Michelle Smith

Manga the Week of 10/2

September 26, 2013 by Sean Gaffney, MJ, Ash Brown, Anna N and Michelle Smith Leave a Comment

SEAN: Hope you like Viz, that’s all I can say. They have this week all to themselves.

Now that Bakuman is all over, there’s a giant Bakuman box set for those who missed it. Discover the secrets to Jump manga, and look askance at that line about a man’s dreams all over again!

MJ: Perhaps in the new set, that line will have been magically rewritten. :D

ASH: I actually haven’t read any of Bakuman, yet. Sounds like this would be a good time to get around to doing that.

SEAN: It’s been a while since we’ve seen Black Bird, and it’s ending soon, so I’ll be nice. It’s a powerful manga with the ability to win the hearts of many readers. Excellent pickup for Viz.

ANNA: I’m glad this is so popular for Viz, and also glad I stopped reading it because I didn’t care for it. There’s other, better supernatural manga out there, most of it also published by Viz.

MICHELLE: Oh, is it really ending soon? I had no idea. I really used to keep better track of these things!

MJ: I want to say “good riddance,” but… what will I have left to hate now? I feel bereft.

SEAN: (Dr. Forrester voice) Who… Who Will I Kill?

Bleach is up to Vol. 58. Expect the usual Bleach shenanigans, but I will note this volume had one of the best reveals in the entire series about a character’s past.

MICHELLE: I periodically get caught up with Bleach, but I probably wouldn’t if my local library didn’t carry it.

MJ: Well, now I wanna read it. Hm.

SEAN: Claymore has hit Vol. 23, which means everyone has to buy it, or Robert Anton Wilson will be sad.

MJ: Heh. (Also, I will be sad, but not because of 23.)

SEAN: I lost track of Dawn of the Arcana, apparently right about when it got really good. But I’m sure the others will tell me what I’ve been missing.

ANNA: It is good! It has an interesting low key vibe for a fantasy series. It reminds me of some of the stuff CMX used to put out, in a very good way.

MICHELLE: I can see that comparison!

ASH: I’ve been meaning to give Dawn of the Arcana a try. Comparing it to CMX’s series just moved it up on my list.

SEAN: The 6th Hana-Kimi omnibus has Vols. 16-18, so we’re about 3/4 of the way there. Had enough reverse harem shenanigans yet?

ANNA: There can NEVER be enough reverse-harem shenanigans!!!!!

SEAN: I was pleasantly surprised at Vol. 1 of Happy Marriage?!, whose lead male was not as jerk-like as I expected, so am looking forward to seeing if Vol. 2 can develop the heroine some more as well.

ANNA: This was like volume 1 except with additional super handsome men. No real reverse-harem shenanigans though.

MICHELLE: I liked it more than expected, and it’s quite manhwa-like!

MJ: I’m looking forward to this as well, to my own surprise.

SEAN: My Neighbor Totoro is one of the best and most beloved children’s movies of all time. What better present for your young child than a translation of the Totoro novel, with original illustrations by Miyazaki?

ANNA: This sounds nice!

MJ: Agreed!

ASH: Oh! I had completely forgotten this was coming out.

SEAN: Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan is in the middle of a smaller, quieter arc after the long, long, LONG Kyoto arc, so I’m expecting a calmer, gentler yokai with Vol. 17. I firmly believe my expectations will be ruthlessly shattered.

One Piece Omnibus 7 has some of the best volumes of the Alabasta arc, which is one of the best arcs, so you know that you have to get it if you haven’t already.

Rosario + Vampire II 12 is another of those very popular shonen series that I never really got past the first volume of so have nothing to say about.

And Sakura Hime 11 is the exact same thing, only on the shoujo side.

Slam Dunk 30, everyone! The penultimate volume! I’m going to guess there will be a basketball game of some sort.

ANNA: The most awesome basketball game ever! Seriously I love Slam Dunk.

MICHELLE: Me, too. I have been hoarding the recent volumes even though I’ve been so tempted by them. Is there any other sports manga now running? I can’t think of one…

ASH: I am so far behind with Slam Dunk, but it really is great. The only other sports manga I can think of that’s currently being published is Real, also about basketball and also by Takehiko Inoue (and one of my favorite series!)

MICHELLE: Oh, I had forgotten about Real! Possibly because it’s seinen, it doesn’t feel like traditional sports manga to me. I’d dearly love more Mitsuru Adachi, and I’d even buy the Prince of Tennis sequel, no matter how stupid it is.

SEAN: I’m not sure Adachi’s done basketball… he tends to stick with his one sport, although my own license dream, Rough, is a swimming manga.

MICHELLE: Oh, I definitely wasn’t thinking only basketball. Rough is the one I most want, too! :)

SEAN: Toriko 18 will no doubt make me hungry, have plausibly deniable homoerotic content, and feature some truly ridiculous animals.

ASH: I’m behind with Toriko, too, but I do get a kick out of the series.

SEAN: Lastly, and to the frustration of my trying to get the side images to look cool and not dangle off the edge of the article. we have the debut of the new series from Special A’s Maki Minami! Voice Over: Seiyuu Academy, is from Hana to Yume, so it already has a head start with me. Can’t wait.

ANNA: I liked this more than I thought I would, considering I did not care much for Special A.

MICHELLE: I enjoyed it, too. It’s pretty generic, but there was still something about it that compelled me to want to read volume two.

MJ: I’m with Michelle and Anna here, too.

SEAN: Is your favorite manga a voice actress?

Bookshelf Briefs 9/23/13

September 23, 2013 by MJ, Sean Gaffney and Michelle Smith 1 Comment

This week, MJ, Sean, & Michelle look at recent releases from Yen Press, Viz Media, Kodansha Comics, and Seven Seas!

The Betrayal Knows My Name, Vol. 6 | By Hotaru Odagiri | Yen Press – Now that this series has caught up with Japan, Yen Press has switched from double-length omnibus releases to single volumes, and I’ll admit this worried me to start. Though I’ve found this melodramatic, BL-leaning, supernatural epic to be a fairly satisfying (if somewhat guilty) pleasure, I was concerned that single-volume releases might only serve to expose a lack of real substance. I’m happy to report that I underestimated the series. Not only does this relatively thin-looking volume manage to successfully engage, but it does so without the constant addition of new characters that had become the series’ greatest point of weakness, at least for this reader. The Betrayal Knows My Name may not be a shoujo masterpiece, but it hits enough of my personal storytelling kinks to remain thoroughly enjoyable. – MJ

Genshiken 2nd Season, Vol. 3 | By Shimoku Kio | Kodansha Comics – Despite the fact that the series has gone from a male-dominated series where otaku talk about ero games to a female-dominated series where otaku talk about BL, the core premise of the series really hasn’t changed, nor have its observational tendencies dimmed in any way. We also get even more gender-bending as another new character is shown to be a ‘trap’ in some way… given the direction both fandom and this series have taken in recent years, this isn’t really a surprise. Hato remains at the core of this new series, though. His gender displacement gets so bad that he draws totally differently depending how he’s dressed, and he still can’t get over his attraction to Madarame. Genshiken’s always been about the characters, and that will never change. Still very good. – Sean Gaffney

