Manga Reviews: Back with more Bleach than before!

Bleach vol. 31
Story & Art: Tite Kubo
Translation: Joe Yamazaki
Adaptation: Lance Caselman
Publisher: Viz

At this point in the series I really don’t think I’m ever going to find out why Tite Kubo called this book Bleach. Sure it could be Ichigo’s ultimate weapon, but I think he just like the word Bleach, which happens with lots of Japanese authors and performers. Does it matter? Hell no! Because I immediately knew this was going to be another kick-ass story when I saw Ulquiorra walk down those steps towards Ichigo. Ichigo cuts lose when he learns that his friend Rukia was killed by the Novena Espada, but we all know better. Just like most battles with powerful characters, it just doesn’t last long enough and Ichigo ends up falling at the hands of the fourth ranked Espada. But, the focus of the volume is the fight between Ishida and Renji against Szayelaporro. Not to worry about Ichigo though; he is eventually healed by Orihime only to start a second round against Grimmjow Jaegerjaques! It seems like the last few volumes of Bleach have been our main heroes fighting mid level characters and just preparing for the big fight against Aizen and his thugs. There just doesn’t seem to be an end to this Hueco Mundo arc and in a way it could really go on forever. Some may see this book as nothing more than 200 pages of sword fighting action, but who reads a shonen series for the character interaction and poetic writing? You get what you paid for and that is one kick-ass battle after another with some surprises and memorable moments along the way. The art remains the same steady beat that it began with. Kubo gives it his all to blow us away with some great action sequences. Sure it’s one huge fight but I always find myself eagerly awaiting the next installment. B+

Fairy Tail vols.10 & 11
Story & Art: Hiro Mashima
Translations: William Flanagan
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

Looking at these covers makes me think how much I loved Rave Master and how much I wish some publisher would pick up the rest of the stories that Tokyopop didn’t finish. But, that’s a tale for another day. I mentioned before how much the stories are mirroring the early stories of One Piece with how linear and silly the storylines are getting. Yes, it still feels like Harry Potter meets the Straw Hats, but how can that be a bad thing? Finally, these volumes focus more on character interaction, than the huge fight scenes that have been occurring lately. We get to learn more about Erza’s past while she is being held captive in the Tower of Heaven by a childhood friend by the name of Jellal. We finally see her cut loose against Ikagura (which also happens to be one of my favorite shooters) as she battles for Sho’s life. The art style seems to be back in the game with volume 11 and even though at times the angles and the way the characters are drawn make the fighting really hard to follow; it’s still some great panel to panel sequential art. I think what I have always enjoyed about the book is that sometimes the dullness and weakness of the story can be kept hidden by the over the top action sequences. The series is definitely filled with comic relief, mostly of the belly-laugh variety, lots of strange antics, and fun dialogue. It’s still a good read right up there with Rave Master. B
Naruto vol. 48
Story & Art: Masashi Kishimoto
Translation: Mari Morimoto
Lettering: Inori Fukuda Trant
Publisher: Viz

There was a time when I would make fun of Omar for reading Naruto. I always thought it was targeted at 15 year old girls or the people that read and watch Twilight. The more I got into manga the more I kept hearing about Naruto Shippuden and I wanted to just skip ahead and get to those stories. Of course the greater power at Aboutheroes wouldn’t let me and I don’t regret reading 47 volumes to get here one bit. After defeating all the Pains, Naruto now knows the location of the true Pain. But there is more to this new nemesis than meets the eye as we find out why Pain decided to destroy the Hidden Leaf. Unfortunately the set up for this fight was hyped up too much as some parts of the battle feel rushed just to get some fights out of the way. Sure so much has changed since the series first started it doesn’t seem like Naruto is the prankster he used to be nor is he trying to achieve some impossible dream like when he was a kid. I really did wish I was growing up reading this book. I envy the kids that started reading this in middle school so they could grow with the characters. While I did enjoy the original run, it wasn’t until the Shippuden chapters that I really dug the characters (with the exception of the Kakashi story). If you are a fan, you know you have bought this. The only thing I hate doing now is waiting until the book is published. A
Oh My Goddess! vols. 13 & 14
Story & Art: Kosuke Fujishima
Translation & Adaptation: Dana Lewis & Toren Smith
Publisher: Dark Horse

