Manga Bookshelf

Discussion, Resources, Roundtables, & Reviews

Anna N

Kare First Love Vols 1-6

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Kare First Love Volumes 1-3 by Kaho Miyasaka

I was excited to see the first volume of Kare First Love pop up on Viz Digital. I thought this would be a good excuse for me to reread the series. I checked out most of Kare First Love from a library a long time ago, and since then I’ve been slowly acquiring my own copies. Kare First Love was a shoujo manga released before the Shojo Beat imprint came into being. In terms of content, it would skew a bit older than some of the titles in the Shojo Beat line, although Miyasaka doesn’t straddle the josei/shoujo line the way I feel Ai Yazawa sometimes does.

Kare First Love sticks fairly close to standard shoujo plots, but it executes them in an engaging and sometimes slightly more realistic way. Kare First Love also piles on the drama. While there are humorous moments, there’s much more angst as the protagonists navigate their budding relationship. Karin Karino is a shy girl who hides behind her glasses and doesn’t stick up for herself at school. She’s thinking slightly snarky thoughts to herself as she endures her morning bus ride when she’s approached by Kiriya, a handsome student from a nearby boys’ school who is interested in the photography book that she’s reading. A mishap on the bus leaves Karin thinking Kiriya is a pervert, and she slaps him and leaves her book behind. Like many shoujo heroines Karin’s outward actions contract with her inner thoughts, as she meekly gives in when her frenemy Yuka demands her class notes while thinking of what she’d actually like to say in response. All the mean girl shenanigans are deflated a little bit by Nanri, a girl in Karin’s class with a worldly and cynical air about her. Nanri holds herself apart from the rest of the class, but she points out to Karin that she does have the ability to stop being taken advantage of if she would only speak up.

As much as Karin would like to go back to her simple anonymous life Kiriya will not go away. He shows up at her school to return her photography book, and they immediately start bickering. Yuko decides that she’s going to use Kiriya’s odd interest in Karin to pursue him and his group of hot friends. Karin finds herself maneuvered into a series of awkward group dates, and it becomes apparent that instead of being obnoxious, Kiriya is almost saintly for a 16-year-old boy. He goes out of his way to look after Karin, maneuvering her through awkward social situations. Karin can’t believe that Kiriya is actually interested in her, but around him she actually says what’s on her mind without her customary filter of shyness.

As Karin and Kiriya start to spend more time with each other, she learns that he’s estranged from his family and supports himself by working a series of part-time jobs. His main ambition is to be a photographer. There are plenty of misunderstandings and incidents where Karin is swept off her feet while Kiriya says things like “Let me take care of you…or I’ll do something horrible like kiss you again.” Kiriya encourages Karin to rediscover her love for music, which is something that she dropped due to the extreme pressure her parents placed on her studying for school.

One of the things that sets Kare First Love apart from other shoujo manga is the way Miyasaka details the trials and tribulations associated with Karin and Kirya developing the physical aspect of their relationship. The manga goes into more detail than is typical, with Nanri sometimes functioning as a peer counselor for the Japanese equivalent for Planned Parenthood because she keeps handing Karin condoms to ensure that when she does have sex, it will be safe sex. Karin is as scared and timid as you would expect a socially isolated girl to be, and Kiriya is about as patient as one would expect a 16 year old boy to be, which is not very patient. One difficult element of the characterization that Miyasaka manages to pull off is that for several volumes Kiriya is basically pressuring Karin to have sex, but he doesn’t seem like a jerk. He might attempt more physical intimacy in their relationship, but he always backs down when Karin appears uncomfortable.

Teenage romance is always both intense and complicated, and in short order the couple have to deal with Kiriya’s tragic past (the most important accessory of any shoujo hero), Karin’s overbearing parents, Yuka’s bullying, interfering photographers, and Kiriya’s attractive older sister-in-law. In addition to these outside complications, Kiriya and Karin’s relationship turns stormy due to their own lack of communication and misunderstandings with each other. The dynamic of the main relationship in Kare First Love reminded me a bit of Fuyumi Soryo’s Mars, but with much less psychological torture.

Miyasaka’s art is attractive, but most fluid and natural when she’s drawing teenagers. Karin’s father often looks a tad on the robotic side, but that could also be a function of his less than great personality. Karin is believable as a stunning shoujo heroine when she takes off her glasses, and Kiriya’s larger frame and shaggy blond hair contrasts with her more conservative look. Miyasaka does a good job alternating between the outward action and Karin’s thoughts, making all the scenes of breaking up and making up dramatic enough to satisfy any shoujo fan.

I’m very happy that Viz is making their backlist available on digital platforms, and I hope this series finds a new group of fans!

Manga the Week of 5/22

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SEAN: As I try to wean this list away from just what Midtown Comics says and try to take in more alternate sources (mostly Amazon), I find myself sometimes missing books I should have mentioned. Last week was Dance in the Vampire Bund, this week it’s X, which apparently showed up today and I didn’t have on the MtWo list. So, X 3-in-1 5, which presumably has Vols. 13-15. And a picnic? Came out this week.

MJ: I’ve been really enjoying the X 3-in-1 releases. I didn’t enjoy this series much the first time I read it through, but the larger trim size is giving me a fresh appreciation for the artwork, which has really transformed my experience with the series. I’d recommend this new version to anyone who enjoys dramatic shoujo in all its glory.

SEAN: Meanwhile, in stuff coming out NEXT week, Kodansha has a trio of releases. I continue to buy and be entertained by Cage of Eden, even as it hits double digits. Honestly, its faults are the faults of almost have the titles that run in Shonen Magazine – the plot rambles on like a season of Lost without giving much info, and its female characters are all large-breasted nymphs for the males (and reader) to ogle. But – it’s fun snack food manga.

There’s also Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 4, which, I would imagine, stands alone. Robert Cormier’s Ghost in the Shell, coming soon.

