Bookshelf Briefs

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

A Centaur’s Life, Vol. 5 | By Kei Murayama | Seven Seas – This volume does a god job of balancing out the slice-of-life and the worldbuilding. ON the one hand we have chapters like the one with Kyoko and her brother, which reassures us that despite both being goat/human hybrids they’re still a typical family with rivalries and brattiness. On the other you have the last chapter, showing the history of how the centaurs gained rights, with this world’s Napoleon promising them freedom if they fight under his command. And in the middle we see Suu and her childhood friend appear to talk about manga romances not being the same as real life (she seems a bit creeped out). This series is decidedly odd, and that’s what keeps it so readable. – Sean Gaffney

Food Wars!, Vol. 4 | By Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki | Viz Media – With a minimum of fanservice, and a good heaping help of classic Shonen Jump tropes, this is the best volume of Food Wars! to date. Soma’s battle with Shinomiya is really Megumi’s battle, and she shows off once again why she’s an amazing chef if she can just learn to stop panicking. But for Soma, who knows they won on a technicality, the frustration of losing leads to self-harm (don’t worry, it’s just punching a wall). And while the last volume saw Megumi on the verge of expulsion as the cliffhanger, here we see Soma in the same situation, as his breakfast menu has not gained any support. There’s also the usual bevy of eccentric characters and amusing one-shot gags, and it may just be the lack of ‘this food is making me having an orgasm’ pages, but I’ve come to love this. – Sean Gaffney

Happy Marriage?!, Vol. 10 | By Maki Enjoji | Viz Media – In our final volume, most everything gets resolved. What I appreciated most was the implicit realization that both Hokuto and Chiwa married too soon, and how to fix that without simply breaking up, as they do love each other dearly. That said, they just can’t stop getting on each other’s nerves, and it’s fitting that the final chapters show off how they’re always going to be fighting each other, and have simply come to accept it. The series has existed on that sort of tension, so doesn’t just want to get rid of it with an overly soppy ending. But they’re married – again – and Chiwa may be pregnant, so all is well. The marriage parts of this were, in the end, the victor over all the ‘Hokuto’s backstory’ parts. – Sean Gaffney

Honey Blood: Tale Zero | By Miko Mitsuki | Viz Media – This volume collects the first chapters of Honey Blood, where we get a previous version of the story that is a bit more humorous and improbable, and the heroine has a slightly less strong personality. I think the changes in the version for the two volume manga were for the better, but it was interesting to get a peek into the creative process involved in reworking a story for longer serialization. The volume is rounded out with some additional short stories, one featuring a tomboyish girl with a crush on an aspiring male makeup artist, and a story between a boy and girl next door that doesn’t end well. This volume is probably best for completists only, the other two volumes of Honey Blood stand on their own. While I think this series didn’t completely come together, I’d like to check out other works by Mitsuki, because I did enjoy the art and aspects of the plot. – Anna N

Kiss of the Rose Princess, Vol. 2 | By Aya Shouoto | Viz Media – I was hoping the second volume of Kiss of the Rose Princess would help me decide what to make of this series, but it’s so different from the first—introducing a villain who attacks two knights and kidnaps a third, as well as a weakening seal on the demon lord that can only be repaired with a terrible sacrifice—that I remain kind of baffled. I appreciate the more serious moments, though there is still plenty of unfunny comedy, and it’s really jarring when what could’ve been an important moment is undermined by a stupid gag. Too, I suspect either Shouoto or her editor was a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, because there are a couple of plot elements that are so similar they’ve got me wondering. Still, it’s an improvement overall, and I find myself willing to stick around a bit and see where this goes. – Michelle Smith

Soul Eater, Vol. 24 | By Atsushi Ohkubo | Yen Press – I appreciated the reminder midway through this volume of how terrifying the series can get, as Crona’s attack on the infiltrators is something that I will likely have nightmares about. That said, even Crona can’t stop Asura from being the final big bad, and it’s up to Maka, Black*Star and Death the Kid (who has a brief comedic detour back to Earth, the best joke in the volume) and their respective weapons to stop him. We’ve only got one more volume to go, and that sounds about right, as there’s time for one last battle, Shinigami-sama’s death (which is clearly lampshaded here), and a big celebration to end it all. Soul Eater has given us a bizarre skewed shonen manga, right to the end. – Sean Gaffney

Toriko, Vol. 26 | By Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro | Viz Media – It’s all battles again in this new Toriko, so I have less to talk about. It was interesting to see an actual death of a named character, as Tommyrod is finished off by Sunny in a battle of the disturbing. Meanwhile, Brunch’s battle against a supposed immortal invincible character shows off how little those attributes actually mean in a manga like this. The most troubling battle goes t Toriko, who is almost killed off before revived by the sound of Komatsu crying for him (in case you hadn’t figured out he’s the heroine by now). Is he actually ready to take on Starjun? And is this the real enemy, or is there now a 3rd party gumming up the works? Man, remember when this was all about food? More food, please. – Sean Gaffney

This week, Sean, MJ, & Anna look at recent releases from Viz Media, Digital Manga Publishing, and Yen Press.

Happy Marriage?! Vol. 10 | By Maki Enjoji | Viz Media – My favorite moments in this series always occurred when mismatched couple Hokuto and Chiwa had an “us against the world” attitude towards their various trials and tribulations, so I was happy to see that there were some great moments where they supported each other in the final volume of this series. Hokuto deals with the inexplicable violent attacks and family plots by temporarily divorcing Chiwa, saying that he wants to start over with a new marriage once his family situation gets sorted out. Chiwa marches in to confront the Mamiya clan, and Hokuto makes his family confront some unpleasant truths. The volume ends as happily as one would expect from a couple who makes a habit of fighting and making up all the time. I thought some of the later volumes in this series were a bit thin, but everything is now nicely wrapped up. Overall, I enjoyed this series and would be interested in checking out some of Enjoji’s other works. – Anna N.

The Hentai Prince and the Stony Cat, Vol. 3 | By Okomeken, Sou Sagara and Kantoku | Digital Manga Publishing – The resolution of the Tsukushi plotline is the weakest part of this volume – the buildup was great, showing Tsukushi trying to push her sister away despite her clearly loving her. We even get the classic ‘hero gets so angry at character he punched them’, only what with Yoto being who he is, that goes very badly indeed. It’s just the denouement that’s the problem, where Tsukushi reveals she wants to go to America so that she can legally marry her sister – seemingly unaware that lesbian incest would still be illegal. It’s played entirely for laughs, and didn’t work for me at all. Oh well, at least the relationship between Yoto and Tsukiko is cute and heartwarming. – Sean Gaffney

Inu x Boku SS, Vol. 6 | By Cocoa Fujiwara | Yen Press – Reincarnation can be a pain in the ass to deal with, whether you remember your past life or not. Watanuki already had issues with being weak and not wanting to be protected before, but now that Carta, his crush, is 5 years older than him, as well as much taller and more mature, he simply can’t deal with it. Meanwhile, Carta thinks that he’s pushing her away as he hates her. Then there’s Ririchiyo, who DOESN’T remember her past yet, and everyone comments on how much pain this is causing Soushi. Honestly, Soushi is so good at hiding who he really is that this is debatable, but that’s partly the point. Ririchiyo can’t figure him out and neither can we. She does get her memory back, so we’ll see how things go next time. – Sean Gaffney

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan, Vol. 9 | By Puyo, Nagaru Tanigawa and Noizi Ito | Yen Press – This being a gag manga, it’s difficult to move the story along as such, because there really isn’t one. But the plot does advance along with the original Haruhi LNs, and so Yasumi is now in the SOS Brigade, even if no attempt is made to show off the real aspect of her identity. It allows for another character to bounce off of, and Yasumi is fun. The more interesting development, though, may be Kyon finally seeing chibi-Asakura, and the two of them being strangely accepting of each other – indeed, only Kyon seems to understand her desire to be a shopkeeper. As that last sentence might suggests, Haruhi-chan’s strength remains its gags. Get it for those. – Sean Gaffney

Pandora Hearts, Vol. 22 | By Jun Mochizuki | Yen Press – In a series as tense and tumultuous as Pandora Hearts, it can probably be assumed that the series’ penultimate volume would be particularly so. And, in fact, this is the case. Still, I’m not sure I was fully prepared for just how anxiety-inducing this volume would actually be for me, and those who know me well can probably guess that the source of this angst can be boiled down to two simple words: Xerxes Break. The volume opens with the most gloriously Break-y chapter a fan could wish for, and continues largely in this vein to the end (though there’s plenty of Ada, Vincent, and Echo awesomeness to be enjoyed as well). It’s an extra-long volume, which I dearly hope will be the case for the series’ finale, which has not yet been completed. Oh, Pandora Hearts, sweet Pandora Hearts, your promises are many. I desperately hope you’ll keep them. Eagerly awaiting this story’s conclusion. – MJ

