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Manga Mentions 01.10
1.10.2010 1:02 PM \| Link 0 comments	Appleseed Vol 4: I really enjoyed this last volume (although there are some other bonus material books available) of Shirow Masamune's Appleseed, even though the plot is pretty complex and full of political espionage. There's some good insight into Deunan's character (and she loses an eye!) and some fantastic hand-to-hand fight choreography, but I'm most impressed with the incredible artwork and detailed scenes of large, futuristic urban areas! Black Jack Vol 3: This is such a great manga for morning reading, since the stories are the perfect length! I realized that the timeline is a little out of order at times, since Pinoko's age doesn't seem right, but I'm not sure if that's how they were published or just collected in this volume (I don't care either way!). My favorite chapter this time is when Black Jack operates on himself in the middle of Australia while dingoes are chomping at his portable sterile surgical bubble! Nana Vol 5: There's a reason why Nana is such a popular manga, and that's because it's so easy to get wrapped up in the characters and their emotional lives! Nana and Ren get back together and Hachiko (the cute Nana) hooks up with Takumi, though she has feelings for Yasu and Nobu at the same time. It doesn't matter that I already know the plot, because when I finish one volume I can't wait to start the next one! Nana Vol 6: The emotional drama gets even deeper in this volume, since Nobu confesses his love to Hachiko, who is still hopelessly addicted to Takumi. The point of view narration is so wonderful in this manga, and I loved Hachiko's explanation about her relationship with Takumi and how they understand (and intensify) each other's weakness. Since Nana is staying with Ren now, this is a sad time for poor Hachiko. Mahoromatic Vol 1: Although I didn't really want to start a new series, I couldn't resist getting this one for free from PaperBack Swap, especially since I really fell in love with the anime on DVD years ago. It was lots of fun reliving all the hilarious scenes, since it seems the anime was taken almost word-for-word from the manga. Mahoro is so cute, so I'm afraid I'm getting sucked in to reading the whole series! Labels: manga, masamune, tezuka
Manga Mentions 12.09
12.04.2009 12:56 PM \| Link 0 comments	Honey and Clover Vol 1: When Shojo Beat magazine was still being published, I looked forward to reading Honey and Clover in each new issue, since it always had a relaxing effect on me. So even though I've enjoyed most of the manga piece-meal (as well as enjoyed the live action drama and movie), I decided to read it again! It's amazing how much I love this story, considering the bizarre artwork (not really my style), but the narrative is so well-written that it warms my heart every time! This first volume just gets things going with the art school students, and I'm looking forward to what happens next (even though I know already). Nana Vol 3: Speaking of re-reading, I'm still having a good time with my second-favorite Shojo Beat series, so I picked up a couple more volumes on PaperBack Swap. In this volume Shoji starts cheating on Nana with Sachiko, but there's quite a bit of character development to demonstrate Shoji's internal conflict, making it a much more interesting situation. Also, Yasu moves to Tokyo to play drums with Nana's band, completing the line-up! Nana Vol 4: Nana discovers that the other Nana had a relationship with Ren, so she starts scheming about getting her to see his band in concert. I love the scene where they see each other from the stage, and I was really moved by the line about crying because emotion fills the heart to overflowing (kind of a profound explanation). Hikaru no Go Vol 17: It's becoming so easy to sum up Hikaru no Go lately: fantastic artwork, a bunch of Go games, and nothing much happens. I just have to keep reading since I'm come so far, and at least this volume includes a confrontation between Hikaru and Akira (who senses the presence of Sai), as well as a nice dream sequence with Sai himself (I hope he comes back soon). Kaze Hikaru Vol 15: This volume has an interesting plot where a doctor friend of Sei's father comes to examine the troops (obviously a problem since Sei is a girl posing as a guy!). There's a little development in Okita's feelings for Sei, and the crisis resolves itself in a creative diagnosis that will support Sei's cause among the troops for quite a while. Now how about some action? Labels: manga
Manga Mentions 10.09
10.24.2009 6:16 PM \| Link 0 comments	Black Jack Vol 1: Even though I've read every bit of Astro Boy, the Phoenix saga, and the epic Buddha, there's still so much more Osamu Tezuka for me to enjoy! Tezuka's classic renegade surgeon Black Jack used to be difficult to find in English, but now Vertical is publishing beautiful editions of this cool series. This first volume contains the origin of Pinoko (the little girl who lives with Black Jack who has a past too complicated to describe here), and a great assortment of wild transplant stories with lots of gross detailed medical illustrations! Black Jack Vol 2: These new editions are pretty thick (printed on excellent heavy stock paper), but I had to continue with the next volume right away, which includes more of Black Jack's interesting past, such as the story of his facial scars and skin grafts. Pinoko decides she wants to go to school, Black Jack treats a killer whale, and one plot about a broken needle in a patient's bloodstream is filled with more disgusting detailed artwork! Kaze Hikaru Vol 14: I still enjoy this series, especially because of the exhaustive historial research that went into it (evidenced by a bonus feature on ancient Japanese hairstyles!), but I have to admit that things are getting a little boring plot-wise, since everyone is just sitting around. There's a new character named Goro who sees through Kamiya's disguise as a boy, and Kamiya gets some serious training from Okita, but there needs to be a battle or something! Nana Vol 1: I've already read the equivalent of the first several volumes of Nana in Shojo Beat magazine (before it was cancelled), but I couldn't resist picking up a few volumes on PaperBack Swap. Of course, I wanted to start over from the beginning, and I'm glad I did, since some scenes definitely seem longer (and less censored) than they did in the magazine! The first volume contains fantastic background stories about both Nana's before they meet. Nana Vol 2: It doesn't matter how many times I've watched the movie (though I still need to see the anime!), I still enjoy the magical moment when the two Nana's meet on the train, then eventually get their apartment together by fate. This volumes ends with the arrival of Nobu and Nana's singing on top of the table (such an awesome scene), and I can't wait to keep reading, even though I know what's going to happen. Labels: manga, tezuka
Manga Mentions 9.09
9.07.2009 7:49 AM \| Link 0 comments	xxxHolic Vol 13: It's been quite a while since I've read this series, and it's actually getting a little old (I'm definitely tired of the stupid Tsubasa cross-over stuff), but since I've come this far I feel like I have to keep reading it! In this volume it seems there's an end to Kohane-chan's problems, and there are a few intriguing lines, but none of the charm that got me started on this series, unfortunately. I'm caught up with the publishing dates of almost all of the manga I'm reading now, which means I have to wait months for each new volume! Kaze Hikaru Vol 13: Even this fantastic series seems to have lost a little steam (maybe the 13th volume is unlucky?), but there's still an interesting emotional plot to get into, since Kamiya begins to face the fact that she's just not as strong as a man (even though she's posing as one!). The side story this time involves Kashitaro's dejected overweight brother Miki, who becomes Kamiya's friend so they can encourage each other. Nodame Cantabile Vol 16: Now that my pal Kumiko has read the entire Nodame Cantabile series in Japanese, I'm totally jealous that I have to wait three months between each new translated volume! This time Chiaki concentrates on getting the Roux-Marlet orchestra in shape, while the rest of the story features Tanya and Kuroki. Nodame herself doesn't appear much, but when she does she presents a hilarious photo collection of her beloved Chiaki! Hikaru no Go Vol 16: Since Hikaru is being boring while he's depressed about losing Sai, the story focuses instead on Isumi living in China for awhile to study Go with other dedicated students. This is an excellent subplot that really had me interested, and it looks like it's going to finally get HIkaru back in the game! Appleseed Vol 3: I'm really starting to become a Masamune fan and enjoying the way it feels to dive deep into his futuristic world (which means examining each page for all of the insane details)! This volume is filled with international intrigue and politics, including a huge action-packed operation in France as well as the capture of a renegade Bioroid, plus a bunch of conversations between Deunan and Hitomi (usually lounging around half-naked). Labels: manga, masamune
Manga Mentions 7.09
7.15.2009 5:04 PM \| Link 0 comments	This month's manga mini-reviews are one volume short, but I thought I should go ahead and write them since this is a special all Monster edition! Since I was so close to the end, I decided to finish up the final four parts of Naoki Urasawa's manga masterpiece, and now that I've read all 18 volumes over the past two years, I can easily say this is the best non-fantasy (meaning no science fiction, magic, or anything supernatural) series I've read so far. Because of the incredible suspense/mystery storytelling, the wonderful cinematography of the artwork, and the fantastic attention to character development and backstories, I'd recommend Monster to anyone, whether you're a manga fan or not. Monster Vol 15 really gets into Eva's (Tenma's ex-wife) story, while exploring Nina's (Johan's sister) memories at the same time. At this point in the story, I fell for a false clue and suspected something about the twins that I can't tell you (but of course, I was wrong!). Monster Vol 16 leads up to a pivotal moment when Nina finally faces her brother Johan, then ends with a huge cliffhanger that made me fire up Safari to buy the next few volumes immediately! There's also some fascinating detective work to link a series of unrelated murders to Johan's past, as well as some rare flashbacks of the mysterious experiment. Monster Vol 17 is much more fast-paced paced than before and starts to bring back important characters from previous volumes (such as Inspector Lunge and Grimmer) to prepare for the finale. The story was pretty intense for me at this point, but there was no way I could stop now. Monster Vol 18 is a really thick volume, which ends the series with lots of moments that readers have been waiting for - Tenma meets Lunge, Lunge meets Grimmer, and the final confrontation with Johan himself. There's a nice epilogue to show how the lives of most characters turned out, and then a somewhat ambiguous ending, but Monster is far too amazing to let a little frustration spoil it all! Labels: manga
