Manga Spotlight: xxxHolic

This Review was Submitted by Thomas Pfeiffer

Story & Art: CLAMP
Publisher: Del Rey

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

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

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

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

Midweek Manga Reviews: From Bleach to Toto!

Bleach vol. 22
Story & Art: Tite Kubo
Translation: Joe Yamazaki
Adaptation: Lance Caselman
Publisher: Viz

So much is going on in Bleach that it’s hard to keep track of. I really do mean that in a good way. Even though it’s a very linear story, the focus jumps from so many characters to others that each chapter keeps me in suspense. Last volume left us with the revelation that Ichigo’s dad Isshin was once a Soul Reaper (and very much still is). He also has some kind of connection with Urahara and has finally avenged his deceased wife. Meanwhile the Vizards have taken an interest in Ichigo and are taking their time approaching him with their intentions. Two new villains appear in town: Ulquiorra and Yammy, the first of the Arrancar. A few bystanders are killed when they arrive, but when Yammy tries to suck Tatsuki’s soul the cavalry arrives. We learn just how powerful these new menaces are and who they are working for. That’s right, Aizen is back! But not to worry, Soul Society has sent reinforcements to Earth to help Ichigo and gang with this new battle. I loved the tribute to the arrival of Vegeta and Nappa on Earth with these two new characters. The art just keeps getting better and better and the story really seems to be hinting that we are in for a new long arc. I have to say that I’m really glad Viz decided to leave the artwork as is for the graphic novel release. After what just two of the Arrancar did to Chado and Orihime the good guys are in for the fight of their lives. One quick note though, this is actually more to do with the translation. Ichigo’s dad says that for the last 20 years he has regretted not avenging his wife, but how can this be when Ichigo is only 15/16? That’s just a small little confusing bit of info, other than that a flawless book. A

Hellgate: London vol. 1
Story: Arvid Nelson
Art: J.M.
Publisher: Tokyopop

This book already had two strikes against it going into it. 1) It was an original English Language Manga and 2) It was the prequel to a video game. From my experience, I have yet to read a good OEL manga and most of the time I end up disappointed on books based on videogames. Damn, I love it when I am wrong. All I knew about the Hellgate world is that it is a computer game made by the same guys that did Diablo. Seriously it really doesn’t take that much previous knowledge to enjoy the book. On Halloween 2020 there is a demon invasion that strikes at several major cities around the world. This particular story begins on October first and focuses on the city of London, more particularly around John and Lindsey Fowler. John is a rugby player haunted by nightmares of things to come and along with his sister attempts to discover the meaning behind all the bizarre occurrences. It seems that both siblings are descendants of a Knight Templar family and John’s grandfather seems to be the black sheep of the family. Unfortunately the siblings can’t stay together by the end of the volume because John is a demon hybrid. J.M. can tell a good story with some great sequential art. Clean when it needs to be and really dark and gory when the Fowler’s family are being killed. The book was such a good prequel that it has me interested in playing the game or reading more about the characters. It’s your typical action/horror story, but come on, how can you go wrong with a chick whacking demons with a cricket paddle? I really would like to know what happens to John and Lindsey, so if anyone has played the game, shoot me an email. B+

Kurohime vol. 3
Story & Art: Masanori Ookamigumi Katakura
Translation: Joe Yamazaki
Adaptation: Lance Caselman
Publisher: Viz

Quick little recap on the story of the buxom bullet witch. Kurohime was a witch with the power to control magical guns. She once made the mistake of challenging the gods and for her foolishness, she was cursed! The curse changed Kurohime into a little girl named Himeko, and now she can only regain her true form and her powers when she is in love. After 10 years of living with this curse, Kurohime/Himeko meets a skilled gunfighter named Zero. It turns out that when Zero was a boy, Kurohime saved his life, and he's been in love with her ever since. Together, the two have set out to find a way to permanently break the curse. Himeko and Zero hear about a witch who loves terrorizing villagers by turning them into household goods and prepare to do battle. However they end up getting turned into a plate and a chair…so a lot of good they did. We are also introduced to Asuna, a mysterious girl that wants to help Kurohime get rid of the curse. Of course things are never that easy when a God interferes and challenges Kurohime. Katakura is an artist of different styles. Most of the art is done in a simplified shonen style, but when Kurohime manifests in her full adult form, she’s rendered with the detail (of a more seinen (mature) title. Just when you start thinking this might be a love story, those wonderful crotch shots show up to remind us what this book is mostly about. B

Ral Grad vol. 1
Story: Tsuneo Takano
Art: Takeshi Obata
Adaptation: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Publisher: Viz

I wasn’t really sure what to call the title of the book, because to be accurate it would have to be Ral Omega Grad. When I think of Ral Grad, for some reason I think of Ra’s Al Ghul from the Batman comic, but I think it’s just the name. Sorry…rambling again. From the artist that brought you Hikaru no Go and Death Not e comes a new fantasy adventure story. When I started reading this, I was really reminded of Bastard!!! And you all know how much I love Bastard!!! Fifteen years before this story starts Le Noir (an army of shadow creatures) invaded the world of light. Led by the crazy Lady Bira, who wants to make all the beautiful women part of her and devour their souls. Ral was an infant and he was merged with the shadow dragon Grad and they were sealed away. Lady Bira’s forces have become stronger over the years and Lord Roy decides to release Ral and Grad in hopes that they can turn the tide in the battle front. In this new world he is befriended by his robust tutor Miss Mio and another human that was partnered with a shadow creature. This human also happens to be a 13 year old girl by the name of Aia. This book had such a great mix of fantasy, adventure, humor, and so much sexual innuendos that to me it became an instant page turner. Of course the art helps carry the story, because to sum it up in one word I would have to use stunning. The character designs are top notch the battle scenes keep you wanting more and the facial expressions really give you a look at the depth of the characters. It’s a shame I have to wait until October to read volume 2. A+

Toto! The Wonderful Adventure vol. 1
Story & Art: Yuko Osada
Translation: Elina Ishikawa
Publisher: Del Rey

Alright time to come clean. I was not interested in reading this book at all. I’ve had it for a couple of weeks now and looking at the cover I just kept putting it at the bottom of the manga pile. I think it was the colors that really turned me off from reading the book. I am so glad I finally got around to reading this book though, because as you will see I regret not reading it sooner. We meet Kakashi a small town boy who dreams of being a world adventurer much like his father, who left him a journal. He ends up stowing away on a zeppelin. Unbeknownst to him the zeppelin was being hijacked by the Man chicken family. Only Kakashi and a stow-away puppy remained on board the zeppelin. Unfortunately the zeppelin is blown out of the sky and after befriending the Man Chicken family Kakashi and Toto (the puppy) are the only ones left alive out of the invasion. It seems that the military is after Toto, because he did turn into a giant demon-dog to save Kakashi’s life not once, but twice. Along with Toto and his new found friend Dorothy Kakashi has sworn to see the world. From the very beginning I couldn’t put the book down; I was so hooked with the characters and the art. I really felt sorry for Kakashi for not only losing his father, but the friends he made in the Man Chicken family. I love all the little references to OZ and the feel of the story just reminded of one of those classic Miyazaki films. Its books like this that makes me glad I read manga and keep reading. A+

Midweek Manga Reviews: Foxy Ladies With Swords Round 3!