In case you’ve never heard about Oh My Goddess on our podcast or on our past reviews here is a real real quick recap: Keiichi Morisato accidently dials a goddess hotline and ends up with three goddesses. These three Goddesses are Belldandy, who Keiichi is madly in love with, her older sister Urd, and her younger sister Skuld. These two volumes have so much story pact in them that it makes the newer volumes just look so dull. I’m not saying the future volumes are bad, but this is the Oh My Goddess that I miss. We are introduced to Chichiro who was the founder of the NIT Motorcycle Club before it went to Tamiya and Otaki. And what’s an introduction of a new character without a proper race? Skuld gets her own angel, there's a completely smitten broom that wishes it was human and has feelings for Urd, and Sayoko becomes an All-Powerful queen. This is the storyline where she becomes one of my favorite characters. After asking the stars to help her defeat Belldandy in the next Nekomi Tech Campus Queen contest, Mara hears her pleas and offers to help. The story was both charming and funny, which at this point is what you would expect from the series. The art is, as always, the gorgeous mix of cartoon-like style and realism that Fujishima becomes increasingly adept at. It seems that in these volumes Fujishima is finally comfortable with his characters and it is just plain gorgeous. Do yourself a favor and buy these books! A+

Tsubasa vol. 26
Story & Art: CLAMP
Translation: William Flanagan
Lettering: Dana Hayward
Publisher: Del Rey

Two more volumes! Just two more volumes and that’s the end of the manga that I thought could go on forever and to be honest I wish it could. I’m a huge CLAMP fan and they could keep traveling through different CLAMP universes for the rest of the series for all I care. I want more Magic Knight Rayearth! More X 1999! More Chobits! More Clover and Wish! So many possibilities and yet all good things must come to an end. If you’ve never heard of Tsubasa and just wanted to know what was going on or what this series is about here is a quick catch-up: Sakura is the princess of Clow and Syaoran is a young archaeologist passionate about the past and about Sakura. Before she can tell him that she too loves him, she is drawn into ancient ruins, where her memories, in the form of feathers, are scattered across multiple worlds. Syaoran goes with the dying Sakura to Yuko, the time-space witch and made ever famous from XXXholic, who grants him, along with Kurogane and Fai D. Flowright, the ability to travel across worlds to seek out the feathers. This is the type of action I was craving for in the last two volumes. Syaoran successfully manages to travel space and time via a wish moments before Sakura dies. Of course nothing is ever that easy for our trio of heroes because Fei-Wang won’t let his plans fall so easily. We finally learn the connection between Kimihiro Watanuki and Syaoran. In a twisted turn of events we learn that Watanuki is another part of Syaoran, he was created to fill the gap left by Syaoran after he decided to turn back time and erase himself from his own world to save Sakura. I didn’t see the whole Watanuki/Syaoran connection; I figured they would look alike. That is really my only complaint about this volume. We have the team back together and even a special appearance by Yuko what else could you possibly want?A

Manga Reviews: Back from the Break!

Black Jack vol. 10
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Publisher: Vertical

It’s funny how books and movies make me wish I had followed a different path in my life or change what I do for a living. When watching The Wire I really wished I had become a Detective, watching Rescue Me makes me wish I was a firefighter, Enjoying those 007 novels…….well, you get my drift. Yes, reading Black Jack makes me wish I had chosen a different profession. Not to be a dreamy doctor like the guys in Grey’s Anatomy or ER, but to be a dark, tormented and mysterious doctor that only takes the toughest jobs. I can’t ever seem to put this book down when I open its pages. Sure I pretend that I only want to read a few chapters, but damn if I don’t finish the book after one sitting and pass it down to the rest of the review crew. It’s really hard to describe how powerful each of these 14 stand alone stories is without going into a deep inside look of each chapter. To me the best stories in this particular volume revolve around the relationship between Black Jack and his father. When his father hires him to perform reconstructive facial surgery on his current wife and asks him to make her the world’s greatest beauty; Black Jack makes her look like his mother as a chance to avenge his mother’s betrayal at the hands of his father. That is some deep psychological stuff for its time. Of course that isn’t the last time we see his father, unfortunately the next time we see his father, he is on his deathbed and Black Jack has to deal with the rest of his new family. The touching story of why Black Jack can’t rebuild his home because he is waiting on the “boss” to return and finish the job; really touched at my heart strings. Those are just some of the stories you’ll find in this great series. Just when I think that Tezuka is out of stories for our great doctor, he sideswipes me with some new material. A