Spell of Desire, Vol. 3 | By Tomu Ohmi | Viz Media – It’s surprising, perhaps, that I’m still following Spell of Desire, after openly admitting how weary I’ve become of its timeworn premise and tropes. And this volume stays true to form. There’s some plot here, regarding heroine Kauruko’s official entry into the coven of black witches and the consequences of such for both her and her standard supernatural love interest, Kaname. But the truth is, this volume is mostly sex. Caught up in a desperate ritual, Kauruko loses her virginity to Kaname early in the volume, followed by much more of the same, accompanied by the familiar pattern of repeated declarations of devotion/ownership alternating with worry/guilt. It’s all in the spirit of trashy josei fun, of course, but there’s not quite enough plot in this volume to be engaging beyond basic smut value. Maybe next time? – MJ

Voice Over! Seiyu Academy, Vol. 9 | By Maki Minami | Viz Media – You can tell we’re getting near to the end of this series. The romance is starting to return to the fore, both in Senri’s utter inability to see what Shiro is to him, his discovering Shiro is also a voice actor, and Mizuki stepping up his game to get Hime to see how he feels about her, even if that may mean sabotaging what she has with Senri as “Shiro”. I’ll be honest, we’ve been following Shiro’s adventures for so long that even I was startled to see Hime in her normal hair-down state. I suspect the next volume will be a giant pile of disasters, and though I’m sure it will all end well I do wonder if a scandal may intrude. That said, Minami’s strengths are shown here – her flair for comedy and her overly happy lead. – Sean Gaffney

This week, Sean and Michelle look at recent releases from Seven Seas, Viz Media, and Kodansha Comics.

Alice in the Country of Clover: The Lizard Aide | By QuinRose and Job | Seven Seas – It’s never a good sign when the main story of an Alice volume ends two-thirds of the way into the book, and it’s doubly bad when they have to pad it out with Crimson Empire. But the main problem with this is that it stars Gray Ringmarc, who is one of the characters we’ve met and cared about the least in these volumes. He’s introduced in Clover, and without the games as a base, there’s not as much impetus to care about him compared to major players like Blood or Ace, or even Boris, who got seven volumes to get fleshed out. Add to that that Alice is less damaged here (making her less interesting), and the art being subpar, and you have a thoroughly unessential volume. – Sean Gaffney

Arpeggio of Blue Steel, Vol. 3 | By Ark Performance | Seven Seas – Much of this volume involves the battle between the heroes and the bad guys’ and it’s well-told, making things tense and fleshing out the villains a bit more while still keeping them mysterious. Unsurprisingly, the villain that survives is the stoic one on the cover. More intriguing is the brief look at what makes Gunzou tick; Maruri clearly is carrying a torch for him, but says that she can’t be around him as he’s too perfect, which is also his greatest weakness. This scene was needed as Gunzou’s implacability was indeed becoming a weakness for the series, but now that we see there may be something behind it, it bears further study. A cut above the ‘girls and war machines’ subgenre. – Sean Gaffney

Girls Und Panzer, Vol. 3 | By Girls Und Panzer Project and Ryohichi Saitaniya | Seven Seas – Speaking of the ‘girls and war machines’ subgenre, as well as titles created by a committee, our band of tankery girls has another battle this time round, with the stakes raised considerably. Indeed, perhaps raised a bit too much: seeing Miho be told that if they lose, she’ll be disinherited is bad enough, but adding to that that the entire school will be shut down if they lose seems a bit over the top. That said, seeing this particular battle take place in snowy conditions adds a bit of spice to the tank battle, and while the outcome is not yet in doubt (it will be once we hit the finals), it’s close enough to keep us interested. This wraps up next volume, and should have a good ending. – Sean Gaffney

Jaco the Galactic Patrolman | By Akira Toriyama | Viz Media – Though I failed to love Dr. Slump and have yet to try Dragon Ball, I typically enjoy Akira Toriyama’s one-volume manga, and Jaco is no exception. Silly, charming, and absolutely suitable for all ages, this is the story of a diminutive, posturing (yet occasionally genuinely kind of badass) galactic patrolman who crash lands on earth and into the solitary life of widower scientist Omori. At first he’s ready to eliminate earthlings on account of all the crappy ones he meets, but he eventually encounters some good ones, too, and bravely saves a lot of lives without hesitation. Okay, yes, there are a couple of jokes about burps, boogers, and pee, but catering to the target demographic is certainly understandable and the end result wasn’t offputting to this totally middle-aged lady. I think it’s time I faced the fact that I clearly must try Dragon Ball – Michelle Smith

Kiss of the Rose Princess Vol. 2 | By Aya Shouoto | Viz Media -This series is nine volumes in total, which surprises me, as this reads more like the middle volume of a three-part series. We’re introduced to a childhood friend of Anise’s, and he not only turns out to be a missing knight, but also an evil knight, and also a love rival, and oh yes, an Osaka hothead. Plus we get a rather startling revelation about Seiran, which I won’t spoil here, but does shake things up quite a bit. Add to that the return of Anise’s emotionally abusive father, who needless to say is unhappy, and you have something that should be reaching a dramatic climax next time. Except it isn’t. Oh well. The title continues to hold my attention as good meat-and-potatoes shoujo. – Sean Gaffney

Missions of Love, Vol. 10 | By Ema Toyama | Kodansha Comics – We continue to deal with the worst people ever, as Yukina finally gets a confession, but still has trouble dealing with the aftermath of her first love. She orders Shigure to make her forget, but that’s easier said than done, particularly with Akira still trying to sabotage things. This culminates in her going on romantic dates with both of them, which lets the reader know how she feels (Akira is the ‘like a brother’ sort of love), but she remains in the dark. Meanwhile, Mami seems to be trying to get over Shigure, and seems to like Akira, even if she doesn’t know it. And who’s this new guy? He has a sneer, must be evil. If all this sounds exciting to you, you’ll love it. If you think “they all sound like terrible people”… you may love it as well. – Sean Gaffney

My Love Story!!, Vol. 3 | By Kazune Kawahara and Aruko | Viz Media – Much of the first half of this third volume consists of Yamato trying to push their relationship forward a little – we’re talking kisses on the cheek here, but Takeo can’t even comprehend that, being the innocent sort who’s never really had to think about that aspect of love before. This suits Yamato just fine mostly, as I think she wants to take things slowly as well (just a little faster than he does), and she also likes his outgoing-do-good self the best and worries that he might try to change it to suit her – which indeed he does try (and fails) here. After all that romance, we then get a final chapter that’s filled with hilarity. This continues to be the sweetest shoujo around. – Sean Gaffney

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

My Little Monster, Vol. 6 | By Robico | Kodansha Comics – Two things stood out the most for me in this volume of My Little Monster. The first was Sasayan, who has been filling the ‘Haru’s male friend’ role since the start, and has had a mild interest in Asako, but whose status as an ‘insider’ – a normal outgoing guy who gets along with everyone – puts him on the wrong footing among this screwed up cast. The second is Shizuku’s mother, whose absence is more telling than her eventual presence. She seems to be a lot like Shizuku, but that’s led to her daughter being starved for affection, and she’s not resented in a good light here. It does allow her to bond more with Haru, though, and as always it’s the character interaction that keeps you coming back to this series.-Sean Gaffney

My Love Story!!, Vol. 3 | By Kazune Kawahara and Aruko | Viz Media – This series continues to be charming, episodic fun. Some of the more amusing highlights of the volume include Takeo and Yamato trying to make sure Sunakawa has a fun birthday, group ice skating (Takeo is a natural), and studying for a mock entrance exam. Takeo’s over-the-top reactions are always great, and I’m really growing fond of Yamato, too. My favorite parts of the series, though, are the more introspective ones. Yamato is painfully yanked out of her blissful reverie with Takeo when she learns that she isn’t his first love, and though he vows to devote himself only to her, he can’t help but help other people (or kitties stuck in traffic) when they are in need. Too, I love that even though Sunakawa sometimes cracks up at his friend’s blunders, he nonetheless respects him deeply. Man, I love this manga. – Michelle Smith

Nisekoi, Vol. 7 | By Naoshi Komi | Viz Media – Speaking of mothers that are just like their daughters, this volume of Nisekoi shows off Chitoge’s workaholic mother, whose fierce, take no prisoners attitude leads everyone to be terrified of her – including her daughter, who calls her “Mother Dearest”, in a nice translation joke by Viz. Luckily, Raku is there to beat some sense into both mother and daughter. The other new character, Paula, a fellow assassin friend of Tsumugi’s, makes less of an impression, possibly as she doesn’t fall for Raku. And Ruri’s growing feelings of… something for Shu are getting more and more obvious. Nisekoi continues to handle its standard harem comedy elements very well, though the ‘balance’ definitely swings towards Chitoge here.-Sean Gaffney