Claymore vol. 11
Story & Art: Norihiro Yagi
Adaptation & Translation: Arashi Productions
Publisher: Viz

I remember way back when I looked at the cover of volume 1 in this series and thought to myself: “A tough looking chick with a sword, how can this book be anything but good?” That was the start of a page turning story that had everything a comic book reader could want: gore, guts, action, glory, blood, fantastic character designs, ruthless villains, and gorgeous heroines that could take your head off. Named after their immense swords they carry the Claymores are humanity’s last stand against the creatures known as the Yoma. They are half Yoma and half human and are able to awaken when needed. Clare has finally fully awakened her power and has avenged her fallen friends. But in the town of Pieta, Clare and five other Claymores make their final stand against a troop of newly awakened Yomas. The Claymores fall one by one and Priscilla can sense their lights fading away. We are introduced to the new twins Beth and Alicia who wear black armor and can fully transform themselves. The problem I had with this volume is that it ends and we really don’t get to see Clare or any of the other Claymores fall at the hands of their enemies. The fight between Isley and Luciela of the south is even left unanswered. Now we have to wait till July to find out what happened and it seems the story is going to jump seven years forward too. Hell, count me in. I can’t get enough of these girls with swords. A-

Foxy Lady vol. 1
Story & Art: Tachibana
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
Adaptation: Andrew Wollman
Publisher: Tokyopop

When I first saw the fox ears on the cover, I was immediately taken back to all the anime conventions I have ever attended. There has always been something hot about a girl with animal ears on. I believe Gainax really knew this way back in the day when they made Otaku no Video. Now it seems that every girl I see in anime or manga, has developed some kind of animal ears to make them look cuter than they already are. To be honest, it’s really a gimmick that has been run to the ground. Foxy Lady is a little different in that aspect though. Kogane is a half demon/human fox who has come to the human world to make her dream of becoming a full human true. To do that she must unite with an heir to a shrine….funny enough Jin happens to be one such guy. Jin also happens to wish for a girl like Kogane to come into his life. Of course things aren’t always that simple when it comes to love and manga. With friends like Sogo and Kanoto, Jin has more than his fair share of challenges. Of course the party really starts when the half weasel half human demon known as Ten shows up. I’m really surprised this book didn’t have that much fan service for its targeted audience. I am also surprised I really enjoyed the book as much as I did considering it’s really not my cup of tea. The supporting cast really makes the book readable, because to be honest Jin is really quite boring and would kill the pace of the book if it just concentrated on him. I really enjoyed the artwork and have high hopes when volume 2 comes out. B+

Kannazuki No Miko (Destiny of the Shrine Maiden) vol. 1
Story & Art: Kaishaku
Translation: Adrienne Beck
Adaptation: Jessica Kathryn Feinberg
Publisher: Tokyopop

I was really looking forward to reading this book after looking at that gorgeous cover. In the mid 90’s it was that kind of artwork that made me put down American comics as a whole. I know the inside of the book is not color, but I will tell you this; the gorgeous artwork still continues in the inside pages. In the book we meet Himeko, who is shy, cute, and happens to have a crush on Chikane. Chikane is the gorgeous and cool "princess" of their exclusive boarding school. She's been looking forward to their joint 16th birthday party for weeks. To Himeko’s surprise Chickane remembered her birthday as opposed to everyone else who was concentrating on congratulating Chickane. But on that very same day of their birthday celebration a shrine appears in the sky and giant robots ravage the school. Himeko discovers that she is the reincarnation of the Solar Priestess and Chikane is the reincarnated Lunar Priestess. This of course explains the tattoo on Himeko’s chest that came out of nowhere. From this moment on their lives will never be the same. As I mentioned earlier the artwork is extremely amazing. The fights with the mechas are taken right of classics like Gundam and Mazinger Z. But there are some things within the plot that confuses me. The cycle (the reincarnation of the priestess and "necks”, the resurrection of the gods and the sacrifice of the priestess) and the relationship between the two girls should have been more detailed. There are also too many characters being introduced and they get hard to keep up with. It’s not the most original story, but the two main characters really carry the plot. I’m curious to see what happens to them and if their love is enough to stop all hell from breaking loose. The book also includes a special peek at Girls Bravo. B-

SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom vol. 8
Story & Art: Chi Wan Shum
Translation: Yun Zhao
Adaptation: Benjamin Stone
Publisher: Dr Master

It’s been a long time coming, but SVC SNK vs. Capcom is finally over. What started to be released in 2004 by ComicsOne has finally come to an end and everything comes together and leaves some questions unanswered. This volume has everything in it. Mr. Karate vs. Shin Akkuma, Evil Ryu vs. Dark Ken, Ryu vs. Terry Bogard, and Chun-Li vs. Kyo Kusanagi. Kyo and Iori battle Goenitz as Terry and Chun-Li lose an ally in a battle against Shiki. Even the Martian from Metal Slug makes an appearance to help and defeat Goenitz. This all leads to the final battle of Kyo and Ryu against Red Arremer and Athena. However, Ryu and Kyo refuse to battle each other to the death and break the rules of the tournament. Now chaos and rule, represented by God and the Devil (I kid you not) cannot determine a victor and grant them their wish of restoring a world before chaos. Of course this means only Ryu can return and Kyo is still dead. Confused? Yeah so was I. I couldn’t think of a more deserving title than Chaos for this book. I really couldn’t keep track of who was staying and who was going, who was dead and who was alive, and I never took Mr. Karate seriously. The story seemed to fly by and by the time the book wrapped up; I kept asking myself what happened to so and so. That’s my biggest gripe with the book. Packaging, print quality, and paper quality is exactly what you expect from DrMaster Publications, the highest standard! The art and colors are completely wonderful and I am now sold on being a Chi Wan Shum fan for life. Fans of Capcom and SNK are already buying this, but if you want to try something a little different with some spectacular art, give this book a shot. B

Yumekui Kenbun: Nightmare Inspector vol. 1
Story & Art: Shin Mashiba
Translation: Gemma Collinge
Adaptation: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Publisher: Viz

I had no idea what to expect when I saw the cover and the title of this book. I have to say for as dark as that cover seems, it really does have some wonderful use of colors. Nightmare Inspector reminds me much of the episodic manga that I highly enjoy such as Mushishi, Petshop or Horrors, and Ogre Slayer. The story centers around the Silver Star tea shop during Old England. Hiruko is the owner of this establishment and he also happens to be a dream-eater. The way he solves people’s problems is by entering their nightmares if he can eat their dreams after rescuing them from their torment. So throughout the book different kinds of people seek his services and they all have different outcomes. There are seven chapters in the first volume. They are all pretty short and all have some kind of irony twist towards the end. The seventh chapter does end on a cliffhanger though. The main problem is with the dialogue; it becomes rather repetitive and dull. Every chapter starts the same way and before you see the ending you can already predict what is going to happen. There is very little character development within the first five chapters, but just as soon as the book is about to end the characters start interacting with each other. While the art is pretty to look at, it’s really nothing that stands out above the rest of the books found in this genre. It’s a nice start, but I really had to push myself to read those first few chapters. C+

Zombie Powder vol. 4
Story & Art: Tite Kubo
Translation: Akira Watanabe
Publisher: Viz

