Anna N

Pick of the Week: Old Favorites & New

March 3, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, Anna N and MJ 2 Comments

SEAN: There’s a heck of a lot of stuff here, almost too much to choose from. Therefore I will go with an old favorite, because I am lazy like that. It’s the rare manga series in America that can hit its 70th volume and show no signs of stopping, and One Piece is that manga series. More than any other, I think this title exemplifies all the good qualities of shonen manga – and, yes, a few of the bad ones, as Nami and Robin’s figures have expanded to ludicrous proportions over the years. But oh well. Pirates! Comedy! Creepy poison power villains! Give me 70 more volumes after this! (No, don’t do that, pleads Viz.)

MICHELLE: I do love me some One Piece, but I really can’t pass up my final chance to pick Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, which finally comes to an end this week with its twelfth volume. (It’s been a year since volume eleven.) It’s got all the drama of the original, but Watase has matured a lot as a storyteller, which leaves me hopeful that she’ll allow tragic events to unfold without some kind of cheery retcon or presumably editor-mandated continuation to the story. And, of course, I can’t pass up this last opportunity to hope for Byakko Kaiden someday!

ASH: My pick of the week goes to Inio Asano’s Nijigahara Holograph. The previews that I’ve seen have been beautiful, dark, and disconcerting. Fantagraphics’ hardcover manga are gorgeous, too, easily making Nijigahara Holograph one of my most anticipated releases for the year.

ANNA: I’m torn, because I want to read Nijigahara Holograph as soon as I can, and it has been a very long time since we’ve had new manga from Asano to enjoy. But I’m going to team up with Michelle and highlight Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden. It took a long time for the series to be completed, but Watase can do shoujo adventure romance like no one else. I’m also holding out hope for the Byakko storyline!

MJ: I’m extremely anxious to read the final volume of Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, but I think this week I have to go along with Ash and Nijigahara Holograph. I first encountered Inio Asano’s work by way of Solanin, which has been one of those rare manga that sticks with me over time, cropping up in my mind at surprising moments. Add to that my very positive feelings about the line of manga Matt Thorn has curated for Fantagraphics, and Nijigahara Holograph becomes the obvious choice.

What looks good to you this week?

Manga the Week of 3/5

February 27, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, Anna N and MJ 3 Comments

SEAN: Sooooo much stuff. Let’s break it down. Oh, and apologies for last week, the date of Wallflower 32 got shoved back to May after I’d written the post. This is the danger of last minute date-changes. I will discuss it in May, and no doubt Michelle will have the same “it’s still going?” reaction.

MICHELLE: That is probably true.

SEAN: As for this week, let’s start with a Fantagraphics title from Inio Asano, Nijigahara Holograph. This single-volume release is dark, tragic, and creepy, and should immensely please Asano fans. Hey, if it sells well, maybe Viz will take a flyer on Oyasumi Punpun.

ASH: This is one of my most anticipated releases for 2014! I’ve been looking forward to getting my hands on a copy ever since it was announced.

ANNA: I am very excited about this! I enjoy Asano’s works very much, and Fantagraphics editions are always a treat.

MJ: This is definitely a draw for me. Everything about this sounds compelling.

SEAN: Did you enjoy Jiro Tanaguchi’s The Walking Man but wish it took place 300 years earlier? Than you’ll love the same author’s Furari, out from Ponent Mon.

MICHELLE: Ooooh! I really like Jiro Taniguchi!

ASH: It’s always nice to see more Taniguchi.

MJ: Agreed!

SEAN: You cannot stop the Alice in the Country of Hearts spinoffs! They are endless! Here’s March Hare, a 2nd series focusing on Alice pairing up with Eliot.

ANNA: I can take or leave new spinoffs, but sometimes they are fun.

SEAN: Seven Seas also has the 6th volume of Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends, featuring the tight group of not-friends getting involved in further not-friendship events.

I’ve enjoyed The Sacred Blacksmith far more than I was really expecting, and hope Vol. 4 keeps me happy despite my general distrust of manga fantasy-oriented stories.

Senran Kagura ended up being pretty much exactly what I was expecting, but the 2nd volume should give us more of that as well.

Vertical’s From the New World gives us a 3rd volume as well, speaking of popular titles I try to say as little as possible about.

ASH: I haven’t read beyond the first volume yet, but I have been told the fanservice was toned down considerably in the second.

SEAN: There’s no blood on the cover of Black Bird 18, and the protagonists are smiling, so we must have reached the final volume! Black Bird sold a pile, so let’s give a round of applause to this title I never warmed to but others most certainly did.

MICHELLE: I hear Strong Bad’s voice in my head, going “It’s over!”

ANNA: I’m sure that this was a financially remunerative title for Viz, so that’s nice even though I really never connected with this series.

MJ: Oh, Black Bird… I really won’t miss you.

SEAN: Blue Exorcist is always a treat, and I’m sure Vol. 11 will live up to the anticipation and not advance any of the potential romances I read it for.

MJ: Hee!

I fell behind with D.Gray-Man’s omnibuses, so should see if I can pound through them now that the 3rd one is coming out.

I can’t even remember if this Dragon Ball 3-in-1 is the original series, Z, or the color edition. Or the VizBIG edition. But hey, it’s Dragon Ball, surely someone hasn’t read it yet. Somewhere. Perhaps in outer Mongolia.

Oh hey, look, a new volume of Fushigi Yu– (Sean is trampled by the rest of the Manga Bookshelf team rushing forward to squee.)

MICHELLE: Hmm, did I just step on something squishy?

ANNA: If trampling is the best way to express my love for this series, I will be right back as I need to put on my trampling boots!

MJ: SO MUCH LOVE. Sorry about the trampling.