One-Punch Man, Vol. 3 | By One and Yusuke Murata | Viz Media – This volume shows loner superhero Saitama and his pupil the cyborg Genos becoming official after taking the Hero Certification Exam. Genos gets a perfect score and is assigned class S while Saitama aces the physical exam and tanks the written portion, getting a minimum qualification of class C. One-Punch Man’s casual attitude towards the superhero business get him in a bit of trouble with his new colleagues. I’m happy to see a bit more world building in this volume, as the reader gets a flashback to the days when Saitama still had hair and was yet to assume his superhero identities. Seeing new hilarious heroes like Spring Mustachio and a training session between Saitama and Genos brings jokes and rampant descruction that are trademarks of this manga. – Anna N

Say I Love You., Vol. 5 | By Kanae Hazuki | Kodansha Comics – It occurs to me that Say I Love You. features many stock shoujo scenarios—Valentine’s Day, the male lead enjoying a brief career as a popular model, a scheming rival, and the new first year with a thing for the heroine—but deploys and develops them in a more genuine way than is usually the case. I especially like seeing Yamato’s insecurities come to the fore when it turns out that Mei is able to talk to his old middle school friend, Kai, about some things that she hasn’t yet discussed with him. True, I could entirely due without Megumi and her mean-girl antics, but at least her reign of tyranny was short-lived as Kai’s advice helped Mei to stop falling victim to Megumi’s machinations. I’m looking forward to volume six! – Michelle Smith

This week, Michelle, Sean, & Anna look at recent releases from Seven Seas, Viz Media, Kodansha Comics, and Vertical Comics.

D-Frag!, Vol. 3 | By Tomoya Haruno | Seven Seas – That’s a new character on the cover, and she has potential to be a new harem member, but I think that may end up, as always, taking a back seat to the comedy. Funabori liking Kazama is not as important as Funabori dressing up in a nurse outfit with wings just because she was asked. Likewise, Takao may also have a crush on Kazama, but the jokes still stem from her inability to speak her mind and her large chest, which becomes weaponized here. As for Kazama, he’s made it clear what kind of girls he likes – strong girls who win fights. This is why the tournament arc ends with Kazama vs. Shibasaki – it leads to the most drama AND the most comedy. D-Frag! continues to be hilarious, and a great read.-Sean Gaffney

Knights of Sidonia, Vol. 12 | By Tsutomu Nihei | Vertical Comics – By the end of volume eleven, Knights of Sidonia was starting to feel a bit like “Love Hina in space,” but happily, the focus shifts in this installment from all the females (not necessarily human) who fancy Nagate to a mission to test the capabilities of Sidonia’s new defense cruiser, “Mizuki.” One of the things I really love about this series is the way in which some of said females are proving themselves to be awesome—Izana’s bravery and quick thinking recently resulted in a promotion, and here it’s Yuhata’s turn, as she impressively pilots the cruiser and takes out a cluster ship. I still fear for these characters’ lives constantly—I confess that before I even began the volume I flipped to the end to make sure Tsumugi was okay—so it is wonderful to see them make a bit of headway against their enemy. Ever so highly recommended. – Michelle Smith

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Vol. 9 | By Shinobu Ohtaka | Viz Media – Six months have passed since the battle in Balbadd and Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana are recuperating and training on the island nation of Sindria, where Sinbad is king. And, really, that’s kind of all this volume is—training and learning more about magic and Sindria—and yet it’s still interesting and entertaining. Aladdin and Alibaba each acquire a teacher to help hone their abilities, and while Morgiana does as well, she’s also in a position to augment her already impressive strength courtesy of Alibaba’s djinn, which shares its power with members of his household. For that, she needs a vessel, and for that, she chooses her old slave shackles, choosing to see them now as “a proud symbol of my gratitude.” Next, they’re off to a dungeon to activate her vessel. So, essentially this arc is, like, “Let’s help the badass girl get even more awesome.” I’m down with that! – Michelle Smith

My Love Story!, Vol. 3 | By Kazune Kawahara and Aruko | Viz Media – My Love Story! continues to be consistently heartwarming and hilarious. Takeo’s unconventional romance with Yamato hits some additional milestones in this book as they get lost while hiking and endure an extremely shy trip to the beach with classmates.Takeo and Yamato also take Sunakawa out for his birthday, where they fall over each other in making sure that their friend is having a good time. Sunakawa’s stoic responses contrast with the over to top eager to please mannerisms of the unlikely couple. When Yamato and Takeo study together at his house, his mom reacts in classic fashion to meeting her son’s girlfriend for the first time, as her careful deadpan expression doesn’t hide her enthusiasm in the slightest. I always look forward to this quirky shoujo manga. – Anna N

Say “I Love You”, Vol. 5 | By Kanae Hazuki | Kodansha Comics – Poor communication isn’t fixed overnight, and Mei is lucky that in this volume she gains an ally as well as a strong enemy. Megumi started to show her true colors in the prior volume, but here she goes into full-on evil mode, intent on removing Mei not just from Yamato’s orbit but everyone else she’s now friends with. That said, just like the rest of the cast, Megumi’s backstory seems to hint greater depth is coming besides “I’m the standard evil rival”. This manga’s strength is in showing off the way that its characters think and how they got to be the way they were – and in turn, how it leads to stronger bonds. This has rapidly become one of my favorite shoujo manga. Absolutely recommended. – Sean Gaffney

What Did You Eat Yesterday, Vol. 6 | By Fumi Yoshinaga | Vertical Comics – As tasty as the food looks in this volume (at one point inspiring a serious case of gyoza envy), I most love how Yoshinaga-sensei uses meals and shopping to convey how Shiro and Kenji feel about each other. Both guys cook to cheer the other up, whether it’s Shiro trying to get Kenji to quit apologizing for his jealousy or Kenji trying to help Shiro get over a disappointing verdict at trial, but it’s also revealed that Shiro is so intensely frugal because Kenji isn’t, and he wants to have enough saved for the both of them. And then, once he sees how much Kenji loves having bento in the park, he relaxes his stance on being seen together in public. Never before has two guys going out grocery shopping been so significant! Can I end a review with a <3? – Michelle Smith

This week, Sean, Michelle, and Anna check out recent releases from Yen Press, Seven Seas, Viz Media, and Kodansha Comics.

Barakamon, Vol. 2 | By Satsuki Yoshino | Yen Press – I was a bit surprised at how fast this series went straight to ‘slice-of-life’ – while Handa’s devotion to calligraphy is present throughout, there aren’t as many scenes directly dealing with his struggles as before – r at least they’re more subtle. Riding the two middle schoolers about their own penmanship till they drop certainly speaks volumes. But mostly what we have here is ‘city boy learns life lessons’, in turns heartwarming and humorous. There’s also some otaku humor here, notably Tama’s repressed fujoshi fantasies, which Handa accidentally keeps inspiring. This is still enjoyable, but don’t read it for the plot – though that may change with the arrival of two new people from Handa’s past at the end. – Sean Gaffney

Girls Und Panzer: Little Army, Vol. 1 | By Girls Und Panzer Projekt and Tsuchii | Seven Seas – While Yukari is the star of the main manga adaptation, Miho is the star of the FRANCHISE, so it’s no surprise that she gets a spinoff here. This 2-volume series shows her as a more innocent elementary schooler, loving her tanks and her sister but already feeling a lot of family pressure, and not being helped by the new girl being a classic tsundere with a grudge against her family. Much of this is cute slice-of-life with tanks, as with the main series, but it’s refreshing to see an unbroken Miho here, even if the author promises the 2nd volume will be more serious. If you enjoy the main manga, and want to see more girls and tanks, this is a good choice – it’s not the fluff you’d expect. – Sean Gaffney

Happy Marriage, Vol. 9 | by Maki Enjoji | Viz Media – I’ve been feeling a little lukewarm about the past couple volumes of Happy Marriage because there were far too many contrived external events that were thwarting the happiness of Chiwa and Hokuto, but I enjoyed this volume so much more because it turned back to focusing on their developing relationship. Chiwa is being menaced and she suspects an ex-girlfriend of Hokuto’s. She and Hokuto end up confronting the woman together and in the process articulate their feelings for each other. A crisis in Hokuto’s family also brings them closer together as they finally deal with the issue of Hokuto’s succession to the family business. When I was reading this volume I was struck again by how much I like Enjoji’s art. She does a great job at portraying the nuanced meanings behind Chiwa and Hokuto’s exchanges as they slowly become a stronger couple. – Anna N

Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 20 | By Karuho Shiina | Viz Media – I have yet to encounter a bad volume of Kimi ni Todoke, but this is an especially good one. The story feels evenly spread across the characters, especially the three main girls, as they contend first with contemplating their future plans and next with the implications of giving home-made chocolates on Valentine’s Day. I love that Sawako has found her calling (and the great conversation in which she tells Kazehaya about it), but Chizuru and Ayane are even more fascinating to watch, as both are encouraged by their teacher to aim higher. Ayane, especially, has never had something to put her all into, and later wonders if she’s even capable of caring for her boyfriend Kento as much as she should. For the first time, I saw this as more of a coming-of-age manga than a sweet high school romance. Maybe it really could follow them into adulthood without sacrificing quality! – Michelle Smith

