About Heroes

Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei: The Power of Negative Thinking vol.4
Story & Art: Koji Kumeta
Translation: Joyce Aurino
Publisher: Del Rey
I really wasn’t sure what to think about this book when I encountered the first volume. I think the only things that came to mind were: Man, that is one long title and that cover really does nothing for me. I have never heard of Koji Kumeta and after reading this I can see why he is Japan’s most brilliant satirist. There is so much satire humor in this book it really reminds me of a British sitcom. The plot is very simple; Nozumo Itoshiki is a schoolteacher who happens to be so depressed he sees the only way out of this hell hole is suicide. As a matter of fact that’s how we are first introduced to him when he unsuccessfully tries to hang himself from a tree. One of his students saves his life and that is the premise of the book, well part of the premise, each of his students in his class seems to save his life. They each seem to have problems too; anywhere from an over-optimist to a stalker. Even though he tears them down and belittles them, they still follow him in his pessimistic way of life. You may think that with a title focusing on negative thinking the characters would be bland, boring, and over the top pessimistic, but somehow through his dry humor Kumeta makes Nozuma a very likeable person and you warm up to his ways. It’s funny to see the complete opposite character of Kafuka Fuura (an extreme optimist) try and make her teacher see the good in the world. The art style while simple has lots of contrasts of black and white and it really sets the tone of the book. I keep getting blown away by this series, the formula still works for me and I recommend it to anyone wanting to read something out of the norm. A-

Shiki Tsukai vol. 6
Story: To-Ru Zekuu
Art: Yuna Takanagi
Translation: Mayumi Kobayashi
Publisher: Del Rey

I’m not sure if it’s taken a while for volume six of this series to come out or maybe I have just read too much manga in between volumes five and six. I had to go back and reread the first five volumes just to make sure I was caught up with this series. I’m really glad I did because so much happened in volume two. To recap: Akira is a normal kid until one day he is told he is meant for greater things by young girl named Koyomi. Along with Koyomi (a Shiki Tsukai) he learns that he can control the seasons. Akira is the destined Shinra, but he still has not awakened his true potential to control the forces of nature. Now the clans of Fall and Summer want to destroy humanity for all they have done to the Earth and they want Akira to help them do it. Finally we get to see more in depth explanations about the Shiki Tsukai and the forward speaking of the different months and seasons really clear things up. Koyomi jumps into action to help Akira against Nanayo. While searching for new resources in a tropical paradise, Akira and the gang faces a new creature knows as Kijyuu. But it seems that Koyomi is just there to provide fan service and her character hasn’t developed much after all these volumes. Action is what you get in this volume, it was a fast read with a great new location for battles. The action sequences are still clearly drawn. The characters are easy to distinguish and backgrounds are sufficiently detailed and utilized to create the setting for each scene. Del Rey does a superb job of including extras in this manga. There are character profiles, character design sketches, a calendar, translation notes, and ability charts. The action has finally picked up in this volume, but I really wish they would move along with the story and quit introducing more villains of the week. B-

Shirley

Story & Art: Kaoru Mori
Translation: Sheldon Drzka
Lettering: Janice Chiang
Publisher: CMX

I didn’t think that Emma was over, but when I first looked at this book I thought I didn’t get the memo. I really thought this was a follow up to the Emma series, but instead it’s a stand-alone book that predates the story of Emma, well not in that kind of chronological order, but this is a collection of earlier work by Mori. It is also a collection of short stories that mainly focus around a thirteen maid that comes to work for Miss Bennett Carnley. At first she was hesitant to hire such a young girl, but as the story grows so does their relationship; stronger and stronger. There are five chapters that chronicle Shirley’s life and two extra chapters. In Me and Nellie and One Afternoon the precocious young master of an estate is in love with his maid, Nellie. The only problem is that he is only five years old and he also has some competition from his tutor, who is also in love with the maid. In Mary Banks a maid has to put up with her employer’s constant pranks and practical jokes. Even beyond the grave the old man was pulling pranks on Mary, but the letter he left her under the globe really made up for the things he did. The art is a complete joy to look at. While remaining simplistic in the first layer, if you look deep down enough you will see how much detail goes into each panel with finely detailed backgrounds and trappings, and lovely character design. IMany of Mori’s panels are wordless, and she shows the characters' emotions through small gestures or simply a moment of stillness. Interior monologue is replaced by a sigh or a glance in a mirror. The end of the book also has an interview with the creator and how she got some of those ideas she put in her books. For some reason much like I do after reading Emma, I find myself in a great mood, don’t know what it is about Mori that makes that come out in me, but the formula seems to still work!A-

World of Warcraft: Death Knight
Story: Dan Jolley
Art: Rocio Zucchi
Lettering: Michael Paolilli
Publisher: Tokyopop

Well, I have to say that it’s been a great week of manga reading, I don’t think we read a bad book this week. So I was really excited to read this book, considering I know nothing of the Warcraft world (other than it’s an addictive online videogame that has sucked the life out of some of my friends) and I missed out on the Sunwell Trilogy. I think the only thing that I have ever read that was Warcraft related was the Legends book that came out a while back. I do know that this book is based on the character from the expansion pack: Wrath of the Lich King. Thassarian is a Lordaeron soldier, whose primary goal is to honor his father’s death. Along with his company and Prince Artha’s army they fight against the Scourge. The prince decides to side with the Lich King and Thassarian manages to break free from his control. The story seemed a little stale and I guess it would mean so much more to me if I knew who these characters were beforehand. I just couldn't get into the character of Thassarian, I guess he is supposed to read like a one dimensional Conan. I was however, blown away by the gorgeous art, especially the amount of detail that went into the battle sequences. If you are a fan of the series, you are probably already picking this up, but I suggest fans of fantasy and magic to give this a shot.B

Yokai Doctor Volume 3

Story & Art: Yuki Sato
Translation: Stephen Paul
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

I must have missed the announcement that this series was being released in America, because this is the first I have ever heard of Yokai Doctor. For the first time in a long time the cover really intrigued me in this manga. At first glance it looks like a pretty boy, but at second look it’s a picture of a character who looks like has had his head cut off or neck slashed. Kuro, happens to be a doctor of the occult. He also happens to be a geek who has a secret ; he is a doctor exclusive to ghost, demons, and goblins. Kotoko also has a gift, her gift is that she can see spirits. The twist is that Kotoko's ancestry includes a lot of exorcists. In other words, even though she can only see spirits and not exorcise them, she still feels it's her family duty to bring about their demise. This means that the two of them to get along at all. As it turns out the person on the cover is one of Kuro’s childhood friends, Kaie. Of course it doesn’t seem like they are longer friends, because this volume shows a huge fight between Kuro and Kaie. When Kaie unleashes demons on Kuro, Kuro has only one option and that is to reveal his true self. What I liked most about the book, was the designs of the monsters. Different sizes, types, and art styles make up the tons of monsters in this volume: Everything from highly-detailed traditional Japanese beasts to odd, simple squiggles with eyes. I really enjoyed Yokai Doctor and I want to go back and pick up the previous two volumes. It's a story that's more about its main characters and how they get to know each other than it is a silly supernatural tale. The climactic battle between two old friends with a pretty depressing ending showed me what this book is capable of doing!
A