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: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-

Manga Reviews: Akira, Bloody Kiss, Ode to Kirihito, Tsubasa

Akira Vol. 1
Story & Art: Katsuhiro Otomo
Translation: Yoko Umezawa
Adaptation: Linda M. York & Jo Duffy
Publisher: Kodansha Comics

How do I go about reviewing the very book that got me into manga over 20 years ago? How do I review the pinnacle of story-telling that changed the way I looked at comics forever? How long can I keep asking questions? It’s true; Katsuhiro Otomo’s masterpiece was my very first manga. Of course back then it was released in comic format by Epic Comics (Marvel) and in color by Steve Oliff. 10 years later it was reprinted in its original Black and White format by Dark Horse Comics with a new translation. This new version is brought to us by Kodansha Comics (the same publisher that has been in the game for 100 years. To be honest, other than the new introduction by Otomo himself I think that this version is identical to the sold out Dark Horse version.

The story takes place in Neo-Tokyo in the year 2030, which is also thirty-eight years after World War Three began when a new type of bomb exploded over Japan. While riding at night through Old Tokyo where the bomb exploded, a group of bikers led by Kaneda, suddenly come upon a small boy standing in the middle of the road. Before Tetsuo, who is riding at the head of the pack, can swerve out of the way, his motorcycle explodes. The small boy disappears as the military shows up and starts asking questions and then leaves without offering any aid to the injured Tetsuo. Kaneda’s life turns upside down when he encounters a woman named Kei who belongs to an underground revolutionary movement that is fighting against a covert government agency that studies humans with paranormal abilities. It turns out that one of these humans is the little boy that Kaneda's gang ran across that night in Old Tokyo. However, Tetsuo is also one of these superhumans, but he is far more dangerous than the others because his powers are just developing and he doesn't know how to control them. Things go to hell when Tetsuo tries to become the head honcho and ends up killing one of his old friends, Yamagata. There are also rumors and whispers of a small powerful force named Akira.

What can I say? Other than I loved this story and it still holds up after all these years. Otomo is a great storyteller. His artwork is very clean but also detailed and the action sequences were easy to follow. The artwork is top notch, but in the first book the style is quite different than the later installment. The characters look fairly rough to begin with, Kei and the Colonel in particular, though they fall into their usual forms fairly quick. Otomo's astounding attention to detail shines through from the very first panel, however, and the cityscapes are simply breathtaking. The artwork is flipped to accommodate English readers, and it's sometimes a little weird as the flow gets interrupted in spots. The translation is also pretty accurate. The dialogue isn't the greatest prose ever written or anything, but it's a far better translation than one might expect. No book collection is complete without Akira, I’m not talking manga or comics I’m talking books! A+

Bloody Kiss vol. 2
Story & Art: Kasuko Furumiya
Translation: Monica Seya Chin
Adaptation: Magda Erik-Soussi
Publisher: Tokyopop

It seems that the vampire craze has been sweeping the nation because of Twilight. But I guess vampires were always a part of our culture. We’ve had titles in manga like Trinity Blood, Chibi Vampire, and of course Vampire Hunter D (yes, I know that it’s a novel, but there is a manga out there). The premise of this book is pretty simple: After Kiyo inherits her late grandmother's run-down mansion and decides to temporarily move in as she prepares to become a lawyer. The catch is she also inherts two kind, handsome vampires, Kuroboshi and his servant Alshu, that have been living for years with her grandmother. Things turn for the worse when both vampires decide that they need to enroll in school to check out the female student body…well Alshu pretends to be a school nurse. It seems that Kiyo’s feelings for Kuroboshi are stronger than she first thought and is willing to keep him at school by playing a tennis match against Fujiwara. There is also another vampire story called Wishing on a Vampire at the end of the book. The story was interesting although sort of predictable, and is gets pretty repetitive. The idea of the story isn't new and I found it similar to Fruits basket in some aspects. Sometimes the art looked awkward and it got confusing to follow, but it really does fit the book, specially the chibi style used in parts of it. B

Ode To Kirihito
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Camellia Nieh
Publisher: Vertical