Sankarea, Vol. 10 | By Mitsuru Hattori | Kodansha Comics – As we head for the final volume, we’re getting lots of answers here, all being presented by Jogoro’s second wife, whose exposition dump is livened up somewhat by revealing she was sort of an eccentric when she was alive. Zombies finally dying is the order of the day, though – Otoki’s life ends after she’s helped Chizuru refresh his memories, and we learn that his mother crucified her zombie self so as not to risk her children. That leaves us with Rea, and honestly things aren’t looking good there – she’s gone on a rampage and even Chihiro may not be able to save her now. Can this series, which has had a lot to say about life going past the point it should, possibly have a happy ending? – Sean Gaffney

This week, Sean and Michelle take a look at recent releases from Seven Seas, Yen Press, Viz Media, and Kodansha Comics

Alice in the Country of Joker: Nightmare Trilogy, Vol. 2 | By QuinRose and Job | Seven Seas – Slightly better than the first volume, this has an interesting premise in that for once Alice has a repressed memory her love doesn’t want her to see that isn’t about Lorina. The idea of her scribbling in her dictionary is somewhat childish, but that fits the plot pretty well, to be honest. Unfortunately, we keep running into two big problems. First, the art is simply not up to par, frequently looking almost doujinshi-esque, and suggests a rushed product. Secondly, Nightmare just isn’t that good of a romantic hero, not showing off enough cool to make up for his basic flaws. It’s sad that the cutest part of this volume was in a side story which is Alice/Blood. For completists only.-Sean Gaffney

Durarara!! Yellow Scarves Arc, Vol. 2 | By Ryohgo Narita, Suzuhito Yasuda, and Akiyo Satorigi | Yen Press – It’s impressive just how much the narrative is bending itself to make sure that its three leads don’t find out about each other’s secrets. Masaomi *almost* sees Anri here, but Celty manages to rescue her before the damage is done. As you can guess, most of this volume is backstory and buildup, showing why Masaomi is tormented in his relationship with Saki, as well as how Kadota’s gang ties into this (Walker blithely setting thugs on fire is in keeping with this author’s tendency to enjoy psychopathic tendencies). And then there’s Shinra’s father, who is a real loathsome piece of work on all fronts. Ah, DRRR, even your likeable heroes are broken.-Sean Gaffney

Food Wars!, Vol. 3 | By Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki | Viz Media – OK, this series has now fully won me over after its awful start. It’s got just what you want from a Jump series: ridiculous side character, rivals turned friends, ludicrous battles that are also amazing, all involving cooking, and teamwork winning out… well, at least till the end, when Megumi is expelled. I highly doubt that will last, and the cliffhanger suggests a new battle may change the outcome. But it also allows for some heartbreak. There’s a short story at the end that was Saeki’s debut work, showing a typical high school romance and also likely showing why he was paired with a writer for this new project. The main reason to get this is Food Wars, though, and I am looking forward to the next volume.-Sean Gaffney

Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends – Club Minutes | By Kurian and Bomi | Seven Seas – This volumes holds together a little better than the previous ‘comedy side stories’ volume, partly due to its focus on holidays, giving it more of a thematic impact. Everyone’s amusing quirks are on display here. Rika makes filthy jokes, Yukimura is deadpan (this time about the Warring States), Sena can’t win at bishoujo games, and Yozora is the most broken of them all. We actually seem to skip past the main release, timeline-wise, as we see Student Council members who are implied to be new regulars here, and seem to have wandered in from a more normal comedy Still, it wasn’t too spoilery, and those who want more Haganai will be happy with what this volume gives them.-Sean Gaffney

Honey Blood Vol. 2 | By Miko Mitsuki | Viz Media – Well, that didn’t end so much as stop. Despite the author’s best efforts to say that this was indeed the ending she had in mind, this ending comes very abruptly and made me raise an eyebrow. (There’s a ‘side’ volume in February, that seems to consist of the ‘pilot episode’ and some side stories.) It’s a surprise as we get a new antagonist vampire introduced here, who’s carried a grudge against Junya since the Edo period and is determined to break up our couple. Add this to Hinata’s worries about whether she can really be what Junya needs, and whether hteir ‘bond’ requires sex in order to work, and you have a tasty little vampire potboiler for supernatural fans. Just… be aware it stops rather than ends. -Sean Gaffney

Knights of Sidonia, Vol. 12 | By Tsutomu Nihei | Vertical Comics – There’s some obvious emotional manipulation going on in this volume, even more so than usual, and yet I still manage to find myself feeling bad for Sho, the newly introduced Honoka clone who is introduced to die tragicaslly, in a callback to events of the first few volumes with Hoshijiro (remember her?). I was less wild about the subplot involving who’s been peeping on the female pilots when they’re changing – naturally, everyone blames Tanikaze, and just as naturally it isn’t him. But if you’re going to introduce harem manga elements in your story, I suppose you have to take the bad with the good. Still, this volume is better off when it’s trying to pull at your heartstrings rather than hit your funnybone.-Sean Gaffney

Magi, Vol. 9 | By Shinobu Ohtaka | Viz Media – A transitional volume of Magi, this serves to a) introduce a whole bunch of new powerful people who serve under Sinbad, including the cover couple, who hate each other so it must be love; b) have a wacky comedic subplot involving Sinbad being accused of raping a girl in her sleep, which I could have done without; and c) introducing a new protagonist, Hakuryu Ren, who initially seems a bit villainous but allies himself with our heroes fairly quickly. Oh yes, and there’s Morgiana, who repurposes the shackles she once wore in slavery into her new magical weapons, which almost makes up for the comedy subplot. A good volume, but I’m more looking forward to what happens next.-Sean Gaffney

Millennium Snow, Vol. 4 | By Bisco Hatori | Viz Media – It’s possibly unfortunate that this came out the same week as the last Honey Blood, as they both feature very similar plotlines, with a vampire from the past arriving to stir things up and ruin our hero’s life. Of course, Toya is far easier to manipulate than Junya, so things work out a lot better for the villain here. It’s up to Chiyuki, now dying again without Toya’s help, to try to figure out what’s really going on. The outcome is not really in doubt, nor is the epilogue,, but it’s still nice to see feelings being returned. Oh yes, there’s also the subplot with Toya’s grandfather, which has a sad and tragic air around it as it deals with senility that comes with old age. A solid, if somewhat stolid, ending for the series.-Sean Gaffney

Voice Over: Seiyu Academy, Vol. 8 | By Maki Minami | Viz Media – We’ve already seen Hime having to deal with her apathetic, neglectful mother earlier in the series. Now we get Senri’s parents, and we find out that things are even rougher here. I love the flashback to Senri’s parents, as it’s framed as a sort of shoujo manga of its own, with two eccentric people meeting cutely and falling for each other. But there’s a reason shoujo mangas often stop before the couple has children (or even a wedding), and this is why: it doesn’t always translate into good parenting. Given Sakura is also the actress who most deeply influenced Hime, and we can see a major roadblock coming up in the next volume or so – assuming Hime gets past admitting that she’s Shiro.-Sean Gaffney

Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy, Vol. 8 | By Maki Minami | Viz Media – Although the regular gang makes an appearance in the first chapter, in which Tsukino finally manages to speak up and convey her feelings, the majority of this volume is devoted to Senri’s childhood. It all starts because he realizes his friendship with Shiro (heroine Hime in disguise) is making him happy, but then he panics because he can’t tell if it’s genuine happiness or just a performance. It turns out his famous actress mother was never her genuine self around Senri, always taking on a variety of roles and not considering how this would affect her son and his ability to relate to others. I suppose this could be treading perilously close to one of those shoujo manga that becomes mostly about the lead guy’s angst, but I actually quite enjoyed it, especially the story of Senri’s first cat friend. I find I’m sad that there are only four volumes left! – Michelle Smith

Witchcraft Works, Vol. 2 | By Ryu Mizunagi | Vertical Comics – There are some interesting battles and discussion of witchcraft here in this second volume, but for the most part the emphasis remains firmly on comedy, particularly with the introduction of Honoka’s overprotective little sister Kasumi, who it turns out is also a witch. If you saw the words ‘overprotective little sister’ and groaned at the thought of what was to come, congratulations, you win the otaku cliche bingo card. She sleeps in his bed, she takes baths with him, etc. No surprise then that Honoka (also for everyone’s safety) moves into Ayaka’s high rise, though they may not live long enough to enjoy it. I’m not sure I’m going to keep up with this one, but it’s fun for fans of supernatural comedy, even if a bit predictable.-Sean Gaffney

This week, Sean and Michelle look at recent releases from Viz Media and Kodansha Comics.

