Manga Reviews: Hell Frozen Over? No way!

Gunsmith Cats Burst vols. 3& 4
Story & Art: Kenichi Sonoda
Translation & Lettering: Studio Cutie
Publisher: Dark Horse

Alright! I couldn’t be more excited then when I saw the covers of these volumes: Bean Bandit and Goldy!! It was really sad to see Rally shop for a new car. I loved that Shelby 500 GT as much as she did. Of course she can’t have a normal test drive in a vintage Cobra without someone trying to gun her down. Bean Bandit shows up, because he still owes Rally and she aims to collect. This time he is entering in a race all in the hopes of luring in detective Percy and gets him killed in an accident. Of course Rally doesn’t like the idea of being remotely involved in killing a policeman, so she enlists in the race herself in her brand new Cobra. The race itself was like watching Cannonball Run, Gone in Sixty Seconds (the original not the Angelina Jolie remake), and Vanishing Point. I agree with Rally! How the hell is Goldie still alive? Well, let’s just say things are a little different and this is a complete twist on the character. Sonoda’s designs remain sharp edged and detailed. However it’s great to see a combination of detailed machinery and cute anime faces. Throw in some guns and some fantastic action sequences and Dark Horse have themselves a winner. I would definitely recommend going back and reading the Omnibus collections, because they are amazing and affordable. A-

Hellsing vols. 8 & 9
Author and artist: Kohta Hirano
Translation: Duane Johnson
Lettering: Wilbert Lacuna
Publisher: Dark Horse

It’s been well over a year since I reviewed the last volumes of Hellsing. Thank Goodness this is a book you can just pick up and figure out what is going on. Over 100 years ago Dracula was defeated by Van Helsing, Holmwood, Morris, and Seward. Hirano added to the story of Dracula, by telling us the aftermath of the events of Bram Stoker’s story, and a good addition it is. In volume eight one begins to wonder if Alucard is looking for release from his unlife from a worthy adversary. Van Helsing did not kill Dracula in the end, but made him a servant/ soldier to help in the crusade rid the world of other creatures of darkness. What better soldier to have than the king of vampires himself? It never ceases to amaze me just how many different ways Hirano can draw Alucard! I don't mean that he can't draw and therefore he always looks different, but that his facial expressions are never the same. What an accomplishment! Hirano doesn't rely on the same cool smirk every time; I believe he enjoys seeing how many different ways Alucard can look crazy. And he is a shape-shifting vampire, so I suppose his face wouldn't always be the same.. Seriously, you'll never get bored reading this book with all the hard work put into each panel. The guy really knows how to set the mood with his art and let me tell you, these last two volumes are dark. It’s sad that it’ll be another year before volume ten gets reviewed. B+

Jormungand vols. 1 & 2
Story & Art: Keitaro Takahashi
Translation: Joe Yamazaki
Adaptation: STAN!
Publisher: Viz

I love oversized manga, no not necessarily longer than 150 pages. I mean over size as in the trimming is bigger than usual; it usually makes me thing that these stories printed in these pages are so important they had to be told in oversize treatment. I’m about 70% right and the other 30% I think other people enjoy more than I do. Koko Hekmatyar is an arms dealer that also happens to have a band of mercenaries at her side. One of these mercenaries is a child soldier named Jonah who lost his family because of the Merchants of Death! The first volume does a wonderful job of establishing the characters and their purpose. Even though sometimes it’s just a mere panel or two that one character gets. Although I found the beginning chapters nice and informative, the series really shone in volume two, because no exaggeration: it’s a huge shoot out and adrenaline rush. The art is gorgeous and really does wonder for the action driven scenes. The book is done in mostly heavy inks and doesn’t hardly use any tone. Takahashi puts great detail into guns and action scenes, it makes the book very lively! Overall Jormungand is a really fun, action-filled story that is full of over-the-top adventure, mystery, psychotics, murderers, and assassins that look good doing what they do. I mean what more could you want out of a book? It really reminds me of Suicide Squad or Gantz. A great read and a damn fun book too! This is definitely a buy! A

Maid Sama! vols. 3 & 4
Story & Art: Hiro Fujiwara
Translation: Su Mon Han
Lettering: Star Print Brokers
Publisher: Tokyopop

