Manga Reviews: Back with our DNA and more!

Airgear vol. 14
Story & Art: Oh! Great
Translation: Makoto Yukon
Lettering: Hudson Yards
Publisher: Del Rey

Since we skipped last week, we decided to bring an extra dosage of Manga reviews this week by reviewing more titles. First on the list is AirGear by Oh Great, who not only has a badass name, but is also the same mastermind behind Tenjho Tenge. The story is about Ikki Minami, a 13-year-old junior high gang leader, also known as Babyface of East Side. He suffers a humiliating defeat by the an air-trekking gang called the Skull Saders, who then go on to target the friends and classmates he can't protect. His foster family, the Namayoma sisters, notably Ringo, Ikki's childhood friend mysteriously reveal themselves as the legendary Sleeping Forest, assisting Ikki in entering the Airtrek world to redeem his pride. I haven’t kept up with recent volumes of this series, but luckily Del Rey has a great way of recapping the past stories and reintroducing characters at the beginning of the book. It seems that Kazu has taken the spotlight while Ikki has been recovering, but he’s not alone because with the help of Aeon Clock and Emily he is able to defeat the Storm Rider. And new enemies are rising up that seem to be a challenge even for the elite groups of the Air Trek world. Of course I automatically fell in love with the series because of my fond memories playing Jet Set Radio, and the artwork didn’t hurt either. Oh! Great really lives up to his name when it comes to his artwork; it’s actually better than great, it’s phenomenal. His art is detailed and expressive without ever being crowded or confusing. The paneling is simultaneously inventive and easy to follow, even with the crazy sound effects. Even though the story is not really fresh after 14 volumes, it’s still a fun read and a joy to look at. B+

Bastard!! Vol. 19
Story & Art: Kazushi Hagiwara
Translation: Kaori Kawakubo Inoe
Adaptation: Sean McCoy
Publisher: Viz
It’s finally here! The latest installment in this great series that I have been waiting on since January! The only bad thing about Bastard’s schedule is that so much happened in the last four volumes it’s hard to remember everything without going back and rereading the previous volumes. Hell has been breaking loose for the last three volumes and it just keeps getting better and better. In case you haven’t been keeping up with the series here is a little run down: The story follows the exploits of a 400 year old super-powerful wizard by the name of Dark Schneider, who happens to be trapped in the body of a young boy after his reincarnation. He can only take control of Lucien (his host body) when he is kissed by a virgin and there are plenty of those. Did I mention there is plenty of action and fights? Sure the over the top fights tend to get repetitive and just plain silly, but those are some gorgeous panels to look at. Specially the panels that have Porno Diano, man I wouldn’t mind fighting her any day. More bodies explode as the fight between Dark Schneider and Satan continues. Even with the help of Gabriel, Michael, and Uriel this is his toughest battle by far! There is also a Tale of Sacrifice Story 0 at the end of the book that features the characters in our timeline. This book isn’t for the faint of heart or people that just can’t take a joke. There are plenty of parts that show women as sex objects. So if you have a problem with that this is not the manga for you. Of course there is plenty of fan service for the ladies too because DS is a good looking guy and has the body of a God. Over the years this has been one of my favorite books that I have to read every time a new volume is available. A-

DN Angel vols. 12 & 13

Story & Art: Yukiru Sugisaki
Translation: Alethea Nibley & Athena Nibley
Adaptation: Ysabet Reinhardt Macfarlane
Publisher: Tokyopop

