Michelle Smith

Ace of the Diamond, Vol. 16 | By Yuji Terajima | Kodansha Comics (digitals only) – It’s the semifinals of the Tokyo preliminaries and Sawamura’s middle school friends have come to watch him play. He’s hung up on the previous game, during which he was replaced mid-inning after he fell apart after giving up a home run, but this time he manages to keep it together and Seido advances to the finals. I enjoyed his former classmates noting how he has both changed and hasn’t changed, especially as talking to them prompts him to declare that he loves and respects his teammates and wishes he could play with them forever. Mono no aware at its finest! Next, we’re introduced to the two teams competing to be Seido’s opponent in the finals and Terajima-sensei expertly manipulates me into desperately hoping one of them comes out on top. Alas, I suspect they won’t. I love this series. – Michelle Smith

Anonymous Noise, Vol. 11 | By Ryoko Fukuyama | VIZ Media – It’s the last show of In No Hurry’s tour and Twitter is abuzz with a rumor about Cheshire’s true identity. To counteract this, Silent Black Kitty joins In No Hurry on stage whereupon Yuzu and Momo seemingly have a guitar battle for Nino’s affections. A kiss from Momo throws Nino into a tizzy, but she calms down with Yuzu’s help, which foreshadows later developments, wherein during an intense moment with Momo (requited love, hooray!) she’s longing to sing Yuzu’s music. I like this dynamic—she loves one boy and is super-grateful to the other one who gives her an outlet for these intense emotions—but must say Fukuyama does better at depicting the frenetic energy of concerts that interpersonal drama. It’s big moment after big moment and I find myself longing to spend some more time with Yuzu and his bitter feelings. Oh, well. – Michelle Smith

Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction, Vol. 3 | By Inio Asano | Viz Media – I noted how much fun the second volume of Dead Dead Demon was, and while there are a few jokes here and there in this third volume, it mostly serves to remind you that this is still being written by Inio Asano. Fortunately, the book maintains its high level of writing and characterization even as things get more bleak and tearjerking, including one major event that I will endeavor to dance around in this review. That said, we are moving forward, as the girls have now graduated (though both our leads failed to get into college), and there’s also a narrative foreshadowing that implies that the friendship that the readers are enjoying may be fractured sooner rather than later. Fantastic, but the fun’s over. – Sean Gaffney

Grand Blue Dreaming, Vol. 2 | By Kenji Inoue and Kimitake Yoshioka | Kodansha Comics – Although partying and boozing remain a prominent part of Grand Blue Dreaming, they have been (ever so slightly) toned down in the second volume when compared to the first. Notably, the second volume’s opening devotes a little more time to the series’ other primary subject matter—diving. Iori didn’t really intend to join the Izu University diving club but, like it or not, he’s been roped into the group. Despite not knowing how to swim, Iori slowly becomes more comfortable in the water as he learns more about diving, his upperclassmen assuring him that swimming ability isn’t technically required. However, it doesn’t take long for college antics and club hazing, drunken and otherwise, to return to the forefront of the manga. (Oh, and copious amounts of male nudity.) Grand Blue Dreaming can be pretty ridiculous at times with most but certainly not all of the absurdity resulting from alcohol-infused revelry. – Ash Brown

Heaven’s Design Team, Vol. 2 | By Hebi-Zou, Tsuta Suzuki, and Tarako | Kodansha Comics (digital only) – In the vein of Cells at Work!, Heaven’s Design Team depicts the biological processes of evolution as a workplace, complete with angels who relay God’s sometimes random requests (like for stripey animals or a species whose males produce milk for their young) to a staff of designers, each with their particular specialties. It’s not a bad series, but the format grows repetitive and dull even before the end of the first volume, which isn’t a good sign. Thankfully, there’s a bit of variance halfway through this second volume, as the designers go on vacation and then (briefly) have a mystery to solve, but then it’s back to the usual. I’m a little bit intrigued by the sudden downfall of one of the angels at the end of the volume, but I’m not sure that’s enough to compel me to return. – Michelle Smith