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And Sailor Moon is in the home stretch, as Vol. 11 brings us the start of the final arc, Stars. Chibi Chibi is on the cover, and if you’re wondering who the hell she is, well, read on and find out!

MICHELLE: I continue to be sad that the Starlights never got a cover of their own.

SEAN: Seven Seas has a new debut in The Sacred Blacksmith, another title I vaguely recall was adapted into an anime a while back, and is no doubt based on a light novel, as that’s how Seven Seas rolls these days. It seems to feature a female swordswoman, which is a good start, and is fantasy-ish? And I hear this is another one where the anime takes great liberties with the heroine – not for the better. Let’s see if it impresses me like Zero’s Familiar did.

ANNA: This seems potentially interesting to me, but I think I’m going to wait until a few people I know read it.

MJ: I’ve become so skittish about Seven Seas. I’m with Anna on this one.

SEAN: Alice in the Country of Joker: Circus and Liar’s Game was one of the most psychological yet, and also took us closer to Alice finding out about her sister than ever before, so I really want to read Vol. 2.

ANNA: I did enjoy the first volume of this series and I plan on reading volume 2 as well. The first volume was not quite as good as Hearts, but not as bad as Clover, so I’m interested to see where this goes.

SEAN: Vertical has Vol. 5 of Limit, which features – shock and horror – a male on the cover. No doubt this is the volume where everything starts to turn around and go great. Aheh.

ANNA: I am feeling guilty that I am three volumes behind with this series! I plan to catch up though. It is always such a nice change of pace, if a Lord of the Flies type scenario featuring stranded schoolgirls could be described as “nice.”

MJ: I’ve been looking forward to this volume quite a bit!

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SEAN: Viz has a debut from the author of Tekkonkinkreet, Taiyo Matsumoto. It’s called Sunny, and is the manga to give your indie comics friends who hate manga to say “No, see? See?”

ANNA: I also feel guilt that I haven’t read anything by Taiyo Matsumoto. But this is on my to-read list, so hopefully my feelings of guilt will abate when I read it.

MJ: I’ve drooled over artwork I’ve seen from Blue Spring, and I’ve longed to read it ever since I read Kate’s article on the subject, so I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to experience some new Matsumoto along with everyone else.

SEAN: They also have the final volume of Saturn Apartments, one of the quieter Ikki series, but one that had a lot of fans who appreciated just those qualities. Every Ikki series that comes out here is worth it, IMO. Yes, even Bokurano, though I won’t read that.

MICHELLE: I’m looking forward to catching up on/concluding this one.

SEAN: And there is a GIANT PILE OF YEN, which I am getting in a week early, as my shop sometimes does. They will arrive just in time for me to go to Anime North. But it’s OK, as I can bring all my new manga up to Canada! And take it through customs! Hey, wait, found the flaw in my plan.

MICHELLE: Once again, you have made me snerk.

ANNA: I don’t know why, but there isn’t much that Yen puts out that’s on my radar. I need to catch up with A Bride’s Story and want to read Thermae Romae, but that’s about it. Perhaps my problem is that I’ve already read most of their graphic novel adaptations in prose form.

MJ: I’m deeply in love with several current Yen series, so a GIANT PILE OF YEN is always good news for me!

MICHELLE: Lately they’ve released several new action-ish series that I’ve found to be enjoyable, too. I look forward to volume three of Blood Lad, for example.

SEAN: Because the two bestsellers of last year were High School of the Dead and Alice in the Country of Hearts, the most obvious license ever would combine elements of the two in some way. This we have Are You Alice?, which seems to be about characters playing Wonderland ‘roles’ (like the other Alice), and murderous violence. I’m hoping this is more ‘psychological thriller’ and not ‘Saw’ with moe kids.

The 19th volume of Black God is out, and I believe that it is the final volume. It’s a manwha, so I will tag the others here.

MJ: I’ve been collecting this series all along, and I have a marathon planned now that the final volume is out. Look for more on this coming up!

SEAN: Blood Lad has proven to be my big surprise hit of 2013, so I’m really looking forward to the 3rd omnibus, whose cover is also very purple.

MJ: Oh, Blood Lad, how I adore you. I kinda can’t believe I’m saying that, but it’s obviously true.

SEAN: And speaking of survival horror, we have the 2nd volume of BTOOOM!. The first didn’t grab me hard, but I didn’t dislike it, so I will give it a second volume.

MJ: I had moderate fun with the first volume, so I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.

I’ve spent 3 volumes watching The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan sort of play around with being cute and moe, knowing that Vol. 4 would hit and be FAR more interesting. This is Vol. 4. It’s FAR more interesting.

And the second volume of Durarara!! Saika arc should be interesting as well, and feature a lot of slashing.

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One of Yen’s stealth announcements was the rescue/relicensing of the Kingdom Hearts books, with two volumes titled Final Mix coming out this month. I never read the Tokyopop ones the first time around, but I really should check them out, if only for Donald and Goofy.

MJ: This will be my first experience with the series, too, but I’m ready to check it out.

SEAN: Omamori Himari has hit ten whole volumes, which makes it a shame I know next to nothing about it except it has ‘cat demon samurai girls’. (What, no vampires?)

Soul Eater 14 has one of the most minimal manga covers I’ve seen in a while. Love it. As for the plot, hope you’re enjoying Baba Yaga’s Castle, we’re still there.

Thermae Romae has its 2nd omnibus come out, which will no doubt continue to look gorgeous. I’m hoping the storyline can keep it up as well – things were getting dangerous when we left off for our bathing hero.

MJ: I’m certainly interested in seeing where the story goes. It’s difficult for me to imagine how it’s going to hold up over the long term, but it’s lovely to look at, and that’ll take me quite a ways.

SEAN: Lastly, Umineko: When They Cry (the ‘they’ in this case being Seagulls, not Cicadas) starts its second arc, which is where things really begin to get very, very meta, if I recall correctly. Plus you have to love that insane grin on the cover.

