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alice in the country of hearts

Bookshelf Briefs 5/5/13

May 6, 2013 by Melinda Beasi, Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith and Anna N Leave a Comment

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


fantaticrabbit2Alice in the Country of Hearts: My Fanatic Rabbit, Vol. 2 | By QuinRose, Delico Psyche, and Owl Shinotsuki | Yen Press – As I suspected, this volume was a lot more focused on romance and not so much on the psychology and psychotics. That said, there are points of interest here. It’s odd that Elliot, who was once imprisoned for destroying the clock of his best friend, is cavalier about killing Alice’s sister. And it’s good to give him a reason to be angry at Alice being close to Julius that isn’t jealousy. That said, in the end it mostly does turn out to be jealousy, and when the book details romance it gets far more generic. There’s also some nasty dream manipulation to stop Alice from returning home – which one can argue, given what we’ve inferred about her real life, is justified, but still comes across as harsh. An ambiguously good volume, but hey, the series is short.-Sean Gaffney

devil8A Devil and Her Love Song, Vol. 8 | By Miyoshi Tomori | Viz Media – At no point has A Devil and Her Love Song actually been bad, but the “Anna arc” of recent volumes—in which Maria attempts to achieve some level of understanding with her former best friend—just retread the same ground over and over and felt like it would never end. And so I am profoundly relieved that we’re moving on to something different, even if it’s taking the form of Shintaro Kurosu, a brash new first-year who’s interested in Maria and takes every opportunity to get close to her. We’ve seen this sort of character in shoujo manga many times before, but any catalyst that causes Shin to confront his feelings for Maria is fine by me, and because Shintaro shares some qualities with our insightful heroine, he’s quite adept at getting under others’ skin. I still recommend this series, but if we never see Anna again it’ll be too soon for me. – Michelle Smith

fairytail25Fairy Tail, Vol. 25 | By Hiro Mashima | Kodansha Comics – Fairy Tail will probably never get away from One Piece comparisons, but one big difference it has is that Mashima does tease romance between his characters quite a bit. In this volume we not only get Elfman and Evergreen getting past Mirajane with a shocking revelation – theoretically false, but I sense a setup – but we also have Levy’s giant crush on Gajeel, which is quite cute provided you forget him crucifying her a while back. Literally. Meanwhile, the S-class exams are interrupted not only by the arrival of a dark guild, led by Ultear, but also a young sobbing man who would seem to be Zeref, the evil wizard who has been mentioned before, and definitely doesn’t seem to be possessing anyone this time. It would seem that the exam arc is going to get a lot longer and more serious before anyone wins their S-class.-Sean Gaffney

corda17La Corda d’Oro, Vol. 17 | By Yuki Kure | Viz Media – This final volume reads like a series of closing doors—at least for Kahoko’s suitors, who take turns examining their feelings, though it’s clear most don’t have a shot. Ryotaro’s epiphany is most significant, and his heartfelt confession throws oblivious Kahoko for a loop. Everyone knows that Kahoko will end up with Len, but when it gets right down to it, their final scene is oddly anticlimactic. Kahoko is predictably breathless and embarrassed, and Len is awkward and brusque, but as a romantic climax it’s surprisingly non-committal. We don’t even get a good kiss out of it. As a jaded fan of romance, I should be grateful for anything unexpected, but in a story that’s always been so conventional, it’s honestly a letdown. Though perhaps the most disheartening truth is that they’re still hung up on “Ave Maria.” What can you do? Farewell, La Corda d’Oro, I’ll miss you. – Melinda Beasi

kenshirestoration1Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration, Vol. 1 | By Nobuhiro Watsuki | Viz Media – Watsuki says in the afterward that the genesis for this reworking of Rurouni Kenshin was the production of the recent live action movie. This shows in the first story of the volume which puts familiar characters into a battle arena situation with no real plot or character development. There’s a back-up prequel story that has more interest as Kenshin encounters a unique western doctor struggling to provide care for low-income patients. While it was nice to revisit the characters for a little bit, this parallel story reminded me of how much more I liked the original series. This is only for die-hard Kenshin fans, most people will be better served reading the very good first series. – Anna N.

