Kuriousity | manga reviews and news

Review Archive

To see a list of reviews in alphabetical order, please see our review index.

Review: Codename Sailor V (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, September 28, 2011

2 Comments »

Manga-ka: Naoki Takeuchi
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: September 2011

Synopsis: “Minako Aino is a 13-year-old middle school student whose calm, normal life changes when she encounters a talking white cat with a crescent moon on its forehead. The cat introduces himself as Artemis and claims that Minako has the power to transform into the hero Sailor V!”

After many years of wanting and waiting, I now finally own shiny new English editions of Sailor Moon and Sailor V! While both were high on my wishlist, I had enough familiarity with the Sailor Moon manga through past experience that Codename: Sailor V won me over to become first of Naoko Takeuchi’s magical girl epics to be cracked open. Granted the power to transform into a mini-skirt wearing warrior with a magical pen given to her by a talking cat, can Sailor V beat the bad-guys, get the guy and live up to a fan-girl’s expectations? (The answer: Pretty much!)

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Kodansha Comics, Manga, Sailor Moon

Review: Deltora Quest (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, September 19, 2011

4 Comments »

Author: Emily Rodda
Manga-ka: Makoto Niwano
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: July 2011

Synopsis: “The kingdom of Deltora is turned upside down when the King and Queen both die mysteriously and their young son, Endon, is given the Belt of Deltora and pronounced king. Meanwhile, Endon’s best friend, the orphaned Jarred, discovers a plot to strike at the royal household from within! Before he can warn his new king, Jarred is accused of murder and barely escapes the castle with his life. With the nefarious Shadow Lord’s army preparing for invasion, Deltora has never needed Jarred more – will he answer the call?”

The book is a very show-over-tell experience. It suffers from a complete lack of subtly. Whether it’s out loud exposition or the bad-guy looking so evil that it’s confusing why anyone would trust him, Deltora Quest is like a stiff book report version of its source material. While a classic fantasy story told in manga format was a temptation I couldn’t refuse, it quickly became a purchase I nearly regretted – regret tempered only by the amusement I had dissecting its flaws with friends.

Read more…

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Kodansha Comics, Manga

Review: Blood Blockade Battlefront (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, September 18, 2011

4 Comments »

Manga-ka: Yasuhiro Nightow
Publisher: Dark Horse
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: September 2011

Synopsis: “A breach between Earth and the netherworlds has opened up over the city of New York, trapping New Yorkers and creatures from other dimensions in an impenetrable bubble. They’ve lived together for years, in a world of crazy crime sci-fi sensibilities. Now someone is threatening to sever the bubble, and a group of stylish superhumans is working to keep it from happening.”

B3 – or Blood Blockade Battlefront – is the newest English-released work from Yasuhiro Nightow. His popular Trigun remains to date one of the few series where I found the anime more enjoyable than the manga it was based on. Nightow’s artwork was confusing to follow and his pacing erratic, making an otherwise entertaining story a chore to follow. It’s always been a disappointment to me that I didn’t like the Trigun manga so I was hoping for another chance to give Nightow a try. Does Blood Blockade Battlefield redeem the manga artist in my eyes? … unfortunately not. I bet it’d make a spiffy anime though.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Dark Horse, Manga

Review: Ikigami – The Ultimate Limit (Vol. 05)

Posted by Victoria K Martin on Thursday, September 8, 2011

2 Comments »

Manga-ka: Motoro Mase
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: May 2010

Synopsis: “Beginning today, we will randomly select a different citizen who will be killed within 24 hours of notification. We believe this will help remind all people how precious life is and how important it is to be a productive, active member of society. Thank you for your continued attention and your cooperation and participation… Congratulations! You have been randomly selected by the government… to die in 24 hours! Featuring Episode 9: The Writing on the Wall, Episode 10: Honor and Duty. …where does a death messenger go on a date?”

What would you do if you knew you only had 24 hours to live? This question is one that has been asked over and over again, both in fiction and otherwise. Because of this, it would seem to be an unoriginal concept; however, in Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit, Motoro Mase proves that it’s an idea that can still be taken in diverse and thought-provoking ways.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Viz Media

Review: Cold Fever

Posted by Jaime Samms on Friday, August 26, 2011

2 Comments »

Author: Narise Konohara
Manga-ka: Nanao Saikawa
Publisher: June Manga
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: February 2011

Synopsis: “Tohru lost his most of his memory in an accident. He can’t remember anything that happened from the past six years. Struggles, but with time, he slowly recovers his memory. He feels as if he is a different person now, and he hates “the other guy” – the “himself” from six years ago… And thinking, Fujishima was his friend, felt like he was being watched over like a guardian angel but in the end he’s betrayed. Miserable and emotionally drained, Tohru is trying not to relive in the shadow of his past. He is trying to move on with his new life… but harder he tries, he finds himself being pulled in by Fujishima.”

