Blog

Manhwa Monday, Mid-November Mix

November 16, 2009 by MJ 4 Comments

Welcome to this week’s Manhwa Monday! Today I’m featuring Michelle Smith’s review of the first two volumes of Small-Minded Schoolgirls by Toma (published by NETCOMICS), the answer to Michelle’s question, “What do you get when you combine some admittedly funky art with excellent characterization and a slice-of-life story about the romantic woes of a pair of professional women?”

Though Michelle does express initial reservations about the art style, her review is very enthusiastic about the series overall. Here’s another quote: “Small-Minded Schoolgirls is definitely a character-centric tale that hinges more on the subtleties of interaction and personal foibles than big dramatic moments … The series is full of keen observations on human nature and achieves poignancy and humor in equal measure.” Sounds like a winner to me. …

Pandora Hearts, Volume 1

November 15, 2009 by MJ 10 Comments

Pandora Hearts, Volume 1
By Jun Mochizuki
Published by Yen Press

Buy This Book

Oz Vessalius, aged fifteen, is a carefree young aristocrat with an absent father whom he has emotionally replaced with his kind, attentive uncle. On the morning of his coming-of-age ceremony, he goofs around with his little sister, Ada, and teases his young servant, Gilbert, who is mortified to hear that Oz wishes him to be part of the ceremony, not as a servant but as a friend. The day is filled with oddities, such as the discovery of a hidden grave on the mansion property where Oz’s family ceremonies are held, accompanied by strange visions of an angry girl in a surreal, lonely place, and Oz’s sense of uneasiness begins to grow.

As his ceremony finally gets underway, Oz is shocked to find himself surrounded by cloaked figures ready to cast him into The Abyss, a place he has heard of only in stories as a terrifying prison where the world’s worst sinners are locked away forever. Though the proceedings are disrupted by the appearance of the girl in Oz’s earlier vision (whose dual appearance as an enormous black rabbit has earned her the nickname “B-Rabbit”), the cloaked crowd ultimately has its way and, branded with a sin he knows nothing about, Oz is thrown into The Abyss.

Once there, he finds himself battling “chains” (creatures of The Abyss who are anxious to eat him), though again he encounters the girl from his vision who introduces herself as Alice. Alice is also a chain, she tells him, and as Oz struggles for his life, she lures him into a contract that would allow them both to escape The Abyss. Upon their escape, they are greeted by three members of an organization called Pandora, who use Oz’s devotion to Alice (and Alice’s desire to recover her lost memories) as a tool to convince them to join in on their quest to discover the motives of the Baskervilles–the group who sent Oz to The Abyss in the first place.

That’s a lot of plot to spell out in a single review, though it really only scratches the surface of this whirlwind shonen fantasy. Impressively, though the story races along at an exceptionally fast pace, it is very easy to follow and its characters immediately take shape, evoking both sympathy and great interest from the beginning. Both Oz, whose carefree attitude hides significant intelligence and compassion, and Alice, whose aggressive, fearsome persona seems crafted to protect the psyche of a very damaged young girl, are immediately compelling. Even the three from Pandora–Sharon, whose youthful appearance seems a bit suspect, Break, whose attachment to a possibly supernatural doll-like creature (Emily) he keeps on his shoulder paints him as pretty much off his rocker, and Raven, a tall, dark, sullen man who seems unusually protective of Oz–are already distinctive and fairly enthralling, thanks to Jun Mochizuki’s clear writing and artistic skill.

Mochozuki’s art is central to the atmosphere of this manga, with its detailed character designs and settings. Much inspiration is taken from John Tennial’s vision of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland, with the addition of Mochizuki’s own style which excels particularly in the story’s creepiest moments, such as Oz’s adventure in The Abyss. Mochizuki also has a tendency towards generously-sized coats and shirtsleeves that hang over the characters’ hands, which might suggest typical moe infantilizing if not for the fact that it is applied to male characters as often as (or more than) female characters. It is the costuming in particular that shapes Break’s character, for instance, rendering him strangely endearing instead of just terrifyingly crazy. These observations are not meant to belittle the writing at all, of course. In fact, it is the combination of both that creates these distinctive characters so quickly and with apparent effortlessness. The story’s actions sequences are unusually coherent and easy to follow, with a very dramatic use of contrast and paneling, matching its surreal setting beautifully.