Fairy Tail vol.10
Story & Art: Hiro Mashima
Translations: William Flanagan
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

I can’t help but think of One Piece when looking at Mashima’s covers. Yes, I know they were studio mates and share a very similar style, but for some reason the covers in Fairy Tail remind me more of One Piece than Rave Master. However, after reading 10 volumes, I’m starting to think that it’s not just the covers that remind me of OP, but the story is starting to mirror it more and more. Sure it’s like Harry Potter meets the Straw Hats, but it’s not really a bad thing at all. Finally, this volume focuses more on character interaction, than the huge fight scenes that have been occurring lately. We get to learn more about Erza’s past while she is being held captive in the Tower of Heaven by a childhood “acquaintance”. I can’t wait to see her cut loose and tear the bad guys up. While the art work is great, I have to say that the fight scenes are getting dull and repetitive. At times the angles and the way the characters are drawn make the fighting really hard to follow. I think what I have always enjoyed about the book is that sometimes the dullness and weakness of the story can be kept hidden by the over the top action sequences. The series is definitely filled with comic relief, mostly of the belly-laugh variety, lots of strange antics, and fun dialogue. Add in lots of mass mayhem when the wizards start brawling and it still a good read. B

Karakuri Odette vols. 2 & 3
Story & Art: Julietta Suzuki
Translation: Aimi Tokutake
Adaptation: Peter Ahlstrom
Publisher: Tokypop

Yes, there are a number of things I’m a sucker for in life: Giant robots, two chicks and one cup, X-men, and for some reason robot girls trying to become human. Sure we have seen this kind of story since the days of Pinocchio, but it’s always a nice twist when the thing trying to become human is a cute girl any guy would fall for. So this story is focusing on Odette, who is a beautiful, naïve, and endearing android that was built by Professor Yoshizawa. After going to school, she keeps asking for change after change, depending on the situation. It would have been really easy for Suzuki to turn Odette into an annoying Bimbo (yes, they do exist), but for some reason she comes across as a naïve, gentle, and caring android that you end up cheering for in by the second volume. Seriously the story just kept getting better and better, by the time you reach volume three, you will be craving so much more. By far I think the best part of both of these novels is when one of her fellow classmates falls for Odette, but since our little android she doesn’t understand his emotions and it seems like she just ignores him. I guess I have fallen for this android, I mean she even changed a murderous android’s ways when he was set out to murder Yoshizawa. It seems that beneath that cheesy top layer, this is really a deep and cute story about an android in search for a soul. Sure it could all go back to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, but this is more a comical approach. The art in this book is your typical shojo art. Although Suzuki does struggle with giving each character a different unique look. At times it is hard to follow who is who in the story, but it is refreshing to see that you won’t find any kind of fan service in this robot chick story. A -

Negima vol. 25

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

I’m sure just like everyone who has ever read this book, when I first read the series it was like a mixture of Harry Potter and Love Hina. I didn’t think it would be anything special, but after the first five volumes I was hooked. Loved this series after that and it’s so interesting to see how long of a way it’s come since those days. Negi and some of his students have been trapped in the magical world for a few volumes now. It still feels like 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. Now that Fate Averruncus has arrived, he is setting his evil plans into motion! However, he promises Negi, if he doesn’t interfere he and his girls can go back home unharmed. So of course Negi's team and Fate's team finally test their mettle against one another. You would think that even though Fate's team has powerful weapons and great magic on their side, they would take down Negi’s girls in no time. However, Negi's team has experienced so much that they manage to put up a fight against them. Ken Akamatsu’ 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. What can I say if you aren’t reading this series now; you are missing out on some great storytelling! A

Manga Reviews: Back Attack!

