Manga Reviews: It's Spring Break! Time for more Manga!

Battlestar Galactica: Echoes of New Caprica
Authors: Emily Salzfass, Richard Hatch, and Mike Wellman
Art: Chrissy Delk, Christopher Schons, and Anthony Wu
Cover: Udon with Christine Choi
Publisher: Tokyopop

Quick! Someone take my geek badge away….for I have not seen the last five episodes of Battlestar Galactica. Luckily enough these three stories are set around the time of Season 3 of the popular Sci-Fi channel series. The first thing that caught my eye was that gorgeous cover by Udon Studios with beautiful colors by Christine Choi….I wonder if she is related to Brandon. The first story is Teacher’s Pet and it tells the story of Laura Roslin teaching the children of New Caprica while the insurgents and the Cylons are in midst of battle. With informants everywhere it’s only a matter of time before she has to protect her children with her own life. Shelf Life is the second story that is written by Richard Hatch (Apollo in the original BSG series). It focuses on Tom Zarek who is put against the wall when friends of his could be collaborating with Cylons. In the third and final story: Visitation, Kara Thrace finds her false daughter Kacey in Galactica. However, Kacey is living in squalor in the Shantytown. Now comes the question of what to do next and what is she is willing to risk to get her Kacey out. My biggest gripe is the artwork. While the three artists did their job telling a story through a series of good sequential art; for some reason I just don’t think they paired up the right artist to the story. I can’t imagine anyone other than Battlestar fans enjoying these three stories, but if you are a fan of the series I would definitely check these out, but don’t read them until you have seen season 3 of the show. B

Black Jack volume 4
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Camellia Nieh
Publisher: Vertical

As you probably know by now….I have never been disappointed by Tezuka’s Black Jack series. 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 guess the only left for me to do is try to talk people into purchasing these wonderful books. Like the previous three books, this volume is oversized with 14 different stand alone stories. By far Pinoko Love Story really touched my heart. It’s so cruel that Pinoko is trapped in that little girl’s body while being in love with the doctor. The Thieving Dog made me cry and anyone with a pet will feel the same way I did when I finished that beautiful story. Tezuka's storytelling is mastery in hindsight, because while reading I forget my troubles because I am completely enthralled by the drama, sadness, and excitement. 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. 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. A

Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei: The Power of Negative Thinking vol.1
Story & Art: Koji Kumeta
Translation: Joyce Aurino
Publisher: Del Rey
I really wasn’t sure what to think about this book when I glanced at it. I think the only things that came to mind were: Man, that is one long title and that cover really does nothing for me. I have never heard of Koji Kumeta and I can see why he is Japan’s most brilliant satirist. There is so much satire humor in this book it really reminds me of a British sitcom. The plot is very simple; Nozumo Itoshiki is a schoolteacher who happens to be so depressed he sees the only way out of this hell hole is suicide. As a matter of fact that how we are first introduced to him when he unsuccessfully tries to hang himself from a tree. One of his students saves his life and that is the premise of the book, well part of the premise, each of his students in his class seems to save his life. They each seem to have problems too; anywhere from an over-optimist to a stalker. Even though he tears them down and belittles them, they still follow him in his pessimistic way of life. You may think that with a title focusing on negative thinking the characters would be bland, boring, and over the top pessimistic, but somehow through his dry humor Kumeta makes Nozuma a very likeable person and you warm up to his ways. Even the artwork started to make sense….sure it’s simple with lots of contrasts of black and white, but the style really sets the tone of the book. I was blown away by this book, I really wasn’t expecting anything special and after all these years I guess I still judge a book by its cover, so please don’t make the same mistake. Pick this book up and read it! A