I picked up Zombie Powder because I love Bleach, and the same creator did both series. From the beginning you could tell the subtle differences in the artwork and the way the story moved between the two books. As a locomotive blazes across the desert, Wolfina tries to rescue her brother whose body is fused to the engine. Emilio is one of the "hosts" of a Ring of the Dead! With no help in sight, Wolfina fights alone to save her brother from a fate worse than death. Gamma and C.T. manage to stop the train right before it hits Alcantara. The book finally reaches its conclusion with a happy ending and a possible way to continue the adventures of all our favorite characters. Hell, I would love to read more about Elwood in a spin-off series. Kubo's character designs show a propensity for small-framed women with rather prominent, rounded bosoms, while adult male characters tend to have the impossibly lanky builds such as the ones found in Shojo manga (they do remind me of designs by CLAMO). I must say, it's actually pretty impressive for a first-time manga, although about as good as I expected considering I had already read Bleach. It has most of the ingredients that makes a good Kubo series, even if it is a little rough on the edges, and I really like that about it. Sure the artwork is not perfect, but still great to see where his style goes from here. The only thing that disappointed me is that, much like the last volume, we get another 60 pages of another Kubo story. This time it’s a story called Bad Shield United. I would have rather gotten an additional 60 pages of Zombie Powder, but I guess I’ll take what I can get. B

Midweek Manga Reviews: From Bloody chicks to Classic Tezuka

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Midweek Manga Reviews: Junk, Oh My Goddess, and Shannara

Dark Wraith of Shannara
By: Terry Brooks
Adaptation: Robert Place Napton
Illustrate by: Edwin David
Publisher: Del Rey

Alright, two things before we start this review. No, this is not really manga, but it is in the same format that the other manga from Del Rey is released in. Two, I have never read a Shannara book, even though I have been told by numerous friends to get off my ass and read them. Melanie however did do an awesome recap of some of the books like Wishsong to keep me familiar with some of the scenery. So keep in mind this is my introduction to the world of Shannara. There is a nice forward by Terry brooks himself where he calls this graphic novel a grand experiment. I found the prologue a good recap into this world that I was unfamiliar with as well. We find Jair (which also happens to be my middle name) a little more mature than he was in Wishsong and living in the Four Lands. He is now testing his new magical powers when the shade of Druid Allanon sends him on a task. He warns him of an evil inhuman race (the Mwellerts) that have a new scheme starting with the abduction of two of Jair's friends Kimber and Cogline. The only way to get them back is for him to look into the dark arts that his father and sister told him not to use and he looks for help in the spirit of a deceased warrior.

I really enjoyed the character designs in the book; they really looked like the characters in fantasy novels. David does a great job with action sequences, but sometimes his figures look a bit odd. He reminds me of a mixture between Justianno and Kevin Lau. At times his anatomy can be a little off and some pictures look awkward. Del Rey includes an artist’s sketchbook, showing concept drawings and changes following Terry’s instructions. There is an extract from Wishsong for those who might be tempted to go and read the novel after this graphic novel. While I’m sure that Brooks will continue to write novels, if he ever wants to write another comic again, count me in. After reading the extract from Wishsong, I will be checking that book out as soon as I get a chance. The book kept me interested and I wanted to know more about the characters when I was done. If you enjoy fantasy books or are want to try to dive into the world of Shannara, this is a great way to get your feet wet. I am sure fans of the popular series have already picked this up. B+

Junk: Record of the Last Hero vol. 6
Story & Art: Kia Asamiya
Translation: Kenji Komiya
Adaptation: Ailen Lujo
Publisher: Dr Master

From the creator of Silent Mobius, Steam Detectives, and Nadesico comes his latest creation: Junk. Although it’s not really a catchy superhero name here, it does make sense when you actually read the books. Kia Asamiya was influenced by superhero shows as a child, which led him to take an interest in Western superheroes. He fulfilled one of his dreams when he got the gig drawing Uncanny X-men. I was a little disappointed in the story when I read volumes 1 and 2. The story was really unoriginal (guy gets a bionic suit that enhances his speed, strength, etc) and the main character was a complete tool. The first thing he did with his new powers was beat up all the bullies that picked on him at school. However, the story has turned for the better and Hiro is maturing as he gets more and more used to his power. He is now back in school and even his JUNK counselor becomes his teacher. But my problem still lies with the dialogue. It takes a while to get used to and it just seems odd at times and seems bland. The art is very dark and gritty, and fits the mood of the story perfectly. And just like in most manga, the focus tends to be on the facial expressions of the characters. I love how Asamiya draws those Junk suits…they really are their own character. The story has finally picked up and the art keeps looking better and better, but the bland dialogue just makes it drag. B-

Oh My Goddess! Vols. 7 & 8
Story & Art: Kosuke Fujishima
Translation: Dana Lewis
Adaptation: Toren Smith
Publisher: Dark Horse

Every time I get a new volume of Oh My Goddess it just puts a smile on my face and even though I have already read these stories when they were originally published in their monthly format, it is still a blast to go back and read again. But it’s worth buying these over again because of the color pages and the original art is the way it was intended. They also include the original Mini Urd series that ran through the monthly manga.

So much happened in these two volumes it’s really hard to believe it happened in only 400 pages. Urd tries to help out the romance between Belldandy and Keiichi by creating a potion that will make Belldandy sexually desire Keiichi. Of course you know if it’s a potion that Urd created it has to backfire on her. Mara returns yet again to wreck havoc on the goddesses and Keiichi. This time she takes over Keiichi's little sister's body, and tries to bring misfortune to Belldandy with the help of Senbei the demon of poverty. A demon that lives in a bottle and has a tendency to talk in the third person. Also in this book Skuld builds a robot named Banpei to protect the Morisato household from Mara. It happens to be his first appearance, since he will be a reoccurring character. The problem is that Banpei decides that Belldandy needs protection from everyone, including Keiichi and Skuld. There is a haunting featuring a ghost/maid who falls for Keiichi and just wants a ride on his bike. Skuld finally realizes what Belldandy sees in Keiichi.

I can’t get enough of these books; they just don’t come out fast enough for me. It really is nice playing catch up and DH giving us a breather between volumes 1 and 21. Fujishima's art seems richer here, especially in the backgrounds. His mastery over his art style clearly developed as the series progressed; the differences between the very earliest art and this art are quite striking. I found it rather weird that the back of volume 7 advertises the first appearance of Sora, but doesn’t say anything about Banpei. People looking for light reading material should look no further. Sure, it's not the most difficult of books to read, understand and (hopefully) enjoy, but the nature of the OMG series and its plot can appeal to a much wider age group. See why millions of fans have fallen in love with OMG and just read it. A+

Oh My Goddess! vol. 28
Story & Art: Kosuke Fujishima
Translation: Dana Lewis
Adaptation: Christopher Lewis
Publisher: Dark Horse

Funny enough I read this back to back with volumes 7 and 8. I really shouldn’t have done that because this book took no time to read. It seems that Fujishima is now just concentrating on letting the art carry his stories. This also seems to be a popular trend with Western comics as well. Comics now-a-days seem to take the dialogue out of the books to make more room for the pictures. Of course I enjoy the beautiful artwork by Fujishima, but I miss the volumes that take hours to read. Not much happens in this volume; Sora holds a karaoke contest to get more members for the motor club and we see some old faces like Miya, Takki, and Aoshima. Hild and Belldandy decide to have a broom/machine race with the outcome being a cure of Vesper (who happens to be sick with something giving him spots). If Hild wins the Goddesses have to return to heaven. I have to say I love that cover, it is probably my favorite OMG cover I have seen on any volume. Belldandy just looks so innocent and beautiful. Even though there wasn’t much of a story, it’s the cast that really saves the book. Throw in some gorgeous artwork and you still have a recipe for greatness. A-