According to the internet I was not the only fan of this book that was excited to see its triumphant return. I’m not kidding; it’s been 3 years since volume 11 was released. I just assumed the series was cancelled in America. It was however on hiatus in Japan as well. From my personal experience that usually tells me the creator has lost interest in the title and is moving on and we should too. Not only do we get volume 12 in August, but just a few months after that volume 13 comes along! So welcome back DN Angel! In case you don’t know what the series is about it follows the adventures of 14 year old Daisuke Niwa and his alter-ego Dark. Daisuke transforms whenever he’s feeling anxious about Risa, his crush, but his alter ego, 17-year-old Dark, transforms back whenever he’s anxious around Risa’s twin sister Riku. In these latest two volumes we get to find out the horrible secret of this curse from Satoshi/Krad. I know that the concept of 'light' and 'dark' has been done to death! But I still like it. I'm all for the plot. I like the idea of the whole d.n.a transforming. It's common for anime characters to transform into another being or for that matter change outfits, but I guess that just following the criteria. As usual the art is absolutely wonderful and a joy to look at. High-quality. Top-notch. Sugisaki’s time off didn’t change her art style that much and she still pays painfully detailed attention to every single panel, and the result definitely pays off. The only thing I have noticed is that there seems to be more close-ups now and that takes space away from the backgrounds. I don’t know if she does it to save time, but some panels feel empty. The script is solid, something that I've come to expect from Tokyopop now. Check out this manga. It's beautiful, it's funny, it has a great plot, and for some reason it's just plainly addictive. A-

Negima vol. 24

Story & Art: Ken Akamatsu
Translation: Alethea Nibley
Adaptation: Athena Nibley
Publisher: Del Rey

For a series that started off like a mixture of Harry Potter and Love Hina, this little title has come a long way in 24 volumes. Negi and some of his students have been trapped in the magical world for a few volumes now. It most of them are still separated and I don’t even know if Negi releasing his dark arts is going to help the girls any. It was nice to see a little bit of the girls who are still on Earth though; it was a nice break from the Negi training with his father. I just can’t wait for the battle with Fate Averruncus! Ken Akamatsu’s art just keeps getting better and better with each volume. He cleverly combines cuteness, comedy, realism, sexiness, and has a great layout to create a very unique style. You know, I never thought I’d say this, but I actually miss the over abundance of fan service we would get with each volume, but it’s just a reminder of how serious the book has gotten. The back of the book has one of the most extensive extras sections that most of us will have ever seen. Everything from translation notes to explanations of particular spells used in the story are here for the reader to look over. There is also a large section of reader fan art and even some preliminary design work by the artist himself. This particular volume also includes some very detailed architectural drawings and notes. Let’s see you try and find that kind of explanation of things in any other manga being made today. When it comes to extras and gaining a better understanding of the manga we are reading, Negima is definitely the best. A

Shaman Warrior vols. 6-8
Story & Art: Park Joong-Ki
Translation: Jay So
Lettering: Steve Dutro
Publisher: Dark Horse

It’s been a long time since we reviewed some Manhwa on this site. I’m just glad the good people at Dark Horse decided to release this little Korean gem State-side. These issues are the penultimate volumes that will lead to the climactic ending. To play catch-up as Melanie and Omar put it this all started because of Yarong, who is mortally wounded at the end of the first book. Batu is now in charge of Yaki (Yarong’s daughter) and he has to keep her safe in order for her to become a Shaman Warrior. Yaki is now a woman and has gathered troops of her own to destroy the men that killed her father and endanger the lives of other shaman. With her new found powers she has already killed one of the men responsible, but new villains seem to put a damper on her plans. The pacing of the story is excellent and doesn't get bogged down with super long fight scenes. Each character gets his or her own time to develop and even though it has an extensive background that is unclear at the very beginning; it all starts to take shape after the first few volumes. This is definitely a book for fans of fighting and action genres. While the story seems like one you’ve might have read in the past, it still has enough twists to keep me interested. But, let’s be honest the story is not really why I enjoy the hell out of this book; it’s got to be the art. The dark scratchy lines that seem like take forever to draw give this book that appealing unique look that so many other books lack. The action sequences are drawn so well that they are easy to follow, even for a book that relies on action heavy scenes. The movements flow smoothly and the motion is very convincing. Fans of Blade of the Immortal, Vagabond, and Lone Wolf and Cub should check this wonderful series out. In my opinion this book outshines all of those previously mentioned, but that’s just me. Bring on the final chapter of this great series! A