Manga Mentions 6.09
6.03.2009 12:25 PM \| Link 0 comments	Dr. Slump Vol 18: I’ve been reading Dr. Slump since around 2005, and I’ve really enjoyed Senbei and Arale’s crazy adventures (plus I thought it was cool to get into characters that just about anyone you meet in Japan will know!). Overall, this series was a little too long, but I still loved this final volume, which managed to introduce some new characters at the last minute (Biker Boy riding his motorcycle with his bare butt showing was hilarious)! Most of the book is filled with another Penguin Gran Prix, but the end is still really touching, including just about every character from the entire series. I’m going to miss them! Kaze Hikaru Vol 12: Although I’m a big fan of this series, this volume was pretty much filler. I enjoyed the emotions expressed about Yamanami’s seppuku from the last volume, and there’s a semi-interesting plot about Soji’s old love Sae, but generally not much happens (there’s also a re-introduction to the whole story which is kind of a re-run). Of course, the artwork is still stunning, though! I’m hoping the next volume will get some more action or romance going. Hikaru no Go Vol 15: Finally something interesting is happening in this story, although I think 15 volumes is way too long to make it to this point! Sai (the Go master spirit that haunts Hikaru) disappears, and Hikaru travels around to several historic sites in Japan looking for a way to get him back. Even though Hikaru has become a Go expert, without Sai he wants to give up the game! I hope it doesn’t take too much longer to get Sai back in the story, or at least start explaining why he was there in the first place. Monster Vol 13: I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with this series, so I decided to kick it into high gear and read two volumes this month. I’m always amazed at how seemingly unimportant new characters are introduced with full background stories, such as the criminal who helps Tenma escape from jail. Eva has some interesting flashbacks about her former marriage with Tenma, and a new lawyer enters the picture to help Tenma’s cause. Monster Vol 14: A lot of stuff is revealed at last in this volume, so I read it cover to cover in record time! Thanks to some childhood flashbacks, we get to see what went on at the Red Rose Mansion, as well as it’s connection to those creepy children's books. I was pretty shocked to see Johan dressed as his sister Anna, which is making the gears in my brain start to turn. The entire series has finally been published, so I’m going to focus on Monster for a while (just a few more volumes to go)! Labels: manga
Maximum space and book swapping
5.19.2009 7:16 PM \| Link 0 comments	Back when I organized all my books and manga, I made a firm commitment to the concept of "maximum space", meaning that when a defined space is full and I want to buy more, I have to get rid of things to make room. This idea has been guiding all of my collections and their growth for quite a while, so I know they will never get out of hand! I have two small shelves designated as my maximum space for manga, and recently I reached the limit. Since I'm still buying and enjoying manga, I had to find a way to lose some old series. The problem with manga is it's worth next to nothing for trade-in (I found a place online that would do one dollar per volume, but it just wasn't worth the effort). However, I remembered reading about a site called PaperBackSwap, which basically just acts as a broker of one-for-one book trading, which seemed like a good fit for manga. It turns out there were tons of people who wanted the books I decided to offer, since I had about 10 requests in minutes! PaperBackSwap actually knows the weight of the books you're sending, so it can print out Media Mail postage (pretty cheap) for you, which is super handy. You can actually wrap the book in printer paper if you want, but I found it easier to use brown paper and just tape the postage on. Anyway, it was really simple, and now I have lots of credit to use to get swapped books. The site has over three million books registered, but you can even put books they don't have yet on a wish list, so if someone offers them you can snatch them up. Since you pay the postage when you send books, you don't pay anything to receive them, and today I just received my first book, a Steve Martin novel that has been on my Amazon Wish List for ages! It will take me a long time to "spend" the credit I have built up, but I'm definitely sold on the idea! Labels: decluttering, manga
Manga Mentions 3.09
3.21.2009 6:07 AM \| Link 0 comments	Video Girl Ai Vol 10: It's time for another variety-less Manga Mentions, since I'm trying to finish or catch up with a couple specific series. Video Girl Ai, which started out so wonderfully, has become drawn-out and semi-boring, but since I can't make myself abandon anything, I just want to get it over with! Moemi becomes surprisingly controlling in this volume (an interesting twist for her otherwise angelic character), and Ai spends some time with Takashi, but overall the plot doesn't move much. Video Girl Ai Vol 11: As if we needed another delay in the main plot, this volume focuses on Natsumi (sick in the hospital) and her old boyfriend, which serves as a way for Ai and Takashi to help out. The subplot isn't that bad, but it definitely seems like poor timing, although it does give Ai a reason to get back with Yota. Oh well, this series can't go on for much longer! Nodame Cantabile Vol 13: On the other hand, I still can't get enough of Nodame Cantabile, so I don't care how long this series lasts! I decided to read three volumes in a row so I could get caught up with the translated publishing schedule, so now I'll have to wait a few months for each new volume to come out, which will allow me to branch out in my manga reading! In this Christmas-time volume, Chiaki gets a job conducting an orchestra filled with awful players, and the Chinese pianist Rui returns to shake things up. Nodame Cantabile Vol 14: Chiaki continues to have problems with his orchestra, while everyone else focuses on their final exams. There are some cute and funny moments as Nodame gets stressed out, but of course she gets a good grade (just barely!). The musical notes focus on traditional instruments this time - I always learn new facts from this manga! Nodame Cantabile Vol 15: Nodame plays a recital for a rich Mozart fan, decked out in full costume with a wig! Although you would think illustrations of someone playing piano would get boring, the recital scene is amazing, with tons of information about each piece Nodame plays and lots of audience reactions - it really makes you want to be there listening! There are also a couple touching scenes where stoic Chiaki reveals he really does love Nodame, but now I have to wait until July for the next volume! Labels: manga
Speed Racer: Mach Go Go Go : 4 of 5
3.10.2009 11:09 AM \| Link 0 comments	Although I've been a Speed Racer fan for as long as I can remember, I had never read the original manga version of the series, so when I saw this box set was available, it went on my Christmas list right away! This really is a beautiful edition, including two hardcover books (over 600 pages together!) in a fantastic slipcase, making this the most extravagant manga I own. Most of the pages are black and white (thankfully in their original left to right order), although there are a few color covers of the early 60s issues (in Japanese) that look really cool. There's a fairly interesting introduction by Peter Fernandez, famous for voicing Speed and helping to bring anime to the US, but unfortunately no other background material about the manga itself. However, the stories are a total blast to read, with some covering classic episodes of the show almost exactly, and some completely new adventures to enjoy. The Mach 5 has several more features that were new to me, such as hydrofoil mode, jets, wings, radar, and even automatic spare tires! Some of the original Japanese dialogue is interesting in this translation, with dramatic lines for Speed like "Let me die in the Mach 5!", and he even chews out some striking auto workers with "You call yourselves Japanese acting like this?" My favorite story was Secret of the Golden Arrow, one of the longest plots with lots of action and interesting scenes with Racer X. And speaking of Racer X, the manga actually ends with the touching reunion of Rex Racer with his family! I was totally shocked when it happened, but it was great to see those tears rolling down Speed's cheeks as he hugs his long lost big brother. I had so much fun reading this manga set, and I definitely recommend it to fans of the anime and all the nostalgia that goes along with it! Labels: books, manga
Manga Mentions 2.09
2.07.2009 1:36 PM \| Link 2 comments	Appleseed / The Promethean Challenge Vol 1: I definitely didn't need to start another manga series while I'm reading so many others, but I just had the urge for something more substantial than the shoujo plots I've been into lately (I think I'm feeling the absence of Tezuka now that I've finished Buddha and Phoenix!). Since I completely enjoyed the recent Appleseed movies, I decided to check out the original manga, and so far I love it. The artwork is incredibly detailed (one of Masamune Shirow's trademarks), and the plot unfolds much more slowly than the anime, which makes it really interesting. I can't wait to continue with this series (while finishing up the others I'm reading)! Dr. Slump Vol 17: Speaking of finishing up, this is the next to last volume of Dr. Slump, and although I'll miss it, this has certainly been one long-ass series for a comedy manga! This volume finally reveals that the Gatchans are actually angels (pretty weird), and has a huge battle when Tsuku-Tsun has to protect Akane on their date, but the best story involves dirty Senbei who invents a way to stop time so he can peek at his wife Midori's panties! Nodame Cantabile Vol 10: I usually like to keep the variety going and spread my time over several series, but I kind of went nuts and read three volumes of Nodame Cantabile in a row! There's just something about this series that's so relaxing - I love the silly romance and the serious attention to classical music details! This volume begins the Paris plot (which was covered in the TV drama special), including the funny scenes of Nodame learning French by watching her favorite dubbed anime! Nodame Cantabile Vol 11: This next volume follows the drama special almost exactly, as Chiaki is kind of kidnapped to go on tour with Stresseman and Nodame starts her difficult classes at music school. I really enjoyed the detailed music notes at the end of this volume, which included a lot of history about the pieces performed in the book. Nodame Cantabile Vol 12: I just couldn't stop reading, so I moved on to this volume right away, which re-introduces Kuroki the oboist, plus a painter who lives in the same apartment building and is inspired by listening to the students practice (he wasn't in the drama that I remember, so it was nice to read something new). While Nodame struggles to learn counterpoint, the manga provides some excellent explanation about what counterpoint is and how Bach perfected it! Labels: manga, masamune
