Archives for October 2009

The Battle of Genryu: Origin, Volume 1

October 11, 2009 by MJ 1 Comment

The Battle of Genryu: Origin, Vol. 1
By Shoko Fukaki
Published by CMX

Jin is a normal, happy-go-lucky high school student with unusually strong fighting abilities, something which has caught the attention of his friend Fusano, who suspects there is something “a little bit different” about him. As it turns out, what’s different about Jin is something his father and sister are determined to keep secret, especially from Jin’s estranged brother, Soichiro, who makes a living displaying his own abilities for the entertainment of the masses. When Soichiro approaches Jin’s sister, Toko, with a view towards bringing both her and Jin into his world, it becomes clear that their family relationships are not what they seem. Toko rejects Soichiro’s advances, appalled by his use of secret techniques for show and clearly terrified of what could happen to Jin should she be unable to protect him. Undaunted, Soichiro finds his way to Jin through more devious means, setting up a fight he’ll be unable to refuse.

When I first read this manga several months back, my impression of it was “competent but unremarkable.” Now on my second read, my perspective has changed a bit, and I find myself quite drawn to these characters and their world. I’m especially partial to the women, Toko and Fusano, and their mutual ability to take care of both themselves and the primary object of affection in their lives, Jin. This story doesn’t quite pass the Bechdel Test (at least not yet) but these women are strong, smart, and tender, and they can hold their own against the fairly terrifying men around them. Toko, particularly, displays such stirring affection for Jin, even now I find myself returning to the book’s middle chapters to catch a glimpse of it once more. That Fusano, one of the most skilled young fighters in the story is used by Soichiro as helpless bait to lure in Jin is truly unfortunate, though it is such a common occurrence in manga of this kind, I can’t quite bring myself to get worked up over it as I should. There is a lot of talk, even from Soichiro, about Fusano having the potential to be a “real martial artist.” I can only hope this will be developed more as the story goes on.

What remains a great mystery, even by the end of the volume, is any hint as to the origin of Jin (and Soichiro’s) power, aside from a vague implication that they may not be fully human. With the true relationship between them yet unexplained, it is also unclear exactly why Soichiro is so anxious to bring Jin to his side or even what that really means. After all, Soichiro seems to be mainly using his abilities to attract money and fame, at least on the face of it. What hidden truth makes Toko so desperate to protect Jin from him? The man is sleazy, there’s no doubt about that, but what’s behind it all? It is these questions that most drive me to want to pick up the next volume.

Another thing The Battle of Genryu: Origin has going for it is the fact that its fight scenes are both fairly intense and easy to follow, a combination that is often difficult to find in this type of manga. I expect the fighting only appears realistic to those of us who honestly know nothing about it since even I must question some of the physics involved, but realism is pretty far from the point. If you’re looking to escape shonen battle clichés or for any kind of sincere insight into the martial arts, this is definitely not the book for you. The artwork overall is generally attractive, if not unique, and there are some unexpected touches here and there in backgrounds and a few bits of paneling that actually evoke a shojo-esque feel.

Though it would be difficult to shift my assessment of this manga as “unremarkable” at this point, there is definitely a warmth and charm to it that I did not pick up during my first read which makes that a real possibility in the future. With this in mind, I’ll be genuinely interested to see where it goes from here and whether the elements of it that I’m most drawn to remain enough of a focus to continue. Though I can’t quite recommend this series’ first volume, fans of light-hearted battle manga may find something here to hook them, along with a hope of better things to come.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

NYAF 2009 – Personal Notes

October 9, 2009 by MJ 6 Comments

Today I have convention coverage to share! My report on manga industry panels at the New York Anime Festival has gone up, this year over at Johanna Draper Carlson’s Comics Worth Reading. As I mention in my report, publisher panels are my primary focus at anime conventions and though they seem to be happening less and less frequently at all the conventions I regularly attend, there was plenty to get excited about this year at NYAF, especially from Vertical, whose newly acquired licenses I rave on rather tirelessly about over in my report. With so many bloggers on the task, none of the new license information will be news to anyone at this point, so my coverage is intended as one blogger’s take on the licenses themselves, including some commentary on my experience in each of the various panels.

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Hikaru no Go, Volume 17

October 8, 2009 by MJ 7 Comments

Hikaru no Go, Vol. 17
By Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata
Published by Viz Media

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Warning: This review contains spoilers for volumes fifteen and above.

At the end of volume sixteen, having reluctantly agreed to a game with Isumi, Hikaru finally found Sai in the most obvious place of all: his own game. This volume opens with Hikaru tearfully facing that truth as well as the realization that the best way for him to honor Sai is to continue to play Go. With this new determination, Hikaru confronts Akira after a match (one that has raised Akira into the Hon’inbo League) to inform him of his return. Fortunately, a match between the two of them is already on the schedule, one which they both anticipate eagerly.

