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Posts Tagged Yen Press

Review: Shoulder-A-Coffin Kuro (Vol. 01)


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

Synopsis: “Regularly mistaken for a boy and/or vampire, the traveler Kuro roams the land, clothed in black from head to toe, a Kuro-sized coffin on her back. Accompanied by her snarky bat friend, Sen, the mysterious duo meets all sorts of individuals en route–some good, some evil, some just plain crazy! But Kuro never stays in one place for long, begging the question: What exactly is she searching for? And what exactly does she intend to do with that coffin?!”

The art style was what first grabbed my attention when I looked at the book. As a friend had suggested, it was just the sort of thing that I would be interested in. When I first opened it, I was put off a little by the way the paneling was put together. Like a number of recently released titles from Yen Press, it follows the ‘four panel’ style. Still, I liked the way it was drawn, and the premise for it was interesting enough, so I dove right into Shoulder-A-Coffin Kuro.

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Review: Moon Boy (Vol. 04)


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

Synopsis: “Myung-Ee succeeds in enraging the student council – especially Sa-Eun – by confronting them about Yu-Da. But when the Black Rabbit is kidnapped during the school festival, she finds herself transported to a strange place… with none other than Sa-Eun! As an attack from an unexpected assailant forces the two enemies into a corner, will they be able to put their differences aside and fight for their lives together?!”

Myung-Ee confronts the student council about their intent to sacrifice her old friend, Yu-Da. However she discovers that Yu-Da may see her as just a much a nuisance as her enemies do too. That doesn’t stop her from wanting to help however, which is a good when Yu-Da is kidnapped during the school festival.

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Review: One Thousand and One Nights (Vol. 05)


Author: Jeon JinSeok
Manhwa-ga: Han SeungHee
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: September 2008

Synopsis: “Sultan Shahryar and Sehara escape from the palace! On the road, they meet two other runaways – a girl named Aisha and her tutor Alex. Aisha and Alex are in love, but her parents object to their union. When Aisha’s father sends some men to capture them, the Sultan has to decide whether to help them or turn them in…”

In this volume of One Thousand and One Nights, Sehara and Shehryar leave the palace to find some much needed relaxation near the sea. There they meet a runaway girl and her tutor who fled her home to escape being summoned by Shehryar and becoming another of his victims. Sehara wishes to help but Sultan Shehryar sees no merit in it so it’s only a matter of time until interests collide.

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Review: Chocolat (Vol. 06)


Manhwa-ga: Shin JiSang and Geo
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: September 2008

Synopsis: “With her confession rejected by E-Wan of Yo-I, Kum-Ji is driven to despair. But with DDL’s tour starting up again, she at least has something to get her mind off of her hurting heart. But when E-Wan is suddenly hospitalized, she must draw up the courage to visit him. And who’s there to back her up but E-Soh?! Just when it seems that E-Wan can never be as nice as E-Soh, he has a change of heart?!”

Kumi-ji comes out and tells E-Wan that she loves him and is slapped with a cold turn down and a hard truth. But is that the end? Friend and pop-star, E-Soh, still makes it no secret he wants her for himself, and where once Kum-Ji felt torn between them, now her heart can think of no one but E-Wan.

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Review: Sundome (Vol. 03)


Manga-ka: Kazuto Okada
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: September 2008

Synopsis: “Torture, teasing, and humiliation from Kurumi ensues, but Hideo’s crush on her only worsens! When nasty rumors start flying about Kurumi’s promiscuity, Hideo finds the source and sets things straight. But even he can’t explain the mysterious pair of men’s shoes in her apartment. Meanwhile, the Roman Club accepts a bet from the sneaky class president which involves wandering through a haunted graveyard and playing a creepy game of hide-and-seek in the school after dark.”

In this third volume of Sundome, Kurumi is accused of selling herself for money, which to some doesn’t seem as far a stretch as they’d like to think. On top of that, a pair of men’s shoes in her apartment only fuels Hideo’s paranoia. Between ghost hunting and getting in out of the rain, Hideo’s sexual slavery to Kurumi continues to know no bounds… unless Kurumi sets them.