strobe4Strobe Edge, Vol. 4 | By Io Sakisaka | Viz Media – What’s interesting about Strobe Edge, is the way that Io Sakisaka has managed to take the most trite characteristic of her series early on—namely, her heroine’s unbelievable innocence—and turned it into a real asset. That Ninako wouldn’t realize that there are unavoidably negative consequences to unrequited love seems ridiculously naive, but it also allows Sakisaka to explore those consequences more honestly than is typical, even for romance manga. The way both Ninako and Ren begin to recognize and forced to deal with the ramifications of their ongoing friendship in the face of Ninako’s (and now, Ren’s) feelings is surprisingly fresh. I’m reminded immediately of the personal agony I suffered while watching Shoji developing feelings for someone other than his girlfriend, Nana Komatsu (NANA), but this time I’m experiencing it with “other woman” Sachiko as my heroine. It’s an emotional punch in the gut, and very well-executed. Recommended. – Melinda Beasi

wewerethere16We Were There, Vol. 16 | By Yuuki Obata | Viz Media – This is the second concluding Shojo Beat series for me this week, but what a contrast! Though this series’ romantic conclusion was no less predictable than La Corda d’Oro‘s, the execution could not be more different—much like the two series themselves. There was a time when I’d given up on Nanami and Yano’s torturous romance as simply too destructive to bear, so it’s a real testament to Obata-sensei’s gifts as a writer that she’s managed to bring me back around to loving them together once more. Everyone’s story ends with dignity, even that of long-suffering Takeuchi (my personal hero of the story) but the real centerpiece is our primary couple, with whom Obata completely sweeps me off my feet. Their ending is so poignant and so well-earned, it’s a genuine pleasure to read. Thanks for everything, We Were There. You’ve been quite a ride. Highly recommended. – Melinda Beasi

Filed Under: Bookshelf Briefs Tagged With: a devil and her love song, alice in the country of hearts, Fairy Tail, la cord d'oro, rurouni ken shin: restoration, Strobe Edge, we were there

3 Things Thursday: Wishful Thinking

April 18, 2013 by Melinda Beasi 11 Comments

Today, as the Battle Robot chatted about next week’s new manga (see Sean’s post later this evening), a title came up that is one I have tried hard to like, but failed utterly to do so. My desire to “like” is large, in general. I’m a liker. I like to like things. My ability to “like” is a major contributor to my quality of life. This may diminish my worth as a manga critic, but in the big picture I’m okay with that if it means that, above all else, I get to deeply enjoy the medium I spend so many hours with. Obviously I don’t like everything, and I’m not afraid to complain loudly and often, especially when it comes to genres directed at my gender, like BL, shoujo, and josei manga. (Yes, Black Bird, I’m looking at you.) But I always approach a new series with the desire to like it (even love it, if possible), and I’m occasionally heartbroken when that desire bears no fruit.

So, with that in mind…


3 manga series I wish I could like:

blackbutler41. Black Butler | By Yana Tobaso | Yen Press – Though I’ll admit I gave up many volumes ago, I initially tried hard to like Black Butler. I’ll usually give any series at least three volumes to grab me, and I gave this one five, but my efforts were in vain. Why did I want so much to like Black Butler? I suppose it’s a longing for connection. With its enormous female fanbase and significant slash fandom, it crosses over heavily into circles I once called my own, and my lack of ability to connect lends itself to a sort of (mild) identity crisis. Furthermore, the series runs in my pet “shounen” magazine GFantasy, home of many series I do like (and even love), such as Gestalt, Nabari no Ou, and my beloved Pandora Hearts. Is it just me? I fear it may be.

alice-omnibus2. Alice in the Country of Hearts | By QuinRose & Soumei Hoshino | Yen Press – My desire to like this series has a name, and that name is “Michelle.” Normally, I’d feel no alarm or sadness at all over my inability to like a reverse-harem series based on a game. In fact, I’d consider any positive reaction to be more of a pleasant surprise. In this case, however, Michelle’s enjoyment of the series (and her oft-stated hope I might share in her enjoyment) raises the stakes considerably, and I’m rather sad and ashamed to admit that after reading through two of Yen Press’ new omnibus volumes I just can’t quite get there. I’m so sorry, Michelle. I really, really wanted to like this. Can you forgive me?

saiyukireload43. Saiyuki Reload | By Kazuya Minekura | Tokyopop – Of all of these, I think Saiyuki Reload makes me saddest of all. Those who know me must be aware of my fervent love for the works of Kazuya Minekura, especially her unfinished BL noir-action series Wild Adapter, which Michelle, David, and I have spent much time praising to high heaven (or the non-theist equivalent of same). Wild Adapter, in fact, is one of the few topics capable of compelling me to discuss things like industry news. Somewhat less beloved by me, but still thoroughly enjoyed, is Minekura’s nine-volume shounen fantasy-adventure Saiyuki, which was extended into a shoujo series for Comic Zero Sum called Saiyuki Reload.