SEAN: Ow. Moving on to Midnight Secretary? (cheers but no violence) Excellent. Vol. 4 is approximately halfway through this series, and I expect things will take a darker turn round about now.

ANNA: I do enjoy Midnight Secretary quite a bit!

MJ: As do I!

SEAN: Nisekoi continues to try to catch up to its digital releases with the 2nd print volume. Do you like Jump harem comedies? Sure we all do! Well, a good 40% of us, perhaps…

MICHELLE: Now I’m hearing the voice of Sally Struthers!

SEAN: One Piece hits another milestone with its 70th volume. Donflamingo steps up to what seems to be the next ‘big villain’ role here, and it promises to be a lot of fun.

MICHELLE: Somehow I’ve gotten a couple volumes behind on One Piece. Clearly I need to rectify that!

SEAN: Comedy volume of the week has to go to Oresama Teacher 16, which is filled with idiots being idiotic. Each volume takes it to a new level.

ANNA: This manga never fails to make me laugh.

SEAN: License Rescue of the week absolutely goes to Phantom Thief Jeanne, the one remaining Tanemura title that was out of print after CMX went under. Kudos to Viz for picking it up!

MICHELLE: Despite owning the full CMX run (and watching VHS fansubs of the anime long ago), I have not actually read this series. Perhaps the VIZ edition will compel me.

ANNA: This is my favorite Tanemura series, because it is absolutely bonkers. And Jeanne makes failed attempts to turn rhythmic gymnastics equipment into deadly weapons, which is always good for a laugh.

MJ: I’m definitely looking forward to having a chance at this!

SEAN: We’ve hit the 2nd to last volume of Psyren, which is good, as it feels like it’s just about time to start wrapping things up. Given it’s a Jump series, I’m not sure how sudden the ending will be, but…

MICHELLE: Some day I’ve gotta catch up on this.

SEAN: What’s Rin-Ne 14 doing among all these Shueisha titles? Take your Shogakukan-ness to the 2nd week of the month where it belongs! Wait, likely it’s here so that it doesn’t get in the way of that week’s OTHER Takahashi release…

MICHELLE: I’m torn. Do I like RIN-NE enough to cheer for it?

SEAN: Skip Beat! 3-in-1 hits Vol. 7, which I think means it’s still dealing with Black Moon rather than Box R.

Strobe Edge 9 is also a penultimate volume. How much worse can things get than they already are? Well, it *is* a romantic comedy…

MICHELLE: No question about these two. *Cheer!*

ANNA: I’m impatient for Strobe Edge to wrap up, but I do enjoy it!

MJ: Seconded!

SEAN: Lastly, Tegami Bachi has also reached 16 volumes, and as ever I have next to nothing to say about it.

That’s a lot of manga. What will you get this week, and what will you put off?

Bringing the Drama: Heirs

February 25, 2014 by Anna N and Nancy Thistlethwaite Leave a Comment

Heirs is available for streaming on Dramafever.

Anna: I’ve just finished watching Heirs, and if someone had told me months ago that I would be forcing myself to watch a show with Lee Min Ho and Park Shin Hye, I would have been absolutely flabbergasted. But Heirs has managed to produce a show that squanders a good cast due to the lack of an interesting plot. I can’t believe I watched the whole thing! Really, the only thing keeping me going was knowing that I’d have the chance to discuss it with you. So I’m hoping for a chance to process my feelings of resentment for losing 20 hours of my life watching this show.

Heirs. This Picture is Much Better than the Actual Show.

Nancy: Ha! Though I think it is important we discuss this K-drama because it got high ratings and won drama awards for popularity in Korea. So basically Heirs is about a poor high school girl Eun Sang, who meets Kim Tan, a rich, unhappy boy. Her mother works for his family, and she ends up going to his posh school where the have-nots are bullied. It’s said the writer wanted it to be like a Korean Gossip Girl, and there are many similarities. But where Gossip Girl suffered from too many plot turnovers so that the characters couldn’t fully develop, here THERE IS NO PLOT. The characters interact with each other, but nothing really happens. They are all gorgeous. They are all unhappy. And…? And…?

Woo Bin Eats Noodles!

Anna: I think also it is somewhat similar to Boys Over Flowers, but Kim Woo Bin had the Tsukasa Domyouji part instead of Lee Min Ho. This is actually something that might have been interesting if it had been more fully explored, but nothing much happened. As I was thinking back over this show I thought that it would be great for people who want to see Lee Min Ho cry a lot, but I am unfortunately not one of those people.

In California for some reason. Also inexplicably wet.

Nancy: But Eun Sang has no spirit or courage like Tsukushi does in Boys Over Flowers, so the formula does not work. I remember thinking, “It’s good Park Shin Hye can cry at the drop of a hat, because nothing else is going on….” Let’s talk about the shining light in this drama–the reason I kept watching (besides morbid curiosity): Kim Woo Bin! Woo Bin as Choi Young Do stole the show. Heck, he WAS the show. The climax in this drama did not involve the heroine. It was Young Do running to find Kim Tan. Young Do was the only character who showed growth in this drama. He was a compelling baddie. I enjoyed his scenes with Eun Sang far more than Kim Tan’s. Though sometimes it was painful to see how much the script tried to pull from Woo Bin’s role in School 2013 and fail. Unexpectedly, I also enjoyed Lee Bo Na [played by Krystal of f(x)]. Her scene running from Yoon Chan Young in the hallway was delightful. But she talked so fast that keeping up with the subtitles was a challenge. And what did you think of the scenes shot in California?

Woo Bin being annoying and awesome!