Meanwhile, higher-ups in the Go Association, the upper echelon of pros, and members of the press dedicated to the game are all getting excited about the “new wave” of powerful young players rising up in the ranks, viewing it as both a personal call to arms (in the case of the pros) and a much-needed potential for revival of the game in Japan. As Hikaru and Akira finally face each other over the goban for the first time in over two years, rumors of their rivalry re-emerge among the other players, feeding this new excitement.

After volume sixteen’s shift in focus, it is exciting to be back in Hikaru’s thrall once more. Having recovered his true energy, he pulls the story along at full speed, so much so that it almost feels like Akira must come after him rather than the other way around. It is a real pleasure to see these characters on track together again–their rivalry rendered nearly poetic by the likes of Hon’inbo title holder Kuwabara, who sees Hikaru and Akira as equally gifted geniuses, dependent on each other in their quest for the “divine move.”

What’s especially refreshing about the writing in this series, however, is that even though this rivalry is heralded as something divine in nature, it does not diminish the importance of the story’s many supporting characters, each with his/her own batch of worries and rivalries–not even the students back in the Haze Junior High Go Club–but instead portrays each of them as a vital part of the living, breathing entity that is Japan’s Go. There is such warmth in each chapter as writer Yumi Hotta takes the time to linger over each of the characters’ personal stakes, great or small, and it is this feeling that allows this story to be intensely dramatic and completely down-to-earth, both at the same time.

This volume has a fantastic energy throughout, but the real drama emerges in the penultimate chapter, in which Akira admits to Hikaru that he sees another person inside him, only to be further shocked when Hikaru all but admits it. This leads beautifully into a dream sequence for Hikaru that easily brought me to tears.

Though my consistent recommendation of this series may appear excessive, it has evolved at this point into such a wonderfully crafted story, it’s very difficult to find fault. From its increasingly moving plot to its consistently fantastic artwork, the true elegance of Hikaru no Go continues to impress me with each new volume.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Nightschool, Volume 2

October 7, 2009 by MJ 6 Comments

Nightschool, Vol. 2
By Svetlana Chmakova
Published by Yen Press

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Determined to find out what happened to her sister Sarah, young weirn Alex enrolls in the nightschool, though just getting inside proves to be more of a challenge than she could have expected. Her first “night” gets off to a rocky start as well, when Alex’s unusually advanced magical skills win her an enemy on the teaching staff. Fortunately, her abilities get her transferred into a class that may very well be the key to her search for Sarah, though Alex is undoubtedly in great danger there herself. Meanwhile, the Hunters are on a search of their own, desperate to find the silver-haired girl who stole life away from a number of their crew, though evidence suggests it may be too late to save them.

After the first volume’s whirlwind pace, Svetlana relaxes a bit in the second to provide some very rewarding moments of drama and playful characterization. The story’s momentum hasn’t subsided in the least, but this volume has a bit more ebb and flow to it, pausing gravely over the fate of the fallen Hunters, accenting some bits of humor involving the supporting characters, and offering up Alex’s somewhat bratty yet immensely satisfying triumph in astral training class.

Sarah’s disappearance (even from people’s memories) continues to be a mystery, though there is an interesting exchange between Alex and the leader of the main nightschool student clique, suggesting that Alex may not be the only one who remembers her sister. Alex’s true identity remains a mystery as well, and although a few small clues have been laid out, I find I honestly don’t yet want to know. Like all well-told stories, the true pleasure is in the journey and Nightschool‘s journey is so well-paced and deftly plotted, I’m more than content to take it as it comes.

Yen Press’ production is lovely, with a small swath of color pages provided several chapters in. The larger trim size is a nice treat as well and I’m really glad this series has been given such deluxe treatment.

The more I read, the more I enjoy Nightschool. Its intriguing characters, snappy dialogue, easy-flowing artwork, tight pacing, and wonderfully suspenseful plot make it a true gem in Yen Press’ OEL catalogue.

Full Disclosure: Review copy provided by the publisher. Also, I once sat next to Dee DuPuy at dinner.

The Antique Gift Shop, Volume 8

October 5, 2009 by Lorena Nava Ruggero 1 Comment

Guest Review: The Antique Gift Shop, Vol. 8
By Eun Lee
Published by Yen Press

Review by Lorena Nava Ruggero

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This volume is split into two distinct stories related to the volume’s namesake. In one, a mysterious Nepalese goddess, or kumari, comes a-calling to the Antique Gift Shop and she has an amazing gift for sales. Hoping that she may soon be free of her commitment to the store, Bun-Nyuh is both amazed and ready to call it quits. When Mr. Yang questions the kumari’s motivation and stands in the way of her making sales, Bun-Nyuh decides to take him up on his offer of leaving the store at any time when his services are no longer needed. Of course, the moment he leaves, Bun-Nyuh finds herself realizing the truth behind the kumari. Will Bun-Nyuh ever rid herself of the burden that is the Antique Gift Shop?

…

Welcome to Manga Bookshelf!

October 4, 2009 by MJ 12 Comments

Yes, you’ve reached the new home of MJ’s Manga Bookshelf, formerly There it is, Plain as Daylight. Nothing is changing over here except for the new matching name and URL, so please continue to join me for my manga reviews and discussion!