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan, Vol. 7 | By Puyo and Nagaru Tanigawa | Yen Press – The nature of this series means that it’s a playground to have fun. We see the main series being made fun of, the nature of 4-koma driven gag comics being made fun of, and Japanese holidays and customs being made fun of, taking advantage of Haruhi‘s obsession with them. Divorced from canon, Koizumi can be far more active in his desire to get our stubborn couple together. Nagato can be far more adorable in her interaction with others… and also far more petulant, as the chapter where she sends Ryouko and Kimidori against a dragon proves. The main manga series is ending, so I’m not sure how long Haruhi-chan will last on its own. Or indeed if the cast from the 9th-11th novels, who show up at the end, will have any relevance. It’s a gag series, after all.. – Sean Gaffney

Otomen, Vol. 16 | By Aya Kanno | Viz Media – There’s a definite sense of this being the final arc in Otomen – the series is ending in Japan right about now – and as everyone no doubt expected, Asuka’s mother is clearly the final boss, and gets a cover with her son. Her obsession with manliness is starting to look like a mental illness of some sort. Unfortunately, she has lots of influence to get anyone to do whatever she wants, which is… good for most of our heroes, as they find great opportunities that coincidentally take them far away from Asuka. No such luck for Juta, whose Love Chick is summarily canned at the cliffhanger. God only knows what she’s going to do to Ryo… I hope that Asuka can turn things around next volume. Then again, I suspect next volume may be a ‘darkest before the dawn’ type book. Ryo’s not the type to break things off, but…? -Sean Gaffney

Psyren, Vol. 12 | By Toshiaki Iwashiro | Viz Media – Most of this volume consists of Ageha, Sakurako and Matsuri walking into the world’s most obvious trap – indeed, it comes as a surprise that the mole leading them to it *isn’t* in on the trap himself. Much of what follows is a battle between good guys and a psychopath, with lots of psychic attacks and near-deaths, along with lots of assorted army officers getting slaughtered (this series has quite a high mook death count). The high point, though, is the appearance of Sakurako’s dark alternate personality. Just in case we miss the point, her skin literally darkens when she takes over. And she has no issues whatsoever with expressing her feelings for Ageha, in the loudest way possible. If this were a romantic comedy, no doubt shenanigans would ensue. But it’s a battle manga, so more likely we go back to fights. -Sean Gaffney

Strobe Edge, Vol. 6 | By Io Sakisaka | Viz Media – After the previous couple of volumes of Strobe Edge tried to hit maximum angstosity, this one seems to be more of a breather. Everyone finds out that Ren is now single, and this means that every girl in the school except Ninako is trying to hook up with him. Ninako accurately surmises that he needs time to cope with the breakup, but isn’t quite sure how to help him. Ren, meanwhile, is also dealing with this rivalry/friendship with Ando, and wonders how exactly to define it. A new school year, and some old faces, might mean a lot more tension next time around. This is a short volume, so there’s an unrelated short story at the end. Sadly, it really didn’t grab me the way that Strobe Edge does, as the heroine’s flakiness is less endearing (like Ninako’s), and more simply irritating. It’s clear the author has improved with time. -Sean Gaffney

Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy, Vol. 1 | By Maki Minami | Viz Media – Let me get this out of the way up front: Voice Over! is every bit as generic as you might suppose. Its lead, Hime Kino, is a “bright-eyed first-year” whom we meet on her first day at a high school with a prestigious voice acting program. She’s ditzy and uncoordinated and possessed of a voice that makes the other students wonder why she was accepted, yet somehow attracts the notice of the most surly/handsome/talented boy in her year as well as that of a popular idol duo. Soon, she discovers a Hidden Talent she is loathe to embrace, but Surly Boy’s taunts fire her up to surpass him. So, okay, a work of genius this is clearly not, and yet… I kind of liked it. Perhaps it just suited my mood in the moment, but I have to admit that I’m planning to read volume two. – Michelle Smith

Zero’s Familiar, Vols. 4-5 | By Noboru Yamaguchi and Nana Mochizuki | Seven Seas – The North American market has seen a glut of manga series adapted from light novels these days, for good or for ill. At one end of the spectrum is a series that can enhance and even outpace its core series… Railgun is a good example here, as is the Higurashi franchise in its later books. On the other end… sometimes you read an adaptation, and know it must have been far more thrilling and emotional in the original story. Such is the case with Zero’s Familiar, where the need to write thrilling action battles finally catches up to its artist. Saito’s sword battles are simply dull, and the facial expressions of the main cast also seem stiff when trying to emote the tragedies contained herein. The light novels are unlikely to be licensed, so this is all we have at the moment. I hope the artist improves. -Sean Gaffney

Pick of the Week: Goong Returns!

September 23, 2013 by MJ, Anna N, Sean Gaffney, Ash Brown and Michelle Smith 4 Comments

MJ: I have a number of favorites to choose from this week, which would normally cause me a bit of angst. But if I’m being honest with myself, there’s very little in the wide world of comics that could, for me, trump a new volume of something as gloriously addictive as Goong—the only series among Yen Press’ collection of Ice Kunion manhwa acquisitions still running (to my recollection). I love this fabulously dramatic soap-opera more than I can possibly say, and I simply can’t wait to read its newest volume. Happily, too, this series is being released in chunky omnibus format, so I’ll be able to enjoy a nice, substantial fix. Thanks, Yen Press, for continuing to offer up this series! Gimme, gimme.

ANNA: Goong also makes me happy! But I have to go with Gundam: The Origin Vol. 3 Ramba Ral. This is the only book on this week’s list that I felt compelled to pre-order and I’m eagerly awaiting this volume. The hardcover and deluxe presentation of this series make it a real treat.

SEAN: There’s a lot of really nice books out this week, including some intriguing debuts and personal favorites. But I’ll go with Vol. 5 of A Bride’s Story. I’d been somewhat lukewarm about the series to start, mostly as I just find it hard to get inside the head of its female lead. But with the action switching to a pair of rambunctious twins, things picked up and also got much funnier, while keeping the warmth and heart from prior books. Definitely can’t wait to read this.

ASH: Wow, this is a great week for manga, so it really is hard to choose! Since the most recent volumes of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin and A Bride’s Story have already been mentioned (both of which I’m looking forward to a great deal), I’ll put my vote in for the first part of Hikaru Asada and Takahiro Seguchi’s Sickness Unto Death. I don’t really know much about the series, but Vertical has a habit of publishing some very intriguing manga, so it has caught my interest.

MICHELLE: It’s Goong all the way for me! This series has been on hiatus for a full two years, so I am INTENSELY grateful to Yen for bringing it back to finish its run and for scheduling subsequent releases at four-month intervals! This omnibus covers material from volumes 17-18 of the original Korean release, so if my math is right, the rest of the volumes on Yen’s schedule will take us not only through the conclusion of the series (volume 27), but through the extra 28th volume, as well.

What looks good to you this week?

Manga the Week of 9/25

September 19, 2013 by Sean Gaffney, Ash Brown, Michelle Smith, Anna N and MJ 1 Comment

SEAN: A surprisingly huge last week of the month. Shall we get right down to it?