Kimi Ni Todoke, Vol. 20 | By Karuho Shiina | Viz Media – This is still Sawako’s story, and her development here is great, but I do love that there’s just as much investment in having the other two heroines grow up as well – Sawako’s career choice is actually the easiest. It’s also great to see the good teacher we know Pin is, as he reminds Chizu that running a ramen joint requires more than just knowing how to cook, and tells Yano straight up that she has the talent to set her goals higher… so why isn’t she? Her mother backs this up, and now Yano is not only wondering about her life goals but about her relationship with Kento. I’d complained earlier that I felt this series might be running a bit long, but this volume showed it still has a lot more going on. – Sean Gaffney

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 24 | By Hiroshi Shiibashi | Viz Media – For the most part, this penultimate volume of Nura is a bunch of battles. I believe that the actual end in Weekly Jump is here, approximately halfway through – the rest ended up being in the extra issues like Jump Next, etc. It’s nice seeing the school classmates here, even if it fells like a goodbye – Nura quickly outgrew its “real-world” aspect, and even Kana is an afterthought now, as it’s Tsurara who spends the volume by Rikuo’s side. We see the culmination of what he’s been doing the entire series, as everyone he approached to be allies in the fight now shows up to help out, leaving him safe to fight the final boss. This was never the best shonen series, but I’ll miss it. – Sean Gaffney

Real, Vol. 13 | By Takehiko Inoue | Viz Media – The latest volume of this wheelchair basketball drama is actually all about pro wrestling, as Takahashi’s rehab companion, Shiratori, makes an inspirational return to the ring, fighting in such a way that the audience is oblivious to his disability. While it was nice to learn more about his backstory, better still is the impact his performance has on Hanasaki and Takahashi. The latter, especially, watches Shiratori fighting with everything he’s got left, pushing himself to the limit for something he loves and finally completely lets go of the aloof, unaffected persona he’d cultivated in high school and embraces his real self, who could love something passionately. To that end, the final page is him showing up to join a wheelchair basketball team. Maybe it sounds simplistic described in words, but in Inoue’s sure hands, the end result is very moving. Now to endure another year before volume fourteen! – Michelle Smith

Toriko, Vol. 25 | By Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro | Viz Media – I will admit to being a bit disappointed with this volume. I wanted more amazing cooking battles, but sadly Gourmet Corps crashes the event and starts attacking everything, so instead this turns into a melee battle. It’s not without its high points – I liked Coco explaining to Komatsu why chefs such as him are so highly prized in this world, and a battle between Sunny and Tommyrod promises to be rather epic – but for the most part this is a bunch of people showing off their fighting power, then vanishing from the narrative to make way for more people. Combine that with the already high number of new chefs introduced in the last volume, and you have a Toriko that’s less than the sum of its parts. – Sean Gaffney

xxxHOLIC Rei, Vol. 2 | By CLAMP | Kodansha Comics – Yeah, OK, I knew I wasn’t really getting a reboot. Clearly this takes place after the main series, and also clearly there is something terribly wrong, seemingly based on a decision that Watanuki made at some point, something lampshaded by his being interrupted here in this dream/whatever world before he can choose between two gifts. He has knowledge of the supernatural that could only come with experience, and is thus surprising everyone – or is he? In any event, we also still have the usual supernatural, yokai-influenced stories, which are the best part of xxxHOLIC for me. And Himawari’s here, yay! And not married to generic guy we never see and shoved offscreen! Oh xxxHOLIC, why can’t I quit you?-Sean Gaffney

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

Happy Marriage?!, Vol. 9 | By Maki Enjoji | Viz Media – We’re starting to wrap everything up here, and it shows. There’s a brief ‘I must not confess my horrible secret’ plotline here, but it’s resolved without much fuss. Hokuto can still be difficult to read, and Chiwa gets emotional, but that’s them, and we’re not doubting their Happy Marriage here. That leaves us with Hokuto’s father, whose death is not a surprise but does allow for some closure. And of course the attacks on Chiwa continue. I had already guessed that Hokuto’s ex was a red herring, but the author has done a good job at concealing the real culprit – I have my suspicions, but am still unsure. In any case, a nasty cliffhanger here, but I expect everything should work out well in the end. – Sean Gaffney

Honey Blood, Vol. 2 | By Miko Mitsuki | Viz Media – I didn’t have high hopes for volume two of Honey Blood, since I’d initially found the characters generic and their romance unconvincing, but it turned out to be quite an improvement! It helps that one can just accept that teenage Hinata and immortal vampire Junya are now a couple, and go on from there. What I really liked was that a rosy future for these two seemed downright unlikely. Hinata opines frequently about their current happiness not lasting, and a character from Junya’s past instills further doubts when he reveals that Hinata is the spitting image (and probably the descendant) of Junya’s former love, whom he admits he can never forget. And the best, most bittersweet, twist comes at the very end. Mitsuki-sensei writes that she’d hoped for a longer serialization and wasn’t able to wrap everything up to her satisfaction, but ultimately, this series turned out to be much better than I’d originally thought. – Michelle Smith

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, Vol. 3 | By Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki | Viz Media – Man, sometimes shounen manga just hits the spot! I really enjoyed this third volume of Food Wars!, in which all 980 members of Soma’s class at the Totsuki Institute go off to cooking camp, where distinguished alumni of the school set challenges in which failure means immediate expulsion. Every good shounen hero needs a worthy rival, and Soma gets his own Akira Touya in this volume in the form of Takumi Aldini, a boy his age who also grew up in a humble family restaurant and has experience cooking for actual customers. I look forward to them challenging and inspiring each other for a long time to come. Soma’s friend and class partner, Megumi, makes some welcome progress, too, and the volume ends on a cliffhanger regarding her future. Realistically, I know that she’s probably not genuinely in peril, but I still wish I had volume four here already! – Michelle Smith

My Little Monster, Vol. 5 | By Robico | Kodansha Comics – The romance and comedy in My Little Monster are both pretty good, but let’s face it: we read this series for the deeply broken characters, right? Haru’s violence continues to disturb me, and something has to give soon there – I simply don’t trust him enough. Natsume is dealing with feelings she’s not ready to handle, particularly given her past. Shizuku wonders if she’s bothering to do enough in her relationship, and Yamaken is easily the most self-aware and savvy character in the cast, but that’s not helping him at all. It all comes to a head in a disastrous ski trip, with lots of misunderstandings. This is one of the better train wrecks I’ve read, and I mean that in the best possible way. – Sean Gaffney

Phantom Thief Jeanne Vol. 5 | By Arina Tanemura | Viz Media – One of the main reasons for my enduring fondness for this series is the absolutely crazy ending, where Maron goes to heaven, explores the complexities and secrets of the tale of Genesis with a magical girl twist, and finally dukes it out with the source of all darkness in the world. Maron ends up in a much better emotional place, and is able to resolve the issues causing the theme of loss and abandonment that was explored throughout the series. There’s plenty of romance as the obstacles keeping many couples apart are finally dealt with, and the profusion of ribbons and flower petals sprinkled over all the panels will be enough to make any shoujo fan happy. There are bonus side stories in this volume as well, giving the reader the opportunity to visit with favorite characters one last time. Hands down, this is my favorite Tanemura series. Highly recommended! – Anna N

Soul Eater, Vol. 23 | By Atsushi Ohkubo | Yen Press – The major event in this volume is Kid’s journey to ask the witches for help, assisted by allies such as Kim as well as prisoners like Erika. As you can imagine, it doesn’t go well at first, but Kid’s willingness to put pride aside when it comes to the safety of the world is important, and a major development for him. He even stops being OCD about symmetry briefly! Meanwhile, Maka and Black*Star join the battle on the moon, and it’s noted that they’re not merely very powerful students, but “freaks”, the sort of soldiers you hold back toill the last minute. Which has now come, as Crona seems to have woken Asura, who is finalyl making his terifying appearance. Can’t wait for the next volume. – Sean Gaffney

Sword Art Online: Fairy Dance, Vol. 2 | By Reki Kawahara, abec, and Tsubasa Haduki | Yen Press – There’s a few brief moments in the real world here that are intriguing, with Kazuto finding it hard to reconnect with a non-fantasy life, and his love for Asuna being driven home to Suguha. The majority, however, takes place in Alfheim, with Kirito showing off his mad gaming skills in large battles, and Asuna attempting to escape and find out exactly why she and the others are trapped there. I knew she would end up recaptured, so wasn’t bothered by that – but framing it as slug-like tentacle things capturing her, along with the coarse breast size discussion in the author afterword, left a bad taste in my mouth. I may stick to the light novels in the future. – Sean Gaffney

