Michelle Smith

Beware the Ides of Briefs!

Barakamon, Vol. 9 | By Satsuki Yoshino | Yen Press – As this volume of Barakamon was going on, Yoshino was also beginning the Handa-kun spinoff series (also available from Yen), so it’s not surprising that we start to see the two blend together, as a former high school classmate with a grudge shows up for the annual intervillage athletic event. Handa being Handa, he doesn’t actually remember any of this, and is more concerned with prosaic matters, such as sleeping off the all-nighter he put in. That said, we see his true nature at the very end: he doesn’t actually care about personal victories if the overall victory is lost. That’s why people like him, and why folks like Hiroshi and Tama use him as an example even as they go through their own failures. – Sean Gaffney

Evergreen, Vol. 4 | By Yuyuko Takemiya and Akira Gaskabe | Seven Seas – Since this is the final volume of Evergreen, we need to pack all the plot revelations and angst into one volume, and it can get kind of exhausting after a while. To give the manga credit, though, unlike many other “you’re brother and sister, oh wait no you aren’t after all” manga I could name (Marmalade Boy), this one does not pull back that punch, and as a result, the heartwarming romance we’ve seen developed this whole time falls apart appropriately. Which is good, but does leave you a bit dissatisfied—On-chan and Sora’s epiphany on a bus just isn’t quite the same. So in thie end, this was filled with many good ideas, but I don’t think worked as well as the author’s novels. – Sean Gaffney

Idol Dreams, Vol. 2 | By Arina Tanemura | Viz Media – The problem with Idol Dreams is that the things that I think make the series more interesting—the disturbing romance between a 31-year-old in a 15-year-old’s body and her fellow idols, the adult male lead clearly showing he’s still desperately in love with her despite having a girlfriend, the unfortunate return of the guy who set this all up in the first place—are all things that I have no confidence that the author is actually going to handle properly, particularly given the interview at the back. That said, I always enjoy reading it in the moment, and I think, like Love at Fourteen, I’ll continue to enjoy it and call it problematic at the same time every review. – Sean Gaffney

Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, Vol. 2 | By Izumi Tsubaki | Yen Press –A rather strange thing happens while I read Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun. Although I never laugh at any of the 4-panel punchlines—and, indeed, sometimes find them deeply unfunny—positive feelings gradually build up as I read to the point where I end up enjoying the volume overall anyway. I do wonder if I like the wrong things, though. For example, my favorite aspect of this volume is the firm guidance Nozaki’s new editor gives him, spurring Nozaki to try to put himself into the shoes of his characters. Could this series actually incorporate his growth as a mangaka without changing his oddball personality? I rather doubt it. Even if that never happens, though, I will probably keep reading. – Michelle Smith

One-Punch Man, Vol. 5 | By ONE and Yusuke Marata | Viz Media – One of the many good things about One-Punch Man is showing off the variety of character types we get in the super-powered folks. We see the overdramatic drama queens, the shirkers who use it to further their other career, and the painfully earnest ones who want to help and save people but really don’t have enough power to fight the ridiculous monsters this series can throw at you. Saitama notices, though, and he continues to take the bullet for the greater good, pretending that he’s selfish and evil to make the other heroes stand out as that much more noble. I think this is eventually going to come back and haunt him, but for now all is well, and things continue to be wiped out in one punch. – Sean Gaffney

Say I Love You., Vol. 12 | By Kanae Hazuki | Kodansha Comics –After an eventful day volunteering at a kindergarten, Mei reflects that what she most wants is to be needed. Whether she knows it or not, she fulfills this role twice in this volume, first by arranging a meeting with a photographer who helps Yamato figure out why his recent photos haven’t been making him happy, and secondly by giving some good advice to Len, whose preference for online friends (who don’t know about his famous sister) backfires due to his own enigmatic fame in the world of online gaming. I wasn’t entirely sold on the Aoi siblings last volume, but for some reason, Len’s plight in particular really earned my sympathy this time. Mopey otaku or not, he’s a captivating character and I appreciate the chance to see how much Mei has grown in the way she deals with him. As always, I’m looking forward to the next volume! – Michelle Smith

