Manga Reviews: Hell Frozen Over? No way!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yes, it’s true, any time I see the word maid or see a maid on the cover of manga I end up not wanting to read the book…..unless there are tentacles on the cover. Since Omar reviewed Emma and Melanie did the last maid series, I volunteered to do this one. For starters Misaki is the Student Council President who has a secret double life as a sweet, subservient, and sexy maid at a Maid Cafe. It's a long story how she got to working there despite her dislike of this demeaning job. If you’ve ever had the chance to go to Japan and read manga or watch anime, you know what Maid Cafes are. Come on the girls there blow your hot curry for you and spoon feed you! Hot! Any way, one day, a boy named Usui from her school sees her at work and discovers her secret. Surprisingly, Usui doesn't go and tell the whole school, but instead starts visiting her cafe regularly, trying in his own way to become her friend. Of course Usui is the school’s heart throb and boy genius. Hypnosis plays a big role in these volumes. They already have a love/hate relationship, you throw in to the mix hypnotic hating and there is a whole world of trouble. But, that’s nothing a little beach trip with the maids won’t fix. There is even a volleyball game and hot steamy sex scene at the beach with fireworks. Alright, I lied about the sex, but everything else is true. I have to say I’m hooked, because of Misaki. She is a strong protagonist that isn’t caught up in the stereotype girl-shojo style that I’m used to. This is a series I am keeping a close eye on!. B

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

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

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

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

Manga Reviews: No Magical Girls?

Amefurashi: The Rain Goddess vols. 1 & 2
Story & Art: Atsushi Suzumi
Translation: Elina Ishikawa
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

From the creator of Venus vs. Virus and Haridama: Magic Cram School comes Amefurashi! I guess it doesn’t help that I never read either one of those two books. That can also be good, because I go in this book with no idea what to expect. The story is somewhat like Oh My Goddess or I Dream of Jeanie if you will; Boy meets Goddess. Gimmy is just an ordinary teen that runs a repair shop and lives in a desert town. With rain rare to come, the town gives up offerings to the rain goddess who in return provides them the essential water. She lives in a grand magical tree with instead of leaves, have clouds. Gimmy notices that his younger twin brother and sister disappear. While searching for them, Gimmy runs into Sora, the rain goddess who provides water to the town. But another goddess, Ciel, wants Sora’s sacred Nimbus tree, so that she can control the rain. By the second volume Gimmy realizes that Sora isn’t just a goddess, but she is very normal at heart and laughs and cries and he could see himself falling for her. The book is often silly, but fun with some great artwork. That’s really what grabbed my attention was the beautiful artwork. The characters are vivid and gorgeous. The only thing is that the action scenes seem stiff and awkward and really don’t flow very well. That’s just a small gripe for an otherwise fun book. A-

Only One Wish
Story: Mia Ikumi
Translation: Elina Ishikawa
Letterer: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

While some of my favorite manga of all time are books that never seem to have an ending anytime soon like: XXXHolic, One Piece, Berserk, or even Tsubasa (that one is ending fairly soon); I really enjoy stand alone volumes of manga. It means I don’t have to buy any more and I didn’t have to read anything before hand. Only One Wish is pretty much a collection of short stories that the title implies. You can send a text a message to a certain address a cute little witch girl will appear and grant you just one wish. This may sound like a deal, but as the girls in this book find out, sometimes those wishes just go all wrong and can turn against you. Sure it’s nice to see greedy people get what they deserve, but the story falls a little flat and repetitive, with the exception of Wish 2. It seems she’s the only one that gets what she really wants in a morbid kind of way. There is also a special story that confused me a little bit, because it features characters from Ikumi’s Tokyo Mew Mew series. The narration of the stories just seems to go everywhere and it can get a little confusing. The art itself is really pretty to look at, but following the panels proved to be a little difficult to follow. Unfortunately just one of the four stories doesn’t make this book really memorable. C

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Story & Art: Mika Kawamura
Translated: Joshua Weeks
Letterer: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

Awww look how adorable that little cat on the cover. How could you not think that this book wouldn’t be filled with cute magical girl action? Maybe it was just me and my fascination with Sailor Moon and Pretty Sammy that every time I look at a book I automatically think it’s going to feature a magical girl somewhere in it. Hey, I’m 90% right based on the covers. Panic is about Mistuki, a girl from a shrine and Kakeru, a boy from a church that have to set aside their picking on each other to team up and seal a demon door! This is the same door that their ancestors sealed over 2000 years ago and now it’s up the heirs of the shrine and church to seal it back up and put these demons back to where they belong! Of course these two don’t work well together right off the bat, but as the story progresses you can see a love start to blossom. Even the cat (Nekomata) has an adorable background story that has something to do with Kakeru’s ancestor. With more characters joining the cast by the end of the book, this book came as a real surprise to me. I enjoyed reading the fast pace stories and the bumbling romantic jokes. The art was really pretty and fit the story. Sure it wasn’t about a magical girl, but I was close! A