As much of a fan that I am of Tezuka it’s amazing that I never heard of this book until I started looking at Vertical’s back log of manga they have on their website. The plot of this book is pretty simple at first, but turns into a beautiful complex story. It starts with a young doctor named Kirihito Osanai and his efforts to cure a strange disease that deforms its victims so that they look like dog people. He eventually becomes infected with the disease himself and is led on a wild odyssey around the world as he is kidnapped and treated like a fool by many people. During his journey he meets strange allies and stranger foes. Many of the characters are portrayed as neither outright good nor bad. The series also includes a number of references to Christianity; and that is somewhat unusual in Japanese manga. This really just summarizes the plot, but there is a great deal more going on here; with many subplots, a raft of well-developed characters, and actions and reactions that feel completely realistic. Tezuka has created a wonderfully detailed world here, and the truly amazing thing about Ode to Kirihito is that, like all truly well-crafted graphic novels, it feels like we just don't spend enough time in that world. Osamu is simply brilliant and is a master story teller weaving all human emotions in this superbly crafted book. His brilliance lies in developing each character and handling it in such a way that left you gasping and wondering how keen an observer Osamu was. Eight hundred pages just don’t seem enough to read about. I could follow Kirihito’s life for more volumes. The cover is which features a slider that, when moved to the left, reveals Kirihito's face after he has contracted Monmow's disease. The only drawback to the book is that the last 350 pages started dragging the plot down because the pace slowed down dramatically. I had to push myself to get pass some of those pages. But the overall product is still an amazing story. A-

Tsubasa vols. 23 & 24
Story & Art: CLAMP
Translation: William Flanagan
Lettering: Dana Hayward
Publisher: Del Rey

I have been completely out of the loop in Tsubasa. After reading 17 volumes back to back I found it difficult to skip to volume 23 and 24, because it seems like I missed a full chunk of story. I guess if you aren’t familiar with Tsubasa you can check out our huge review of the books. Here is a quick catch-you-up just in case you didn’t want to read all that: 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, who grants him, along with Kurogane and Fai D. Flowright, the ability to travel across worlds to seek out the feathers. It’s been one hell of a ride with so many cameos by other CLAMP characters. It seems that volume 23 wraps up the story with Syoaran clone. They crammed so much into one volume with Syaoran's battle to stop the clone's rampage, protect Sakura, and salvage Fai's last chance at a life without physical dependency on Kurogane. The line that really got to me was when Sakura asked Syaoran if she could call him Syaoran. This shows that she has grown close to him and wants to express how much she cares about him without using honorifics. Volume 24 is the beginning of the final Tsubasa story arc (it ended in Japan with volume 28 just this month). The flashback sequences were really nice to see in this volume. This series has been epic so far and I can’t wait to see how it ends. A

Manga Reviews: Back in the Game!

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order Volume 9
Story & Art: Yukito Kishiro
English Adaptation: Fred Burke
Publisher: Viz Media

The first thing I want to point out is that I absolutely love the cover. It’s so unlike Kishiro to use so much black and focus on using more computer generated colors. Since volume 8 we have had nothing but visions through the software called Merlin. With Alita we experienced a past that focused on Caerula Sangius (then known as Vilma) fighting for coexistence with humans. By the end of volume 9 the humans are triumphant and Arthur assigns Vilma the task of protecting the new government and the rights to execute the Last Order. Caerula hands the future of humanity over to Alita, but Alita refuses and states that she just wants to save Lou and that the responsibility is too much for her. The story has gotten so complex, especially after two volumes of flashbacks, but it seems to work for this book. It does require a second read at times, but the mythology that Kishiro is building her is so huge that is the least you can do. Alita is finally back and so are her copies, Desty Nova, Sechs, and even Arthur makes an appearance as one of the twenty five units that make up Melchizedek. Extreme graphic violence mixed with some cheesy humor, it’s great for the whole family or anyone that likes to read about some a hot chick kicking all kinds of butt. A-

Black Jack Volume 3
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Camelliah Nieh
Publisher: Vertical

Volume 3 of Black Jack continues the story of the world’s greatest surgeon and his world of medical drama and philosophy. So at first you may be hesitant to buy this book because it is $16.95, but let me tell you that this book includes 14 chapters and is well over 300 pages. Much like the first two volumes each story manages to set up a situation where a super surgeon is necessary. However, due to Tezuka's fine writing skills and his extensive knowledge in the medical field (He did get his medical degree before becoming the god of manga), there is a humanist element to each tale, which is often depressing. Black Jack makes other's happy, but he can never find happiness himself. It’s difficult to talk about each story without writing an essay, because they are all wonderful in their own way. Disowned Son showed how stubborn a grudge can be and how forgiving the human heart is. In Two Dark Doctors we are introduced to Doctor Kiriko, Black Jack’s complete opposite who helps suffering people end their lives comfortably. Recollections of a Spinster shows us that saving one life could change history forever. I don’t think I gave volumes 1 and 2 enough praises on my review. I mean do they make a ranking above A + Can I really force you to buy a book, even if it’s one book you must buy this year. If ever there was a series that Tezuka was born to write; it was Black Jack. This is coming from somebody that adores Kimba, grew up with Astro Boy, was enthralled with Buddha, and will name his first kid Unico (alright I made the last one up). So far the strongest of the Black Jack collections released to date give it a chance and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. A+

