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:After Halloween Sort of Special!

Gantz vols. 4-6
Story & Art: Hiroya Oku
Translation: Mathew Johnson
Lettering: Studio Cutie
Publisher: Dark Horse

When I read volume 1 last year, I came out and said it was the best new manga I had read that year. Not watching the anime didn’t spoil anything for me so it was all new and fresh. The series got off to a great start. It was a mixture of the mysteries in Twilight zone with the fun and adrenaline pumping action of Suicide Squad. The second and third volume really brought the series down by having lots of running around and trying to fight the same onion heads. I have to say that this series really picked up with these three volumes. It was really emotional to have the grandmother and grandson team killed by those bird beings and I can’t believe the crazy kid is gone! I really thought he was going to stick around. Kurono finally gets some action, but not from Kishimoto, but a new girl. Damn, way to go Kurono! That really brought a realistic take to the series, which is why I love the series so much. Gantz also 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 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 character, because I haven’t seen this much death toll in characters since Suicide Squad and Battle Royale. B+

The Ghost in the Shell
Story & Art: Masamune Shirow
Translation: Frederik L. Schodt
Adaptation: Toren Smith
Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Sure there were plenty of cyber-punk stories long before this manga ever hit the stands like Megazone Saga, Bubblegum Crisis, or Maddox 01, but to me when I try to describe cyber punk to someone I always point them to this book. Now let’s get this out of the way Dark Horse has been printing this book since the 90s and everyone has had a problem with the editing they did on two pages. Shirow, himself, did cut that part out long time ago when the book was first printed in USA. later Dark Horse re-released GitS second edition, that one contain unedited version which does include the lesbian threesome. Kodansha Comics decided to choose version without the threesome lesbian. Sure it still doesn’t make any sense, because the book is rated Mature Content, but does it take anything away from the story? Hell no!

If you’ve been living in a cave and don’t know the story of Gits, well it centers on a security team led by Major Motoko Kusinagi. Kusanagi is like most of her team in that they are highly modified humans, or highly humanized machines, depending on your view. They are shells, biomechanical miracles, in which a human brain and spinal column have been places. However, unless you see one of them being made, or notice their cable contact points, they seem utterly human. The team investigates possible cases of government wrongdoing. Their paths often bring them into contact with the less reputable side of human and cyborg traffic. This is where you find that Shirow really shines; by using these contacts, robots in revolution, berserk cyborgs, and illegal memory copying to gradually shift the story from hard science fiction to a semi-metaphysical deep dive into the significance of the information net and alternate life form possibilities.

The question, of course, is not just 'what is human?' but 'what is intelligent life?' Where exactly is the boundary between the shell, whether it be bioengineered or flesh. In a world, where the definition of humanity is already stretched beyond anything previously believed perceivable, Masamune Shirow spins a tale that puts this graphic novel in a league of its own. Rarely is this medium used to ask questions of such probing depth and scientific curiosity. The novel Ghost in the shell does this with a brilliant cast of unlikely covert law enforcement personnel. Shirow does all this, and more, with a hilarious and refreshing touch of humor and prank. The artwork is some of the best in the industry. Mr. Shirow, which is not his actual name, uses his unique skills as a painter to convey his dark, questioning tale. Acrylics, watercolors and various copied textures are used in the renderings. Techniques from inking to scratching, to create effects with paint, are employed with tremendous skill and outstanding precision. For a man that claims that he was never a manga reader before his debut in the market, he does an outstanding job! The man can draw one hell of a woman, what else can I say?

This edition has a forward by the President of Dark Horse Mike Richardson thanking Shirow and Kodansha for allowing them to share with the world this wonderful story. There is also a nice postscript by Shirow himself that tells the story of how this book was made. I have Ghost in the Shell the anime to thank for popularizing the anime genre. If not for that movie or/and Ninja Scroll I would still be paying 30 dollars a pop for two episodes of a series. This book also put manga on the map here in the states and without it no collection is complete. You figure a guy like me would bring the grade down because of the missing lesbian threesome scene, but the story is really that damn good! A+

MW
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Camellia Nieh
Publisher: Vertical