Star Trek Ultimate Edition
Story: Chris Dows, Paul Benjamin, Wil Wheaton, Rob Tokar, Christine Boylan,
Luis Reyes, Mike W. Barr, and David Gerrold
Art: Makoto Nakatsuka, Steve Cummings, E.J. Su, Bettina Kurkoski,
Nate Watson, Jeong Mo Yang, and Don Hudson
Color: Michael Kelleher & Glasshouse Graphics
Publisher: Tokyopop

I think as far as the original Star Trek is concern I am familiar with the movies, two episodes, and that’s about it. City on the Edge of Forever and The Trouble with Tribbles are the only two episodes that I have seen from the original series. The collection in this novel is nothing but original Star Trek stories taken from the three manga released in 2006 and 2007. Not all the stories are collected in this edition just what the fans thought were the best from the original Star Trek manga trilogy. As extras you get a free poster, a forward by David Gerrold, a 16 color page prologue, and a preview Star Trek: The Next Generation Boukenshin manga. Some of the stories that were hand-picked by the fans on TOKYOPOP.com include Side Effects, Orphans and Til Death (Shinsei/Shinsei); Forging Alliances and Communications Breakdown (Kakan ni Shinkou), Art of War, The Humanitarian, and Bandi (Uchu). Some of the writers include David Gerrold, who wrote The Trouble with Tribbles and Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher from Next Generation). The stories ranged from very intriguing to passable. Some of them just came off as really bad fan fiction and others were highly enjoyable. The same could be said for the artwork. The artists they have chosen for this collection don’t have a unified style, making it hard sometimes to keep characters straight from story to story. Some of the artists apparently have no idea what McCoy, Kirk, or Chekov look like; at least you can always recognize Spock, because of his ears. I’m sure fans of the series would get more out of this book than your average manga reader, but you don’t have to be a Trekkie to enjoy the stories. 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 Reviews:Even the 08 election made it to this one!

08: A Graphic Diary of the Campaign Trail
Story: Michael Crowley
Art: Dan Goldman
Publisher: Three Rivers Press

Okay okay, why am I reviewing this in the manga section? Well it’s the standard manga size book and it is in black and white; soooo that is my only reason. I read this book while I was a sick a couple of weeks ago and never had a chance to review it. I just kept pushing it off until I could take a time to devote to it. Like most people in the world Election 2008 was the first time I took so much interest in the race for the white house. I really didn’t see myself watching so many biographies on Barak Obama and John McCain, let alone reading books on them. Now that the election was over, I kind of wish I had read this book before election night. Done through the eyes of two fictional reporters this book really served as a reminder of how crazy and intense the election of 2008 was. It serves as a time capsule of each blow by blow event. It can’t really be considered a comic book or graphic novel retelling of the events because it works more like a slide-show focusing on main parts of the campaign trail. It is very fast-paced and done with a sense of enough experience to be covering the real election. While the artwork was great at times, sometimes I noticed Hilary Clinton looking more and more like a demon. But McCain, Bush, and Obama look dead on. I have to admit it was an enjoyable read and like I said it really did serve as a reminder about a great historical moment in this nation’s history, but it still didn’t have any sequential art; just a bunch of stills. B

Ai Yori Aoshi Volumes 1-3 Collection
Story & Art: Kou Fumizuki
Translation: Alethea & Athena Nibley
Publisher: Tokyopop