Skip Beat!, Vol. 36 | By Yoshiki Nakamura | Viz Media – We were always going to end up here, right from the very first chapter. There was simply no way that Kyoko’s mother was not going to end up in the middle of her life, no matter how much either of them deny it. And so while I’m relieved to see that it’s time for that particular gun to be fired, I worry intensely that it is going to excuse her mother’s abuse—as so many other Japanese series have done in the name of showing off how good parents are really. Meanwhile, Box R has debuted, and unfortunately it’s not the success that Dark Moon was. Can Kyoko’s career take a failure this early? Ironically, though, the best scene in the volume is between her and Sho, two people who simply can’t accept how well they know each other. – Sean Gaffney

Skip Beat!, Vol. 36 | By Yoshiki Nakamura | VIZ Media – After a heartfelt thank-you from Ren, the Heel siblings arc comes to a close. Kyoko returns to work in Tokyo, where Box R has debuted to lackluster ratings. While she helps mentor a costar with rage issues of her own, a far more interesting plot is brewing: Kyoko’s mother now knows where she is and is making inroads into her world. She’s serving as a consultant on Moko’s new show, and has been in contact with Sho’s parents, too. This leads to the volume’s best scene, in which Sho is not only legitimately worried about Kyoko, but also encourages her not to let her mother sway her from her goals. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed their scenes, and seeing Sho recognizing her talent and respecting her ambition shows some real growth. I never thought I’d clamor for more Sho, but now I kind of am! – Michelle Smith

So Cute It Hurts!!, Vol. 5 | By Go Ikeyamada | VIZ Media –While I still think this series is painfully unfunny and unashamedly generic, the fact remains that I don’t hate it as much as I used to. In fact, I even kind of like that Mitsuru had his heart broken, and instead of ending up with the girl he feels compelled to protect, it’s looking like romance is in the air with a fearless girl he sees as his equal. That was unexpected. I’m also a sucker for retrospective narration, so when some turned up at the end of volume four, hinting ominously about Aoi’s past, I was doomed. Oh, I have very little faith that the big reveal will be worth the investment of time or resolved in any way that doesn’t rely heavily on Shoujo Heroine Optimism, but I’ll still read at least far enough to find out what the big secret is. Grumble grumble. – Michelle Smith

Briefs: they’re what’s for columns.

FukuFuku: Kitten Tales, Vol. 1 | By Konami Kanata | Vertical, Inc. – Did you love Chi’s Sweet Home? Then you’re the target audience for Vertical’s latest Konami Kanata release, FukuFuku: Kitten Tales. The basic premise is very similar—FukuFuku’s owner reminisces about the days when her pet was a kitten and reacted to new discoveries in adorable ways—and will feel very familiar to Chi fans. There are some differences, though, the most significant being that FukuFuku’s thoughts are not translated for the reader, instead relying on some very eloquent expressions to get her feelings across. Also, there’s no attempt at drama here. No potential jobs out of the country or former owners who might be searching for FukuFuku. Instead, it’s just short 6-8 page vignettes in which a kitty does cute things, and sometimes, that’s all I’m looking for. Thanks for licensing this, Vertical! – Michelle Smith

FukuFuku: Kitten Tales, Vol. 1 | By Konami Kanata | Vertical Comics – Some titles are simply hard to review, and I think this new manga from the author of Chi’s Sweet Home qualifies. It’s the story of a cute cat and her owner doing cute things. The cat gets messy, the cat gets cold, the cat meets a puppy. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s really adorable. If you love adorable kitten manga, this is a total win. But I’d argue that you should really only read this after first having read Chi, and possibly What’s Michael? as well. But Kanata is a master at drawing cute cats doing not a hell of a lot. That’s what this is. It may also make an excellent gift for someone who is not a manga fan but enjoys kitties. – Sean Gaffney

Inu x Boku SS, Vol. 10 | By Cocoa Fujiwara | Yen Press – A lot of this is setup for the climax that’s happening in the final volume this spring. So we see our heroes split apart, as their families take them back to “protect them” from the Night Parade. Of course, in most cases this protection ranges from imprisonment to emotional abuse to “you must get pregnant and carry on the family line.” So it’s no surprise that by the end, most everyone is back at the apartment and ready to make a final stand. We also get some romantic ship tease, as you’d expect—Ririchiyo and Miketsukami seem to have finally gotten over their inner demons (and it’s great to see Ririchiyo be colossally rude again after so long. Time for the finale; I look forward to it. – Sean Gaffney