Spirit Circle, Vol. 5 | By Satoshi Mizukami | Seven Seas – Last time I asked where this was going, and boy, do we find out in this volume. Well, the second half of this volume. First we get a cute, fluffy, gender-reversed life that leaves Fuuta more puzzled than anything else, and he and Kouko go on what is essentially a date so that she can kill him with no hesitation. But why is she SO intent on killing him? Well, we finally get a flash to the Fortuna life, which features the origin of East and Rune, and looks to be just as slice-of-life but unassuming as all the other lives… until you get to the (spoilers go here). Not going to lie, the last quarter of this book makes your jaw drop, and while I don’t want to see Fuuta dead, I absolutely see why Kouko wants to kill him now. Fantastic. – Sean Gaffney

Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, Vol. 4 | By CLAMP | Kodansha Comics – It has taken quite some time to develop, but it seems as though Clear Card might actually have found a plot of some sort that doesn’t entirely rely on Cardcaptor Sakura nostalgia; while the series can still be repetitive, it no longer exists as just a poor copy of its predecessor. Granted, most of the supposed story development unfolds through cryptic dialogue between characters which doesn’t do much to reveal anything at all about what is going on to the reader. Perhaps this is intended to add an air of mystery and suspense to the manga, but I mostly find it frustrating as well as a bit irritating. To be completely honest, I’m not entirely convinced that CLAMP even knows where the series is heading yet. I largely continue to read Clear Card because I loved the original series, but I really would like to see something more substantial emerge. – Ash Brown

Harukana Receive, Vol. 2 | By Nyoijizai | Seven Seas – The emphasis in this series is still firmly on the volleyball, which is appropriate for a sports title but you always have to wonder when it stars a bunch of girls in bikinis. There is some fanservice, but it’s basic “they’re wearing bikinis” service rather than anything racy—even the discussion of matching swimsuits is related to the games they’ll be playing. As for the games themselves, Haruka is still learning, and there’s a definite beginner’s curve here, but they luck out in this book by playing a team with a similar curve—they’re indoor players, unused to the beach. As such, you get to see both sides struggle, especially Kanata, who is still dealing with A LOT OF STUFF. I want to see these two play more games. – Sean Gaffney

Juni Taisen: Zodiac War, Vol. 1 | By NISIOISIN and Akira Akatsuki | Viz Media – Normally I don’t really get adaptations of novels I’ve already read, but this is the creative team behind Medaka Box, which I love and will never be licensed, so I want to show support. The artist’s fanservice-and-action style lent itself well to Medaka Box, and lends itself even more to this anti-war battle royale, where a dozen people gather to kill each other for the sake of one wish. They’re all zodiac animals, and this volume shows us Boar, Dog, and Chicken for the most part. If you enjoyed the book you’ll like the manga, as this is one of Nisio’s least wordy titles, and thus it adapts pretty well. Not for those who like to see people survive more than fifty pages, though. – Sean Gaffney

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Vol. 2 | By Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court | Viz Media – I gotta admit, I sort of went “really?” when I saw that Koichi didn’t get into UA because he stopped to help a drowning person (who turned out to be Kazuho, in a very unsurprising plot twist) and thus missed the exam. But then again, folks have indeed ruined their lives by missing important exams or interviews, no matter how much I may not like it. As for the rest of the book, we get to see the origin of a villain from the main series, which is probably the most exciting part of this side story that still seems to be cooking a little. I have a feeling that it may break open in the next volume or two, but we aren’t there yet. – Sean Gaffney

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Vol. 2 | By Hideyuki Furuhashi, Betten Court, and Kohei Horikoshi | VIZ Media – My Hero Academia: Vigilantes continues to be better than expected. Koichi, Kazuho, and Knuckleduster continue to look for users of the quirk-enhancing drug Trigger. Meanwhile, a schoolgirl in an eyepatch seeks out interesting people to give the drug at the instruction of someone who wants to observe the results. One of these people seems to be a villain from the main series. In another tie-in, Koichi is nearly recruited by Ingenium, who has a neat organization of his own where he finds roles for people with quirks that might not seem suited for heroism at first glance. I like how this world is being fleshed out and look forward to continuing! – Michelle Smith