Midweek Manga Reviews: TGIF

Emma vols. 2 & 3
By: Kaoru Mori
Publisher: CMX

I’ll say it again, just like the first volume I did not think Emma was going to be my cup of English tea….hahaha, alright that was lame. Those covers, at least to me, looked like an American artist trying to imitate manga. In these two volumes Emma and the Young Master Jones go out on a tour of the historic Crystal Palace, which leads to an unexpected romantic evening together. But things are not meant to be because news of their love comes to the rest of the Jones household. Of course Eleanor is not happy to hear about this. This leads Emma to make a most drastic decision concerning her class-breaking relationship with William. Emma's origins and her first meeting with Madame Stowner are shown in these volumes. We also see introduction of several new characters that will impact the series a little later. Emma eventually decides to leave London behind hoping to start anew elsewhere. Needless to say, these two volumes do a great job of shoving the young lovers into the reality of their forbidden love while providing a background for Emma and tons of character development. The art, as always, is beautiful and detailed with tons of work put into the historical setting. It is always a pleasure to see Emma negotiating the city when she goes on errands for her mistress. Mori uses grey tones to make the art in the book look antique. His author notes show a genuine enthusiasm for her subject, which is evident in the care and attention to detail that can be seen throughout this series. Mori went to a lot of effort to make each character, setting, and background unique and distinctive and succeeded brilliantly. Overall, it is great and well worth your time. It’s like Great Expectations only fun to read. A

Genshiken Volumes 1 and 2
Kio Shimoku
Del Rey

If you are a die hard anime/video game/manga geek (as in you would sell your mom for an original copy of Radiant Silver Gun), then you’ll appreciate all the references in Genskiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture. You don’t have to be completely fanatic to enjoy this manga about a geeky club though; I thought it was hilarious because Kanji, one of the main characters, is having a hard time allowing himself to express his true passions (such as porn fanzines) even though he is around his kind. Makoto, another new member, is oblivious to the fact that Saki (a hot, normal chick) is trying to get in his pants. She even plays Puyo Puyo with him and cosplays as a puyo in order to turn him on. Instead, he chooses to hang out with his nerdy friends and kick their butts at 2D fighting games. As the story progresses in volume two, Saki almost becomes the main character, which is cool with me. She’s got the most conflict going on.

Shimoku created a manga within a manga called Kuji-Un for the characters of this manga to read and geek out over. We find this really cool because Omar had bought these cute girl figures a while ago and now we know where they’re from! Apparently it got so popular in Japan that they created figurines of the managa within this manga! I thought the girls looked familiar…. Finally, you have to read the excerpts at the end of each chapter from the club’s fanzine - each one sounds like someone is really analyzing his favorite character from Kuji-Un, just like we do on About Heroes everyday. A

Purgatory Kabuki vol. 1
Story & Art: Yasushi Suzuki
Publisher: DrMaster

I have been waiting for this book since it was announced in 2006. I really had no idea what it was going to be about, but that one page they showed at the Wizard Con Chicago kept my interest. It is a samurai story set in the underworld of the afterlife. Where former samurai Imanoturugi wants to leave and makes a deal to gather 1,000 swords from the fallen warriors who preside in the underworld. The story reminded me of Togari which I just read last week, but it was more confusing. The plus are its intricate details and consistency. The art in the front cover is what you get on the inside; it is all gorgeous to look at. Action packed, interesting characters, beautiful artwork, and little dialogue; you think with a formula like this nothing could go wrong. However, gorgeous art in small panels do not mean that they are a form of sequential art. It is very hard to follow the fights and fast paced scenes. I had to read it twice and look at it more than that to figure out who was who and what exactly was going on. Suzuki is an incredible artist, but you’ll spend so much time on each panel trying to figure out what is going that you’ll forget the main focus of the story. I was disappointed in the overall feel of the book and I hope volume 2 really picks up where this one was lacking. Is it worth the buy? If you like mindless action and gorgeous art (like I do), hell yes buy this book. But don’t expect more than that. Those character sketches at the end are completely gorgeous by the way. B-

Sugar Sugar Rune Volumes 1 and 2
Moyoco Anno
Del Rey

This looked a little cheesy when I flipped through it, but when I recognized the art style and realized it was done by the author of Flowers and Bees (a hilarious book about a guy trying to get laid), I definitely had to read it. Her art style is still the same in terms of the characters’ eyes and that the panels are overflowing with information, but she does adapt the art to fit the cutesy mood of her story.

It starts off slow like animes and mangas tend to do in order to introduce the concept and characters, but by the end of volume one, the story starts to pick up. Chocolat and Vanilla are the two candidates to become Queen of the Magic World. They must collect hearts in the Human World in order to accomplish this. Sadly though, it’s not real human hearts that they brutally rip out of the humans’ chests (Indiana Jones style, son!); they just collect pretty crystal hearts that don’t harm the person. Chocolat is in danger of having her heart taken if she falls in love with this jerky wizard dude, but unlike humans, witches only have one heart to give, so if he gets it, it’s curtains for her.

The characters really grew on me and I found myself rooting for them, even though they are two witch-girls who have candy names and cast candy spells. Again, Del Rey does a great job of explaining what the French and Japanese references mean. B

The Art of Yasushi Suzuki
Publisher: DrMaster

As much as I wanted to like Purgatory Kabuki, it got really confusing at times. But each panel was gorgeous to look at. I could only imagine what it would have been liked colored. So this is probably the next best thing. To get a book like this release in the U.S. is a blessing, because art books aren’t really in demand. It showcases his artwork from videogames, novels, and original illustrations. Such as his fantastic work on the N64 game Sin & Punishment (available now on the Virtual Console via Wii). There is plenty of artwork from Ikagura that will make fans of that series drool. It includes interviews with the artist and text taken from magazine articles. The text is written both in English and Japanese and the pages are printed in color with a glossy paper making them stand out. The only gripe I have is that I wish the book was longer, but seriously that is small gripe because any fan of not only manga art, but art in general should pick this book up. A

Uzumaki Volumes 2 and 3
Junji Ito
Viz Media

Junji Ito continues his horrific stylings in the second and third (and final) volumes of Uzumaki (which means ‘spiral’ in Japanese). The whole town is possessed and infected by the shape of a spiral, so much so that a guy slowly turns into a snail. This might not sound creepy, but Ito leaves no details out: the kid crawls into school drenched from the rain (since he can only travel in wet conditions), naked, with a shell forming on his back.

Most of the story is psychologically scary. If Ito had written it in prose, I would still be freaked out. But thankfully these nasty pictures add to the fun! I had to stop eating noodles while reading the first volume, but my favorite story is from the second volume: pregnant women at the hospital are infected by mosquito bites and stab spiral shaped drills into the other patients in order to suck their blood. But after the babies are born, they want to return to the womb, and a possessed doctor gladly helps by cutting the moms open and sewing the babies back in! On top of that, patients are feasting on the placenta that fell to the floor and grew into mushrooms. Nasty!