Anna: I agree that there was far too much crying in this show. Kim Woo Bin was great! At first I found Choi Young Do really annoying, but as the drama progressed it was clear that his character was the main one that had any character development written into the plot of the show. Young Do was also so much more dynamic in personality than the large supporting cast. I also enjoyed the supporting romance between Lee Bo Na and Yoon Chan Young. I looked forward to their scenes, just because the more lighthearted nature of their issues was a huge relief compared to the heavy handedness of most of the other scenes.

I thought that the California scenes relied far too much on the scenery and setting, which was a problem since they came at the start of the show and nothing was really happening to make me invested in the story. The American actors were uniformly terrible, but I was expecting that.

Nancy: Someone told me on Twitter that the “Californian” actors had been hired in Korea and sent over, which makes perfect sense as they all had dodgy accents and looked like they had just stepped out of a rather seedy underwear catalog. Not only that, but nearly all the “Californian” roles were offensive–don’t even get me started on the wife beater wearing a wife beater! I was embarrassed for the writer for the puerile racism in those episodes. But I did enjoy the scenery and had a giggle at the number of locations they spliced together.

Sharing a tender moment!

Anna: That rumor about the casting makes a lot of sense. Honestly, my expectations for the California setting were really low, and there wasn’t anything on those few episodes that was very good. I was holding out hope that the show would get better when the characters went back to Korea, and while more Woo Bin was good, if I hadn’t been planning on discussing the show with you, I would have given up midway through the season.

With the topic of wife beaters, I found myself mentally constructing a narrative about the costuming choices for the show. I wondered at times if the costume designer was deliberately trying to punk the audience, or if there was some other explanation for the terrible things that Lee Kin Ho had to wear. The sweaters were really something else.

Hello. Here is a sweater.

Nancy: I tend to focus on knitwear when a K-drama gets boring, so it was good this was a fall/winter show! Min Ho in the pale pink angora cardigan to show his “soft heart”–BA HA HA HA! But Woo Bin’s sweaters were always dishy. They really should have a K-drama award for knitwear.

Lee Min Ho can wear almost anything, but I think even he cannot pull off pink angora.

I feel that we must mention Heirs was the most-watched drama on DramaFever in 2013. It won out over Master’s Sun, Two Weeks, and School 2013: all of which had great stories. Heirs is pretty with pretty actors, and of course there is Woo Bin. But if you require that something actually happens in your K-drama, this show is not for you.

Anna: Woo Bin was great, and I would honestly like to see Lee Min Ho and Park Shin Hye together in a show again with much better writing.

And one can hope that Lee Min Ho will make a triumphant return to hurting people with spoons once again!

Watch at Dramafever!

Bookshelf Briefs 2/24/14

February 24, 2014 by Michelle Smith, Sean Gaffney and Anna N 2 Comments

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

A Devil and Her Love Song, Vol. 13 | By Miyoshi Tomori | Viz Media – Recently, A Devil and Her Love Song has been pretty melodramatic, but I’m pleased to report that the thirteenth and final volume is the best in some time. The best parts, though, have nothing to do with main couple Maria and Shin. Instead, I really liked how much focus the group of friends received as a whole, particularly Ayu, with her unrequited feelings for Yusuke, and Yusuke with his unrequited feelings for Maria. Their plight is much more genuinely interesting than that of Maria and Shin, and the ending is actually kind of awesomely bittersweet, if I am interpreting Yusuke’s narration in the right way. Unfortunately, the series struggled a little getting to this point, and I’m not sure if I’m down for rereading it, but at least it comes to a very satisfatory conclusion. – Michelle Smith

Durarara!!: Saika Arc, Vol. 3 | By Ryohgo Narita, Suzuhito Yasuda, and Akiyo Satorigi | Yen Press – In the first Durarara!! arc, we saw how seemingly meek and mild-mannered Mikado was far more than he seemed. In this arc, we discover the same thing about quiet and reserved Anri, who is quiet and reserved for a very good reason. The series has several ‘monsters’ in it – Celty, Shizuo and his strength, and now, as we discover, Anri. Yet it also takes pains to show us how human and relatable they all are, and in fact the one inhuman monster left, Izaya, seemingly has no superpowers at all (is jerkass a superpower?). It’s a fun series with lots of fights and smug characters being smug. I expect the Yellow scarves arc, coming this fall, will focus on Masaomi, given what we’ve seen so far. I hear it’s much darker than the Saika Arc. – Sean Gaffney

Library Wars: Love and War, Vol 11 | By Kiiro Yumi | Viz Media – I feel like it has been quite some time since I’ve been able to enjoy a new volume of Library Wars. This volume takes a turn towards the grim and solemn side, as a confrontation defending freedom of expression at a museum turns deadly, giving Iku her first traumatic combat experience, and severely wounding superior officer Genda. Dojo helps Iku get through the aftermath as best he can, but the political pressures on the Library Corps prompt Commander Inamine to announce his resignation, leading to even more emotional turmoil in the ranks. Library Wars tends to shift in tone a bit, and this volume didn’t have much of the light-hearted scenes to break up the action and angst. I did find this volume very gripping and I’m looking forward to what happens next, hopefully with a bit of relaxation time for my favorite front line combat librarians. – Anna N

Magi, Vol. 4 | By Shinobu Ohtaka | Viz Media – The first half of this volume is devoted to showing off the pure awesome that is Morgiana, and I for one could not be happier. Aladdin may have destiny, and Alibaba may have street smarts, but Morgiana has PURE POWER, and she learns here how to use it to help and save others. Meanwhile, in case the cover didn’t clue you in, we get a new hero introduced in the 2nd half. Given that his name is Sinbad, I expect that he will be playing a large role here. As for Alibaba, well, we’re not really sure what to make of him, as he seems to have joined the side of the villains this time around. Luckily, his friends are there to beat some sense into him (literally at times), and I expect that the nxt volume will give us a nice, tragic backstory to explain everything. This is still a terrific shone action series. – Sean Gaffney