Komomo Confiserie, Vol 3 | By Maki Minami | Viz Media – The third volume of this series wasn’t gelling with me as much as I was hoping it would. Perhaps because there wasn’t as much dessert preparation in this volume, it fell a little flat. Komomo is continuing her journey to tender-hearted personhood, as she comes up with a plan to ensure the happiness of her first love, Seto. In the meantime, Natsu continues to repress his feelings for her under his harsh facade. I still like the idea of this series very much, even though I wasn’t as drawn in to this volume. I hope that there’s some more personality and character development with Natsu coming up soon, or at least much more food! – Anna N

Love at Fourteen, Vol. 5 | By Fuka Mizutani | Yen Press – I remain charmed by this title, mostly as the teenagers going through their first romantic stirrings feel very real to me, complete with real screw-ups. We discover that just because you’re thought of as “the mature one” doesn’t mean you magically get good grades, and Kazuki finds it easier to choose being “cool” in front of his girl to asking for help. There’s also Shiki, who tries to sabotage his relationship with Kanata even as she realizes that he’s a decent person, so she feels horrible doing it. And of course there’s everyone’s favorite delinquent Nagai, who’s possibly the best character in the series, even if he continues to have a crush on his teacher. This coming of age title is worth the occasional discomfort. – Sean Gaffney

Saki, Vol. 2 | By Ritz Kobayashi | Yen Press (digital only) – I worry that the pace of Saki is going to be too swift to really satisfy me as a sports manga fan, since it’s only volume two and we’re already at the prefectural qualifier stage. Plus, not only does round one go by quickly, round two happens completely off-camera! I don’t begrudge the time spent introducing Kiyosumi’s chief rivals in the competition; I just wish there were more time for the mahjong itself. Too, the fanservice is bothering me now, as it has started to encroach upon the characters’ accomplishments. Like, no one can seemingly talk about talented Kiyosumi player Nodoka Haramura without commenting on her large boobs and Yuuki can’t strike a triumphant pose without simultaneously flashing a bit of butt cheek. That sort of thing is more insidious than just showing someone taking a bath! The tournament compels me to continue on, but I’m somewhat less enthusiastic than before. – Michelle Smith

Say “I Love You,” Vol. 12 | By Kanae Hazuki | Kodansha Comics – Now that its main romance is resolved, Say “I Love You” continues to delve into more adult concerns, such as a career. Mei finds that being a teacher of young kids is far more difficult than she expected, and Yamato discovers that he can’t quite recapture the feeling he had photographing Mei and the others taking pictures of trees and landscapes. My favorite scene in the volume had a professional photographer discuss why Yamato was having issues, and the difference between an introvert and the extrovert that Yamato is. As for our new love triangle, I admit I’m still not loving the brother and sister, who I feel are stealing the main cast’s thunder. But that’s possibly as I just ship Megumi and Kai. – Sean Gaffney

Tokyo ESP, Vol. 3 | By Hajime Segawa | Vertical, Inc. – Every now and then, a property gets likened to Buffy simply because its teenage female protagonist interacts with supernatural beings. Tokyo ESP is more like Buffy than any of them, because of how Rinka’s heroic journey takes shape. Like Buffy, she didn’t ask for her powers, but once she had them, she felt compelled to use them to help people. And even now that she’s lost them, she has only become more focused on defeating the superhuman terrorists. This two-volume omnibus sees the end of the first part of the series, and it’s a very satisfying ride, packed with exciting action sequences. There are some great character moments, too, like Rinka’s friends regretting their past treatment of her and the verklempt-making crowd cheering our heroine as she helps bring about a daring rescue. This series has been a surprise delight and I look forward to part two! – Michelle Smith

It’s a VIZ-and-Kodansha kind of week here on Bookshelf Briefs!