Yes, it's true, any time I see the word maid or see a maid on the cover of manga I end up not wanting to read the book;..unless there are tentacles on the cover. Since Omar reviewed Emma and Melanie did the last maid series, I volunteered to do this one. For starters Misaki is the Student Council President who has a secret double life as a maid (or pretending to be one) at a maid cafe. While she doesn't enjoy the job, like most of us it's still a job. I was under the impression that everyone was proud of their job, no matter how belittling in Japan. If you've ever had the chance to go to Japan and read manga or watch anime, you know what Maid Cafes are. Come on the girls there blow your hot curry for you and spoon feed you! Hot! Any way, one day, a boy named Usui from her school sees her at work and discovers her secret. Since he is somewhat affectionate of her, he doesn't tell anyone else her secret, but intstead goes and visits her cafe regularly. Which seems kind of odd for a guy that is supposed to be the big dreamy guy at the school. Hypnosis plays a big role in these two volumes. They already have a love/hate relationship, you throw in to the mix hypnotic hating and there is a whole world of trouble. But, that's nothing a little beach trip with the maids won' fix. There is even a volleyball game and hot steamy sex scene at the beach with fireworks. Alright, I lied about the sex, but everything else is true. I have to say I'm hooked, because of Misaki. She is a strong protagonist that isn't caught up in the stereotype girl-shojo style that I'm used to. This is a series I am keeping a close eye on!. B

Shaman Warrior vol. 9
Story & Art: Park Joong-Ki
Translation: Jay So
Lettering: Steve Dutro
Publisher: Dark Horse

This is for you, Yaki! You don’t know how long I have been saying that since I read the final volume of Shaman Warrior. It’s been a couple of months since I read volumes 6 through 9 back to back. Let’s play quick catch-up; this all started because of Yarong, who is mortally wounded at the end of the first book. Batu is now in charge of Yaki (Yarong’s daughter) and he has to keep her safe in order for her to become a Shaman Warrior. Yaki is now a woman and has gathered troops of her own to destroy the men that killed her father and endanger the lives of other shaman. With her new found powers she has already killed one of the men responsible, but new villains seem to put a damper on her plans. Let me just say that the final volume of this fantastic series does not disappoint. It had everything I wanted: Blood, guts, action, revenge, death, sacrifice, and even a little room for some love! Yaki’s final stand really moved me. For a lead female character she is up there with Ripley, Buffy, and Storm! The dark scratchy lines that seem like take forever to draw give this book that appealing unique look that so many other books lack. The action sequences are drawn so well that they are easy to follow, even for a book that relies on action heavy scenes. The movements flow smoothly and the motion is very convincing. Fans of Blade of the Immortal, Vagabond, and Lone Wolf and Cub should check this wonderful series out! A

Vagabond vols. 30 & 31
Story & Art: Takehiko Inoue
Based on Eji Yoshikawa’s Musashi
Adaptation: Yuji Oniki
Publisher: Viz

After the brutal fights with the 70 men of the Yoshioka Clan in the last volumes and these two volumes Musashi is left with a severely injured leg. While the sword fighting slows down in these two books it gives room for further character development. Unfortunately the character development makes you wish for more sword slashing action, because who am I kidding do I really just get this book for the story? I think it’s always been the art that truly draws me in these books. It gives the book a fleeting and suspenseful sense of what’s going on in each panel. Inoue was born to draw samurai action and he does it so perfect. It is absolutely gorgeous, dense, and very detailed. These characters literally come to life with the help of his pencils and inks. It really does put you in this time and place. If you like Manga that does not romanticizes war or swordsman, Vagabond should peak your interest. If Lone Wolf and Cub is the standard for balancing poetic story telling and showing the hardcore grit of life as a swordsman, than Vagabond comes a close second. What drives Musashi to succeed and overcome his past makes this series promising. The characters show a range of emotions in this series and the situations they deal with does an excellent job of targeting a mature audience. Sure the characters aren’t the nicest, even the protagonist is not very likable at times, but damn is it fun. Anyone interested in Japanese culture, swordsmanship, or just likes a great story should check out this series. The color pages and the additional sketches really give you no reason to buy this series if you haven’t yet. B+

Manga Reviews: Back with our DNA and more!