Anything that you’d risk exposing to Canadian Customs?

Dengeki Daisy, Vol. 12

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Dengeki Daisy Volume 12 by Kyousuke Motomi

It occurred to me as I was reading volume 12 of Dengeki Daisy that more shoujo titles should feature yacht kidnappings as standard plot points. Think about it! Instead of evil male models, frenemies, and surprise fiances, there would be random kidnappings taking place on luxurious ships! Wouldn’t it lend a bit of excitement and suspense to most manga?

I enjoy Dengeki Daisy so much because it portrays a slightly unconventional romance with some elements of techno thriller action. As you might guess, volume 12 features a yacht kidnapping, as Teru and her hacker/school janitor/almost boyfriend Kurosaki team up with the rest of the Scooby Gang to rescue Rena from her evil fiance Morizono. They storm the party in a variety of disguises. Kurosaki pretends to be a clueless foreigner. Teru gets all dolled up and stages an elaborate and hilarious distraction by pretending to be Morizono’s spurned lover. Hasegawa disguises himself as a waiter. As the group secures Rena, Kurosaki stumbles across yet another hacking conspiracy. Akira’s presence is almost negligible, as Kurosaki works to foil the plan to sell the Jack Frost virus and encounters someone else from his past – a person who started the tragic actions that lead to the creation of the Jack Frost virus in the first place and the death of Teru’s brother.

Dengeki Daisy always manages to cover a wide variety of emotional scenes in an effortless way. There’s the fun caper of the team storming the yacht where Rena is held captive, followed by a celebration afterwards where Rena and Hasegawa start inching towards the development of a new relationship. Nothing is ever simply happy in Dengeki Daisy for long though, as Kurosaki is horribly affected with his encounter with the mysterious new hacker. Kurosaki is in many ways the exact opposite of the cool shoujo hero, and the level of vulnerability he displays to Teru shows the reader just how traumatized he is as well as how much he trusts her. They’re one of my favorite shoujo manga couples of all time, and each volume of the series tends to show a new aspect of their relationship. Even though each conspiracy tends to lead to yet another conspiracy and I am wondering why every hacker that shows up in this manga has long bangs, after twelve volumes of Dengeki Daisy I’m still looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Bookshelf Briefs 5/13/13

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It’s all Viz, all the time this week, as Anna, MJ, and Sean look at recent releases from Viz’s various imprints, including Shonen Jump, Shojo Beat, and SuBLime Manga.

07-ghost407-Ghost, Vol. 4 | By Yuki Amemiya and Yukino Ichihara | Viz Media – A ton of stuff happens in this volume. Confrontations with the Barsburg Empire! Teito loses the source of his mystical power and gets back his memories! There’s a crazy final exam as everybody tries to become a Bishop! Teito cements his bonds with new friend Hakuren and the mysterious priest Frau as he begins to progress on his journey to fully understand his power and what it means to be a long-lost prince of the Raggs kingdom. Truthfully, I wasn’t following all the action all that closely because I was so distracted by all the billowing robes and mystical bolts of energy. After the first four volumes of the series, it seems like Teito is set up for the next phase of his adventure, and I’m curious to find out what will happen next. – Anna N

bakuman 19Bakuman, Vol. 19 | By Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata | Viz Media – As this series finally reaches its penultimate volume, I’m stunned to reveal that it’s finally hooked me on its ridiculous primary romance and I’ve officially been reduced to a blubbering pile of goo. Now that something is truly threatening Mashiro and Azuki’s happiness, it seems that I’m suddenly, hugely invested in seeing their dreams come true. As a jaded reader, this kind of pisses me off, but I can’t deny that it’s also significantly enhanced my enjoyment of the series’ building climax. It helps, of course, that the romantic subplot has become overtly entwined with the characters’ professional success, which I’ve been invested in from the start. Who knew that such an over-the-top romantic setup could provide this kind of emotional payoff? Well done, Ohba and Obata. Still recommended. – MJ

bluemorning1Blue Morning, Vol. 1 | by Shoko Hidaka | SuBLime Manga – Sean described this series’ premise as “Black Butler with the fantasy removed and the BL actually consummated,” which isn’t entirely wrong, in that it’s a BL story involving a butler with no supernatural elements. Fortunately, that’s where the comparison ends. This story about a young viscount left in the care of his late father’s mysteriously devoted butler is an angst-heavy, emotionally dense study of 19th century classism, with a dark, romantic undercurrent that’s more Les Liaisons dangereuses than Black Butler. Teen viscount Akihito’s unrequited feelings for his butler/mentor Katsuragi make way for the series’ obligatory sex scenes, but it’s their ongoing power struggle over Akihito’s political future that really pushes the story forward. A new multi-volume BL drama is always worth a look, and Blue Morning makes a strong showing from the start. Recommended. – MJ

dengeki12Dengeki Daisy, Vol. 12 | By Kyousuke Motomi | Viz Media – One of the many things that impresses me about Dengeki Daisy is that it hasn’t abandoned its comedy roots even as the plot gets more serious. The first chapter in particular has a marvelous Titanic parody that’s only topped by Teru’s performance as a ‘scorned woman’. That said, the plot is getting darker and more serious. We knew that the guy who kidnapped Rena last time was a small-time villain, but he does lead us to a man who may be the ‘final boss’… one who not only manages to give Kurosaki a major freak out, but almost drives a wedge between our heroes with just a few well-placed words. All that plus we get romance (in a shoujo manga? Gasp!), as Teru and Kurosaki edge ever closer together without actually getting there. One of the most addicting manga currently on the market. – Sean Gaffney

otomen15Otomen, Vol. 15 | By Aya Kanno | Viz Media – This probably has the least Asuka of any of the volumes we’ve seen to date – indeed, Ryo appears more than he does! The first half of this volume wraps up Tonomine’s storyline, and once again emphasizes the core message of ‘be true to yourself even if it makes you ‘girly’ that every volume of this manga has had. (I note the moment those dresses came out, I thought “And Ryo will get a tux.” And I was right.) The second half has a summer festival, and features Yamato, who’s still self-conscious about his cute face and personality, which is not helped by spending most of the festival with Ryo, who is pure coolness in a female package. I’m not certain the cliffhanger ending of the volume will amount to anything, but that’s mainly as Otomen is still light froth. There’s tons of things wrong with it, but I still enjoy it immensely. – Sean Gaffney

