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Posts Tagged Viz Media

Review: Black Cat (Vol. 15)

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, August 10, 2008

Manga-ka: Kentaro Yabuki
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: July 2008

Synopsis: “Train and the Sweeper Alliance make it to Creed’s island hideout. However, the Apostles of the Stars are ready and waiting for them. Separated from the others, Eve must finally do battle on her own when confronted by Leon, the wind master. She has the powers she needs to win, but does she has the heart?”

A sudden attack on their ship in volume fourteen has left the newly formed Sweeper Alliance separated and trapped on Creed’s island. Following an expected shonen-story path, the enemy members of the Apostles of the Stars are now hunting them down before they can reach the island’s castle. In this fifteenth volume, Train, Eve and River find themselves under the first attacks.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Black Cat, Shonen Jump, Viz Media

Review: Fairy Cube (Vol. 01)

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, July 20, 2008

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Manga-ka: Kaori Yuki
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “Ian and Rin used to just see spirits. Now Ian is one. Using the Fairy Cube, Ian must figure out how to stop the lizard-spirit Tokage from taking over his life and destroying any chance he has resurrection. Ian is transported to another world by the fairy Ainsel, who promises to help him stop Tokage upon their return to the human plane.”

Ian was a young boy who could see fairies. Everyone called him crazy, Ian-the-liar, until one day a girl named Rin gave him the benefit of the doubt. For the first time he had someone to share the world he saw with, that was until they were ripped apart. He wouldn’t see Rin for years, thanks to the manipulative hand of Tokage, a lizard-spirit who seeks to isolate Ian for his own purposes.

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Tags: Viz Media

Review: Bleach (Vol. 23)

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, July 4, 2008

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Manga-ka: Kubo Tite
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: June 2008

Synopsis: “The Arrancars, Hollows that have attained Soul Reaper-like powers, have descended on Karakura Town. Led by Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, they plan to eliminate anyone who poses a threat to them. And their deadly hunt doesn’t stop with Ichigo and the Soul Reapers – the Arrancars are after anyone with even a trace of spiritual powers!”

The plot continues to thicken as the new group of baddies on the scene prepare to create some havoc for the inhabitants of Karakura Town, home of Ichigo and friends. Much to the lead cast’s surprise, however, is the appearance of several acquaintances in light of the coming attacks, acquaintances who are looking for places to stay. With a first half dedicated to humour and drama and a second half that packs a dangerous punch, volume 23 delivers a little bit of everything and does it wonderfully.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Bleach, Viz Media

Review: Nightmare Inspector (Vol. 02)

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, July 3, 2008

4 Comments »

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Shin Mashiba
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: June 2008

Synopsis: “Dreams on the menu in this volume: a telephone operator who may be the girl of another patron’s dreams, a blind girl whose hearing is driving her mad, a missing fiancé who may be trapped in his own painting, and a mysterious lodger intent on discovering Hiruko’s private past.”

Those plagued by their nightmares continue to seek help from the mysterious dream-eater, Hiruko, here in volume two of Nightmare Inspector. Things are still not always as they seem which becomes even more evident with the revelation of the delirium shop, a place that deals with people’s fantasies much in the same way the Silver Star Tea House deals with dreams.

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Tags: Viz Media

Review: Honey and Clover (Vol. 01)

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, June 29, 2008

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Manga-ka: Chica Umino
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: March 2008

Synopsis:
“Takamoto, a sophomore art student in Tokyo, thinks his greatest worries in life are finding ways to eat more meat and getting to class on time. But with friends like this, life never going to be that tame. Love triangles – Who says you don’t learn math in art school?”

Honey and Clover follows the lives and trials of numerous college students. The main cast of characters consists of Takamoto and fellow art students living together in a cheap housing unit. Their yearn for a break from their everyday noodle dinners and deal with lots of believable problems that many readers can no doubt relate to.