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

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

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

DN Angel vols. 12 & 13

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

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

Negima vol. 24

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

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

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

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

Shinobi Life vol.3

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

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

Midweek Manga Reviews: From Bloody chicks to Classic Tezuka

Blood + vol.1
Story & Art: Asuka Katsura
Publisher: Dark Horse

Saya is a regular girl except for the fact that she can’t remember what her life was like before a year ago. Hmmm…, what Omar would give to have this “blessing”! It’s an actual curse for her though. She desperately wants to bond with her adopted family and have a sense of identity and belonging, especially with her “brother” Kai. I don’t know yet if it’s a family love or a romantic love going on between the two, but he won’t give up on their relationship, even though Saya finds out she’s a vampire killing machine! Dum dum duuuummmm! I look forward to see where the story goes.

The author and artist, Katsura, is a woman, which I find to be highly inspiring! Morbid stories can pour forth from the minds and hands of females too! I love the different angles she uses to attack the scene. They aren’t randomly thrown in for something different than a straight on point of view; instead they create a mood suitable for the story. The angles switch drastically during the fights though, which makes it hard to follow where a character jumps or how Saya is attacking with a sword. But she looks so remarkable when she turns into the vampire hunter extraordinaire! I love her eyes and the use of shading. B

Dororo vol. 1
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Dawn T. Laabs
Publisher: Vertical

You can’t think of manga without thinking of Osamu Tezuka, hell you can’t think of comics without thinking of Tezuka. Even though he passed away in 1989 we (U.S.) are still releasing so much of his massive works in comics. This recent book by Vertical is Dororo originally published in the late 60s is a story about Japan during the Sengoku (Warring States) period. During this time the 48 demons rule the land and they sense the birth of a powerful human who will grow to destroy all of demon kind. Daigo Kagemitsu promises to offer body parts of his unborn child for domination of the country and to become unbeatable in warfare. When the baby is born his parents put him in the river, but he manages to survive and now goes by the name; Hyakkimaru (One-hundred Ogre Boy). He is found by a doctor who takes him in as his own son and builds him an artificial body. He also develops telepathic powers to make up for his lack of senses and body parts. When he reaches adulthood he sets on a journey to vanquish the 48 demons and reclaim his body parts. This is when he encounters a young street urchin named Dororo. Together they form a pact to get rid of all the demons so that one day Hyakkimaru can be complete again. Although this is not Astroboy, Kimba, or Black Jack, this is still Tezuka at the top of his game. But has he really made a manga that wasn’t enjoyable to read? Each one of his works is unique, but they all deal with the same basic human existence theme. There is a reason why he is the master at his craft and why he is one of the pioneers in the form of sequential art. One look at his artwork in the book and you can see his understanding of visuals and dramatic effects certain frames and blocks take on figures. He wasn’t only an artist, but a phenomenal story teller, director, and editor. I can’t say enough about this man and if you’ve never read anything by him, do yourself a favor and let this book introduce you to the world that he created. You can’t have a manga collection without this book in your library. A+

HeavenShield vol.1
Story & Art: Ryu Blackman
Lettering: Lucas Rivera
Cover Design: Jose Macasocol Jr.
Publisher: Tokyopop

I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I saw the cover to this book. The artwork reminded me of Fred Perry’s Gold Digger and I also noticed it was an OEL graphic novel. I’m not sure what the prerequisite for publishing OEL manga by Tokyopop is, but from my experience it seems the artist have to have a Japanese influenced art style. Anyway the premise of this story takes place in the future. In the post-meteor age, humans and human-like reptile descendents have struck a delicate peace accord based on a dark new religion called Sacrosanct. However around this time a psychotic general escapes from prison and plots a military coup. That is when the government hires saucy racer girl Sepulveda Ramos and her dysfunctional crew of mercenaries to do everything it takes to prevent global scale carnage. However, Sepulveda is not your ordinary mercenary, she’s more of a mental nutcase with a fetish for killing. I really don’t know where to begin with this book. The story is everywhere with the plot jumping all over the place, the characters are one dimensional, the art is very flat and bland, and the dialogue is horrendous. Seriously with dialogue like this: “ Gonna rape you good”, “ my paw told me reptilian cooch is worth dying for”, and “give me them bones sucka” the creator is really not trying to win any Eisner Awards. Even if he wasn’t, the dialogue is atrocious and it doesn’t help some characters have thick dialects and are hard to understand at times. As most of you know I have a colorful use of the English language, but sometimes these words are completely unnecessary. The art really doesn’t help that much, most of the characters look the same and the action sequences just seem boring. I do dig the character designs on some of the characters and his angles keep the pace fast. But the book just has too many flaws to be overlooked. I have high hopes for Blackman and hopes he grows not only as an artist, but a stronger storyteller. This however, is a poor beginning. D

