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pick of the week

Pick of the Week: Pandora Hearts

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Wow, it’s a tough week here for choosing a Pick, though for a much different reason than last time around. Looking at this week’s new manga from Midtown Comics, we’ve got the new omnibus of Cardcaptor Sakura, a second volume of Alice the 101st, Double Cast, 13th Boy (one of my favorite manhwa series), the adorable third volume of previous Pick Chi’s Sweet Home, new Nightschool, new 20th Century Boys… it’s a great week for manga.

All that said, I’m going to go with the third volume of one of my favorite current shonen series, Pandora Hearts from Yen Press. Here are a few bits from my review of volume one:

That’s a lot of plot to spell out in a single review, though it really only scratches the surface of this whirlwind shonen fantasy. Impressively, though the story races along at an exceptionally fast pace, it is very easy to follow and its characters immediately take shape, evoking both sympathy and great interest from the beginning. Both Oz, whose carefree attitude hides significant intelligence and compassion, and Alice, whose aggressive, fearsome persona seems crafted to protect the psyche of a very damaged young girl, are immediately compelling …

Mochozuki’s art is central to the atmosphere of this manga, with its detailed character designs and settings. Much inspiration is taken from John Tennial’s vision of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland, with the addition of Mochizuki’s own style which excels particularly in the story’s creepiest moments, such as Oz’s adventure in The Abyss … The story’s action sequences are unusually coherent and easy to follow, with a very dramatic use of contrast and paneling, matching its surreal setting beautifully.

As with any story as elaborately set up as this one, the real question at the end of a strong first volume is whether or not the author can effectively follow through with what’s been put into play. The series has offered more questions than answers at this point, relying mainly on the strength of its characters to hold the reader’s attention through the din. That said, there is enough promise in this fun, mysterious fantasy to ease all doubts for the moment and simply anticipate. Fast-paced, enigmatic, and attractive to the eye, Pandora Hearts is easy to recommend.

For reviews of volumes two and three, check out the tag, pandora hearts. All three volumes are available now.

Pick of the Week – Arata: The Legend

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Oh, how the week flies! It hardly seems possible that it’s already time to choose another Pick of the Week, yet here I sit again with the latest upcoming arrivals list from my favorite comic shop, Boston’s Comicopia.

My pick this week is volume three of Yuu Watase’s Arata: The Legend published by Viz Media. I’ve had a rocky relationship with Watase’s work, and though I’m fond of her current shojo series, Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden, what I think I’ve learned from the early volumes of Arata: The Legend is that I actually like Watase best as a shonen artist.

From my review of the series’ first two volumes:

While Watase’s shojo fantasies have always featured a lot of action, this series allows her to really shine, with fights, chases, and weapons galore. There’s a natural, easy feel to the artwork in this series, even when compared to her other current work like Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden, as though by choosing to draw shonen action heroes, she’s finally really hit her stride.

Though I have yet to take a look at the series’ latest volume, there’s still time to check it out at Viz’ Shonen Sunday website before its release. So go & read, and if you like it, buy it!

Pick of the Week: Twin Spica

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Buy this book – Considering how much I’ve raved about this series (volumes one | two) it should be no surprise to anyone that my pick of this week’s new arrivals is the third volume of Twin Spica by Kou Yaginuma, published by Vertical, Inc.

Here’s what I had to say about the first two volumes:

Though this series finished its run in seinen magazine Comic Flapper just last year, its simple artwork and wistful tone make its first volume read like an instant classic … Yagimuna’s artwork is utterly charming. Simple, clean, and full of heartfelt emotion, it flows easily from panel to panel. Again here, there is a persistent air of nostalgia to the series, enhanced even by Vertical’s choice of font … Hopeful, charming, and tinged with sadness, Twin Spica leaves us wanting more. Highly recommended.