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

Attack on Titan Junior High, Vol. 2 | By Saki Nakagawa | Kodansha Comics – A word of warning: as with the first volume, if you think that accurate translation is the most important thing in a North American release, this volume may make you catch fire just by touching it. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for an adaptation bursting with ridiculous humor, you’ve come to the right place. Even when the manga tries briefly to run with a serious plotline, it’s not only filled with multiple gags per page, but it undercuts the serious by talking about how crappy the Naruto manga’s become as it’s ending. There’s Eren being racist, Hange being hyper, Ymir loving (and insulting) Krista, and the introduction of Erwin and Hannes to the series. This is tremendously stupid, in all the best ways. – Sean Gaffney

Black Rose Alice, Vol. 2 | By Setona Mizushiro | Viz Media – I really was not prepared for Black Rose Alice to get more awesome, but that’s exactly what it does in its second volume. The transplanted soul of 28-year-old teacher Azusa Kikukawa awakes in the 16-year-old body that once belonged to a Viennese aristocrat whom vampire Dimitri once loved and learns exactly what’s expected of her in exchange for Dimitri saving her lover’s life. What is expected is pretty dark, but Mizushiro-sensei sort of half-buries this with cuteness, resulting in a volume with a really interesting and inescapable undercurrent. Honestly, reading this manga feels somewhat like reading a novel, so sure-footed is the storytelling and characterization, but with the added benefit of some terrific non-verbal reaction shots, especially from Dimitri and Kai, one of the vampires vying for the chance to propagate with Azusa (now renamed Alice). This is fascinating stuff. Get on board! – Michelle Smith

A Bride’s Story, Vol. 6 | By Kaoru Mori | Yen Press – I think I’m finally starting to be won over in regards to Amir. I had trouble getting a handle on her in the first few volumes, finding her a bit too detached for my tastes. But we return to her after a few volumes’ absence now, and she has a lot to be emotional about – her family has now come to take her back by force, even though some of her brothers may disagree with this; said family is allying with treacherous Russian gun-runners; and Karluk is growing up, and chafing at still being considered a child. This culminates in a magnificent battle, drawn with verve and attention to detail. It looks like we’ll be following a new bride in the next volume, so I appreciate that we saw Amir and company here again – and I like her a lot more now. – Sean Gaffney

Food Wars, Vol. 3 | By Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki – This series is slowly winning me over. I enjoyed the third volume of Food Wars much more than previous volumes. The elite cooking academy goes to a resort, not for a relaxing vacation but for grueling tests with the harshest taskmasters possible – successful graduates of their school. Soma finally meets a rival worthy of his attention when the half-Japanese half-Italian Takumi Aldini shows up and promptly challenges him. Takumi has a tendency to make aggressive pronouncements that then turn out to be very anti-climatic, but his approach to food is similar to Soma’s. Seeing the students of cuisine being pitted against the quirky graduates of their program was amusing, and I’m looking forward to the next volume. – Anna N

Gangsta, Vol. 4 | By Kohske | Viz Media – Between Gangsta and Dorohedoro, it may be that the most violent titles on the manga market at the moment are both being drawn by women, which is awesome. There’s also more of the complex plot, as we find one of the new villains is an old childhood friend of Worick and Nicholas, and that there’s a group – supported it seems by the general populace – who simply want all Twilights wiped out entirely. There’s also Alex, who not only can’t escape her past – she’s still being told prostitute is her best and possibly only option – but also recalls she is searching for her brother, whose appearance at the end of this volume is one of the least shocking plot twists ever. Complex, but also fun to read. – Sean Gaffney

Kokoro Connect, Vol. 2 | By Sadanatsu Anda and CUTEG | Seven Seas – After a first volume establishing the mind-swapping premise, things settle down here into more prosaic matters – a love triangle and teenage angst. In fact, the teenage angst is a particularly good spotlight. as Inaba stresses herself into being sick over worries that, once revealed, turn out to be fairly ordinary. This manga seems to be about secrets that can’t help but be revealed, so it’s nice to see that some of what folks think is a huge secret turns out to be no big deal. (Also, it’s refreshing to see a female character admit they masturbate in a non-porn title.) I suspect Iori’s worries are more complicated and harder to magically fix, and also that Taichi is not the best one to do it. We’ll see what happens. – Sean Gaffney

Phantom Thief Jeanne, Vol. 5 | By Arina Tanemura | Viz Media – Phantom Thief Jeanne comes to an end with this volume, wrapping up in a thoroughly shoujotastic yet satisfying fashion. After resolving the cliffhanger from the end of the last volume, things begin moving quickly. Maron ends up meeting God (depicted as a glowing ball of light), who drafts her to participate in one final fight against the Demon Lord. I wondered how this would work, since Jeanne basically has no powers aside from sealing demons located in paintings, but I should’ve known it would play out in the most magical girl way possible. So, maybe the resolution was a little too easy, but I really can’t argue about any aspect of it. I particularly enjoyed seeing the eventual fate of a couple of supporting characters who are finally able to find happiness together. Definitely recommended. – Michelle Smith

This week, Sean and Michelle look at recent releases from Viz Media and Kodansha Comics.

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 12 | By Kazue Kato | Viz Media – This volume essentially has two functions, both of which it performs very well. It gives some backstory and depth to Izumo, who has had a lot to do but whose past has been unclear to us. We get a big flashback here, and no surprises: her past was horrible. Now she’s been captured by the latest big villains, which include a surprising member. This betrayal comes as something of a surprise, and there’s no real sense yet that it’s for show and said person will really turn good later, so you can sympathize with everyone’s frustration. We also briefly see Lucifer, who makes a big impression by being able to terrify even Mephisto. Blue Exorcist continues to be one of the jewels in Viz’s shonen crown.-Sean Gaffney

Cage of Eden, Vol. 16 | By Yoshinobu Yamada | Kodansha Comics – I’ve always sort of sighed and shook my head at this series’ fanservice, but the cover of this volume actually caused me to let out an annoyed grunt. Women tied up and in peril while our heroes stand shocked and the villain sneers. Must we? Luckily, the content continues to be better once you get past this, as we continue to fight the evil doctor and discover more about the island – it’s seemingly near Japan, and the prehistoric animals we’ve seen (remember them?) all may have actually been part of a giant experiment. That said, we haven’t had a main cast death in a while, and it’s worrying. Is Kurusu-sensei the next one to go? Or will they be able to defeat their tormentor once more? Soap opera fun with much service.-Sean Gaffney

Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 6 | By Naoshi Komi | Viz Media – Harem manga that are as balanced as this one are something of a rarity. While you get the vague sense that Chitoge will wind up the winner simply due to narrative structure and Japan’s love of tsunderes, it’s not obvious every single chapter like it is in many other series such as Love Hina. Chitoge may get to play Juliet in the end, but it’s Onodera who gets the bit rooftop romantic scene at the end. Speaking of Chitoge, her realization that she loves Raku leads to their biggest fight, as he hasn’t realized much of anything, so can’t understand why his words are hurting her. There’s nothing new and unique here, but it’s well-written and makes you like everyone, which is always nice to see in a romantic comedy like this. – Sean Gaffney

Oresama Teacher, Vol. 17 | By Izumi Tsubaki | Viz Media – The last few volumes of Oresama Teacher have been consistently good—maybe it’s time to officially come down in favor of the series. In volume seventeen, Yui has been blackmailing members of the Public Morals Club in order to get them to quit, and eventually realizes he’s been using Miyabi’s orders as an excuse not to have to think for himself. Honestly, it was predictable that Yui would repent and seek to rejoin his friends in the club, but that didn’t make it any less satisfying. Plus, there was pigeon symbolism! Too, I like that Miyabi seems to actively be trying to help the members of the student council change. Could he actually be a decent person? His cryptic warning about Hayasaka is pretty durn intriguing, too. Translation: bring on volume eighteen! – Michelle Smith

Rin-Ne, Vol. 16 | By Rumiko Takahashi | Viz Media – As Rin-Ne heads towards its anime, which is finally happening sometime next year, the plot seems to be moving slower than ever. Is there even a plot? Most of the volumes have included something that advances plot and characterization even if it’s only in a token way, but this one consists entirely of unconnected one-shots. They’re well-written – Takahashi may be trying to be a hack here, but she can’t quite pull it off – and I enjoyed the humor, but it’s telling that this review sounds exactly the same as the last 10 reviews of Rin-Ne I’ve written. At least the anime won’t have to worry too much about ending differently than the canon – judging by this volume, any resolution is a long way away. – Sean Gaffney

Spell of Desire, Vol. 2 | By Tomu Ohmi | Viz Media – I ended up liking the first volume of Spell of Desire more than I expected, and it’s probably because of that that I ended up being disappointed by volume two. There’s just not a lot of plot here, until the very end when Kaoruko and Kaname are summoned before the black witches coven. Before that, it’s pages upon pages of Kaoruko reflecting rhapsodically—usually with teary, heavy-lidded eyes—upon Kaname’s kisses and trying to convince herself that what she feels for him is due to the magic power compelling her to reciprocate. When she finally admits to herself that she loves him, it’s a relief rather than any sort of revelation. I suppose something more interesting could happen in the next volume, but now I really wouldn’t bet on it. At least this series is only five volumes long. – Michelle Smith

UQ Holder, Vol. 3 | By Ken Akamatsu | Kodansha Comics -Akamatsu may begun this sequel to Negima by telling fans most of the girls they loved were dead, but that doesn’t mean he’s totally moving on. His grandson here shows off his new use of Magia Erebea, Negi’s signature powers, and though he has no idea what they are he can use them instinctively. Meanwhile, one of the villains turns out to be a frustrated idealist who found he couldn’t compete with the ungodly powers of Negi’s generation – watch for silhouettes, fans of Zazie, Mana and Chachamaru. That said, this is still Tota’s story, and he gets to show off, while Kuromaru continues to wrestle with gender issues and Karin faces a villain who can be very clever about getting rid of her. Good action shonen. – Sean Gaffney

This week, Sean and Michelle look at recent releases from Seven Seas, Yen Press, Kodansha Comics, and Vertical, Inc.