Strobe Edge, vol 9 | By Io Sakisaka | Viz Media – I could feel myself getting a little bit impatient with this series during the last volume, and I am still looking forward to the conclusion, just because I generally don’t enjoy romance scenarios where the inevetible main couple is kept apart because they refuse to actually talk to each other about their emotions. This does continue a bit in this volume, but I’m also really enjoying Sakisaka’s art while I’m waiting for Ninako and Ren to hurry up and finally get together. Here Ninako’s holding back from confessing her feelings again for Ren due to her not wanting to hurt Ando, while Ren finally seems to be ready to force the issue. The next volume is the last, which seems about right for this series. Even though the plot elements are a bit predictable, Sakisaka’s execution of standard shoujo manga tropes is excellent, and I hope that more series from her get translated. – Anna N

Voice Over! Seiyu Academy, Vol. 3 | By Maki Minami | Viz Media – Most of this volume is devoted to the fact that Hime can’t do her ‘prince voice’ on command, and trying to make it come naturally to her. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done – to date, she’s only done it when the situation really needed it, which isn’t something that an actor can count on all the time. Luckily, she has her manager and friends to help her, even if it may also involve falling for her. (She’s contrasted with another actress who didn’t have the willpower to succeed Hime possesses.) We also get a closer look at Senri, and open one one of the classic genderbender plot t2wists – Hime is disguised as a boy and Senri can’t spot the difference. I expect this to lead to a lot of wacky and tragic misunderstandings. Not as eventful as the 2nd volume, but still fun. – Sean Gaffney

Pick of the Week: Insufficient Direction

February 24, 2014 by MJ, Ash Brown, Michelle Smith, Anna N and Sean Gaffney 1 Comment

MJ: It’s a slowish week for new manga releases, but there is at least one release I’m greatly looking forward to. To be more specific, I’m talking about Insufficient Direction, Moyoco Anno’s comic about her relationship with husband (and famous anime director) Hideaki Anno, out this week from Vertical. I was surprised by a few bits of Moyoco Anno’s personality when I interviewed her a couple of years ago at NYCC, and I expect to be surprised further by this (presumably humorous) look into her personal life. This is a must-buy for me this week!

ASH: Insufficient Direction is a must for me this week as well! I love Moyoco Anno’s manga (so much so that I hosted the Moyoco Anno Manga Moveable Feast last year) and am thrilled that we’re seeing more of her work released in English.

MICHELLE: I have a feeling this one might be unanimous! Insufficient Direction for me as well!

ANNA: I’m going to pick this too!

SEAN: Yup, it’s unanimous. Insufficient Direction for me as well.

What looks good to you this week?

Manga the Week of 2/26

February 20, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, Anna N and MJ 2 Comments

SEAN: This is a very small end of the month, which is good, as it gives me time to pick out two titles I forgot to mention last week, and one digital only title that made its big debut this Tuesday.

Dark Horse has Blood Blockade Battlefront 5 and Blood-C 3 coming out this week, so they should have been on last week’s list. Honestly, I find both titles so uninspiring that I often forget they exist, which may explain why I didn’t include them. But here they are.

Fairy Tail ended its last volume in a really nasty place, and I’m pretty sure that all the reader is thinking right now is REVENGE. We’ll see if they get it. Also, would Lucy lose quite so many fights if she were a male protagonist? (A reminder that she, and not Natsu, is the protagonist.)

I’m finding that reading The Wallflower is much like reading Ranma 1/2. The moment you take it seriously or hope it is heading into a final arc, you get extremely ANGRY with it. Best just to let Vol. 32 roll off of you and be amusing.

MICHELLE: Man, is that series still going?!

ASH: It is! Though it’s been a while since I’ve read any of it.

SEAN: The big release this week is Vertical’s manga autobiography of Moyoco Anno – or rather, of her relationship with Uber-Otaku and Evangelion overlord Hideaki Anno. Insufficient Direction simply looks like a giant pile of fun, and I have very high hopes for it.

MICHELLE: Oooooh.

ASH: I’m always happy to see more Moyoco Anno manga in English, so I’m very excited for this release.

ANNA: I am also very excited!

MJ: As am I!

SEAN: Lastly, Viz is finally releasing the first collected volume of One-Punch Man digitally. The rumor is that a print release may follow, but I’m not holding my breath. But that shouldn’t matter – you should buy this, as it’s an awesome title that mocks superheroes and shonen cliches in the best way.

MICHELLE: After having read Bakuman, I can’t help but envision this concept being pitched at the Shueisa serialization meeting! It’s good to hear it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

ASH: I’ll hold my breath as long as it takes to get a physical release! (In the meantime, I’ll be reading it digitally.)

ANNA: I’m looking forward to reading this too, it sounds great.

MJ: I’ve been keeping up with Derek’s weekly recaps, so my expectations are a bit tempered, but perhaps I’ll be pleasantly surprised!

SEAN: Any manga plans this week?

Dawn of the Arcana Vols 11 and 12

February 19, 2014 by Anna N

Dawn of the Arcana Vol 11 by Rei Toma

Dawn of the Arcana is a series that I think is best experienced in mini bursts of 2 or 3 volumes, simply due to the deliberate pace of the storytelling in the manga, as well as the fact that it sometimes takes a half volume or so for my brain to kick in with my memories about what happened in the previous volume due to all the relationships developing and the shifting nature of the geopolitical situations happening in Toma’s world. Usually I’m far too impatient to let the volumes pile up like this though!