What started out as a wistful, nostalgic story about nurturing dreams in an environment tainted by years-old pain is now introducing us to school politics, adult grudges, and a lot of real-world ugliness that puts Asumi’s dreams in depressing perspective.

While this might cripple a weaker series, it really strengthens this one. Asumi’s still the same girl, but her warm, dreamy nature isn’t going to hold up easily in the face of real intimidation. While it’s certainly painful to watch this play out, it’s also really compelling, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next volume.

My volume just arrived yesterday, and I can’t wait to read it! If anything drives you to the comic shop this week, it should be Twin Spica!

For a full list of this week’s new releases, visit Comicopia.com!

Pick of the Week: A Drunken Dream

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Buy this book – As I peruse this week’s new arrivals at Comicopia.com, I feel a bit sad. There are a number of new volumes that might normally catch my eye for Pick of the Week. Rasetsu, for instance, has become quite a favorite. And who can resist Sand Chronicles?

This week, however, everything fades in the presence of a newly-released collection of short manga from shojo pioneer Moto Hagio, A Drunken Dream and Other Stories. The book is published by Fantagraphics, and edited and translated by Matt Thorn.

Simply put, this book is gorgeous. You can expect a review here soon at Manga Bookshelf, though there’s no way I’ll come even close to doing it justice, unlike Kate Dacey, whose recent review should be required reading all on its own. Visit Publishers Weekly for a very generous preview, if you’re wondering just what I mean by “gorgeous.” Also, check out the slideshow at Fantagraphics’ website for a glimpse of its spectacular, hardcover glory. This is not a cheap book (in any sense of the word), and it is a must-buy for any fan of sequential art.

For my thoughts on one of the very few of Hagio’s works to be published in English, you can read my review of the out-of-print short series They Were Eleven.

This is a release I’ve been eagerly anticipating since its announcement. Visit your local bookstore to find out why.

Pick of the Week: Chi-licious

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Welcome to Manga Bookshelf’s Pick of the Week!

Buy this book – This week, we recommend another new arrival, volume two of Chi’s Sweet Home, published by Vertical, Inc. Chi’s Sweet Home is the story of a stray kitten who finds a new home for herself with a loving family in a (supposedly) pet-free apartment building.

The series is funny and sweet, with the cutest artwork you’ll ever see. It’s also surprisingly poignant and provides some startling insight into the complicated relationship between human and feline.

Volume two addresses kitty frustrations that many humans will relate to as well, and offers up the same light humor mixed with deeper emotional underpinnings (for those who are looking).

Expect a full review of volumes one and two here in the near future. In the meantime, check out the second volume of this adorable series for yourself!

Keep up with all of this week’s new manga with help from Boston’s own Comicopia.

Pick of the Week: Days of Sehara

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Welcome to Manga Bookshelf’s first Pick of the Week!

This feature is exactly as it sounds–a weekly spotlight on a single manga or manhwa title. Picks may be chosen from among the week’s new releases, or whatever else I’ve been enjoying in the moment.

Buy this book – This week’s pick falls into the first category. It’s the final volume of a series I’ve followed ravenously for quite some time, Han SeungHee and Jeon JinSeok’s One Thousand and One Nights, published by Yen Press.

Though originally I declined to categorize this series as boys’ love (much like Akimi Yashida’s Banana Fish), it has certainly earned that title over the past few volumes. It also has the distinction of being one of the few in its genre I’ve ever encountered that was written by a male author.

This overtly homoerotic take on the tales of Scheherazade (“Sehara” in this retelling) is dark, violent, and melodramatic at times. It is also intensely beautiful, and one of the most tender love stories I’ve read in quite a while. My enjoyment of this series is quite well-documented, most recently in last week’s installment of Off the Shelf.

Originally published in English by ICE Kunion, the series is available in its entirety from Yen Press. Do take a look. And don’t let the unattractive cover art fool you. It’s gorgeous, through and through.

For a list of what may be shipping to your local store this week, check out new releases at Boston’s Comicopia.