My Monster Secret, Vol. 13 | By Eiji Masuda | Seven Seas – Urgh. I gotta say, this is starting to remind me a bit of Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches, which is to say a classic example of a manga that kept going long after it should have ended. The author seems to be grasping at straws at the start of the book, with plots like “let’s go to the dentist” or “Mikan’s glasses run away.” (I can’t believe I even typed that sentence.) It gets a little better when it focuses on Asahi’s indecisiveness about his future path, as well as Youko hiding her own decision from him as she’s embarrassed. And the two of them avoiding getting more serious is sort of cute in a frustrating way. But the cliffhanger reads exactly like “I need to wring even more drama from this manga I already ended.” – Sean Gaffney

The Voynich Hotel, Vol. 2 | By Douman Seiman | Seven Seas – Last time I was struck by how gross-yet-funny this series was. This volume I am more affected by its sense of dark melancholy and morbid violence. Both of the main “cute couple” are steeped in violent pasts, and Maria sometimes has to use that in a violent present. Demons exist, and are trying to break the hotel, apparently. There are endless groups of killers running around, and lessons are learned just a bit too late in many cases. Even when those who are gorily killed are somehow brought back to existence, it’s with a morbid joke and a sense that they’ll never be happy or satisfied. The series ends in the next volume, I believe, which is appropriate, as the Voynich Hotel is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there. – Sean Gaffney

Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 14 | By Mizuho Kusanagi | VIZ Media – After the perfection that was volume thirteen, it would be hard for any subsequent volume to measure up. Wisely, Kusanagi-sensei decides to skip ahead a little to Yona and her retinue arriving in Water Tribe lands, where they discover that merchants from the Kai Empire have managed to hook much of the population on a particular drug. During the course of their investigation they meet Riri, the daughter of the chief who is frustrated by her father’s inaction and inspired by Yona. I love the running plotline of people Yona inspires who go on to do good long after she has moved on. Perhaps Riri will be another, though so far she seems pretty overwhelmed. Also somewhat overwhelmed is Jaeha, who has realized that he’s in love with Yona. So good, y’all. – Michelle Smith

DAYS, Vol. 10 | By Tsuyoshi Yasuda | Kodansha Comics (digital only) – Seiseki has advanced to the finals of the Tokyo tournament, where they’re up against Toin, the reigning champions. Before the game actually begins, we get a rather neat sequence in which Ubukata, who hasn’t given anything her all in years, works diligently to gain intel on Toin and develop a strategy for Seiseki. Yasuda-sensei does a great job ramping up the tension for the big game, and it’s great to see Tsukamoto’s training beginning to pay off. Now, not only can he steal a ball, he can evade a skilled defender and take a shot. His first attempt fails, and the volume ends just as he gets another, but it’s still very satisfying. I realize the protagonist’s gradual evolution in skill is the point of every sports manga, but I wholeheartedly appreciate it every time just the same. – Michelle Smith

Kuroko’s Basketball, Vols. 27-28 | By Tadatoshi Fujimaki | Viz Media – Another “darkest before the dawn” volume, this second to last omnibus of Kuroko’s Basketball can be rather heavy going, as it involves a lot of finding out things don’t work and then trying new things that also don’t work. As with a lot of sports manga, there is a whole hell of a lot of “that’s it, there’s no way they can come back,” with faces looking like it’s a literal death sentence. (Which it feels like, because sports.) Fortunately, we’re seeing that Seirin are at least keeping it from being a total blowout. And trying to be a Kuroko is harder than it looks, too. Next time’s the finale. Will our heroes win? It’s not always certain in Japanese sports manga. We shall see. – Sean Gaffney

My Hero Academia, Vol. 15 | By Kohei Horikoshi | Viz Media – Midoriya now has his internship, but it’s running him ragged, and he’s in danger of losing it. Before that, though, there’s a young girl that needs to be saved, one who seems to have a mysterious quirk that Overhaul is using. We thus get together several groups of heroes and interns, including Uraraka, Tsuyu and Kirishima, to try to rescue her. Unfortunately, that mostly means this volume is all setup and not much payoff. It is pretty nice if you’re a Kirishima fan, and he does really well here. I think the main issue with this volume is that everyone’s so down— Midoriya’s depressed the whole book, and Nighteye is moaning about his quirk as well. I suspect next volume will be ALL ACTION, which will help. – Sean Gaffney