Otomen, Vol. 15 | By Aya Kanno | Viz Media – I stopped buying this series regularly because I kept feeling frustrated that it never really explored the interesting aspect of people subverting gender roles in a more in-depth way. Still, it is fun to check in on Otomen now and then. Make-up artist Tonominie confronts his father’s political legacy and gets some resolution about finally being able to live for his own dream instead of fulfilling his family’s expectations. Ryo is one of my favorite characters in the series, so I was happy to see the last half of the book focused on her unique blend of oblivious coolness as she decimates every single (manly) challenge at a festival in an attempt to help Yamato with his own image issues. – Anna N

Pick of the Week: Blue Morning, Evangelion, 07-Ghost

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potw5-13-13MJ: The shipping list is light this week, and though I do have some interest in the latest volume of 07-Ghost, I’m going to surprise myself (and probably others) this week by choosing a SuBLime debut, Blue Morning, as my pick. I read an early copy yesterday, and though it’s provided more questions than answers in this angsty, intense first volume, I have to admit it got under my skin. Fortunately, it’s actually nothing at all like Black Butler. I’m officially intrigued.

SEAN: Given I’m only getting one thing this week, I suppose that is the pick. The re-release of Neon Genesis Evangelion as a deluxe omnibus has reminded me why I’m still fascinated by the series, and why I still prefer the manga to the anime. This third volume should introduce Kaworu, and things will go even further to hell. Good times!

MICHELLE: Blue Morning looks intriguing, and the fact that MJlikes it goes a long way. But I’m still gonna have to go with 07-Ghost. I can’t believe it’s up to four volumes already, and I can’t believe I’m already behind! Must remedy at the next opportunity!

ANNA: There aren’t a whole lot of options, so I’m going to have to agree with Michelle and cast my vote for 07-Ghost. The storylines might not always be coherent, but there’s plenty of stylish angst to distract the reader. I also find the world building aspects of the series interesting. The reincarnation elements, action scenes, fighting priests, and warring states combined with the mystery surrounding the protagonist make me still want to read the next volume.

What looks good to you this week?

Manga the Week of 5/15

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SEAN: This will be a shorter post than last week, partly as there’s less manga coming out, and partly as I’m out of my brain on the 5/15.

MICHELLE: (smack)

SEAN: Ow.

bluemorningFirst of all, last week I forgot all about Dance in the Vampire Bund, which had Vol. 14 come out. I can only put that down to the fact that I just don’t read it. Does it have a Young Miss Holmes crossover yet?

A new series from SubLime, Viz’s BL imprint, Blue Morning features viscounts and butlers, and the summary sounds oddly like Black Butler with the fantasy removed and the BL actually consummated. Certainly the cover indicates this won’t be a laff riot.

MJ: I’m usually open to trying new BL. I guess we’ll see? Hm.

SEAN: As for the cover for Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love 4, I regret to say it’s not quite as laughable as Vol. 3’s cover, though we do see a return of the ever popular GIANT SEME HANDS. Now there’s a post that needs to be done for BL Bookrack: Yaoi Misproportions I Have Known.

MJ: IT SHALL BE DONE.

MICHELLE: I think there’s a tumblr dedicated to yaoi misproportions, actually.

SEAN: Reminding me they don’t just do artbooks these days, Udon has the first volume of Disgaea 3: School of Devils. I believe it’s based on a game of some sort.

The rest of our week is Viz. 07-GHOST reaches Vol. 4, and is looking angstier and bishier than ever.

MICHELLE: I’m looking forward to catching up with this series!

jormungand11ANNA: I think most people should have one angsty bishie series in rotation. 07-Ghost is more than sufficient to fill out that category, and I’m happy to overlook the occasional lapses of coherence for the pretty art.

MJ: Ditto on all counts!

SEAN: We’re still not done re-releasing Takahashi’s Inu Yasha into big omnibuses, though the fact that this is Vol. 15 means we’re well over halfway there.

MICHELLE: Yep! Entering the home stretch.

SEAN: Another seinen series bites the dust, as we have come to the 11th and final volume of Jormungand. Action-filled gun-running has never been so exhilarating, well, if you haven’t already read Black Lagoon. Now that the series is over, I should go back and catch up on it.

Lastly, Neon Genesis Evangelion releases its third omnibus, containing Vols. 7-9. Asuka’s on the cover, but if I recall correctly, it’s the arrival of someone else a little earlier than in the anime that causes the most fuss.

What manga makes you care more than you should?

Strobe Edge, Vol. 4

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Strobe Edge, Vol. 4 by Io Sakisaka

One nice thing about new series with several volumes waiting in the wings to be translated is being able to read the English volumes with only a few months between releases. It is easier to appreciate the changes in plotting and art that appear over time as the creator gets more and more comfortable with a series. I wouldn’t have predicted after I put down the first volume of Strobe Edge that I would be enjoying it as much as I am now. There’s much more subtly shown in the relationships between the characters and even when stereotypical shoujo plot devices pop up, I find myself not minding them at all just because of the great work Sakisaka has done with her character development.

Heroine Ninako was bordering on being annoyingly naive in the first volume, and while she’s still relentlessly innocent she is in tune with her own emotions and is able to sense when a situation might be wrong for her. When reformed womanizer Ando starts pressuring her to date him, saying she can use him to forget her feelings for Ren, Ninako replies “Your idea of love and my idea of love aren’t the same at all. And I could never use you to forget him! You know how much it hurts to love someone…who loves someone else.” Ando tells Ninako that she doesn’t have to answer right away and goes back to his usual light-hearted personality but she can tell that he’s putting on an act to make her feel at ease.