Archaia has their new modern adaptation of Cyborg 009 debuting this week. I recall the old 60s series when Tokyopop took a flyer on it, and it was fun if very ‘a product of its time’. It’s a series that a modern retelling, getting rid of some of the racism and sexism, could really work wonders. Intriguing.

ASH: I’ve already got my copy of this one. I haven’t read it yet, but I can say this–Archaia’s Cyborg 009 has one of the coolest book designs that I’ve seen in quite a while.

SEAN: Kodansha continues the speedup of Attack on Titan with Vol. 7, which reminds you that the series can still be really, really brutal.

ASH: Yes it can! If Attack on Titan has one thing going for it, it’s the series’ intensity. And tragic deaths.

MICHELLE: I feel very wrong that “tragic deaths” has seriously made me consider Attack on Titan.

ANNA: I feel the same way. What is the ratio of tragic deaths to non-tragic deaths per volume?

MJ: I also would like to see some statistics on this. Yes.

SEAN: Also, lest you think there’s only omnibuses, there’s the 18th volume of Battle Angel Alita: Last Order.

And speaking of speedups, here’s Fairy Tail 30, which wraps up its very long S-class arc, and has a major plot shift that affects… well, not quite everything.

I admit I sometimes miss things coming out via Picturebox and their cadre of indie manga releases. Here’s a new one called World Map Room, which I know nothing about.

ASH: Picturebox is a publisher that has really caught my eye this year. I don’t always enjoy Yuichi Yokoyama’s manga, but I can certainly appreciate his draftsmanship and experimental work.

MJ: Agreed. I’m very interested in what they’re doing.

SEAN: I had assumed that Dictatorial Grimoire: Cinderella was another series from Quin Rose in the Alice in the Etc Etc. vein, but apparently not. This is from Media Factory’s oddball shoujo-ish Comic Gene, and is a Grimm’s Fairy Tales rewrite, in a way.

MICHELLE: Huh. I’m feeling a little oversaturated with fairy tail adaptations, though.

ANNA: I love fairy tale adaptations! Not sure if I will check it out although content from oddball shoujo-ish magazines sounds promising.

MJ: Well, huh. This does sound like my kind of thing!

SEAN: Alice in the Country of Clover: Cheshire Cat Waltz is almost finished, I believe, but not quite, so here’s more Boris and Vol. 6.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin has been one of my most awaited titles of 2013, with every volume desperately needing to get into my hands as quickly as possible. Vol. 3 is called Ramba Ral!

ASH: I’ve been very impressed by Vertical’s edition of The Origin. It’s a great manga and a gorgeous release. Plus, I’m a fan of Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s manga.

MICHELLE: I’m enjoying it, too!

ANNA: I am so happy that Vertical is putting out this series.

SEAN: If you’d told me a few years ago Vertical would be licensing a Young Animal title, I’d have laughed. But here we are. Sickness Unto Death is along the lines of Flowers of Evil, but only 2 short volumes. The first ships this week.

ASH: I’m very curious about this one.

MICHELLE: I don’t know what to think about it.

MJ: I’m always interested in what Vertical has to offer, so count me in!

SEAN: Are You Alice? has a 2nd volume that may potentially have something comprehensible happen, which Vol. 1 lacked, in my opinion.

And The Betrayal Knows My Name, a series that feels like it should be Wings but is instead in Asuka (which is becoming the new Wings), hits Vol. 6, and has lots of reincarnation romance.

MJ: I have been shamelessly addicted to this series ever since my holiday marathon read last year. More, more!

SEAN: A Bride’s Story really picked up for me with the introduction of the twins in Vol. 4, so seeing their wedding in this new volume is definitely high on my list of things to do.

ASH: I’m always happy to see a new volume of Kaoru Mori’s A Bride’s Story! (Now, if we could only get Emma back into print, too…)

MICHELLE: Someday I will have time to read this.

ANNA: Me too. I need to catch up. The first two volumes were lovely.

MJ: I adore this series, and I’m very excited about the wedding! Hurray!

SEAN: Kieli hits Vol. 9… of the novels, that is. Don’t get your novels and manga mixed up, especially from Yen, which tends to license both more than most companies.

The regular old manga may be ending in Japan, but its gag spinoff continues, as we see the 7th volume of The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya.

Lastly, Soul Eater hits sweet 16, and will likely start spinning out new plot threads here to see what sticks. Always fun.

What’s whetting your appetite?

MICHELLE: Isn’t Goong 13 coming out too this week, now that I think about it? At least, Amazon has it with the same date as the other Yen, and I just got it in a box of review copies (yay!).

ANNA: eeeeeeeee!

MJ: YAY GOONG YAY!

SEAN: It’s still hard for me to remember Korean books…

Pick of the Week: Satoshi Kon & More!

September 16, 2013 by Ash Brown, MJ, Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith and Anna N 1 Comment

ASH: Although this week is relatively light when it comes to manga releases (at least when compared to the last few weeks), there are still plenty of great manga to choose from. I’m especially interested in Satoshi Kon’s Tropic of the Sea. Kon is probably best known in the West as an anime director—and a fine one at that–but he started his career in manga. With beautiful artwork and a focus on legends and water, there’s no way I’m passing up Tropic of the Sea.

MJ: I’m quite torn this week, despite the limited selection, as it’s difficult to ignore a new volume of Ooku. But it’s even more difficult to ignore something as new (to us, anyway) and intriguing as Tropic of the Sea. So I’ll stand with Ash on this one. The cover art alone has me sold.

SEAN: Given we have Tropic of the Sea out of the way, I’m going to take a chance on Sherlock Bones, the new shounen title from Kodansha. As readers who have read my Young Miss Holmes reviews know, I’m a sucker for all things Holmes and Watson, so the premise at least intrigues me. We’ll see how much it abuses canon. The writer is also one of the pseudonyms of the people who did Kindaichi Case Files, a low-selling but highly regarded mystery series from back in the day.

MICHELLE: I admit Tropic of the Sea is very intriguing, and that I’m curious about Sherlock Bones but I simply must throw Fumi Yoshinaga some love and officially pick Ooku. True, it’s not my favorite of her manga, but it’s still quite fascinating.

ANNA: I am also torn between Tropic of the Sea and Ooku! I think I’ll have to go with Tropic of the Sea though, since I’m finding that the most interesting debut of the week.

What looks good to you this week?

Manga the Week of 9/18

September 12, 2013 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown and MJ 3 Comments

SEAN: Three weeks this September have a huge pile of manga, one is merely a small pile. This is that week. (Though some may get Yen titles one week early via Diamond.)

Genshiken has continued to prove that if you have a good enough ensemble cast, it doesn’t matter who the ‘lead character’ or stars are. It rotates students in, it rotates students out. Well, OK, Madarame and his not-quite-harem continue to be the focus of the 2nd Season. Vol. 3 is out this week.

MICHELLE: I must admit that I have never read any Genshiken.

ASH: I haven’t read any of the second season yet, but I did rather enjoy the Genshiken omnibuses. Guess I’ll need to catch up!

