Golden Time, Vol. 6 | By Yuyuko Takemiya and Umechazuke | Seven Seas – Getting past the fanservice of the volume—and not necessarily for guys, that’s Banri in the maid outfit on the cover—Golden Time always works best when it focuses on developing its leads, and it does a very good job. Banri is terrified the “old him” will take over again, Kouko is trying to change her old obsessive ways but it’s really hard, especially when she sees Bari and Linda pocky-kissing, and as for Linda, she’s trying to let go of her love for Banri without actually telling him about it, and just like Kouko, this is proving to be really hard. As you’d expect from this author, the manga does a really good job of providing depth to its romantic triangle. Recommended for romantic dramedy fans. – Sean Gaffney
Honey So Sweet, Vol. 5 | By Amu Meguro | Viz Media – I talked last time about how much I enjoyed the fluffy angst, and I do, but I feel that it doesn’t work as well when it’s obviously manufactured by the writer to create conflict that shouldn’t be there. Taiga’s mother pretending to be “a mean person” so that Nao could show her resolve was entirely unnecessary, especially since it only lasted about three pages. The rest of the volume fares better, especially with Nao’s fight with her brother, which spins its conflict very well indeed. And as with so many shoujo manga, we get to see the seasons pass, so get ready for Christmas dates and Valentine’s chocolate. Always good, but sometimes tries a bit too hard. – Sean Gaffney
Horimiya, Vol. 6 | By Hero and Daisuke Hagiwara | Yen Press – We’ve reached the stage where the lead couple is reasonably happy, so it’s time to focus on their friends’ romantic prospects. I was unexpectedly entertained by spending more time with Sengoku, who is every bit as scrawny and weak as Miyamura is, which doesn’t bother the girl who likes him one bit. Speaking of Miyamura, I think he and Hori manage to sleep together in this volume, but the fade-to-black is so demure that I’m not 100% sure. While I do celebrate how naturally the moment occurred, it does still trouble me that by the end of the volume he’s wearing a bandage because Hori went berserk when she thought a girl had called him. At least their friends are both telling Hori she’s to blame and Miyamura not to just let it go, but I wish her violent tendencies would be treated a little more seriously. – Michelle Smith
In/Spectre, Vol. 2 | By Kyo Shirodaira and Chashiba Katase | Kodansha Comics – There is a mystery here, and it’s a decent one, delving into the sordid business world of gravure idols and showing us how hard things can be for a practical girl who wants to get ahead in the business starting with “spunk” (and large breasts). But as with the first volume, the reader is likely more inclined to follow the hilarious back and forth between Kuro’s ex-girlfriend and his current girlfriend. As with the last volume, Kotoko is so comical in her arrogance and jealousy it’s actually hilarious, and Saki’s not much better. Kuro, being (mostly) a stoic, is the weak link. There’s also some cool fighting and amusing monsters. It’s a greatly enjoyable yokai series. – Sean Gaffney
Nichijou: My Ordinary Life, Vol. 6 | By Keiichi Arawi | Vertical Comics – In between volumes of Nichijou, I forget how passionately I hate the professor. And then I read chapters where she whines and throws a trantrum over getting an undeserved treat and Nano tries to stand firm, but eventually gives in and rewards her awful behavior. Or a chapter in which Sakamoto objects to, say, being put in the washing machine, but she won’t listen and eventually falls asleep and he just gives up on talking to her. I mean, she’s just a little kid. Why do I want to see a violent fate befall her?! It feels so wrong. There are a few other surreal and/or vaguely amusing stories this volume, but I honestly don’t think I even smiled. Perhaps it’s time to give up on Nichijou. – Michelle Smith
Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches, Vol. 12 | By Miki Yoshikawa | Kodansha Comics – Now that it’s clear that the series is trundling along with a whole set of new witches, new powers, but the same old Yamada-kun, I will try to get over my annoyance and find things to enjoy. I liked the first new Witch we meet, a basketball jock who finds that power corrupts. We don’t see much of Shiraishi, but what little we do see shows how much she’s struggling with Yamada-kun having to go around kissing all these girls, and unfortunately her stoicism is not helping. And the two new Student Council members are amusingly dumb. But again, this really seems like it’s spinning through the same old tricks, and it’s not as good as the first time around. – Sean Gaffney