Alice in the Country of Clover: Knight’s Knowledge, Vol. 3 | By QuinRose and Sai Asai | Seven Seas – I’m always more fascinated by the mechanics of Wonderland than who Alice ends up with (it’s Ace, in case you hadn’t been paying attention, and there’s a nice love scene towards the end), and I’m happy to say there was a lot of what I loved here. Faceless vs. Roleholders, Alice as a catalyst, etc. And yes, this also involves Alice as a hostage, but Alice isn’t meant to be an action hero. Her struggle for self-worth and acceptance is why we read Country of Hearts, and it’s nice to see she finds it in Ace, a character she shares a lot of similarities to Also, Blood and Vivaldi are AMAZING here, let me tell you. For Ace fans, ignore his earlier book, this is the series to get.-Sean Gaffney

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan, Vol. 8 | By Puyo and Nagaru Tanigawa| Yen Press – I read this after reading the anthology omnibus The Celebration of Haruhi Suzumiya, and it reminded me how grateful I am that we have an author here who knows how to be funny and heartwarming and build on the characters, even though he’s doing a gag manga. We’re up to parodies of the 9th novel here, meaning Sasaki and company, and we therefore have parodies of the cast who have been through a year’s worth of stuff together. Celebration always has Haruhi & Co. at the ‘I have learned nothing, I read the first novel once’ stage. Appreciate the Haruhi-chan you have is what I’m saying. Also, the JoJo’s parody in here is hysterical.-Sean Gaffney

Sankarea, Vol. 9 | By Mitsuru Hattori| Kodansha Comics – This volume wraps up the seriously dark ZOMA arc, but its aftereffects linger. Rea still doesn’t have any memories of Chihiro, and is more than a little creeped out by his familiarity. The rest of the cast works to jog her memory, but it doesn’t really seem to be working. No matter what’s done to try and bring back the cute romantic comedy antics, though, it’s the darkness that we remember. And in this case that’s the last chapter, featuring one of Grandpa’s numerous wives, who is prepared to give Chihiro some exposition regarding his mother that we’ll have to wait till next volume for. There are moments of cuteness and fanservice here, but not since Franken Fran has a title made it this uncomfortable.-Sean Gaffney

Say “I Love You”, Vol. 4 | By Kanae Hazuki| Kodansha Comics – There’s a lot going on in this fourth volume, as we not only get the model whose work is drawing Yamato, but also a new underclassman who has past ties with Yamato and feels a close bond with Mei. That said, the main reason to read this title is still its heroine, who is trying not only to figure out what love is and how to react to it, but also how to deal with friends and socialization at all. There’s also a great subplot devoted to bullying (a major theme of this work) and cycles of violence, and how yearning for payback can take you down a path you don’t want to go. This isn’t quite as movie of the week as the old potboilers like Life or Limit, but it’s operating on a smaller scale, and I really enjoy it.-Sean Gaffney

What Did You Eat Yesterday?, Vol. 5 | By Fumi Yoshinaga | Vertical, Inc. – Fumi Yoshinaga’s charming What Did You Eat Yesterday? is a slice-of-life depiction of 40-something gay couple Shiro Kakei, a lawyer, and Kenji Yabuki, a hairstylist, as they go about their daily lives and make what I would consider pretty elaborate home-cooked meals. There’s actually a bit more plot in this volume than some others, introducing several ideas (new friends, matching rings, a murder trial…) that could move the story along in interesting ways, and though that’s a welcome development, I preferred some of the quieter moments, like Shiro cooking companionably alongside his mother and, most of all, a welcome glimpse into Kenji’s past with a story of how his newfound teenage height scared off his deadbeat dad even though “my heart was a fluffy princess’s.” Ha! This is a lovely series, and once again I find myself grateful to Vertical for licensing it. – Michelle Smith

This week, Sean and Anna look at recent releases from Seven Seas, Viz Media, and Vertical Comics.

Alice in the Country of Joker: Circus and Liar’s Game, Vol. 6 | By QuinRose and Mamenosuke Fujimaru | Seven Seas – The artist here is the ‘default’ one for the Alice books, and you can see why they were called in here – this continues to be the best of the many Alice spinoffs. In this new volume, Alice may have finally admitted her feelings for Blood, and gotten ready to tell everyone else, but it’s her attachment to Lorina – still “imprisoned” in the Joker’s cells – that drive the plot, and lead to one of the more dramatic climaxes we’ve had, as Vivaldi goes back to Carroll’s original plot and demands that Alice have her head cut off. An execution is unlikely, but I do find myself wondering if this might be the only Alice manga series with a ‘bad end’. – Sean Gaffney

Arpeggio of Blue Steel, Vol. 2 | By Ark Performance| Seven Seas – I will admit I am a little worried that the storyline is going to follow the path of ‘ship goes up against our heroes, discovers the awesomeness of Gunzou, and decides to switch sides, as we see suggested with Takao in this volume. Luckily, the manga seems more concerned with plot and action battles than harem antics, and on that front it does quite well. Gunzou is perhaps a bit more calm and implacable than I’d like, but hey. The naval sequences have just enough ridiculousness to them to be fun, but not enough to suspend disbelief. And there’s multiple sides, with no one entirely being trustworthy except for our heroes. Still a pleasant surprise, and I look forward to more. – Sean Gaffney

Happy Marriage, Vol. 8 | By Maki Enjoji | Viz Media – This series is winding down, and while I am on board to enjoy any josei that gets translated into English, I’m not sure if I’ll be rereading this series soon. One thing I did like about this volume is some actual progress towards emotional maturity, as Hokuto decides to take a calculated risk to establish his position in his family for once and for all. While there are the usual misunderstandings between Hokuto and Chiwa, there’s a bit more maturity in how they approach their relationship, as they actually work on talking things out a bit faster than the reader would expect based on the earlier volumes. As this series heads into the final two volumes, I’m wondering if Chiwa will manage to go for one volume without doing something to endanger herself. One can only hope! – Anna N

Knights of Sidonia, Vol. 11 | By Tsutomu Nihei | Vertical Comics – After getting over my devastation at realizing that Ms. Hiyama is not a real bear (this was apparently mentioned earlier, but I had long forgotten), I was able to enjoy what, for all its dering do and near misses, was a more light-hearted volume of Sidonia. Much of it is devoted to adding a new member to Tanikaze’s increasingly outlandish harem, this time an artificial life form who adds a lot more tsun to the mostly dere cast. We also get to see Tanikaze show off his totally ludicrous battle side as well, and show off various shocked facial expression. Yes, expression without the plural – faces aren’t Nihei’s strength. I marvel once more at the direction this title has taken, but I expect next time will be more serious. – Sean Gaffney

Magi, Vol. 8 | By Shinobu Ohtaka | Viz Media – As you might guess by the cover, our three leads are together again, but that doesn’t mean everything gets wrapped up here in a neat little bow. The revelation of some sort of evil council manipulating events behind the scenes makes sense given that this is the kind of manga we are reading, and they do a good job of putting Alibaba’s kingdom right up to the very brink. But in the end, this volume is about the tragedy of Alibaba and Cassim, and how their inability to see what the other one had led only to repressed jealousies. The end chapters seem a lot more lighthearted, and I look forward to a new arc next time Also, Morgiana gets in a number of great kicks and rescues, for those who only read the title for her. – Sean Gaffney

Oresama Teacher, Vol. 17 | By Izumi Tsubaki | Viz Media – This manga has a sprawling cast and wacky humor that often depends on goofy juvenile delinquent violence. But one of the reasons why I find it so consistently entertaining from one volume to the next is the way Tsubaki will suddenly focus on one cast member and turn in a funny yet touching story. This volume starts out with the third member of the public morals club, erstwhile ninja Yui, being forced to confront the reality of his undercover mission to destroy the people who have actually become his friends. Seeing him struggle looking over photos of all their adventures was surprisingly touching, and Hayasaka and Mafuyu deal with Yui’s crisis with the warmth and humor that I’d expect from such a consistently good manga. – Anna N

This week, Sean and Michelle look at recent releases from Viz Media, Seven Seas, and Kodansha Comics.