As with any story as elaborately set up as this one, the real question at the end of a strong first volume is whether or not the author can effectively follow through with what’s been put into play. The series has offered more questions than answers at this point, relying mainly on the strength of its characters to hold the reader’s attention through the din. That said, there is enough promise in this fun, mysterious fantasy to ease all doubts for the moment and simply anticipate. Fast-paced, enigmatic, and attractive to the eye, Pandora Hearts is easy to recommend.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Time and Again, Volume 1

November 15, 2009 by MJ 5 Comments

Time and Again, Volume 1
By JiUn Yun
Published by Yen Press

Buy This Book

Baek-On Ju is lazy, selfish, frequently drunk, and generally rude. He’s also a gifted exorcist, who makes a living hiring out both his talents and those of his companion, Ho-Yeon, a martial artist who acts as his bodyguard. Though this episodic volume hints at tragic histories for both characters, it is mainly concerned with their involvement in the tragedies of others. Some of their clients (such as a mother and son plagued by by the ghost of the son’s wronged wife) are suffering tragedy caused by themselves, while others (such as a couple horrified to hear that their newborn son is destined to die in his teens) face tragedy that has been dealt to them by fate. Included, too, are a couple of seemingly unrelated stories (one gruesome, one sad) which match the others in tone, if not in particulars.

Though this volume’s storytelling is somewhat uneven, especially in terms of character development, there is more than enough to chew on for readers interested in ghost stories, or even eighth-century Chinese culture. The author includes a little bit of Tang Dynasty history in the volume’s end notes, and though she deliberately states that this comic is a fantasy and not meant to be faithful to history, her interest in the period is evident throughout. The stories are steeped in a solemn stew of religion and folklore, finding their inspiration in Chinese poems (like Li Bai’s “Writing in a Strange Place”), Japanese fables (“The Tongue-Cut Sparrow”), and other sources of varying East Asian origin. Even its original title is borrowed from a Goryeo Dynasty-era Korean poet. Though the result of all this inspiration is not nearly as profound or thoughtful as one might expect, the book is intriguing and emotionally affecting all the same.

Though Baek-On is sought out mainly to rid people of their woes, quite frequently there is actually very little he can do for them, as most have created (or had created for them) circumstances from which there is no easy escape, a truth that few of them are able to receive gracefully. The parents of the infant fated to die young, for instance, are unable to accept the fact that there is nothing that can be done to change their child’s future, and even go so far as to camp outside Baek-On’s home until he will give them some kind of hope. That the “hope” he is able to offer them will cause future misery for their son is obvious, though the parents’ insistence on pursuing it anyway is both painfully understandable and inexpressibly sad. The laws of fate and karma held as truth in the story’s universe are unyielding and indifferent to pain or compassion, just its people are stubborn and undeniably human, unable to compromise present happiness to avoid long-term tragedy. What makes this manhwa work best, however, is Baek-On’s bad humor and irreverence juxtaposed over so much grave suffering, providing a wry perspective on the failures of humanity (including his own).

The characters of Baek-On and Ho-Yeon are yet undeveloped, though there is a lot of potential in these early stories. The characterization is very much like the story’s art at this point–surprisingly sparse in places and occasionally difficult to follow–like a work not quite finished, yet still well-formed enough to have a recognizable shape. The story’s paneling in particular is confusing at times, without a clear path for the eye to follow, yet just as with its characters, the story is intriguing enough to inspire some extra effort.

Though Time and Again gets off to a somewhat rocky start, its ominous tone, historical setting, and idiosyncratic characters are certainly encouraging, and suggest strong potential for its future as a supernatural series–a refreshing addition to Yen Press’ manhwa catalogue. I definitely look forward to future volumes.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Beast Master, Volume 1

November 12, 2009 by MJ 1 Comment

Beast Master, Vol. 1
By Kyousuke Motomi
Published by Viz Media

Buy This Book

Yuiko Kubozuka is a seventeen-year-old animal lover whose over-exuberance unfortunately sends the animals she so loves running away from her in fear. When Yuiko’s intrusive attention finally drives her own cat up into a tree, a mysterious young man emerges from the tree’s branches, rescuing the cat and running off into the night. The young man is Leo Aoi, who is soon officially introduced as a new student transferring into Yuiko’s high school class. Leo, who was raised on a remote island and later lived in other areas sparsely populated by humans, is more comfortable with animals than people, a trait that makes him appear frightening to the other students in his class. Eager to thank him for rescuing her cat, Yuiko follows him up to the roof of the school, where she easily befriends Leo, who is grateful to meet someone who isn’t scared of him.

As she gets to know him, Yuiko discovers that Leo actually has a warm, almost childlike personality (as well as a close connection with animals that Yuiko truly envies). Unfortunately, he also has a rather terrifying mental condition that sends him into a violent frenzy whenever he experiences intense fear coupled with the sight of blood. Though this reaction served him well in the wilderness (where he was frequently under attack by wild animals) it makes him a real danger to other humans, and even his legal guardian, Toki, is unable to control him by any means other than shooting him with a strong tranquilizer. It is Yuiko, then, who discovers that she alone has the power to soothe the beast in Leo and bring him out of his frenzy.