Manga Mentions 12.08
12.05.2008 7:23 AM \| Link 0 comments	These two sentence reviews of the same old series are probably getting boring, and this time around all of the series I'm reading weren't very exciting. I promise I'll start something new to mention next time! Hikaru no Go Vol 13: Sai (the Go master spirit that haunts Hikaru) really wants to play against Toya Meijin, and since he's in the hospital, it's the perfect chance to face him in an online game. There are scenes of Go fans all over the world watching the game on their computer monitors, which is kind of exciting, but I'm still waiting to know what this "divine move" is all about! Monster Vol 12: This volume follows Inspector Lunge and Tenma as they track down Johan's past through the creepy storybook, and includes some terrifying psychological manipulation of some poor kid by Johan! Although it seems like things are beginning to wrap up, I have a feeling this series has a long way to go! Kaze Hikaru Vol 10: As always, this series boasts wonderful artwork and interesting historical accuracy, but hardly anything happened in the story this time. Ito Kashitaro, a legendary effeminate samurai, arrives and tries to get it on with Sei, which kicks up some good emotions between Sei and Soji, but overall this was a snoozer volume. Nodame Cantabile Vol 9: After Nodame's piano competition, she goes home to stay with her family, and I thought it was cool how the translator decided to leave their rural dialect in Japanese for effect! After a few funny boyfriend moments when Chiaki goes to find her, they agree to study abroad together, thus ending the first broad Japan arc of the story. Video Girl Ai Vol 9: This volume is all about teenage tension, with hardly any mention of the video tape aspects of the plot. Yota and Moemi are together, but Moemi is jealous since Ai is helping Yota work on his children's book, and there are pages of agony over who should call who and what to say. I love these characters, but I wish they would do something rather than just think about it all the time! Labels: manga
Manga Mentions 10.08
10.24.2008 8:10 AM \| Link 2 comments	I'm still working on the same old series, but a few of them are winding down. I'm looking forward to choosing some new titles after I finish these! Nodame Cantabile Vol 7: This volume of the story was almost exactly like the Nodame Cantabile drama, with no extra bonus scenes, but I really didn't mind, since I love this part of the series. I'm always inspired to read about life goals through the voice of manga characters, and the oboe player says one of the best lines ever in this volume when he's asked why he works hard practicing: "I'm happy if I can play oboe well, and I'm happier if I can play it better." xxxHolic Vol 12: Back when I started this series, I knew it had some crossover elements with Tsubasa (another Clamp manga that I wasn't interested in), but they always claimed each story would stand alone. Unfortunately, this volume is full of a dream conversation with Princess Sakura from Tsubasa, which was kind of annoying. I'm curious about the wish for Yuko, but the whole thing is a little confusing! Dr. Slump Vol 17: This manga has been going on so long that there just can't be much more happening in good old Penguin Village! This volume has a lot of interaction with the author Toriyama himself (such as Q&A pages and so on), and finally returns to some hilarious pervert moments for Senbei! I enjoyed the glimpse into the future and finding out which characters get married, too! Video Girl Ai Vol 8: Although I like this manga, I always feel like I'm still reading I''s (incredibly similar story by the same artist)! Yota finally confesses to Moemi in this volume, and they enjoy some tender moments together, but Ai's video tape (her lifeline) starts getting jammed or something in the VCR, so there's trouble ahead! Nodame Cantabile Vol 8: I usually try to space out my reading among more titles, but I couldn't resist reading another Nodame volume this time. This was another fast one, with lots of text-less pages during big Rising Star Orchestra performances. Even though these go by quickly, I love how they make sure you know exactly which classical piece is being played - nice detail! Labels: manga
Manga Mentions 7.08
7.30.2008 5:58 PM \| Link 0 comments	Lately I've been pretty focused on five or six series, which I'm hoping to finish before I give in to temptation and start some new ones! xxxHolic Vol 11: It seems like this story is starting to approach some kind of finale, since Yuko keeps dropping more and more cryptic hints. There's a nice semi-contained plot about a girl trying to get rid spirits in her house (only to discover that she's the spirit herself!), and I wish there were more of these short ghost stories to enjoy. Monster Vol 11: The plot and artwork of this manga is still amazing, and this volume is particularly chilling since the evil Johan begins to disguise himself as his sister! There's a mysterious tape recording of Yohan when he was a child at 511 Kinderheim that begins to put some puzzle pieces together, too. Nodame Cantabile Vol 6: In general, this manga is a super-quick read, but I still enjoy finding the new scenes that weren't in the drama. This volume includes a stay with Chiaki's uncle and cousins, who have a nice time playing with Nodame, and we get to see Chiaki undergo some hypnotherapy (slowly unraveling his fear of flying). Kaze Hikaru Vol 9: I love this manga since it's so detailed and takes a long time to read (exactly the opposite of Nodame Cantabile!), and it even includes background information on the historical research behind the story! There's a great episode about an organized duel for Sei's affections that reveals lots of emotion for Hajime and Soji, which is pretty touching once you get past the fact that these are all dudes (even though Sei is a girl in disguise!). Video Girl Ai Vol 7: It looks like a second plot arc is beginning since Ai is allowed to come back and start over with Yota (though she can't reveal her motives). Moemi becomes central to the story again and stirs up anger between Yota and Takashi, with some really dramatic and tragic events! Labels: manga
Manga Mentions 6.08
6.21.2008 6:08 AM \| Link 0 comments	Manga is still my favorite thing to read in all the off-moments of the day. There's nothing like enjoying a few pages when I have a spare ten minutes here and there! Here's what I finished this month. Ninin ga Shinobuden Vol 3: I'm still enjoying this completely crazy series, which continues to remind me of a MAD Magazine parody of ninja shows! This volume introduces Izumi, the master of an all-girl ninja academy near Onsokumaru's school, and keeps the pervy humor going strong (the suggestive shadows while Shinobu plays with her pet elephant are priceless!). Hikaru no Go Vol 12: This volume finally starts looking into the character of Sai (the ancient Go master who possesses Hikaru) a little more, since he begs to play a special game with Akira's dad, who discovers their imaginary handicap scheme. I'm hoping future volumes will have more character development and a bit fewer straight Go playing scenes! Video Girl Ai Vol 6: I took a break from this series for a while, but it was easy to get back into the story with this volume. Yota runs into a childhood friend named Natsumi, who ends up helping him in a big battle with Ai's enemy video girl who is determined to erase her! (All the VCR talk is funny - I wonder how they would write this series today?) Dr. Slump Vol 15: This hilarious series is coming to a close, so I'm glad there were finally a few more funny Peeping Tom moments for Senbei! Suddenly, the doctor is a daddy with the birth of baby Turbo, who has a quick alien abduction that allows him to speak and fly. Suppaman also makes a brief funny appearance! Nodame Cantabile Vol 5: This volume mostly covers the big S Orchestra costumed concert, so there are lots of wordless pages where the reader has to imagine hearing the classic music being played (it's definitely helpful to know the pieces, or to watch the drama, first!). There's also a great bonus story about Chiaki's childhood, which is much more dramatic than I expected! Labels: manga
Manga Mentions 5.08
5.15.2008 7:50 AM \| Link 0 comments	Another month, another five volumes enjoyed! I wish I had time to read more than that, because I can always use a manga escape every now and then. Here's this month's report! Monster Vol 10: Although my interest in this manga has toned down a little, it's still one of the most amazing suspense stories I've ever read, so even though I'm behind the current release, I still can't put a volume down once I start it! This time we're introduced to Grimmer, a new character who's a former spy investigating the creepy 511 Kinderheim experiments, and there really isn't much of Tenma to be seen. Johan's sister is getting pretty scary, though! Phoenix Vol 12: I was completely shocked to discover this bonus volume of my beloved Hi no Tori was available, since the last official story was Vol 11! This is a collection of serialized children's stories that star the Phoenix, mostly as a baby named Chirol, focusing on ancient Egypt and Rome, so familiar plots like the Trojan Horse are included. It was fascinating to read these light-hearted yet dramatic stories and still recognize the main characteristics of my favorite manga series! Death Note 13: On the subject of bonus volumes, here's another unexpected treat! This extra addition to this fantastic series is titled How to Read, and it's basically a encyclopedia of every detail, large and small, about the story. There are long discussions with the creators, detailed explanations about every plot twist, an exhaustive Death Note rules list, character studies, and so on - it's an obsessive geek's delight! The first Death Note pilot story is included as well, with the original idea that erasing a name would bring the person back to life! Nodame Cantabile Vol 4: I enjoyed this volume mostly because I was engrossed in the live-action drama of this series at the same time, so it's lots of fun to compare the plots as they unfold, but I'm definitely devoted to sticking with the manga all the way. This volume includes the Nagano Music Festival, with a quick and funny stop at the beach, plus an extra story about Nodame's childhood and her first piano teacher, which was really sweet. Yotsuba Vol 5: Finally, it was wonderful to get back to this gentle, heart-warming series again, which should receive simultaneous awards for "quickest read" and "most laughs out loud"! This time Yotsuba has fun star gazing, playing in the rain and at the beach, and gets fooled by a robot costume. Even though it's so simple, this series always makes me feel wonderful - its motto of "Enjoy everything" is so poignant and true! Labels: death note, manga, tezuka