Castle of Dreams
Story & Art: Masami Tsuda
Translation: Alethea & Athena Nibley
Adaptation: Lorelei Laird
Publisher: Tokyopop

If the name Masami Tsuda sounds familiar, you’ve probably heard of a little title called Kare Kano. I will admit that I really enjoyed the Kare Kano anime, even the cheap episodes towards the end. I only read to volume 15 of the manga, but Melanie did finish the series and absolutely loved it. Judging this book by the cover and by the author’s aforementioned book I thought this was a collection of eight love stories. I was taken by surprise by some of these stories though. Castle of Dreams happens to be the title of the third story and I noticed that the first three stories are fairy tales and fantasy stories that all include some kind of sorcerer. I Am the Mermaid is even set in the same universe as Hans Christian Anderson’s popular The Little Mermaid. The remaining five stories, well technically four stories with a where are they now back up story at the end, all focus on the theme of love that are more predictable than the first three stories and are set in present time. There is so much depth and complexity of emotion in all of these four stories to make up for the unpolished art. But then again Tsuda does have a natural gift for telling stories that draws the readers in because they get so emotionally attached to the characters. Of course the art varies from story to story because these are collections that spanned over 10 years. Not the most perfect anthology I’ve read, but certainly one of the best. You can tell where she starts planting the seeds for Kare Kano. B+

Tantric Stripfighter Trina volume 1
Author: Ken Faggio
Art: Fernando Furukawa
Publisher: Tokyopop

Ohh come on! How could I not review a book that is called Stripfighter!!!? I had fond memories of playing Strip Fighter on the Turbo Grafx-16. So anyway, you figure with a title like that, this would nothing but fan service with T&A, the book is even rated 16 and up. However, the writer and author do try to tell us a story. Trina’s home world was destroyed by a bunch of mercenaries under the Cog’s orders. Along with her two sidekicks Chrome Abbey and Bonds (one a cyber punk chick and the other just a little robot) she is taking down the people responsible for the destruction of her planet. Ohh yeah did I forget to mention that fights by taking her clothes off one piece at a time. I really have no idea how to rate this book , because there are books that are just sooo bad that they are funny and turn out to be great. This book is somewhere in the middle. The story is just too ridiculous and tries to take itself too seriously at times. The art on the other hand is actually pretty good and you can tell Furukawa has come a long way since those early sketches, sure there is plenty of fan service but it’s all done in a good sequential art form. Speaking of fan service, I may be alone here or a freaking pervert, but there wasn’t enough for me. I figure with a title like Stripfighter I would be seeing plenty of T&A that wasn’t covered up by thongs or pasties. I guess to be fair I did read the whole thing and I liked the art, but I don’t find the story interesting enough to follow. C-

Buddha volumes 1 - 8 Review

Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Maya Rosewood
Production: Hiroko Mizuno & Shinobu Sato
Publisher: Vertical

Buddha is a book I have been avoiding since I knew of its existence. Not because of the wonderful creator Osamu Tezuka who introduced me to the world of Astro (Atom) Boy, Jungle Emperor Leo, Unico, Apollo’s Song, and Big X. It wasn’t because that I was scared to read about the life of Buddha, because when I was in college I did some thorough studies in Buddhism and Siddhartha Gautama. I can only blame a manga called Adolf that I read years ago. The problem was it was such a good story, I wanted to believe the fiction from the truth and in doing so it jumbled up my knowledge of historical events. Buddha however is a different topic. It would be like someone taking the story of Jesus and adding elements of cartoony animals that make sexual jokes. I am familiar with Tezuka’s writing that I knew I could count on those elements being found in this book. Needless to say, I am glad that I decided to read these books, because they were amazing. This man is not known as the God of manga for nothing. This review took so long to put up because I really didn’t want to miss anything and make sure I put down all my thoughts. I also read the complete 8 volumes twice before writing anything down.