Precarious Woman Executive Miss Black General, Vol. 2 | By jin | Seven Seas – This continues to give me exactly what I want from a title like this—lots of laughs. Our heroine is settling down a bit, but that’s only compared to the first volume—she’s still thinking up various ways to get closer to Braveman and is not going to let anything stop her. We also meet a few more heroes, who unfortunately find that just because the Black General is a comedy goofball does not mean she’s not dangerous, and they are brought down to size very quickly. The best chapters involve her infiltrating the Hero League to become Braveman’s sidekick—but her idea of “heroism” is as suspect as you’d expect. This has become a fast favorite of mine, as it puts a big grin on my face. – Sean Gaffney

Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle, Vol. 3 | By Kagiji Kumanomata | Viz Media – Our favorite princess continues to barrel through her problems like a berserker, leaving mayhem and chaos in her wake—and, of course, amusement for the reader. She’s gotten a nice windowpane for her room, as well as a kotatsu and woolen underwear, as the season is changing to winter. In fact, Christmas is here. Fortunately, the manga is self-aware enough to know that the Princess is, if not completely evil, at least utterly amoral, and so she gets the equivalent of coal in her stocking. That’s not changing her ways at all, though, and she even goes outside the castle to try sleeping and tormenting in the fresh air. As long as you don’t care about lack of consequences, this is still hilarious. – Sean Gaffney

Takane & Hana, Vol. 5 | By Yuki Shiwasu | Viz Media – The culture festival concludes this volume, but really it’s all about the latter half of the book, as we’re introduced to Rino, a former underclassman of Takane’s who is harboring feelings for him, and she’s not all that fond of Hana. This culminates in a Christmas party the main cast is going to, where we discover Rino’s secret and her actual relationship with Takane. It’s hard to discuss this without spoiling things, but I was very impressed with the way it was handled, which is shockingly modern and forward thinking for Japan. As for Takane and Hana, Rino’s appearance forces Hana to admit a few things to herself, but honestly what we mostly get is why I read this in the first place—Takane and Hana digging at each other constantly. – Sean Gaffney

Tokyo Tarareba Girls, Vol. 2 | By Akiko Higashimura | Kodansha Comics – Being a fan of Princess Jellyfish, it’s probably not much of a surprise that I would seek out more of Higashimura’s work. And so I happily found myself reading Tokyo Tarareba Girls, a manga series about the lives of three thirty-something women as they struggle to come to terms with the fact that they aren’t getting any younger. All three of them find themselves asking “what if” over and over as they contemplate past decisions and lost opportunities. Their friendship, along with their frequent nights out drinking, tend to see them through the worst of it. While the first volume of Tokyo Tarareba Girls primarily focused on Rinko and the ups and downs of her relationships, romantic and otherwise, the second volume turns to those of her best friends Kaori and Koyuki. Tokyo Tarareba Girls is a lively manga with humor that both highly entertains and cuts to the quick. – Ash Brown

The Water Dragon’s Bride, Vol. 7 | By Rei Toma | Viz Media – Well, Asahi isn’t quite back at the start of this volume, as I said last time, but she does end up returning to the fantasy world and her water god. This causes her a lot of anguish, as she sees how much her family suffered while she was gone, and is slowly bonding with her brother. But in the end she can’t resist returning to him, and just in time too, as there’s a drought in the land due to his depression of Asahi’s departure. Of course, all is not well going forward, as the new mini-villain snatches Asahi away and transports her to the equivalent of the underworld. I’m not sure that we’ll ever return to Asahi’s family, but I’m glad we saw them, even as I’m also pleased she returned to her grumpy tsundere god. – Sean Gaffney

The Water Dragon’s Bride, Vol. 7 | By Rei Toma | VIZ Media – I’ve enjoyed The Water Dragon’s Bride from the beginning, but the series has gotten even better in recent volumes. I think Toma-sensei is getting a little better at expressing everyone’s feelings now that the Water Dragon God is beginning to experience some of his own, so that Subaru ends up with some strong character moments of his own even though the bulk of the story is about Asahi’s time back at home and how much she misses the Water Dragon God. I seriously got verklempt when she impulsively decides to return (leaving her poor, adorable little brother behind) and the Water Dragon God simply cannot contain the strange emotion he finally identifies as joy. She has changed him for the better, and I very much look forward to seeing how the final volumes in this story play out. – Michelle Smith