Alice in the country of Hearts: Wonderful Wonder World vol.1
Story: Quinrose
Art: Soumei Hoshino
Translation: Beni Axia Conrad
Lettering: Star Print Brokers
Publisher: Tokyopop

I really don’t think there is a better time to release books, manga, comics, or videogames based on the world of Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories. Of course this manga brought to us by Tokyopop is a little different than any interpretation of the story I’ve read….although it is a little like Miyuki-chan in Wonderland. The story starts off with Alice and her sister and much like the original story she meets a white rabbit. Well, Alice is kidnapped unwillingly by the mysterious rabit that turns into a gorgeous man with bunny eras. She is taken to a place call Heartland. Stuck in Heartland due to a trick by the mysterious bunny eared man, she meets the remaining residents of this world. Each one of these residents is a pretty boy take on the original characters. Blood, handsome mafia leader; Ace, the psycho yet charming knight and even Dee and Dum look like cute boys. As it turns out, everyone turns into a gun living psycho that falls for Alice and she is caught in the middle of a battle. As goofy as the story sounds, it was a fun read that I was hooked on. I recommend the book to anyone looking for something fun and light to read. B+

Fairy Tail vol.9
Story & Art: Hiro Mashima
Translations: William Flanagan
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

It’s been a few months since volume eight of Fairy Tail came out. I find it both releaving and frustrating when it takes so long between volumen. Releaving, because I have more time to read something else and frustrating, because I like the store so much, I want to know what happens next, right now! Celestial wizard Lucy has always wanted to be in the wizard guild Fairy Tail, and she thinks she's got an in when she teams up with Natsu, and his bobble-headed cat Happy, Erza, and Gray! This volume really almost pulls at your sensitive strings when Locke is about to disappear for crimes committed, but Lucy has words with the celestial spirit king that pardons him. While the art work is great, I have to say that the fight scenes are getting dull and repetitive. At times the angles and the way the characters are drawn make the fighting really hard to follow. Nothing is really standing out now, except for Ezra’s armor and weapon ability. What I do like about the book is the fast paced straightforward story. It is definitely filled with comic relief, mostly of the belly-laugh variety, lots of strange antics, and fun dialogue. Add in lots of mass mayhem when the wizards start brawling and it still a good read. B+

Gantz vols. 7 & 8
Story & Art: Hiroya Oku
Translation: Mathew Johnson
Lettering: Studio Cutie
Publisher: Dark Horse

Holy crap! That’s all I can say about these two volumen of Gantz. I’m in awe as to what has happened with this book. The finale of the Buddha saga is a violent one and really puts the book in jeapordy in a way. Getting rid of gangsters and the ocasional grandma and grandson team is one thing, but to get rid of two of the main characters really takes some balls. By the end of volume eight Kurono is left by himself to pick up the pieces of the team. Gantz packs in a ton of sex and violence which should get just about any male reader's attention. The series is 18+, so the title pages are often scantily-clad pin-up girls carrying guns and who doesn’t like that kind of stuff? Violence is brutal and gory in that slasher flick kind of way. If I have one complaint it's that like most titles in the genre, the action goes on for far too long at times, often extending for volumes before resolution. But what a resolution! Gantz is a completely unpredictable series, and after reading these last two volumes I can say that none of the characters are safe. The roster switches up considerably as the series progresses, so there's always a sense of danger. So I wouldn’t pick a favorite carácter. Damn it has been a joy to read this series, thank you Dark Horse and Omar for introducing me to a wonderful story. A-

Gon Vols. 5 & 6
Story & Art: Masashi Tanaka
Translation: You!
Publisher: CMX

Yes, that’s right! You get to be the translator for this series! The only reason why is because there are no words in these books that have to be translated. To put it simply Gon is a journey about a little tyrannosaurus and his explorations of the great animal kingdom. He is a little 2 foot tall dinosaur that packs attitude and style with every bite. He has an appetite for exploring and humiliating the great predators of the wild. From venturing underground to rescue a wolf cub, to destroying giant insects, Gon just go where he pleases and as the volumes continue, more and more animals seem to be scared of the little guy. That is his goal though, Gon just marches through life enjoying the world and defending the weak with his own sense of justice. Although sometimes he can act a bit sadistic or mean he sure can be an intimidating force. It’s a great mix of Kimba, Jurassic Park, and Bambi. It’s cute and very exciting, when you're done, you'll be thirsting for more! The pictures inside are neatly drawn and highly detailed. You can tell Tanaka has done some research and taken some time to make sure he captures the essence of the wild. These books really bring out the kid in me and that’s a rare thing to find in today’s books. This is one of the best manga of all time and when you open these pages you can tell why Gon is loved by adults and children all over the world. Now, stop what you are doing and go and buy these great books! A+

Ninja Girls vols. 1 & 2
Art & Story: Hosana Tanaka
Translation: Andria Cheung
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