The World I Create vol. 1
Story & Art: Ayami Kazama
Translation: Sheldon Drzka
Lettering: MPS Ad Studio
Publisher: CMX

Remember the review I just did? That I was really good at telling magical girls apart? Well, this wasn’t the case when I looked at this cover. The first thing I noticed was the pupils missing off the girl’s eyes. So I thought she was going to be a robot or a zombie (yeah right). This book is a collection of four stand alone stories set in the world of “Projectionists”. To be a Projectionist is the ability to create worlds and things using your magical power and your imagination. Of course, this takes practice so students have to go to school to improve their skills. Unfortunately the story seems repetitive and runs dry after the first two short stories. Sure the romance is cute, but it can get so mundane at points. I did however; fall in love with the artwork. I loved how simple and complex it was. It was so cute, but so detailed during character interactions. I love the way that Kazama draws eyes, except for that cover, for some reason I think the colors are wrong. Even though the stories take place at a high school the art makes them look so much younger that captures that sense of innocence. B-

Manga Reviews: Back Attack!

Alice in the country of Hearts: Wonderful Wonder World vol.1
Story: Quinrose
Art: Soumei Hoshino
Translation: Beni Axia Conrad
Lettering: Star Print Brokers
Publisher: Tokyopop

I really don’t think there is a better time to release books, manga, comics, or videogames based on the world of Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories. Of course this manga brought to us by Tokyopop is a little different than any interpretation of the story I’ve read….although it is a little like Miyuki-chan in Wonderland. The story starts off with Alice and her sister and much like the original story she meets a white rabbit. Well, Alice is kidnapped unwillingly by the mysterious rabit that turns into a gorgeous man with bunny eras. She is taken to a place call Heartland. Stuck in Heartland due to a trick by the mysterious bunny eared man, she meets the remaining residents of this world. Each one of these residents is a pretty boy take on the original characters. Blood, handsome mafia leader; Ace, the psycho yet charming knight and even Dee and Dum look like cute boys. As it turns out, everyone turns into a gun living psycho that falls for Alice and she is caught in the middle of a battle. As goofy as the story sounds, it was a fun read that I was hooked on. I recommend the book to anyone looking for something fun and light to read. B+

Fairy Tail vol.9
Story & Art: Hiro Mashima
Translations: William Flanagan
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

It’s been a few months since volume eight of Fairy Tail came out. I find it both releaving and frustrating when it takes so long between volumen. Releaving, because I have more time to read something else and frustrating, because I like the store so much, I want to know what happens next, right now! Celestial wizard Lucy has always wanted to be in the wizard guild Fairy Tail, and she thinks she's got an in when she teams up with Natsu, and his bobble-headed cat Happy, Erza, and Gray! This volume really almost pulls at your sensitive strings when Locke is about to disappear for crimes committed, but Lucy has words with the celestial spirit king that pardons him. While the art work is great, I have to say that the fight scenes are getting dull and repetitive. At times the angles and the way the characters are drawn make the fighting really hard to follow. Nothing is really standing out now, except for Ezra’s armor and weapon ability. What I do like about the book is the fast paced straightforward story. It is definitely filled with comic relief, mostly of the belly-laugh variety, lots of strange antics, and fun dialogue. Add in lots of mass mayhem when the wizards start brawling and it still a good read. B+

Gantz vols. 7 & 8
Story & Art: Hiroya Oku
Translation: Mathew Johnson
Lettering: Studio Cutie
Publisher: Dark Horse

Holy crap! That’s all I can say about these two volumen of Gantz. I’m in awe as to what has happened with this book. The finale of the Buddha saga is a violent one and really puts the book in jeapordy in a way. Getting rid of gangsters and the ocasional grandma and grandson team is one thing, but to get rid of two of the main characters really takes some balls. By the end of volume eight Kurono is left by himself to pick up the pieces of the team. Gantz packs in a ton of sex and violence which should get just about any male reader's attention. The series is 18+, so the title pages are often scantily-clad pin-up girls carrying guns and who doesn’t like that kind of stuff? Violence is brutal and gory in that slasher flick kind of way. If I have one complaint it's that like most titles in the genre, the action goes on for far too long at times, often extending for volumes before resolution. But what a resolution! Gantz is a completely unpredictable series, and after reading these last two volumes I can say that none of the characters are safe. The roster switches up considerably as the series progresses, so there's always a sense of danger. So I wouldn’t pick a favorite carácter. Damn it has been a joy to read this series, thank you Dark Horse and Omar for introducing me to a wonderful story. A-