Bleach, Vol. 74 | By Tite Kubo | Viz Media – I have never actually reviewed Bleach as a brief… or indeed at all. I followed its periphery, keeping track of what was going on and trying not to be too invested. The final volume shows off many of its strengths and weaknesses… I enjoyed seeing Ichigo and Orihime fighting together, and the finale was sweet, but far too often the volume was Yhwach screaming “can’t you see your powers are USELESS against me!” like an MST3K villain. Still, say what you will about Bleach, it was always itself. It may feel like it was cancelled for not getting on with it (it probably was), but changing anything seems churlish. It’s that middle son who’s always a hot mess, who always gets forgiven. – Sean Gaffney

Dragon Half, Omnibus 2 | By Ryusuke Mita | Seven Seas – This continues to be a giant nostalgia trip, feeling very much like the sort of anime and manga that North America was getting in the early 1990s. Which it essentially is. Even the translation and adaptation feels like it’s a “dub,” and a good one like Shinesman. It’s not easy to analyze—aside from one or two heartwarming moments that last about one panel, it’s balls to the wall comedy every single page. But the comedy is ridiculous fun, with Mink shedding her skin and becoming stronger (and bustier), the villains still being 100% useless, and Lufa being 100% DTF. I think there’s one more omnibus to go, and theoretically this is coming to an ending, but the plot is irrelevant compared to the laughs. – Sean Gaffney

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, Vol. 26 | By Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki | Viz Media – Eventually, theoretically, this arc will end. But it’s not this volume, or indeed the one after that. That said, it is nice to see Soma punted to the side here so that we can focus on some of the other cast. Kuga has a grudge, and wants to make his name remembered—I suspect the name will be remembered but he’ll lose. As for Mimasaka, it’s quite interesting to see his stereotypical evil cheat powers used in the name of good. And then there’s Megishima, and though we find out why he’s helping Soma and company in this book, I have to admit I simply like Rindo more, and I hope that she pulls it off. So yes, a good volume, but pretty sure the bad guys are gonna win, which means… more tournament arc. – Sean Gaffney

Haikyu!!, Vol. 28 | By Haruichi Furudate | Viz Media – We are nearly caught up with Haikyu!!, which goes to “once every three months” starting with the new year. It’s been fun reading this volleyball title every week, and it helped me keep track of what’s going on better. The bout against Inarizaki takes up much of the second half, and is up to the usual high standards. I was also amused to see a hint of boy/girl romance in this book, as Ryunosuke’s childhood friend—there with her women’s volleyball team—clearly has a thing for him, but in the end, like a lot of shonen titles, she decides to emulate his SPORTS PASSION rather than confess. Besides, he’s still crushing on the manager (has she retired or not?). Haikyu!! is great fun. – Sean Gaffney

Himouto! Umaru-chan, Vol. 3 | By Sankakuhead | Seven Seas – We are reminded several times in this volume why the two siblings are the way they are—they’re very much on their own in the apartment. Here we learn their mother has passed away, and it seems there’s no father either. This explains a lot of Umaru’s immaturity, as well as Taihei’s tendency to let her do what she wants. I think I like the series best when it shows off the occasional sweet moment. Still, it’s because it’s occasional that it works so well—most of the time this series is content to rely on funny “Umaru is lazy” humor, such as accidentally screwing up the modem and having… NO INTERNET!… or forgetting about her New Year’s Resolution to be less slothful. Cute. – Sean Gaffney

How to Treat Magical Beasts: Mine and Master’s Medical Journal, Vol. 2 | By Kaziya | Seven Seas – There’s not much here beyond “heartwarming stories of a magical vet,” but sometimes that’s all you need, and if this is going to be manga’s equivalent of All Creatures Great and Small I’m content to be along for the ride. The chapters are named after either the magical beast or their ailment, and despite involving supernatural creatures manage to be rather educational—the discussion of rye bread was particularly fascinating. Ziska is cute, Niko is patient and caring, and you root for both of them, even as some of the situations prove to be a lot more difficult to solve than others. This is the sort of title that will run as long as the audience is there to enjoy its peaceful, relaxed mood, and I’m one of that audience. – Sean Gaffney