I am such a sucker for covers. Unfortunately this can be a bad thing, because of all the variants and crappy comics that come out with great cover artists. Sure the crew at About Heroes makes fun of my addiction, but I can’t help it. So, such was the case with Ninja Girls for me. I love Love the covers of these books. Yes, there are only two so far, but man they are gorgeous. Anyway enough about the covers; lets get to the nitty gritty. The story focuses during the Sengoku era in feudal Japan. Raizo, the village outcast, learns that he is heir to the lost Katana Clan and its force of attractive ninja girls. Soon he has hot/half naked ninja chicks calling him master and hanging on his every word though Raizo is much too shy to take advantage of this. Although there are tons of ninja girls and love interests, this book is definetely written for guys with plenty of fan service. The action is definetely delivered in the first two volumes, but I was a little diasappointed in the art at times. Tanaka seems to use some unique angles for some panels that can throw the story off sometimos. Not much of a complaint…come on half naced chicks with swords! B+

Princess Resurrection volume 7
Art & Story: Yasunori Mitsunaga
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
Publisher: Del Rey

I remember the first volume drew me in because of the cover. I figured any cover with a chick in a maid outfit holding a bloody chainsaw should deliver a badass story. The series starts with Hiro Hiyorimi, a boy who has just moved to the city to meet his sister and suddenly he is hit by a car and dies. On the verge of death he is seen by a young woman clad in gothic clothes. She then resurrects him, leaving him alive in the hospital morgue. He wakes up confused over what happened, only to encounter the woman again as she eliminates some wolf creatures. She addresses Hiro as "her servant" and introduces herself as Hime. She happens to be a monster slayer that helps others. In this volume Hime is having flashbacks of a song that haunts her. It is a melody that she wrote for her older sister Silvia. Now someone is using a pipe organ to put a curse on Hime. It’s up to Hiro, Reiri, and Riza to search for this person. It’s not really clear whether or not Silvia is still around and is the cause of this new threat, but I’m sure we will find out soon. This volume also includes a giant robot vs. a Godzilla-like monster bash!! What else do you need? The art is really clean and clear and the panel to panel flow is top notch. The book has a great balance of dark horror and light comedy and in this particular instance it works. If you enjoy books about vampires, monsters, or the occult give this book a try. B

Manga Reviews: TGIF!

Bakugan Battle Brawlers vol. 3
Adaptation: Elizabeth Hurchalla
Letterer: Tomas Montalvo-Lagos
Publisher: Del Rey

Years ago before anime made such a huge impact in America, Viz released a set of ani-manga books called Dirty Pair. Now the Dirty Pair OAVs were only available in Japan or via horrible bootleg copies so these books were a blessing. Fast forward 17 years later and ani-manga is still coming out here. I have seen many Inu-Yasha and Naruto, but I had no clue that there were so many available. In case you don’t know, ani-manga is a manga that takes its panels from the actual show by using stills. Then someone goes in and letters those pictures. Anyway, Bakugan to me seems like the Pokémon formula that has been recycled over and over. However, this book seems to be a little more than just capturing a new monster and keep trying to catch them all eventually. This book introduces Masquerade and his Bakugan Rikimaru and its up to Dan Kuso and Drago to put a stop this new menace. With images taken from the Nelvana production, Battle Brawlers is a great introduction to the world of Bakugan. The images are well chosen, and the resulting book is easy to follow and understand. I can see why kids get into this series and to be perfectly honest part of me really got into the monster battle. C

Fairy Tail vol.8
Story & Art: Hiro Mashima
Translations: William Flanagan
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

I remember reading the first three volumes of Fairy Tail back to back when they first launched in America. I was already a huge fan of Rave Master so I didn’t have to get my arms twisted to read this book. The first thing that pops up about his artwork is that is looking more and more like Eiichiro Oda and this is not a bad thing. Of course their artwork could look alike because they shared the same studio at one time. Celestial wizard Lucy has always wanted to be in the wizard guild Fairy Tail, and she thinks she's got an in when she

teams up with Natsu, and his bobble-headed cat Happy, Erza, and Gray! While the art work is great, I have to say that the fight scenes are getting dull and repetitive. At times the angles and the way the characters are drawn make the fighting really hard to follow. Nothing is really standing out now, except for Ezra’s armor and weapon ability. What I do like about the book is the fast paced straightforward story. It is definitely filled with comic relief, mostly of the belly-laugh variety, lots of strange antics, and fun dialogue. Add in lots of mass mayhem when the wizards start brawling and it still a good read. B+

