:
Mysterious character with a ponytail and circular shades, usually shows up occasionally and plays the background, but seems to know all of the characters in some capacity. Most characters in the narrative avoid this guy like the plague out of fear.
Aaron (Priest) McDaniels:
Really smooth brotha with a handle on his game. Orbits around the @Large Cafe and related establishments driving an assortment of luxury cars and flossing with the flyest clothes. In reality is an undercover cop working with the Feds to bust down the owners' crime wave.
Koko:
Large female bouncer and former gang member who works directly for the owners. Looks like a lady of Rage Type, but much uglier.
Carlos (Dope) Gonzalez - DNA:
Dark-skinned tagger/skateboarder with a gun obsession and a habit of starting trouble. Kind of a wildcard, doesn't really care about anything.