Ninako and Ren keep getting pushed together in various situations, and while he tends to keep a tight reign on his expressions it is easy for the reader to tell that he’s filled with turmoil. Ren’s determination to be a “nice guy” is resulting in his continuing a relationship with his high-strung girlfriend, even though he and Ninako seem to share a unique bond of understanding. Ninako and Ren’s non-relationship is contrasted with the more established supporting couple of Daiki and Sayuri, who deal with their problems and end up becoming stronger together. There’s a slowly building tension in this series, as Ren keeps struggling to do what he thinks of as the right thing even while it becomes more and more intolerable.

Sakisaka does a good job showing her characters’ reactions to the emotional scenes, as she contrasts facial expressions or shows Ren turning away in order not to display his emotions. I’m looking forward to the next few volumes, as I can sense some dramatic crying scenes and confrontations coming up when Mayuka starts to realize that Ren is only showing her one carefully crafted side of his personality.

Bookshelf Briefs 5/5/13

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This week, MJ, Sean, Michelle, and Anna look at recent releases from Yen Press, Viz Media, and Kodansha Comics.

fantaticrabbit2Alice in the Country of Hearts: My Fanatic Rabbit, Vol. 2 | By QuinRose, Delico Psyche, and Owl Shinotsuki | Yen Press – As I suspected, this volume was a lot more focused on romance and not so much on the psychology and psychotics. That said, there are points of interest here. It’s odd that Elliot, who was once imprisoned for destroying the clock of his best friend, is cavalier about killing Alice’s sister. And it’s good to give him a reason to be angry at Alice being close to Julius that isn’t jealousy. That said, in the end it mostly does turn out to be jealousy, and when the book details romance it gets far more generic. There’s also some nasty dream manipulation to stop Alice from returning home – which one can argue, given what we’ve inferred about her real life, is justified, but still comes across as harsh. An ambiguously good volume, but hey, the series is short.-Sean Gaffney

devil8A Devil and Her Love Song, Vol. 8 | By Miyoshi Tomori | Viz Media – At no point has A Devil and Her Love Song actually been bad, but the “Anna arc” of recent volumes—in which Maria attempts to achieve some level of understanding with her former best friend—just retread the same ground over and over and felt like it would never end. And so I am profoundly relieved that we’re moving on to something different, even if it’s taking the form of Shintaro Kurosu, a brash new first-year who’s interested in Maria and takes every opportunity to get close to her. We’ve seen this sort of character in shoujo manga many times before, but any catalyst that causes Shin to confront his feelings for Maria is fine by me, and because Shintaro shares some qualities with our insightful heroine, he’s quite adept at getting under others’ skin. I still recommend this series, but if we never see Anna again it’ll be too soon for me. – Michelle Smith

fairytail25Fairy Tail, Vol. 25 | By Hiro Mashima | Kodansha Comics – Fairy Tail will probably never get away from One Piece comparisons, but one big difference it has is that Mashima does tease romance between his characters quite a bit. In this volume we not only get Elfman and Evergreen getting past Mirajane with a shocking revelation – theoretically false, but I sense a setup – but we also have Levy’s giant crush on Gajeel, which is quite cute provided you forget him crucifying her a while back. Literally. Meanwhile, the S-class exams are interrupted not only by the arrival of a dark guild, led by Ultear, but also a young sobbing man who would seem to be Zeref, the evil wizard who has been mentioned before, and definitely doesn’t seem to be possessing anyone this time. It would seem that the exam arc is going to get a lot longer and more serious before anyone wins their S-class.-Sean Gaffney

corda17La Corda d’Oro, Vol. 17 | By Yuki Kure | Viz Media – This final volume reads like a series of closing doors—at least for Kahoko’s suitors, who take turns examining their feelings, though it’s clear most don’t have a shot. Ryotaro’s epiphany is most significant, and his heartfelt confession throws oblivious Kahoko for a loop. Everyone knows that Kahoko will end up with Len, but when it gets right down to it, their final scene is oddly anticlimactic. Kahoko is predictably breathless and embarrassed, and Len is awkward and brusque, but as a romantic climax it’s surprisingly non-committal. We don’t even get a good kiss out of it. As a jaded fan of romance, I should be grateful for anything unexpected, but in a story that’s always been so conventional, it’s honestly a letdown. Though perhaps the most disheartening truth is that they’re still hung up on “Ave Maria.” What can you do? Farewell, La Corda d’Oro, I’ll miss you. – MJ

kenshirestoration1Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration, Vol. 1 | By Nobuhiro Watsuki | Viz Media – Watsuki says in the afterward that the genesis for this reworking of Rurouni Kenshin was the production of the recent live action movie. This shows in the first story of the volume which puts familiar characters into a battle arena situation with no real plot or character development. There’s a back-up prequel story that has more interest as Kenshin encounters a unique western doctor struggling to provide care for low-income patients. While it was nice to revisit the characters for a little bit, this parallel story reminded me of how much more I liked the original series. This is only for die-hard Kenshin fans, most people will be better served reading the very good first series. – Anna N.