Shaman Warrior vols. 4-6
Story & Art: Park Joong Ki
Translation: Taesoon Kang
Adaptation: Derek Kirk Kim
Publisher: Dark Horse

This book reminds me that not enough people read manga/manhwa. Instead of talking about how horrible the latest issue of Wolverine Origins is; people should be talking about how much of a badass Batu is or how great the latest volume of Shaman Warrior is. I really don’t see the difference between Western and Eastern comics. Most of the time if you strip everything down it is a basic story of good vs. evil. Unfortunately, some people can’t tell a basic story like that, but that is not the case with SW.

The storyline in SW is simple; When his master is mortally injured, Batu must leave Yarong’s side to protect his master’s child. Batu seeks refuge in different places to keep Yaki out of harm’s way. But trouble always seems to find them, not only in form of bloodthirsty assassins, but Death Lords as well. As of right now Yaki’s powers have yet to reveal themselves, but this doesn’t stop Batu from leaving her with Genji to avenge his master. He returns to Kugai to kill Yuda, the man responsible for the death of Yaki’s father. Eventually Genji leaves Yaki in the hands of brutal warriors in a desert training camp. Years pass and now teamed up with another Shaman Warrior Horakaan, Batu reunites with Yaki and begins to set the pieces for what is to be the final battle against the rulers of Kugai. There is a nice flashback that reveals the story of how Batu and Yaki’s father met when Batu was nothing more than a butcher.

The covers always seem to grab my attention. Each one is lavishly illustrated and just focuses on one character from the series with no background. The cover to volume 6 just goes to show how much time has passed since Batu was given Yaki in volume 1. The art inside the book is absolutely amazing to say the least. The art is beautiful to behold, and of such a unique style. It’s more than worth reading, even if just to sample something quite different from the books you are used to reading. It is not only gorgeous for the marvelous and easy to follow fights, but the facial expressions show so many characteristics that it literally makes these characters come alive. When characters are in pain, it really looks like it hurts. There is so much emotion behind those detailed eyes that makes you feel for the struggling protagonists. The action sequences are gritty and dark and moves the story at a fast pace. SW has a mature look that will draw in the many readers searching out the few truly adult oriented graphic novels they crave. If you like samurai stories such as Blade of the Immortal, Vagabond, or Lone Wolf and Cub, you will love this series. If you just like a great story featuring fantastic and realistic heroes put up against gritty and memorable villains you will love this series! A

White Night Melody vol.1
Story & Art: Selena Lin
Translation: Ysabet Reinhardt Macfarlane
Adaptation: Candy Shea
Publisher: Tokyopop

That cover is so ridiculously cute; I had no idea what I was in store for when I picked this book up. I’m such a sucker for super deformed (SD/Chibi) characters; I always purchase SD toys of characters in the anime/manga universe. Anyway the story in this book is rather confusing. What I thought was going to be an easy to follow kid’s novel turned out to confuse me at times. Ke Lim, Qian Shu, and Gao Ji are a typical normal family, but they live with two, not so normal dolls. Colleen and Jing Ping were once human, but have been turned into dolls, but can temporarily return to their human forms when their glass slipper charms get wet. I was of course confused by this, because I thought they were little children that turned into teenagers. For a kid’s book, it really didn’t explain much at the beginning and the reader figures it out as the story goes along. So these two try to get used to being human again by exploring the outside world, try to become regular teenagers, and eventually go to high school. The story can be a little hard to follow at times, mainly because the art is so busy in almost every panel. For example the costumes of the characters are drawn with exquisite detail. While I found the story cute, I can see why this is mainly a book for kids and not people my age. I had a hard time relating to some of the pre-teen characters and sometimes I just got lost with how fast the story moved along. I do want to find out how exactly Colleen and Jing Ping got turned into dolls and hope they reveal more of their shadowy past in later volumes. B-

Monday Manga Reviews: oh...and...some manhwa too!

