Manga Reviews: From Airtreks to Forgotten Feathers!

Airgear vols. 15,16, and 17 Omnibus
Story & Art: Oh! Great
Translation: Makoto Yukon
Lettering: North Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

I think that Del Rey is really figured something out with these omnibus editions they keep releasing. While other companies seem to go under or just reduce the amount of manga they release, it seems that Del Rey just compiles two to three volumes into one oversize book and charges a cheaper price than buying the individual volumes. I’ve seen Tokyopop and Del Rey do that in the past with the first three volumes, but this is a first time that later volumes are collected in one giant omnibus. If you aren’t familiar with AirGear it is a manga 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 Baby face 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. We start these volumes with the final fight between Kogarasumaru and Animal House. Representing the teams are two gorgeous girls: Benkei, the sexy cheetah girl and Ohm who controls the water. Meanwhile Simca is still recovering and for now she is confined to a wheel chair, but no worries, she still looks sexy as ever. I guess the biggest highlight for me in these three volumes were the revelations of some of the characters and the significance of the tower. But, how could I go on about these volumes and not talk about the epic of epicness fights? That fight is all Ringo vs. Ikki. Yeah, that’s right Ringo, I don’t know about most people, but this came as a huge shock for me. When I mean epic, I mean epic! So much blood, so much action, and so much fan service. Oh! Great really lives up to his name when it comes to his artwork; it’s actually better than great, it ‘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. These volumes really stepped it up a notch and the huge fight between Ringo and Ikki will be hard to top. A+

Blade of the Immortal vol. 22
Story & Art: Hiroaki Samura
Translation: Dana Lewis
Lettering: Tomoko Saito
Publisher: Dark Horse

I believe that the last time we reviewed Airgear, it was also the last time we reviewed Blade of the Immortal. What a coincidence? Wait…it’s not coincidence if it’s planned out that way. What am I thinking? Man, there are just some books that make me feel old. Reading comics for the 27 years and having none of the characters ever get older really makes me feel old. When I first started reading Blade of the Immortal I was in college and now I am married and have a kid of my own and it feels like ages ago that I would come into my room shut the door and get lost in the world of Manji and Rin. Alright enough nostalgia, let’s move on. Funny enough even the way that the book is printed hasn’t changed, because it is still being printed from left to right, and has a price tag that some may consider high for a manga. The thing you have to remember is that much work goes into the translation of this manga. Each panel has to be cut and re-pasted on the new pages in order to capture the real essence of Samura’s art style. The sound effects have to be as close to the original as they can make it, because sometimes the sounds are part of the art style. To put it bluntly; it is definitely worth the price of admission. I’m not sure how long in the course of the book Manji spent in Habaki’s prison and was being experimented on, but it felt like years to me. So it’s great that we have a new story arc starting with this volume. There is a new force that will stand against the Itto-ryu and they are known as the Rokki-dan. While this sounds like a great idea; I’m not sure how they will stand in the end, particularly when some of them were wiped out by Baro alone. While I am all for a new story arc, this volume lacks the greatness that its predecessors had. It is a very slow start and even though Anatsu shows up again, the threat isn’t there as in previous volumes. There is a huge glossary for terms used in volumes 1 through 19 that help remembering names and places. Also found in this volume are some great art pieces at the end of the book like all the ladies drawn in traditional Japanese high school girl outfits and even weapon art. B+

Peepo Choo vol. 1
Story & Art: Felipe Smith
Cover Design: Glen Isip
Publisher: Vertical

I had seen the cover around for a couple of months before receiving this book in the mail. What red blooded American male wouldn’t want to flip through the pages with a sexy cover like that? Sure, I had no freaking idea what the comic was even about and I sure as hell didn’t know what the title of the book even was. It is a unique book, I’ll give it that. The book is done by an American, but printed in Japan first, only to be translated and brought back to its country of origin. So, the title is a take on the name Pikachu. It’s a little Japanese character that the protagonist Milton is obsessed with. Actually, he is obsessed with anything Japanese and considers himself to be a citizen of Japan because he is such a huge otaku. Unfortunately for him, he is just a dorky poor kid who lives in America and is a bit of a loser. This all changes when he and his overly-obsessed with sex comic shop dealer Jody mysteriously win a trip to Japan. It turns out as we find out through subplots (and there are lots of those) that the comic shop is owned by gangsters and the trip to Japan is a cover to assassinate a Yakuza. I’m interested to know how Reiko (the girl on the cover) gets involved with Milton and Jody. I love the freedom that Smith gets in this book! Gangsters blowing each other’s heads off? A standoff between manga lovers and American comic lovers? Where else can you find two school girls holding a used tampon as a means of torture? It is completely over the top with sex, violence, and just tasteless humor, but I loved every minute of it. I love the reality of showing Otakus at their worst and not their best as opposed to just about every other book that focuses on them. This book has me craving for more and I’m so glad that Vertical decided to bring it over to the US. A

Tsubasa vol. 27
Story & Art: CLAMP
Translation: William Flanagan
Lettering: Dana Hayward
Publisher: Del Rey