MJ: I’ve always been interested in this title, but missed picking up the first season, so I’ve never managed to get into it. I would like to rectify that at some point!

SEAN: The other Kodansha title, Sherlock Bones, you may at first glance think is meant for younger readers, especially once you see the premise “Sherlock Holmes reincarnated as a dog”. That said, I think there may be something I can do to tempt old-school mystery and manga fans to get this volume: “From the creator of Kindaichi Case Files.”

MICHELLE: … and also !!! That certainly tempts me!

MJ: What she said!

SEAN: Everyone knows that old-school manga titles are not really looked at by companies anymore. UNLESS… they’re by the late director Satoshi Kon, aka Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers, etc. Tropic of the Sea was a single-volume manga he did for Kodansha’s Young Magazine in 1990, and it’s at the start of his career, before he became famous for other things. It promises to be riveting, from what I hear.

ASH: I’m really looking forward to Tropic of the Sea. That cover is simply gorgeous and the interior art I’ve seen is also striking.

MJ: I’m very interested in this as well.

SEAN: Bokurano: Ours must still have cast members to kill off in a tragic yet heartwarming and life-affirming way, as the series is still going. Here’s Vol. 9 from Viz, whose continued support of the SigIKKI line I will always appreciate.

MICHELLE: I’ve fallen somewhat behind on Bokurano: Ours, but I do like it.

SEAN: Lastly, Ooku: The Inner Chambers has a new volume. We’re caught up with Japan, and the series doesn’t come out all that rapidly anymore. But this just makes this alternate world tale of court intrigue a rare treat.

MICHELLE: Yay, more Ooku!

ASH: Indeed! Hooray for more Ooku!

MJ: Insert additional cheers here!

SEAN: What manga dost thou wish to acquire on the morrow?

Pick of the Week: Something for Everyone

September 9, 2013 by Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, Sean Gaffney, MJ and Anna N Leave a Comment

MICHELLE: Even though I’m not completely sold on the idea of packaging the Sailor Moon Sailor Moon Short Stories separately, I am nonetheless going to appoint the first volume of them as my pick for this week, since it’s my penultimate chance to mention Sailor Moon in this column. I can’t believe the series is really nearly complete in English; it seemed to happen so fast!

ASH: Another series that is slowly nearing the end of its release in English is Hiroaki Samura’s long-running Blade of the Immortal. It’s a personal favorite of mine, so I’d be a bad fan if I didn’t choose it as my pick of the week. The Man of Tango is also very tempting, though…

SEAN: Normally I would be all over Sailor Moon as well. However, this volume of Hayate the Combat Butler, as well as the two that follow it, are a peak that I’m not sure the series has ever quite reached again. It’s especially a rewarding volume for Hinagiku fans, at least until the final page. For fans of romantic harem comedy, this is still one of the funnier ones. At least till 2014, when we’ll see the two action-oriented thriller volumes.

MJ: I’m going to pick up where Ash left off and give my vote to Tetuzoh Okadaya’s The Man of Tango. BL one-shots are not often for me, but based on everything I’ve read about this book, even down to the cover design, I’m going to guess that this one will be. It’s definitely one I’m willing to take a chance on. So there you have it!

ANNA: I’ll have to go with the sixth volume of 07-Ghost. There are many great manga shipping this week, but I’ll likely read that manga first. The mystical fighting priests reel me in every time!

What looks good to you this week?

Off the Shelf: Josei Romance Edition

September 8, 2013 by MJ and Michelle Smith Leave a Comment

MJ: Hello, Michelle! Wow, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?

MICHELLE: It certainly has! We’ve both had a tremendous amount of stuff going on in our lives lately.

MJ: Ooooh yes we have. It’s great to be back here with you, though. I’m dying to talk about some manga! We’ve got two mutual reads to discuss this week. Want to get us started?

MICHELLE: Sure! I suppose I’ll just start with the one I read first, which was the debut volume of Midnight Secretary, by Tomu Ohmi. Originally serialized in Petit Comic, this seven-volume josei series is about an uber-efficient young secretary, Kaya Satozuka, who is assigned to Kyohei Tohma, the difficult managing director of the tableware manufacturer they both work for. Tohma’s pretty much a jerk and is inclined to dismiss her at their first meeting for her plain looks, but Satozuka counters that he should wait and see what she’s capable of so he can make an informed decision.

She proceeds to do her job with surpassing competence, and Tohma’s ungrateful remarks gradually give way to compliments, though remarks about her appearance persist. In the process, she discovers that her boss is a vampire, and makes it her mission to protect him dutifully, even giving him her blood at one point when a meeting in an atmosphere of religious faith leaves him weak. Of course, she’s unable to get this incident out of her mind, and before the end of the volume she’s shedding her professional persona and getting gussied up to attend a Christmas function with Tohma, whereupon he feeds on her again, then develops some mad craving that all of his other sexy “meals” aren’t able to provide.

I just don’t know about this one. I didn’t hate it and would probably read more, but I’m kind of annoyed by the “competant woman gets undone by the attentions of amorous soundrel” plotline.

MJ: Oddly, I found that this didn’t really bother me all that much, and I’m a bit perplexed as to why. Somehow, though, I found that the over-the-top fantasy premise kept me from needing to take anything about it seriously, and in the end I just had a lot of fun.

It also helps that Kaya really is an incredible secretary, so even as we’re being put through the usual “amorous scoundrel” paces, that’s an area where she isn’t remotely vulnerable. So often, Tohma’s type of controlling hot-shot love interest relies on breaking down the heroine’s self-esteem, but when it comes to the one thing she truly cares about—her abilities at work—he can’t even make a dent. If she falls for him? Well, that’s romance. But nobody can damage Kaya’s belief in herself.

MICHELLE: That’s a very good point about her skills—she doesn’t need him to take care of her, because she’s got an excellent professional reputation already. Probably I’m just taking things too seriously, as is my wont. Also, I feel like a crotchety old lady for saying this, but… I kinda want to know more about the tableware!

MJ: Normally, I’d be taking it too seriously, too! I have a very limited sense of humor when it comes to controlling, male love interests. Yet somehow, I’m super-relaxed about it here.

I do have some favorite bits of humor in this volume, too. I particularly enjoyed following Kaya’s early experiments with things like crosses and mirrors, as she tries to determine which vampire legends she needs to pay attention to in order to properly protect her boss.

I admit I don’t remember the tableware. Is the a euphemism? What am I missing here?!

MICHELLE: Oh, it was just a throwaway line about what their company does. Care to introduce our second manga?

MJ: I would! Our second read this week was the first volume of Maki Enjoji’s Happy Marriage?!.

Like Midnight Secretary (and, previously, Butterflies, Flowers), Happy Marriage?! comes to us from the josei magazine Petit Comic, released here under Viz’s Shojo Beat imprint. And, like both Midnight Secretary and Butterflies, Flowers, the series features an office romance between a young woman and her boss—in this case, office lady Chiwa Takanashi and her company’s president, Hokuto Mamiya.