Gon Vols. 5 & 6
Story & Art: Masashi Tanaka
Translation: You!
Publisher: CMX

Yes, that’s right! You get to be the translator for this series! The only reason why is because there are no words in these books that have to be translated. To put it simply Gon is a journey about a little tyrannosaurus and his explorations of the great animal kingdom. He is a little 2 foot tall dinosaur that packs attitude and style with every bite. He has an appetite for exploring and humiliating the great predators of the wild. From venturing underground to rescue a wolf cub, to destroying giant insects, Gon just go where he pleases and as the volumes continue, more and more animals seem to be scared of the little guy. That is his goal though, Gon just marches through life enjoying the world and defending the weak with his own sense of justice. Although sometimes he can act a bit sadistic or mean he sure can be an intimidating force. It’s a great mix of Kimba, Jurassic Park, and Bambi. It’s cute and very exciting, when you're done, you'll be thirsting for more! The pictures inside are neatly drawn and highly detailed. You can tell Tanaka has done some research and taken some time to make sure he captures the essence of the wild. These books really bring out the kid in me and that’s a rare thing to find in today’s books. This is one of the best manga of all time and when you open these pages you can tell why Gon is loved by adults and children all over the world. Now, stop what you are doing and go and buy these great books! A+

Ninja Girls vols. 1 & 2
Art & Story: Hosana Tanaka
Translation: Andria Cheung
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

I am such a sucker for covers. Unfortunately this can be a bad thing, because of all the variants and crappy comics that come out with great cover artists. Sure the crew at About Heroes makes fun of my addiction, but I can’t help it. So, such was the case with Ninja Girls for me. I love Love the covers of these books. Yes, there are only two so far, but man they are gorgeous. Anyway enough about the covers; lets get to the nitty gritty. The story focuses during the Sengoku era in feudal Japan. Raizo, the village outcast, learns that he is heir to the lost Katana Clan and its force of attractive ninja girls. Soon he has hot/half naked ninja chicks calling him master and hanging on his every word though Raizo is much too shy to take advantage of this. Although there are tons of ninja girls and love interests, this book is definetely written for guys with plenty of fan service. The action is definetely delivered in the first two volumes, but I was a little diasappointed in the art at times. Tanaka seems to use some unique angles for some panels that can throw the story off sometimos. Not much of a complaint…come on half naced chicks with swords! B+

Princess Resurrection volume 7
Art & Story: Yasunori Mitsunaga
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
Publisher: Del Rey

I remember the first volume drew me in because of the cover. I figured any cover with a chick in a maid outfit holding a bloody chainsaw should deliver a badass story. The series starts with Hiro Hiyorimi, a boy who has just moved to the city to meet his sister and suddenly he is hit by a car and dies. On the verge of death he is seen by a young woman clad in gothic clothes. She then resurrects him, leaving him alive in the hospital morgue. He wakes up confused over what happened, only to encounter the woman again as she eliminates some wolf creatures. She addresses Hiro as "her servant" and introduces herself as Hime. She happens to be a monster slayer that helps others. In this volume Hime is having flashbacks of a song that haunts her. It is a melody that she wrote for her older sister Silvia. Now someone is using a pipe organ to put a curse on Hime. It’s up to Hiro, Reiri, and Riza to search for this person. It’s not really clear whether or not Silvia is still around and is the cause of this new threat, but I’m sure we will find out soon. This volume also includes a giant robot vs. a Godzilla-like monster bash!! What else do you need? The art is really clean and clear and the panel to panel flow is top notch. The book has a great balance of dark horror and light comedy and in this particular instance it works. If you enjoy books about vampires, monsters, or the occult give this book a try. B

Manga Reviews: 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: Man, we cranked them out this week!