Being a fan of anime and manga comes with prices. There are certain genres of anime that I just don’t get, but I always end up liking some after reading a few issues or watching few episodes. Anything from maids to hentai and the harem anime/manga I just never got into. Ai Yori Aoishi (the title is a play on words Bluer than Indigo and love is thrown somewhere in there) happens to be a harem manga. All the hot sexy women are for some reason attracted to the dorky virgin kid. Kaoru Hanabishi is setting off to go to college when out of nowhere his childhood friend Aoi Sakuraba enters his life to be his wife. Apparently Kaoru’s late mother agreed for the two to get married. Since the two were escaping family duties they needed a place to live and money. Enter Miyabi Kagurazaki who offers them a place to live. A nice summer house for Aoi since her family owns the place and a little hut out back for Kaoru. In no time the summer house becomes a dormitory for Kaoru’s friends and classmates, who all happen to be hot chicks. Tina is an American hottie from Texas that is studying in Japan, Taeko becomes the clumsy house keeper at the summer house she even moves her little cousin in Chicka, and Mayu has had a crush on Kaoru since she was 12. What we have here is a normal story that doesn’t have any extra terrestrial invasions or magical twists. It turns out to be a very sweet story. I do enjoy seeing that all the girls are different in their own way. Aoi constantly agonizes whether or not her fiancée is going to accept her, but I really don’t know how this charm is going to last for more than six volumes though. I guess the only way to find out is to keep reading. If you liked Love Hina, Negima, and Maison Ikkoku you should definitely check this out. B

Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo volume 1
Manga: Mahiro Maeda
Scenario: Yura Ariwara
Planning: Mahiro Maeda & Gonzo
Translation: Gemma Collinge
Publisher: Del Rey

I have never seen the anime Gankutsuou, but I did have to read the Count of Monte Cristo when I was in middle school, oh so many years ago. The first thing I noticed is the dramatic change in artwork from the cover to the inside of the book. Sure the cover is full of beautiful colors, but it is also more detailed and defined than the sketchier looking inside artwork. This is not a bad thing, because the Maeda’s art is absolutely beautiful. It reminds me of something from the early days of Studio Ghibli and even has a dash of the art in Nausicca mixed with Moebius in there. The sketchy lines and rough outlines blend so well with the toning effect that Maeda creates a highly detailed world and gives life to each character. This art style might not be for everyone because it does take some getting used to if you are not used to it. The story is the same as Alexandre Dumas’ tale of betrayal and revenge, but it’s supposed to have a futuristic sci-fi twist. But it really doesn’t seem that way to me, because everything looks so 19th century Europe. The Count wants revenge against the families that conspired against him and imprisoned him for so many years. The story stays pretty faithful to the original, but it’s hard to keep up with such a vast amount of characters. There is just way too many to keep up with and while the art is lovely, it gets difficult to tell them apart sometimes. It’s a classic story with some great artwork so I will be following this series; I just hope they explain why the count has pointy ears. B

Orange Crows volume 1
Story: James Perry II
Art: Ryo Kawakami
Lettering: Lucas Rivera
Publisher: Tokyopop

There are times I’m so glad that manga has come a long way from the way it used to be when I first start reading it 20 years ago. Never in that time did I think I would live to see American’s writing and drawing their own manga. Not just Americans, but the OEL (Original English Language) line is all over the globe. Pretty much it serves as a means of finding talent in different places other than Japan. Orange Crows falls under the OEL category, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a strike against it. Over the last two years I have found to love some OEL, although I still don’t get the love for Megatokyo. The story centers around a witch named Cierra Pensblood and her exile to her Wilderness for having broken a sacred law of trying to create her own magic (and managing to scar herself and hurt her best friend in the process). After five years of surviving in the barren wasteland she returns to her old city only to realize that it’s not the same as she once left it. After five years of being absent her world is not the only that changed; now her old friend Natty Batsgrave is distant and Cierra’s dark side is awakening. The story is simple enough to follow and enjoy, but it’s really the possibility of this series becoming darker and darker. There are things laid out in the first volume that make me think that and Kawakami seems more than capable of drawing a different range of story-telling. The only problem I see is that at times the art can be a bit confusing and hard to follow. Fans of Negima, Harry Potter, Spiderwick Chronicles and His Dark Materials should check this title out. B

Vagabond VIZBIG Edition volume 1
Story & Art: Takehiko Inoue
Based on Eji Yoshikawa’s Musashi
Adaptation: Yuji Oniki
Publisher: Viz