Despite its horror-movie title and fairly implausible premise, Beast Master‘s opening volume can best be described as sweet. Both Yuiko and Leo share a kind of open innocence that is undeniably adorable, even when it is responsible for some of their greatest areas of ignorance (such as Yuiko’s consistent failure to understand animals and Leo’s difficulties with humans), and watching the two of them together is pretty charming. This volume includes standard shojo-friendly elements like cute animals, gang leaders with a heart of gold, innocent cuddling, and people doing their best, but regardless of the levels of believability and cliché associated with any of these items (and more) there is an unforced warmth running throughout the story that is pretty difficult to dismiss.

Also, though the premise is pretty simplistic, there is some real depth to be found in the execution for anyone who’s looking. Yuiko’s inability to connect with animals is incredibly painful for her, blinding her to her own strengths. Despite her focus on animals, she possesses an understanding of people that is unusually well-developed, a fact finally pointed out to her by a friend late in the volume, which is undoubtedly responsible for her ability to recognize Leo’s true self while everyone else views him with fear and suspicion. Because of this, she’s able to offer Leo the opportunity to actually live with other humans instead of being caged by them, something she clearly does not recognize the significance of at this point. With Yuiko at his side, Leo is able to safely make a place for himself in the human world, while Leo offers Yuiko the opportunity to learn how to truly love animals rather than simply forcing her will on them, something of which perhaps he truly does not recognize the significance.

With both characters maintaining a level of innocence unusual for their age, the thing that seems most difficult to imagine is romance, though the artwork gracing the volume’s cover (as well as its individual chapters) would indicate that this is where things are headed. This incongruous tone is a bit jarring at this point, and it will be interesting to see how smoothly the author manages to pull that off as the series continues. That said, the fact that the two leads are currently unconcerned with romance is one of the story’s nicest characteristics. Both characters are strong and nicely layered, even early on, and it’s nice to read a school-based shojo manga in which the heroine’s focus is on something other than getting a boyfriend. This is quite nicely reflected in the internal artwork, which is effective (if unremarkable) and nicely restrained, especially in terms of toning.

Though Beast Master is not as immediately addictive as some of its soapier shojo neighbors or as emotionally complex as others, it is both warmer and more thoughtful than its premise would suggest, making it a promising new addition to Viz’s Shojo Beat lineup.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Claymore 15 & a little link-blogging

November 10, 2009 by MJ 6 Comments

To start things off, I have a review of volume fifteen of Claymore in this week’s Manga Minis column at Manga Recon. Before the eye-rolling begins over the high grades I’ve given recent volumes of Claymore, I’d like to say that I think it has really come into its own as a strong dark fantasy series and that those who dismissed it after the first few volumes are genuinely missing out. It’s true that I’m a patient reader and may enjoy a slow-burning series more than most. I love to watch multiple layers revealed over time, forcing me to continuously re-evaluate what the story is really about, and though it may seem a bit late in the game for the author to begin revealing those layers twelve or thirteen volumes in, in this case I think it’s well worth the wait. There aren’t many series from Viz’s Shonen Jump Advanced line that have endured for me as well as this one. It’s definitely worth a second look….

Claymore, Vol. 15

November 9, 2009 by MJ Leave a Comment

By Norihiro Yago
Viz, 200 pp.
Rating: T+ (Older Teen)

Volume fifteen opens with the conclusion to the battle with awakened warrior “Bloody Agetha”—a battle that will soon seem utterly insignificant in comparison to what comes afterward. As the fight ends, the rebel warriors finally reveal their true intentions to Galatea, Clarice, and Miata, after which Miria goes on to divulge what she’s discovered over her many years investigating the Organization, including its origins and true purpose. The truth she’s uncovered is genuinely shocking and as the rebels (along with their new allies) prepare for what may be their final battle, Clare embarks on a side mission of her own to reunite with Raki, the boy she left behind so many years before.

This volume’s new revelations are really quite stunning, pulling the story further into darkness and creating a deeper atmosphere of pathos around both the young women whose futures were sacrificed to make warriors and all the the citizens whose villages have long been plagued by Yoma. It’s difficult to discuss any of it without ruining one of the story’s best plot twists so far, but suffice it to say that the new information is a game-changer all around, giving the series a significant boost of momentum. Adding to this fresh strength is the reemergence of Raki, now a powerful young man, still traveling with Awakened One Priscilla who has become smaller (if not weaker) thanks to several years’ abstinence from eating human flesh.

