Cage of Eden, Vol. 20 | By Yoshinobu Yamada | Kodansha Comics – Cage of Eden ditches the rape threats and infighting, thank goodness, and gets back to one of its two big strengths—exploring things and discovering horrifying secrets. This also leads to a death, and we haven’t gotten a character death in a while, so it would almost be a surprise if it weren’t telegraphed heavily beforehand. Meanwhile, it’s always been apparent that our heroes are not just on some J. Random Dinosaur island, and it’s also becoming very clear that something else is involved. The unrecognizable cars and robots are also a clue. The next volume is the final one—will it have answers? More to the point, can it possibly resolve everything in that short a space? – Sean Gaffney
A Certain Scientific Accelerator, Vol. 3 | By Kazuma Kamachi and Arata Yamachi| Seven Seas – The setup of the first two volumes leads to the chaos that I said would occur, and it’s certainly chaotic, as we are introduced to yet ANOTHER group of overpowered teens and tweens who hover between sociopathic and just needing a hug. Railgun readers should already be familiar with this sort of thing; Index novel readers will have to wait a while for it to make sense. That said, anyone familiar with Aiho Yomikawa will love this volume, as she shows off both what an incredible badass she is and the compassion and love that drives it—though admittedly, in the world of Index, those who say “no, they really are using us as guinea pigs” are always correct. Sorry, Yomikawa. – Sean Gaffney
Oresama Teacher, Vol. 20 | By Izumi Tsubaki | Viz Media – This is a transitional volume, as we wrap up, for the moment, Hayasaka’s family and the manipulations of Momichi. If nothing else, this should show the average reader not to mess with mind control, as Hayasaka’s memories, combined with the trauma of his well-meaning but also somewhat appalling father and Momochi’s hypnotism, are something resembling swiss cheese. (The funniest moment of the volume, if only as it’s so unexpected, features Saeki going to Momochi’s room every day. We expected the rug to be pulled from under us, but not that way.) So naturally, now that he’s finally recovering, is the time when he may finally realize the truth about Super Bun. Always recommended. – Sean Gaffney
Requiem of the Rose King, Vol. 4 | By Aya Kanno | Viz Media – There’s far less Henry and Richard having ambiguous sexual tension here, but that’s only because the political machinations of almost everyone comes to the fore. Everyone wants the throne or wants to influence the power behind it. George is pitted against Edward, and poor Anne refuses to be used as a pawn, but is unfortunately overheard and misunderstood in exactly the worst way. Throughout all this flits Richard, who honestly is at his best when being a stereotypical shoujo hero for Anne, but we all know that’s not what’s going to happen, and so does he. Of course, this assumes that he can survive the latest coup attempt to take out his family. Shakespeare and shoujo go together amazingly well. – Sean Gaffney
Requiem of the Rose King, Vol. 4 | By Aya Kanno | VIZ Media – After Richard flies into a rage and nearly kills his beloved Henry, not yet knowing that he and the former king he blames for his father’s death are one and the same, he is sent off to stay with Warwick for a while. He spends time with Warwick’s eldest daughter, Anne, and is relieved that he can feel romantic thoughts towards a woman, and hurt when he mistakenly believes she was faking it on her father’s orders. It’s a hardened Richard who observes Warwick and George’s uprising against Edward and coolly considers whose side it would be more advantageous to join. If it sounds like a lot happened this volume, it does, and that’s my only real complaint. Everything is fascinating and dramatic, but it all happens so fast. I feel like it’d have more emotional impact if we just slowed down a little bit. – Michelle Smith
Say “I Love You,” Vol. 13 | By Kanae Hazuki | Kodansha Comics – I could have done without the author’s afterword saying that Megumi needed to be “punished” because she was so mean in prior volumes, as I think it’s conveyed well enough as being simply what the business is: Megumi’s big in Japan, but that means nothing in France. We’ll see how trustworthy her patron is—I’m not sure I trust him just yet. In the non-Megumi part of this volume, which is much smaller, we get the ever popular “I don’t care if you don’t love me just go out with me” appeal, which is a horrible idea and literally everyone knows it. But hey, this is what happens when the main couple have worked out all their issues. Still recommended, but we’re in extra innings here. – Sean Gaffney
Yotsuba&!, Vol. 13 | By Kiyohiko Azuma | Yen Press – It’s been over two years since the last volume of Yotsuba&! came out, and I struggled a bit with getting back into the swing of things. Either that or I’ve turned into a curmudgeon, because seeing Yotsuba’s bossy behavior go uncorrected was starting to seriously bug me. Happily, Azuma picks this moment to introduce Grandma (unless we’ve seen her before and I’ve forgotten since it’s been so long!), who imparts many valuable lessons and life skills onto Yotsuba that her dad hasn’t thought to address. It’s wonderful to watch Yotsuba go from a kid who just wants Grandma’s souvenirs to one who would give them up if only Grandma would stay. And then we get a few moments showing how she and her dad are great together, as well. It’s a strong finish, and one that leaves me ready for volume fourteen already. – Michelle Smith