I have no idea why I never got around to reading Vagabond. Being such a fan of manga like Blade of the Immortal, Kenshin, and Samurai Deeper Kyo I’m surprised I never checked it out. I had no idea it was based on Japan’s greatest (or at least most popular samurai) Musashi. Well at least the fictional Musashi as written by Eji Yoshikawa. Let me tell you, if you haven’t read Musashi, do yourself a favor and check it out. The story of Vagabond is one you’ve probably read many times before; it’s about the journey of Takezo, a young man, future master swordsman, who is in search of purpose and meaning to his life. At first he thinks to become the best swordsman means to challenge and defeat the best in the world. Takezo wanders from place to place, battling swordsman and other fighters all in his quest to become the strongest fighter alive. Some of these enemies become friends, and some friends become enemies. Sure it sounds like books and movies we have all watched before, but there are so many layers to this formulatic plot that makes everything fresh. But it’s the art that truly draws me in. 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. I’m so glad I waited to read this wonderful series it was well worth the wait. The first three manga are included in this big version that is oversized and at a fraction of the original cost. 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. A

Manga Reviews: Back in the Game!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buddha volumes 1 - 8 Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Manga Reviews: Just in time for Halloween!

Ghostbusters: Ghost Busted
Story: Nathan Johnson & Matt Yamashita
Art: Chrissy Delk, Maximo V. Lorenzo, Michael Shelfer, & Nate Watson
Layout & Lettering: Michael Paolilli & Lucas Riviera
Publisher: Tokyopop

Who you gonna call? Come on! How else was I going to start this review? Being a child of the late 70’s early 80’s how could I pass up on chance to catch up with some old friends? Of course judging by the cover you can see that they were given the manga touch up. Even though it’s not traditional manga, but an OEL style separated into six stories. All the characters show up from the original Real Ghostbusters cartoon: Ray Stanz, Peter Venkman, Egon Spengler, Winston Zeddemore, and even a slimmer cameo. I mentioned that the book was split up into six separate stories, well there lies part of the problem. The first and last story aren’t connected to the core of the book, which is the middle four chapters. I’m really surprised that they didn’t choose one artist for an attempt to bring the classic show back. The problem is that the art is not cohesive and I think going with a more detailed/realistic artist would have been a better choice. It’s not that the art is horrible in any sense, but it just felt like some people that won a contest were drafted to draw this book. With a license item like Ghostbusters I’m really surprised they went that route. Even the stories feel a little off, because sometimes it reads like it’s based on the cartoon and other times like it’s based on the movies. I do have to say that the two writers have a complete understanding of the Ghostbusters mythos. While not the greatest Ghostbusters comic, it certainly better than the IDW comic that just recently came out. I’m sure fans of the GB world are going to pick this up. C+

I Luv Halloween: Ultimate Twisted Edition
Story: Keith Giffen
Art: Benjamin Roman
Publisher: Tokyopop

Every time I would walk past this book at the local book shop I would pass it up because I really thought it was nothing more than a kid’s book. I never noticed Keith Giffen’s name attached to the book. This is the guy that wrote some of the best Justice League, Annihilation, Blue Beetle, and Rocket Raccoon stories ever told. Not to mention the great English adaptation of the classic Battle Royale. Well, enough of the writer and why I wouldn’t pick up these books. Let me tell you, I was completely blown away by this collection! Completely blown away and ended up loving I Luv Halloween. It reminded of a mix of Tim Burton, Jhonen Vasquez, Battle Royale, Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, and Rugrats. That’s about the only way I can describe the mixed bag of goodies I got from this Halloween treat. The story is simple; every Halloween a group of kids get together to go trick or treating. These kids are all lead by the Skull mask wearing Finch and his younger sister Bubbles, who seems insane ,as you can tell by her fascination with pulling out people's molars. When they leave their house to begin the evening's festivities we see that their abode looks abandoned - and that the corpses of their parents, all zombified, are still sitting around. When we meet the rest of the group we see that another kid is dressed are dressed up as a pig, cat, and devil. Blood must be spilled when instead of candy the kids receive apples from an old lady. That seems to be the ongoing gory joke every Halloween. The reader is really thrown into a world which on the surface is similar to ours, but underneath has jarring and fascinating differences that work with the story elements toward more and more unlikely scenarios. Some of the scenes left me really disturbed and others I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically.
The hints of supernatural twists in this volume are enough to drive me to the next one, which promises an elaboration of the only glimpsed at zombie theme. In this collection we are witnesses to three different Halloweens that are all brought to you in color this time! We also get an additional story not released previously. I can’t recommend a more twisted book at this time! Don’t be silly like me and pass this book up!A+