Kiss Him, Not Me!, Vol. 3 | By Junko | Kodansha Comics – I will attempt to be fair to Junko here and note that there is simply no way that a shoujo title like this, running in a mainstream magazine, is not going to keep the girl slim and cute at the end of all the fuss. That said, after a very interesting arc showing Kae gaining back all her weight, and the horror of most of her wannabe lovers at said sight, followed by realizing that it’s Kae herself, not her cuteness or slimness, that’s important… it feels a cheat to have her magically lose the weight AGAIN. But then this is a comedy first and foremost. That’s why Nishina is a Takarazaku lesbian—it just fits right in with the silliness. It’s fun, but I fear that depth is not really something we’ll get from this title. – Sean Gaffney

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Vol. 16 | By Shinobu Ohtaka | Viz Media – After a volume that focused on Alibaba, it’s appropriate that this volume is dedicated entirely to what Aladdin’s been up to at Magi’s equivalent of Hogwarts. (Theoretically we should get Morgiana after this, but I’m not holding my breath.) It has its own version of Dumbledore, as well as Draco Malfoy (though Magi’s Titus is won over to the good guys in barely 75 pages). And, as we’ve seen throughout Magi, we find an underclass of suffering people who are holding up those in power, something that Aladdin is not going to let stand. I’m not sure how this will play out, especially given the brainwashing class our heroes end up in at the end of this volume, but it’s always worth reading. – Sean Gaffney

My Hero Academia, Vol. 3 | By Kohei Horikoshi | Viz Media – There’s a nice combination of our heroes trying to save themselves and the mentors coming in to bail them out, which is just about right given they’re facing off against major-league villains, who seem to have mysterious backing. That said, I can’t help but worry that it’s only volume three and we’re already seeing a Tournament Arc. Of course, it’s quite fun so far, with Midoriya showing off how well he can strategize (and admit how lucky he got as well). I was also pleased to see one of the other heroines, Uraraka, admit that she wants to be a hero to earn lots of money. Now, it’s to help her family admittedly, but I always like seeing superheroes who aren’t entirely 100% justice warriors. Solid volume. – Sean Gaffney

My Little Monster, Vol. 12 | By Robico | Kodansha Comics – I thought I’d be a little sad when My Little Monster wrapped up, but the ending is such a great one (and, besides, there’s a thirteenth volume on the horizon) that ultimately I just ended up being grateful this series exists. What I liked best about the volume was how the passage of time is evoked with many pages of nonverbal storytelling—in some of them one can just about hear the dialogue, especially when Natsume teases Yamaken-kun about post-makeover Shizuku’s cuteness. I don’t want to spoil too much, but I’ll reiterate how satisfying and comprehensive the conclusion is. Even Nagoya isn’t left out! I have really, really enjoyed this series and will miss keeping up with the lives of these well-realized characters. – Michelle Smith

One Piece, Vol. 77 | By Eiichiro Oda | VIZ Media –Volume 77 begins and ends with tragic backstories—Trafalgar Law’s was expected, but who knew Señor Pink had hidden trauma?—and in between we move between the various battles to take out Doflamingo’s underlings, some of which are better than others. Even though Oda regularly depicts impossibly buxom women in skimpy outfits, I’ve never had a problem with the way he treats female characters until this volume, which features Baby 5 and her troubling acquiescence to the decrees of men and Rebecca’s dad telling her, “I will never let you swing a sword again!!!” after she has expressed the desire to fight. At least Bartolomeo has the sense to think, “Oh man, it was so presumptuous of me to think I needed to protect [Robin].” Also, I have completely forgotten what’s happening with Nami, Chopper, and the rest of the gang. I hope this arc wraps up soon! – Michelle Smith

QQ Sweeper, Vol. 2 | By Kyousuke Motomi | VIZ Media – I can’t deny that one major plot point of QQ Sweeper has been pretty obvious from the start, but seeing it confirmed here was still very satisfying, especially Kyutaro’s reaction. More, though, I really loved that this time Fumi has found people who are equipped to help her, not only with the curse she appears to be under, but by giving her a purpose—a way to save people instead of jeopardize them. Seeing her so happy that she was able to do a good job in ridding a student of the malevolent influence she believed she’d caused made me truly care about her as a character. I’m really, really enjoying this series so far. I’d be extra sad that there’s only one more volume if I hadn’t just learned there’s a sequel. Huzzah! – Michelle Smith