Food Wars!, Vol. 2 | By Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki | Viz Media – As I expected the fanservice that completely appalls me and causes my jaw to drop seems to be limited to one or two per volume. It just so happens that in Vol. 1 it was on Page 5. This means that most of this 2nd volume can show off its strengths, which are typical Jump: a collection of eccentrics who will become close friends, ridiculous food battles, and villains who will be humbled and no doubt end up siding with the heroes eventually. One of those villains gets the ‘I am having an exquisite orgasm’ art that’s de rigeur here, but as it’s at the end, I was prepared. I would like to see more of the supposed villain of the piece, who so far exists to be arrogant and not much else. But I’m sure that’s to come. – Sean Gaffney

Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends, Vol. 9 | By Yomi Hirasaki and Itachi | Seven Seas – The big gender reveal that’s in this volume is not likely to be a surprise to readers who have been paying attention, and is a nice double subversion. The main surprise is that everyone is ignorant of it – usually in series like this it’s just our harem hero who is blissfully unaware of such things. But then Kodaka has always been a bit more with it. More interesting than this, however, is Yozora’s reaction to all this, as she almost has a temper tantrum. I do think Kodaka has the most natural chemistry with Sena, but that rarely wins the harem game, and Yozora’s emotional issues may end up being more interesting in the long run. Oh yes, and there’s fanservice here too, but at least it serves the plot. – Sean Gaffney

Happy Marriage?!, Vol. 8 | By Maki Enjoji | Viz Media – There’s a definite feeling of “moving toward the endgame” in this volume, as various obstacles to Chiwa and Hokuto’s relationship begin to fall away. First, Hokuto addresses the presumption that their marriage is a sham by resigning from the CEO position that the arrangement secured him. Next, Chiwa’s coworker finally gives up on her—not because of anything she says about the validity of her marriage, but because Hokuto firmly stakes his claim. (Grr!) Lastly, Hokuto achieves a measure of peace with his estranged dad. And though each new chapter introduces drama, it’s resolved warmly by the final page. The final obstacle is Shitara, a meddling ex of Hokuto’s who apparently has set some kind of stalker after Chiwa because she’s unworthy of Hokuto’s love. Honestly, it’s all pretty sudsy and melodramatic, but it’s a fun read and I plan to finish out the series. – Michelle Smith

Kamisama Kiss, Vol. 16 | By Julietta Suzuki | Viz Media – There are quite a few balls in the air here, as the ‘trip to the past’ arc continues beyond what I was expecting, and it’s to Suzuki’s credit that she keeps everything interesting. The swap we knew had to be coming in order to keep Tomoe and Nanami in their OTP status comes off without a hitch, and if Tomoe is a bit excessively violent towards Nanami, well, he’s meant to be reformed by this, after all, and we are reminded how much he’s mellowed in the present. Nanami has always spent this series being a god, but here she goes way beyond what you’d expect in order to preserve what’s precious to her – even if it means creating precious hairpin time paradoxes. Still an excellent fantasy romance. – Sean Gaffney

Missions of Love, Vol. 9 | By Ema Toyama | Kodansha Comics – Toyama’s Manga Dogs series, which ran concurrently with this one for a period, has a lot of comedy, so it makes sense that it’s Missions of Love that gets to bring the melodrama. There’s lots of tortuous, heartfelt scenes here: the revelation of what drove Kirishima-sensei to say what he did to Yukina; Mami’s confession, the inevitable response, and her heartbroken aftermath. That said, the main pairing is ALMOST resolved here, Akira aside, and it would not take too much of a stretch to end it with Vol. 10. It’s 15+ volumes, though, so I’m pretty sure that the glasses-wearing villain we briefly see here will throw a giant monkey wrench into everything. Gotta keep the soap opera full of soap. – Sean Gaffney

It’s all Viz all the time this week, as Sean and Michelle check out some recent releases.

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, Vol. 2 | Story by Yuto Tsukuda, Art by Shun Saeki | Viz Media – Unwillingly sent to the prestigious Totsuki Culinary Institute by his father, cocky protagonist and aspiring chef Soma Yukihira learns more about the school in this volume, including meeting his eccentric dormmates, checking out the after-school research societies, and having his first experience with a shokugeki, which is a public, school-sanctioned challenge with another student. And, of course, he triumphs over expensive ingredients with his simple but delicious food. Really, this is your typical shounen battle manga model just with cooking, but I can’t help it—I am kind of loving it. All of the food prep is really fun to watch, and even though the fanservice is prevalent, because it chiefly occurs when characters (including guys) get their clothes blown off by Soma’s food, it really reads more as silly than salacious, as when one particularly buxom gal is depicted covered with strategically placed minced onions. I look forward to volume three! – Michelle Smith

Happy Marriage?!, Vol. 8 | By Maki Enjoji | Viz Media – As you read this volume, you get the sense that we’re in the book’s endgame, and that things are finally starting to be wrapped up. This is not to say we don’t get our usual lack of communication leads to anger leads to misunderstandings, but the two are finally trying to understand how their partner thinks. Even if, for Chiwa, this also comes with very little in the way of goals. Hokuto here makes up with his father as much as he’s ever going to, so we’re left with one last bit of melodrama, which is Chiwa having her life threatened through a series of ‘accidents’. This is never going to be my favorite josei title from Shojo Beat, but this one has less aggravation than usual. – Sean Gaffney

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 23 | By Hiroshi Shiibashi | Viz Media – More fighting, as you’d expect, leaving not a lot to talk about. If you enjoy shonen fights, you’ll enjoy this. It was fun seeing Yura teaming up with Tsuchigumo, though her tsundere antics have grown a little old. Most of what I enjoyed in this volume was little things, such as Nura’s mother teasing Tsurara about her crush on him, or the parody comics on the cover flaps where Kana confesses to being a magical girl.As for the plot, well, more mid-range bosses defeated, more unlikely groups who hate each other decide to work together to defeat a greater evil, and it looks like it’ll all end up at a big castle in the sky. No one is buying Nura 23 casually, but if you like supernatural fighting stuff, this should whet your appetite. – Sean Gaffney

Oresama Teacher, Vol. 17 | By Izumi Tsubaki | Viz Media – The first half of this volume wraps up the Yui storyline, retelling events from the previous chapters from his own perspective, and forcing him to confront his own feelings, something he naturally avoids. After this things lighten up considerably, as Mafuyu goes home for summer break, and attempts to paint her new school life in a girly way, which succeeds not at all, and frustrates her to the point that she has to spar with Kangawa at a festival. I like how Mafuyu is presented as being a badass gang leader in a positive way, with the narrative not trying to judge her at all. Of course it helps that this is a comedy, and I suspect Hayasaka’s past will be the next big arc, unless it’s being saved for the finale. – Sean Gaffney

Toriko, Vol. 24 | By Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro | Viz Media – Komatsu gets the cover here, and with good reason, as much of the volume is devoted to a tournament arc in which he features. He’s now famous enough to be on the list of 100 best chefs in the world, so he gets an automatic invite to the world famous cooking competition. This serves as a jumping point for something that Toriko does very well: ludicrous people that do ludicrous things with food. The introductions alone take up an enormous amount of space, as we’re introduced to dozens of people who I hope we don’t have to remember. Komatsu may not be as fast or strong, but food loves him, and that’s enough to get him into the quarterfinals. Can’t wait to see what happens next. – Sean Gaffney

Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy, Vol. 7 | By Maki Minami | Viz Media – Hime is marking time at this point, with her male alter ego getting lots of minor roles in an effort to build up a CV, and unintentionally getting Mizuki to fall for her even more (even though Senri Kudo is clearly the endgame in this romantic comedy with almost no romance). I was more interested in the second half, Tsukino, Hime’s shy friend from school. As you might have guessed, her quiet, meek voice is due to a bullying she suffered in her previous school, and though the message of the chapters does seem to be “I have to be stronger”, it is at least framed in a positive way, and ties into the roles that one has to accept as a voice actor. This volume was slighter than the others, but still fun. – Sean Gaffney

Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy, Vol. 7 | By Maki Minami | Viz Media – While I certainly cannot argue that Voice Over! breaks any new shoujo ground, the fact remains that I honestly find it an enjoyable read, even though in this volume we’re treated to the old “locked in a storage room with my love interest” cliché. In large part that’s due to Hime’s dedication to her career, and the fact that before and after this brief trip into tropeland, she’s worrying about whether she’s made any progress during a summer in which she got a lot of work experience. On top of this, I can actually see why Male Lead #2 might fancy her, and Minami actually succeeds in making me verklempt at the cheesiest of things, and, you know, I think I’m done being ashamed about that. That’s right. I like Voice Over! and I don’t care who knows it! – Michelle Smith