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Story: Various
Art: Various
Translation: Alethea Nibley
Publisher: Del Rey

Objection!!! That’s right…that’s how we are starting this! I have been telling Dan since he decided to become a lawyer that instead of going to Law school, he should just play the Phoenix Wright games. Now he doesn’t even have to play the games by Capcom on the DS, but just read the stories by Del Rey. I’m a huge fan of the lawyer game and have played the original three, so when I saw that the manga came out, I was really excited. All your favorite characters and sidekicks are back in this manga, Phoenix, Miles Edgeworth, Detective Gumshoe, Franziska, and of course my favorite bubbly assistant Maya. What you will get in this book is a collection of 20 different cases and a collection of four panel manga. There is plenty of wacky humor and messed up plots to drag everyone along that isn’t familiar with the Phoenix Wright games. Being familiar with the series will come in handy when references are made to the video games, as well as the ever enjoyable inside jokes. It is definitely full of subtleties that a lot of Phoenix Wright fans would pick up on. Unfortunately it does it this quite often and it could exile those that aren’t familiar with the characters. I loved seeing the different takes on the characters. There are different art styles from various artists; it is actually quite intriguing to see Phoenix Wright and company drawn in each artist's personal style. Some I swear are taken right from the cut scenes in the game. Another point I would like to make is that some of the stories felt rushed and just ended with an anticlimactic end. It didn’t take that much from the enjoyment though, because I was hooked from beginning to end and I can’t wait for volume 2. B+

Vampire Hunter D vol.2
Story: Hideyuki Kikuchi
Adaptation: Saiko Takaki
Translation: Duane Johnson
Publisher: DMP

I don’t think I’ve made it clear how much I love LOVE Vampire Hunter D! Let me set the record straight, I fell in love with the series back in the early 90s when I watched the original anime. I fell in love with the style, the animation, D, and the music. I even used the music in my wedding this past June. Just in time for Halloween I decided to read the second volume of this fantastic series. If you’ve never heard of Vampire Hunter D…well the lowdown in this book is: This is a post apocalyptic future where vampires are a ruling nobility in sharp decline. However, humans are still around and live in a medieval state with fringes of technology. In Tepes, a small town built around ancient nobility ruins, four children went missing ten years ago and only three returned with no memory of what occurred. Now the village has hired D to investigate the mystery surrounding the disappearances. What really blows me away is that Takaki captures his cold beauty perfectly while retaining his less than loveable personality. I think that Takaki was a little more rushed in doing this adaptation because some of the panels look a little sketchier than others. In a way I feel like the first volume better, but that’s because I enjoyed the original novel much more than the sequel. It's a shame that it could not have followed the novel exactly, but for the most part I cannot make a complaint against that. I was still very thrilled to be reading it. It seems that in the manga D is humanized a little more than in the original novel. Will I read the third manga? Hell yeah! I anxiously await the third volume. A

Manga Reviews: Fate Stay Night, Goth, Kyo Kara Maoh, and To Terra

Fate Stay Night vol.1
Story: TYPE-MOON
Art: Dat Nishiwaki
Translation: Lori Riser
Adaptation: Jake Forbes
Publisher: Tokyopop