After 10 volumes, the new status quo for red haired socially outcast with alarming powers of precognition Princess Nakaba and formerly arrogant but really a nice guy who has a social conscience inspired by the power of love Prince Caesar is to be separated. Nakaba has returned to Senan, determined to do some ruling in her own right, and Caesar is back in his home country of Belquat, dealing with his evil family. This volume shows the emotional impact of Nakaba’s power, the Arcana of Time, as she is determined to save the outcast child of a village that is in the direct path of an avalanche. This becomes a story that further explores the position of the humanoid animal hybrid race called ajin, as Lala the child with bunny ears is actually the product of a human/ajin encounter, leading to her abandonment. Lala has one human friend, and Nakaba’s ever present ajin protector Loki is there to save the day as always.

Loki always seems to have a new revelation every few volumes, either about his emotions or background, and a secret is revealed in this volume that shows that he and Nakaba have even more in common than I previously thought. While there’s the more conventional romantic storyline with Caesar and Nakaba, I actually find Nakaba’s relationship with Loki much more interesting, as they trade off protector duties in unexpected ways. Nakaba decides to take power in her home country, and her choices are largely driven by wanting to prevent Loki from going too far for her.

Dawn of the Arcana Vol 12 by Rei Toma

Everything keeps zipping along, as now that Nakaba and Caesar are in power in their respective countries, they have a chance to finally see each other again, when Caesar is ordered to invade Senan. Nakaba’s been looking in on Caesar and remarks that he’s going to start a revolution, so she’s “Here to lend a hand.” Nakaba’s power also provides Toma with a great way of providing more backstory about her characters. Nakaba looks back at Caesar’s father when he was young, even though Loki warns her that it might be difficult for her to see because she’s “too kind”. Nakaba sees King Guran’s first meeting with his unconventional first queen, the commoner Sara. The unhappy ending of this romance provides a reason for why King Guran might have ended up so twisted and bitter, but it doesn’t prevent a confrontation that is sure to cause even more fallout to happen in the volumes ahead.

One of the things that I really like about the art in this series is that it is so clear and easy to read. Toma might not have the most intricate backgrounds or innovative approach to paneling, but I’m never left puzzled about action scenes or finding that I have to go back and reread a page to make sure I understand the sequencing. The wordless exchanges between Nakaba and Caesar and the sidelong glances between Loki and Caesar do more to express the tensions between the characters than several pages of dialog. Overall, these were two very solid volumes in a fantasy series that is always surprising me with unexpected depths. I’m looking forward to the next few volumes to see what will become of Nakaba, Caesar, and Loki (well, really mostly Loki).

Pick of the Week: Gangsta, Blood Lad

February 17, 2014 by Ash Brown, Michelle Smith, Sean Gaffney, Anna N and MJ 2 Comments

ASH: It’s another good week for manga releases (granted, I think just about every week is a good week), but there are two manga that I’m particularly interested in this time around–the fifth volume in Hinoki Kino’s manga adaptation of No. 6 and the first volume of Kohske’s Gangsta. No. 6 keeps getting better with each volume so I’m looking forward to reading the next installment, but I think my official pick of the week will have to go to Gangsta‘s debut.

MICHELLE: This is ordinarily the spot where I’d be all “Pandora Hearts!,” and I am still looking forward to volume twenty, but since I haven’t had a chance to mention it in a while, this week I’m going with Blood Lad, my official “Surprise Favorite of 2013.” Some elements of the series aren’t really my thing, but its sense of humor is, and I’m glad we’re finally getting a bit more of it!

SEAN: I’ll be brief: Gangsta for me as well!

ANNA: I’m going to have to go for Gangsta too. It certainly looks like the most intriguing manga coming out this week.

MJ: I’m certainly interested in Gangsta, but I’m going to stand in solidarity with Michelle here, and proclaim my love for Blood Lad! I feel a little guilty about forsaking my beloved Pandora Hearts, but Blood Lad was such a stunning surprise for me, I can’t help but rejoice that we’re finally seeing the next chunky volume! I really can’t wait to read it.

What looks good to you this week?

Pick of the Week: Manga Wonderland

February 10, 2014 by MJ, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, Sean Gaffney and Anna N Leave a Comment

MJ: There’s a lot to choose from this week, and I will certainly be checking out new volumes of Blue Morning, Knights of Sidonia, and more. But I’ll give my pick this week to Viz’s latest license rescue, Deadman Wonderland. Originally published (but not completed) by Tokyopop, this series missed me the first time around, so I’m grateful for an opportunity to hop on. I’ve been disappointed in some other recent entries into the “survival game” genre (if it is, indeed, a genre), so I’m anxious to try one that has elicited positive comments from my co-bloggers. That’s at least a very hopeful sign. Count me in!

MICHELLE: I feel like I have touted both Blue Morning and Knights of Sidonia several times each already, but they’re still my tandem picks of the week. (Even though I am glad Deadman Wonderland is back.) In terms of artwork and scope, Sidonia gets the edge, but I do still look forward to each new volume of Blue Morning quite a bit.

ASH: As for me, as much as I’m enjoying Knights of Sidonia, this week I think I’ll actually be going with the second volume of Crimson Spell. I’m still incredibly happy that SuBLime rescued this smutty and surprisingly humorous fantasy series. And after this volume, we’ll start seeing material that hasn’t previously been released in English.

SEAN: Sean Gaffney, Patron Saint of Lost Causes, would like to take this time to remind you all how funny Hayate the Combat Butler can be, and also how exciting and action packed it can get when it’s in the middle of a rare serious arc, such as the one here. Also, a harem where people are actually not sure who will win. I’ll pick it this week.

ANNA: I’ll have to go with Knights of Sidonia. I love that we are getting outer space giant mecha fighting alien manga. I love it every month it comes out!