Toriko, Vol. 32 | By Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro | Viz Media – It’s getting very hard not to suggest that the manga’s title change to Komatsu. Yes, Toriko gets to show off his fighting skills—and losing skills, to the point where he apparently has to call in his emergency backup evil personality. But it’s Komatsu who gets the emotional win here, managing to get himself to “Air” and figure out the best way to prepare it, allow everyone a chance to help get it to that point (showing off some more truly silly foods), and carve it perfectly with his new knife, to the point that it allows a creature who hasn’t had a successful pregnancy in ages to give birth. Honestly, Komatsu has done so much lately in Toriko that I worry he has to be kidnapped or killed off just to balance it the other direction. – Sean Gaffney

It’s a seasonally appropriate bouquet of briefs!

Akuma no Riddle: Riddle Story of Devil, Vol. 2 | By Yun Kouga and Sunao Minakata | Seven Seas – Twelve female high-school assassins have gathered in a special class with the aim of killing their classmate and target, Ichinose Haru. In this volume, Azuma Tokaku decides to go against her assignment and publicly declares herself Haru’s guardian. Two classmates make their attempt on Haru’s life, and in the process we learn more about their backstories and the rules of the game itself. While volume two isn’t as tensely suspenseful as the first, it’s got enough mystery and yuri flair to appeal to me. What it reminds me of most is Bokurano, with the rotating spotlight between players in a game who might not know all the rules. The fact that Azuma’s change of allegiance was anticipated, for example, and lingering secrets about Haru’s true nature guarantee that I’ll be coming back for more. – Michelle Smith

Crown of Thorns, Vol. 2 | By Yoko Kamio | VIZ Media (digital only) – Alas, I didn’t enjoy the second (and final) volume of Crown of Thorns as much as the first. It wasn’t bad—indeed, it’s a thoroughly pleasant read—but a few pages into the volume, I could see the path the plot would take to the finale and it played out almost exactly as expected, the only real deviation being some unexplained out-of-character behavior from the big bad. I figure all of this is due to the series’ brevity. I wanted more of prickly Nobara and Lucio, her “slightly virtuous demon,” before anyone developed romantic feelings or vowed to become a more caring person. I just can’t care as much if it happens suddenly. Still, I’m glad to have had the chance to read something else by Kamio. More would certainly be welcome. – Michelle Smith

Horimiya, Vol. 2 | By Hero and Daisuke Hagiwara | Yen Press – While Horimiya may not have the most original storyline ever, it’s still proof that manga about nice people being nice doesn’t have to be boring! The plot isn’t fueled by misunderstandings—Hori could’ve frustratingly allowed the pretty student council member to make a move on Miyamura, but she clearly voiced her opposition—or love triangles. Instead, there are two kids with a strong bond of friendship inching slowly towards being something more, and it is honestly quite wonderful. We get to know Miyamura a bit better in this volume, too, including a glimpse at his lonely past that makes it difficult for him to accept the idea that Hori might have feelings for him. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next and relieved that there are at least half a dozen volumes still to come. I am far from ready for this series to be anywhere near over. – Michelle Smith

Maid-sama!, Vols. 5-6 | By Hiro Fujiwara | Viz Media – It really is astounding how much difference 5-6 years makes in your opinion of a manga. I reviewed Maid-sama! 6 back in the Tokyopop days for my blog, and mostly discussed Misaki and Usui, as well as the intro of the past childhood friend. “Boys spend a chapter trying to rape the girls” never really crossed my radar, but now it’s a blinding light. I continue to find Maid-sama! emotionally satisfying but intellectually jarring—Misaki’s admission of feeling useless, and Usui’s comforting of her, is sweet but my brain keeps saying “but.” And let’s not even get into the series’ undecided feelings about effeminate males. Maid-sama! demonstrates how fast something can become inappropriate in this modern world. – Sean Gaffney