Shinobi Life vol.3

Story & Art: Shoko Conami
Translation: Lori Riser
Adaptation: Ysabet Reinhardt Macfarlane
Publisher: Tokyopop

Funny how every time I looked at the covers of Shinobi Life it always depicted Kagetora and Beni. I thought it was going to be another one of those cheesy high school love stories. But there was so much more in this manga that I went back and read the previous two volumes. I’ve always been a fan of the name Kagetora, mainly because of the manga that Del Rey put out so immediately I grew to like this character. He is a young ninja that was charged with the duty of protecting princess Beni (red princess). However, he is sent to the future and the first person he runs into is Beni Fujiwara. Not only does she look like princess Beni, but happens to be a descendant of hers. So what else is a time lost ninja suppose to do? Give himself the duty of protecting her of course. The thing that got me really hooked on the book was Beni’s personality though. She doesn’t mind being kidnapped or her life being put in danger because she has a death wish and the only reason she lives is to get back at her father (whom she blames for her mother’s death). In order to rescue Kagetora, Beni goes to Rihito and reveals Kagetora’s true origins to her fiancé. She also promises to be Rihito’s alone. This leads to her having a conflict about her true feelings for her protector. It was a pretty cool twist that the girl becomes the protector in the third volume. Each volume seems to just have more tensions and rivalry than the previous one. This series really got my attention by being different enough to stand out above the rest. I recommend it to anyone looking for a new fun book. B+

Midweek Manga Reviews: From Headache Remedies to Addictive Online Games!

Aspirin vol. 1
Story & Art: Eun-Jeong Kim
Translation: Soo-Kyung Kim
Adaptation: Che Gilson
Publisher: Tokyopop

I’m not sure how many reviews you are going to read that include a joke about having a headache and getting some Aspirin…so I will spare you the lame intro and just move on to the book. Hell, even in the back of the book they make a joke about temporary relief of pains and side effects. I guess I really didn’t do that good of a job at sparing you a lame intro, sorry. Lord When Ondar accidently breaks the crystal orb he accidentally releases three powerful demons loose and King Dan-Goon orders the fool Ondar to bring them back. Unable to fulfill this task on his own, Ondar is accompanied by the legendary foul mouthed warrior who trapped the demons in the first place; Haemosoo. But what journey wouldn’t be complete without a wizard and the wizard in this story is none other than David Cupperfield. Along the way, they come across quite an interesting array of characters: a gang of crazy armed nuns who make them scream out their lord and master’s name, the mysterious Samson with singing powers, the acrobatic twins Pai and Pei, and more! I have to say that between this and Crayon Shinchan I couldn’t stop laughing. The humor is so over the top and the pictures reminded me of Slayers and Hunter X Hunter. But, the book also has its share of action and plenty of moments that left me gasping. If you are looking for a break from all the serious and typical shonen titles this is the book for you. A

Bastard!!!! Vol. 17
Story & Art: Kazushi Hagiwara
Translations: Kaori Kawakubo Inoue
Adaptation: Sean McCoy
Publisher: Viz

I think that Bastard suffers the same curse as Blade of the Immortal; they are both wonderful books, but they take forever to come out. The problem with Bastard is that the manga started coming out in 1988 and in Japan they are on volume 25….so you do the math considering this is a review of volume 17. I think Viz is doing the right thing with this book and not playing catch-up. Putting months in between releases gives this reader a sense of anxiety and depravation. All hell is breaking lose in the world of Dark Schneider. After dying and not coming back to life he went and got himself trapped in hell and is now having a face-to-face talk with Satan! Meanwhile his friends have come up with a crazy plan to get him out of hell. All they have to do is keep the Angels from destroying the ark and ruining D.S.'s chances of ever returning. If you think the shit has been hitting the fan, wait until you meet the most powerful Angel; Michael. Who shows up and prepares to deliver the final blow to mankind! Fortunately, Lucien appears and buys the world a little more time, but just how much? While in the pits of hell Satan tells DS that he is a major part of the end times prophecy, and will lead demons and mankind to war against God and his army. It seems that more and more Hagiwara is changing his art style. It is simply getting amazing and you can tell why he takes so long between volumes, there is more detail in one panel then most single issues of comics today. He really knows how to deliver a well-drawn story that is so full of testosterone and make the reader care about each character. A-