strobe4Strobe Edge, Vol. 4 | By Io Sakisaka | Viz Media – What’s interesting about Strobe Edge, is the way that Io Sakisaka has managed to take the most trite characteristic of her series early on—namely, her heroine’s unbelievable innocence—and turned it into a real asset. That Ninako wouldn’t realize that there are unavoidably negative consequences to unrequited love seems ridiculously naive, but it also allows Sakisaka to explore those consequences more honestly than is typical, even for romance manga. The way both Ninako and Ren begin to recognize and forced to deal with the ramifications of their ongoing friendship in the face of Ninako’s (and now, Ren’s) feelings is surprisingly fresh. I’m reminded immediately of the personal agony I suffered while watching Shoji developing feelings for someone other than his girlfriend, Nana Komatsu (NANA), but this time I’m experiencing it with “other woman” Sachiko as my heroine. It’s an emotional punch in the gut, and very well-executed. Recommended. – MJ

wewerethere16We Were There, Vol. 16 | By Yuuki Obata | Viz Media – This is the second concluding Shojo Beat series for me this week, but what a contrast! Though this series’ romantic conclusion was no less predictable than La Corda d’Oro‘s, the execution could not be more different—much like the two series themselves. There was a time when I’d given up on Nanami and Yano’s torturous romance as simply too destructive to bear, so it’s a real testament to Obata-sensei’s gifts as a writer that she’s managed to bring me back around to loving them together once more. Everyone’s story ends with dignity, even that of long-suffering Takeuchi (my personal hero of the story) but the real centerpiece is our primary couple, with whom Obata completely sweeps me off my feet. Their ending is so poignant and so well-earned, it’s a genuine pleasure to read. Thanks for everything, We Were There. You’ve been quite a ride. Highly recommended. – MJ

Pick of the Week: Dancing to the Shojo Beat

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potw5-6-13MJ: This week’s pick is an extremely tough one for me, particularly when faced with choosing between beloved series like Wandering Son, Strobe Edge, and even Bakuman,which is heading into its last couple of volumes. But in the end, I’m going to go with an end—that of Yuuki Obata’s melancholy romance, We Were There, which has charmed me all the way from its very first volume, through its soul-crushing volume four, and so on and so forth, to the last, sweet moments here in its final volume. This series has been an especially emotional ride for me—I’d recommend it to anyone—and its ending is extremely well-earned. It’s an obvious pick for me, I suppose, but for very good reasons.

MICHELLE: And it’s my pick, as well. “Well-earned” is right, and I could go into detail about why it’s more satisfying than your average shoujo conclusion, but that would probably be rather spoilery. Instead, you should see for yourself!

SEAN: I’ll go with the new volume of Dengeki Daisy, a shoujo manga with the plot of an action movie. It’s rather impressive how even the people normally creeped out by older guy/high school girl romance don’t seem to mind it in Dengeki Daisy – both in the story itself and in the readers. Perhaps because of the comedy that comes with it, or the way that Teru isn’t being tricked, seduced, or blackmailed into it. But probably mostly due to the writing – a lot can be forgiven in a romance if both leads are simply great people you want to see get together. Well, right after they solve this kidnapping. Yes, another one.

ANNA: Since other people have picked We Were There and Dengeki Daisy, I’ll go with Strobe Edge. The fourth volume has come a long way in terms of plot development and art. Even though some of the plot elements are a bit stereotypical, there’s plenty of emotional resonance in the developing love triangle.

Readers, what looks good to you this week?

Pepita by Takehiko Inoue

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Pepita: Takehiko Inoue Meets Gaudi

This has been a very good year for fancy hardcover editions of manga materials. There’s Gundam: The Origin, Wandering Son is still coming out, Heart of Thomas, and the Nausicaa box set was great. This book, about Takehiko Inoue’s architectural tour of Spain and specifically Gaudi works isn’t filled with enough drawings to be an art book, and it doesn’t have enough biographical or written content about Gaudi to be a true study of the man. Instead, we get an interesting travel sketchbook that reveals as much about Inoue’s artistic process as it does about the subject he’s exploring.

I started reading this without much knowledge of Gaudi other than the fact that he was an architect who explored form in an innovative manner. Inoue travels to Spain to get a sense of the man and his approach to designing with nature. Inoue’s reflections come in the form of written thoughts and some exuberant drawings, as he comes up with his own interpretations of Gaudi’s trademark mosaic salamander. Throughout the book we get impressions of Gaudi’s life and some of his most significant work. Inoue’s illustrations are sometimes superimposed on photos, which creates an interesting effect. Inoue’s questions and struggle to understand Gaudi show the reader a great deal about Inoue’s artistic process and artistic approach. There’s enough information about Gaudi in the book that I felt I came away from it slightly better informed, but I thought I’d have to do even more study to really grasp the topic.

In the end, this hybrid art book gives the reader a feeling as if they’ve just spent a little bit of time on an architectural tour of Spain with Takehiko Inoue as their tour guide. This is a pretty good feeling to have! Serious students of architecture might not find the book very informative, but to a casual reader with an interest in Gaudi, this book is worth checking out. I always think that any book by Inoue is worth reading, and I did enjoy this very much.

Pick of the Week: Twin Spica goes digital!

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twinspica1SEAN: I feel bad not picking the elite, first of its kind groundbreaking gay manga, but I’m not going to be reading it, as I’m not an audience for explicit gay bondage no matter how well put together it is. So my pick of the week is the digital release of Twin Spica, which I discussed in “Manga the Week of” earlier. A sublime, subtle story about growing up, overcoming hardships and tragedies, and the allure of space. Will love to read it all over again.

MICHELLE: I’m going to have to agree with Sean on every point, this week.

ANNA: I also hope that Twin Spica gets some extra love, now that it is being released in digital format. This reminds me that I need to go back and read the print volumes I’ve been stockpiling.

MJ: Well, I guess I’ll make it unanimous. While I’m definitely planning to check out The Passion of Gengoroh Tagame, I’m unreservedly enthusiastic about Twin Spica‘s move to digital. This is a series I named as a Best of the Year upon its debut, and then again as it concluded, and I’ve been very sad that low sales have forced it out of print. I hope very much that its digital venue can give it much-deserved new life!

Readers, what looks good to you this week?

Tiger & Bunny, Vol. 1

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I watched the first episode or so of the Tiger & Bunny anime when it seemed like Tiger & Bunny fever was gripping the nation (or at least the percentage of the nation that I follow on twitter). I thought the premise of the series was clever and it was well-executed, but while I found the show entertaining I didn’t follow up and watch the series. I was curious to see if I would enjoy the manga as well.