Natsume’s Book of Friends, Vol. 22 | By Yuki Midorikawa | VIZ Media – Twenty-two volumes in, and Natsume’s Book of Friends is just getting better and better. The first two stories involve Natsume’s classmates—first, the story of an inn beloved by good yokai where the staff forget to display the curtain to ward off bad yokai one night, and second, the story of a mysterious nightly visitor who uses Natsume’s face to befriend Nishimura—and seeing events from their perspective ramps up the creepy atmosphere tenfold. As if those weren’t enough, the final story involves Natsume meeting the first yokai whose name appears in the book and learning more about Reiko in the process. It’s a tale both melancholy and lovely and I loved it very much. The twenty-third volume only came out in Japan last month, so sadly we’ve probably got a long wait for our next installment. – Michelle Smith

New Game!, Vol. 3 | By Shotaro Tokuno | Seven Seas – There’s some workplace development here—with Kou’s promotion, Hifumi is also encouraged to take a step forward, which she does shyly and reluctantly. Kou and Aoba also manage to collaborate on a character design, after some brief but well done drama, and the game looks ridiculously cute. For the most part, though, this continues to be about a group of girls and their everyday life, the same as many of these 4-koma titles. I had honestly thought there would be more yuri, but it’s mostly invisible—Rin clearly as a thing for Kou, but there’s no forward movement there. If you enjoyed the anime, or just like this style of manga, it’s a good volume. Needs to have the cast holding hands and jumping in the air. – Sean Gaffney

To Your Eternity, Vol. 6 | By Yoshitoki Oima | Kodansha Comics – Every single volume of this series has managed to shatter my heart and the sixth is no exception. To Your Eternity remains a manga that is both astonishingly beautiful and incredibly devastating. Oima utilizes a fantastical narrative to explore deeply philosophical and existential themes. Even as an immortal, Fushi struggles to survive in a world full of death. Fushi continues to learn, grow, and evolve, but the process is an exceptionally painful one requiring difficult decisions to be made over and over. The sixth volume dramatically concludes the Jananda arc–on an island populated by exiled criminals, Fushi is forced yet again to confront the complexities of human morality and mortality. Yes, there are crushing losses, but along with the sadness comes some amount of hope. The strength of the relationships that Fushi develops with others is a shining, guiding light in a life frequently punctuated with darkness and tragedy. – Ash Brown

The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Vol. 9 | By Kore Yamazaki | Seven Seas – Well, the author does indeed seem to be trying to establish Chise and Elias as a romantic couple after all. That said, she seems aware that there was a hideous power imbalance involved, and most of this volume involves Chise working independently to try to rescue Stella and deal with Cartaphilus and his long, long live and mountain of complexes. As for Elias, he has to figure out how to apologize and stop doing things for Chise’s own good—even if that does mean she runs him ragged. Their relationship is a lot more equal by the end of this book, and I’m less wary of it. And now we apparently enter a new arc! Oh yes, and since I haven’t said so in a while, the art is utterly gorgeous. – Sean Gaffney

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 20 | By Kazue Kato | Viz Media – We still don’t know Shiemi’s secret, but we’re getting closer to having Yukio and Rin learn their own secrets. Despite the fun of a Christmas party (which gets wiped out by one Rube Goldberg-esque flipover from Shiemi’s familiar) and Renzo’s infinite family relations, complete with wedding, the gravity of Yukio’s pain and rage envelops this volume. Rin knows something is wrong but can’t help. Shiemi tries to comfort but can’t. He’s taken off active duty because he’s a loose cannon. And finally, in a shockingly brutal scene, he shoots himself in the head. This being Blue Exorcist, he’s not actually killed, but it’s still hard to read. This is starting to get to a point where we need another release of tension soon. – Sean Gaffney