This is it! Just one more volume until the ending of this epic saga and not much time left to wrap up all the unanswered questions? Wait! Is this going to be like Lost all over again? Not at all! As a matter of fact there are lots of resolutions in volume 27. So are real quick recap: Sakura is the princess of Clow and Syaoran is a young archaeologist passionate about the past and about Sakura. Before she can tell him that she too loves him, she is drawn into ancient ruins, where her memories, in the form of feathers, are scattered across multiple worlds. Syaoran goes with the dying Sakura to Yuko, the time-space witch and made ever famous from XXXholic, who grants him, along with Kurogane and Fai D. Flowright, the ability to travel across worlds to seek out the feathers. Now Sakura is at the hands of Fei-Wang and it’s up to our three heroes to get the princess back before he uses her to destroy all the worlds. Now clone Syaoran gets a happy ending of his own after reconciling and helping his friends, even though he had to die to achieve this goal. As it turns out we find out that before it was the kingdom of Clow it was just Acid Tokyo. The princess kept helping everyone by leaving a feather behind and keeping the water reservoir going. We learn that Yuuko, our lovely witch from XXXholic has been frozen in time and was in charge of a tube that plays a major role in this battle. And we finally get an appearance of Card Captor Sakura Syaoran and Sakura. I was a little confused with the whole mom and dad thing looking like Sakura and Syaoran and the art seems confusing at times when there is so much action going on while worlds are falling apart. Even though it was kind of confusing, it was still really fun and the stakes have gone up when Yuuko gives Syaoran the option to choose. B

Manga Reviews: Back with more Bleach than before!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Manga Reviews: More Flowers, Tsubasa, Animals, and Witches!

Animal Academy vol. 4

Story & Art: Moyamu Fujino
Translation: Katherine Schilling
Lettering: Star Print Brokers
Publisher: Tokyopop

One of the most difficult things I find reviewing manga is picking up the recent volume of a series, read it, and review it. I know that Omar, Melanie, and Tommy disagree with me, but I just can’t do it. This is why I don’t read American comics, way too much history if I pick up issue 100 of a title. I just have a hard time getting into the book and enjoying it. So when Tokyopop sent us volume four of Animal Academy, I ran to my local bookstore and damn, if they didn’t carry volumes one through three. So I dove right into this volume and tried to decipher what the series was about. Lucky for me the book was easy to follow and it took no time for me to be hooked. So it seems that Neko (Ironic that it’s the Japanese word for cat) is only allowed to attend Morimori school if she didn’t reveal that she is only human. This is a school only for magical animals only pretending to be human. Now that Yuichi is gone, because he was pretending to be only human, Neko takes it upon herself to tell her friends that she is just human and leaves. But, Kotaro is not going to let her go that easy when he comes after her in the human world. I’m not sure what it was about this book that kept me reading and reading. I found the art to be completely adorable and the story although simple, it wasn’t bland at all. The story unfolds at a leisurely pace, with lots of adorable moments of child-like humor It is one of those books that brings out the inner child in me and I definitely recommend it for kids. A

Haru Hana: The Complete Collection

Story & Art: Yuana Kazumi
Translation: Ryan Peterson
Adaptation: Kara Stambach
Lettering: Star Print Brokers
Publisher: Tokyopop

Between grading finals and reading essays I hardly had time to read any manga this past week. However on Sunday, Omar suggested I read Haru Hana since he looked at the art style and knew it was up my alley. I hate the fact that he knows me so well, okay I lied, I love the fact that my husband knows me so well. Yes, the main reason I read this book was based on the cover alone. It reminded me of the work by Moyoco Anno, Miki Aihara, and Ai Yazawa. But also the name of the book, come on it’s got flower on the title how could I pass up since I loved Flowers and Bees and Boys over Flowers so much? To my recollection I don’t remember this series being previously released in America, so I’m not sure if I’m crazy or if Tokyopop decided to just release the two or three volumes in one bang. Hana Yamada is the main character in the series, who has a unique problem when she comes in contact with boys; the poor girl breaks out in hives. This is all controlled as long as she has her green tea at her side. However the situation becomes drastic when her sister forces her to work for two cute guys at a massage parlor The place is ran by Shinnosuke and Haru . According to Shinnosuke, everyone touched by Haru ends up in a good mood. This doesn’t affect our heroine, of course, who comes across all itchy whenever Haru comes into contact with her. He of course gets a kick out of making Hana break out in hives. The two guys in the book, were your average bishoujo perfect models, who at times came across unrealistic. But the main attraction was Hana, her goofy yet determined ways to get out of situations had me cracking up and feeling sorry for her. The story changes from a goofy romantic tale to a more dramatic love story, but then again isn’t that the way a true love story really is? I enjoyed the story and I really felt bad for Hana, but she had me cheering on for her too. I definitely recommend the book for fans of shojo manga or anyone that enjoys a good love story. A-

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

I can’t believe it’s almost over. The manga that I thought could go on forever and to be honest I wish it could. What can I say? I’m a huge CLAMP fan and they could keep traveling through different CLAMP universes for the rest of the series for all I care. But, all good things and all that. In case you didn’t know what was going on or what this series is about here is a quick catch-up: Sakura is the princess of Clow and Syaoran is a young archaeologist passionate about the past and about Sakura. Before she can tell him that she too loves him, she is drawn into ancient ruins, where her memories, in the form of feathers, are scattered across multiple worlds. Syaoran goes with the dying Sakura to Yuko, the time-space witch and made ever famous from XXXholic, who grants him, along with Kurogane and Fai D. Flowright, the ability to travel across worlds to seek out the feathers. It’s been one hell of a ride with so many cameos by other CLAMP characters and so many worlds, but now all of it is coming to an end. With the wrap up in the last few volumes that ended the Syaoran clone saga (not as long or as dreadful as the spider-clone saga). While the trio of friends get ready to face Fei Wang Reed for the life of Sakura, the action stops to give us another background story. This time it’s all about Syaoran and how her first came to Clow country and met Sakura for the first time. Unfortunately I really didn’t learn anything new that I didn’t already know. Yes, I know that the love between Syaoran and Sakura is pure and innocent, but did we really need a whole volume to remind us? The flashback sequences were really nice to see in this volume, but I’m ready for some action in the next volume. By no means, it’s not a volume that can be skipped, but maybe I wanted something a little more. B-

