Drama ↘↖
Manga Review: Sasameki Koto
I am sure you will get this from the vibe of my review, but just so that there is no confusion, I absolutely love this manga. The following is an extremely biased review (even more so than usual) of Sasameki Koto. Sasameki Koto is about the pain of love. Those in this manga are all hurt by there love in some way. Some of them love boys, some love girls, but none of them are free from prying eyes and hurtful stares. “My love is a lonely flower, it blooms and scatters without anyone noticing it.”
The Manga Hobbyist: Ouran High School Host Club Box Set Review
The iconic shojo manga, Ouran High School Host Club — a popular series and a worthwhile read — was released as a box set earlier last month (November 2012). I will not review the series here; instead, I will talk about why you should or shouldn’t buy the box set rather than simply buying each volume separately.
This is a review I just wrote on the group blog I contribute to.
Manga Review: Tripeace
Abiding by their three laws, Tripeace’s only goal is to eradicate war from the world. Those in the organization each have three laws which they follow, the first two are Love and Peace, and the third law changes on an individual basis. Nana has joined Tripeace in the hope of ending all war. He (despite the feminine name Nana is male) has forgot his past. The first friends he made in his new life were killed in front of him during an invasion by the war hungry country, Xyece, since then he decided to stop at nothing to stop war not even… crossdressing?
Manga Review: Tokyo ESP
Following the sucess of Ga-rei, Hajime Segawa-sensei launched his next series Tokyo ESP. While Ga-rei was a story of the supernatural Tokyo ESP is based on ESP*, Extra Sensory Perseption. Both stories are based in modern Tokyo with their respective twists. If you like one, you will like the other. Although both works are simular there are distincty differences.
Manga Review: Reimei no Arcana
In a fantasy world, a princess, scorned by the royal family, is married off to the prince of a neighboring kingdom in order to form peace, albeit a shaky one. What sets apart this story from similar ones with the same premise is what the two accomplish in their union. They don’t fall madly in love, the end. No, they set off in separate ways to prevent war between their two nations. They try to save Ajin, otherwise known as “sub-people” as they are part human-part animal, from slavery and persecution. They fight against fate, one as the traitorous prince the other as a princess who can see the future.
Manga Review: Samurai Executioner
To put it lightly, Samurai Executioner is a spin-off of the famous manga, Lone Wolf and Cub. The same art style and storytelling in the latter is used in the former. However, the plot of the two are very different. As its name suggests Samurai Executioner is about a Samurai who’s profession is that of an executioner. Yamada Asaemon, is an honorable man who is greatly respected, and feared, for both his position and demeanor.
Not only is the manga is written with historical accuracy but the original terms are transliterated in the translation.
Manga Review: Crying Freeman
Crying Freedman is the code name for the best assassin in the Chinese Mafia, otherwise known as the 108 Dragons. Originally an genius potter, Yō Hinomura got involved with the 108 Dragons during an exhibition of his work. The organization noticed his talents and bent him to their will. As an assassin, Hinomura dons the alias of Freedman, however, he hates killing. After every kill he sheds tears thus earning him the name of Crying Freedman. He is the perfect assassin and successor to the leadership of the 108 Dragons.
Manga Review: Usagi Drop
Upon the death of his grandfather, Daikichi Kawachi returns to his hometown. At the family gathering he meets a little girl who he had never seen before, Rin Kaga. As it turns out Rin is, supposedly, the illegitimate daughter of Daikichi’s grandfather. As the rest of the family falls into a petty argument over who takes Rin, Daikichi decides that Rin deserves better and takes Rin under his wing. Daikichi, who is single and 30-years old, now has the life of an innocent six year old on his hands. Usagi Drop is the tale of Daikishi, as he learn the joys of parenthood— albeit awkward at first, and Rin, as she learns to love and be a normal girl.
Usagi Drop was a candidate for the 2011 Eisner Award in the Best U.S. Edition of International Material-Asia Category.
Manhwa Review: Ciel: The Last Autumn Story
In the world of Ciel: The Last Autumn Story Arc Dragons are linked to the forces of nature. They are, in essence, nature personified. The Fire Dragon gave humans language and magic. Now some of the dragons regret this decision as they now fear for the planet’s future. Upon his birth, the Sky Dragon, who can predict the future, predicted that the world would become a barren waste land. The dragons can’t help but think that this will be due to humans. With the turmoil between dragons and the political turbulence linked with having magic power Yvienne, her partner Lariatte, and their friends Daughter and January must do more than just study in the Lockwood Institute, a school for wizards and witches. They must battle demons, monsters, and other fowl creatures while being socially and politically active.
Manga Review: Parasyte
Even in real life, humans are slowly destroying the planet. However, in Parasyte Earth may have a chance due to alien invaders. These aliens are parasitic, sometimes symbiotic, creatures that attempted to take over human bodies when they first invaded. Most Parasites succeeded and took control over human brains. Others failed to take over humans but succeed in controlling other animals, although this is considered a failure by the Parasite population. These Parasites develop a need to eat others of the same species as their host. Thus Parasites in human hosts eat other humans. Another failure is when a Parasite fails in taking over a human’s brain and instead controls a different part of their body. This is the case of Shinichi Izumi who has a Parasite in his right hand.