Basara vol. 16
Story & Art: Yumi Tamura
Translation: Lillian Olsen
Adaptation: Gerard Jones
Publisher: Viz

There was a series called Chicago that I highly enjoyed when Viz ran their Animerica Extra Magazine. When I found out that Yumi Tamura had another series called Basara I jumped on from volume one and now I seem to be playing catch-up. This is probably one of the defining shojo titles of the 1990s, so don’t let the artwork keep you away from checking out this title. The story takes place in an apocalyptic future where evil kings rule and have tight grips on their kingdoms and peasants using murder and destruction. When Tatara, the Child of Destiny is murdered it’s up to his twin sister Sarasa to dress up like her blessed/cursed dead brother and lead the peasants to revolt in this world. After years of waiting Sarasa has finally clashed with Red King and her identity has been revealed. Now comes the aftermath of the epic battle. Basara is more than just your typical Shojo manga. Sure, there are drop-dead gorgeous guys, love interests, and cuteness abounds, but the character development and the intricacies of the plot are much deeper than the pretty exterior implies. Sarasa's quest to become a leader and come into her own as a person is fascinating, and the potential there are plenty of plot twists that even after 16 volumes still catch me off-guard. This is shojo at its finest. Intelligent, powerful, and inspirational are just a few words that come to mind. I know it may not look like your thing or your particular art style you enjoy, but I guarantee you will love it if you give a few volumes a try. A

Chunchu: The Genocide Fiend vols. 1 & 2
Story: Kim Sung-Jae
Art: Kim Byung-Jin
Translation: Jay So
Publisher: Dark Horse

I couldn’t wait to start reading this book because of those badass looking covers. I had no idea what kind of story I was getting into when I flipped through the book and saw the action heavy art. It is a time of chaos when the kingdoms of the Mirmidon and Yoong clans have been at war for the last three years, but all of this havoc ends when Chunchu, a Mirmidon soldier, kills the chief of the Yoong. Chunchu, seems to be the cursed child of a prophecy that was foretold the day him and his twin brother were born. While his own father wanted to kill the supposed cursed Chunchu, his mother spared his life and sent him to live with another general in Mirmidon army. He is now tortured by the demons that are in him and hunted down by his twin brother, Woolpaso. I ended up loving this Manhwa, while the story is not the most original or thought provoking the art really carries the reader and puts us in the middle of the brutal battles. While it hasn’t been as gory as Blade of the Immortal or Berserk, there is still plenty of violence to make the weak of heart to look away. Byung-Nin is a fantastic storyteller and knows when to zoom in to get facial expressions or haunting looks. He also knows how much action is needed in the battle fields to balance out the heavy dialogue. I have to say the translation is probably the weakest part of the story. While I had no problem with the main dialogue, some of its colorful dialogue seems a bit forced. Now I have no problem at all with vulgarity, but for some reason it just doesn’t seem to fit with the essence of the story. It was still an enjoyable story that makes you want to know what happens next. B

In the End vol.1
Story & Art: Pink Psycho (Heath & Nheira)
Translation: Erin N. Blakemore
Adaptation: Barb Lien-Cooper
Retouch & Lettering: Star Print Brokers
Publisher: Tokyopop

Let’s just say when I looked at that cover, I felt bad for Kaito Niikura, cause it seemed like he was in for a world of hurting or into some major bondage. Kaito Niikura is a high school student that seems to be suffering from the same problem most kids his age do; no one seems to understand him, not his dad, friends, or classmates. Enter his new teacher, Ren Ando, who for some reason seems to understand him better than he does himself. From the beginning Kaito just seems like a brat that has a lip ring, wears make up, and some horrible looking punk/goth clothes. He gets into angsty arguments with his father, because according to his dad, he is a disgrace to his entire family. Sometimes his inner monologue sounds like an emo kid that’s just had so much of the world he feels like posting it on MySpace. But I guess who didn’t feel like that at that age? The thing is that Kaito is starting to fall for his teacher Ren, who happens to have a girlfriend and has mixed feelings for Kaito. By the end of the book I had a different opinion of Kaito and a completely different opinion of his bastard of a father. So this was a typical story of love that was never supposed to be, but I really bought the realism of the characters. The book had a depressing ending and a lesson about never giving up on your true love. The art went from great pictures to some obscure figures. While it remained true to human figures during scenes that just involved dialogue between characters it changed to awkward looking characters when they would run or would interact with backgrounds. I’m sure with their next project the art will look better. B

