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Review Archive

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ANN Review: Library Wars – Love and War (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Friday, June 11, 2010

New review written by yours truly over at AnimeNewsNetwork, this time for one of Viz Media’s new series – Library Wars – Love and War (Vol. 01).

I didn’t have many expectations going into this one, short that a lot of fellow bloggers were really eager for its release. Had to admit though, the idea of librarians being hardcore gun-toting organized vigilantes-of-sorts charged with protecting books from censorship agents did sound pretty neat. While the characters aren’t exactly hardcore, the story still really drew me in – very likeable characters and smooth pacing. Most of this first volume follows the lead going through physical training to be an agent and I’m really forward to seeing their skills in action in later volumes.

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

Review: My Darling! Miss Bancho (Vol. 01)

Posted by Andre Paploo on Wednesday, June 9, 2010

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Reviewer: Andre

Manga-ka: Mayu Fujitaka
Publisher: CMX
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: March 2010

Synopsis: “Souka and her recently divorced mother move to a new place to start over. In looking for a school to enroll in, Souka decides to leave her preppy, private high school behind and transfers into a technical high school. To her surprise, she’s the only girl student in the entire school! The first day of school is nothing like she ever imagined — boys crashing through the window, fighting for all they are worth. One day, the school’s current “Bancho” (a term for a gang leader) ambushes Souka. What Souka didn’t know was that when someone takes down the class’ leader, you became the leader of that class. This wasn’t a role she was expecting for herself, but will she be able to relinquish it?”

After all the recent goings on regarding CMX, namely its demise, reviewing this volume was a little sad. However, while the series might go unfinished, My Darling! Miss Bancho’s first volume still has a lot to offer its readers. A decidedly off beat take on the generic Cinderella “guys transform plain girl into campus princess” genre, Souka finds herself the unwanted leader of an entire school of goofy, unrefined young men.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: CMX, Manga

Review: Pokemon Adventures (Vol. 07)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, June 7, 2010

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Hidenori Kusaka
Manga-ka: MATO
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: All Ages
Release Date: June 2010

Synopsis: “On her search for famous Pokémon trainer Red, Yellow Caballero finds both human and Pokémon friends–and enemies. Now Yellow must team up with other trainers, gym leaders, and even evil Team Rocket to fight the Elite Four! Yellow Caballero, prepare to battle the Elite Four’s top trainer, Lance…!”

Red returns to the team in full force in this volume, bringing together the cast that’s been evolving up to this pinnacle point of the series to date. After following his adventures in the earlier volumes, it’s been interesting having Red in the background this entire time while following Yellow. It’s proven even more so because of the near legend-like status he’s earned for himself in the process. While the familiar face’s return is enjoyable, he also doesn’t overshadow everything (or everyone) that’s already present. Blue continues his battle with the ghost-wielding Agatha, Green with the psychic-powered Sabrina and Yellow working with Blaine to reach the final boss.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Pokemon Adventures, Viz Media

Review: Sumomomo Momomo (Vol. 02)

Posted by Andre Paploo on Thursday, June 3, 2010

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Reviewer: Andre

Manga-ka: Shinobu Ohtaka
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “As if being the target of Momoko’s affections isn’t bad enough, now Koushi is a target for assassination! Iroha Miyamoto is the next to make a move, determined to regain the honour of her fallen clan. But there’s more than one way to break up the union of Kuzuryuu and Inuzuka. Why kill Koushi off? Why not marry him instead?!”

The bizarre misadventures of Koushi and his wannabe bride continue as Shinobu Ohtaka brings us more of this surreal series. Like its energetic heroine, Sumomomo Momomo’s pretty low on brain cells and focuses on merrily skipping along, allowing you to witness as it smacks your mind around lest you think you’re reading a normal manga. Engaging in yet more offensive territory, Sumomomo Momomo is a not something for everyone, but it certainly is something.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Yen Press

ANN Review: Kobato (Vol. 01 – 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, June 1, 2010

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My review of the first two volumes of CLAMP’s Kobato. series has been posted over at AnimeNewsNetwork. Good grades all around for a very fun series so far.

I’m a big CLAMP fan and was eager to read Kobato.. I’d read some chapters in NewType when it ran but didn’t get too much of an idea about it, short that the art style was really pleasantly nostalgic. The tone and art of the series in general reminds me a lot of Cardcaptor Sakura, my favourite of CLAMP’s work. I really recommend reading both the first two volumes of Kobato. together (Yen Press chose to release the two volumes at once) because it really sets the story much more than the first which is more short story in style.

A thanks again to my local comic store Strange Adventures for always stocking the best and newest books on shelf for me to purchase each Wednesday!