.hack: Legend of the Twilight Omnibus

Story: Tatsuya Hamazaki
Art: Rei Idumi
Translation: Ben Dunn
Lettering: Jose Macasocol Jr.
Publisher: Tokyopop

I love LOVE Omnibus editions! If you ever come to my house and check out my bookshelf, you’ll see exactly what I mean. I’m a wait for trades kind of guy, which you know if you listen to the podcast and it seems more and more I’m turning into a wait for omnibus kind of guy. I enjoyed the previously Tokyopop omnibuses err omnibi whatever….. This one is no exception, it collects all three volumes of the series with over 650 pages plus original artwork, all original covers, Japanese covers, and a postscript all for less than 20 bucks! Let’s talk about the story for now. This series, Legends of the Twilight takes place following the .hack games on Playstation 2 games. A pair of siblings, Shugo and Rena, win a contest that grants them limited edition characters models or Avatars (not to be confused with the Last Air Bender or James Cameron) of the legendary players known as Black Rose and Kite. Rena, as Black rose, is keen to use the prize characters although Shugo is a bit more reluctant to assume the role of Kite. He feels he has outgrown the videogame genre. Inside The World however, Shugo is back to being the kid that loves playing videogames. Then a visit from Aura provides Shugo with Kite's bracelet, and they quickly draw the attention of other familiar players. These include Balmung, Helga, and even Orca. All wondering if history is trying to repeat like it happened four years ago. Gradually, the pair make new friends and start playing in the virtual world. As epic as it sounds it really lacks in the action department and most of the book is spent on tame adventures. It’s not until we get to third part of the story that things come together. While the cute character art might fool into thinking this is a story for kids, it’s really not. There is a sexual undertone used by the writer and it contains its fair share of language. Unfortunately the artwork doesn’t stand out and while it serves its main purpose of telling the story; it really falls flat when it comes to action sequences and facial expressions. While it wasn’t necessary to read this book to enjoy the rest of the .hack world any fan of the series will probably pick this up. If you aren’t a fan of the .hack games this might give you an idea why it has a huge fan following. B -

Alive: The Final Evolution vol.8
Story: Tadashi Kawashima
Art: Adachitoka
Translation: Anastasia Moreno
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

As much as I hate to admit, Omar was right. I wasn’t a big fan of this series at all. But he kept insisting that the series did get better as it progressed. So I read the first five volumes and now I’m hooked. I don’t know why the first volume didn’t reel me in; I mean the premise is neat. A worldwide epidemic of something knows as a suicide virus causes chaos at a Japanese high school. Kids and teachers begin killing themselves in bizarre and violent ways. A group of high school kids learn that they may hold the key to this mystery. It turns out that the virus is of alien descent and people either kill themselves, gain powers that give them the urge to kill, or as with Taisuke Kano; they get powers without the urge to kill. It’s a unique way of taking a superhero book and gives it more of a sci-fi twist. Speaking of heroes, this volume questions just how much of a protagonist is Taisuke. Not to mention an awesome fight between Nami and the girl who killed her brother Kanon! What I noticed this time reading these books is how enjoyable the artwork is. It’s crisp and clean. You can really tell what’s going on in each panel without having to look twice. Adachitoka (awesome name by the way) has a gift for sequential story telling. Throw in some plot twists in each volume and I’m there for every volume. I really can’t rave enough about this series…where else are you going to find such a variety of genres being covered? A-

Amefurashi: The Rain Goddess vol. 2
Story & Art: Atsushi Suzumi
Translation: Elina Ishikawa
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

From the creator of Venus vs. Virus and Haridama: Magic Cram School comes Amefurashi! I guess it doesn’t help that I never read either one of those two books. That can also be good, because I go in this book with no idea what to expect. The story is somewhat like Oh My Goddess; Boy meets Goddess. Gimmy is just an ordinary teen that runs a repair shop and lives in a desert town. With rain rare to come, the town gives up offerings to the rain goddess who in return provides them the essential water. She lives in a grand magical tree with instead of leaves, have clouds. Gimmy notices that his younger twin brother and sister disappear. While searching for them, Gimmy runs into Sora, the rain goddess who provides water to the town. But another goddess, Ciel, wants Sora’s sacred Nimbus tree, so that she can control the rain. By the second volume Gimmy realizes that Sora isn’t just a goddess, but she is very normal at heart and laughs and cries and he could see himself falling for her. The book is often silly, but fun with some great artwork. That’s really what grabbed my attention was the beautiful artwork. The characters are vivid and gorgeous. The only thing is that the action scenes seem stiff and awkward and really don’t flow very well. That’s just a small gripe for an otherwise fun book. A-

