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Posts Tagged Yen Press

Review: S.S. Astro (Vol. 01)


Manga-ka: Negi Banno
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: August 2008

Synopsis: “There are many manga out there about school life, but those are mostly about the students. Here is the first about the young female teachers. S.S. ASTRO follows the adventures – romantic and otherwise – of a group of young teachers working to make ends meet. Fun doesn’t have to end after high school!”

There are two new homeroom teachers this year at Asashio High School, and even though they’re supposed to be teachers, they’re almost as lazy and irresponsible as the students! Japanese teacher, Nagumo Yoko, can’t seam to stop stuffing her face and the gym teacher, Maki Izumi, is either sleeping or playing video games. Both alumni of this school, they do take their jobs seriously but it’s what they do on their down time which makes them questionable candidates for teachers.

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Review: Shoulder-A-Coffin Kuro (Vol. 02)


Manga-ka: Satoko Kiyuduki
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: October 2008

Synopsis:
“With Nijuku and Sanju in tow, the road winds on for Kuro and Sen. During a lull en route, Kuro takes a turn down memory lane, revisiting an unfortunate incident during her early days as a traveler that resulted in her imprisonment! One by one, the secrets surrounding Kuro and her journey with Sen are disclosed… and the fate that Kuro will suffer should her quest fail is finally revealed!”

In this volume, it becomes quite clear that Kuro and Sen are under their own curses. It is openly stated that the appearances that they have now are not their ‘natural’ ones. Sen’s curse has broken him into a thousand bats, each a part of his body and Kuro’s to be on a time limit, and is linked with the mysterious black spots that have covered a large part of her body. Not to mention she is actually older than she seems.

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Review: Goong (Vol. 01)


Manhwa-ga: Park SoHee
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: December 2006

Synopsis: “What if Korea had continued monarchism? What if all the beautiful palaces which are now only historical relics were actually filled with people?! What if the glamorous royal family still maintained the palace customs?! Welcome to a world where Korea still has the royal family living their lives! Only for one high school girl, Che-Kyung, is this a tragedy, since she has to marry the prince who apparently is a total jerk!”

If Korea hadn’t been crushed by the countries around it, if their nobility was as wealthy and influential as that of China or England, what would modern day Korea be like? Changing history and sliding it into the real world, SoHee Park tells the tale of young prince Shin, who has been forced into an arranged marriage. He doesn’t seem to mind, but his bride to be, Chae-Kyung, has a thing or two to say about it!

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Review: Comic (Vol. 03)


Manhwa-ga: Ha SiHyun
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: August 2008

Synopsis: “Patrick’s coming up on another deadline,, and Alice is all set to step in and help. But before she can give Patrick much thought, Alice’s musings are interrupted by a terrible announcement – Sangmoon High has gone bankrupt and will merge with the all-boys school, Seomoon! For the other girls, combining with Seomoon is a fabulous chance to meet hot guys. But for Alice, moving away from her familiar classrooms and teachers – not to mention having classes with Patrick! – is painful.”

As if dealing with the seemingly heartless Patrick isn’t bad enough, it’s even harder for young Alice when she has to deal with both him and his upcoming mahnwa deadline! She offers him her help and finds herself promoted to his official assistant. But even a bump from intern to assistant couldn’t help lighten this aspiring manhwa creator’s spirits when she learns her school has gone bankrupt, leaving them no choice but to merge with the all boys’ school next door.

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Review: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Vol. 01)


Author: Nagaru Tanigawa/Noizi Ito
Manga-ka: Gaku Tsugano
Publisher: Yen
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: October 2008

Synopsis:
“It’s average schoolboy Kyon’s typical first day at an ordinary high school. Little does he know that his humdrum life is abou to get a dose of the superfantastic thanks to fellow classmate Haruhi Suzumiya! Are you ready to join the SOS Brigade?!”

It seems fair to say that anyone who considers themselves well versed in present-day anime culture, has undoubtedly heard of the popular, Haruhi Suzumiya. Underwhelmed by my experience of the anime, I resigned myself to being one of those who just found it ‘wasn’t their thing’ and moved on. But amidst all the hype, the parody and the cosplay, I knew at its core that the fandom of Haruhi couldn’t be entirely crazy. Surely there must’ve been something I’d missed. With Yen Press’s release of the manga version, I was hopeful that in this medium I find more comfortable, I may discover the true charm of this series that’s attracted so many.