In the third volume Ito moves toward an actual plot besides spirals changing people. It’s still entertaining, but it my least favorite out of the three. It ends up that the physical town itself is the source of the spiral infection, and things are very bleak for the two heroes. On a side note, Kirie (the girl on the cover) has got to be one of the most boring characters ever! Her reaction to the insanity around her is a frown and a sweat drop on her head. But you know what? I still give this series an A! It’s so disturbing and disgusting that character development would only get in the way of you the reader experiencing the horror for yourself

Negima! Magister Negi Magi Spotlight

Story & Art: Ken Akamatsu
Translations: Douglas Varenas, Toshifumi Yoshida, and others
Adaptation: Peter David, Trish Ledoux, Kathleen O’shea David, Ikoi Hiroe, and others
Publisher: Del Rey

Over the last month I have been reading Negima Magister Negi Magi just about every chance I got. After reading the first 15 volumes of this series and having read the entire Love Hina series, I have come to the realization that Ken Akamatsu has made a living off of underdog boys and girls who inexplicably adore them. I really have no idea how something like this could work in real life, these wimpy guys get all the chicks. That’s it I’m going to stop working out and see what happens. But anyway, I have heard this book called plenty of things, but by far my favorite way to describe this book is by calling “Harem Potter” (that’s something I came across on the internet). While I consider myself rather witty, I’m not that witty.

So the premise "Harem Potter” is not really far off. A 10-year-old prodigy wizard is sent by his Hogwarts-like school in Britain to Japan, there to teach English to14-year-old Japanese schoolgirls at an all-girl's school. Negi Springfield wants to test himself to be like his father, a famous mage and for some reason a teacher is what he chooses to be. This is all in the hopes that one day he will meet his father or just an excuse for Akamatsu to have a setting at a high school. Oh yeah, we get to see those underage girls in this high school uniforms we have all come to love. There are 31 girls in the class, well one is a ghost and one's a robot, but come on its manga. Negi has his work cut out for him it’s not an easy obstacle he has to overcome and over time he gets help from his students. Ohh yeah and his goal is to hide the fact that he is a wizard.

I guess we can talk about these 31 girls for a bit. This is probably the biggest cast I have read in a manga. It was sometimes hard to keep up with who is who and the fact that some of them look identical and they all wear the same clothes don’t help. Negi's students consist of a wide array of smart students, athletes, cheerleader, academically challenged. But what class doesn’t have those types of girls in there? This class however, also includes several martial artists, a vampire, a ghost (like I mentioned before), a ninja, a robot, at demon, a time traveler (who also happens to be a Martian), a web idol, and plenty of witches. The thing that does make each student stand out is their involvement in different clubs. Many of these girls are eventually drawn into Negi's world of magic or have long been involved with the magic world. Through interaction, Negi learns about his students in depth. Even though his goal is to hide that he is a wizard, that later gets put aside because each girl finds a way to help Negi.

Now, I have mentioned that there is a robot a vampire, and a ghost, but most of these girls share another attribute, and that is that some of these girls have crushes on this 10-year-old boy teacher. I think this is why Asuna stands out, because she doesn’t see what the other girls see. There's a lot of slapstick grabbing of his crotch, boobs smacking in his face, and as with Love Hina there's just scores of bath scenes. There's a basic gross factor in the main romance that's difficult to get past, though it helps that Negi has no sexual desire for any of them, whatsoever. Once we get past that in the first few volumes, it's a basic adventure story, with Negi getting to know a new classmate every 3-4 chapters and going through some sort of bonding. By the end of Volume 9, half of the 31 girls are aware he's a wizard, so he no longer feels the need to keep his secret. But Negi is likeable in a genuinely likeable way, as opposed to Love Hina's Keitaro, who seemed merely hapless and a loser who can’t get into any University, but for some reason you find yourself routing for.

This isn’t just normal classes these girls are attending. While yes there is plenty of book study and field trips, there are also plenty of heated battles and magic fights. In the Evangeline story Arc we are introduced to the Pactio system. The Pactio system is a system of magic. It’s any magic user who can select a companion. These companions then attain abilities related to their personalities. It enables the magician casting the spell, the Magister, to transfer some of their magic power to the other person involved in the “pactio”, the Ministra, improving the Ministra's natural capabilities, by an average of ten times their normal capacity, according to Chamo (Negi’s pet/familiar). They can then summon a magic artifact if they wish.

After the heated battles, Akamatsu mostly focuses on fun and games. And of course, lots of magically-induced goofiness, such as Asuna beating her head against a boulder for being interested in Negi. And the final gag is Konoka tackling a terrified Setsuna with proclamations of love. Good thing the other girls, especially Ayaka, didn't get a hold of them. Probably by far my favorite two characters Konoka and Setsuna. They have been friends since childhood, the problem is, as the two have grown up, Setsuna's friendship has turned into a full-blown crush. Which is a big problem, as not only is Setsuna trying to remain detached and failing miserably, but she's also been brought up to believe that feeling such things for another girl is wrong. It doesn't help that, once their initial 'I'm avoiding you' difficulties are settled, Konoka is nice, sweet, and unselfish and basically doing her best to be lovable, if completely oblivious. The wonderful thing about these characters is that they have sounded the same since volume 1. Even after a handful of different translators and people that have adapted the book, the characters have sounded the same from the beginning. Towards earlier volumes I thought I noticed a little of Peter David humor he puts in his own books, but in reality it was just the characters themselves.

The artwork for Negima is rather impressive. It seems that Akamtsu has really sharpened his style since his days on Love Hina. While the characters can be cute and simple at times, the overall look to things is more detailed, especially on his fighting scenes. It seems that the earlier volumes had a CG look to the background and that really took my eyes away from the characters. Speaking of the characters, the students are also rather sharp and detailed, each noticeably different than every other. At first it seemed really confusing, because some do look like, but after 15 volumes I could really tell the difference and couldn’t wait till some of my favorites showed back up again. The spells and fights in Negima are easily what carries the artwork. I think the only thing about his art that still bothers me are the missing nipples. Yeah, I may sound like a pervert for pointing this out, but in manga and some American comics, I have a problem when something I know is supposed to be there isn’t. For an artist that takes his time with every detail from faces to buildings, I really don’t know why he didn’t go ahead and draw nipples on the girls. But oh well, just a small gripe, but when you have a bath scene in just about every other book, it could be a big problem.

That is not the only flaw Negima has either. The main problem to me is that it seems so unoriginal at first and the first few volumes I really had to push myself to read. We have that automatic love/hate relationship between Negi and some of his students. It's filled with gratuitous nudity and slight Lolita fetish (I have no clue what it’s called when it’s directed at boys). Akamatsu's fixation on the female body continues from his days on Love Hina, there are entire chapters where every girl is stark naked, with the exception of Asuna. Sure it’s contrived at times, but how else are we going to get fan service in manga. There is a good plot underlying this, and the Setsuna/Konoka pairing, while one-sided, is quite well done for both comedy and angst/drama. Negi’s goal is totally believable and I found myself cheering for him at times to become the Master Wizard. There are times when he is forced to make decisions I don’t think a 10 year old could handle better, hell I don’t think I can make better choices and I’m 30. This book is definitely for people that enjoyed Love Hina or enjoy romantic comedies, magical adventures, wonderful art, and a great story with an underdog for a protagonist. While it can be rather predictable at times it still manages to keep me in suspense. B

Midweek Manga Reviews: From Dragon's eyes to seduction of the not so innocent!