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Review: Forest of Gray City (Vol. 02)


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

Synopsis: “The arrival of Bum-Moo’s step-sister gives Yun-Ook the chance to learn more about her young roommate – the tragedy that dream him closer to his sister, the reason he dropped out of school, and the jealousy that forced him out on his own. As she finds out more about Bum-Moo’s story, a face from her own past takes Yun-Ook by surprise. Forced to confront her losses in love and life, Yun-Ook must decide once and for all how to move forward in response to Bum-Moo’s affections.”

In this second volume of Forest of Gray City, Bum-Moo’s past is revealed in a sombre retelling of old wounds that left and him step-sister to grow ever closer. His roommate, Yun-Ook, is happy to learn a little more about the young man but remains unsure of how to react to his professed feelings.

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Guest Review: Sunshine Sketch (Vol. 01)


Manga-ka: Ume Aoki
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: All Ages
Released: June 2008

Synopsis:
“Accepted to a high school specializing in the arts, Yuno moves into a nearby apartment complex to make her commute easier. Just a few days into her new routine, she quickly discovers that creativity doesn’t end with the art school bell! Will the quiet Yuno be able to handle this creatively kooky cast of characters?”

The Hidamari apartments are located next to the popular Yamabuki private high school, known for its specialty in arts. Many students, mostly girls, move into the small apartment complex to get closer to the school and attain further knowledge in everything from painting to film. Yuno is an underclassman (or freshmen, aka newbie) in this school and has just moved into Hidamari. We readers follow her through living alone and making new friends in this simple life as a high school student.

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Review: Angel Diary (Vol. 06)


Author: Yun-Hee
Mahnwa-ga: Kara
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: July 2008

Synopsis: “Princess Dong-Young is kidnapped by the powerful demon, Se-In. With the help of B-Wal, Doh-Hyun the Black Turtle attempts to rescue the princess. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, Ryung enters the scene out of nowhere… and more secrets are revealed about the characters’ hidden pasts!”

The youngest and only unwed Princess of Heaven, Chun-yoo, has been betrothed to the King of Hell as part of a binding peace treaty. Not wanting to wed someone she has never met, Chun-yoo (aka Dong-Young) has run away from home to hide on earth, hoping that if she is missing long enough everyone will just forget about the wedding. With the help of best friend, Ah-hin, and Ah-hin’s half brother, Ee-Jung, the princess enrolls in high school and hides on earth posing as a young man.

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Review: Hissing (Vol. 04)


Manhwa-ga: Kang EunYoung
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating:Teen (13+)
Released: July 2008

Synopsis: “While Da-Eh and Sun-Nam take baby steps into couplehood, Ha-Ra has no intention of giving up on her ex. Intent on bringing Da-Eh down, she and her cronies corner the budding artist and prevent her from making it to her little brother’s fateful reunion! But why do Sun-Nam’s brothers show up instead?! To make matters worse, Ta-Jun’s regularly scheduled harrassment of Da-Eh leads to a confession!”

Hissing stars young Da-Eh, a girl dreaming of becoming a manhwa-ga (Korean comic artist) alongside her best friend Sung-Chul. As they walk through life, seeing everything as reference material, the real world gives Da-Eh a slap in the face. That slap in the face is Sun-Nam, an attractive and kind hearted guy trying his best to become a horrible person (and failing at it). At first they fight, and they fight a lot, but as time passes they grow accustomed to each other and start dating.

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Review: Black God (Vol. 01)


Author: Dall-Young Lim
Manhwa-ga: Sung-Woo Park
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: October 2007

Synopsis: “Keita Ibuki decides to satisfy a craving for ramen but instead of slurping soup, he gives up his meal to a cute girl. Unknown to Keita, the girl is a superhuman being known as a mototsumitama who’s being hunted by others of her kind. When a battle ensues, Keita gets caught in the crossfire and loses his arm. The next time he opens his eyes, he’s back in his apartment – arm intact. But just whose arm is it?!”

While taking a break from his money-mooching, booze-drinking and game-designing of the night, Keita Ibuki sat down to enjoy a nice bowl of ramen noodles. After a strange young girl mourns the lose of the last bowl, Keita lets her have his. But when a strange man shows up to attack the girl, Keita tries to lend a hand (or a stool in this case) only to find himself the odd-man out in this inhuman fight. Caught between them, Keita loses his arm. Fast forward to the next day and he’s safe in his bed, and both arms are intact, but now he’s got a strange little girl chowing-down on the contents of his fridge.

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