Clover Omnibus
Story & Art: CLAMP
Translation: Ray Yoshimoto
Lettering: IHL
Publisher: Dark Horse
I remember years ago buying the first volume of Clover when it was published by Tokyopop and it was 15 bucks. It was during a time when manga was being dropped to ten dollars a pop and 15 bucks for 100 pages just seemed too much to put down. Even if I am a big fan of CLAMP, I just couldn’t do it. Along comes Dark Horse and release all four volumes for less than 20 bucks! Now I got to finish the story and the price is rightly justified. This omnibus is over 520 pages long and includes not only the original four covers, but promotional art featuring the characters from the book. Clover is set in a dark, cyberpunk, futuristic world where the people in control are called Wizards and they will do anything for power; even destroy lives. Enter the clovers, a few children with special powers who seemingly have the magical ability to manipulate technology. Their powers vary from teleportation to summoning weapons from thin air. The higher the leaf-number the higher their power; they rank from 1 through 4. The wizards fear them, so the Clovers are either controlled, or destroyed. The story is also about a young girl called Sū and she happens to be the only 4-leaf Clover discovered. She is imprisoned along with other Clovers by the government. Now with her escort, Kazuhiko, they will journey to Fairy Park and they relationship will take a turn to the past. The story is fascinating, the characters endearing and intriguing, and the art is incredible. There aren't too many complicated two-page spreads as there usually are with CLAMP. Instead, they experiment with blank space and unusual angles. The artwork is clean and sparse, but this is in a good way. It's not filled to the brim with images like Clamp's usual works, which is not to say that is bad, because I love that style too. The gorgeous artwork mixes lush, baroque detail with spare, elegant page layouts and this serves to reinforce the mood of isolation and gives the whole manga a film-like feel. It gives the book a clean, austere feel that none of CLAMP's other manga has. This is a beautiful work that any fan of cyberpunk, Clamp or excellent stories/art will enjoy. A-

Dokkoida?! vol.1
Story & Art: Yu Yagami
Original Story: Taro Achi
Translation: Sheldon Drzka
Publisher: CMX
Never thought I would be reading a book that had a superhero wearing diapers. Ohh, who am I kidding? I read manga and independent comics; I knew this had to happen eventually. The manga and anime of the same name are based on a 6 volume novel series. The premise of the manga is pretty absurd, but it works on considering the characters’ personalities. 19-year-old Suzuo Sakurazaki is in search of a part-time job when he runs into Tanpopo, an alien who happens to look like a 10 year old human girl. Claiming that she works for a toy company, she offers him a job testing a costume for the character Dokkoida. But she’s really working for the Galaxy Federation Police, an organization looking to test out power suits for their own peacekeeping forces. The suit itself looks like a cross between Ultraman, Kamen Rider, and Kikkaider. Before you know it, Suzuo beats up a giant robot and moves into an apartment building with other suit-testers-only and none of them know they’re all doing the same job! The book is not only action packed, but also it happens to have a very humorous take on superheroes and their secret identities. But that humor is really lost when you realize it’s the same over the top goofy tantrics that keep repeating and repeating. There is also the stereotypical harem approach to the book when all the girls he moves in with have a crush on him. It’s a good concept and the art style really fits the book, but I hope with the next volumes the in your face humor takes a step back. C

Hellgirl vol.6
Story & Art: Miyuki Eto
Original Story: The Jigoku Shoujo Project
Translation: Gemma Collinge
Publisher: Del Rey

I settled with watching the anime of Hell Girl after reading volume 1. How could I forget how sometimes the anime seems to vary so much from the manga. Hell girl was an original anime that was later adapted to manga and even a live action television series. Just because you’ve seen the anime doesn’t mean that you necessarily have to skip the manga. Most of the stories are original and yes, some are adapted from their anime episodes. The plotline revolves around Ai the cute school girl on the cover who also happens to be Hell Girl. She’s an ageless entity who collects names of the deserving and unfortunately sometimes undeserving for retribution. The cost of sending your enemy or rival to hell it that eventually you join them in eternal torment. Volume six adds four new chapters to the story. One of them focuses on Ai’s assistant Ichimokuren. That was a nice break from the usual norm of the story. The flaw that I noticed in this series and yes even the anime is that sometimes you never see the people actually fully realize their choices & their mistakes. Some of the clients never fully understand what eternal suffering in hell means, and as such they never appear to regret their actions or fear their deaths. Most of the characters assume that they'll live for a long time and not worry about the consequences of their actions. While the art is gorgeous to look at, I’m not sure it still fits the book. For example Ai’s eyes (no pun intended) are full of life and big where as her anime counterpart’s look like they are cold and dead. While sometimes the plot was predictable the stories were still entertaining and I can’t wait to read more of Ai’s wicked moral lessons. C+

Variante vol. 2
Story & Art: Iqura Sugimoto
Translation: Sheldon Drzka
Lettering: Dave Lamphear
Publisher: CMX