Mikansei NO. 1 vol.1
Story & Art: Majiko
Translation: Ray Yoshimoto
Adaptation: Hope Donovan
Publisher: Tokyopop

I’m assuming that when it states that this book is from the artist of Code Geass it means the manga, not the anime. Anyway, Mikansei has an interesting twist on time travel (no, not interesting like Time Crimes). For some reason Neo Takigawa wants to travel to the 21st century from the 23rd to be a pop star of all things. Somehow, because I’m still not sure how, she finds a bottle with weird mist inside and once it cracks open she appears in the year 200X. As soon as she appears in 200X she starts singing a duo with Saya Kudou and the two must get along if they are to make their dreams of becoming a pop sensation come true. Of course it’s not going to be easy when Neo gets on Sayaya’s nerves and she gets put in trashcans because the competition is rough. I can’t describe how fast this book moved. This book was made for people with ADD, because there is no time for anything. In one page Neo is the 23rd century and two pages later she is singing with Saya and for some reason no one wonders where she popped out of. It got aggravating to follow at times, but it took no time to read. I have to say that the art is the best thing about the book. It’s an appealing style that gives certain cuteness to the characters. The sequential art is easy to follow, but it really doesn’t help the story that seems to be everywhere. C

Papillon vol. 4
Story & Art: Miwa Ueda
Translation: Elina Ishikawa
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

Before you read this review I want you to know that unlike Omar, I am not biased at all when it comes to judging people based on their previous work lol. Just messin with ya! Anyway, I love and I really need to stress how much I loveeeee Peach Girl. It was a manga that seemed to me ahead of its time and the artwork was unique back then. I had never heard of Papillon so I decided to play catch up and read the first three books last week. It’s about a girl named Ageha trying to steal the guy she likes from her twin sister Hana. Hana seems to be the pretty and popular one of the twins. It’s amazing how much just happens in four volumes because now Ageha is confident and dating her guidance counselor Kyu, who is all about positive thinking. Now Hana wants to get Kyu’s attention. The characters in the book are very likable and the heroine is easy to relate to if you're a shy or mousy person who wants to stand out, or if you’ve ever been in love with someone from a distance. Ageha's attitude and confidence changes dramatically through a smooth transaction which takes place in the previous three volumes, so it feels like we are growing with her. Although it moves kinda slowly and nothing big happens, the characters deliver it well and Ueda's artwork skillfully captures the expressions of love and heartache. The only bad thing about this book is that it seems to share the same formula that Peach Girl had with all the twist and surprises. I really hope they don’t keep doing that in this book, because it got old in Peach Girl. Overall I’m hooked on the series and can’t wait to find out what happens with all the characters specially Ryusei. Check it out if you love all that teen drama we’ve all been through. A

Midweek Manga Reviews: From The return of Akira Toriyama to Hitting a Wall

Cowa!
Story & Art: Akira Toriyama
Translation: Alexander O. Smith
Publisher: Viz

Being a Toriyama fan has been really hard over the years. After reading everything he has done and collecting the Japanese tonkabon, it gets really hard to wait for the next Toriyama project. I remember seeing Cowa pictures a few years back, but I’m really glad Viz went on and brought the manga over to the States. This particular work contains all of the things people expect of Toriyama; action, gags, and Toriyama's signature drawing style with a kiddie twist. There are also elements in this book I have never seen in a Toriyama book; a real kiddie simple story, that is just that a simple story. Paifu is a half vampire half werekoala(that’s right his dad was a full blooded werekoala). He is best friends with Jose Rodriguez, the ghost and the two of them seem to get into trouble all the time, whether it’s stealing watermelons or invading Mr. Maruyama’s privacy…even though he is an accidental murderer. When the entire town gets sick it is up to Paifu, Jose, Mr. Maruyama, and Paifu’s so-called rival Arpon to go on a journey and save the town. It’s a book which is supposed to be fun and it achieves that goal. Sure it’s supposed to be a kid’s book, but it’s got elements that adults can enjoy too. I only hope that Toriyama visits this world again. A

Dominion vol.1
Story & Art: Shirow Masamune
Translation: Dana Lewis
Adaptation: Frederik L. Schodt & Toren Smith
Publisher: Dark Horse