The story begins some time before Siddhartha is even born in around the year 563BC. We are introduced to two young characters fighting against what was to become India and Nepal’s rigid caste system. Chapra and Tatta are both tied down to their lives as slaves and beggars. Tatta has a special skill that comes in handy in future volumes; he can take control of any animal he wishes. Chapra is an ambitious young boy, and when he sees his chance to climb the social ladder he seizes it. He leaves his friend Tatta and beloved mother behind for the riches of a warrior general’s adopted son. This has repercussions that end with the death of Chapra and his mother. So by the end of volume 1, we see no hint as to who Buddha could be. Speaking of Buddha, we finally see that he is born at some point during the second volume, but he doesn’t play a big role until the latter half of the book. It’s good to see that Tezuka kept Tatta around to follow Siddhartha (Buddha) for the next seven volumes. Did I mention that this volume was 400 pages long? Ohh and the rest of the volumes are around that many pages too.

The focus of the next few volumes is spent following Siddhartha, he doesn’t take the name Buddha (Enlighten one) until volume 4. As a child and young adult, his transformation from a rich prince in the lap of luxury to a humble monk struggling to cope with the harsh realities of life. The beauty of what this series is about really starts to shine in this transition period between boy and man. Tezuka doesn’t paint Siddhartha as an all knowing saint; to be honest he comes across as an ordinary level headed guy just trying to do the right thing. Oh yeah, and trying to find out how to live forever or at least how we can move on forever spiritually. He really struggles to contemplate death and suffering and this brings a human element to the story that helps us better understand his teachings as the Buddha. It is that simple teaching that makes this story so believable and makes you feel for Buddha’s nemesis as one by one they turn to his teachings. Let me reassure you though that some of the points raised are more than obvious, but you rarely feel like you’re being spoken down to or lectured in this series. For the most part you don’t feel like you’re reading some religious tome designed to influence whatever beliefs you might have, you’re just reading a good story that’s told well and it won’t affect your religious beliefs. I hate to compare it to a book like Preacher (wonderful in its own way, but if you’ve read it you know why I hate to compare the two), but if you do happen to have a weak faith, I can see it opening your eyes to something else.

It’s not an easy road for Buddha; I guess being a martyr and savior to millions wouldn’t really be paving the road with gold. Over the course of the next volumes, Buddha makes a few but significant mistakes in his quest to become the pillar of enlightenment in the eastern world. He swore off his royal heritage, leaving behind his subjects, parents and pregnant wife. Some of you may be wondering what kind of dickhead protagonist leaves his pregnant wife. Just stay with me here. He survived many an attack on his being, including crossing over to the other side during the brink of death. Everything from his past comes back to haunt him in the last two volumes of this epic and we are left with the question: when a hero/leader of this magnitude passes his peaks and takes ill, will people continue to be inspired? How will his message and teachings continue? Who will carry on his torch that he has lit? Characters from all six volumes previous volumes collide in the final two installments

The last two books really feel like Tezuka wanted to make this a 10 volume epic, because he gives us so much that I almost felt overwhelmed. Compare to previous volumes, these volumes cover way too much ground and literally jump from places to places. It’s in no way confusing, but you can definitely tell that the pacing is different. The narrative in the last volume doesn’t prod the readers to the edge of their seat until halfway through, though drama is still suitably sustained from beginning to end. It isn’t the most powerful portion of the saga, but it certainly handles its events and arcs better than would any other example of sequential art, if any other story would ever attempt such epic themes of this proportion. Despite some grim turns of events, and some extreme tests of Buddha’s faith and sanity, this volume has a surprisingly uplifting ending with a great spiritual tone. Like I mentioned earlier lots of characters that have been around from the beginning show up and die off in the final volume. There’s a few tearful goodbyes to well meaning (and not so well meaning but redeemed) characters. There is no other way to say that this was a perfect ending to a masterpiece.