It’s been a long time, probably a year since I reviewed volume one of this intriguing manga. In volume a girl named Hosho Aiko wakes up after the murder of her family, in a lab to discover that her own arm has been replaced by one from a hideous and powerful monster. This arm has a will of its own as we find out in this volume. Agents from Aethos which is a mysterious, government-linked corporation, want to use the power of Aiko's demon arm to fight the deadly creatures known as Chimeras, whose attacks on the civilian population are increasing. But agent Sudo, who has befriended Aiko, isn't so happy about this development. After tests on dogs Dr. Kochigawa releases Aiko to fight her first opponent. After a brutal battle she is able to defeat it, but it’s not her will that makes this happen. Through a series of flashbacks we find out that agent Sudo knew a girl 14 years ago by the name of Nana. Nana, seems to have had the same thing happen to her on her back. These “wings” eventually took over her body and Sudo had to shoot her down. This is why he wants to help Aiko out as much as possible. The art makes the story flow better too. There’s a nice mixture of cross-hatching and toning that works well here, giving the artwork a unique feel to it that helps convey the rather bleak world of the series and gives it that dark etch that terrifies you at times. The designs of the Chimeras and Aiko’s left arm are very organic looking and Aiko seems to be in real pain when the arm strikes unexpectedly. I’m intrigued with what’s going to happen to Aiko and Sudo and the rest of the Chimera. I can’t wait till the next volume. A-

The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls: Revenge of the Hori Clan vol.7
Story & Art: Masaki Segawa
Original Story: Futaro Yamada
Translation: Gemma Collinge
Publisher: Del Rey

Man, that is one long title, but it completely makes sense why you have to use the whole title to describe the inside of the book. I’m being completely honest when I say that as much as I loved Basilisk I just couldn’t get into volume one of Yagyu. I’m not sure if it’s because the first volume took too long to tell or maybe I just kept comparing it to Basilisk. The story is about Kato Akinari, the local lord, rules the territory with an iron fist, committing all manner of atrocities. When the Hori clan rebels, he squashes them with the help of the freakish Aizu Seven Spears. Not content to simply round up and execute the men, the Seven Spears track the Hori women clan to a sacred, female-only temple and slaughter them in front of the captured male clan members. When the dust settles, only seven women remain. The survivors begin planning their revenge on the Seven Spears and Akinari. But to carry out their plan, they’ll need a little help from a certain one-eyed swordsman by the name of Jyubei. Yes, the legendary Jyubei with the eye patch. Four of the Seven Spears are dead and three remain. The women now enter Aizu where they encounter the remaining three Spears and a new father/daughter villain team known as Ashira and Oyura. The art is amazing and takes a while to get used to because there’s a heavy reliance on toning which can turn some people off. The action and emotions are clearly depicted, if at times a bit comically so. You can easily tell the good guys apart from the baddies because the bad guys are ugly, with several bordering on animalistic. Segawa seems fond of round edges as well; instead of square shoulders, all his characters have round, muscular ones and their chins and noses have a smooth curviness to them as well. I found myself really enjoying this volume though. Even if I missed the five volumes in between the remaining cast is making this book really enjoyable. It’s enough to go back and pick up the missing volumes. The interaction between the characters is what kept me reading this volume and I can’t wait to see how it ends up. B+

Manga Reviews:Doctors, Maids, and Online Game Playing!

Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei: The Power of Negative Thinking vol.4
Story & Art: Koji Kumeta
Translation: Joyce Aurino
Publisher: Del Rey
I really wasn’t sure what to think about this book when I encountered the first volume. 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 after reading this 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’s 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. It’s funny to see the complete opposite character of Kafuka Fuura (an extreme optimist) try and make her teacher see the good in the world. The art style while simple has lots of contrasts of black and white and it really sets the tone of the book. I keep getting blown away by this series, the formula still works for me and I recommend it to anyone wanting to read something out of the norm. A-

Shiki Tsukai vol. 6
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 six of this series to come out or maybe I have just read too much manga in between volumes five and six. I had to go back and reread the first five volumes 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. While searching for new resources in a tropical paradise, Akira and the gang faces a new creature knows as Kijyuu. But it seems that Koyomi is just there to provide fan service and her character hasn’t developed much after all these volumes. Action is what you get in this volume, it was a fast read with a great new location for battles. 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-

Shirley

Story & Art: Kaoru Mori
Translation: Sheldon Drzka
Lettering: Janice Chiang
Publisher: CMX

