Manga-ka: Matsuri Akino
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: May 2007

Synopsis: “Haruka and Masato’s episodes with Detective Taro Suzuki continue! To Haruka’s dismay, the gang must track down a cat burglar… that is actually of the feline persuasion. Next, Haruka, Masato and Suzuki are asked to solve a series of murders superstitiously linked to a cursed wisteria tree. But after that, mystery hits very close to home as Haruka’s mom finds a lover letter written by Haruka’s dad- to another woman!”

There are haunted drama rooms, wisteria spirits and a perhaps not-so-healthy dose of murders in this third volume of Kamen Tantei. Haruka and Masato, known by their penname, Taro Suzuki, continue to find inspiration for their mystery-writing career in everyday life, and as usual, there’s no shortage of crimes and strange phenomena that need solving by the two intrepid sleuths.

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Manga-ka: Matsuri Akino
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: August 2008

Synopsis: “Kamishina is the reincarnated ruler of Dhalashar. He can hear voices from beyond the grave, see visions and soothe ghosts… When Ohko tries to awaken a spirit known as the true king, the ends up causing a huge explosion, after which a mysterious boy appears from thin air…”

As if I didn’t find previous recent volumes of Genju no Seiza plot-heavy enough (in a good way, mind you), volume seven takes it even a step further. The true existence of Mayu, whom readers have long suspected is of some further significance to the story, is finally revealed and we learn about what led to how she is now. On top of that, various events from the past are catching up to the characters with some surprising connections. Throw in some time travel, a mysterious new boy who shows up, and two possible reincarnated Kings with the power to destroy the world, and you have yourself one wonderfully thick volume.

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Manga-ka: Matsuri Akino
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: September 2007

Synopsis: “While investigating a murder at a mountain lodge, an argument erupts between our two young detectives – one that proves to have alarming results when each calls to Suzuki for help. Later, it’s a time of change as Haruka prepares to start college, leaving Masato behind to run the Mystery Novels Club by himself. But with our duo separated, what future is in store for the Masked Detective?”

Volume four marks the end of Matsuri Akino’s Kamen Tantei. Though completion of any series you enjoy is always a bit sad, I was relieved that this short series ended before it had a chance to be cut, or infinitely suspended, by Tokyopop. Wonderment to me then when I realized this final volume had actually been out for almost a year and I never knew! Shame on me. The book itself surprised me too, upon reading, becoming quite random in its execution and taking the plot in a slightly different direction. Instead of just being a couple of oddly desensitized teenagers solving murder mysteries, much of this volume focuses on the mysterious Taro Suzuki and the truth behind his existence. Problem being for my review is that it’s hard to talk much about it without ruining the surprise!

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Manga-ka: Natsumi Makai
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: April 2007

Synopsis: “While on their journey, Cooro and the others pass through large and lively Maggie Vil. The soft-spoken town leader, Maggie convinces Cooro and company to go watch the world-famous coliseum games. Senri and Husky join the games after getting caught up in all the action. It seems too much action could be a bad thing. Will Cooro and the others find their way out of the coliseum?”

So as I was reorganizing my bookshelf the other day, I discovered a surprising gap books three and five of +Anima! Seems I’d somehow missed it and hadn’t noticed. Of course this was a problem quickly rectified. With it being a neatly contained story, I can see how I didn’t catch on when reading through, but that didn’t diminish its entertainment value!

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Manga-ka: Shiho Sugiura
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: July 2008

Synopsis: “Rakan is a lonely orphaned teen with an unusual attraction to flowers and plants. Chigusa is his surprise guest, who arrives mysteriously one day out of nowhere. Together, these two uncover secrets about each other – including the fact that Rakan may be a special prince, who Chigusa insists on protecting at all costs!”

Rakan is a kind-hearted orphan and student, living off the inheritance from his grandfather in a house surrounded by unending plant life. One day a man named Chigusa suddenly appears, laying in Rakan’s backyard. He shoots bullets from guns made of a tree branch and saves Rakan from a strange, black creature, then tells Rakan he’s from another world. Not only that, but Rakan learns he’s got abilities of his own and shares the face of a Prince from Chigusa’s realm.

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Manga-ka: Natsumi Mukai
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: June 2008

Synopsis: “The search for Husky continues, as the children learn that Husky has been taken to Stella and sold to a low-ranking noble. Cooro and Nana come to the rescue, staging a daring rescue mission to get Husky back. But the danger is far from over, as Husky reveals that his mother is actually one of the queens of Sailand. With armed palace guards everywhere, a family reunion seems impossible…”

The flashback of Senri’s past continues in this eighth volume of +Anima. When things return to the present, the search for the kidnapped Husky resumes, leading Cooro and Nana to the country’s capital city. When they arrive they discover that Husky has always been sold to a rich upperclassmen so they make a plan to bust him out.

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Manga-ka: Ryo Saenagi
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “On cases together, Shima and his supermodel pal Kaori have come to unconditionally trust one another. But suddenly, rival detective and sometimes friend Mai recalls a key piece of information about when she first met Kaori – and it was at the scene of Shima’s parents’ murder. Will searching for more information complete the puzzle, and if so, is the truth a picture they want to see?”

How did I not see this coming? Entire series based around building this unbreakable trust between two characters in light of their own trauma, turns out one is directly connected with the trauma of the other. At one point I remember telling myself that was too obvious. Turns out that’s not the case, it’s just about right!

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Manga-ka: Kazuya Minekura
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: June 2008

Synopsis: “Sanzo has gone one way, and the rest of the party another, until they end up on opposite sides of a small mountain. The tension between the peaceful town of Youkai and the humans guarding the oasis as come to a head, and when things boil over, it’s anyone’s guess whose side the gang will join!”

As a slightly refreshing change of pace, Sanzo and the rest of his party have gone in two different directions. Together with the bishop Hazel and his large bodyguard, Sanzo finds himself in a well-fortified town that guards a large oasis, the only source of water in the desert area. On the other side of the mountain surrounding the town, are the other four three: Goku, Gojyo and Hakkai, who ended up in a calm village of Youkai who are soon doomed to perish from thirst. Needless to say, this is going to cause some problems.

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Manga-ka: Matsuri Akino
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: June 2008

Synopsis: “Bothered by the rumours that Count D sells slaves to clients, Woo-Fei continues his attempt to kick the Count out of Neo Chinatown. Meanwhile, a woman visits the store to sell her cat, hoping that she can give the man of her dreams the ultimate gift… Later, a different women finds herself beckoned to the shop by a pet she carries in her stomach. Between blackouts and hunts for mythical creatures, Woo-Fei has his hands full with this trouble-making tenant!”

Count D’s back at his usual in volume two of Petshop of Horrors: Tokyo. Keeping with the usual episodic nature of the series, several different clients enter Count D’s shop in the hopes of finding pets, or finding ways to get rid of ones they have. Woo-Fei, owner of the building the Count’s shop currently resides in, continues to be more and more suspicious of the shop’s true purpose and is determined to figure out what’s really going on behind those exotic doors.

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