As an avid toy collector I buy stuff all the time that I have no idea what series or books is based on. A few years ago I bought a set of Fate Stay Night Gashapon figures. I didn’t care where these figures were from, I loved the character designs. It turned out the characters came from a visual novel PC game. That game was then adapted into a TV series, which serves as the basis of this manga. We are introduced to Shirou Emiya and his quest to follow in his stepfather’s footsteps and become a hero of justice. It turns out that his stepfather was a Magus. When faced with death, instead of crossing over to the other side, but is put through a test to see how much of a hero he wants to be. He has been chosen to participate in the Holy Grail War. If he wins he will have his every desire granted. There are seven magi that are also gambling their lives in order to achieve this goal. Now the highlight of this manga is Shirou’s servant Sabre. She is the badass chick on the cover and is summoned to protect her master. Overall it was a rollercoaster ride of great kick ass action and then your typical RPG inspired manga, where the story slows down to introduce the rest of the characters. It was during the slowing down parts that I found the manga to get a bit boring, maybe it was just the way the dialogue was written. It ends with a good cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what happens next. B-

Goth
Story: Otsuichi
Art: Kendi Oiwa
Translation: Lori Riser
Adaptation: Anothony C. Andora
Publisher: Tokyopop

I kept flipping the book upside down trying to figure out which way the picture was supposed to be. It’s a very catchy cover with limited use of colors and you know a naked chick always gets my attention. The manga is based on the novel that was also published by Tokyopop and it’s a story about two high school students, one being the narrator of the book Itsuki Kamiyama and the other, a girl named Yoru Morino. Both happened to share something in common and that happens to be their obsession with death. The manga is split up into four separate stories: Wristcut, Goth, Grave, and Twins. Morino and Kamiyama first meet, because Kamiyama wanted Morino’s hands due to the slash marks on her wrists. This all leads to a teacher that has an obsession with hands and likes to collect them. The remaining three stories all have different deaths and show the characters have different fascinations with the murders and suicides. For some reason when I started reading this I was reminded of Harold and Maude (yeah, I admit it I love that movie). Being a huge fan of the horror genre I am glad I read something creepy in just in time for Halloween. There is plenty of gore and shocks to creep you out and it does happen to be a standalone volume. I highly recommend this manga. A+

Kyo Kara MAOH! Vol. 1
Story & Art: Temari Matsumoto
Original story: Tomo Takabayashi
Translation: Jennifer Pan
Adaptation: Karen S. Ahlstrom
Publisher: Tokyopop

I never know what to expect when I see some manga covers. I knew that this was an anime series, but had no clue what the concept was about. I have to say that the story had me hooked from the moment that Yuri Shibuya gets transported into another world by being flushed down the toilet. Hey, all the guy was trying to do was stop some bullies from picking on another student. He is now strayed in the Demon Kingdom and is crowned the king and has to lead the Mazoku race to a war against human kind. Only problem is, that he happens to be human too. Although I have read many many manga that featured a typical school girl that gets transported to another world surrounded by good looking guys; this is the first time I have read a manga where the main protagonist is a man too. This is manga has to be some young girl’s dream come true. Plenty of pretty boys with plenty of humor and action to keep even boys interested in reading this series. The only thing I would have loved to see more of is the action in the plot. Can’t wait for volume 2. A

To Terra vol. 1
Story & Art: Keiko Takemiya
Translation: Dawn T. Laabs
Publisher: Vertical

Just two weeks ago I finished the great Andromeda Stories trilogy and I couldn’t wait to open up To Terra. It’s really hard to believe that this book was originally published over 30 years ago. To me it doesn’t seem to have aged at all in terms of art and a great story. This is another trilogy by the same translation team that brought us Andromeda Stories. In the distant future humans are no longer reproducing the same way (keeping it clean), but instead are a product of a universal computer. However, like most computers; there are problems that cause mutants to be born that are known as the Mu. These Mu are forced into exile by The System. Jomy Marcus Shin is a 14 year old raised as a normal human being with latent telepathic powers. He is captured by the Mu to become their new leader and lead them back to Terra. The art stands out as unique as it did back 30 years ago. It feels both retro and progressive. Takemiya’s settings and organic spaceships are simply awing to look at in each page. The only problem that I had with the entire book was that Jomy sounded like a brat for the first third of the book. While this may seem to “old school” for some, I think if you get passed the idea of what manga should look like, you will be pleasantly surprised. A-

Midweek Manga Reviews: We're Back!