Those who have followed Claymore to this point have already reaped many of the rewards of Norihiro Yago’s slow and steady approach. Both its plot and characterization have become significantly more complex over the course of the series. Volume fifteen moves all of this yet another great step forward, transforming this series into a real must-read for fans of dark fantasy.

Review copy provided by the publisher. Review originally published at PopCultureShock.

Manhwa Monday: The Color of Heaven & Other Stories

November 9, 2009 by MJ 1 Comment

Welcome to the second installment of Manhwa Monday! If you missed it, you can pick up the first here.

Featured today is Chris Mautner’s recent review of The Color of Water/The Color of Heaven by Kim Dong Hwa (published by First Second), which follow up on the series’ first volume, The Color of Earth. As this trilogy ends, the reviewer worries that it may miss finding a real audience, despite its strengths. “But for those willing to walk that line between the two extremes, Hwa’s story remains compelling right up to its happy but slightly bittersweet ending.” I have not read this short series, but Mautner’s review makes me want to. Read the rest of the review here!

In other reviews, Erica Friedman discusses volume four of Click (NETCOMICS) over at Ozaku, Julie checks out volume 2 of Jack Frost (Yen Press) at Manga Maniac Cafe…

Goong, Volume 7

November 7, 2009 by MJ Leave a Comment

Goong, Volume 7
By Park SoHee
Published by Yen Press

Buy This Book

A fire in Daebi-Mama’s quarters sends the palace into an uproar, particularly the Queen who finds Daebi-Mama being relocated to her quarters by order of her husband. Meanwhile, Chae-Kyung overhears something that leads her to believe that Shin may have been responsible for the fire and is surprised by her impulse to protect him regardless of his actions. Still reeling from Shin’s public kiss during a recent press conference, things are made more uncomfortable for Chae-Kyung when the Queen Mother arranges for them to share a room on their class trip. Shin, finding himself intensely attracted to Chae-Kyung since their forced night together in the palace, is no more comfortable than she is, and though a string of misunderstandings and their usual stubborn pride keeps either of them from being completely honest about their growing feelings for each other, they come closer to in in this volume than they ever have before. Most surprisingly, as Shin becomes increasingly aware of both Yul’s ambitions and his own father’s stealthy maneuvering against him, he actually begins to push back, suggesting that he may wish to remain Crown Prince after all.

It’s quite a relief to finally see Shin taking some steps to open up to Chae-Kyung, even bringing himself to thank her when she rescues him from an embarrassing situation on stage in a student play. Whether this is due to a real desire to break down walls between them or just stark fear of losing her to Yul remains to be seen, but either way it’s a pleasure to see. Similarly, his speech to his father in the final chapter of the volume gains him new respect when it’s most needed.

Though it was easier to sympathize with Yul earlier in the series, it is now Shin who seems like the good guy (despite his dismal communication skills) and it will be exciting to see where things go from here, now that he’s really standing up for himself and those he most cares about. Most importantly, he finally reveals to Chae-Kyung the reason behind his early dislike of her and why his feelings have changed. “You looked right into my eyes and asked me so many things,” he says to her, in a flash of rare vulnerability. “You asked me if I ever went to Myungdong or to Dongdaemoon Market or if I’d ever watched a movie in a movie theater. When you talked about your life, I felt like my life was fake.” It is an extremely revealing moment we (and Chae-Kyung) have waited seven volumes to see, and the payoff is definitely worth it.

If last volume’s strife could be mainly chalked up to Shin’s inability to explain his feelings, in this volume the credit goes to Chae-Kyung’s inability to let him. Conditioned now to protect herself against Shin’s coldness as a preemptive measure, she’s having difficulty recognizing what’s changing in him enough to actually let it happen. Fortunately (or unfortunately) it looks like the two of them may soon be in a position where they must stick together just to survive, which will certainly be a trial for each of them as well as for their relationship. Watching the two of them slowly learn to truly care for and depend on each other is one of the best things about this series and though the pace may seem excruciating at times, it’s hard to imagine it playing out any other way.

Though this volume is less emotionally volatile than the last (despite the obvious drama of things such as Shin’s potential as an arsonist) the fact that it actually begins to veer towards romance at long last makes it a real page-turner of the very best kind. Goong continues to be one of the most compelling girls’ comics (Korean or otherwise) I’m currently reading, and definitely a personal favorite.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Demon Ex Machina by Julie Kenner: C

November 7, 2009 by Michelle Smith

From the back cover:
With her first husband possessed by a demon and her current husband spending way too much time at home, Demon Hunter Kate Connor is having one hell of a month…

In between demon patrols and teaching self-defense classes for local moms, Kate has to deal with a teenage daughter, who is gung ho about being a demon slayer in training, and a toddler son entering a tantrum phase that rivals anything from the pits of hell.