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: ANN Reviews, CLAMP, Manga, Yen Press

Review: Deka Kyoshi (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, May 27, 2010

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Tamio Baba
Publisher: CMX Manga
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: February 2010

Synopsis: “Toyama, a tall and beefy detective, goes undercover as a fifth-grade teacher. The previous teacher was discovered on the ground outside of her condo and rumours say she jumped… or was she pushed? Toyama is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, but it seems like he has a more pressing task at hand: his rowdy students. One student, Makoto, is a little strange and his eccentricities make him a prime target for billies. Makoto can actually see the demons inside people, which manifest themselves as visions of horrible monsters. Will this strange student be able to help Toyama?”

The premise of Deka Kyoshi is a little odd, or at least not as clearly established as perhaps it should be. Toyama is a police officer who has gone undercover as a homeroom teacher at an elementary after his department has reason to believe the students are being targeted. How they come to this conclusion isn’t exactly established but it does come on the heels of a teacher’s suicide. Toss in a kid with some kind of psychic powers and a string of strange but socially-grounded occurrences with the kids, and you have a series that doesn’t feel like it’s got the best grasp on its audience but still has some substance for a variety of readers.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: CMX, Manga

Review: Right Here, Right Now (Vol. 01)

Posted by Shannon Fay on Wednesday, May 26, 2010

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Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Souya Himawari
Publisher: June
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: April 2010

Synopsis: “Mizuo, your average modern day teenager, is mysteriously transported into Feudal Japan and worshipped as a Living Buddha in a time when war is the way of life-so it’s no wonder he’s desperate to return home! But Mizuo soon meets the charismatic leader of the Yamako army, Takakage, whose bravado on the battlefield is matched only by his adoration of Mizuo! When Takakage demands that Mizuo stay and become his personal page, will Mizuo still desire to return home?”

Time travel romance is a tried and true staple of the shojo genre, with Fushigi Yugi, Red River and From Far Away being notable titles. Right Here, Right Now uses a similar template to the aforementioned: an ordinary high schooler gets sent to a distant past/fantasy world, is hailed as a deity of some kind, and falls for a hot local. It works just as well in yaoi as it does in other manga, and Right Here, Right Now looks like a fine addition to the time travel romance (time-rom?) genre.

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

Review: Dorohedoro (Vol. 01)

Posted by Andre Paploo on Tuesday, May 25, 2010

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Reviewer: Andre

Manga-ka: Q Hayashida
Publisher: Sig Ikki
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: March 2010

Synopsis: “Caiman was not lucky. A sorcerer cursed him with a reptile head and left him with no memory of his life before the transformation. Adding to the mystery, there’s a spectre of a man living inside him. But Caiman has one key advantage: he’s now completely immune to magic. Along with his best friend, Nikaido, Caiman is hunting down sorcerers in the Hole, searching for the one who can undo his curse and killing the rest. But when En, the head Sorcerer, gets word of a lizard-man slaughtering sorcerers, he sends a crew of “cleaners” into the Hole, igniting a war between two worlds.”

A kinetic mix of action, dark comedy and gore, Dorohedoro offers a feast of strangeness as a lizard headed man hunts down the sorcerers who plague his city, cavorts with a deceptively harmless-looking restaurant owner, and enjoys good meals in between all the decapitations.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Viz Media

Review: King of Cards (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, May 24, 2010

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Makoto Tateno
Publisher: CMX Manga
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: August 2007

Synopsis: “‘Chaos’ is a trading card game that is very popular at Manami’s school. Trying to learn more about it herself, she purchases a beginner’s set, only to discover that it contains “Sahgan, The Mighty Sorcerer,” the rarest card in the game. Now every other player is out to win the card from her. But Sahgan himself begins to visit Manami in her dreams, offering her advice on how to win.”

Minami is an average schoolgirl with a budding interest in Chaos – a card game where players pit monsters against each other in a battle for remaining life points (sound a little familiar?). Fresh-faced to the game with her experienced cousin as a guide, Minami is struck with newbie-luck and when purchasing her first deck, discovers a card that’s not only rare but possibly the rarest card in the whole game.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: CMX, Makoto Tateno, Manga

Review: Dry Heat

Posted by Shannon Fay on Saturday, May 22, 2010

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Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Yugi Yamada
Publisher: June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: April 2010

Synopsis: “Little Tatsuhiko says to Itaru, “…when I grow up, I want to become a politician and change the law so two men can get married. Will you marry me then?” Ten years later, his family members are notified that Tatsuhiko left a note and disappeared from his prestigious academy. His family servant is asked to find him, only to discover that time changes people and learns things aren’t the way it used to be…”

When was the last time you read a yaoi manga and couldn’t predict what would happen next? Or read a yaoi that had characters who were actual people and not just stock roles? I was surprised by how much Dry Heat caught me off-guard – a yaoi manga that actually puts the plot first and the smut second.

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