Castlevania Curse of Darkness vol. 1
Story & Art: Kou Sasakura
Translation: Ray Yoshimoto
Adaptation: Jeremy Black
Publisher: Tokyopop

As a kid I don’t there was a better videogame experience then locking my room in the middle of the night and playing through Castlevania in the middle of a storm. All the sense of excitement and horror was intensified by the crack of thunder. This is the first time I have read a Castlevania comic. I wasn’t at all interested in the IDW series, but the cover to Curse of Darkness really got my attention. Although this particular manga is not based on Simon Belmont’s story, it is based on one of my favorite Castlevania games for the Playstation 2. It was a direct sequel to Castlevania III. So when I opened the manga I was expecting to see Trevor Belmont and Julia, but instead I get a small retelling of the story I’m all too familiar with. Hector no longer wants to be associated with Dracula. Issac is another General in Dracula’s was against humanity. Issac is sent to retrieve Hector, who is residing in a church and whose powers awaken because of a little boy named Ted. This is the part that kind of confused me. He wants Ted to reject his believes and to sin in order for Hector to help him save the church’s nun Rosalee. For a book based on the videogame it sure didn’t focus on enough of the two main characters, but rather Ted and even Rosalee get more of a spotlight. While the art is really nice to look through, it doesn’t make the story better. I’m a fan of the series and I will be picking this series up, but I can’t see anyone else being interested in this book. C-

Gacha Gacha: The Next Revolution vol.7
Story & Art: Hiroyuki Tamakoshi
Translation: David Ury
Publisher: Del Rey

Having gone to the maid café in Tokyo, I really had no interest in seeing another girl dressed in a maid outfit. Wait….what the hell is wrong with me? That cover is still hot; I take back what I said. I haven’t read a Gacha Gacha book since the original came out in 2005. I had no idea what this Next Revolution was. It’s really easy to play catch up with books like this though. Del Rey does a wonderful job with a recap of what has happened in the past few volumes. Pretty much the story focuses on Valentine’s day in Japan and Yurika, Haruna, and Anju have all decided to give their chocolate to Akira….no sexual connotation intended. What more does a story need besides a bath house story?!!! It’s still the same fun that I remembered that got me intrigued in the first series. Tamakoshi loves to tease and does so with great skill, I’m not only talking about the fan service shot, but the continuing romantic story. This book won’t blow you away with a convoluted plot or keep drilling at your head with its deeper symbolic meaning. It’s just a book that has great art, funny characters, and a good solid story to remind you why manga is fun to read. A-

The Guin Saga: The Seven Magi vols. 1-3
Story: Kaoru Kurimoto
Art: Kazuaki Yanagisawa
Translation: Ishmael Arthur
Publisher: Vertical

I remember the first time I heard of the Guin saga books; I was reading an interview with Kentaro Miura and he was stated for working some elements of these books in his Berserk series. I never got around to reading any of the Guin Saga books, but Vertical has translated the first five volumes in English. Keep in mind these are the first five of 121 volumes so far. So I do think that is some kind of record. The story is about a leopard masked warrior named Guin who can’t remember his past. All he remembers are his fighting instincts and the word Aurra. This particular miniseries takes place is an adaptation of one of the later books in the Guin Saga. It really doesn’t require that you read any of the novels to enjoy the book, but it doesn’t hurt to know the background of some of the characters.