XXXholic vol.15

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

All I know is that William Flanagan must be having a blast translating both Tsubasa and XXXholic, or he’s got one giant headache doing both jobs. It seems like this volume of XXXholic crosses over with Tsubasa, but it might be during the Syaoran clone saga or it could just be a glimpse of things to come…..let’s hope not. It seems that the spotlight is back on Watanuki as he takes a young woman under his wing and teaches her to cook. He also keeps having dreams of Yuko disappearing. He grows more and more concern when Yuko is missing for weeks from the shop and there are no signs of Mokona or Maru. It seems that he was having more than dreams when he keeps running into people that Yuko has helped in the past have no idea who Yuko is. It’s as if she never existed. It is a very disturbing and depressing volume. I know this isn’t the final volume of the series, but it’s got t be close. Specially with that last chapter between Watanuki and Yuko; he really wants her to exist and is willing to make it his fondest wish. No, matter what hell she put him through, his life is better because of her. That was some powerful moving dialogue at the end of this book. I’m really excited about the next volume, because I want a happy ending for Yuko, Domeki, and Watanuki. A

Manga Reviews: End of Year Wrap Up!

Emma vols. 5 & 6
Story & Art: Kaoru Mori
Translation: Sheldon Drzka
Lettering: Janice Chiang
Publisher: CMX

I remember reading the first two volumes of Emma and thinking….oh man, here comes some more maid stories from Japan and rolled my eyes. Of course there are some exceptions like Hand Maid May and Mahoromatic, but I was so tired of maids when I opened the first book. Well, if you read my review you know the books took me by surprise. Although I found these two volumes, not as captivating as the first volumes; they were still fun to read. Emma is kidnapped and sent off to America, but William tracks her down. This is portrayed so abruptly that she may as well of just been hiding in the basement. William breaks off his engagement to Eleanor and her parents seem to take it rather well. This all turns into a darker plot to get rid of Emma once and for all. Other problems arise, but frankly it seems that the focus of these last volumes is just to get things over with. Emma & William may find happiness at some point, but the books are starting to feel a little rushed. I was very disappointed with this volume in comparison to the earlier ones. Mori’s artwork certainly fits this story with the use of crisp, clean pristine lines that are reminiscent to the print style used back in the Victorian age. The reconstruction of Victorian England is careful, but above all, the character of Emma is so lovely, so tender, that I was absolutely taken by her and her history. As much chasing around and betrayals that there are in these volumes, you can’t forget that Emma is a tale of love, and it’s beautifully crafted. B-

Moyasimon: Tales of Agriculture vol. 1
Story & Art: Masayuki Ishikawa
Translation: Stephen Paul
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

I can usually tell what a book is going to be about by looking at the cover. I guess, yes there were a few exceptions in my time. Watchmen # 1, Y The last man #1, and Fables #1. Well I can certainly add Moyasimon to the list. At first glance I thought I was going to be reading another Obama manga, but it turned out to be something else complete. Tadayasau is attending a university for the first time, an agricultural university to be precise. There is a reason he is going to this school; because he has a unique, yet bizarre gift. He can see germs with his naked eye. That may not seem like much of a talent, but when the produce of a country depends on cultural processes, the skill becomes more valuable. For his fellow students saved from food poisoning, he is appreciated. For his classmates, who look for his assistance on their assignments and sake brewing activities, he is also appreciated. To his professor, his grandfathers' friend, he is invaluable. For a young man, eager to enjoy his first university experience, his special talent also carries a burden. One of the most intriguing parts of this manga is the information presented by Masayaki Ishikawa when the narrative stops frequently to explain the science of, say, how sake is made, or yogurt. I find notes like that help carry the story for someone who knows little about agriculture or wasn’t a member of the FFA. He explains how invaluable fermentation is to food supply and drug manufacturing for readers. His art style is a nice blend that mixes realism with a bit of exaggerated cartoonish faces. But his attention to detail really pay off when it comes to differentiating the bacteria. It’s an odd book, I’ve never really read anything like this and the cover really threw me off. I guess that’s why I enjoyed it so much. A

Oh My Goddess vols. 31-33
Story & Art: Kosuke Fujishima
Translation: Christopher & Dana Lewis
Lettering & Touch-up: Susie Lee & Betty Dong
Publisher: Dark Horse