Dragon Eye vols. 2 & 3
Story & Art: Kairi Fujiyama
Translation: Mari Morimoto
Publisher Del Rey

It’s been a few months since we reviewed the first volume of this great manga, but we play catch-up by reading volumes 2 and 3 back to back. The Dracules have planned to take over Mikuni, but the members of VIUS led by the mysterious Issa, Leila who is still training to be a great warrior, and Sosei stand in their way. It seems that Leila wants more from Issa than his expertise. She’s got her eyes on his Dragon Eye, a powerful magic weapon. With the Eye, Leila can become the world’s greatest soldier-and finally avenge her parents’ death! The trio must team up with a group of four to explore the outskirts where Dracules have been spotted. It was difficult to put the books down, the more they hint at revealing Issa’s past the more I want to stick around and find out more. Tensions really rise when each member of the VIUS encounters a Dracule or every time we think the Dragon Eye will be used. This doesn’t feel like the monster of the week that plagued the first volume; it has finally picked up steam and doesn’t get boring at all. I love the fast paced adventures and the dynamic artwork really helps with those great action sequences. Sure it is very reminiscent of Naruto (now this could be because they have the same translator as well), but with enough originality and style it really does stand on its own two legs. Looks like Del Rey has another great hit in their hands! A

Metro Survive Vol. 1
Story & Art: Yuki Fujisawa
Translator: Stephen Paul
Adaptation: Ailen Lujo
Publisher: DrMaster

I really hate saying this, but that cover doesn’t do this book justice. You really have no idea what the book is going to be about with a bleeding chick on your cover. The story takes place after a massive earthquake hits the super-metropolis Tokyo. In the wake of the devastation the story the characters must learn to survive in this No Man’s Land. Mishima is a maintenance repairman for the Exopolis Tower, Tokyo's largest and hottest high-rise business and entertainment building. He promises to come home in time to celebrate his son's birthday, but when his timid ways lets him get push-overed into working over time that will take him all night. On the subway train heading home, the earthquake strikes and collapses both Exopolis and its underground train lines. Now Mishima is trapped deep underground with the other passengers of the train, some of whom are less than cooperative without food and water. The situation really makes you feel for Mishima, all he wants is to get out alive and see his family, but when you put him in a situation where not everyone is cooperating his true colors really shine. He is a timid man like I stated earlier, but he is thrown into a leadership role and forced to take charge. I couldn’t put the book down and let me tell you it takes a while to read, because it is very dialogue heavy. I love movies and books about human survival and this book was unsettling to read sometimes, because some of the characters feel so real and they all cope with this disaster separately. My only complaint was the cover, but don’t let that lure you away from picking this great book up. A

Naruto vol. 28
Story & Art: Masashi Kishimoto
Translation: Mari Morimoto
Adaptation: Deric A. Hughes & Benjamin Raab
Publisher: Viz

Naruto is back! I guess we can think of this just like the transition period between Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z. This really does begin the second part of Naruto’s adventures. Luckily we only had to wait just a couple of months for his return. But in Naruto’s timeline over two years have passed since Jiraiya took Naruto under his wing to train. They both return to Konoha village for an emotional and short reunion with their friends. Naruto looks taller and seems wiser than he did in volume 27. Now Kakashi has to treat Sakura and Naruto as equals, not as his students (and like him, I think I enjoyed when they hung on every word he said). The village receives news that the Akatsuki are attacking the Sand village and Tsunade orders the trio to go and investigate. But, it’s not a happy reunion for Team Kakashi, Temari, and Gara. I loved this volume; it was like seeing old friends again. Even though it’s only been two months since the last volume of Naruto came out, it really feels like in two years every has matured and changed in appearance and in skills. I love the foreshadowing when Jiraiya tells Naruto not to use a specific jutsu. The manga reads a little more mature than its 27 volume predecessor. It doesn’t seem like Naruto is the prankster he used to nor is he trying to achieve some impossible dream like when he was a kid. If this is the new format for storytelling in the Naruto universe then count me as a Naruto fanboy! While I did enjoy the original run, it wasn’t until this volume that I really dug the characters (with the exception of the Kakashi story). If you are a fan, you know you have bought this. If you’ve never read Naruto, pick this up! There is a nice recap page with events that happened in the preceding 27 volumes. A+

Seduction More Beautiful than Love vol.1
Story & Art: Lee Hyeon-sook
Translation: Dongjin Oh
Adaptation: Barb Lien-Cooper
Publisher: Tokyopop

Wow, that is one long title and judging by that cover seduction could be more fun than love, but I’m not sure about beautiful. Anyway, the story focuses on first year high school teacher Daoun and her ambitions she has with her new job. Along comes second year senior Ryumin, who also happens to be tall, dark, handsome, and mysterious and oh yeah, happens to have a crush on her. Now Daoun is start to have mixed feelings about her student and doesn’t know how to handle it. But wait, there is a third party involved in this story that just complicates things further and his name is Hyunwoo. He’s been in love with Daoun since they were classmates and now he is her fellow coworker who notices the sexual tension between Daoun and her student. However, Hyunwoo is shy and when he tries to share a perfect day with Dauon it all goes wrong. It’s not really a great love triangle, but still an interesting one. To complicate things even further Ryumin has a very jealous girlfriend who will do anything to keep her man. While Ryumin may seem like a suave guy, he is really an emotional wreck. He had an accident that left him with physical and emotional scars. While the illustrations are elegant and detailed, I really think they are averaged. Some scenes the faces are left blank and I’m not sure if the artist is trying to make an artistic point or if its laziness. Whatever it is, it really didn’t add anything to the story for me. I really enjoy the drama and the romance in this title though. Soap operas don’t get any better than this. B+

SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom vols. 6 & 7
Story & Art: Chi Wan Shun
Translator: Yun Zhao
Adaptation: Shawn Sanders
Publisher: DrMaster

If these books had been released 15 years ago I would have given blood and plasma for it. At 15 I bled SNK and Capcom and for a match of the century like this to take place in a comic I don’t think my heart could have taken it. Things are a little different now, but these books still bring out the kid in me. The story follows the premise of the game "SNK vs. Capcom Chaos" where the fighters had to die to get into this great tournament. Here in this realm between worlds the best of the best fighters fight it out. They even give you back stories of characters for those who aren’t really that savvy with worlds SNK or Capcom. It seems everything is coming together for the grand finale. Akkuma has been defeated by Athena and must now be a servant to Cosmos. Ryu and Ken have a long match that lasts more than one volume. While the stories will probably get any fanboy’s blood flowing the artwork is really what takes the center stage. Each action sequence is portrayed in nice tight pencils and ink and the colors while not flashy really flatter those pencils. Still, some of the "money shots" are fully painted, making the art look absolutely gorgeous. Fans of Capcom and SNK will no doubt be picking this fantastic series up and I assure you that you will definitely get your money’s worth, unlike the times you were getting your butt handed to you at the arcade. A-

Togari
Story & Art: Yoshinori Natsume
Translation: Hiroko Yoda
Adaptation: Matt Alt
Publisher: Viz

For some reason I thought of Go Nagai when I looked at the cover. Perhaps it was the eyes or hair, but something really reminded me of Nagai’s work. I was also reminded of Ushio and Tora, so needless to say I had high expectations going into this book. The plot revolves around Tobei, a tortured soul in Hell for 300 years now for committing horrible atrocities while he was alive, but he's never repented for the crimes that he committed. In fact, he's more defiant now than ever. Lady Ema, is like the warden of Hell, offers him a way out. She gives him 108 days to collect 108 sins, or Toga. Toga are sins which have taken corporeal form in the shape of various monsters which are able to possess humans. Tobei is given the Togari, a wooden sword which can be used to defeat Toga. If he can complete this mission in the time he was given, Tobei will be pardoned and freed from Hell. The first person he has to save from a Toga is Isuki, who manages to get abducted by a serial killer. This book reminds me of a cross between Key the Metal Idol and Bleach. 108 days really isn’t enough for this guy to do all this, but I find myself believing in Tobei. It’s a darker tone manga and the art style really helps set the mood. Even though it’s dark and sketchy it really is easy to follow. While it’s not the most original story it was a still a fun read, but I’m not sure how long they can keep the story going if he only has 108 days to do it in. B-

Midweek Manga Reviews: Fairy Tails and more folklores!