What looks good to you this week?

Manga the Week of 2/12

February 6, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Ash Brown, Michelle Smith, MJ and Anna N 2 Comments

SEAN: Assuming that you are able to get out of your house and are not snowed in, there’s a lot to like in this 2nd week of February.

Does anyone here remember Hey! Class President from DMP? Vol. 3 came out back in September 2010. Well, here’s Vol. 4, despite the fact that he surely should have graduated by now.

Do you like tournament arcs? Do you wish that they came out in giant omnibuses so that you could get EVEN MORE TOURNAMENT ARC per volume? Then you will love the 3rd Battle Angel Alita: Last Order omnibus from Kodansha.

ASH: Ancient Martian martial arts and space karate! What’s not to love?

SEAN: Do you like tournament arcs? Do you wish that they came out in giant omnibuses so that you could get EVEN MORE TOURNAMENT ARC per volume? Then you will love the 9th Negima omnibus from Kodansha.

MICHELLE: *snerk* Somehow, this has left me wondering when/whether The Prince of Tennis will get the omnibus treatment.

MJ: This whole conversation just made me smile. Though I mostly don’t like tournament arcs. Unless they are about Go. Apparently.

SEAN: Sankarea looks like it may be taking that big step towards full-blown horror, but will it find the time to be silly and have harem antics? Find out with Volume 5.

Blue Morning 4 is filled with tortured embraces and flowers blooming from nowhere.

MICHELLE: It’s so good!

MJ: I’m looking forward to this!

SEAN: Meanwhile, in Crimson Spell 2, our heroes would prefer to merely glare at the reader. Both of these from SubLime.

ASH: I’m still incredibly happy about this license rescue.

SEAN: Knights of Sidonia looks like it may be taking that big step towards full-blown horror, but will it find the time to be silly and have harem antics? Find out with Volume 7.

MICHELLE: Also so good.

ASH: Yes, it is!

MJ: More Sidonia, more!

SEAN: Deadman Wonderland manages to combine the survival game genre with a prison drama, as a young man who is the sole survivor of a brutal massacre is convicted of being the cause and sent to Japan’s Next Top Prison.

MICHELLE: I liked the first volume of this, back when it was a TOKYOPOP title. I’m looking forward to being able to revisit it and hopefully get more of the story.

ASH: I enjoyed what TOKYOPOP released, too, though I preferred the earlier volumes over the latter ones.

ANNA: I also enjoyed the first few volumes of this, and it makes sense that it is going to be reissued, what with the anime tie-in. I really really wish someone would license rescue old Tokyopop titles like Demon Sacred and Sky Blue Shore though.

MICHELLE: Oh, me too x 1000.

MJ: I’m grateful for this one because I missed it the first time around. Count me in on Demon Sacred, though!

SEAN: Hayate the Combat Butler 23 finally begins to get dramatic (no, seriously, it does), but will it be able to actually resolve the Athena plot? Or will we wait another 6 months with a nasty cliffhanger?

The last VIZBIG InuYasha is looking like it may be the last VIZBIG edition period, but it was a nice way to get a very long series.

MICHELLE: I have still not finished InuYasha. One of these days.

SEAN: Our heroes are separated as of the end of the 3rd Magi volume. Can we get them back together in this 4th book? Let’s hope so, I love shonen teamups.

MICHELLE: I’ve been really impressed by Magi so far. Hooray for more.

SEAN: Lastly, the 4th volume of Tiger & Bunny continues to attract a very devoted audience.

MICHELLE: That’s very diplomatic.

SEAN: What’s your poison this week?

Pick of the Week: Seven Seas Showing

February 3, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, Anna N and MJ 2 Comments

SEAN: As always with the start of the month, there’s a lot of titles I could pick. So I’ll go with the one that only comes out about once a year due to a slow release schedule in Japan, Toradora!. Of all the romantic comedies starring a small tsundere girl and her put-upon not-boyfriend, this is my favorite, because for once nothing overbalances. The humor is just right, the heartwarming is there when needed, there’s lots of drama and character development, and even the romantic triangle is well-paced. If most tsundere love comedies make you recoil in horror, you should give this one a try anyway.

MICHELLE: I’m going with the 3-in-1 edition of High School Debut. This is one of those series that I love with my whole heart, and I’m happy that those who missed it the first time will have another chance to check it out. One thing I particularly like about it is that you really get to know Yoh, the boyfriend, and that he talks about things with his friends. Sometimes you wonder what the cool-looking boy sees in the slightly daffy female lead, but here there’s no uncertainty about that.

ASH: Out of all the manga being released this week, the one that I am most curious about is the second volume of A Centaur’s Life. After a somewhat…awkward…first chapter, the series actually becomes rather charming and has already shown huge potential for some excellent world-building.

ANNA: I’m also going to have to go with High School Debut. This is a great shoujo series, and one of the rare cases where the daffy female lead is utterly endearing.

MJ: I’ve been just about convinced on A Centaur’s Life, thanks to Ash and a few influential comments from readers, but this week, I can’t help joining Michelle and Anna in their enthusiasm for High School Debut. I was initially pretty uninterested in this series, and then Michelle lured me in with her own copies of the series’ early volumes. It’s completely charming, and I think the 3-in-1 release may tempt me to pick up this series for my own library.

What looks good to you this week?