Manga Mentions 4.08
4.03.2008 6:41 AM \| Link 0 comments	Although I'm trying not to buy any new books until I finish what I already own, manga is an exception to that rule, since I have to keep up with my ongoing series, and I just think of them as comic books anyway! I've decided to format Manga Mentions as separate mini-paragraphs this time, so we'll see how it looks. Genshiken Vol 9: This final volume was a nice end to the series, although the first arc of the plot was overall much better than the second. The new American character who "speaks" Japanese only by quoting anime and manga was pretty funny (and thank goodness there are explanations to all the references!), but the incredible "silent chapter" was the best part, where Madarame almost confesses to Kasukabe - such a nice bittersweet moment! Dr. Slump Vol 14: As usual, this was a super-fast read, finally bringing an end to the Dr. Mashirito saga, which was funny all the way. There's a hilarious plot about Arale discovering she has a "pee-pee" when her head is installed on Obatchaman's body, plus a big reveal at the end - Midori is pregnant! I still miss the days before Slump was married to her and just chasing her around, though. Buddha Vol 8: Reading this final volume of another Tezuka masterpiece was really sad, since I definitely didn't want it to end! Many previously stories are all tied together, ending the sagas (and lives) of many characters. There's a wonderful sub-plot about Sudatta the beggar that's particularly touching, and Buddha tells the rabbit parable from the first volume again. Reading this series has really taught me a lot about Buddhism and life itself! Kaze Hikaru Vol 8: Now that I've finished Buddha this may be my favorite series, since I'm always fascinated by not only the detailed Japanese history, but also the deep look into these characters' lives. This volume is a perfect example, which takes a break from the main storyline to look at the childhood of Soji, showing how he was molded by knowing the future captain and vice-captain of the Shinsengumi as a boy. xxxHolic Vol 10: This volume went by too quickly, but the artwork is even better than usual. There are several dream sequences where Watanuki is helped by the spirit of Doumeki's grandfather, and Himawari-chan's bad luck secret is finally out in the open! Labels: manga, tezuka
Robot Vol 3 : 3 of 5
2.22.2008 7:43 AM \| Link 0 comments	It's been a very long time since I read the previous volume of this "super color comic" manga series, but since I enjoyed the previous two books I thought I should keep going, especially since it took so long for this one to be published in the US! Unfortunately, Volume 3 isn't quite as good as I had hoped, but I still enjoyed studying the artwork, which is filled with detail. Robot allows manga artists to really stretch out and create things with quality they could never afford on a regular manga series, so sometimes they just produce beautiful paintings with hardly any story at all, such as a beautiful fantasy look at life in a fishbowl. My favorite story this time is about a dream-seller who helps a lost girl find her father by trading his services for her dream, which has a nice touching plot that's a welcome contrast to some of the other bloody and gross stories in this volume. I remembered the Hemohemo characters from last time, and enjoyed more of their frightningly cute meaningless adventures, but I had forgotten some of the other plots since it had been so long. It would have been nice to follow Sedouka better, which seems like a great story (of course, I could read it again since I still have the other volumes, but I'm lazy and I want to move on to other books!). Although Robot has been fairy successful in Japan, I'm not sure how it's doing in the US, based on how far behind the publishing schedule seems to be. It's definitely a completely adult experience full of bizarre situations, so maybe American audiences don't quite get into it. I suppose I'll try out another volume someday to continue with my set! Labels: books, manga
Manga Mentions 2.08
2.04.2008 7:17 AM \| Link 0 comments	Even though I'm reading more non-comic books lately, it's always nice to fill in the gaps with some of my favorite manga! Believe it or not, I actually started out this round re-reading Phoenix Vol 2, because a few years ago it was only available in an extra large book format, so I wanted to get this volume in the standard size to match the rest of my collection. I know, that's a little crazy, but I loved re-reading this story again, and the love of Tamami the Moopie is still so moving! Since I can never get enough Osamu Tezuka, I made my way through both Buddha Vol 6 & Vol 7, and I'm still amazed by the incredible storytelling and artwork, as well as the inspiring plot and characters. The main introduction this time is Ananda, a thief who kind of has a deal with the Goddess Mara (pretty much the devil), and Buddha confronts her to save Ananda's life, after which he becomes a monk (who is always plagued by his evil past) and eventually Buddha's trusted disciple. The story of Prince Ajatasattu is also amazing, and both volumes contain fascinating illustrated sermons with beautiful imagery. I'm totally in love with this series, so it's going to be sad to finish up the next and last volume! Hikaru no Go Vol 11 was refreshing, since I had been away from this story for a while, and it was nice to see Hikaru pass the pro test after his big battle with Ochi, and there are some nice intellectual interludes with Sai. Finally, I enjoyed Nodame Cantabile Vol 3 - I'm reading this series slowly, even though each volume goes by so fast! The main plot involves the S Orchestra's rehearsals of Beethoven's Eroica symphony (this series is great when you enjoy classical music as I do!), and Chiaki finally learns a lesson about personal expression in performance - not much romance this time, but the story is still really engaging! Labels: manga, tezuka
Manga Mentions 12.07
12.30.2007 7:24 AM \| Link 0 comments	These mini-reviews are a little late, since I finished these five volumes before the Christmas holiday, but I need to write about these now before I start reading new ones! Monster Vol 9 continues this incredible series with some dramatic action in a big library fire, as Tenma finally tries to take down Johan, while Johan's sister starts to put it all together. This volume also includes a reproduction of the mysterious children's book, which is pretty creepy! After all the suspense, Dr. Slump Vol 13 provided some great humor, featuring Caramel Boy 004 (renamed Obotchaman), who looks like Astro Boy and falls in love with Arale! It's totally hilarious, but I wish there had been more of Senbei's usual hentai antics. To my surprise, To Terra Vol 3 was the end of the series (I had no idea it was so short), but the finale was awesome with some massive space battles and interesting ends for the main characters Keith and Jomy. Overall, the story was a little weird, but I still enjoyed it, so I might check out more of Takemiya's work. Kaze Hikaru Vol 7 was fantastic as always, introducing me to more Japanese history (such as the huge battle and resulting fire in Kyoto known as kinmon no hen), as well as keeping the emotion going with a new romance for Vice Captain Yamanami (who's new lover happens to know Sei's secret!). Finally, I''s Vol 15 brought this long romance series to an end with a stalker confrontation, as well as tying up loose ends with the girl next door, but after reading this story for so long, I thought the finale was a little rushed, and it took no less than a coma for Ichitaka and Iori to finally get together! Labels: manga
Embarrassing reading
12.08.2007 2:35 PM \| Link 0 comments	I'm really getting into holiday mode, which means relaxing a little more and enjoying things like reading! I've been catching up on some actual books lately, but of course I'm still reading manga, too. Besides the regular volumes I like, I'm still a faithful subscriber to Shojo Beat - my embarrassing little pleasure! Every month I enjoy finding what happens in all the stories (and I definitely skip over the girly beauty tips!) - I still haven't forgiven them for getting rid of Nana, but the current line-up is pretty good. The best by far is Honey & Clover, which always makes me laugh at the antics of these crazy art school characters, and I think Crimson Hero is pretty inspiring. I didn't like Vampire Knight at first, but it's starting to grow on me! I know that I'm supposed to be reading Shonen Jump since I'm a guy, but I can't help it if I'd rather read emotional stories instead of all that ninja crap! Now if I could only read it on a train, it would feel more like Japan - maybe when Austin light rail opens I'll have to give it a try! Talking about manga reminds me of anime, and I recently enjoyed the full-length Black Jack movie on the Sci-Fi Channel! Black Jack is one of Osamu Tezuka's characters that I'd like to know more about, but he's just barely been available in the US, so I was surprised this movie was on. The dub was terrible, of course, but the plot and the animation were pretty nice! I wish the movie was more about why Black Jack became a renegade surgeon and his relationship to Pinoko, but it was still cool to watch anyway. Labels: anime, manga, tezuka
Manga Mentions 10.07