My new RSS feed is can be found here. Please note, too, my updated e-mail address.

You may find things here that still point to the old blog. I’m updating them as quickly as possible. Please let me know if you encounter any difficulties. The old blog will definitely remain but mainly for personal use, so please adjust your links to keep up with all things manga!

Thanks, and welcome to the newest chapter in my blogging life!

Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 20

October 4, 2009 by MJ 1 Comment

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 20
By Hiromu Arakawa
Published by Viz Media

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Falling victim to a double-cross, Envy tracks down Dr. Marcoh, only to walk into a trap that ultimately reduces him to his original, pre-humanoid form. “I know more about making philosopher’s stones than anyone else in the country,” says Dr. Marcoh, hanging mangled and bloody from Envy’s horrific tongue. “But because I know how to make them, I also know how to destroy them!” Afterwards, Scar entreats May to take the now-powerless Envy back to her country for study on immortality, though Envy does what he must to increase his chances of survival. Al, Winry, and the others then head out to the city of Lior, where Al is reunited with Rose as well as his father, Hoenheim, who finally shares the truth about himself, including a piece of information vital to the upcoming conflict. Meanwhile, Major General Briggs discovers the terrifying truth hidden in the bowels of Central City, and Ed–now recovered from his injuries–fails utterly to track down Al’s whereabouts, though he does encounter another long-lost companion with whom he forges an unlikely alliance.

This volume feels a bit like the calm before the storm. After the constant barrage of earth-shattering revelations contained in the past few volumes, Arakawa steps back to focus on relationships, but with an uneasy, anticipatory feel running like a strong current through each chapter. Not that this volume is lacking in new information, by any means. Both Briggs’ discovery and Hoenheim’s confession provide new insight into the homunculus’ ultimate plan, but these revelations seem intended to inform the characters rather than the reader, maintaining the story’s momentum at a strong, tense simmer, preparing itself to rise to a boil. That there is still a long way go to seems obvious, but during the volume’s final chapter, as a piece of key information spreads across Amestris from character to character, it feels very much like a final call to arms.

May’s story here is particularly poignant. Having become so much a part of the personal quests of some of the Amestrian characters (Scar’s and Al’s, in particular), her deep hurt in being urged to return home, even for the sake of her own people, is obvious and extremely touching. Arakawa emphasizes this by drawing her from angles which make her appear especially small, vulnerable, and occasionally off-kilter. With similar effectiveness, Arakawa also uses angles to help distinguish between the wildly erratic variations in the mental state of Greed, who is caught in an internal struggle between himself and Lin, whose memories still lurk within.

As a reader, the ground is always shaky whenever Ed and Al are apart from each other, adding to the mounting tension in this volume. Though it seems like the end must surely be near, this is a series that has never lost its momentum regardless of length, which makes me feel extremely reluctant to ever let it go. Fortunately I don’t have to just yet.

For long-time readers of the series, volume twenty provides further insight into characters both loved and hated, and continues to play out the complex plot so powerfully conceived from the series’ first volume. For everyone else, the time to start reading is now.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey: B-

October 2, 2009 by Michelle Smith

From the back cover:
The advent of Leslie Searle was not a particularly fortunate happening for the village of Salcott St Mary. The American photographer possessed an almost inhuman beauty, and his presence aroused a variety of violent emotions in the small community. Then, one spring night, he disappeared close to the river. A case of missing, presumed drowned, one would assume. When Detective Inspector Grant is sent to the village, he is not short of murder suspects. But a far greater puzzle confronts him: Leslie Searle has vanished like someone performing the Indian rope trick in an English meadow…

Review:
To Love and Be Wise takes place in an isolated village called Salcott St Mary, in which something of a celebrity enclave has sprung up. An American photographer, Leslie Searle, is introduced into this society and quickly ruffles some feathers by perpetrating a few snubs and getting on too well with a woman who’s already engaged to be married to a rather self-important BBC commentator. When Searle goes missing after a public argument with said BBC chap, Inspector Grant is called in to investigate.

After the genuine enjoyment offered by The Franchise Affair, the previous book in Josephine Tey’s Inspector Grant series, this next installment comes as something of a disappointment. The biggest problem I have with it is that, in places, it can be very, very dull. It takes quite some time for the characters to become distinct and longer still for Searle to finally disappear. Eventually, it does grow somewhat more interesting, and though I had suspected something like the solution, I hadn’t expected it in quite the right way.

My favorite segments are actually those in which Grant consults with his actress friend, Marta, and values both her insights as well as her cool head in an emergency. It reminded me a little bit of Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane—not that the characters are at all similar, but it’s the same idea of the contented bachelor detective finally finding a woman who captivates him not with her beauty but with her wits. I hope we see Marta again!

All in all, I found the book to be a pleasant enough diversion. It’s certainly not going to show up on anyone’s Top 100 or even Top 500 list of the best mystery novels, but it’s far from the worst I’ve read.