Fate/Zero, Vol. 7 | By Gen Urobuchi, Type-Moon, and Shinjiro | Dark Horse – Spoiling the cliffhanger from last volume, no, Tokiomi does not actually do anything. Instead, as you can see from the cover, we get a lot more of Caster and his master, though mercifully there’s slightly less (though still some) child murders and lots more philosophizing on the nature of God. Everyone’s taking stock of who they are—Waver feels useless, even when Rider tries to pep him up. Iris’ body is having issues that remind me of what happened to Shirou in some FSN arcs, and Archer spends a lot—a LOT—of time psychoanalyzing Kotomine. There is so much talking in this book that when Caster summons a Giant Sea Beast to destroy everything, it’s a mercy. Recommend for Fate fans. – Sean Gaffney

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, Vol. 26 | By Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki | VIZ Media – The team shokugeki between Central and the resistance continues. The resistance swept the first bout, eliminating three members of the opposing team, but in response Central has sent out their heavy hitters. Yukihira sits this round out as Kuga gets his opportunity for a rematch against Tsukasa (but is not too proud to accept help from a teammate) and we learn a little bit more about two uber-manly students whose individual specialties are ramen and sushi. This volume is somewhat more fanservicey than the series has been of late, which I don’t love, and ends on a cliffhanger as all six chefs participating in the second bout prepare to have their dishes judged, but it’s still fun. Too, I appreciate that there are now some truly impartial judges overseeing things. I’ll still be happy when this arc is over, though. – Michelle Smith

Golden Kamuy, Vol. 6 | By Satoru Noda | Viz Media – The first half of this book, which is essentially a horror-comedy set in a hotel with infinite winding corridors, is hilarious, if grotesque. It’s reminiscent of an English farce, with lots of opening and closing doors and people missing each other—at one point we get a cross-section of the hotel to show this off. The second half doubles down on the violence, though, as Hijikata’s group is trying to find tattooed skins and also help a young pregnant woman avoid being used as a hostage. It’s a letdown, but that’s only because the first half of the book was so much fun. It also lacks Sugimoto and Asirpa, who are still the best reasons to read the book. Very little cooking this time around, too. – Sean Gaffney

The Manga Cookbook, Vol. 3 | By The Manga University Culinary Institute and Ryo Katagiri | Japanime – The third volume in the Manga Cookbook series collects twenty-five or so recipes (depending on how one counts variations) described as Japanese fusion food. The various dishes, ranging from drinks to dinner to desserts, all incorporate ingredients and flavours from or inspired by Japan. The Manga Cookbook combines food with a little bit of fun. Each recipe is associated with a character that could have come straight out of a manga (mobile suit pirate, personal butler, class president, etc.) and is preceded by a one-page comic which introduces both the character and dish in a humorous fashion. The cookbook is intended to appeal to young adults and is largely suitable for beginning cooks–the fully-illustrated recipes aren’t overly complex but are still intriguing, ready substitutions are recommended for some of the ingredients that might be more difficult to find, and even I learned a few new tricks and techniques! – Ash Brown

Natsume’s Book of Friends, Vol. 22 | By Yuki Midorikawa | Viz Media – I love stories with Natsume, Tanuma, and Taki, as I’ve said about eighty times, and so was delighted to see a two-parter starting this volume off which has them visiting an inn with some old yokai documents, which turns out to be guarded by a yokai who loves the view. Like most Natsume stories, it’s beautifully told, and what seems bittersweet becomes sweet later on. Things turn sad later on, though, with a flashback to Reiko’s first victim in the Book of Names, and her reluctant bonding with a young high school girl who at first I thought was dying of some wasting disease but apparently not. Reiko is always going to be prickly and difficult, but seeing her compassion in spite of that is terrific. – Sean Gaffney

Takane & Hana, Vol. 5 | By Yuki Shiwasu | VIZ Media – Normally, I don’t read a manga and think, “Man, this needs to be an anime,” but I had that thought a few times during the opening chapters of this volume, which include some great scenes with Takane at Hana’s school festival. I was a little worried when a bratty cousin and clinging love rival are introduced one after another, but each scenario yields something valuable story-wise. In the former, Hana learns a little bit about Takane’s family situation and in the latter, she’s forced to finally say out loud that she likes him and, in the end, recognizes that the rival’s feelings are genuine, also. Too, kudos for a reasonably good handling of this rival’s secret, which is probably the best I’ve seen in manga so far. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable volume. I hope Takane & Hana keeps going strong for a long time! – Michelle Smith