Blood + vol.2
Story Adaptation & Art: Asuka Katsura
Translation: Camellia Nieh
Publisher: Dark Horse

I remember loving Blood the Last Vampire anime so much, that I probably watched it a total of ten times. When Viz released the manga I probably read it a total of five times. After watching the Blood + anime I really couldn’t wait to read the manga, but Melanie had first dibs. Now I finally got to read both volumes 1 and 2 back to back and things are quite different for a manga based on the anime. Saya is now a high school student stricken with amnesia and she has been enjoying her peaceful life with her adopted family, but her destiny as a monster-slashing warrior catches up with her sooner than she expects. In this volume she is closer to finding out who she really is and what her powers are capable of doing while trying to find the kidnapped Riku. The story is a wonderful mix of mystery, humor, horror, high-school romance and government intervention. I guess I am at a bit of a crossroads with this book. Had I not seen any of the Blood + series it would have been more enjoyable, but it’s hard to judge it as a separate medium because it is based on the original TV series. There is definitely a different appeal to some of the characters and a nice welcome addition of some new characters. I must note that as the anime series itself is violent, so don’t let the innocent looking artwork in this book fool you, there is plenty of blood and gore. Along with that gore you there is also a bit of vulgar language, which really you just can’t have the one without the other. But it’s not all gore, the book has plenty of light-hearted moments that keeps the story from being too heavy and serious. The book is very fluid with such expressive storytelling that it doesn't require watching the anime to get the plot. The art is quite nice as well, with crisp lines and lots of beautiful contrast. The characters themselves don’t look all that original, but they’re all drawn well. Katsura’s fantastic action scenes capture the spirit of the story and makes every chapter fun. If you are expecting a continuation of Blood: the Last Vampire this book will certainly leave you confuse, but give it a chance and it will grow on you. New readers, I recommend this book to introduce you to the wonderful world of Blood. B+

Crayon Shinchan vol.1
Story & Art: Yoshito Usui
Translation: Sheldon Drzka
Lettering: Wilson Ramos
Publisher: CMX

I never bothered picking up Crayon Shinchan when ComicsOne were releasing them. I skipped the anime, thinking how I couldn’t stand to watch something so poorly animated. At the time, I really thought the book was made in the 60s, even though some people were comparing him to Bart Simpson. I was an idiot to skip that anime series and not read this book before. This book was simply hilarious and I had no idea how insane it could be. It follows the life of 5 year old kindergartener Shinchan Nohara as he causes all sorts of trouble for his parents (specially his mother). He is rude, loud, makes the most inappropriate comments at the worst time, and isn't afraid of exposing his nude body and private parts for all to see. Yes, he is very obsessed with his penis and his naked body…but what little boy isn’t at that age? Shinchan is a free spirit in every sense of the word. For a 5 year old Shinchan is smart at times but dumbfound at others. He already knows pickup lines, uses children books to hide porn at the bookstore and outsmarts his mother. Other times he goes home to ask his mother their phone number so that he can tell the grocery lady so she can call his mother and ask how much ground beef she needs. Sure it's not drawn very well, but I wouldn’t say it was terrible because the humor makes up for it. I highly recommend this book to all who have had to deal with small children, remember being that young, and would like to read something funny, cute, and semi-obnoxious. A

Me and the Devil Blues: The Unreal Life of Robert Johnson vol.1
Story & Art: Akira Hiramoto
Supervising Editor: Takashi “Hotoke” Nagai
Firearms Consultant: Heihachiro Matsumoto
Translation: David Ury
Publisher: Del Rey

That is one long title for this book, but when you consider that the book is over 500 pages, it justly deserves it. It is a great pleasure of mine to keep finding the most unique manga and by fart this takes the title of most unique manga I have read this year. Keep in mind this is coming from someone that has been reading manga for almost 20 years and has read almost every kind of manga you can find out there. It’s unique for a manga creator to write and draw a story about the 20’s and 30’s in the Mississippi area and featuring an almost all African American cast focusing on the blues.