I found myself wanting to believe that all of these events could have happened. But compared to the historical events really couldn’t happen. It’s not to say that a lot of the events that happened in Buddha are clearly based around actual events, yet Tezuka manages to squeeze in several of his own characters in there, such as Black Jack, Big X, and even Tezuka makes several appearances. This helps makes everything a whole lot more accessible, not only because it takes the onus away from the rest of the cast, but also because these original creations help to better illustrate the point that Buddha is trying get across. Characters talk, in translation from the original Japanese, in modern slang and even use sexual jokes at times. Characters also frequently dip into slapstick humor, bouncing around the frames and sometimes physically breaking them. While at first it is disconcerting to a reader expecting a serious biography of the Buddha, it is important to remember that manga is first and foremost an entertainment medium, and as the long series is digested book by book, the humor is important to keep the story moving along and audiences entertained. I can’t imagine someone here in America taking the story of Jesus of Nazareth and doing the same treatment to his story. To be completely honest though, I found myself a little hesitant over the portrayal of The Buddha at first. I guess I can blame it on my college courses on Eastern religions. However after reading the first volume I welcomed the idea of a more human Buddha than I imagined and it is refreshing.

What is there to say about the artwork of Tezuka that hasn’t been said a million times already? The man is the God of comics for a reason. The style of art is a mix between wide-eyed manga and lush, detailed landscapes. The humans are all drawn really cartoony, but the backgrounds and animals are all very detailed. I’d also like to take this opportunity to point out that there’s a lot of nudity in this manga. I am in no way complaining about that. I didn't think the Buddha's life would translate very well into action-packed manga, but this whole series was really moving, beautiful, and even hysterical at parts. Powerful drawings with lots of imagination and the many subplots that wove themselves together in these volumes made this a joy to read. It was the best series of books, not comics that I have read in a long time. It’s really difficult to put into words how successful this series was, but I guess I can say I didn’t just read Buddha, I experienced it! The God of manga has done it again in his own essential and classy way! Do yourself a favor and buy, borrow, just read these wonderful books. A+

Dororo vols. 2 & 3
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Dawn T. Laabs
Publisher: Vertical

It’s really hard to read a book by Osamu Tezuka knowing you are going to be reviewing it. It’s hard because how do you review the guy that set the standard for manga, hell not only manga but comics in general. I know Omar reviewed the first volume and loved it, but when he passed these down to me I just didn’t know what to critique. Dororo is a manga about a man named Hyakkimaru who was robbed of 48 of his body parts by the devil. Not your usual happy starting point from the man that brought you Astro Boy, Leo the Lion, and Unico. Every time that Hyakkimaru kills a demon one of his body parts grows back. Along with the boy thief named Dororo they roam the land in search of demons. There were some touching moments in volume two when Hyakkimaru is reunited with his parents and brother, of course things weren’t all Full House by then end when he killed his brother. There was a great fight scene with the legendary nine tailed fox and a great new ghoul with baby spirits that united to form him. The thing that I started noticing when reading volume two was that the stories were starting to get repetitive. It’s quite amazing to see Dororo get out of every deadly situation. I swear the kid must have powers too, because he is always getting out in the nick of time. As it turns out Dororo was a girl the entire time and Hyakkimaru figured it out when he got his eyes back. The series ends with the two “bros” parting ways; Hyakkimaru on his was to find more demons and Dororo fighting along the farmers. It was really weird to have a book just end there, but that’s all Tezuka ever wrote of the series. The series feels incomplete and that really saddens me because it was so entertaining. Some great panel layouts with awesome fighting sequences, I can’t believe this book was written and drawn in the 60’s. It was still a fun title to read with enough of a closure to keep most satisfied, but some wanting more. B+

Jade of Bango vol.1
Story: Ae-Ju Yim
Art: Jin-Ju Yim
Translation: Grace Min & Joyce Lee
Adaptation: Andrew Wolfman & Anthony Andera
Publisher: Tokyopop

Cute little school girl in the front cover with colorful candy and weird sperm with faces chasing her (I guess those are supposed to be ghosts); count me in. Wait, this is a manhwa not one of those countless magical girl saves the world manga. Surely it has to have some kind of twist right? Well as I mentioned in the previous sentence this is a story about a magical girl of sorts with the power to destroy the world. Lin Seonu is a high school student who lives with her dad (her mom got killed by a monster, but we’ll get to that in a minute). On her sixteenth birthday she learns that she can talk to ghosts and when she is attacked by a Spider-woman, not the sexy kind either, she learns that she is the Saint of Jade of Bango. Now all kinds of monsters want her power and the only man that can stop them is her husband/guardian In Mu. And the chick is only sixteen!! So, magical girl with the power to destroy the world has a crush on her husband to be, but he is very emotionally distant and has the charm of a wood block. I do believe this is the most manga inspired manhwa book I have ever read. It borrows not only the stereotypical story, but the artwork is definitely manga inspired. That is one thing that I did love about the book though; the wonderful and colorful characters. Sure it’s black and white, but with character designs that look to come right out of a videogame it really does stand out. Unfortunately it doesn’t save the lackluster of a story. But hey, I’m willing to give the book another shot come volume 2, just for the artwork. C