Chiwa works full-time at the Mamiya Company, but moonlights as a hostess in an effort to pay off her father’s business debts. Unlike her coworkers, she’s fairly uninterested in attracting a boyfriend, let alone anything more serious. But her life is turned upside-down when the company’s Chairman offers to eliminate her family’s financial troubles if she’ll agree to an arranged marriage with his grandson, Hokuto, who also happens to be her boss. Hokuto has his own reasons for agreeing to the marriage (namely, keeping his position as company president), and though Chiwa’s reservations are considerable, she ultimately agrees.

The two move in together (against Chiwa’s wishes) and this leads to a number of embarrassing moments as well as the disappointing revelation that Chiwa’s new husband is a complete slob. He’s also a devastatingly handsome, predictably controlling romantic lead, who taunts her with a sexy secretary while improbably pledging sexual fidelity to his wife of convenience. Misunderstandings and wackiness ensue.

There’s nothing really new in this series, as you may have guessed, but it’s genuinely fun and (so far) less maddening than, say, Butterflies, Flowers, which is a compliment, I suppose.

MICHELLE: After a notably inauspicious start—the scene in which Chiwa conveniently forgets to bring new undies to change into after her bath, and then just so happens to trip over a cushion and expose her goodies to Hokuto is particularly cringe-worthy—I actually kind of enjoyed this one. True, Hokuto can be quite controlling—he arranges for them to get locked in the company archives so they can have time along together—and, like Tohma, makes remarks about Chiwa’s looks and status (“If people found out that I married a woman like you it’d ruin my reputation”), but has some redeeming points, like his intention to take the marriage vows seriously. Chiwa can be irrational—she’s the type to storm out after an argument but forget her purse—but I liked that she will actually ask for help when she needs it as well as express her gratitude.

This arrangement and their personalities reminded me a lot of a manhwa plotline, actually. Something akin to Full House.

MJ: It’s funny that you should bring up Full House, Michelle, because I found myself thinking of another manhwa series, So I Married an Anti-Fan, which similarly pushes its heroine and hero into a “fake” relationship that (presumably) becomes a real one. And though Happy Marriage?! lacks the outrageous K-drama-esque quality that made Anti-Fan so much fun for me, I really did enjoy this first volume as well.

I think, similarly to the way you reacted to Midnight Secretary, I was bothered that Chiwa falls for Hokuto so quickly, and perhaps that’s where it differs from the manhwa we’ve mentioned, too. I mean, he’s not a monster, and he does sweep in fairly heroically in the last chapter to save face for Chiwa at her class reunion. But I suppose I’d prefer the bickering to last as long as possible in a story like this.

MICHELLE: Oh, yes, Anti-Fan is probably a better comparison! I think I have a much lower bicker tolerance than you do, so was pleased to see scenes wherein Chiwa and Hokuto are actually able to really talk to each other happening as early as volume one.

I can see myself reading the complete run of both these series, but I’m not sure whether I’d reread them.

MJ: I’m absolutely certain I’ll enjoy reading both these series all the way through… and that I’m unlikely to re-read them. Which is interesting to note, since I’d absolutely re-read both the manhwa series we’ve brought up in comparison. I’m trying to put my finger on what exactly makes the difference, and the closest I can come is “personality.” Both of those manhwa series feature an excess of individual personality as the primary element of their charm. These josei romances, on the other hand, I think are charming largely for their sense of sameness and familiarity.

Like most high-school romance series, these office romances are compelling in part because we know exactly what’s going to happen and we can just relax and enjoy ourselves as the inevitable plays out. And though they each begin with their own premise, they’re ultimately alike enough that they kinda ran together for me as I read them. In fact, I had to correct myself early on in the discussion of Midnight Secretary as I began to discuss a romantic rival that I later realized was from Happy Marriage?!

MICHELLE: Yeah, in particular the guys are similar, what with the mix of insults and compliments and all of that. Sometimes I was reminded of those Harlequin romance manga adaptations, too, but I’d definitely say these are several steps up in terms of originality, even being as similar as they are. I think the conclusion to Happy Marriage?! is a little more obvious than Midnight Secretary, but I can certainly use some easy, cozy things to read now and then!

MJ: Definitely! Honestly, none of this is a complaint. Even if my public pleas for “more josei!” are answered by more of this and not as much meatier fare, such as Vertical’s Helter-Skelter (which we originally planned to include with these as part of a josei column, until we realized just how inappropriate that matchup would be), I can enjoy these for what they are. It’s still gratifying to read stories about adult women, and I can’t deny that I love romance. It’s comfort food, no more, no less.

MICHELLE: Pass the mashed potatoes!

Manga the Week of 9/11

September 5, 2013 by Sean Gaffney, Ash Brown, Michelle Smith, Anna N and MJ 3 Comments

SEAN: Manga is here, let’s to’t.

Dark Horse has the 27th volume of Blade of the Immortal, one of Dark Horse’s long-running prestige manga titles. It’s still badass.

ASH: That it is! Blade of the Immortal was one of the first manga series that I started reading and I’m still hooked on it.

MICHELLE: I read the first volume and was really impressed by the art, and I own a bunch more of it, but I’ve still never continued. The same thing happened with Vagabond too, actually.

ANNA: I read the first three volumes or so and really liked it. If I ever stumble across a library with a good chunk of this series, I would check it out again. Vagabond as always has my eternal devotion, I think I might be behind with one or two of the VizBig editions.

MJ: I wish I’d gotten hooked early on. At this point the length feels so daunting! Yet I feel I’d probably love it.

SEAN: They also have the 4th volume of OreImo. No spoilers in the comments, bitter fans of the anime. (I wonder if OreImo will pull a School Rumble in terms of sales now that the ending is out in Japan?)

DMP have a BL title coming out called Priceless Honey. Seems to be a short story collection from the author of Punch Up!.

MJ: I’m not big on BL anthologies, but I did like Punch Up!…

SEAN: Kodansha have the 2nd to last Arisa, which I got very, very behind on. Luckily, it’s out digitally now, so I can try to catch up!

ASH: I’m a bit behind on Arisa as well, but it had a great start and I’ve been meaning to read more of it.

MICHELLE: I’ve read through volume ten. It’s become rather snickerworthy, as I noted in brief back in June, but I’m still planning to see it through to the end.

ANNA: I haven’t read this, for some reason Kodansha’s current shoujo releases don’t appeal to me very much, but I’m looking forward to some of the new series they’ve recently announced!

Not out digitally (here or in Japan) but certainly out in print is the first collection of Sailor Moon Short Stories. These ran in Nakayoshi’s sister magazines throughout the run of the manga, and originally were interspersed through the original volumes. The re-release collected them all at the end. This first of two volumes collects the Chibi-Usa side stories, and the Exam Battles starring the other Inners. It also has my 2nd favorite Sailor Moon manga moment.

MICHELLE: I’m not sure how wise it was to put the short stories in their own collection. True, this way they don’t interrupt the main flow of the narrative, but when I read the Japanese edition this way I was sort of… underwhelmed. Maybe they’ll fare better in English.

ANNA: One of these days I will marathon Sailor Moon, I feel like I should block out a day and stock up on Sailor Moon reading supplies. I’m envisioning a lot of sweet milky tea and many star-shaped cookies.