It’s been a while since I read new Oh My Goddess adventures; recently I read the classic volumes 9 through 12. Sometimes it feels like reading a different series with an almost different artist. There is a nice race between her broom Stringfellow against Hild’s. Chichiro makes her return just in time to take the gang to her hometown to make her dream to make motorcycles come true. Of course when you involve Urd and Skuld in the story, there is going to be some modifying. By far my favorite story is the one focusing on why Urd didn’t get to become a first class goddess. The stories were fun to read, I literally couldn't put these books down and read them all in one sitting and re-read them again to just awe at the beautiful artwork. Every time I read these books they always seem to take me away to a more innocent time. The Love story of Keichi and Belldandy is still touching to this day. Even though the author is beyond 33 volumes and the characters really haven’t changed that much except in the style in which they are drawn. The aspect I have always been interested in is the borrowing of Norse mythology in this series. But who am I kidding? That’s not why I read this series, I read for the fun it brings into my day of reading dark and depressing comics! My only gripe is that the books seem to read faster than they used to. Not only that, but the pages seem to have gotten thinner, ranging from 140 to 150 or so pages. They also seem to be more story driven than character driven nowadays. With lots of grunts, interjections, and exclamations of powers in every battle, this leaves very little room for those more of the character driven stories from the past. I still think this is a must read series for any manga fan or anyone wanting to try something new. B+

Samurai Deeper Kyo vols. 35/36
Story & Art: Akimine Kamijyo
Translation: Stephen Paul
Lettering: Michael/Carpelis Design
Publisher: Del Rey

It’s not that I am reviewing two books, it’s just that Del Rey decided to release volumes 35 and 36 in one book format. That’s right! This book is no longer being published by Tokyopop. The kind folks at Del Rey are nice enough to finish the series. When I mean finish, I mean finish the book only had four more volumes before Tokyopop lost the rights to it. Well, if you aren’t familiar with Samurai Deeper Kyo, it’s a story that takes place in the Edo era of Japan. The story mainly focuses on Mibu Kyoshiro, a wandering medicine peddler whom tires easily, whines every now and then, is very clumsy, and, of course, is quite peaceful despite it all. That is, until you make him mad, much like the Hulk you wouldn't like him when he's mad. His eyes turn blood red, and the innocent Kyoshiro transforms into the murdering Demon Eyes Kyo. Who is the "legendary killer of a thousand men". No longer is he reluctant to participate in any acts of violence; on the contrary, Kyo, the dark spirit residing within Kyoshiro, actually enjoys slaying. Along his journey he gathers a group of warriors: Benitora, Shiina Yuya, Sanada, Sakuya, Sasuke, and even the Four Emperors. After a long journey they finally reach the top of crimson tower to do battle with Fubuki and Hishigi. Meanwhile Shiina is still being held prisoner by the former Crimson King. Only two more elders before they reach the end of their journey! This has been a epic story of massive proportions!! It’s taken years to get this far and I have been along for the ride since volume one. While some volumes toward the middle of the series were a bit dull; Occurrences in these two volumes has really picked the series up! The art for this series is gorgeous. The characters are well drawn and expressive and the backgrounds are elaborate. The fight scenes are well done and well paced, allowing the reader to easily follow the battle without words. I will warn the squeamish that there is a lot of blood flying in the battles, but I personally find that much like Blade of the Immortal, it's done elegantly and that it's necessary for Demon Eyes Kyo to maintain his persona. A

Last Minute Gift Ideas:

Pop Wonderland: Thumbelina
Story: Michiyo Hayano
Original Story: Hans Christian Andersen
Art: POP
Translation: Camelia Nieh
Publisher: Dark Horse
I figure I throw a couple of gorgeous books as last minute gift ideas at the end of the review. The first book is an interesting take on the classic tale of Thumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen. Thumbelina is a very special girl, not only because she captivates everyone she meets with her charm and innocence, but she is no bigger than your thumb. This sweet little girl emerges from flower that a witch created to give to a woman who couldn’t have a child of her own. Soon after, Thumbelina was spotted by a frog, who stole her away to marry his son. Trapped floating on a lily pad, Thumbelina was rescued by a beetle who took her back to his family. Thumbelina's adventures were just beginning. Later she would meet fish, butterflies, moles, and other woodland creatures, all enchanted by the littlest girl in the world. But I guess her most exciting meeting was meeting the Prince of Flowers.POP is the creator behind the educational series Moetan. POP uses his unique style of pastel palette which flatters the story. I read this to my little girl and even if you don’t have kids and are just a kid at heart, I highly recommend this book even if it’s just 32 pages long. A

Tsubasa Album De Reproductions Original Art Collection
Art: CLAMP
Publisher: Del Rey
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of CLAMP and with more than 1 million copies of Tsubasa manga, this is an art book that you knew was going to happen. Originally published in Japan in 2007, this amazing art book contains every piece of color artwork created by CLAMP for Tsubasa. It includes every cover published in the United States, as well as rare hardcover images never seen before in America. Each image is reproduced in full-color with amazing clarity and quality. An original bonus short makes this a must-have for CLAMP's many fans. At the end of book is five black-and-white pages titled: World of the Untold Story #8. This story happens to be an original Tsubasa manga that will appear only in this book! In it, the characters from the series try to get gifts for Yuko…yep it crosses over with xxxHolic! There is an additional four pages dedicated to explaining the artwork and where you can see thumbprints of the original artwork. If you are a fan of CLAMP, Tsubasa, or just an admirer of beautiful images in general, chances are you owe it to yourself to buy this book. It makes a nice addition to the manga series, I just wish it was a little longer. 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: Second Week in a row!