Jyu-Oh Sei vol.1
Story & Art: Natsumi Itsuki
Translation: Yuya Otake
Adaptation: Clint Bickham
Publisher: Tokyopop

Don’t let that cover fool you like it fooled me. I really thought I was going to be reading a shojo story about love and lust. Instead I got something I have been waiting a long time for. A very long time ago in not such a galaxy far far away, I read a book called They Were 11 and it was a perfect mix of sci-fi and shojo manga. I have been waiting for something like that and while there have been some great attempts none have really come that close. Jyu-Oh-Sei is a story about identical twins Thor and Rai living on the space colony Juno in the year 2436. Thor has dreams of being a pilot and Rai just wants to be a scientist, but they are the sons of one of the leaders of the Earth colonized system and are expected to take a role much like their father. When their parents are murdered they are kidnapped and taken to the Prison Planet Kimaera. Here they must survive not only against the criminals on the planet, but the creatures that reside on the surface. Thor and Rai become separated and Thor teams up with Tiz, one of the few women on the planet. Thor later learns that Rai had fallen to his death and swears to become the Beast King, who is the only person allowed to leave the planet. I was hooked from beginning to end and lost some sleep staying up finishing the first volume. This is a very convincing world that Itsuki has created and I really feel for Thor and hope he makes it out alive and I still have hope for Rai. It is 350 + pages of non-stop action and adventure that will capture the hearts of all its audience. Not since They Were 11 have I read something in this genre that moved me as much. A

Pumpkin Scissors vol.3
Story & Art: Ryotaro Iwanaga
Translation: Ikoi Hiroe
Publisher: Del Rey

A few months back Omar told me to read a book called Pineapple Army. Every time I read Pumpkin Scissors I think of that and Fruits Basket. When I think that those names are weird and have nothing to do with the book I always think of Yellow Submarine, Clockwork Orange, and Naked Lunch. The word Pumpkin Scissors in this case describes a small group of individuals within the army (Section III) that work to keep the peace and rebuild after the Great War that ended three years ago. I am one of the few people that didn’t like the first book. I wasn’t impressed and thought it was much like Full Metal Panic or a bunch of anime I had seen before. Things really started looking up at the beginning of volume two when Section III were inspecting the captured tank, but then the action came back and it was rather dull. The chapters didn’t seem to fit in continuity and this is something I am used to seeing in American comics not manga. Enter: Volume three. Instead of saving the Empire it seems they have to try and save Alice from an execution. After being deployed to the waterworks headquarters it was an all out war between the Pumpkin Scissors and Claymore One. The art style remains the same; clean and clear as presented in the previous two volumes. It doesn’t stand out as being original, but it Iwanaga manages to tell a solid story. While the first two volumes did very little for me in this series, I will admit that I am now hooked on the story and anxiously await the fourth volume. B

Shiki Tsukai vol. 3
Story: To-Ru Zekuu
Art: Yuna Takanagi
Translation: Mayumi Kobayashi
Publisher: Del Rey

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

Too Long
Story & Art: Hee Jung Park
Translation: Woo Sok Park
Adaptation: Jamie S. Rich
Publisher: Tokyopop

Before you make a gratuitous sex joke about the title; save some time. I’ve already made them all up in my head. It has been a very busy year for Ms. Park, Tokyopop released Fever in March, Hotel Africa in April, Martin and John July, and this August they released Too Long. Some of these chapters premiered in Tokyopop’s website and their MySpace profile. Too Long is a collection of ten short stories by Park and range anywhere from sadness, love, longing, and just plain bizarre. By far the best example of Park’s wonderful storytelling techniques in my opinion is Eoheulli. It is a beautiful story about childhood loss and the dreams that one has a child. When Yeongju’s younger brother needs a bone marrow transplant she has only one place to go; To the birth mother whom she treated like an older sister in her childhood. This story was completely moving and really touched me. Park’s childhood pictures were completely magnificent and even the usual problem I have with her art style wasn’t found in this book. She really has a knack for stories of anger, depression, and alienation. If you’ve read my past reviews you know that I adore Park’s style. She has a great understanding of sequential art with some sophisticated stories. Its one stand alone volume and I highly recommend it. A

Midweek Manga Reviews: It's Friday!