Tiger & Bunny has an interesting take on modern-day superheroes. Superheroes of various kinds do good – but only for the sake of ratings on a reality tv show. The superheroes all have corporate sponsorships, focus-group tested costumes, and scripted catchphrases. The lone superhero with some integrity is the hopelessly old-fashioned Wild Tiger, whose power is to increase his physical abilities 100x for only five minutes. The manga opens with an action sequence intercut with reality tv production, as the producer of the show offers commentary and scoring on the real-life mayhem. The heroes all jockey for screen time, but Tiger’s attempt to help ends in humiliation as he falls out of the sky only to be saved by the pedigreed rookie Barnaby Jones Jr. Jones’ armored suit gives him the appearance of bunny ears and he is not happy that his first job onscreen is “rescuing an old man.”

Barnaby is ordered to team up with Tiger, and a super-powered Odd Couple is created. Tiger is full of idealistic advice and war stories, and Barnaby is focused on screen time. There’s a supporting cast of heroes which features gay stereotype Fire Emblem, silent and sturdy Rock Bison, tiny kung-fu girl Dragon Kid, the disgustingly heroic Sky High, and the icy Blue Rose. The look and feel of the manga mirrors the visual style of the anime, as the mangaka was also one of the animators of the tv show. Overall, I found this manga entertaining, both due to the bickering nature of the developing relationship between Tiger and Bunny, and the conflict between the commercial nature of the super hero world and Tiger’s unshakeable code of ethics. I can certainly see why the anime was so popular, and it is nice that the manga gives fans the option of experiencing the story in a different way.

Crimson Empire, Vol 1: Circumstances to Serve a Noble

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Crimson Empire, Vol 1: Circumstances to Serve a Noble by QuinRose and Hazuki Futaba

I have a weakness for romance titles with ridiculously long titles in either manga or prose format. There’s something about the inherent ridiculousness of a title like “The Sicilian’s Ruthless Marriage Revenge” that makes me want to read it! If a romance title has five words or more, I’m usually entertained if I’m in the mood for some light reading. My decision to pick up Crimson Empire was largely due to the title, combined with the fact that it is another Quinrose title. I enjoyed the first Alice in the Country of Hearts manga adaptation well enough, so I was curious to see if I’d also like a different manga title from the brand without the literary connection.

Crimson Empire has a potentially amusing protagonist in Sheila the former assassin turned royal bodyguard and head maid, but the story in the first volume isn’t all that compelling as it mostly involves Sheila meeting an endless progression of handsome men. This is only what one could expect in a manga based on an otome game, but there were enough interesting elements that I would probably check out the second volume. This manga opens in a very dark way as one of the turning points of Sheila’s childhood is portrayed when her assassin trainers tell her to kill a random man. She does fulfill her duty, but not without a lot of trepidation. Years later Sheila is ready to accept her first official assignment, and she ends up as a bodyguard to the royal Prince, instead of joining the assassin league that has served as her foster family.

Prince Edvard is blond, charming, and the target of frequent assassination attempts which Sheila foils. He also might be a bit of a sociopath, as his outward personality masks an inner emptiness and pathological self-regard. Edvard’s older brother Justin is the tall, dark, handsome, and tsundere hero of many a female protagonist’s dreams. His outward hostility towards Sheila leads her to wonder if he’s behind all the attacks on his brother, but Justin always seems to be in the right place at the right time if Sheila needs a bit of help. There’s an almost too-large cast of supporting characters that Sheila meets as she goes about her duties. While the art is capably executed, it doesn’t have much of a distinct style. Fortunately the character designs are all very good, which helps the reader distinguish a little bit between the Brainy One, the Mischievous One, the Sorcerers One, the Demonic One, the Well-Dressed One, and the always essential Guy Wearing Glasses.I’m being a bit snarky, but overall I did like reading this manga, and I would follow the series if the next volume shows signs of a more interesting plot. If any more characters are introduced I might give up on the series because I can barely remember everybody! Fans of reverse harem manga would likely enjoy Crimson Empire, Vol 1: Circumstances to Serve a Noble, and at least Sheila’s bodyguarding duties give her a more interesting background than many of the heroines of the genre.

Bookshelf Briefs 4/22/13

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Today, Anna, Sean, and MJlook at recent releases from Viz Media, Yen Press, and Vertical, Inc.

07ghost307-Ghost, Vol. 3 | By Yuki Amemiya and Yukino Ichihara | Viz Media Some of the worldbuilding in 07-Ghost is a bit incoherent, and I have to admit that I’m not exactly following all the permutations of demons that beset young orphan castoff prince Teito as he is studying to become a Bishop in the Barsburg Church. That being said, I enjoy the general atmosphere of this manga very much, and there’s usually a visually arresting moment in each volume that makes me want to read the next. In this case, Teito dives into the fountains at the church and discovers a secret underwater world connected to the cell where rebel Bishop Frau is being held. A bit of backstory was filled in in this volume too, so while I might not enjoy the demon of the week so much, I am still interested in this story. – Anna N.

shonan8GTO: 14 Days in Shonan, Vol. 8 | By Toru Fujisawa | Vertical, Inc. – The story was always going to get more serious before it wrapped up, and that’s what we see here. We’ve seen lots of emotional abuse in the past 7 volumes – neglect, abandonment – but the series does not shy away from physical or sexual abuse, and the bookends here are harrowing. Sakurako’s father returns with a crooked lawyer and doctor, and it’s only by outcrooking him that they manage to get Sakurako away. And Ikuko, who’s been mostly a minor presence here, finally gets a focus, as we see what she’s gone through at the hands of her mother. There is very much a sense of “Onizuka will help these kids, but who will help the ones in real life?” to this volume, with sexual abuse statistics included. If you’re looking for badassery, that’s here as well, but this volume works best when it’s ramping up the parental horror. – Sean Gaffney