QQ Sweeper, Vol. 2 | By Kyousuke Motomi | Viz Media – Dengeki Daisy always had a good balance between its comedy and drama, but in Motomi’s new series, the drama clearly takes precedence. I’d said before how I was fairly certain that Fumi would turn out to be the Fuyu that Kyutaro keeps remembering, and sure enough, he’s now certain of it as well. What’s more surprising is how connected she seems to be to the background of all this mental bug cleaning—it’s suggested that her presence is what attracts the bugs to others. Our heroes are quick to assure her this isn’t her fault, but I suspect the lessons will take a bit longer to stick. In the meantime, as with Dengeki Daisy, I desperately want to read more to see what happens next. One of the most addictive new series. – Sean Gaffney

School Judgment, Vol. 1 | By Nobuaki Enoki and Takeshi Obata | VIZ Media – Like Library Wars, School Judgment asks its readers to believe that the Japanese government has passed some unlikely legislation. In this case, establishing a judicial system run by children. However, here it’s so over-the-top—especially the four-year-old judges who are so burdened by their task that they look middle-aged—that it’s easier to just go with it. The mystery cases themselves are not especially great, but I like the glimpses at defense genius Abaku Inugami’s past as well as the suggestion of a secret organization at large. And while some of the humor is not for me—I sigh heavily every time a shounen manga features a dog peeing on someone—there is a line at the end that made me laugh out loud, which was completely unexpected. At only three volumes, it won’t be too much of a time investment to see this one through to the end. – Michelle Smith

So Cute It Hurts!!, Vol. 5 | By Go Ikeyamada | Viz Media – This manga continues to be the lightest and fluffiest of shoujo stories as the twins temporarily shift places yet again and Mitsuru decides to be unselfish in love, only to ensure that his own heart gets broken. These little plot twists that include some soulfulness ensure that the series isn’t totally insubstantial. There’s a time shift in the middle of the volume, as everyone starts a new year of school. Megumu is steadfast in her devotion to Aoi, and he’s determined to work on his female phobia so he can date his girlfriend without having to maintain 12 inches of distance between them at all times. This manga is still cute and funny five volumes in. – Anna N

Sean and Michelle review a sizable pile of new releases from a sizable percentage of manga publishers.

Assassination Classroom, Vol. 8 | By Yusei Matsui | Viz Media – Viz may never have licensed Supernatural Detective Neuro, Matsui’s prior series, but at least we can get an in-joke about it here. As for this volume itself, it’s very good at showing that our class is learning well, but still can make mistakes and grow from them. We see the specialty of various kids who hadn’t gotten the spotlight before, and Karma makes a nice comeback after being brought down during the exams. As always, though, it ends up being Nagisa who drives things forward—both on the humorous side, as he has to cross-dress apparently for nothing but the class’ amusement, to the serious side, as he faces off against a nasty and insane foe with murder in mind. Really fantastic. – Sean Gaffney

Behind the Scenes!!, Vol. 1 | By Bisco Hatori | VIZ Media – Oh, how I wanted to love this. As someone who once concluded a review of the first volume of Ouran High School Host Club with the words “could not possibly be more highly recommended,” it is with a heavy heart that I confess that I found Behind the Scenes!! profoundly underwhelming. Ranmaru Kurisu is a somewhat spazzy protagonist who spends a lot of time in freak-out mode, and though he does occasionally save the day for the special effects crew he joins, the plots are all pretty lame. It doesn’t help that the leader of the group is constantly urging Ranmaru to “evolve,” either. However, as disappointing and unfunny as this first volume was, I find I just can’t give up yet. Hatori loyalty compares me to stick with it ‘til all hope is gone. – Michelle Smith

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, Vol. 10 | By Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki | Viz Media – A lot of battle manga, which Food Wars! definitely is, end up having some sort of ethical battle between someone who is fighting and winning for the right reasons (our hero), and one fighting for the wrong ones (this volume’s villain, Mimisaka). It’s a great plot for your typical “young boy” manga, as it shows off a lot of negative traits and then shows why they’re bad. Mimisaka enjoys enraging and then humiliating his opponents, as well as taking their most prized possessions. He also tends to imitate his opponents. I suspect he’ll have more trouble with Yukimura than any other. In the meantime, it’s Western-style cooking next time around, and I expect we’ll see a lesson being learned. – Sean Gaffney