For years I have heard about this particular manga. Being a huge fan of Tezuka and having read tons of his work, I have to say that this particular book was completely different than the other manga I have read. MW is the name of a deadly gas created by the United States that was stashed on a small Japanese island. This gas leaks out and kills all of the inhabitants of the island except for two: Iwao Garai and Michio Yuki. We learn this through a series of flashbacks 15 years later where Father Garai is haunted by his memory of the dead, and Yuki is simply a madman: he inhaled some of the gas, which gives him occasional attacks of bad health, but worse, it warped his brain, robbing his sanity. Now he takes great joy in using, kidnapping, torturing, and killing people. We find out his reason is just as insane as the acts themselves. Yuki always confesses his crimes to Father Garai, who has a vow to keep the confessions to himself. Towards the end of the book, humanity is hanging on the balance, but will Garai just stand by and watch? The story gets a bit complicated as the killings progress and more characters enter the picture. Basically, Yuki is smart and insane, which is a deadly combination. He has no conscience and does whatever it takes to meet his end which is getting more MW! Garai is somewhat powerless to stop him, since he’s a priest and can’t tell anything to the police. But he also happens to be Yuki’s homosexual lover as well. Originally Garai came on to Yuki, so there’s a weird dynamic between who’s really in charge of this relationship. I have to say for a manga released in the late 70s Tezuka was ahead of his time by introducing the two leading characters as homosexual lovers. The manga is flipped so that you can read it from left to right. If Tezuka set out to prove that he could write an adult oriented story that doesn’t rely on shock value to carry the story….well then mission accomplished. A-

XXXholic vol.14
The Official XXXholic Guide

Story & Art: CLAMP
Translation: William Flanagan
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

Just like with Tsubasa I have been completely out of the loop with the XXXholic series. After reading 10 volumes back to back I found it difficult to skip to volume 14, because it seems like I missed a full chunk of story. It’s good and bad, because they pack so much in one volume, but when you miss three it seems more like 9 volumes. This is really sounding repetitive, so this is why I decided to play catch up and also review the official guide to XXXholic in this review. While most of the first 10 volumes had the spotlight on Watanuki, this volume seems to focus more on Domeki. Domeki is requested by Kohane and we dive a little into Kimihiro’s past when his secrets are started to be revealed. By the end of the volume we understand why he’s put up with all the grief and heartache. It’s a very touching explanation particularly the scene between Domeki and Kohane. This particular volume crosses over with Tsubasa when Domeki sees two Syaorans with the eye he shares with Watanuki. Though the two series are interwoven, this one still stands on its own charm and characters. Along with the release of volume 14 there was also the release of the Official Guide. The guide includes a story digest, character introduction, spirit index, glossary, corrections to Tsubasa, a quiz, interviews, and connections to Tsubasa and other Clamp works. Those are just a few of the things included in this book. This is a perfect book for someone that wants to play catch up with XXXholic or new readers to the series. The book itself tends to be a bit confusing, but it still enjoyable. B+ . The guide itself is not a necessity but it is a nice addition with enough new material to warrant it. B

Zone-00 vols.1 & 2
Story & Art: Kiyo Qyo
Translation: Nan Rymer
Adaptation: Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane
Publisher: Tokyopop

From the artist of Trinity Blood comes Zone -00! I finally got around to reading Trinity Blood volumes 1 through 6. Having read Zone, I went back and picked up six volumes because I fell for Oyo’s artwork. The story is really straightforward. We have demons that coexist with humans, but a new drug is making demon’s go back to their old way. So a Saburo Kujo, who unleashes a demon from within and Ango Shima; an exorcist team up to go up against this conflict. In the meantime Renji is being recruited by Tsukihiko to join the other side, and we learn more about the 300 year old past of Majoko and Senryo and Tsukihiko, while Renji and Rouji are prevented from taking their sibling rivalry to the death - for now. While we have seen this plot over and over again, I have to say Qyo’s art is what really carries this story. The character designs are amazing. They look like they come from a Persona (Shin Megami Tensei) videogame or a fighting game. She really knows how to draw some drop-dead gorgeous women, which usually comes with pretty boys. And even though this book has its share of pretty boys, there are some manly men in here too; with rippling muscles too! I really didn’t think I would enjoy this book, but the art really made it an easy and fun read. B-