10.24.2007 7:18 AM \| Link 0 comments	Wow, it's been a long time since my last Manga Mentions, but I finally managed to squeeze five more volumes into my schedule recently, so here we go! As promised, I focused on "serious" manga this time around (no high school romances!), starting with Hikaru no Go Vol 10, which was mostly filled with the series of games needed for Hikaru to become a pro, as his confidence is lost and gained again, while Akira decides to tutor his opponent as a way of learning more about his rival. xxxHolic Vol 9 had some nice culture references about New Years dreams, and a spooky girl who sees spirits in a cherry tree, but unfortunately didn't have the philosophical edge I've enjoyed in past volumes. Kaze Hikaru Vol 6 was bursting with Japanese history, including the incredible battle at Ikedaya that was better than watching a movie! The combination of romance and history make this manga something I can see myself reading again when it's all over. And now for two more Osamu Tezuka masterpieces! Buddha Vol 5 skillfully weaves the tales of many characters from past volumes (such as the warrior Tatta), while also focusing on the now-enlightened Buddha's sermons, even illustrating their stories with great impact! Finally, Phoenix Vol 11 is the bittersweet final volume of the greatest manga series ever written, weighing in at 400 pages, even though this story is a continuation of the previous volume! There's quite a bit of future/past jumping this time (all executed with brilliant cinematography), with an incredible message about religious conflict. I will definitely be reading the entire Phoenix saga again someday! Labels: manga, tezuka
Manga Mentions 8.07
8.18.2007 7:59 AM \| Link 0 comments	Today's Manga Mentions begins with an amazing ending! Death Note Vol 12 is the finale to the huge story of Light Yagami, and it's been a great story overall (although the battle against L was much better than against Near and Mellow). I think it's difficult to end a plot about an anti-hero, but this volume certainly delivers (although it's mostly huge Sherlock Holmes style explanations of how both sides tricked each other). Next, I enjoyed Nodame Cantabile Vol 2, which introduces some fun new characters, including a gay percussionist and a genius German conductor who likes to scam on his girl students (these characters appeared in the Nintendo DS game, which makes much more sense now!). To finish off this set of five manga, I blazed through some shoujo, starting with Video Girl Ai Vol 5, where Ai is living with Yota again but doesn't have her memories back yet, and the troubles with Nobuko continue. Gacha Gacha: The Next Revolution Vol 3 was actually pretty boring, even though a new little sister character (who looks like a boy, of course) was introduced. Finally, Suzuka Vol 4 gets serious with some interesting character development between Akitsuki and Suzuka, which is a complete turn-around from all the crazy fan service in the earlier volumes, and Honoka-chan is definitely getting into the love triangle now, which is great since I like her more than the title character so far! I promise my next five volumes will be more than just high school romances! Labels: death note, manga
Manga Mentions 7.07 Part 2
7.22.2007 11:29 AM \| Link 0 comments	It's manga time again! First up is Yotsuba&! Vol 4, which I was completely shocked to discover, since after the first three volumes were published in English, this title completely disappeared for months and months (I was even desperate enough to buy the next couple volumes in Japanese, but I'm really happy to have English translations to compare them with!). As usual, Yotsuba is completely laugh-out-loud funny, and in this volume she does some shopping, goes on a fishing trip, and gives some hilarious heartbreak advice! Densha Otoko Vol 3 finishes up my favorite version of the popular story, with a nice sub-plot about one of Densha's net friends being real-life friends with Hermes' sister, and the actual end of the story is really sentimental and well done. Buddha Vol 4 gets even more interesting because of some fascinating side characters, such as the wise yet goofy Assaji and the misunderstood giant Yatala, and Siddhartha finally achieves enlightenment at the end of this volume. I''s Vol 14 focuses mostly on Aiko (the girl next door) who is developing a crush on nice guy Ichitaka, while Iori's manager keeps sabotaging things (causing me to yell at the manga while reading it!). Finally, Death Note Vol 11 moves slow (certainly the norm recently), but is definately heating up for the final showdown in the very next volume! Light and Near are ready to face-off, now that they have discovered practically everything about each other. There's nothing like a huge cliffhanger to keep me interested! Labels: death note, manga
Manga Mentions 7.07 Part 1
7.06.2007 5:09 PM \| Link 0 comments	I got a little confused with my last Manga Mentions post, since I had forgotten to write about some other volumes that I had read previously. Anyway, this is kind of a catch-up post, since the manga just keeps on coming! I'm still enjoying the saga of Ichitaka and Iori in I''s Vol 13 (though it feels like it should finally end soon), and it's been interesting comparing it to Video Girl Ai (by the same mangaka). Sticking to romance, Kaze Hikaru Vol 5 reslly starts developing since Saito realizes he loves Sei (setting up a love triangle), and continues with more historical information, including katakana techniques this time. Kaze Hikaru is a brilliant story, and it's tough to keep waiting on the next volume! Death Note Vol 10 starts off a little boring, because the rules are getting a little ridiculous at this point, and too much time is spent in long thought baloons, but things get better at the end with the introduction of some new characters to help Light. Buddha Vol 2 (yes, I have already mentioned Buddha Vol 3) was spectacular not only because of Tezuka's incredible artwork, but also because of the emotional situations of young Siddhartha's princehood, resulting in his rejection of his family to become a monk. Finally, I broke down and read Nodame Cantiable Vol 1, both because I enjoyed the Nintendo DS game and because Mikie is such a fan, and I really enjoyed it. All of the classical music mentions really make it interesting for me, and following the lives of music students is a great change from the usual high school romance! Labels: death note, manga
Manga Mentions 6.07
6.19.2007 6:55 AM \| Link 0 comments	Manga continues to be my "escape of choice", so I've quickly burned through another five volumes recently! Continuing the new series I've started, To Terra Vol 2 was another really interesting chapter, culminating in a battle between Jomy and Keith (with some spaceship conflict thrown in!), plus the introduction of a kind of "super Mu" with incredible powers. Suzuka Vol 3 was a much more straightforward romance this time around (not much embarrassing fan service at all), revealing Suzuka's grief over a friends's death, plus the new character Miki to give Akitsuki more headaches. Things are picking up again in Video Girl Ai Vol 4, since a new video girl enters the picture (or I should say, exits the TV!), and Yota and Nobuko have some wonderful doki-doki scenes. Monster Vol 8 is another masterpiece, which is essentially a long setup for the next volume, since Tenma is actually planning to kill the evil Johan during a library dedication ceremony. Finally, I really enjoyed Osamu Tezuka's Buddha Vol 3 (the manga I'm most proud of reading right now), where Siddartha has his first experiences as a monk (and actually receives the title Enlightened One from a king), as well as a fantastic time-jumping side-story about a boy raised by wolves (connected to characters from the past volumes). Time to read some more! Labels: manga, tezuka
Manga Mentions 5.07
5.23.2007 7:05 AM \| Link 0 comments	Here we go with five more blazing-quick manga reviews! Let's get the embarrassing stuff over with first. Suzuka Vol 2 was actually much tamer than the first volume, but I guess I'm really reading it because I hate not continuing once I start something. There's far less of the unsavory girls next door this time, leaving more time for Yamato and Suzuka to wonder what the other is thinking, so now I'll have to keep reading to find out if they ever start dating. Gacha Gacha: The Next Revolution Vol 2 has the typical hot springs story, but balances it out with a pretty funny and heartwarming Christmas plot, so it's not too racy. Dr. Slump Vol 12 is hilarious as usual, especially with the final story of King Nikochan returning to his home planet, and there are also some funny photos of Toriyama making fun of his typical workday. Genshiken Vol 8 finally gets interesting again (previously I was a little disappointed in the second arc of this story), since Ogiue and Sasahara finally confess to each other (in more ways than one)! It's a nice weird love story about coming to terms with geeky obsessions that I really enjoyed. Finally I decided to start a new series with To Terra Vol 1, mainly because I was itching for more science fiction and the cover design was so cool! The plot has a fascinating beginning involving telepathic powers in a computer-controlled society, and this is a nice thick volume that kept me busy for a while, so I'm looking forward to the next one! Labels: manga
Manga Mentions 4.07
4.29.2007 2:08 PM \| Link 0 comments	Get ready for five more super-short manga reviews! Actually, Osamu Tezuka's Buddha Vol 1 deserves more words of praise than I have time for - I've kind of avoided this one, but now I'm so glad I'm reading it. Tezuka has the sheer talent to take on the life of Siddhartha in this gigantic series (each volume is so thick), and this first volume focuses mainly on fascinating side characters, the background of the castes of India, and incredible metaphoric teaching. Continuing with Tezuka, Phoenix Vol 10 covers the first part of the Sun story, which coincidentally deals with themes of the conflict between Buddhism and Shintoism in ancient Japan! The main character is a noble half-man, half-wolf who dreams of his future reincarnation, which is an incredible way to transition to the next volume. Now that the "serious" manga is out of the way, I also read Video Girl Ai Vol 3, which introduces a new cute girlfriend named Nabuko (and includes a weird segment in the "video world"), plus Ninen ga Shinobuden Vol 2, which was totally hilarious. There are so many jokes (most with culture notes) on one page that it reminds me of reading Mad Magazine! Finally, Kikaider 02 Vol 6 finishes this series, but strangely enough leaves the story hanging. There are some interesting flashbacks for Mitsuko, but overall the series was a little disappointing, even for a Kikaida fan like me! Labels: kikaida, manga, tezuka
Manga Mentions 3.07 Part 2