“I wanted to make sure this book had real impact. I wanted to portray a couple who were in love but not happy.” – This is a quote from the author in her afterward, and there is no doubt she has accomplished her goal with Cold Fever. This was a very hard book to read.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, June, Light Novels

Review: Otomen (Vol. 11)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, August 20, 2011

5 Comments »

Manga-ka: Aya Kanno
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: August 2011

Synopsis: “Asuka engages in a battle with Suzuki Oji to see who will get the most Valentine’s Day chocolates! As Oji seduces girls left and right into giving him chocolates, Asuka wonders one thing – who will Ryo give her chocolates to?”

The opening chapter in this volume of Otomen finishes off the plot started in the previous, allowing us a fun second look at the cast dressed up as geisha and samurai. Seeing Asuka given a chance to really show off his decorative and cooking skills in front of his peers is refreshing, though it does feel a little sudden despite the fact he’s been revealing this side of himself more and more for eleven volumes. Changes are happening though and there’s only one more volume left to wrap it all up.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Otomen, Shoujo, Shoujo Beat, Viz Media

Review: La Quinta Camera

Posted by Shannon Fay on Wednesday, August 17, 2011

1 Comment »

Manga-ka: Natsume Ono
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: July 2011

Synopsis: “An apartment in Italy. In four of the rooms live four single men with singular personalities. Into this peculiar ménage steps an exchange student, the new tenant of the fifth room. Brought together by chance, friends by choice, they pursue their dreams together as the days drift gently by.”

Over the past year I have become a big fan of Natsume Ono. House of Fives Leaves is currently one of my favourite manga and I’m happy to see more and more of Ono’s work being licensed. La Quina Camera is a solid little stand alone graphic novel which should appeal to fans and newcomers alike. It has a nice, uncomplicated atmosphere which makes it an easy read.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Natsume Ono, Viz Media

Review: Men of Tattoos (2)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, August 14, 2011

2 Comments »

Manga-ka: Yuiji Aniya
Publisher: Digital Manga
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: June 2011

Synopsis: “Sweet, delicate flowers and killer animals…they spring to life on the tattooed backs of the underworld’s most infamous men. But does love have a chance to bloom in a world of sin that’s steeped in perpetual inky night? And in the midst of the crime-filled chaos, is there a passion so powerful that it can lift a soul right out if its body?”

Men of Tattoos is the kind of story that leaves you feeling there really is no such thing as the good guy. While the lack of a stereotypical happy ending gives the stories a sense of realism, they also make the entire experience a rather pessimistic one.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, June, Manga

Review: Kobato (Vol. 04)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, August 7, 2011

1 Comment »

Manga-ka: CLAMP
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: July 2011

Synopsis: “Still unable to provide solace to the hearts of Sayaka-sensei and Fujimoto-san, Kobato is at a standstill in the process of healing the wounds of Yomogi Kindergarten. And so prompted, the belligerent blue Ioryogi-san, Kobato’s plush mentor (read: drill sergeant), takes it upon himself to do a little digging into the school’s backstory. But en route from his successful fact-finding mission, Yomogi’s past turns into the least of Ioryogi-san’s worries when his own past catches up with him! And with it comes a declaration: Time is running out for Ioryogi to help Kobato fulfill her quest! But as the seconds tick away, will Ioryogi-san be able to light a fire under Kobato, whose head and heart have become clouded by what seems like love…?”

Kobato still can’t find a way to help her new friends, Sayaka-sensei and Fujimoto-san. With the yakuza after them and their kindergarten still at daily threat of being forced closed, what’s an adorable heart-healer to do? Very little in this volume as it turns out, which continues to be another chance for Kobato to become more emotionally invested in the events than a catalyst in their resolution. None the less, other characters step up their game to make this more than just a fluff volume.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: CLAMP, Manga, Yen Press

Review: Yakuza Moon – The Manga Edition

Posted by Shannon Fay on Friday, August 5, 2011

1 Comment »

Manga-ka: Shoko Tendo
Publisher: Kodansha International
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: July 2011

Synopsis: “Born into the family of a wealthy yakuza boss, Shoko Tendo lived her early years in luxury. But labeled “the yakuza kid,” she was the victim both of bullying and discrimination from teachers and classmates at school, and of her father’s drunken rages at home. Then, the family fell into debt, and Tendo fell in with the wrong crowd. After the death of her parents and her own suicide attempt, she began a tortuous, soul-searching reevaluation of the road she had taken.”

Yakuza Moon is the manga adaptation of Shoko Tendo’s autobiography of the same name. In it Tendo wrote about the influence the yakuza had on her life, from growing up with a gang member for a father to how she became a delinquent herself. I haven’t read the original novel, but the manga does feel like an adaptation, moving quickly through events in order to cram everything into its new format.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Kodansha Comics, Manga