It is loosely based on the story of bluesman legend Robert Johnson, who lived a very mysterious life, died at a young age, and managed to only record 24 songs that still influences musicians to this day. In 1929 we find RJ, who works on a plantation and dreams of becoming a bluesman (even though he really stinks at playing the guitar and sinking). He has a young wife Virginia that is with child, yet he still manages to sneak off to the local bar every night to drink, hear the blues, and just forget about life. Legend has it if you want to sell your soul to the devil he can make all your dreams come true. But you have to go to a crossroad and play a single song. Enter the devil! For some reason when RJ goes back to play for the people at the pub six months had passed. In those six months his wife and child had died. To him that was the price he had to pay to learn the blues. Now he travels along with the devil and even runs into classic historical characters like Bonnie and Clyde.

I had to read this book in two sittings, mainly because I stayed up till three in the morning on a workday because it was nearly impossible to put down. I was taken by surprise at how well this book captures the poverty, music, dialogue, and even the blistering hot days of the time. Hiramoto draws African Americans better than any manga artist I have ever seen. They look like real people and with the exception of one or two panels there are no over the top manga cutesy panels here. I found it interesting that he was even able to capture the relation between whites and blacks in that era. Even though RJ is running with the devil he still fears the white man more. The panels really come to life whenever you see someone playing the blues, it’s amazing how much heart went into making this book. The only bad thing I can say about the book is that the artwork during action sequences can get a bit confusing and make take a second glance. This book wasn’t just a story, it was an experience and that by far this year’s biggest comic surprise. It is a book that not only fans of the manga or comic genre can pick up, because it caters easily to new readers. I can’t go on enough about how much heart this book had so I will just give it my highest possible recommendation. A+

One Piece vol. 18
Story & Art: Eiichiro Oda
Translation: JN Production
Adaptation: Lance Caselman
Publisher: Viz

Joined by the ship’s new crew member Tony Tony Chopper (the ship’s doctor) the gang has finally made it to Alabasta. Home to Princess Vivi and desert kingdom, but of course it’s not that easy getting there. Because we finally are introduced to Mr. 2 Bon Clay a flamboyant ballerina man who ate a gum gum fruit. This gave him the power to mimic anyone’s face, voice, and body. But more importantly, we are introduced to Portagaz D. Ace, Luffy’s older brother who is being chased by Captain Smoker. After an invitation to join Whitebeard’s crew, Ace takes off, but not before leaving Luffy a piece of paper that was something important according to him. It seems that Vivi knows the leader of the rebellion against her kingdom and it used to be a childhood friend of hers. We are also given an inside look at the dealings of the Baroque Works officers. There is never a dull moment in this series. As ridiculous and stupid as some of the characters act, you really get that sense of brotherly bonding that is mainly found in military outfits. The book always keeps me on my feet and I even get emotional when reading the flashback stories (still recovering from Chopper’s story). Oda lists amongst his influences Akira Toriyama and this is really starting to show more and more. This influence is seen most prominently in Mr. Oda's style of writing which contains huge epic battles punctuated by lots of humor. His artwork does create a unique vision to his storytelling. A

Warcraft: Legends vol.1
Story: Richard A. Knaak, Troy Lewter, Mike Wellman, and Dan Jolley
Art: Jae-Hwan Kim, Carlos Olivares, Nam Kim, and Mi-Young No
Cover: Udon with Saejin Oh
Publisher: Tokyopop