SEAN: I’ve come to love His Favorite without ever reading it, just for the look of disgust on the face of the uke on every single cover. It’s an absolute delight, and I hope he’s just as grouchy in the manga itself. Vol. 5 is out this week.

MJ: I’m a volume behind on this now, but the manga really is as delightful as its covers, in my experience. And that character is pretty grouchy. It could sort of read as an AU xxxHolic fanfic, if that gives you some sense of what you’re in for.

SEAN: Also out from SubLime is The Man of Tango, which sounds like it should star Robert Vaughn and David McCallum. The cover art for this is easily the best design SubLime’s ever done (their cover design has been a very weak point to date), and really looks smokingly passionate. This apparently has previously unpublished content as well.

ASH: I’m very excited about the release of The Man of Tango! Originally licensed by Aurora but never released, I was thrilled to see SuBLime pick it up.

ANNA: I don’t read a ton of yaoi, but this was one manga that I actually pre-ordered when Aurora was supposed to release it. Glad this is coming out finally, I found the title and cover of this manga very intriguing.

MJ: I’m looking forward to this as well!

SEAN: Udon still puts out manga, and not just artbooks. Today, it’s Disgaea 3: School of Devils 2. Next week, Arsenal 4, Tottenham nil.

And a trio from Viz. 07-GHOST just ended in Japan last month, but fear not, there’s still a lot to go before we catch up. Here’s Vol. 6.

MICHELLE: It seems like volumes of this series are appearing like bunnies! Soon we’ll be caught up with Go!Comi, if we’re not already!

ANNA: ACK, I’m three volumes behind now! I do like this series, though.

MJ: I am too, yikes!

SEAN: Arata: The Legend is about a year and a half behind Japan, which is not uncommon for a Shonen Sunday mid-list title, even if it is by Yuu Watase. Here’s Vol. 15.

MICHELLE: I do enjoy Arata, even if I can’t get as squeeful about it as, say, Genbu Kaiden.

ANNA: Genbu Kaiden deserves all the squees!

MJ: Agreed, re: Genbu Kaiden. I’m iffy on Arata.

SEAN: And Vol. 22 of Hayate the Combat Butler, which is 3 1/2 years behind Japan and growing farther away every biannual release, but sadly, sales. The manga is still in Greece, and this volume has what may be one of the best romantic heartbreakers of the entire series to date.

Anything strike your fancy?

Pick of the Week: Too Many Books

September 2, 2013 by Sean Gaffney, MJ, Ash Brown, Michelle Smith and Anna N Leave a Comment

SEAN: My pick of the week is the third and final Young Miss Holmes omnibus from Seven Seas. I remain impressed at its ability to shoehorn a precocious 10-year-old girl and her killer maids into the Holmes canon, and there’s a minimum of fanservice given that it runs in a Media Factory title. This third volume introduces some original stories not based on the Holmes canon, including its finale, the Giant Rat of Sumatra, which Watson always felt the world was not yet ready for. Kudos to Seven Seas for this title.

MJ: I’ve been procrastinating on this, because I was honestly torn about what to choose, though in retrospect, it seems so simple. This week offers up new volumes of a couple of my favorite addictive shoujo series, Strobe Edge and Demon Love Spell, as well as the (potentially addictive) supernatural romance Midnight Secretary. But they’re all standing up against the latest volume of one of my favorite continuing series of 2012, Takako Shimura’s Wandering Son, and there aren’t many series that would stand a chance against that. So I’m going for volume five of Wandering Son. It’s this week’s must-buy, at least for me.

ASH: As much as I love Baku Yumemakura and Jiro Taniguchi’s The Summit of the Gods there is absolutely no question as to my pick of the week: the fifth volume of Takako Shimura’s Wandering Son. The series is incredibly important to me on a very personal level in addition to simply being a great manga. It’s a wonderful story about personal identity and growing up. I’m absolutely thrilled that Fantagraphics is bringing Wandering Son to English-reading audiences and the series is receiving a beautiful hardcover release.

MICHELLE: Seeing as how Wandering Son has safely earned its place, I’m going to go for volume six of Io Sakisaka’s Strobe Edge. Of volume five, I wrote, “This is what good shoujo drama is like when you don’t have to result to tired old clichés… It actually reminds me a little of We Were There, which is high praise indeed.” I’m certainly looking forward to volume six!

ANNA: My pick is Midnight Secretary. This paranormal romance set in the business world sets up an intriguing relationship with an interesting heroine in the first volume, with some touches of both humor and angst. I’m already feeling impatient looking forward to the next volume.

What looks good to you this week?

Manga the Week of 9/4

August 29, 2013 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, MJ and Anna N 4 Comments

SEAN: As I’ve noted before, Diamond Comics and Amazon’s street dates are looking farther apart than ever before. As a result, this list is a fusion of Amazon (the major, book-company publishers) and Midtown Comics (the comics-first publishers).

Dark Horse brings us the 4th volume of Blood Blockade Battlefront, the alliterative series from the Trigun creator.

There’s also a new Evangelion spinoff coming out as well, with the first volume of Shinji Ikari Detective Diary. From the description, it sounds like this is aimed squarely at the BL Evangelion shippers, in much the same way that the Raising Project manga is aimed at harem fans.

Fanfare/Ponent Mon has the 4th volume of mountain climbing manga Summit of the Gods, one of those “blogger popular” titles I keep meaning to catch up on but have never quite done so. It is supposed to be excellent, though.

MICHELLE: Oh, nice! I really like Jiro Taniguchi, but have been waiting for this series to come out in full before reading it. I think there’s one more volume still.

ASH: Oh! I’m one of the reasons this is a “blogger popular” title. Summit of the Gods is easily my favorite Jiro Taniguchi collaboration; I’m very happy to see that Fanfare/Ponent Mon is continuing to release the series. Only one more volume to go after this!

MJ: Count me in for this one as well!

SEAN: Amazon has Wandering Son 5 listed for November 2nd. If Kodansha is the publisher that is consistently always arriving at bookstores first and comic shops later, Fantagraphics is the classic example of the opposite. Here’s Wandering Son 5, hitting comic shops. In this volume, I believe we get to high school and introduce some new supporting players.

MICHELLE: I am lamentably several volumes behind with Wandering Son, but it’s still nice to see new volumes make their appearance!

ASH: We actually have a few years of junior high to get through before reaching high school, but you’re right about the new supporting characters.

ANNA: I really need to catch up on this series!

MJ: I adore this series, and I can’t wait to read volume five, whenever it appears!

SEAN: Seven Seas has the final volume of one of my favorite series from them, Young Miss Holmes by Kaoru Shintani (of Area 88 fame). This omnibus, containing Books 5-7, is even larger than the previous two, and is filled with mysteries, mayhem, and killer maids. There’s a sequel in Japan, featuring 17-year-old Christie continuing to solve crimes. Seven Seas has noted its possible license (Slightly Older Miss Holmes?) depends on sales of the first, so go get it! Also, there’s only one Conan Doyle story in here (the rest are originals based on ‘unseen cases’, so less danger of offending Holmes purists.