To make matters worse, ever since her current husband, Stuart, learned about her secret life, he’s been practically smothering her with attention. That wouldn’t be so bad, except now Stuart’s fired up to learn everything he can about demons, and that kind of research can get a former desk jockey killed.

It’s a lot to juggle. And on top of it all, Kate has to find a way to release the demon possessing her first husband, Eric, without destroying the man inside. Because if the demon within Eric gets free, it just might be more than this seriously stressed suburban mom can handle…

Review:
In my review of the previous volume in the Tales of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom series, I outlined a formula that Julie Kenner seems to be following in each installment. Let’s see how Demon Ex Machina fares.

1. A demon attacks Kate in her backyard.
Check! This time the demon does not demand information about an artifact required for a ritual, but it does provide a clue by naming the demon (Odayne) dwelling and growing within Kate’s late-but-alive-again husband, Eric.

2. Scattered investigation ensues, taking a backseat to domestic plans. These will include a dinner party.
Check! Most of the “investigation” (and the book) consists of Kate sitting around whining that the only way she knows of to vanquish Odayne is to stab him with some special dagger, but doing so will take Eric along with it. A dinner party is mentioned, but not seen on camera. This time, a house-flipping project is the main domestic subplot.

3. The word “kiddo” will be used a distracting number of times.
Semi-check! It’s used a lot less than in previous volumes, but pops up occasionally.

4. Kate will angst about keeping secrets from her husband.
Check! Stuart knows most everything now, though not about the occasional smoochies Kate enjoys with Eric. Her big secret is not telling her daughter, Allie, about Eric playing host to Odayne.

5. Someone Kate cares about will be kidnapped by the demons.
Check! I almost thought it wasn’t going to happen this time but twenty pages from the end, there it was. So close!

So, yes, more of the predictable, lackluster same. As before, what I find most interesting is Stuart’s reaction to Kate’s doings. Stuart himself isn’t really much of a character, but his pain regarding Kate’s lingering feelings for Eric and his attempts to reconcile himself to her demon-hunting duties supply the most compelling emotional moments this series has to offer. Allie, too, is becoming quite the competent Hunter in her own right and the novel’s conclusion promises further development in her skills as well as a possible departure from the formula I’ve just been criticizing. I am weak against promises such as these, so I’m sure I’ll be back for more when Kenner churns out the next one.

Shoujo Art Studio

November 6, 2009 by MJ Leave a Comment

By Yishan Li
Watson-Guptill, 128 pp.

The subtitle of Shoujo Art Studio is “Everything You Need To Create Your Own Shoujo Manga Comics,” an interesting choice considering what is (and isn’t) inside. The fine print on the attached CD points out that users are required to own Adobe’s Photoshop Elements (at the very least) in order to use the files provided—an additional $50 investment casual buyers may not be expecting. On the other hand, one could argue that the CD actually includes so much of “everything,” there isn’t all that much left for the user to create.

What Shoujo Art Studio provides is 67 pages of basic instructions for manipulating the provided images (using Photoshop) in order to create a shojo-style comic, followed by a visual catalogue of the contents of its accompanying CD. The collection of images includes line art for several characters, backgrounds, basic effects, page layouts, word balloons, and accessories (like a bicycle and a cell phone), along with a variety of tones. Characters come complete with an array of possible outfits, hairstyles, poses, and facial features, each in its own layer to be added and removed at will, creating the equivalent of a digital paper doll. Two pages on the topic “Pacing Your Storytelling” are the deepest it goes into anything beyond the most surface elements of manga. The instructions are brief and fairly easy to follow, though Photoshop novices may find that things are not quite as simple as Shoujo Art Studio would have them believe. Though the book is far too basic for even intermediate users, it may move too quickly for some beginners.

<i>Say it isn't so, Kyo-kun! (Click to enlarge.)</i>

Say it isn't so, Kyo-kun! (Click to enlarge MJ's creation.)

Just as experienced digital artists will find this book of little use, dedicated readers of shojo manga may react negatively as well, particularly to the author’s statements about the nature of the genre which emphasize tired shojo clichés—an attitude that is further reinforced by the choice of artwork included. That said, non-artists will find some enjoyment in being able to “create” something that somewhat resembles a page of manga without having to acquire much in the way of skill. Some elements are more difficult to use than others (this reviewer gave up on toning after one disastrous panel) but the process is surprisingly fun, if undeniably superficial.