Bastard!! Vol. 16
Story & Art: Kazushi Hagiwara
Translation: Kaori Kawakubo Inoue
Adaptation: Sean McCoy
Publisher: Viz

All hell broke loose literally with the release of the last volume. This volume doesn’t back down from all that intense action either. Hagiwara has finally found an art style that he is comfortable with and the action sequences have never looked better. Dark Schneider is still roaming in hell chatting with Satan while Lars, Zakk, and the others continue to fight the Seraphs. Lucien attempts to convince the Angels that human beings are worth saving but his calls for mercy go unheard. Meanwhile, Yoko comes to the realization that she is the one who has been protecting Lucien the whole time, not the other way around. Nei, Gara, and Kall-Su continue hacking into an ancient computer and find out the cause of the Great Destruction that lay waste to the earth years ago was not the work of demons, but of angels! They also come to realize the God they had been worshiping was in fact the real evil destructive force on the planet. And finally the angel Michael emerges, but what exactly does that mean for our heroes? Dear God, this book is so full of adrenaline, every time I’m done reading it I want to go to the gym and work out for hours. The heroes have never looked better and the women are bouncier than ever. I have loved this book from the beginning and continue to push people into buying it. My only gripe is the time the books are released every 3 to 4 months is just not fast enough and instead of putting explicit content stickers on the front of the book, now they are just part of the cover. Like I said small gripes and nothing really to complain about a great book. A

Fairy Tail vols. 1 & 2
Story & Art: Hiro Mashima
Translation & Adaptation: William Flanagan
Publisher: Del Rey

When I looked at the cover for some reason I thought this was going to be a great manga. The artwork reminded me a lot of One Piece’s Eiichiro Oda and I loved the use of colors and placement of the characters. Then I looked at the creator of Fairy Tail and noticed it was Mashima, the same guy that brought us Rave Master, a manga I have been following since volume 1(I had no clue it has been over in Japan for three years now). Now I got really excited about reading the book. It seems that using magical schools have become a common theme since Harry Potter made it big, the way I see it as long as the characters are interesting and there is a well told story, count me in! Del Rey has decided to release both volumes 1 and 2 simultaneously. In the world of Fairy Tail some people have the power to wield various kinds of magic skills. These mages can take on special jobs for very good pay, but only if they are part of a guild. That is the sole purpose of a guild to join so you can take on job; Fairy Tail, being the most popular guild. We are introduced to Lucy Heartphilia, who is a Stellar Spirit Mage or a mage who summons spirits from other dimensions to do tasks for them such as Aquarius. Natsu Dragonil, who is on a quest to find the mage who raised him, Igneel and has the ability to swallow fire and produce it. Happy is a cat and right now I think he is a mage talking cat who is a full member of the Fairy Tail guild. I love how Natsu is not your stereotypical hero; the guy gets motion sickness and doesn’t look remotely cool when he is saving a damsel in distress. Without giving too much away about the plot I have to say that Fairy Tail is a very good series that I would recommend to any manga fan. It is highly enjoyable and the plot has a few twists in it that I didn’t see coming. Think of a mix between Harry Potter, One Piece, and of course Rave if you are thinking about picking this book up and you won’t be disappointed. A-

Fever vol. 1
Story & Art: Hee Jung Park
Translation: Hye Young Im
Adaptation: Ailen Lujo
Publisher: Tokyopop

What a clever way to spell fever I thought to myself and in a way that is the way the entire book is set up. It is very misleading and what I thought was going to be another long and boring love story really took me by surprised. I had never read Hotel Africa so I really had no idea what to expect. The story is about High school student Hyung-in and the way she has dealt with life since her friend committed suicide. She has had it with school, family’s expectations, and a dull life; all she wants is out. But when she meets an orphan and a strange country-boy Ji-Jiun and Kang-Dae on the bus, she begins an unexpected journey into the unknown, at a mysterious place called, yeah you guessed it; Fever. All the characters are unique in their own way. Ji-Jun seems like a trouble maker, but is just misunderstood and has rotten luck. Hyung-in is still trying to figure out how to go on with her life. Kang-Dae just seems to bring the trio together along with Bong-nam. I really love the inner monologue. The translation is above average and if the quality continues then I too will be picking this book up. Park’s art style is very clean and crisp when it comes to the characters and the backgrounds are very detailed. I really love the attention to detail Park gives Bong-nam, I always find it very difficult to draw dogs and Park just makes it seem easy. A-

Mushishi vols. 2 & 3
Story & Art: Yuki Urushibara
Translation: William Flanagan
Publisher: Del Rey

I can’t remember if I mentioned this in my review of the first volume of Mushishi or not, but I love those covers. For some reason they have an aged look to them and the paper the art is printed on really makes those water colors stand out. Genki is still trying to find and get rid of the Mushi for the world to be a safer place. But as we see in these volumes the stories are now more about living in peace with the Mushi. The short stories range from Mushi that have kidnapped a fellow Mushishi (a Mushi expert) to an orphaned boy in the forest that has befriended the Mushi. The writing is excellent even though I preferred some of the translation seems a bit odd at times. What else can I say about the art? Other than its rich and detailed. Although the episodic nature of the series prevents extended supporting character development, the reader does get to know Ginko and a limited cast of repeating characters quite well. Mushishi is a wonderful collage of Japanese folklore and fantasy coming together in an elegant and hauntingly beautiful title. I love how it introduces so many fascinating elements of the Japanese culture. The fantastic notes by Del Rey in the afterword really help the reader get to know some of these cultural references, so I applaud Del Rey for taking the time to make something more enjoyable. A Must Have for any manga fan and a brilliant introduction to the genre for newcomers, I highly recommend this series, you won’t be disappointed. A+

Your & My Secret
Story & Art: Ai Morinaga
Translations: Yuya Otake
Adaptation: Jay Antani
Publisher: Tokyopop

There was something about that cover that cracked me up when I looked at it the first time….ohh I don’t know, perhaps the girl that has a tear drop running down her face holding the guy in her arms. So, along with great works of fiction like Freaky Friday, Vice Versa, Like Father Like Son, and Switch comes Your and My Secret. The premise of the book is one we have seen almost run into the ground in manga and anime, but it does have a twist. Nanako is the most beautiful, fragile, and adorable girl at her high school, that is until she opens her mouth and reveals her true self. Once she shows her true self, guys' dreams are shattered because she is a tomboy. Akira Uehara, sensitive and demure by nature he has the looks and brains, but his personality is so dull he is overlooked by all his peers. But one day Nanako's grandfather comes up with crazy, life-altering invention and Nanako and Akira are forced to keep a very big secret. Akira is sent to Nanako’s house to take her homework from school, when he accidently walks into her grandfather’s lab. They end up switching bodies with each other. The art is typical shojo, but for some reason turns really ridiculous when the characters do something stupid. I find it funny that Akira makes a better girl and Nanako a better guy, which is almost scary and I really want to find out if they get their bodies back, so it does have my interest with that twist. B-

Midweek Manga Reviews: Devils in love and girls with guns!