3.31.2007 6:20 AM \| Link 0 comments	How about another five volumes of manga? Let's start with the continuation of the two simultaneous series about our hero, Densha Otoko! Train Man Vol 3 brings the story to an end, and even though the art is still a little too crazy for my taste, the artist did a fantastic job of capturing the tension of the big love confession moment! Densha Otoko Vol 2, on the other hand, still has super-cute artwork (though I'm not too crazy about the cat-head people in the net world), and gets through the first and second dates. Video Girl Ai Vol 2 was an extremely quick read, but I'm definitely going to stick with this classic series until the end. In this volume, Ai gets "recalled" and we see the weird gods who let her come back to fulfill her mission. I''s Vol 12 (by the same creator as Video Girl Ai) spends the whole volume covering a sticky group hotel stay (lots of doki-doki sounds), but I think Iori gets too mad at Ichitaka when Izumi shows up (Izumi is so weird, but I like her determination). Finally, Monster Vol 7 is excellent as usual, even though Dr. Tenma doesn't show up until around Page 140 or so! Recently they have been focusing on other characters, and this time we have the tragic story of a detective who gets a little too close to the truth about Yohan. See you after another five volumes! Labels: manga
Manga Mentions 3.07 Part 1
3.10.2007 7:34 AM \| Link 0 comments	No matter how busy I get, it's always essential to escape into some manga, so here are the last five volumes I've enjoyed. xxxHolic Vol 8 has a really bizarre twist where Doumeki shares his eye with Watanuki (who lost his in the last volume), plus another appearance by the cute Zashiki-Warashi (I'm completely aware that none of this makes sense to anyone but manga readers!). Kaze Hikaru Vol 4 was wonderful, and it's quickly becoming one of my favorites, since I'm fascinated by the history and culture (intensely researched, actually!) that's wrapped inside this love story (and Sei's mistaken jealousy over Okita's sword was really sweet!). Monster Vol 6 was unique because the main character Dr. Tenma is almost completely absent, but taking the time to develop the character of his ex-fiance is one of the reasons this series is so mature. Death Note Vol 9 was a little disappointing, only because the rules of the note keep getting more obscure (who cares what happens if there are seven death notes in the human world?), and because Near and Mello together are taking the cerebral thing a little too far. Kikaida 02 Vol 5 was filled with some excellent artwork, and this time includes a second story (apart from the main series) that felt much more like an episode of the awesome TV show. I would have loved to see Jiro stop a moving train in live action! Labels: death note, manga
Manga Mentions 2.07
2.02.2007 9:34 PM \| Link 0 comments	I've just finished another five volumes of manga, so it looks like it's Manga Mentions time again! xxxHolic Vol 7 definitely made me glad that I started reading this series, since I'm just now settling into the style of artwork and appreciating its beauty. Yuko-san is looking sexier all the time, and the stories continue to be spooky (especially one about a "living photo"). Train Man Vol 2, while being my least favorite of the current Densha Otoko versions, was still really cute, showing a couple more promising dates, but not focusing enough on the lives of the side characters on the internet. I''s Vol 11 finally gets around to the inevitable when Ichitaka and Iori actually figure out they love each other! But now Iori's potential idol career is taking off, so they have to hide their relationship from the public, which seems to be the next arc of this series. As if the original Gacha Gacha manga wasn't embarrassing enough, I still had to check out Gacha Gacha: The Next Revolution Vol 1, which is about a guy who switches gender every time he sneezes. I'm sure they will explore every possible racy situation this will allow in this series, and I will blush every time! Finally, I absolutely loved Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix Vol 9, which contains two fascinating stories with karma themes. I especially enjoyed Strange Beings, which contains an incredible time loop plot. Tezuka's thought-provoking work definitely makes up for all the other goofy manga I'm reading! Labels: manga
Manga Mentions 1.07
1.27.2007 8:04 AM \| Link 0 comments	It's time for another Manga Mentions, since I'm continuing to follow too many series at once (it feels like I'm collecting comics again)! Death Note Vol 8 kept me intrigued with what seems to be the third arc of the story, and Near & Mello (successors to L and enemies of each other) are really creepy characters. I'm always amazed at the complexity of this manga, and I'm sure the original Japanese is unbelievably difficult! Dr. Slump Vol 11 was full of laughs as always, including the introduction of a second Gatchan, and a particularly funny story with X-ray glasses. I always look forward reading to Dr. Slump! The next three volumes are new titles for me (as if I need more to keep up with), starting with Suzuka Vol 1, which I've been tempted to try out for a while (based on some interesting reviews and cute cover artwork). The story is just OK so far, with a few ridiculous fan service scenes, but I"m going to read the next volume to see if the characters start developing a little more. Next I decided to read Video Girl Ai Vol 1, which is a much older manga by the creator of I''s (which I like so much), and it's definitely a similar story, except for the whole girl popping out of the video tape premise. You definitely know it's an old manga since there's no DVD technology yet! Finally, I read Black Jack Vol 2 (because I can't find Vol 1 anywhere, since it was translated around 1999), which is Osamu Tezuka's "two-fisted surgeon" character. The stories are pretty cool, with plenty of disgusting operation scenes and some scalpel-throwing action, as well as the usual intellectual, philosophical Tezuka undertones. I wish there were more translated stories! Labels: death note, manga, tezuka
Manga Mentions 12.06
12.28.2006 10:56 PM \| Link 0 comments	Before my Christmas vacation, I had read four new volumes, and I've finished a fifth volume since I've been back (since it's almost time for another batch to come out), so it's time to mention some manga! Dr. Slump Vol 10 was really funny, especially since a new Chinese family has moved next door to Senbei and the gang (it's strange to see Chinese stereotypes in a Japanese manga!). Kaze Hikaru Vol 3 was wonderful, and I'm really ready for the next volume since the story is moving past where it ended in Shojo Beat. My cousin Clinton got me Kingdom Hearts Vol 3, which was cool to read - seeing Disney characters interact manga-style was really interesting! Genshiken Vol 7 wasn't quite as enjoyable for me as the earlier volumes - now that the club is mostly made up of new members, the tone of the story is really different (but it's still worth reading!). Finally, Monster Vol 5 continues to be one of the most fascinating dramas I've ever read, but it goes by so fast! This volume focuses on Johan's sister and other characters as well as Dr. Tenma, and the split-personality plot is really heating up. It can be a bit gruesome at times, but it's better than any movie I've seen in this genre! Labels: manga
Manga Mentions 11.06 Part 2
11.17.2006 8:15 AM \| Link 0 comments	It's already time for another Manga Mentions post, since I've finished five more volumes of fun stuff (since I've been reading to escape reality when I should be working on all the stuff I have to do from yesterday's post)! I finished xxxHolic Vol 6 and Vol 7, and every time I read it I'm glad I started this series (which was just on a whim during a lull between other releases). So many of the stories introduce me to cool Japanese superstitions and legends, which of course are all real in the manga world. The style of the artwork is really beautiful, and I typically read these cover to cover quickly since I can't help myself! I discovered yet another manga version of Densha Otoko, this time called Train Man: A Shojo Manga, which tells the whole story in one volume. I have to say this is my least favorite of the three versions, but it was still kind of fun seeing another take on the story. Kaze Hikaru Vol 2 was really enjoyable, even though I'm still just re-reading chapters from Shojo Beat - I'm hoping the next volume will get into some new plot twists. Finally, I''s Vol 10 finally allows Ichitaka and Iori to confess their love, but everything goes downhill from there (just what I expect from a high school soap opera). This volume has some great artwork of Tokyo at night during Christmas time, and I can't help enjoying this over-emotional plot, even if 90% of the dialogue is in thought balloons! Labels: manga
Manga Mentions 11.06 Part 1
11.10.2006 11:05 PM \| Link 0 comments	No matter how busy I get, I still find time to keep up with my manga reading - seems like addictions always take priority! Anyway, I've decided that I'll make a quick WEBmikey manga post each time I finish another five volumes, just to keep things current with what kind of stuff I'm enjoying. So, welcome to the first Manga Mentions post! Besides enjoying the first volumes of two Densha Otoko series, I also finished Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix Vol 8 in record time, which was the second half of the Civil War chapter. This particular story was incredible as always, and now I can't decide which half of the saga I like better - the Japanese historical stories or the futuristic ones! Speaking of historical manga, I've read Kaze Hikaru Vol 1, which is about the famous Shisengumi, where a young girl pretends to be a guy to avenge her family. I started reading this every month in Shojo Beat, but then they dumped the series! Thankfully I can still get the collected volumes and see what happens (but I'm starting over at the beginning anyway). Midori Days Vol 8 finishes the complete series, which turned out to be really special, regardless of it's completely crazy subject, and Hikaru no Go Vol 8 continues with more action-packed Go matches (yes, that's a little sarcastic). This used to be my favorite series, but lately it's become a little dry, although I'm convinced things will get more exciting once Hikaru gets to face Akira again! Labels: manga
Robot Vol 2 : 4 of 5