kiminitodoke16Kimi ni Todoke, Vol. 16 | By Karuho Shiina | Viz Media – I’ve mentioned my general distrust of Kento before, and it’s good that both the author and Ayane realize this – as, later, does Kento himself. He and Ayane do have something in common, which is that they’re used to wearing a ‘playboy/girl’ facade to a degree, but have never really allowed anyone to really get inside their heart. It’s a very different kind of awkwardness when compared to Sawako and Kazehaya, who both suffer from terminal shyness and repression, or Chizuru and Ryu, who are having to redefine a very comfortable friendship into something different. This all leads up to the Christmas party, where romance is traditional. This volume also has some very cute art by other Margaret artists at the end, including Natsumi Aida of Switch Girl!, a title I’d love to see here. – Sean Gaffney

nura14Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 14 | By Hiroshi Shiibashi | Viz Media – In general, humor has been thin on the ground since we hit the never-ending Kyoto arc for Nura and company, so it’s terrific seeing Tsurara’s pointless jealousy as she realizes that ‘equip’ is something that can be done with anyone who’s close to Rikuo, and not just girls who are in love with him. Cue huff, and Rikuo’s bafflement. The rest of this is pure fighting, though, mixed with a bit of horror every time we cut back to Nue, or even get a flashback. There’s more death of innocents than in most Jump titles. Also, lots of familiar yokai designs – one of the antagonists here looks just like a yokai from Natsume’s Book of Friends. Still, things look like they’re gearing up to a final battle and climax. Of course, I’ve thought that before and been wrong. -Sean Gaffney

pandora15Pandora Hearts, Vol. 15 | By Jun Mochizuki | Yen Press – Oh, Pandora Hearts… dear Pandora Hearts, cruel Pandora Hearts. As expected, this volume is filled with fallout from the previous installment, some of which is scary, some oddly poignant, and some deeply tragic. Though Mochizuki’s storytelling continues to be occasionally abstruse, I find more and more that I’m completely willing to re-read as needed in order to truly catch on, volume-to-volume. As always, I’m struck by the emotional effectiveness of her artwork, which often provides clarity when the text does not. One wordless two-page spread in particular comes to mind (it’s part of the “deeply tragic” section). Though it would be impossible for new readers to even dream of jumping in at this late date, I’ll continue to recommend this for a good, epic read. This volume’s final page is permanently etched in my mind. – MJ

slamdunk28Slam Dunk, Vol. 28 | by Takehiko Inoue | Viz Media There’s not much to be said about Slam Dunk other than a reference to its general awesomeness, but this volume featured some art that reminded me a lot of Vagabond in the surreal moments that were frozen in time as Shohoku’s game against Sannoh continues. Panels focusing only on Sakuragi’s limbs as he jumps bring home the physicality of the game, and there’s are some insane visuals as Akagi is broken out of his fugue state when his hulking father steps on the court and shaves a piece of daikon radish on him. Sakuragi is rallying the team as only an idiot can, and if Akagi is able to overcome his opponent, scrappy Shohoku might just win the game. – Anna N.

toriko15Toriko, Vol. 15 | By Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro | Viz Media – The gentleman on the cover with his face shredded is Zebra, the fourth and most dangerous of the Heavenly Kings. They’ve always been eccentrics to date, but Zebra acts genuinely unhinged at times. Other than that, and Zebra getting the same vague mancrush on Komatsu that everyone in Toriko gets, this is another manga where you watch it for the amazing worldbuilding, as it’s a cornucopia of strange creatures, awesomely terrifying landscapes, and incredibly dangerous food. This is a more serious volume, than usual, though there is some humor (particularly involving the warden of Honey Prison, who has magical pheromone powers. I’ll be interested to see how things continue, as for once Komatsu is on his own in a deep labyrinth, with little protection from his stronger friends. – Sean Gaffney

The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol 9.

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The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 9 by Sai Yukino and Kairi Yura

It is rare for a manga series to end leaving me wishing that it was twice as long, but that is exactly what happened as I was reading the final ninth volume of Story of Saiunkoku. The eighth volume was a natural stopping point, and this volume has some side stories that help shed some light on the histories of selected members of the supporting cast. This volume might not be totally necessary to round out Shurei’s main story, but fans of the series will enjoy visiting with the extended Hong clan and the amazingly eccentric Ryuren.

The first story, “So Began the Fairy Tale” focuses on Shurei’s father, giving greater background into the more ruthless personality behind his smiling exterior. While he’s an amazingly gentle and wonderful father, his past as an assassin gives a bit of an edge to all of his actions in the manga. Here we see the beginnings of his ability to plot as he takes action to make sure that the Hong clan isn’t endangered. “Hurricane Ryuren Strikes the Capital” flashes back to the examination period, where we see Shurei and Eigetsu start to cement their friendship with the eccentric Ryuren despite his crazy clothes, horrible flute playing, and tendency to make odd pronouncements. This story ends up serving as a meditation on the nature of friendship, even as Shurei and Egitsu’s overtures to Ryuren wind up taking them on a detour through the gambling underworld. The final story focuses on the Hong family again, with “Someday I Will Come to You (Though I Love You, How Far You Are From Me)” focusing on Shurei’s uncle Reishin Hong’s bizarre psychological hang-ups. This volume featured plenty of humor, as a series of masks duplicating the expressions of Shurei’s father are put to an unorthodox use, and the reactions Ryuren accidentally provokes from the people surrounding him are always funny.

It does make me a little sad knowing that there’s a very long light novel series containing more adventures of The Story of Saiunkoku that we’ll never see translated here, but the manga adaptation of the story was certainly fun to read. This is going to be a “keeper” series for me, as I can see myself wanting to reread this every few years. It is so unusual to find a shoujo ending where the happy ending for the heroine is a life of civil service as opposed to everything wrapping up nicely with a romantic interest. Many things combined to make this an entertaining manga – the clear art, fun supporting cast, and the blend of humor and drama made this manga very enjoyable.