Devil’s Bride
Story & Art: Se-Young Kim
Translation: Hyun Joo Kim
Adaptation: Lorelei Laird
Publisher: Tokyopop

That cover threw me for a loop because I really had no idea what it had to do with the story, well until there is a revelation about sixty pages into the book. The devil has been living in the forest alone for a long time. He gets a visit from an old friend, Jya and informs Jya that he is looking for a human bride. He wants to purchase one, because after all he is the devil and women just don’t throw themselves at him. A young girl approaches him one day and states that she is the only one willing to be his bride as long as she is getting paid, because her father needs money. Turns out that this cute young girl was nothing more than a pretty boy dressed in women’s clothing trying to deceive the devil, but ends up falling for him. Do to some kind of accident (I’m still not sure what happened) he dies and is later rebuilt by the devil. Now the devil is starting to put human pieces together to “build” his perfect bride. There is also an origin story about a blind boy named Alex, who seems to be our main character. So, not everything might be what it seems to be. I really enjoyed the story, for something I thought I was going to care less about, I really was pleasantly surprised. It doesn’t seem like we are dealing with the devil, but with a man that has sold his soul to the devil for the gift of sight. Not everything is laid out in front of you and I love that in storytelling. The reader is left to put the pieces together and finish the rest of the story. My only complaint is the art….we have one woman that actually appears in the whole book and I couldn’t tell the difference between her and all the guys, except for the mercenary, cause he was just plain ugly. It does have a second volume that I will be checking out. B

Jpop Idol
Story: Millenni + M
Art: Toko Yashiro
Translation: Monica Seya Chin
Publisher: Tokyopop

You know it had to happen. I’m actually surprised it didn’t happen earlier, but with the consistent success of American Idol there just had to be a Jpop (Japanese) Idol. Sure there have been other books like this covering this subject, but this is the first time that those two words have been together in one book. It figures that a company like Tokyopop would release a book like this, because they were really one of the earliest pioneers trying to push the Jpop music and lifestyle to the mass American market. From the minds of Toko Yashiro (artist for Shogakukan's magazine Shojo Comi) and writer Millenni+M comes Jpop Idol, a story of pursuing your dreams and what you are willing to pay to achieve them. Everyone and by the terms of this book I mean everyone, dreams about being the next J-Pop Idol! Best friends Mika, Kay, and Naomi win a nationwide singing contest, setting them on their way to stardom. But only Mika is offered a recording contract, however you know nothing like this comes without a price so the price in this particular tale is her friendship with Kay. Things get more complicated when Mika meets Ken, who used to be a boy-band idol and now serves as a music producer promising her to make her a household name. But it isn't long before she discovers that Ken is paying his own price for his love of music, because he has a secret of his own. This volume reminds me of a book called B. B. Explosion, but with better art and a more believable cast. Sure it seems really hokey, but the story really puts you in Mika’s shoes when she has to decide what to do next in her life. There are color pages included towards the very beginning that make the art really shine, makes me wish the rest of the book would have been in color. B-

Princess Ai: Rumors from the Other Side
Creators: Plenty!
Translation: Christine Schilling
Adaptation: Hyun-Joo Kim
Publisher: Tokyopop

There seems to be an expanding universe in from a little series called Princess Ai. Everything from a tattoo book to a coloring book, it seems that for a series that has been over and done with for a couple of years now, fans still demand more. To be honest I wasn’t that impressed with the original Princess Ai series. The artwork was gorgeous, but the story left me a little wanting. So keep that in mind when you read what I have to say about this follow-up. This is a collection of 12 stories that take the Princess Ai characters and twists them around. A collection of untrue stories, gossip, rumors, and just blatant lies that are done by Tokyopop’s top manga creators. Such creators as Steve Buccellato, Misaho Kujiradou, Kim Mi-Kyung, Sara Winningham, and other artist and writers that do their take on what they view Princess Ai as. Of course the original Princess Ai was a groundbreaking project to begin with, since it involved Courtney Love, so this is another unique take on the stories told by D.J. Milky. The stories range from cute and funny to the sad and bizarre. For some reason I ended up enjoying this book more than the regular series. It must have been the fresh take on the characters that did it for me and probably the fact that each story only lasted about 15 or so pages. Each creator really shines with their story and I’m assuming that’s because they are free to write and draw about anything as long as they use the PA characters in some kind of way. If you are looking to sample of these talented creators works, this is a perfect book for you and I’m assuming fans of PA already have this pre-ordered. B

Rose Hip Rose
Story & Art: Tohru Fujisawa
Translation: Emi Onishi
Adaptation: Michael French
Publisher: Tokyopop

When I heard of this book, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it because I’ve been such a fan of Fujisawa’s GTO. I wanted to read how he would handle a lead female character. I never got a chance to read the Rose Hip Zero series, so this is my introduction to that world. What I did notice though is that the GTO series and the Rose Hip Zero series which are the originals are both rated OT and their sequels GTO: The Early Years and Rose Hip Rose are rated M. Not that I’m complaining, I am always up for a Mature rated story. I really didn’t know what to expect with a title like Rose Hip Rose….come on, this is the manga world after all! It wouldn’t have surprised me if I had ended up reading a story about a runaway hip or a creature that is nothing but roses and hips….anyway. Kasumi Asakura is a police assault squad ace that is going undercover to a local high school to try to solve some murders going on in Tokyo. All I can say about the story is that it is intense and the action is in your face. I’m not that familiar with Kasumi, I’m sure more character development happened in the previous books than in here, but I like her character. Dynamic action lines and detailed line-art in every panel is what Fujisawa is known for. Panel to panel during action sequences that are so brutal and insane I can see why this is rated M. There is a great balance of close-ups to background artwork that defines what a great manga is supposed to be. Fans of GTO and chicks with guns should really check this book out. A

The Third vol. 1
Original Story: Ryo Hoshino
Original Character Design: Nao Goto
Art: Ariko Itou
Translation: Angela Liu
Adaptation: Mel Gilden
Publisher: Tokyopop

I have been slacking on my anime watching for quite some time and reading a prequel to an anime that I didn’t even know existed is testimony to that. It seems that there is an anime released by Right Stuf under the name Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye that follows the adventures of Honoka and after reading this manga I am definitely checking out the anime. But, anyway this review is for the manga.....so the set up is many years after a large destruction known as the Great War that killed 80% of the population, the outlands are now being watched by a group of beings known as The Third, named for the third red eye on their forehead that can access various computer systems. In this barren, apocalyptic landscape lives Honoka, a jill-of-all-trades who uses her powerful third blue eye to detect life forces in battle as she attempts to keep her friends from The Third's deadly grasp. Sometime in the near future Honoka is destined to become the formidable but graceful Sword Dancer and this is the story of how she will eventually get there and what obstinacies she must overcome. As of this volume Honoka is still trying to make a name for herself in the desert outlands as a Dune Runner. The story reminds me of a mix of Mad Max, Sandland, Weathering Continent, and Full Metal Panic. I really like Honoka she is very determined to become the best, but the author still writes her as a timid girl at times. I am looking forward to the next volume and continuing to read her adventures. A-