11.01.2006 10:25 PM \| Link 0 comments	After being so impressed with Robot Volume 1, I decided I'm going to have to collect this series of super manga/graphic novels, so I got the second book in the series right away (although it appears that Volumes 3 and 4 are going to be harder to find, so we'll see what happens). This book is just as beautiful as the first, filled with many continuations from the same artists who contributed before along with several entirely new pieces. I think Volume 1 had a few more brilliant segments, but this volume is certainly fantastic and kept my complete attention, so overall I enjoyed it even more! I would say there's a little less adult content this time, but what remains is a bit more intense. It's tough to pick single stories to mention, but I really enjoyed Delicious Adventures, which is about three young ants (who happen to look exactly like young human schoolgirls) venturing out of the anthill into the real world, and Sedouka, which is a fascinating continuing story with amazing traditional Asian art scenery and costumes. There's also another "storybook" tale called Eventyr that I really enjoyed, as well as several pages throughout the book that just require long moments of viewing to really appreciate. This experimental series is such a great idea - it's amazing to see manga artists stretch out into unexplored medium and genre! Labels: books, manga
Tale of two denshas
10.28.2006 10:24 AM \| Link 0 comments	Since I enjoyed the Densha Otoko series and movie so much, I was really happy to see that two different manga series have finally been translated, and the first volumes from two different publishers are out now! I read them both back to back, and it's really fun to compare the two (just like it was fun to compare the series and the movie). The first one I read by CMX Manga has really cute artwork (which I love), so Densha and Hermes tend to look really young. There are a few changes to the story, too - Densha has a simple job stocking in a bookstore, for example. This version is also integrating the other netizens well (for example, one of them turns out to be the stylist who ends up cutting Densha's hair). The second one from VIZ Media took some getting used to, because the artwork style makes everyone tall with pointy-noses. However, the story is much closer to the drama I already know, and they seem to be using the original BBS posts much more closely (and do a great job of explaining Japanese emoticons!). The VIZ version gets all the way into the second date, but the CMX version ends right as the first date is beginning. I think I like the CMX version better, since it's a little more fresh, but I can't wait to keep following both of these! Labels: manga
Robot Vol 1 : 3 of 5
10.13.2006 10:56 PM \| Link 0 comments	I've been intrigued by this book series for quite a while, so I finally decided to check out the first volume recently. Some reviews refer to this as manga, but it's much more than that. Robot is like a super-high quality graphic novel (very large format and full color), except that it features a collection of stories by many different artists with varied styles. Some pages are complete works of art that must have taken weeks to complete (with amazing, fully-rendered detail), while other stories have more traditional comic style drawings. The stories themselves are quite mixed, combining everything from humor to dark violence (this is definitely an adult book, but in a much more artistic sense - it's like Vermillion Pleasure Night in book form). I really enjoyed Picnic, a story of two girls in the future visiting what used to be Shibuya (now almost completely covered in grassy hills), and Hemo Hemo is a goofy tale about a weird cuddly animal. I also enjoyed Eventyr, written and illustrated like a fantasy storybook. Many of these stories will be continued in the next volume, definitely making me want to continue the series! Robot is a great showcase for artists to push themselves and create stories that might not work anywhere else, so I'm looking forward to seeing what other beautiful, fascinating, or disturbing things come next! Labels: books, manga
Manga messages
9.13.2006 10:35 PM \| Link 0 comments	I've polished off another seven volumes of manga, so it's roundup time again! Azumanga Daioh Volume 4 was so wonderful, and I'm sad there's no more to read - I wish it could go on and on, but I guess the girls had to graduate from high school eventually (but now I'm watching the anime again!). Monster is possibly my favorite dramatic manga right now, and Volume 4 was fantastic - I also discovered that there are 18 volumes of this masterpiece, so it's going to be years before I finish! My other favorite is still Death Note, and Volume 7 finally gets the story back on track with Light as the true Kira. So much of this story is told through thought balloons (quite necessary!), so it has the most words of anything I'm reading now, which is the total opposite of Kikaider 02, since Volume 4 is still mostly battle panels (but with more story than the last volume). Dr. Slump Volume 9 was really funny with a long honeymoon story (Senbei's proposal was hilarious, too), and I''s Volume 9 continues with its usual doki-doki magic. Finally, xxxHolic Volume 4 had a terrific plot about two sisters and how their lives are affected by the power of words, and I have to say the message behind the story really hit me - I think it's the first time a manga has actually got to me and really made me think. See, I knew all this reading would pay off! Labels: death note, manga
Two weeks, seven volumes
8.17.2006 11:57 PM \| Link 0 comments	Even though my last manga roundup was only a couple weeks ago, I've been reading so much lately that I need to write one again right away! I've read xxxHolic Vols 2 and 3, and it's really growing on me - I like the way the artwork flows, and the work that goes into it is amazing. The spooky storylines are fun, too, though I don't care too much about the crossover subplots (but I did like the cameo of Chi's "ears" from Chobits!). I really enjoyed Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix Vol 7, which is part one of the Civil War chapter - the Japanese history is fascinating and this is one of the thickest volumes yet! Kikaider 02 Vol 3 was pretty good - I really like the dramatic upgrade of the story (it's so different that the TV series), but this volume was almost all fighting scenes, which are interesting to look at, but manga without dialogue just goes by too fast. Midori Days Vol 7 was fun as always, but I'm guessing it has to wind down soon, and I finished Azumanga Daioh Vols 2 and 3, which is just about the most enjoyable light-hearted manga ever - I'm going to be so sad when I finish Vol 4, which is the last one! Labels: manga
Manga time again
7.31.2006 8:11 PM \| Link 0 comments	Guess it's time for a quick manga roundup again! Recently I've read Hikaru no Go Vol 7, which is definitely interesting, but lately it hasn't held my interest as intensely as before. I think it should either pick up the pace with Hikaru's progress, or maybe start another subplot or two. Anyway, maybe it's just a mid-series lull. Genshiken Vol 6 was funny enough to read in a single sitting, and I'm really wondering how the story will change since a few of the characters have graduated. I think Sasahara's sister is hilarious, so I hope she keeps showing up. I'm also in the middle of Phoenix Vol 7, which is downright huge and magnificent! Finally, I started reading the Azumanga Daioh manga, mainly because I had a Borders coupon that I had to use, but I'm so glad I picked it up! Of course, I love the anime, but the manga is charming in a totally different way! Almost the entire thing is written in small four-panel strips, so it ends up feeling like reading Peanuts to me. It's fun to see the source for a lot of the gags in the anime, but of course there are lots of fun strips that are totally new to me. It's the perfect anime to read for five minutes before you have to leave the house or something - I'm definitely getting the whole series! Labels: manga
Manga roundup XL
7.05.2006 10:59 PM \| Link 0 comments	I haven't written a manga roundup in a little while, but it's definitely that time again since I've finished about eight new volumes recently! I read a blurb about Ninin ga Shinobuden in NewType, and since I was craving some more light, funny stuff, I decided to order it (for some reason, they don't carry this publisher at my Barnes & Noble). I really enjoyed it - it's got a lot of Dr. Slump type humor (with awesome cultural references), but definitely has a Ranma feel (no crazy transformations, though - maybe Shinobu just reminds me of Shampoo!). I also started xxxHolic, since I had heard so much about it, and I've never read a Clamp manga before (even though I'm a big fan of the Chobits anime). It took a chapter or two to interest me, but the sub-plot about getting rid of bad habits was really intriguing. Death Note Vol 6 was incredible, and it looks like the tangent with the new "corporate" Kira is going to end, which is great! Monster Vol 3 keeps the story chilling - I can never put it down once I start reading. It's definitely getting a Kung-Fu kind of storyline, with the gifted surgeon, wanted by the police but tracking down a killer, wandering from town to town saving strangers - he even has a sidekick now. I''s Vol 8, Midori Days Vol 6, and Gacha Gacha Vol 4 were all good, and Dr. Slump Vol 8 was just as fun as always. It's a good thing I bought a new small bookshelf for all this stuff - I'm sure it will be overflowing by the end of the year! Labels: death note, manga
Growing manga collection
6.08.2006 10:09 PM \| Link 0 comments	It's been a while since my last manga update, so I'm sure you're wondering if I've been keeping up on my favorite series. (Of course, you know I have!) My manga collection has been growing so fast that I need to buy another bookshelf for them! Even though I'm reading lots of series, there's always a lull when I've read all of the latest volumes, and during those times I can't help shopping for something new to try. I like reading the reviews in Newtype USA (they're always too positive, but at least they give me a clue!) so I know what to try, and that's how I found Monster. This is an incredibly dramatic story about a Japanese surgeon living in Germany who saves the life of someone that ends up being a serial killer! It's suspenseful stuff, and I've read the first two volumes, each in one sitting! Death Note (up to Volume 5) has been exciting as usual, taking really dramatic plot turns that totally change the feel of the story, but I still love it - I think Monster and Death Note have both surpased Hikaru no Go for my favorite manga! On the fun side, Midori Days and Gacha Gacha are still funny, and I always look forward to Dr. Slump, too (especially because it feels like nostalgic Japanese pop culture, and I can't help rooting for poor Senbei). Reading manga is so much fun! Labels: death note, manga
Phoenix: Nostalgia / Osamu Tezuka : 5 of 5