Kurohime vol. 2
Story & Art: Masanori, Ookamigumi, and Katakura
Translation: Joe Yamazaki
Adaptation: Lance Caselman
Publisher: Viz

I can safely say that out of any covers that I have reviewed this week, this one by far is the best. With that being said, you can pretty much guess what this series is about. One look at the protagonist and you can tell it’s about gorgeous women with giant guns in the wild wild west. This manga borrows thing from everywhere; spaghetti westerns, Asian mythology, and even some fairy tales. This volume has a recap of what happened when we last left Zero and Kurohime (Himeko). But what seemed like a quick recap lasted longer than anticipated, because it seemed that I have already read this story with volume 1. It really didn’t seem to have any character development. Zero and Kurohime’s relationship seems to be in the same place it was when we began this story. That’s not to say that we get some more wacky hijinks in this volume. For the first time a character that shows up that also happens to be a bullet witch, Kashihime and she has a bit of a fascination with some Grimm’s fairytales. There was also another character, Saika, who I thought was a girl, until further inspection. Regardless of the same repetitive story this book still has great artwork, excellent comedy, and some really cool and unique battles. If you’re a fan of wild west shooting, mythical creatures, dragons, and magic in a world where the bad guys are really bad and the girls are drop dead gorgeous, then this is a manga for you. B-

Shaman Warrior vols. 1-3
Story & Art: Park Joong-Ki
Translation: Taesoon Kang
Adaptation: Dereck Kirk Kim
Publisher: Dark Horse

This is the second manwha that I read this past week and I’m glad I waited to read this one last. Shaman Warrior’s first volume sets up the background story of who is to become the protagonist of this title. We are introduced to Yarong, who is a Shaman warrior and his faithful servant Batu. They are in the middle of a mission from their general when they are ambushed and caught in a trap. With Yarong mortally wounded Batu escapes with the promise that he would take care of Yarong’s daughter Yaki. Yarong dies in battle against the death lord Yuda, who was working under direct orders of the general. 10 years later in the land of Kugai Shaman Warriors are now being hunted down and assassinated. This time we meet a young Shaman Warrior by the name of Horakaan, who leads his pursuers into the desert and right to Batu and Yaki. Death Lord Yuri heads to this desert town to find Horakaan and with a group of four Shaman Hunters, Batu and Horakkan are outnumbered as Yaki runs for her life. But, there are new powerful comrades that made their debut in volume 3. As much as I have enjoyed Park Joong-Ki's story, the artwork is nothing short of spectacular. He has a perfect blend of realism with some sketchy hyper-realism that puts those fight scenes on level only a handful of artist can pull off. Speaking of fight scenes, they are brilliantly rendered and choreographed. His pencils are extremely rich and detailed. I can’t thank Dark Horse enough for bringing out one of my favorite new titles over to the States. I highly recommend this book. A+

Zombie Powder vol. 3
Story & Art: Tite Kubo
Translation: Akira Watanabe
Lettering: Stephen Dutro
Publisher: Viz

I remember the first time I read this series, I was a little confused with the title, but I’m so glad I didn’t judge it purely based on that. This volume picks up where we last left the old gang. Wolfina’s little brother Emilio, has had a Ring of the Dead fused into his body, leaving him in a coma. This of course makes him a target for Balmunk, the mystic leader of a circus troupe, who has stolen Emilio's body. With the help of Gamma Akutabi, his partner C.T. Smith and his flunky Elwood, Wolfina pursues Balmunk to his circus, where the gang finds themselves locked into individual battles against the circus clan combatants. However it seems that Balmunk has an additional motive for fighting Gamma. It seems they share a history one that goes back to their earlier days when Gamma took on a more monstrous identity. This is an excellent series that I am sad to see ends with volume 4. It’s deep rich story rivals that of Bleach in style and originality. It may not be better than Bleach but it is close, and it is better than so much of the manga being published these days. Tite Kubo's art is at once graceful yet powerful, and especially stands out during the frenetic fighting scenes. The details are especially lush and striking throughout the book. Kubo also takes the time to provide profile pages on the main characters which is always a nice addition. It’ll be sad to see this book go, but at least that is 4 volumes of great story telling! A