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 videogame) and I missed out on the Sunwell Trilogy. The book is split up into four separate stories that don’t really require prior reading, with the exception of the first. The first story seems to be a follow-up to the first series and features Trag Highmountain, a tauren (minotaurs) who has been reborn as an undead. Now seeking the help of a shaman he is betrayed and left on his own. The Journey is about a farmer named Halsand and his family and having to put up with some adventurers looking for treasure. Halsand gets involved in a battle that kills all the adventurers and he is forced to drink the infected water which leaves his family with a sad outcome. Sly Lazlo is the main character of the third story, he also happens to be a gnome who is overlooked and an outcast because of his fascination with useless inventions. But when a troll invades his town, he turns into a hero. The final story is a campfire story that features Nori Blackfinger, who is a master blacksmith. He accidently sells one of his fine weapons to an elf who serves Havoc, the heartless. But, when Nori’s son Eli was killed by the same blade his father made, it is up to Nori to avenge his death. Every story was a fun read, sure the first one continues into volume two, but the rest wrapped up. I was blown away by the gorgeous art, especially Jae-Hwan Kim’s take on a decaying tauren. 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. A

Midweek Manga Reviews: Fairy Tails and more folklores!

Bastard!! Vol. 16
Story & Art: Kazushi Hagiwara
Translation: Kaori Kawakubo Inoue
Adaptation: Sean McCoy
Publisher: Viz

All hell broke loose literally with the release of the last volume. This volume doesn’t back down from all that intense action either. Hagiwara has finally found an art style that he is comfortable with and the action sequences have never looked better. Dark Schneider is still roaming in hell chatting with Satan while Lars, Zakk, and the others continue to fight the Seraphs. Lucien attempts to convince the Angels that human beings are worth saving but his calls for mercy go unheard. Meanwhile, Yoko comes to the realization that she is the one who has been protecting Lucien the whole time, not the other way around. Nei, Gara, and Kall-Su continue hacking into an ancient computer and find out the cause of the Great Destruction that lay waste to the earth years ago was not the work of demons, but of angels! They also come to realize the God they had been worshiping was in fact the real evil destructive force on the planet. And finally the angel Michael emerges, but what exactly does that mean for our heroes? Dear God, this book is so full of adrenaline, every time I’m done reading it I want to go to the gym and work out for hours. The heroes have never looked better and the women are bouncier than ever. I have loved this book from the beginning and continue to push people into buying it. My only gripe is the time the books are released every 3 to 4 months is just not fast enough and instead of putting explicit content stickers on the front of the book, now they are just part of the cover. Like I said small gripes and nothing really to complain about a great book. A

Fairy Tail vols. 1 & 2
Story & Art: Hiro Mashima
Translation & Adaptation: William Flanagan
Publisher: Del Rey

When I looked at the cover for some reason I thought this was going to be a great manga. The artwork reminded me a lot of One Piece’s Eiichiro Oda and I loved the use of colors and placement of the characters. Then I looked at the creator of Fairy Tail and noticed it was Mashima, the same guy that brought us Rave Master, a manga I have been following since volume 1(I had no clue it has been over in Japan for three years now). Now I got really excited about reading the book. It seems that using magical schools have become a common theme since Harry Potter made it big, the way I see it as long as the characters are interesting and there is a well told story, count me in! Del Rey has decided to release both volumes 1 and 2 simultaneously. In the world of Fairy Tail some people have the power to wield various kinds of magic skills. These mages can take on special jobs for very good pay, but only if they are part of a guild. That is the sole purpose of a guild to join so you can take on job; Fairy Tail, being the most popular guild. We are introduced to Lucy Heartphilia, who is a Stellar Spirit Mage or a mage who summons spirits from other dimensions to do tasks for them such as Aquarius. Natsu Dragonil, who is on a quest to find the mage who raised him, Igneel and has the ability to swallow fire and produce it. Happy is a cat and right now I think he is a mage talking cat who is a full member of the Fairy Tail guild. I love how Natsu is not your stereotypical hero; the guy gets motion sickness and doesn’t look remotely cool when he is saving a damsel in distress. Without giving too much away about the plot I have to say that Fairy Tail is a very good series that I would recommend to any manga fan. It is highly enjoyable and the plot has a few twists in it that I didn’t see coming. Think of a mix between Harry Potter, One Piece, and of course Rave if you are thinking about picking this book up and you won’t be disappointed. A-