ANNA: I somehow missed that this was by the mangaka of Area 88! I still have all my ancient Eclipse Comics/Viz editions of Area 88 stashed in a box somewhere. Now, I might finally pick up Young Miss Holmes. I hope there are scenes of people in flight suits with floppy hair looking incredibly emo in Young Miss Holmes, because Area 88 was awesome at that.

SEAN: There’s also a 2nd omnibus from Seven Seas, with Vols. 3-4 of Zero’s Familiar. I was surprised that the dark shroud of fan opinion surrounding the tsundere heroine turned out to be more of a off-white silk scarf more than anything, and wonder if my opinion will stay the same as we go further into this fantasy harem series.

I presume that those who read Bleach either have done so for years, or are likely never to do so. But if you’ve been catching up via the omnibus, the 3 volumes collected in the 6th one are some of the very best, and remind me of those olden days when Kubo could pace properly.

MJ: Agreed. I have much nostalgia for those early volumes, and this is a particularly strong little set.

SEAN: Demon Love Spell has been one of Shinjo’s best titles at walking that fine line between ‘sexy, forceful guy’ and ‘complete ass’, and I’m hoping that Vol. 4 continues that balance.

ANNA: I have just read this and it was hilarious. This is rapidly becoming my favorite Shinjo series, despite my long-standing fondness for Sensual Phrase.

MJ: I’m absolutely addicted to this series.

SEAN: Dragon Ball has an omnibus as well, and it’s hit Vol. 2. New Dragon Ball readers are born every day! This omnibus is probably for them more than those of us who bought the VIZBig, or the original volumes. Or the digital volumes. And stay tuned for Dragon Ball cranial ports, coming in 2015.

Midnight Secretary has a lot of good buzz. So much good buzz, in fact, that Viz has already licensed another title by the same author before this one has even come out. You know they trust it will do well. And why will it do well, you ask? One word: vampires. That said, the heroine is also apparently an excellent draw, and is not your usual Petit Comic office lady. I’m very intrigued about this one. Can’t wait.

ANNA: I think this will be a must get for paranormal romance manga fans. I am also looking forward to this. I mean, the title alone is fantastic.

MJ: Agreed on all counts!

SEAN: The 6th Naruto omnibus is out. I still need to catch up on this title. So… ninjas?

ASH: Yes. Ninja. Lots and lots of ninja.

SEAN: One Piece has reached Vol. 68. There is an awful lot of fighting happening here, and several of our heroes continue to be in the wrong bodies, leading to humorous situations. Recommended as top-drawer entertainment.

MICHELLE: I continue to love One Piece.

SEAN: Last time, Psyren turned its attention to our villains, and did a damn good job of fleshing them out. I expect it will go back to the heroes this time, as we’re getting near a climax (I think we’ve only 5 volumes to go).

MICHELLE: I need to catch up on Psyren. So many books (and responsibilities), so little time.

SEAN: And Strobe Edge hits its second half with Vol. 6. We may have resolved one of the obstacles standing between our two lovebirds last time, but the course of true love definitely doesn’t run smooth in this title. Something bad’s going to happen, I can feel it. Be there to read it when it does.

MICHELLE: I really love Strobe Edge, and I admit I kinda wouldn’t mind seeing something bad happen.

ANNA: This is one of those shoujo series that just seems to get better as it goes along.

MJ: This is a strong week for addictive shoujo, I see. Lovely, lovely.

SEAN: Any manga jump out at you this week?

Bookshelf Briefs 8/26/13

August 26, 2013 by Sean Gaffney, MJ and Michelle Smith 4 Comments

This week, Sean, MJ, & Michelle look at recent releases from Yen Press, Seven Seas, Viz Media, and Vertical, Inc.

Bunny Drop, Vol. 9 | By Yumi Unita | Yen Press – I went into this final volume with a great deal of trepidation, but I actually didn’t dislike it. True, I did find one big reveal terribly convenient in terms of making a relationship between Rin and Daikichi less icky—were there hints about this that I missed?—and I remain unconvinced that Daikichi feels something genuinely romantic towards Rin, but there were some aspects that I liked, as well. Daikichi’s reaction to the situation has some genuinely riveting moments—“That is the cruelest thing you could’ve done to me”—and I got a fuller sense of how Rin sees Daikichi that made her side of the relationship make more sense to me. I can imagine them forming a contented little family and dwelling in domestic bliss, but I certainly can’t imagine rollicking sexy times between them. Perhaps that is for the best. – Michelle Smith

Limit, Vol. 6 | By Keiko Suenobu | Vertical, Inc. – I’ve been a fan of Limit from the start, and though I’ve often seen the series’ later volumes described as “melodramatic,” I personally find use of that word somewhat perplexing when discussing a story in which a group of not-necessarily-friendly teenagers has been stranded in the wilderness after an enormous trauma without necessary sustenance, training, or supplies. Does it really require the use of melodrama to imagine that things might go horribly wrong? I’m thinking not. High stakes naturally lead to life’s Big Moments, and this series is certainly full of those, quite a number of which occur in this tense, final volume. The series’ wrap-up is both predictably dramatic and surprising simple in equal parts, and gratefully hard-won. Compact and satisfying, Limit is hard to beat. Recommended. – MJ

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 16 | By Hiroshi Shiibashi | Viz Media – I had been making fun of the last few volumes of Nura for having a Kyoto arc that would never end. it finally does this volume, but the point still remains: this felt really dragged out far longer than it ever should have been. As a result, when the tragic revelations are revealed (as they are here), there’s not as much weight to them as by now we just want to get it over with and move on. Luckily, we start to do that here. Tsurara/Yuki-Onna gets her own mini-arc, showing that she can control a group with her own force of personality and not just moon over Rikuo. As a reward, she gets a cute ship tease with an umbrella. The next arc looks like it involves a shrine where teens go missing, and introduces Rikuo’s new teacher, who knows more than she should about it. At least it’s not in Kyoto. – Sean Gaffney

Pandora Hearts, Vol. 17 | By Jun Mochizuki | Yen Press – As I pick up each new volume of Pandora Hearts, filled as they have been with increasingly shocking and painful revelations, I find myself thinking, “This is it. This must be the last. Nothing could be more shocking or painful than this.” I am always wrong. I had no idea, Pandora Hearts, where you were headed—what darkness and pain you had in store. I was a fool. I was a babe in the woods. Fortunately, this is not a bad thing by any means. Though I’ve often wondered just how far Jun Mochizuki will be able to stretch her increasingly complicated series before it collapses under its own weight, that day looks to be far off, indeed. For those who have made the sixteen-volume investment required to reach this point, you’re in for some spectacular drama. And the rest… what are you waiting for? Still recommended. – MJ