A Girl on the Shore | By Inio Asano | Vertical Comics – The back cover blurb describes this short series as “challenging,” and boy, is that apt. Initially, I thought that adjective mostly referred to the way Koume Sato, cruelly used by the boy she likes, initiates a sexual arrangement with Keisuke Isobe, who has liked her for years, while repeatedly belittling him and rejecting his desire for a real relationship. What ensues between them is explicit and a bit twisted, and by the time Sato is ready to admit that she does genuinely like Isobe, it’s a case of too little, too late. But really, it’s the way things end—and the struggle to decide if it’s hopeful or terribly bleak—that I found most difficult to accept. I can’t go into more detail without spoilers, but I have many feels! I definitely recommend the series, especially for the stellar sense of place Asano evokes, but be warned… it really is challenging! – Michelle Smith

Kamisama Kiss, Vol. 20 | By Julietta Suzuki | Viz Media – So our main couple have admitted their feelings, and a time-travel trip to the past has resolved any other women who may have been troublesome. Now, of course, we need to add more complications to the mix, and it’s a rather obvious one—Nanami may be the local shrine god, but she’s still a human, and a life with Tomoe is going to feel like no time at all for him, and end in inevitable tragedy. He’s aware of this as well, of course, and seemingly far more concerned about it, which leads to him making a rare stupid mistake. Of course, this also ties into the main plot, which still chugs along—Akura-Oh is around in the modern world, and is not going to simply sit around and let Tomoe and Nanami happily ever after. Always fun. – Sean Gaffney

My Little Monster, Vol. 12 | By Robico | Kodansha Comics – There is a 13th volume of My Little Monster, but my guess is it’s filled with side stories, as things wrap up here for our lead couple and their beta couple friends. Given that it’s a final volume, I don’t want to spoil too much, but suffice to say that there are a lot of heartwarming and satisfying scenes here, and there’s a nice flash forward to about 3-4 years later that gives us a Shizuku who looks amazing. I also freely admit that Natsume is my favorite character in the series, and she gets a lot to do as well, including a great sultry look that makes Sasayan’s eyes bug out. I started off not sure if I’d like this, mostly as Haru was simply out of control. Seeing him develop has been an experience, and one worth the read. – Sean Gaffney

orange: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1 | By Ichigo Takano | Seven Seas – I have read and truly enjoyed a LOT of manga, but that “I’m so glad this series is part of my life” feeling that I got with orange is rare indeed. Simply put, this is a story about a timid heroine who must change herself—following instructions somehow sent to her by her future self—to change the future and prevent a beloved classmate from committing suicide. Such a setup could easily play out as cheesy, but the execution is anything but, and neither does the “you need to show people that you care” message ever turn preachy. Instead, there’s just great characters and supportive friends (including another pair for the “heroine’s awesome protective friends” list) trying to do their best to pull someone through a difficult time. It’s only February, but I just might have found my top contender for the Best of 2016! – Michelle Smith

A Silent Voice, Vol. 5 | By Yoshitoki Oima | Kodansha Comics – Desperately trying to pretend that absolutely nothing is wrong while suffering inside is, unfortunately, something I think most of us have experience seeing. We get it throughout this volume, mostly from Shoya, who’s forced to return to the elementary school where this all began and admit to his new high school friends what he did then. And of course there’s Shoko, who my guess is has never stopped believing that everything that happened isn’t her fault in some way, and she finally breaks after we see all their newfound friends fighting and separated. Given there are two volumes to go after this, I assume the cliffhanger will be resolved in some way, but believe it or not, things should get worse before they get better. – Sean Gaffney

Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches, Vol. 6 | By Miki Yoshikawa| Kodansha Comics – There’s a lot of stuff happening here, but it’s variations on what we’ve seen before. We find out that the ‘manipulated’ minions are not as manipulated as we’d expect, and we find out that the witch behind it all is really not all that evil, just a high schooler with high school problems, which can be solved by Yamada-kun and his blunt but honest ways. It’s actually pretty sweet in a number of places, and there’s several funny scenes, including the bonus chapter where Yamada (in Urara’s body) has to stay over at Itou’s apartment. But in terms of plot or characterization of our regulars, it’s more of the same. I hope the next volume moves things forward a bit. – Sean Gaffney