Fever vol. 1
Story & Art: Hee Jung Park
Translation: Hye Young Im
Adaptation: Ailen Lujo
Publisher: Tokyopop

What a clever way to spell fever I thought to myself and in a way that is the way the entire book is set up. It is very misleading and what I thought was going to be another long and boring love story really took me by surprised. I had never read Hotel Africa so I really had no idea what to expect. The story is about High school student Hyung-in and the way she has dealt with life since her friend committed suicide. She has had it with school, family’s expectations, and a dull life; all she wants is out. But when she meets an orphan and a strange country-boy Ji-Jiun and Kang-Dae on the bus, she begins an unexpected journey into the unknown, at a mysterious place called, yeah you guessed it; Fever. All the characters are unique in their own way. Ji-Jun seems like a trouble maker, but is just misunderstood and has rotten luck. Hyung-in is still trying to figure out how to go on with her life. Kang-Dae just seems to bring the trio together along with Bong-nam. I really love the inner monologue. The translation is above average and if the quality continues then I too will be picking this book up. Park’s art style is very clean and crisp when it comes to the characters and the backgrounds are very detailed. I really love the attention to detail Park gives Bong-nam, I always find it very difficult to draw dogs and Park just makes it seem easy. A-

Mushishi vols. 2 & 3
Story & Art: Yuki Urushibara
Translation: William Flanagan
Publisher: Del Rey

I can’t remember if I mentioned this in my review of the first volume of Mushishi or not, but I love those covers. For some reason they have an aged look to them and the paper the art is printed on really makes those water colors stand out. Genki is still trying to find and get rid of the Mushi for the world to be a safer place. But as we see in these volumes the stories are now more about living in peace with the Mushi. The short stories range from Mushi that have kidnapped a fellow Mushishi (a Mushi expert) to an orphaned boy in the forest that has befriended the Mushi. The writing is excellent even though I preferred some of the translation seems a bit odd at times. What else can I say about the art? Other than its rich and detailed. Although the episodic nature of the series prevents extended supporting character development, the reader does get to know Ginko and a limited cast of repeating characters quite well. Mushishi is a wonderful collage of Japanese folklore and fantasy coming together in an elegant and hauntingly beautiful title. I love how it introduces so many fascinating elements of the Japanese culture. The fantastic notes by Del Rey in the afterword really help the reader get to know some of these cultural references, so I applaud Del Rey for taking the time to make something more enjoyable. A Must Have for any manga fan and a brilliant introduction to the genre for newcomers, I highly recommend this series, you won’t be disappointed. A+

Your & My Secret
Story & Art: Ai Morinaga
Translations: Yuya Otake
Adaptation: Jay Antani
Publisher: Tokyopop

There was something about that cover that cracked me up when I looked at it the first time….ohh I don’t know, perhaps the girl that has a tear drop running down her face holding the guy in her arms. So, along with great works of fiction like Freaky Friday, Vice Versa, Like Father Like Son, and Switch comes Your and My Secret. The premise of the book is one we have seen almost run into the ground in manga and anime, but it does have a twist. Nanako is the most beautiful, fragile, and adorable girl at her high school, that is until she opens her mouth and reveals her true self. Once she shows her true self, guys' dreams are shattered because she is a tomboy. Akira Uehara, sensitive and demure by nature he has the looks and brains, but his personality is so dull he is overlooked by all his peers. But one day Nanako's grandfather comes up with crazy, life-altering invention and Nanako and Akira are forced to keep a very big secret. Akira is sent to Nanako’s house to take her homework from school, when he accidently walks into her grandfather’s lab. They end up switching bodies with each other. The art is typical shojo, but for some reason turns really ridiculous when the characters do something stupid. I find it funny that Akira makes a better girl and Nanako a better guy, which is almost scary and I really want to find out if they get their bodies back, so it does have my interest with that twist. B-