The story synopsis is a rather simple one. Guin faces doom in the form of a contingent of magicians who have threatened his kingdom of Cherionia. This comes in the form of natural disasters and plagues. Now with his two compatriots he must battle the seven magi. These seven magi are no villains to be taken lightly, they are ruthless, cunning, and will stop at nothing to destroy Guin. Guin is the type of hero that would sacrifice his own life for the sake of his people. He reminds me much of Conan the Barbarian, who rules with the sword and not with words. He can’t really relate to women and has an absurd amount of brute strength. The story has a satisfying conclusion because it is properly wrapped up. We learn the cause of the plagues and destruction and who the true villain of the piece is, and why. Problems are solved, relationships are changed, and some people are revealed to be not at all who we thought they were. The story never slows down, even though volume two has more narration than the other volumes, it was still action packed.

I think the author was teamed up with the perfect artist for this project. Yanagisawa’s artwork is stunning to say the least. Even though it can get a bit confusing and hard to follow during action sequences it’s still a great treat for the eye. It’s an epic fantasy story that any fan of Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Conan, and Berserk would love to add to their collection. I finished all three books in one night and I have to recommend it to all fans of manga and fiction. A-

Pastel vol. 10 & 11
Story & Art: Toshihiko Kobayashi
Translation: David Ury
Letterer: Foltz Design

Coming back from Japan has really set back a few things. For one I have taken a step back and let everyone else handle the manga reviews. However, it didn’t stop me from reading some of them and it is so nice to see some of the places we visited show up in the books. Like Hachiko at Shibuya station or the love hotels showing up in Pastel volume 11. The books just brought back all those memories from the land of the rising sun. But enough about memories, let’s talk about this volume. It seems that Mugi’s dad has to go away on business and Mugi is left in charge of his dad’s cute new fiancée Mako. Yuu isn’t too thrilled about this because she thinks that Mako is being way too flirty with her crush. At first Mako seems like an annoying brat that always gets her way. But, as the chapters evolve we learn there is a reason why she is so ditzy. Her boyfriend died three years ago and that is why she spent so much time hanging out with the kids in high school. For some reason that story about the paper airplanes really got me depressed. It was really sad, but by the end all the great things that make this book fun came back. I’m not sure when this series will end, but I hope it last a long time. A-

Speed Grapher vol.1

Story: Tomozo
Art: Yusuke Kozaki
Based on the Story by: Gonzo
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
Publisher: Tokyopop

I’ve been looking into getting back into new anime that I missed out. After watching Gurren Lagann I was thirsty for more. My sister in law suggested a series called Speed Grapher…for some reason when I heard that name I thought of the old show Ghost Writer. Well, I can safely say that it is nothing like that show. This manga is based on the 24 episode series that Funimation brought to the States in 2006. I usually try to stay away from adaptations of TV series to manga. They always seem to let me down. The story takes place in a futuristic Tokyo and it’s about Tatsumi Saiga, who happens to be a photojournalist that wants to infiltrate the Roppongi’s secret world. When trying to take pictures of the club’s goddess Kagura, he is captured and is kissed by her. Somehow, this gives him the power to destroy anything he photographs. He ends up escaping with Kagura and together they are on the run from the Roppongi Club. While it’s not the most original concept; guy rescues a goofy girl and is given powers by mistake. I have to say I can’t think of anyone else who fights with a camera besides the kid from Rival School. You really feel for Saiga, from taking some of the most graphic photos of human violence to just being a paparazzo, just isn’t a very fulfilling existence. It’s not really a book for everyone; I can see how people would get bored with the gimmick, but for some reason I really enjoyed the manga as well as the anime series. It’s got enough depth to keep a fan of the series interesting and enough freshness for new readers to enjoy. B+

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Midweek Manga Reviews: It's Friday!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kikaider 02 vols. 3 & 4

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

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

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

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

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

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