Black Jack vols. 6 & 7
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Camellia Nieh
Publisher: Vertical
Sometimes I find it difficult to review Tezuka’s work because after all the man is the God of comics and how do you criticize perfection? I remember being so excited when Viz first released these stories in their short-lived manga Anthology Manga Vizion. It was upsetting that they didn’t continue publishing the adventures of the tortured renegade Doctor. Along came Vertical to the rescue and this translation is far superior to its predecessor. Like the previous five books, these volumes are oversized with 14 different stand alone stories per volume. Black Jack is a complex individual; he is a man who professes to care only about money but who is deeply concerned for the well-being of all his patients. He is a man with no limits in the medical field and even though he works miracles, not everyone has a happy ending. The stories are a fantastic mix of sci-fi, romance, horror, and of the human will to survive. One of my favorite things about Tezuka’s art is that he never recycles any of his character designs (unless they make a cameo) and the secondary characters all stand out in their own unique way…I think I developed a soft spot for Pinoko after reading The Two Pinokos story. Camelliah Nieh does a stupendous job with the translations making the characters sound so real and as true to the Japanese as possible. I literally read the book from cover to cover twice and have passed it around to other friends to get them to read comics. If you are a fan of House, Grey’s Anatomy, ER, or even Scrubs you are missing out on such a great series if you aren’t reading this book.A

Karakuri Odette vol.1
Story & Art: Julietta Suzuki
Translation: Aimi Tokutake
Adaptation: Peter Ahlstrom
Publisher: Tokypop

There are certain 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. 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 the end. While the first few chapters get a little repetitive, I still found myself wondering what she was going to come home and ask for next. Kind of like Arale in Doctor Slump, but not funny. When she asked for weaker arms, because she didn’t want to stand out during gym class I wasn’t expecting her to get stuck in a well with her friend. During the Christmas season Professor Yoshisawa leaves Odette alone, she finds herself in company of Chris Number Seven, yep another android that ends up playing the game of Life with her. The art in this book is your typical shojo art. But it is refreshing to see that you won’t find any kind of fan service in this robot chick story. A -

NG Life volume 1
Story & Art: Mizohu Kusanagi
Translation: Nan Rymer
Publisher: Tokyopop

Kind of funny that the day after I watch the episode of Doctor Who entitled The Fires of Pompeii, I end up reading this book Now stay with me cause the plot can get a little confusing, well just the players can get confusing. In the city of Pompeii Sirix was becoming a champion in the gladiator arena. His best friend, who was always at his side, was named Loleus. His love interest was the lovely Serena. All this came to an abrupt end when Mount Vesuvius erupted and destroyed the city. Of course nobody survived the disaster, but it seems that their souls are occupying bodies in modern-day Japan. Sirix is a high school student named Keidai Saeki, his best friend is now a girl named Mii Serizawa, his sister is his mother, and his arch nemesis is his father. The biggest twist of fate comes in the reincarnated body of Serena, who turns out to be his new neighbor named Yuuma, and happens to be a boy. Not only is Keidai the only person who remembers everyone’s past lives, but he’s managed to creep out Yuuma, who I still think looks like a girl. While this is all some great ingredients for a confusing love story, it is really overshadowed by the unfunny comedy that is all over this book. It seems that in every other page Keidai is freaking out about something and over reacts with jaw dropping faces. The art's a little rough on the edges, but it has a warm feel and brings out the characters' personalities, but like I mentioned before, sometimes a little too much. Plenty of clichés in the story, but I still have hope that after the play something happens to the other characters to make them remember. C+

Oh My Goddess! vols. 9-12
Story & Art: Kosuke Fujishima
Translation & Adaptation: Dana Lewis & Toren Smith
Publisher: Dark Horse

How could I only put one exclamation mark when I write Oh My Goddess? I believe three exclamation marks wouldn’t do the book justice. Okay, in case you don’t know what Oh My Goddess! is about, here is a real real quick recap: Keiichi Morisato accidently dials a goddess hotline and ends up with three goddesses. These three Goddesses are Belldandy, who Keiichi is madly in love with, her older sister Urd, and her younger sister Skuld. These four volumes have so much story pact in them it’s insane. From Keiichi turning into a girl a storyline that takes a turn for the darker as Urd's evil half is exploited by the demonic Mara, partly as another scheme to drive Belldandy back to Heaven but also simply to return to the friendly relationship she enjoyed with Urd when they were kids. Mara being Mara once again fails to fully consider all ramifications of her plan... and the resulting two Urds may both die before the story is over. By far the greatest OMG story comes from these volumes. The sad story about Keiichi’s dog literally brought tears to my eyes, as I’m sure any animal lover would get teary eyed too.

What are the odds of someone making the same mistake twice? Well, leave it to Keiichi to beat the odds when he manages to dial up Peorth, a beautiful goddess who happens to know what Keiichi's secret desires are, and wants to grant him his fantasy.
Peorth will stop at nothing to get Keiichi to admit his desire for intimacy. Showing up nude in the bath to scrub his back? Getting into his bed in black lingerie? Trying to get him to drown so she can perform mouth-to-mouth? She'll do it. Things only get worse when Peorth meddles with Urd's love potions, accidentally creating one that makes ANY woman Keiichi looks at fall in love with him. And wouldn't you know it, his sister Megumi is visiting for the day! Keiichi and Belldandy's love for each other is put through trial after trial, as Peorth attempts not only to seduce Keiichi, but to make Belldandy remember an insult she gave Peorth long ago. Fujishima's characters and their relationships continue to evolve in these volumes with Belldandy and Keiichi taking a backseat for the first two volumes while Mara, Urd, and Skuld step into the spotlight. The art is, as always, the gorgeous mix of cartoon-like style and realism that Fujishima becomes increasingly adept at. It seems that in these volumes Fujishima is finally comfortable with his characters and it is just plain gorgeous. Do yourself a favor and buy these books! A+