I originally borrowed all the then-available volumes of Saiyuki and Saiyuki Reload from a friend, and it’s telling that afterwards I made it my business to acquire my own copies of the former and not the latter. I don’t know what it was—maybe the increased indulgence in the characters’ hotness and BL subtext demanded by a shoujo magazine—but something about the continuation just didn’t click. Though I’ll admit that, were it possible to get my hands on these volumes again, I’d be open to giving it a second chance. License rescue, anyone?


Readers, what manga series do you wish you could love? And why?

Filed Under: 3 Things Thursday Tagged With: alice in the country of hearts, black butler, saiyuki reload

Alice in the Country of Joker: Circus and Liar’s Game, Vol. 1

February 8, 2013 by Sean Gaffney

By Quin Rose and Mamenosuke Fujimaru, based on the game by Quin Rose. Released in Japan as “Joker no Kuni no Alice – Circus to Usotsuki Game” by Ichijinsha, serialization ongoing in the magazine Comic Zero-Sum. Released in North America by Seven Seas.

As I’ve noted before, I’m enjoying the Alice series a lot more than I’d expected to. I think one reason may be its similarity to the Higurashi series, another favorite of mine. Both franchises based on ‘visual novel’-type games, and made into manga series where the continuity reboots with each new incarnation. The Alice books, however, haven’t really tied into each other the way Higurashi does – you don’t really need to read them in order, and you can simply pick the series with your favorite guy and only read that one without missing much. Now, though, we have Alice dealing with a new antagonist, Joker, and this very much ties into the previous series, and rewards readers/players who are well-versed in it.

alicejoker1

It may come as a surprise, then, to see the volume begin with what amounts to a giant 80-90 page recap of Alice’s adventures in Wonderland to date, from her abduction by Peter to her present life working in the Heart Palace (yes, she’s there in this iteration, not the Clocktower, the Amusement Park, or the Hatter Mansion). We meet the entire main cast, get a brief precis as to who they are and what their damage is, and see how they interact with Alice (who hasn’t fallen for anyone here – romance is, so far, not in the cards in this setup). It’s given a wraparound of Alice reading her diary and reminiscing about the past, which works all right. However, this doesn’t seem like filler but more a way of putting the basic concepts of Wonderland in the reader’s mind before the creators start fiddling with them.

Because it’s April, the Circus is coming to town, and Alice’s memories are starting to go a bit wonky. She’s currently in the country of Clover, yet runs into Julius and Gowland, neither of whom should technically be there. It would appear that this is merely a function of the season, but the arrival of the circus to town might also be a reason – a circus with two creepy children and their master, the titular Joker. We met Joker in a small cameo in the original Alice series, but this is the first time dealing with him in the flesh. He’s a smug trickster-type character, and no doubt will be driving Alice nuts as the series goes on. More to the point, Joker and his two assistants ask Alice why she’s staying in Wonderland and not returning to her world. We get a bit more detail about her life pre-Wonderland here, including a touchingly sad side-story detailing her crush on her tutor, and her sister’s role in it. Again, we see that all of the main male cast seem dedicated to her NOT thinking of her sister, and I have a feeling Joker might try to sabotage that. (Of course, the fate of her sister is about as much of a spoiler by this point as Higurashi’s main villain – if you haven’t figured it out yet, read the main series again.)

This is a more serious and mystery-oriented incarnation of the Alice series, with only one sexual innuendo from the Hatter (a new low!). This isn’t to say it’s without humor, however. Alice’s reaction to Peter’s assault at the start is amusing enough to take the taste of creepy away a bit, and the Hatter’s way of showing her she’s being appalling by comparing him with her tutor is fantastic. There’s also an amusing side-story showing what the series would be like if Alice was a tiny cute little girl instead – let’s just say less romance and more adorable. But the main reason to read Alice, as always, is for the mind games the world brings with it, and this series promises to be the best one yet in delivering them.

Filed Under: REVIEWS Tagged With: alice in the country of hearts

Bookshelf Briefs 12/30/12

December 31, 2012 by Michelle Smith, Anna N, Sean Gaffney and Melinda Beasi 1 Comment

This week, Michelle, Anna, Sean, and Melinda look at recent releases from Yen Press, JManga, Dark Horse, and VIZ Media.