Dr. Slump vol. 15
Story & Art: Akira Toriyama
Translation: Alexander O. Smith
Publisher: Viz

I always wondered if his editors at the time had made Toriyama keep going with this series if it would have turned into something like Dragon Ball Z. I can see it now: Dr Slump Zeta!!! It’s a good thing that his editors weren’t that pushy back then. There is a new kid in the Norimaki household and his name is Turbo! If you were expecting a normal baby without powers, well you are reading the wrong manga! After being ran over by a spaceship and brought back to life Turbo develops telekinetic powers and that makes changing diapers and feeding all the more fun for the parents. Out of all the volumes of Dr. Slump I have read this one for some reason reminded me about the good ole X-men days, when they were more of a family and had baseball games. Kind of weird comparing the two comics together. Dr. Slump is a timeless classic, and it is Akira Toriyama's original big hit. Fans of the comedy found in his original Dragonball series, before the Z will absolutely love the slapstick presented in Dr. Slump. Even in the original Dragonball manga, they paid a visit to Penguin village where the Norimaki kids make a cameo. Dr. Slump is basically a funny book with slapstick, sexual, and cartoon humor. The book is never taken seriously, but don’t we already have enough serious comics out there? Take my word for it; you'll love this book! If you enjoy a good laugh, don't hesitate to check this out and you might get addicted like the rest of us. A

Guardian Hearts Vol. 1
Story & Art: Sae Amatsu
Translation: Monica Seya Chin
Adaptation: Erin M. Blakemore
Publisher: Tokyopop

At first glance at the cover, I could have sworn I have played a fighting game with these characters in it. Hina a Guardian Heart from the Planet of Light accidently shows her true identity one day to a boy named Kazuya. Actually it’s Kasuya’s own luck that has everyone revealing their identity to him moments after meeting him. For some reason this forces all these girls to live with him and his mother. I’m still not sure if this is supposed to be an accident or intentional. By the end of the 7th chapter there are five girls living in his house and for some reason keeping their abilities a secret from each other. Kazuya is a dull character, who never takes advantage of the harem situation in his house. Sure we’ve seen this story countless of times, but for once I would like the lead male character to do something besides shy away from all the girls who want him. You figured with five female characters they would all be a little different, but in the end they are all basically the same; insane, clumsy, and stupid. That is not even my main quibble with the manga; what really bothers me is the amount of fan service I got in this manga. Good Lord I never thought I would complain about something like that. The only things I enjoyed about this manga was the cat, the clean artwork, and some of the humor in the story, but unfortunately the amount of fan service, lack of plot, and hyper-rushed chapters really took all the enjoyment out of it for me. D+

Kage Tora vols. 9 & 10
Story & Art: Akira Segami
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
Adaptation: Nunzio de Fillippis & Christina Weir
Publisher: Del Rey

From my days of playing Virtua Fighter I knew that Kage was shadow and from watching Tora! Tora! Tora! I knew that Tora meant tiger or To “indicated the attack was made” and Ra “success”. Didn’t think I could ever teach you anything huh? Well Shadow Tiger is about a ninja named Kagetora, whose job is to teach the arts of self-defense and combat to the heir of a renowned family of skilled martial artists. This would be Yuki Toudou, who has amazing martial arts skills when she is under the influence of alcohol, I can totally relate. Kagetora is in love with her, but since a ninja is forbidden to fall in love with his master, he struggles to hold back his feelings and is just now beginning to let those feelings out. To complicate things is Issei Kujou, a big and weak student of Kagetora, who also happens to have strong feelings for Yuki. However, he knows that Yuki cares for Kagetora and is pissed when Kagetora shows that he can’t share his feelings for her. My main concern is that in ten volumes Yuki really hasn’t become stronger and hasn’t evolved past her total flake self; this is why the series has a hard time keeping my attention. But, I did think something was going to happen in the tenth volume, but maybe Segami is waiting for the final chapter for that revelation. I have to say that the teenage dialogue is what really really keeps me reading this book. That is all thanks to Fillippis and Weir of New X-men fame. The title remains a mindless shonen fun book for those who like romantic comedy series with a mix of action thrown in. B-