Reservoir Chronicle Tsubasa: Character Guide 2
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
Adaptation: Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane
Publisher: Del Rey

Since CLAMP has done so much work over the years, sometimes I wish I knew what character came from what manga in the Tsubasa books. Over 20 volumes deserves a character and world guide. Put out by the Shonen Magazine Editorial Department it is a bit like the Clamp No Kiseki, with a little more information in a more manga-style format as opposed to the magazine/art book type. There are a lot of fun tidbits other than just a guide to the characters. Pre-production character sketches, the original color art, and artist contributions are probably some of my favorite parts of this guide. There are other things that seem to just take up room to fill in the book like an advice column by Fai and the personality test. The new manga in the back is very short and doesn’t affect the continuing story in any way. The mini interview did peek my interest. Reading about how CLAMP is tailoring their traditional shojo style of art and storytelling to fit into a shonen magazine was something I didn’t know. They’re very conscious of the different expectations shonen readers have, both in art and storytelling. Ohkawa has a good sense of humor and makes the interview an enjoyable read and I love how she draws herself. I think that as long as you've read the manga, this book provides no information about the stories or characters that you don't already know. But if you are a completist, like me, you know you are going to purchase this book. C

Manga Reviews: Momo Tama, Peace Maker, Tsubasa, Yokaiden

Momo Tama vol. 1
Story & Art: Nanae Chrono
Translation: Beni Axia Conrad
Adaptation: Lorelei Laird
Publisher: Tokyopop

I thought the artwork seemed familiar. Funny enough I read two books by Nanae Chrono this past week. It took me a long time to realize that Kokonose is not coming out of an egg, but he is coming out of a peach. Anyway….on to the small summary. Kokonose Mutsu is a cute little guy, who also happens to be a descendant of ogres who were banished from their own island. You see in ancient Japan the mythical Japanese hero Momotaro defeated and banished all the ogres from their own island. Now Kokonose wants to reclaim that home that has been turned into a military school for ogre exterminators. Of course things don’t go as plan because everything gets in the way and he ends up getting enrolled in the school. The only thing he has managed to do is let everyone know he is going to take his land back and overthrow the current Momotaro. It’s a little different than Peacemaker and Peacemaker Kuragane. The main character is adorably cute and has powers that can take down his enemies. The story is really easy to follow and everything starts coming together, even though it has plenty of Japanese folklore like the boy born from a peach. Please don’t let the pink make you think that this is a girly manga (not that there is anything wrong with those). B

Peace Maker Kurogane vol. 1
Story & Art: Nanae Chrono
Translation: Bruce Dorsey
Adaptation: Christine Boylan
Publisher: Tokyopop

As I mentioned in the review right above this one; I happened to have read two Nanae Chrono manga this week. This one however is a little different because it is inspired by the anime series of the same name. I had never watched the anime of Peace Maker, but two years ago I got to read the manga and I became hooked on the story. I did cheat and went ahead and watched the anime of Peace Maker Kurogane and the first thing I noticed was the character designs. In the anime the characters looked very bubbly and with strong defining lines, but in the manga they look very dark and sketchy at times. The artwork matches the personalities of each character, from the mysterious Hajime to the seriousness of Tatsunosuke. There is really nothing to compare about in Chrono's work here; sure it’s not original in any way at all, but it still felt refreshing, which I think works better for a story like this. Speaking of story, this is a follow-up to the original Peace Maker series. Three months have passed since the incidents in the original story and now the Shinsengumi is the peacekeeping force in Kyoto. Tetsunosuke and his brother Tatsunosuke are back and still trying to get revenge for the death of their parents. It may be a little confusing to new readers, but it’s a story about samurai, sword fighting, and historical Japan it might be to your best interest to check this book out. A-

Tsubasa: Those with Wings volume 1
Story & Art: Natsuki Takaya
Translation: Kinami Watanabe
Adaptation: Stephanie Duchin
Publisher: Tokyopop

Let’s just make this clear that this book has absolutely nothing to do with CLAMP’s Tsubasa series that is published by Del Rey. I guess it’s only fair to say that the Japanese word Tsubasa means wing. You may have heard the name Natsuki Takaya before. Tokyopop also publishes Takaya’s other series Fruit Basket, which is a bestselling manga that is almost finished here in America. Tsubasa shares very little aspects with Fruits Basket. This is more of an adventure quest than a shojo manga. Orphan and ex-thief Kotobuki has a love/hate relationship with military commander Raimon and they have to team up to find the legendary Tsubasa, a legendary object that grants its beholder any wish. Other people want this Tsubasa and want to hire Raimon and Kotobuki. The story was written and drawn in the mid 90’s and you can really tell from the artwork alone. The character designs look very generic and the facial expressions are emotionless at times. Raimon has a dark past, but it’s really difficult to see this come across with the artwork. The story is intriguing enough for me to keep getting the series; I just hope they keep with the same 400+ pages for 15 bucks. There is also a 25 page preview of Phantom Dream, another manga by Takaya included in the back. This is definitely a book worth checking out. B