Harlequin Manga: The Tycoon’s Pregnant Mistress and Her Sheikh Boss

February 3, 2014 by Anna N

The Tycoon’s Pregnant Mistress by Maya Banks and Nanao Hidaka

The Tycoon’s Pregnant Mistress manages to hit some sort of Harlequin manga trifecta, because the pregnant mistress in question gets cast off, kidnapped, and develops amnesia in the first 30 pages! The woman with the eventful life is Marley, and her boss is a slightly dimwitted Greek tycoon named Chrysander. Marley finds out that she’s pregnant and attempts to have a meaningful talk about their relationship with Chrysander, only to be shut down and promptly kicked out when Chrysander discovers top secret business documents in Marley’s handbag only minutes after his extremely suspicious secretary pays him a visit at their home. While he might be successful in business, Chrysander has very little insight into human nature, as he kicks Marley out onto the street, where she is immediately scooped up by kidnappers, appearing four months later in an advanced stage of pregnancy!

Chrysander is very suspicious of his pregnant former mistress who has amnesia, but he is determined to Do the Right Thing and decides that he’s going to take care of her and her child. Marley attempts to get her memories back, all the while being slightly bewildered by the continued presence of Chrysander’s skanky secretary and his distant nature. The art for this title is about average for a Harlequin manga, it is attractive despite some slightly odd proportions, and while it doesn’t have the lush 80s retro vibe that I tend to love the most in these manga adaptations, everyone’s hair is glossy and there is a profusion of brooding greek tycoons.

Her Sheikh Boss by Carol Culver and Earithen

The story for this manga is fairly predictable, but I really enjoyed the art for this title, which had a loose sophisticated style that reminded me a bit of Walkin’ Butterfly. Claudia is a highly efficient secretary working in the United States for Samir, the prince of a country in the Middle East. She’s indispensible for his business, and he decides to take her along when he goes home to his country. Samir tends to view Claudia as an efficient piece of furniture, and when Claudia goes on her trip she is profoundly dismayed to find out that her boss his traveling back to his family in order to get engaged!

Claudia has developed a secret crush on her boss, and she struggles with her feelings as his family regards her with suspicion. As Claudia visits Samir’s country he begins to see her as a woman for the first time, as she throws herself into new experiences with enthusiasm. His fiancee seems very unenthusiastic, perhaps due to the handsome male servant that follows her about wherever she goes. The art captures Claudia’s transformations and shifts in moods easily and there’s plenty of billowing hair and the occasional camel. While the illustrations aren’t necessarily very detailed, there’s more variation with the paneling and I found myself just as entertained by the art as the story. The complications that keep Samir and Claudia are resolved nicely, and overall I found myself pleasantly entertained.

Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden, Vol 12

January 31, 2014 by Anna N

Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden, Vol 12 by Yuu Watase

I’m sure it sounds odd, but I was actually a bit nervous about picking up the final volume of this series that I’ve been enjoying so much, simply because I’ve been a bit frightened of the ending. I knew that plenty of deaths would be occurring. This is no big secret, since the heroine Takiko has been dying of tuberculosis throughout the series, and the presence of a couple ghostly Genbu Celestial Warriors in the first Fushigi Yuugi series gave enough hints towards inevitable tragedy that a certain air of melancholy has hung over this manga, giving it an additional theme that has offset all the fantasy adventure I’d expect from a Yuu Watase series.

When I put this volume down, I realized I was wrong to be nervous, because the ending was the best one possible given the set of circumstances the characters found themselves in. The final confrontation with the Qu-Dong army has arrived, and even though Takiko has married the Uruki, now Emperor of Bei-Jia, all the efforts of her Celestial Warriors aren’t going to fend off the eternal winter that is going to threaten all the people of Bei-Jia. The Celestial Warriors fight gallantly, but Takiko is determined to see her destiny as a priestess fulfilled, even if she ends up being consumed by the god that she summons. There are plenty of quiet moments between the characters mixed in with the battles, and each Celestial Warrior gets a bit of a sendoff. Tomite teases Takiko one last time. Hatsui is courageous in battle. Inami deflects volleys of arrows with her hair, arranged in a giant web. Naname undergoes an unexpected and meaningful last transformation.

Throughout everything that happens in this final volume, the connection between Takiko and Uruki remains strong and supportive. As a heroine, Takiko’s quiet and unwavering determination really sets her apart, and I thought that this series exhibited more maturity in storytelling than the first Fushigi Yugi series. This is one of my favorite Yuu Watase series, and that’s saying a lot since I’ve read and enjoyed most of her manga. I’ve read all the volumes of this series as soon as I’ve been able to get my hands on them, and the only thing that has marred the reading experience is the long wait between volumes! I really want to set aside some time and read the whole series again in a shorter span of time, to see what I think about it without having to wait months and years between volumes. Overall though, I don’t hesitate to recommend Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden to anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure shoujo.

Manga the Week of 2/5

January 30, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, Anna N and MJ

SEAN: Hey, for a first week of the month, this isn’t too bad! It’s under 20 titles! That’s practically nothing!

Kodansha brings us the 30th volume of Air Gear, which I haven’t read in about 27 volumes, but I seem to recall this may be around the point that they introduced President Obama as a character. Sadly, I doubt this hits the highs of the unlicensable Legend of Koizumi, but it tries.

MICHELLE: Man, it seems like Air Gear has been coming out forever.

ASH: Oh, Legend of Koizumi! I would totally read that.

SEAN: Alice in the Country of Joker: Circus and Liar’s Game has been hands down my favorite of the innumerable Alice spinoffs we’ve seen over the past 3 years. Volume 4 is out from Seven Seas this week, and I can’t wait.

ANNA: I enjoyed the first two volumes of this series!

SEAN: A Centaur’s Life turned out to be a bit less creepy than I was expecting, and seems very interested in its world building. We’ll see how much in can build in Vol. 2.

ASH: So far, the world building has been great in this series.

MJ: I’m trying to figure out whether “less creepy than I was expecting” is an actionable recommendation.