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Tags: Viz Media

Review: Absolute Boyfriend (Vol. 01)

By Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, June 14, 2008

8 Comments »

Manga-ka: Yuu Watase
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: February 2006

Synopsis: “Rejected way too many times by guys, shy Riiko Izawa goes online and signs up for a free trial of a mysterious Night Lover “figure.” The very next day, a cute naked guy is delivered to her door, and he wants to be her boyfriend! Has Riiko died and gone to heaven? The cute guy turns out to be sweet, smart, a great cook, and lots more. And he looks like a million bucks, which is what he’s going to cost Riiko if she doesn’t return him in time…”

Continuing on with android week, I’m looking back at a book that comes from the same mind and talent who gave readers, Fushigi Yuugi and Ayashi no Ceres: Absolute Boyfriend! It’s a more light hearted and fun manga about a girl who gets everything she wants and has no idea what to do with it. Having no luck with boys, Riiko fills in an online application form for the perfect lover, not taking it seriously of course. Then one day a package appears for her containing Night, an android who’s more than ready to be her ideal boyfriend… much to her dismay.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Absolute Boyfriend, Shoujo Beat, Viz Media, Yuu Watase

Review: Absolute Boyfriend (Vol. 06)

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, May 7, 2008

3 Comments »

Manga-ka: Yuu Watase
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis:
“Rejected way too many times by good-looking (and unattainable) guys, shy Riiko Izawa goes online and signs up for a free trial of a mysterious Night Lover “figure.” The very next day, a cute naked guy is delivered to her door, and he wants to be her boyfriend! Riiko has chosen her one true boyfriend, but she finds her life changing quickly after he decision is made. Will Riiko and her boyfriend have their happily-ever-after?”

Absolute Boyfriend, volume six, marks the end of this series. With Riiko having chosen Night as her true love, she discovers that Soshi is moving to Spain. Confused and torn, will Riiko and Night get their happily ever after? Remaining review contains minor spoilers.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Absolute Boyfriend, Viz Media, Yuu Watase

Review: Black Cat (Vol. 14)

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, May 6, 2008

1 Comment »

Manga-ka: Kentaro Yabuki
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: May 2008Synopsis: “Glin, a mysterious information broker, is forming a Sweeper Alliance in order to destroy Creed and the Apostles of the Stars. He invites Train, Eve and Sven to join their group. But even if this motley crew can locate the Apostles’ hiding place, will they be able to survive the perilous journey to get there?”

Starting the book off with a bang, Train must finish his battle against fellow sweeper, River, in exchange for information about finding Creed. Both Train and River are given the information by Glin, an informant with a mysterious history, who plans to form a team of the best sweepers in order to defeat Creed. Eve and Train need to work together to decipher the information and join up with this new group. Meanwhile, Sven continues his training to master his eye’s abilities to glimpse the future so he’ll be of help when the great battle finally comes about.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Black Cat, Shonen Jump, Viz Media

Review: Nightmare Inspector (Vol. 01)

By Lissa Pattillo on Monday, April 28, 2008

2 Comments »

Manga-ka: Shin Mashiba
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: April 2008Synopsis: “For those who suffer nightmares, help awaits at the Silver Star Tea House. Hiruko is a special kind of private investigator. He’s a dream eater. And he’ll rid you of your darkest visions… for a price. Dreams on the menu in this volume: a restless soul, a murderous beauty, a woman afraid of falling apart, a grieving lover, an unforgiving son, a suicidal actress and a mysterious voice on the other end of a lovely young man’s phone.”

Nightmare Inspector: Yumekui Kenbun is another take on the episodic mysterious shop genre, similar to series such as Petshop of Horrors and Nightmares for Sale. Hiruko, an androgynous in appearance dream-eater, runs the Silver Star Tea House. He solves people’s problems by entering their nightmares in exchange for being able to eat the dreams when he’s done. Throughout the book, different people seek out his shop and his services, often with unseen circumstances.

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Tags: Viz Media

Review: Black Cat (Vol. 13)

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, April 18, 2008

2 Comments »

Manga-ka: Kentaro Yabuki
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: March 2008

Synopsis: “After surviving another attack by the Apostles, Train and his partners agree that they have to eliminate Creed. At Sven’s urging, Train finally reveals the details of his past: the nature of his relationship with Saya Minatsuki, the reasons for his quitting the Chrono Numbers, and the cause of his violent hatred of Creed.”

A good portion of Black Cat volume 13 is a flashback to Train’s days as an assassin for the organization Chronos. Befriended by a kind, lively sweeper named Saya, Train begins questioning his morals and is soon unable to perform murder as efficiently and without question as he once did, much to the anger of his superiors. When Creed, another member of Chronos, takes it upon himself to fix the problem, Train’s will for vengeance against the man is given stark backing.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Black Cat, Shonen Jump, Viz Media