Yokaiden volume 1
Story & Art: Nina Matsumoto
Publisher: Del Rey

I had no idea that Del Rey was doing any OEL (Original English Language) until I checked out The Reformed last year. This seems to be their latest OEL manga from the lady that brought you the manga style Simpsons artwork. Yokai are Japanese spirits that can be anything from mischievous to deadly. This doesn’t matter to Hamachi, because he just wants to be friends with all of them. When his grandmother is apparently murdered at the hands of a Yokai, Hamachi journeys into their realm. Along his way he runs into different kinds of spirits and particularly two who befriend him a talking lantern and a talking umbrella. In between chapters there is Inukai Mizuki’s Field Guide to Yokai. These are notes to differentiate the different spirits that live in this realm. I found myself loving this book. It was full of adventure, comedy, and a dramatic pursuit for the truth. It has very smart and snappy dialogue, which brings a light-heartedness to what could have been a dark story. The art I’m still trying to get used to. It really does look like one of those How to Draw Manga books, but it is very clear and easy to follow. I’m excited to see where this series takes us. A

Manga Spotlight: xxxHolic

This Review was Submitted by Thomas Pfeiffer

Story & Art: CLAMP
Publisher: Del Rey

Watanuki’s a normal teenaged high school kid, well except for the fact that he’s suffering from the Ichigo epidemic of seeing ghosts and ghoulies, who accidentally stumbles into a mystic shop run by an arrogant, crazy lush named Yuko, the space-time witch. Yuko’s specialty just so happens to be in fixing people’s “problems” in exchange for something equally important. For Watanuki that happens to be his “ghost-seeing” problem in exchange for Watanuki becoming the indentured servant for the witch. Watanuki’s day to day adventures include cooking, cleaning, shopping, acquiring the latest alcoholic beverage Yuko has the taste for at the time, and catching glimpses of other patrons of the shop and their tragic downfalls. Of course this is an occult shop so it’s not as hum-drum as it sounds, ordinary chores can quickly brush elbows with the supernatural.

Going into this manga I had no idea what to expect. I knew that it crossed over into “Tsubasa Chronicles” another CLAMP work being published at the same time, so I was intrigued, I heard great things about Tsubasa and its “crossovers” and of course been a CLAMP fan ever since those three girls went off to magical RPG land and started killing off princesses. Mostly I was excited about possibly seeing some crossovers from CLAMP series in XXXholic, but alas none (unless of course you count Tsubasa, and there is a drunk black Mokona). The premise for the manga that you get from reading the first couple of volumes sounds great. Problematic people coming into a mystical shop for help with their problems or addictions and the space-time witch which tries to help them, often ending in a sorrowful, or horror-filled climax for the individuals when they won’t listen to Yuko’s advice. It seems that’s where the ol’ CLAMP gals got the title (“XXXholic” as in “(insert addiction here)-holic”) Brilliant premise! But soon the manga turns into random stories about Watanuki, his exorcist rival, and the girl next door he’s in love with and the shenanigans they get into with japanese folk tales and mythology. It sort of turns into a poor man’s Urusei Yatsura, random stories involving the supernatural, but unlike Urusei Yatsura, no zany, over-the-top humor. The stories seem to try too hard to include fables and mythology without actually having a reason to giving you that “what was the point?” feeling. It feels like the majority of the stories are “filler” stories in an anime series that you end up hoping the next chapter will actually continue on with the plot. Just so you know after Volume 3 they really don’t, at least not often enough. In fact the only reason I continued reading this manga was to find out if it would ever go back to that intriguing premise that it led you into thinking this manga was about.

Of course the artwork is phenomenal. I honestly have to say that this is my favorite CLAMP artwork, and I’m a huge CLAMP fan. It’s drastically different than any of their other stuff. It still keeps with CLAMP’s way of doing malnourished, anorexic men, bubbly cute females and detailed hair, jewelry, etc. but it seems to have a much more clean line feel with much more simplified character designs (most of the male characters wear a school suit which transfers into CLAMP’s artwork as a pitch black body suit with angles). It might appear to be a very lazy style but the lines are so precise and technical every page is a work of art. Also the lack of details in the characters makes the read much more enjoyable and easy for to see character movements and depth.

All in all XXXHolic is a manga having an identity crisis. Tons of different ideas and premises leaving the reader confused on what kind of story the manga’s actually attempting to be telling. Pick up the first three volumes, if you liked the stories of Watanuki & Co. and their zany adventures with the supernatural, keep reading, that’s the plot point that CLAMP for the majority of the time runs with. If not stop there and just think of this manga as a really good idea wasted. B-

Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Spotlight!

Creators: CLAMP
Translation & Adaptation: William Flanagan
Letterer: Dana Hayward
Publisher: Del Rey

When Tsubasa first started back in 2004, I picked up volume 1. Del Rey was a fairly new company and I wanted to see what they had to offer from one of their first manga titles. I really thought that the concept was an interesting one. Taking all the characters from the CLAMP universe and putting them together in one book was a great idea that had worked on such titles like Exiles in the Marvel Universe. If you didn’t know CLAMP is a four member group of manga creators that have been around for almost 20 years. Being a big fan of all their manga, I figure I would love the idea of all their characters coming together, but for some reason the first volume didn’t hook me and I lost interest. Fast forward three years later and Del Rey released a Tsubasa Omnibus edition that contained the first three volumes. I gave it another shot and I couldn’t put it down, but it wasn’t just that volume, it was all 15 volumes that are released in America that I couldn’t put down. That is why last week there was no Monday Manga Review. So what’s the story about? Who are the characters? Why should you buy this? Well here is a recap as best as I could put together with everything that has happened so far.