Kikaider 02 vols. 3 & 4

Story: Shotaro Ishinomori
Art: Meimu
Translation: Jonathan Tarbox
Publisher: CMX

For those of you unfamiliar with Kikaider, he is practically a Japanese superhero/android that has appeared in anime, manga, and live action TV series over the years. Think of Mask Rider (Kamen Rider), Power Rangers, Evangelion, Guyver, and Astro Boy. Actually, the animation and the manga style due pay lots of tribute to the Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy and Jetter Mars. The plot of the series is very simplistic. Jiro is an android created by Mitsuko’s father Dr. Komyoji (who becomes nuts due to his work on artificial intelligence), but unlike the other robots the professor created, Jiro has a Gemini Circuit, which gives him human characteristics such as fear, compassion, and a sense of right and wrong. So you can tell that Jiro is almost human, but not quite (yeah, like the crappy Disney Chanel movies). After confronting both of Mitsuko’s brothers sharing two brains and one android body, Jiro can’t switch back into battle mode. Of course the pressure is on when the deadly robots created by Futen show up. While this series does have plenty of ass-kicking moments, it really lacked character interaction and development. Well, look no further than volumes three and four for that. This series is filled with heart-pounding action that never quits, as well as a touching plot that moves the main plot along smoothly. The character designs seem a little off at times; from misshapen foreheads or uneven eyes to obscure figure portrayals. With the exception of the nicely detailed Jiro, the robotic designs are pretty bland and at times don’t really look that threatening. Action sequences are a little cluttered with a few panels that were hard to distinguish what was going on, but the huge splash pages really shove the action in your face. I recommend this to fans of Witchblade, Darkness, X-23, Avengers and Justice League (Yes, I mention Avengers and JLA because of The Vision and Red Tornado) trying to find a manga to get into. B

The Mysterians vol.1
Created By: Chuck Russell & Michael Uslan
Script: Jay Antani
Art: Matt Hentschel
Publisher: Tokyopop

There are two things you must know before reading this review. 1) I have been a fan of Ishiro Honda since I was a child and I first saw Godzilla. As a teenager I would try to find bootleg copies of his other space stuff. When I was 15 I came across a movie called The Mysterians. To my surprise when I found out that Tokyopop was publishing this book I was ecstatic. 2) I am not the biggest fan of OEL manga. If you’ve read my past reviews you can tell how much I don’t enjoy most of those titles. So…onto the review. Aliens have infiltrated the Earth and the last surviving member of an underground resistance named Vox has summoned five extraordinary kids and has made them the last line of defense for mankind. Logan Gilroy, Tony Valdez, Leele Xing, and twins Jenna and Jamie McCloud have nothing in common, but are united as a group of teenagers ready to risk it all for the sake of humanity. The movie felt like a mix match of different books, comics, and movies and put together in one great package. It’s like Teen Titans meets They Live and throw in Invasion of the Body Snatchers with a dash of X-men and even some Nightmare on Elm Street and damn was this book fun. To be precise I meant Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors. That’s right the greatest Nightmare on Elm Street movie in my opinion. Don’t let that cover fool you because the art is truly stupendous. From character designs and over the top violence to the top notch sequential art from panel to panel, Hentschel had it all. The only bad thing I can say about the book is the sometimes stereotypical dialogue, but I think I can let that one slide. Sure the plot sounds like Captain Planet or Lensman, but the book was so much fun I can’t wait for the second volume. A

Testarotho vol. 2
Story & Art: Sanbei Kei
Translation: Akira Tsubasa
Adaptation: Jake Forbes
Publisher: CMX

For some reason I thought of Black Jack when I saw the cover to volume 2. But Testarotho is a little more twisted than Blackjack. Well at least in the we all believe in the same God, but die anyway attitude. Rotho Capria has graduated from her sheltered life in the Nunnery and is about to join the Elysia Unification Council. Unfortunately for her, the outside world was not what she thought. Outside of the gates where she felt secured is a world that is a divided land, one with differing cultures and religions who are all trying to achieve power. While the common people are suffering and are being oppressed on both sides. Of course the main oppressors are the Arsenal's Inquisitors, who are referred to as Testarotho. While the first volume focused on Elysia; the second volume moves the focus of the story to another central character, Leonedus. He is dealing with the struggles of trying to find his way in a world filled with turmoil and conspiring enemies as well as allies. Surely he can’t do this alone, so he always takes his huge gun with him everywhere he goes. There are some nice flashback moments that help explain Leo’s angsty attitude. It also unveils some of the conspiracies going on. Not as much gritty action as the first volume, but I’m sure the next two volumes will have plenty to make up for this one. B+