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Guest Review: Spiral – Bonds of Reasoning (Vol. 04)


Author: Kyo Shirodaira
Manga-ka: Eita Mizuno
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: July 2008

Synopsis: “When Hiyono turns the tables on Rio and Kousuke and demands a rematch for Ayumu, she ends up getting kidnapped! However, it looks like there’ll be a rematch after all. In exchange for his trusty information dealer, Ayumu must hand over Hiyono’s hard evidence against the Blade Children… in one of Rio’s devilish games! Will Ayumu’s pride be his downfall?”

The secrets of the Blade Children unravel one chapter at a time with new mysteries, and even more sinister plots hiding around every corner. Ayumu Narumi, his self appointed side kick and the school journalist, Hiyono Yuizaki, have a lot of work ahead of them if they’re going to make it to the end of this dangerous road alive.

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Review: Kaze no Hana (Vol. 02)

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Ushio Mizta
Manga-ka: Akiyoshi Ohta
Publisher: YenPress
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: August 2008

Synopsis: “Struggling with her feelings of helplessness, Momoka finds unexpected support from two fellow spirit sword wielders. Vowing to help her untangle the truth from the web of lies spun by the Mitsurugis, they don’t realize that an investigatory trip to the Futami family grave site will lead not only to the unsheathing of Suzukaze, but also to the dark side of Momoka’s heart.”

Orphaned after the death of her family, Momoka struggles now to come to complete terms with her newfound place in a world of spiritual swords and battling factions. Unable to draw her sword as others like her can, Momoka faces her own feelings of frustration before a visit to her family’s grave site ends up providing a lot more than she’d bargained for.

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Review: You’re So Cool (Vol. 02)


Manhwa-ga: YoungHee Lee
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: September 2008

Synopsis: “Nan-woo’s in deep trouble… Seung-Ha’s got his sights set on making his ‘girlfriend’ dance in the palm of his hand solely for his own amusement. But if that’s all it is, why does he bare his (perfectly straight, white and brilliant) teeth at Chan-Gyu, who still has feelings for Nan-Woo and wants her for himself?!”

Nan-woo continues to deal with Seung-Ha, whose tight grip on her at school still remains. Be it denying her food or ordering her around, there seems to be no break from his orders. But when another classmate returns to try and confess his feelings to Nan-Woo, suddenly Seung-Ha seems extra possessive.

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Review: Kieli (Vol. 02)

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Yukako Kabei
Manga-ka: Shiori Teshirogi
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: October 2008

Synopsis: “Their fates irrevocably intertwined by a bloody war waged eighty years ago, Harvey has promised to help the Corporal pass on by returning him to his final resting place. But when saying their last good-byes to the Corporal goes awry, Harvey is convinced that it would be best for Kieli to go home. But is it really Kieli that needs saving or is Harvey sacrificing his last hope for salvation?”

Kieli and Harvey’s journey continues along with their ghost-in-a-radio, the Corporal. The three find themselves at a place very familiar to Harvey, a place he once called home with a smile upon his face. The trio aren’t far from their destination, a gravesite of soldiers from a war long since past, that holds potent meaning for both Harvey and the Commander, leaving Kieli to wonder what will become of their travels together once they reach it.

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Review: The Antique Gift Shop (Vol. 05)


Manhwa-ga: Lee Eun
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: August 2008

Synopsis: “The antiques take their show on the road when a delivery boy with a dark, murderous streak gets stuck in a freaky mansion with its equally freaky inhabitants. The young man finds solace in the “Son” of the family – a mistreated but cherubic (and relatively normal) little boy who is the exact opposite of the house and everything in it. But when does everyone keep telling him to stay away from this little angel?”

In this fifth volume of The Antique Gift Shop, a teen with a dark past finds himself trapped in weird mansion inhabited by even weirder people. What seems most strange of all is the pretty young boy of the family who’s shunned by the others and locked away. What’s the truth behind this family? After that, a young girl running the gift shop plays a dream-game with some special guests which could allow her to make changes to death itself.

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