I didn’t think that Emma was over, but when I first looked at this book I thought I didn’t get the memo. I really thought this was a follow up to the Emma series, but instead it’s a stand-alone book that predates the story of Emma, well not in that kind of chronological order, but this is a collection of earlier work by Mori. It is also a collection of short stories that mainly focus around a thirteen maid that comes to work for Miss Bennett Carnley. At first she was hesitant to hire such a young girl, but as the story grows so does their relationship; stronger and stronger. There are five chapters that chronicle Shirley’s life and two extra chapters. In Me and Nellie and One Afternoon the precocious young master of an estate is in love with his maid, Nellie. The only problem is that he is only five years old and he also has some competition from his tutor, who is also in love with the maid. In Mary Banks a maid has to put up with her employer’s constant pranks and practical jokes. Even beyond the grave the old man was pulling pranks on Mary, but the letter he left her under the globe really made up for the things he did. The art is a complete joy to look at. While remaining simplistic in the first layer, if you look deep down enough you will see how much detail goes into each panel with finely detailed backgrounds and trappings, and lovely character design. IMany of Mori’s panels are wordless, and she shows the characters' emotions through small gestures or simply a moment of stillness. Interior monologue is replaced by a sigh or a glance in a mirror. The end of the book also has an interview with the creator and how she got some of those ideas she put in her books. For some reason much like I do after reading Emma, I find myself in a great mood, don’t know what it is about Mori that makes that come out in me, but the formula seems to still work!A-

World of Warcraft: Death Knight
Story: Dan Jolley
Art: Rocio Zucchi
Lettering: Michael Paolilli
Publisher: Tokyopop

Well, I have to say that it’s been a great week of manga reading, I don’t think we read a bad book this week. So I was really excited to read this book, considering I know nothing of the Warcraft world (other than it’s an addictive online videogame that has sucked the life out of some of my friends) and I missed out on the Sunwell Trilogy. I think the only thing that I have ever read that was Warcraft related was the Legends book that came out a while back. I do know that this book is based on the character from the expansion pack: Wrath of the Lich King. Thassarian is a Lordaeron soldier, whose primary goal is to honor his father’s death. Along with his company and Prince Artha’s army they fight against the Scourge. The prince decides to side with the Lich King and Thassarian manages to break free from his control. The story seemed a little stale and I guess it would mean so much more to me if I knew who these characters were beforehand. I just couldn't get into the character of Thassarian, I guess he is supposed to read like a one dimensional Conan. I was however, blown away by the gorgeous art, especially the amount of detail that went into the battle sequences. If you are a fan of the series, you are probably already picking this up, but I suggest fans of fantasy and magic to give this a shot.B

Yokai Doctor Volume 3

Story & Art: Yuki Sato
Translation: Stephen Paul
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

I must have missed the announcement that this series was being released in America, because this is the first I have ever heard of Yokai Doctor. For the first time in a long time the cover really intrigued me in this manga. At first glance it looks like a pretty boy, but at second look it’s a picture of a character who looks like has had his head cut off or neck slashed. Kuro, happens to be a doctor of the occult. He also happens to be a geek who has a secret ; he is a doctor exclusive to ghost, demons, and goblins. Kotoko also has a gift, her gift is that she can see spirits. The twist is that Kotoko's ancestry includes a lot of exorcists. In other words, even though she can only see spirits and not exorcise them, she still feels it's her family duty to bring about their demise. This means that the two of them to get along at all. As it turns out the person on the cover is one of Kuro’s childhood friends, Kaie. Of course it doesn’t seem like they are longer friends, because this volume shows a huge fight between Kuro and Kaie. When Kaie unleashes demons on Kuro, Kuro has only one option and that is to reveal his true self. What I liked most about the book, was the designs of the monsters. Different sizes, types, and art styles make up the tons of monsters in this volume: Everything from highly-detailed traditional Japanese beasts to odd, simple squiggles with eyes. I really enjoyed Yokai Doctor and I want to go back and pick up the previous two volumes. It's a story that's more about its main characters and how they get to know each other than it is a silly supernatural tale. The climactic battle between two old friends with a pretty depressing ending showed me what this book is capable of doing!
A

Manga Reviews: Back with our DNA and more!

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

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

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

DN Angel vols. 12 & 13

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

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

Negima vol. 24

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

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

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

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

Shinobi Life vol.3

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

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

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: TGIF!