QuinRose_AliceFanaticRabbit_V1_TPAlice in the Country of Hearts: My Fanatic Rabbit, Vol. 1 | By QuinRose, Delico Psyche, and Owl Shinotsuki | Yen Press – I think this is the fourth iteration of the Alice series to be released here, and so far it’s shaping up to be the best since the first at hinting ominously about the mystery of the world in which Alice finds herself and her relationship with her older sister. True, the first series actively focused on these things instead of on romance, but My Fanatic Rabbit does an okay job balancing Alice’s growing affections for Elliot with these other plot threads. Elliot here is rather different than we’ve seen him before, more of a blush-prone goofball who casually kills people on command, and frequently finds himself the unwilling victim of Alice’s ear-fondling attacks. I know, I know, I’m probably taking this all way too seriously, but I honestly found those moments seriously icky. None of that in volume two (which concludes the series), please. – Michelle Smith

crazyforyou4Crazy for You, Vol. 4 | By Karuho Shiina | Shueisha/JManga – Oftentimes, the best shoujo manga has very little actual plot and instead derives its story from the characters’ evolving emotions. Crazy for You falls solidly in that category, though this volume boasts a little more plot than most, as it involves someone almost getting hit by a car. But for the most part, it’s about Sachi trying to forget about her feelings for Yuki and seriously consider Akihoshi’s confession and realizing the many subtle ways in which her feelings for the two boys differ. I’m also really intrigued by her friend, Akemi, whose “critical and serious” nature puts obstacles in the way of her happiness. As in her later series, Kimi ni Todoke, Shiina has created a complex character as her lead’s best friend, which results in some interesting new complications for this love polygon. There’s only two volumes left, and I’m highly eager to see how this story wraps up! – Michelle Smith

devil6A Devil and Her Love Song, Vol. 6 | By Miyoshi Tomori | VIZ Media – A Devil and Her Love Song continues to be a quirky and interesting read due to its unconventional heroine Maria, even as it moves forward with some fairly standard shoujo plot elements of love triangles, unrequited love, and revenge. This volume explores some mean girl antics as Maria’s friend Anna acts on her own feelings for Shin just as Maria decides to confess her feelings for him after being prodded into action by Yusuke. A Devil and Her Love Song leans a bit towards darker themes, as Anna actively prevents a deeper relationship from forming between Maria and Shin. At this point in the series as a reader I’m still undecided if I think Shin or Yusuke would be better for Maria, so I’m still actively engaged in wanting to find out what happens next. Maria’s forthright way of sailing through high school drama always produces some unexpected results, especially when she decides that she doesn’t care if she’s hated as a result of her actions. – Anna N

omg43Oh My Goddess, Vol. 43 | By Kosuke Fujishima | Dark Horse Comics – Generally around Vol. 43 of a long-running series you’re looking for the little things, those moments of well-crafted story or amusing character development that remind you why you still read a series. This is especially true with something like OMG, whose romantic payoff – or lack thereof – is the stuff of legends. Thus, seeing Keiichi and Belldandy having to choose between who has to murder a demon. (Urd and Skuld, who have less scruples, are safely locked away for most of the volume.) The conclusion is foregone but welcome nevertheless. Then, their next opponent is the supposed final boss, which means things get serious. Seeing Keiichi’s arms and legs ‘lopped off’, even bloodlessly, is a bit of horror we’re simply not used to from this series. Another good reminder of why Oh My Goddess fans still read this. -Sean Gaffney

wwt15We Were There, Vol. 15 | By Yuuki Obata | VIZ Media – After becoming completely disillusioned by this series’ main romantic pairing in volume thirteen, I was swept right back up into it by volume fourteen, and this new (old) direction has not let me down, as volume fifteen finally really tackles the question of “Just what is really wrong with Motoharu?” The answer, of course, turns out to be both more complicated and more simple than Nanami or Motoharu could have imagined. The whole thing is gorgeous and heart-wrenching in exactly the way this series has always been gorgeous and heart-wrenching, and though it’s obviously winding down, I know I’ll be a little heartbroken when the final volume arrives next year. This series has been the shoujo romance closest to my heart, and after fifteen volumes, it has never let me down. Still recommended. – Melinda Beasi

Filed Under: Bookshelf Briefs Tagged With: a devil and her love song, alice in the country of hearts, crazy for you, oh my goddess, we were there

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