If you haven’t heard of Masamune Shirow, well he did a little manga called Ghost in the Shell as well as Appleseed, Orion, Black Magic, and Intron Depot. So even if you haven’t heard of him, I’m sure you have heard of his work. I remember Tank Police was one of the first subtitled anime I watched (that wasn’t bootlegged) back in 1991. I was really excited all those years ago when Dark Horse released the manga and I haven’t read this story in over 15 years. This is a story about the future in which mankind is forced to wear oxygen masks outside, they live in bio-created cities, and crime levels so high that the police use tanks! The main character is a tank-loving Leona Ozaki, a police mini-tank commander, who seems to be fighting a one-woman war against crime (well one woman if you don’t count her little tank; Bonaparte). Most of the time she is dealing with Buaku, a master criminal, and his two catgirl thugs, the Puma sisters (I know you recognize these two. They also make an appearance in Ghost in the Shell). The fact is that Buaku has more than just gold coins and cash on his mind. In fact, the future of planet Earth and the human race hangs in the balance when the group of thugs kidnaps Green Peace. This is truly one of the best manga books that I read back then and still shines to this day. The story is really fun and since it is not as complex as Appleseed or Ghost in the Shell it's easy to follow. Don’t get me wrong it’s technical at times, but not on par with his other works. I highly recommend introducing yourself to the Domion world. A+

Fairy Tail vol. 3
Story & Art: Hiro Mashima
Translation: William Flanagan
Publisher: Del Rey

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed volumes 1 and 2 of this series. I’m not a big wizard fan (let the Harry Potter fan-boy emails come) and I really got bored with Rave Master, because Mashima never stepped outside of his formula and the story was going nowhere. But, this was something that brought me back to my child hood and I really got that sense of adventure when Natsu, Lucy, and Happy took off for Fairy Tail. Now the Dark Guild Eisenwald are going head to head with Fairy Tail for the Lullaby (no, not what you think, but a magic weapon). Eirgor, leads the mission to broadcast the Lullaby all over town. Titiana Erza sends fire mage Natsu and ice mage Gray after Eirgor himself. All hell breaks loose and there was plenty of action in this issue to make up for the lackluster second volume. Mashima manages to keep the momentum going, but with villains, now that the villains are finally proving to be more than a thorn on the side to our heroes. With one hell of a cliffhanger he has really up the ante in this volume and it just keeps me wanting to come back for more. As always there are wonderful translation notes in the end, but this volume also has a Happy the cat mini story. The only bad thing or good thing, depending on how you look at it, is that I can see this series going on forever, much like One Piece. This book is hilarious and gives nudges in the ways of relationships, but leaves enough room for the reader to wonder about who might end up with who. It’s got a perfect mix of action and magic that any manga reader will appreciate. A

Gantz vol.1
Story & Art: Hiroya Oku
Translation: Mathew Johnson
Publisher: Dark Horse

I didn’t know what to expect from Gantz, because I have heard so many people compare it to Battle Royale. To me Battle Royale is still one of the most disturbing pieces of work I have ever laid my eyes on, granted I have seen plenty of weird things in my life. Gantz is the story of Kei Kurono(who is kind of a dickhead) and his semi-friend Masaru Kato who die while saving a drunk from an oncoming subway train. Instead of dying they are transported into a room full of other people who have just died as well. It seems to be an empty apartment with a view of Tokyo Tower, well empty except for the black sphere that people keep coming out of. This sphere informs everyone in the room that their former lives have ended and their new lives belong to it. Inside the sphere is an old man that seems to be on life support and I don’t know what role he plays in all this. They are given a target and weapons to take down this alien, pretending to be human. I have to say that I was a nervous wreck in that first scene with the train. I had no idea Kei and Masaru’s death was going to be so graphic and speaking of graphic, every time some gets transported they appear and reappear in slices. So you get to see the inside of the human cavity. Other than your basic blowing of the brains and nudity, I really didn’t see anything too graphic. But I enjoyed the hell out of the story and as confusing as it is now, I can’t wait to see what happens to this team of dead warriors. By far one of the best manga I have read this year. A+

Samurai Champloo Complete
Creator: Manglobe
Story & Art: Masaru Gotsubo
Translation: Louie Kawamoto
Adaptation: Christine Boylan
Publisher: Tokyopop