The Sacred Blacksmith, Vol. 2 | By Isao Miura and Kotaro Yamada | Seven Seas – For those who enjoy fantasy manga, there’s a lot to like here. Sword battles, magic battles, magic sword battles. I find that pretty boring myself. Luckily, there is a bit more than that here. We meet Aria, a human-looking woman who turns out to be a demon sword – one highly prized by many people who have mayhem on their minds. Most of the volume is spent protecting her (see previous discussion of fights), but we also wonder, as Aria does, how responsible she is for the deaths she causes when wielded by others. Combine this with Lisa’s own revelation as a demon – and low self-worth, it would seem – and the scene where Cecily helps exorcize a demon merely so a man can die as a human rather than possessed, and I think we’ve found this manga’s major theme. – Sean Gaffney

Toriko, Vol. 17 | By Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro | Viz Media – The first half of this volume consists of one-shot chapters, designed to help cleanse the palate after several long story arcs. Komatsu pulls Excalibur (or its equivalent) out, they worship at a shrine, they try to amaze some apples (that story has a great, if immature, punchline) and they talk to an old man about obsession and lost loves. The second half of the book begins a new arc proper, as they team up with Sunny to go after a fish that’s well-nigh impossible to get to. (We also get more people saying they want Komatsu to be their chef and companion – really, there’s not much difference between Toriko and a harem manga at times.) There’s nothing earth-shattering here, but it’s still big goofy shonen fun, which is exactly what I want out of a title like Toriko. – Sean Gaffney

World War Blue, Vol. 2 | By Crimson and Anastasia Shestakova | Seven Seas – The best scene in this volume involves our hero, finally meeting his father after so long, and immediately having to make a horrifying decision. It points out the fantasy aspect of this world, allows a sort of tortured bonding and grieving at the same time, and has some nice heartbreaking depth to it. Sadly, this is offset by the rest of the volume, which is really, really generic RPG-style manga fighting. There are, perhaps, more masturbation jokes than you’d normally find in a more mainstream manga, but other than that, there’s better shonen elsewhere. Even the ‘draw’ of this series, that the characters are based on 80s video games, is wearing a bit thin – particularly as we don’t have a glossary given all the time. Still, that one scene was very good. Perhaps it will gain more depth like that later. – Sean Gaffney

Pick of the Week: Chi & More!

August 26, 2013 by MJ, Michelle Smith, Sean Gaffney, Ash Brown and Anna N Leave a Comment

MJ: It’s a bit of a slow week for me coming up, filled with things I’ve fallen behind on, things I don’t read, and things I might read but haven’t just yet. And then there’s Chi. If there’s any manga guaranteed to bring a smile out of me, even in my crankiest moments, it’s the warm, funny, occasionally sad, but consistently adorable Chi’s Sweet Home. Volume ten gets my pick this week. There’s simply nothing else that will do.

MICHELLE: I’m in the same boat, and feel just the same about Chi. It’s a guaranteed mood-lifter, and something that I not only like, but my coworker’s elementary-school-aged daughter likes, too. Perfect gateway manga for kids!

SEAN: I’d love to make it a unanimous pick this week, but oh no, Chi, you have to suit up and fight the Titans so you can defend your family! Attack on Titan has become one of the biggest hits of this entire year, partly due to a strong anime, but mostly due to a great story, and the author finally fleshing out his characterization of our desperate heroes. I’d argue Vols. 4-5 are where it really began to kick in, and the new Vol. 6 will probably only ramp up the tension further. Now if only the art could get a little better…

ASH: My initial reaction was to select the most recent volume of Chi’s Sweet Home as well. It’s been nearly a year since we’ve last seen that delightful little kitten romping around. But, I think I might have to join Sean in picking the sixth volume of Attack on Titan this week. The artwork has admittedly been inconsistent and even downright bad at times, but I have been thoroughly engaged with the story and worldbuilding from the very beginning of the series.

ANNA: I’m going to go with Crimson Empire just because I do plan to pick it up soon, and based on the first volume I suspect it is a good manga to read when you want to turn your brain off. Also, I find the assassin maid reverse harem scenario amusing.

What looks good to you this week?

Manga the Week of 8/28

August 22, 2013 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, MJ and Anna N Leave a Comment

SEAN: As the month of August draws to a close, it’s a quiet week for manga. Peaceful. Let us see what mild, calming titles we have out. But soft, lest we disturb the young ‘uns!

We have a trio of titles from Kodansha. First is Attack on Titan 6, beginning its speedup! Oh dear, this doesn’t seem quiet and peaceful at all. In fact, it may involve people getting killed messily. Despite that, it really is a fantastic title that deserves your attention. Perhaps if you whispered the dialogue as you read.

MICHELLE: I still haven’t read any of this one, and now six volumes is seeming like quite an investment. I dunno…

MJ: I’m thinking that when I finally get around to restarting this series, I’ll definitely whisper the dialogue in my head.

SEAN: Fairy Tail has proven to be loud and boisterous in the past, and I suspect that Volume 29 will be no different, meaning it’s really not adding to the appeal of this quiet, peaceful week of manga. Still, it has a good heart, and is a great title for those who love a strong sense of loyalty and justice, the bonds of family and friendship, and punching things.

MICHELLE: Hee.

MJ: I *heart* punching things. You know. Quietly.

SEAN: The second volume of Sankarea is also shipping. I’m afraid that zombies are really never mellow and friendly. I blame their upbringing. That said, the first volume was funnier and more heartwarming than I expected, and has a father character who looks to explore a dark side to overprotective anime dads. A very dark side.

MICHELLE: That upbringing line is priceless.

MJ: What can I say? You’re weirdly making me feel like reading this.

SEAN: Seven Seas has the second volume of Crimson Empire. I suspect the main reason this series was licensed is so that the company could release more volumes of the far more popular Alice in the Country of Hearts, whose one-shots tend to have Crimson Empire short stories in the back. Nevertheless, it’s filled with swordplay and battles, so absolutely does not meet our criteria at all.

MICHELLE: Zzzz.

MJ: What she said.

ANNA: I enjoyed the first volume, but I have a high tolerance for reverse harem titles.

SEAN: Lastly, there’s Chi! Yes, perfect! Chi’s Sweet Home 10 from Vertical gives us an adorable cat and her adventures with her family! It’s like floating downstream on a quiet river. Everyone loves Chi.

MICHELLE: I certainly love Chi!

MJ: A lovely addition to the week! Every week could use a little Chi.

SEAN: A perfect way to end this quiet, peaceful week of manga. Well, except for those other four titles. What looks good to you?

Pick of the Week: Helter Skelter

August 19, 2013 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Anna N and MJ Leave a Comment

SEAN: Yeah, it’s Vertical again. Sorry, but josei from Vertical has proven to be something to be cherished in the past, and I’m not expecting that to change with the release of Helter Skelter: Fashion Unfriendly. I expect this to be a somewhat different take on modeling from what we saw in Paradise Kiss. Good times.

MICHELLE: There are a couple of things out next week that I’ll definitely be reading—Bunny Drop 9 and Pandora Hearts 17—but I’ll not miss the chance to rally behind a done-in-one josei release. Count me in for Helter Skelter, too!

ANNA: I’m going to have to pick Helter Skelter too, because new josei from Vertical makes me happy.

MJ: I have to agree with everyone else here. I’ve been interested in this title since Vertical first announced it, and it’s absolutely my must-buy for the week. There’s nothing else that comes close.

What looks good to you this week?