SEAN: New Seven Seas debuts always fill me with a combination of delight and dread, which resolves into one or the other once the title is read, like a Schrodinger’s Box. Light novel series, fantasy, loser protagonist, tsundere lead girl… we’ve seen these elements before – indeed, more than once – from Seven Seas licenses. We’ll see how Dragonar Academy goes.

On the other hand, a new volume of Toradora! cannot possibly make me happier. This is a great story with a top notch adaptation, funny characters and knows when to use humor and heart. An absolute must read.

Bleach. It’s Volume 59. It’s running through its final arc. Which may actually take 15 years. Recommended for Bleach fans.

A Devil and Her Love Song has only hit Volume 13, and yet this is its finale. I enjoyed this series with its blunt and broken lead couple and a good deal of humor with its darkness. An excellent Shojo Beat title.

MICHELLE: I’m definitely looking forward to reading the conclusion of this series.

ANNA: Me too. This was a great, slightly edgy Shojo Beat series.

SEAN: If you enjoyed Dragon Ball, and then enjoyed it again in the huge VIZBIG editions, well then why not buy it again in full color? Dragon Ball Full Color 1 actually appears to be Dragon Ball Z, meaning I’ve no interest in it. (I like my Goku goofy). But DBZ fans should greatly enjoy seeing it again with bright colors.

Happy Marriage?! 4 would appear to be the volume that reminds us this is a Petit Comic title, and earns its M rating. Good to see the couple finally getting close.

ANNA: Yay for shrinkwrapped josei!

MJ: Agreed!

SEAN: I somehow missed High School Debut when it first appeared, so am delighted that there is a 3-in-1 release so I can appreciate it again. Its heroine is apparently dense enough to rival Special A and Voice Over. I like cute but dense in my fictional manga heroines.

MICHELLE: I love, love, love High School Debut. I’d definitely rank its heroine about the one in Voice Over!.

ANNA: This is a wonderful series. It deserves to be reissued!

MJ: I adored this series and its heroine!

SEAN: Kamisama Kiss 14 takes us back to the past, as a new crisis forces Nanami to go back and find out how Tomoe got to be the way he is.

MICHELLE: It is my goal to get caught up on this soon!

ANNA: Another series from Shojo Beat that I adore.

SEAN: Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan keeps chugging right along. Here’s Vol. 19.

One Piece’s 3-in-1 finally hits the end of Alabasta with Vol. 8.

Sakura Hime comes to an end with Volume 12. Does this mean we are in some strange world with no ongoing Tanemura manga? Well, next month should take care of that problem.

MICHELLE: What, is there a new one? I do not keep up with Tanemura.

ANNA: Is that the reissue of Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne!? My favorite Tanemura series EVER!!!!!!

MICHELLE: Oh! Right! I still have my CMX volumes, so the VIZ version wasn’t really on my radar. I have very fond memories of the anime, too.

SEAN: Toriko also keeps chugging right along. Here is Vol. 20.

And Voice Over: Seiyu Academy is at Vol. 3, and I have a sneaking suspicion will continue to have its heroine want to sound cute and adorable.

Anything here tickle your fancy?

Attack on Titan, Vol 1

January 28, 2014 by Anna N

Attack on Titan Vol 1 by Hajime Isayama

At this point, given the ubiquity of Attack on Titan on manga best seller lists, reviewing it is a bit like reviewing the air, but I decided to finally get around to reading this series when Mangablog alerted me to the crazy deal for the kindle edition of the first volume that was running recently. Sometimes I have no trouble reading manga on my Kindle Paperwhite, but I had more difficulty figuring out what was going on with the art with the reduced size, and quickly switched over to reading this manga on my iPad instead.

I’ve been reading a bunch of post-apocalyptic fiction recently, just because there are so many YA dystopian novels out there, and I’m also in the middle of reading Justin Cronin’s The Twelve. Attack on Titan is an interesting twist on the dystopian genre as many years into the future humanity has retreated into walled cities in order to protect themselves from the Titian, giant zombie-like humanoid creatures who enjoy eating human flesh. Eren is in many ways a fairly typical brash and opinionated shonen hero, whose close companion is a quieter and seemingly more pragmatic girl named Mikasa. Eren is worried about the complacency his town seems to be developing, as Titans haven’t attacked it for a long time.

Sure enough, a devastating attack on the town follows, as a Titan bigger than anyone has seen before easily breaches the wall, causing panic and confusion in the town where few humans are equipped to deal with a direct attack. Years later, Eren and Mikasa are ready to take their work assignments in the town, and they have to choose the safer duty of directly protecting the townspeople or joining up with the riskier survey corps. Eren wants to avenge his family, and Mikasa is quietly determined to follow him in order to protect him.

By far the weakest element of Attack on Titan is the art. The characters are drawn stiffly and not in proportion. For much of the time Eren and his comrades are yelling at each other, with facial expressions that don’t have very much variation. At the same time, the more detailed renderings of the Titans are plenty creepy, with their musculature visible on their bodies due to lack of skin, wide jaws, and shark-like rows of teeth. In contrast to the art, the worldbuilding in Attack on Titan is excellent, and it is clear that Isayama has spent plenty of time plotting out the events in his future history, thinking through the weapon systems and defenses the humans have constructed, and setting up the relationships between the characters in an interesting way. The first volume ended on a cliffhanger that was both shocking and weirdly refreshing from a manga plotting perspective, making me wonder a bit if Attack on Titan is going to be serving up a bit of metacommentary about manga plot cliches. Even though the art was fairly awkward, I was still able to follow along with the action sequences, and the Titans were genuinely unsettling, with their grimacing silence and habits of eating people in one gulp. I’m a little leery of taking on such a long series, but I can certainly see why Attack on Titan is so popular.