Tegami Bachi : Letter Bee Vol. One, follows a "Letter Bee" as he does his job delivering his first living package, a human.

Highlights

A man maid star illuminates some of Amberground.  Split into three different caste sections, only Letter Bees and other Government agencies can pass between the sections.  Akatsuki, the highest caste system, is the only one that has constant daylight, and it is the hardest section to enter or exit.  Then there's Yuusari, the middle caste.  Here it's usually in a state of twilight and this is where the Letter Bee's headquarters is (called the Beehive).  Who ever is left is sent to Yodaka, where it's mostly dark and full of dangerous creatures called Gaichuu.  

Gauche Suede is about to be promoted to work inside Akatsuki, but first he has to do a delivery in Yodaka first.  The item for delivery: a young boy (Lag Seeing) whose mother was taken by the government for a reason that is not yet known.  Gauche tries to stay business like, but Lag starts playing with Gauche's anti-Gaichuu gun.  These anti-Gaichuu weapons use Spirit Amber which then transforms some of the users heart into (in Gauche's case) bullets.  When Lag accidentally triggers Gauche's gun, Gauche tries to rebuild Lag's heart that he lost with the bullet.  Because of this process, Both Lag and Gauche have dreams of each other's past, bringing them closer together.  Unfortunately, this does not last long.  They make it to the place where Lag was to be delivered, and then they part ways, but Gauche promises to look for information on Lag's mother, and Lag decides to become a Letter Bee when he's a little bit older.

Go forward in time a bit, and Lag is ready to go to his Letter Bee interview.  While on the trip to the Train station (which is in a different city), Lag comes across a little girl who has a delivery tag.  There's just one problem, the Tag isn't completely filled out.  Lag decides that he has time to deliver the girl, and make it to his interview in time.  While on the short trip, Lag learns that this girl hasn't kept an owner for very long, and has many different names.  This place where she is supposed to go next turns out to be a freak circus.  Why she was sent to the circus is because she's the daughter of a Maka (half cat half human).  Something inside the girl snaps and she destroys the circus and returns to Lag, agreeing to be his partner.  She takes the name Lag gives her, Niche.  They begin the journey to Yuusari, where Lag will do the final trial in becoming a Letter Bee.

Overall

I was intrigued by what I'd already read about Tegami Bachi.  I'm really into the whole Steampunk style and was absolutely blown away by how it came through in this volume. I love just about everything about Tegami Bachi. The characters are well developed, while still being easy enough to understand.  One thing about steampunk that I look for, is the scenery, which was  absolutely beautiful in this one, even though it was mostly in black and white (except for the first couple pages which were in a watercolor style).  There were moments where it is dragged out a bit too long, but, it doesn't ruin the story at all.  At the back of the manga and end of some chapters were character bios (which included original concepts and name explanations) and explanations about the different aspects of the world of Amberground, which is a brilliant idea.  It makes it so much easier to get completely involved with the world of Tegami Bachi and get immersed into its culture.

As you probably can tell, I was very much pleased by Tegami Bachi.  I only wish the next volume was already out! It was just so amazing and beautiful I was blown away.  I definitely  recommend this for just about everyone and believe it is a must have for any collector.

ComicsOnline gives Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee Vol. One 5 out of 5 Giant Gaichuu.