6.03.2006 11:45 PM \| Link 0 comments	Since I'm a huge fan of Osamu Tezuka's majestic Phoenix (Hi no Tori) series, I was definitely sad to read what I thought was the last volume to be published in English, over a year ago. But recently I was super-surprised to find this new volume at my comic book store, and now I've discovered that there are two more volumes on the way this year! I can't express how happy I am, since this series is so amazing, and this latest volume is simply fantastic. It's hard to imagine the work that Tezuka put into this saga, since this story alone is over 400 pages - that's a mighty manga! The plot tells of a couple who have left Earth to live alone on their own planet, and quickly have to take drastic measures to stay alive, even to the point of incest and cannibalism just to keep going. When Romy and her sons are at the end of their rope, the Phoenix takes over and brings a moopie (an alien race we meet in other volumes) to the planet so they can mate and start a new hybrid species. From there the story takes a huge turn as Romy decides she wants to return to Earth, and their incredible journey eventually involves a few cameos from other characters in the series. It's definitely hard to summarize such a long story in a short review, but it's a dramatic tale of survival, loyalty, and exploring the meaning of life. The artwork is wonderful, with beautiful space vistas, barren worlds, and interesting characters. This story captured me for several hours of non-stop reading, so I'm eagerly looking forward to the next volume! Labels: manga, tezuka
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind : 5 of 5
4.25.2006 8:05 PM \| Link 0 comments	On my trip to Los Angeles, I took the final two volumes of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and I read Vol 6 on the way, and then the massive Vol 7 (it's almost twice as long as the other books!) on the way home. I really enjoyed this entire series! Of course, Miyazaki's own artwork is simply fantastic, full of incredible action and emotional content - it's amazing to me that someone so respected for his animation also took the time and effort to produce such a long and incredible manga. I really enjoyed the color fold-outs in each volume (although Vol 7 doesn't have one), since not only do they have a great image of Nausicaa herself, but they include a cool map or diagram on the back. The story is so much more sweeping and immense then that I ever could have imagined after watching the anime (although I do want to watch it again now!). I really enjoyed Nausicaa's long "dream sequence" when she's in a kind of coma, since the images she sees of newly restored and healthy nature are so wonderful. Her interaction as the "mother" of the huge god warrior is also touching and so cool - this entire concept was completely removed from the anime (which really only covers the first two volumes, but includes a few quick takes from the rest of the story for completeness, I suppose). This entire series is beautiful and amazing, and I feel refreshed and happy from finishing it! Labels: manga, miyazaki
Old manga, new manga
3.15.2006 11:04 PM \| Link 0 comments	Time for another quick look at the manga I'm reading! As far as continuing series, I've finished Hikaru no Go Vol 6, Dr. Slump Vol 6, and I''s Vol 6 lately (you can definitely tell I started those series at the same time, since they're all on the same volume number!). Hikaru no Go is still the most interesting, but I''s has some new life now that Itsuki has moved away so Ichitaka can focus on Iori (ah, romance). I read the manga version of Kamikaze Girls, which was quite different than the movie (I wonder if the movie or the manga is more like the original novel?), and it includes a fun sequel story, too. Finally, I started Death Note, which is completely unlike any manga I would normally read, but the artwork is by the same artist who draws Hikaru no Go, so it's fantastic. I'm officially sucked into the story, too, even though it's kind of creepy! Labels: death note, manga
Manga madness
2.09.2006 8:25 PM \| Link 0 comments	My manga collection is really growing, so it's time for another update on what I've been reading. I love browsing the manga shelves at Barnes & Noble or Dragon's Lair, and I usually check them out a couple times a week. After doing some studying and drinking coffee, it's a great reward to buy a new manga! I've been keeping up on all the series that I've started so far, and trying not to start any new ones (just so I can keep the plots straight!), but I had to start Kikaider Code 02, since all those fun Kikaida DVDs I watched are still fresh on my mind! So far the story is really cool, making the saga much more serious and updated - I've read Volume 1, and bought Volume 2, which already has Hakaida on the cover! I'm still laughing at Dr. Slump (just read Volumes 4 and 5), and Nausicaa is becoming truly fascinating, since the story has become so much larger than it was in the movie. I've also read Midori Days Vol 3, Genshiken Vol 4, and Gacha Gacha Vol 2 (I have to admit, Gacha Gacha is by far the winner in the fan service department, but it always makes me laugh out loud!). Labels: manga, miyazaki
More manga
12.01.2005 10:31 PM \| Link 0 comments	Yes, I'm still sneaking in some time to read manga during the getting-busier-all-the-time Christmas season! I've made it through four books lately, including Yotsuba&! Vol 3, which had some funny fireworks stories (it meant so much more since now I've seen hanabi in Japan!), Genshiken Vol 3, which is so good for the soul of an otaku who longs to be understood (he he), and I''s Vol 3, which was much less embarrassing to buy than the last volume, since the cute girl on the cover was wearing more than a bikini this time. I also really enjoyed the manga version of Socrates in Love, which is a dramatic story about a girl with leukemia and her boyfriend. The novel by Kyoichi Katayama was a huge bestseller in Japan, and the manga version is really well done - dramatic and tragic. Pretty soon I'm going to start the new Kikaida manga - I hope it's as cool as the Kikaida DVDs! Labels: manga
Lost World / Osamu Tezuka : 3 of 5
11.13.2005 6:30 PM \| Link 0 comments	Since I wasn't really overwhelmed by Nextworld (even though I love Astro Boy, of course), I wasn't in a hurry to buy Lost World, which is a really early Tezuka work, originally published in part in the 1940s! But I still keep lots of books on my Amazon wish list so I can throw them in with other items to get free shipping, and that's why I ordered this one. The title of the story refers to finding a world full of dinosaurs, but in this case it's actually another planet called Mamango, which was formed from a piece of the earth, so it has the same evolutionary development. Just like in Nextworld, the heroes are supporting characters from Astro Boy - Mustachio is there to solve the mysteries, and Kenichi is pretty much the hero, although he's a musclebound scientist rather than a school kid! The art work is pretty simple with not much going on for scenery. The whole thing really feels like a Betty Boop style cartoon, everything from the character poses to the weird jokes. At the end of the book there's a huge crowd scene where Tezuka includes tons of other American cartoon characters, including the Disney favorites, Warner Bros. stars, and even Popeye (who actually gives a speech!). Lost World was fine to read piece by piece, but I definitely wouldn't call it a masterpiece. Labels: manga, tezuka
Itsumo manga o yonde imasu
10.27.2005 6:43 PM \| Link 0 comments	I guess it's time for another manga update! Sometimes I feel like I could read manga all the time - there's just something about it that's relaxing and really fun. It's easy to have a book with me and read a few pages here and there, or in bed before I go to sleep, but it's even better to spend a full hour enjoying a story or two. I love getting to know the characters and wondering what's going to happen next! Anyway, since I last wrote what I've been reading, I've continued with more volumes of I''s, Dr. Slump, Nausicaa, Genshiken, and Hikaru no Go (which is still my favorite, and I was going crazy waiting for Volume 5 to come out!). I've also started a couple more that I saw in a manga sampler - Gacha Gacha (a hilarious story about a dual personality girl), and Midori Days (which is the weirdest story ever, about a guy who's right hand transforms into a living girl - I'm not making this up!). It's great to browse the big manga shelf at Barnes & Noble, because there's always (without fail) a kid or two camped out on the floor reading all the latest stories. It's nice to know I'm not alone in my addiction! Labels: manga, miyazaki
Manga, email, links
9.01.2005 8:37 PM \| Link 0 comments	Time for another post about a few random topics! First, a little about manga - I wish I had tons of free time to just sit and read manga. It's so relaxing to read fun stories with interesting artwork, and it reminds me of my younger days of comic book addiction. I just finished Yotsuba&! Vol 2, which was absolutely great (and unfortunately reads so quickly!), and I'm getting hooked on Genshiken, too, which is pretty fun to read since the story is about an otaku club that I would certainly like to join. After enjoying three issues of Shojo Beat, I decided I had to subscribe, and I'm not ashamed to be reading what is essentially teenage soap opera stories! When I was in Japan, I saw lots of Nana displays (mainly because of the upcoming movie), and I thought it was cool that I knew about the story, thanks to Shojo Beat. Today I received the most ridiculous email ever! Some guy who wants to buy curb feelers for his wife's car was searching the web for info, and he was actually offended that my goofy opinion on the subject was coming up in Google, rather than stores selling those things. I guess he has no idea how search engines work or what a blog is or any concept of self-expression on the web! Well, his three paragraphs of carefully worded statements definitely gave me a good laugh, and now that I'm mentioning curb feelers again, I'm sure this post will be in other potential curb feeler owners' faces. Here's a few quick links I want to mention: I've been using Last.FM for a long time now (it's tallied almost 6,000 tracks of my iTunes listening), and they recently updated their site design. It looks really cool, so take a look at my listening and try it out yourself! Next, I've recently discovered nihongo.3yen.com, a seriously cool site for Japanese language knowledge! The info is categorized well, and I can't wait to dig through it further. Finally, a new link to WEBmikey! Metroblogging San Francisco had a post about a local circus performance, and they actually linked to one of my circus reviews (see the link "motorcycles circling inside a globe-shaped cage"). I love being linked! Labels: life, manga