Cowboy Bebop is still one of my top 10 favorite anime of all time. I’m sure if you ask many Otaku, they would tell you the same thing. I remember how disappointed I was when I read the manga and how unlike the show it was. Samurai Champloo, much like Bebop, was a visual feast to watch on the screen; so yeah I was worried when I opened this book up. The manga starts out almost identically to the anime. Fuu (the 15 year old waitress) is still searching for her Sunflower Samurai, and Mugen (the mercenary) and Jin (the samurai) are at each other’s throats. Beyond that, though, the manga goes in an entirely different direction. Instead of getting captured by the feudal lords, and instead of doing a great deal of traveling and battling, most of what happens is slapstick comedy that takes place in cities and villages, and we never quite know the progress of the heroes because they rarely mention where they are at. This kind of gets confusing at times and made me put the down the book more than once. But as different as the manga was, you still have to be fair by taken the two as different forms of the same medium. What makes the manga good, is the fact that it really dives into the characters and it gives the readers psychoanalysis of their personalities in just a page. The manga has the ability to explain certain cultural references that readers unfamiliar with Japanese society might find confusing as well as an explanation of the word champloo for the reader that like everything spelled out for them. Gotsubo’s art style is very stark. He uses lots of shades and plays on black and white backgrounds. It’s a bit of a distraction at times, but you do get used to it. It’s not great by far, but it does get the job done. Fans of the show will love it and people who have never seen the show will enjoy this samurai story. B

School Rumble vols. 9 & 10
Story & Art: Jin Kobayashi
Translation: William Flanagan
Publisher: Del Rey

School Rumble is not Battle Royale if that’s what you are hoping for. I think that’s what I was hoping for when I first started reading the series. Instead I got a romantic comedy and a good one at that. School Rumble tells the comedic/love story of two high school students. The first student is Tenma Tsukamoto, a second-year student who is absolutely in love with a boy, Karasuma Ouji, who's about to transfer to a different school. Of course lots of things have happened in 10 volumes and after the madness that was the previous arc, we finally get to settle down in these volumes. Sure hilarious misunderstandings aren’t as fun as over the top shoot outs, but it still moves the story forward. And what’s a high school drama without a school festival? I think that is a prerequisite in 90% of manga that focus on high school life. Volume 10 brings us Yagami High School’s version of Sleeping Beauty. Of course there is a twist to this tale when Harima is the one that falls asleep and someone has to wake him up. This leads to a face-off between Eri and Yakumo on the stage and then the dance floor. There are a couple of extra stories that focus on a drag race and about Yakumo wanting to find a love of her own. I have to say that while Kobabayashi can deliver some great action scenes his character designs are still bland. The characters all look average, and the fact that this takes place at school most of the time doesn't help getting the characters confused. William Flanagan is one busy guy, I see him translate so much manga in one month, I have no idea how he does it. I bring this up, because translators do more work than they get credit for. They set the mood and tone of the narration and dialogue and that can either make or break the book. In this case however, I have always enjoyed Flanagan’s adaptations and this is no exception. B+

The Wallflower vols. 15 & 16
Story & Art: Tomoko Hayakawa
Translation: David Ury
Publisher: Del Rey

I really have no idea what draws me to this series so much. Sure it’s cute and it’s got a good morbid funny story, but it’s just not something I would normally read. While the story is still morbidly funny, it seems that the creator has finally hit a point where she really needs to start wrapping up the series. It seems she is really dragging out every possible plot point possible. Sunako always seem to have some sort of crisis that involves her being forced to dress up like a lady. Of course she rebels against dressing up and this leads to having people calling her ugly, only to then have her show her inner beauty and it all leads to her acting the way she was before. When Sunako is invited to a reunion party for her class, she runs into her old crush and instead of resolving past problems or coming to a conclusion the romance just goes away. It seems more and more that Chibi Sunako seems to take the center stage. There are some nice chapters that focus on Sunako’s skeletons in the closet that get some closure out of them and those stories were the saving grace of these two volumes. I totally loved the scene in Harajuku, because it reminded me of my trip to Tokyo and the crazy clothes kids were wearing. The reaction the boys have to White Day had me laughing. So yes, it’s not all bad, but I wish there was a light at the end of the tunnel. As always Del Rey does a phenomenal job with the manga extras that include translation notes, author notes, and a preview of the next volume in English. C+

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-