First of all let’s start with the cast of main characters in Tsubasa. Syaoran and Sakura are from Cardcaptor Sakura manga, but in this version they seem to be older. Sakura is a teenage princess in the land of Clow, which is ruled by her older brother Touya. Syaoran is her friend who is following in his father's footsteps to become an archaeologist. Both are attracted to each other and have known each other since childhood, but Syaoran feels uncomfortable with the idea of being involved with a princess. When Sakura's powers mysteriously awaken one evening, she sprouts wings which then disappear taking Sakura's memories and leaving her unconscious (but only for a couple of volumes). The High Priest of Clow Country, Yukito, immediately realizes that Sakura's wings were the manifestation of her soul and memories. Without her wings, she will eventually die.

Yukito sends Syaoran and Sakura to another world to meet with the witch Yuuko. There they are joined by two new characters, the wizard Fai D. Flowright (who created Chi from Chobits in his universe) and the ninja-warrior Kurogane, who serves the Princess Tomoyo. Each has a reason to see Yuuko and the need to travel to other worlds. Each of them must pay with what he values most in order to gain the power to cross worlds. For Kurogane, it is his sword Ginryuu, and for Fai, it is the tattoo on his back which allows him to use his magic. Syaoran has to give up the greatest gift of all. He must pay with his relationship with Sakura. Even if he is able to retrieve all the rest of her memories, she will never remember anything about him or their relationship. Of course they will need a guide for their adventure and no one is better than Mokona Modoki for that job. Thus Syaoran and his new companions begin their journey to other universes.

The first universe they run into is where we find two main characters from X/1999. There, they must do battle with powerful, seemingly magical street gangs as the look for a feather containing some of Sakura's memories. It seems that’s what they must do in order to get all of Sakura’s memories back and save her life, is gather one feather per world. Without going in too much detail, because it would literally take five pages to explain every world in detail, I can just sum up what kind of world’s they’ve been to; Anywhere from a world full of summons to a racing world. From a world of an enchanted princess and kingdom to a world full of endless wars. My personal favorites were the worlds where everyone was in a virtual reality machine and the world where they have to travel back in time to get the feather; which shows us that they can also bend space and time. Recently the gang has arrived in an apocalyptic world where they must face the Dragons of the Earth and the Dragons of the Heavens from X/1999.

You kind of get an idea of what the story is about. But now let’s talk about the artwork for the series. It seems that CLAMP’s artwork has changed dramatically over the last few years. Looking back at their earlier series such as Magic Knight Rayearth or RG Veda the characters were gorgeous, but always seemed like they were statuesque when put in action sequences. It seems with this title that has changed and every piece of artwork is gorgeous and fluid, especially the panel and page layouts. It varies from a shoujo, action packed, pop, dark, and violent manga; now if an artist can pull off all these genres without anyone noticing the slight change in art, that is a true testament to their capabilities and range. I blame the art for the hours that I spend looking at each volume. Sure the stories are great and catch you off guard sometimes, but to spend hours paging through it again and marveling at the individual panels, I can only name a handful of artist that I can say I do that with. Tsubasa, is a manga that demonstrates powerfully both the dexterity of CLAMP as artists, and their unique ability to weave a complex, self-referential story that rewards the fan for sticking with the series in the long run. The fights are one highlight of this series, but ultimately, what really carries it is the simple fact that Sakura, Syaoran, Kurogane and Fai (...and, of course, Mokona) are one of the most appealing teams of characters manga or even American comics have seen in years.

Speaking of characters, well they are finally starting to come into their own, and the interactions between our five heroes are often hilarious and sometimes poignant. It's a big plus that Sakura has regained enough memories so that she's no longer a space case, like she was in earlier volumes. If you've been waiting for Sakura to prove that she's got courage and dedication in her own right, just wait around until the 7th or 8th volume and you’ll see her shine. All the characters have some secret they are hiding from one another. Is Syaoran the original Syaoran? Who is Fai running away from? Why is Kuragane following orders from Tomoyo? Is Mokona ever going to double cross our characters because of its loyalty to Yuuko? So many questions and 15 volumes in and we’ve been hinted at a few answers. My only complain about this series is sometimes it takes more time to move on from one world than it really should. I can think of three volumes that were dedicated just to one world. But, complaints like these are relatively minor when you are talking about this phenomenal series.

Fortunately, one doesn't have to have read or seen any of CLAMP's other titles to enjoy this because it is new and doesn't base anything on what happened in their other titles. However saying that, you will enjoy this more if you know CLAMP's other works. The story in "Tsubasa" is interesting and Yuuko's character was so interesting, I have to check out xxxHolic to see how the two stories intertwine with each other. If you are curious about the other worlds, there are a couple of websites full of information or you could purchase the Character Guide to Tsubasa also published by Del Rey. It's a wonderful story filled with love, humor, other worlds, sorrow, adventure, action, and mystery. You don’t have to read manga to understand those types of emotions and to be hooked on a fantastic journey with a great cast and beautifully designed worlds. Don’t be an idiot like me and pass up on a great series because of the first volume. Go get the omnibus or buy volumes 1 through 3 and I will guarantee you will be hooked. This is definitely a series I will follow to the end. A