Bakugan Battle Brawlers vol. 3
Adaptation: Elizabeth Hurchalla
Letterer: Tomas Montalvo-Lagos
Publisher: Del Rey

Years ago before anime made such a huge impact in America, Viz released a set of ani-manga books called Dirty Pair. Now the Dirty Pair OAVs were only available in Japan or via horrible bootleg copies so these books were a blessing. Fast forward 17 years later and ani-manga is still coming out here. I have seen many Inu-Yasha and Naruto, but I had no clue that there were so many available. In case you don’t know, ani-manga is a manga that takes its panels from the actual show by using stills. Then someone goes in and letters those pictures. Anyway, Bakugan to me seems like the Pokémon formula that has been recycled over and over. However, this book seems to be a little more than just capturing a new monster and keep trying to catch them all eventually. This book introduces Masquerade and his Bakugan Rikimaru and its up to Dan Kuso and Drago to put a stop this new menace. With images taken from the Nelvana production, Battle Brawlers is a great introduction to the world of Bakugan. The images are well chosen, and the resulting book is easy to follow and understand. I can see why kids get into this series and to be perfectly honest part of me really got into the monster battle. C

Fairy Tail vol.8
Story & Art: Hiro Mashima
Translations: William Flanagan
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

I remember reading the first three volumes of Fairy Tail back to back when they first launched in America. I was already a huge fan of Rave Master so I didn’t have to get my arms twisted to read this book. The first thing that pops up about his artwork is that is looking more and more like Eiichiro Oda and this is not a bad thing. Of course their artwork could look alike because they shared the same studio at one time. Celestial wizard Lucy has always wanted to be in the wizard guild Fairy Tail, and she thinks she's got an in when she

teams up with Natsu, and his bobble-headed cat Happy, Erza, and Gray! While the art work is great, I have to say that the fight scenes are getting dull and repetitive. At times the angles and the way the characters are drawn make the fighting really hard to follow. Nothing is really standing out now, except for Ezra’s armor and weapon ability. What I do like about the book is the fast paced straightforward story. It is definitely filled with comic relief, mostly of the belly-laugh variety, lots of strange antics, and fun dialogue. Add in lots of mass mayhem when the wizards start brawling and it still a good read. B+

Mikansei NO. 1 vol.1
Story & Art: Majiko
Translation: Ray Yoshimoto
Adaptation: Hope Donovan
Publisher: Tokyopop

I’m assuming that when it states that this book is from the artist of Code Geass it means the manga, not the anime. Anyway, Mikansei has an interesting twist on time travel (no, not interesting like Time Crimes). For some reason Neo Takigawa wants to travel to the 21st century from the 23rd to be a pop star of all things. Somehow, because I’m still not sure how, she finds a bottle with weird mist inside and once it cracks open she appears in the year 200X. As soon as she appears in 200X she starts singing a duo with Saya Kudou and the two must get along if they are to make their dreams of becoming a pop sensation come true. Of course it’s not going to be easy when Neo gets on Sayaya’s nerves and she gets put in trashcans because the competition is rough. I can’t describe how fast this book moved. This book was made for people with ADD, because there is no time for anything. In one page Neo is the 23rd century and two pages later she is singing with Saya and for some reason no one wonders where she popped out of. It got aggravating to follow at times, but it took no time to read. I have to say that the art is the best thing about the book. It’s an appealing style that gives certain cuteness to the characters. The sequential art is easy to follow, but it really doesn’t help the story that seems to be everywhere. C

Papillon vol. 4
Story & Art: Miwa Ueda
Translation: Elina Ishikawa
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher: Del Rey

Before you read this review I want you to know that unlike Omar, I am not biased at all when it comes to judging people based on their previous work lol. Just messin with ya! Anyway, I love and I really need to stress how much I loveeeee Peach Girl. It was a manga that seemed to me ahead of its time and the artwork was unique back then. I had never heard of Papillon so I decided to play catch up and read the first three books last week. It’s about a girl named Ageha trying to steal the guy she likes from her twin sister Hana. Hana seems to be the pretty and popular one of the twins. It’s amazing how much just happens in four volumes because now Ageha is confident and dating her guidance counselor Kyu, who is all about positive thinking. Now Hana wants to get Kyu’s attention. The characters in the book are very likable and the heroine is easy to relate to if you're a shy or mousy person who wants to stand out, or if you’ve ever been in love with someone from a distance. Ageha's attitude and confidence changes dramatically through a smooth transaction which takes place in the previous three volumes, so it feels like we are growing with her. Although it moves kinda slowly and nothing big happens, the characters deliver it well and Ueda's artwork skillfully captures the expressions of love and heartache. The only bad thing about this book is that it seems to share the same formula that Peach Girl had with all the twist and surprises. I really hope they don’t keep doing that in this book, because it got old in Peach Girl. Overall I’m hooked on the series and can’t wait to find out what happens with all the characters specially Ryusei. Check it out if you love all that teen drama we’ve all been through. A