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Review Archive

To see a list of reviews in alphabetical order, please see our review index.

Review: Love Roma (Vol. 04)

Posted by Shannon Fay on Thursday, November 5, 2009

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Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Minoru Toyoda
Publisher: Del Rey
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: October 2006

Synopsis: “Hoshino’s never been afraid to tell Negishi just how he feels about her. Hoshino loves Negishi heart and soul–after all, she’s his very first love. But suddenly it’s gotten harder to share his feelings, because now he’s feeling something he’s never felt before: jealousy! The new boy at school, Wakaba, has a major crush on Negishi. And when Wakaba and Negishi become friends, Hoshino gets worried. Is Negishi pulling away from him? And will Hoshino’s silence only make things worse?”

Love Roma is basically a one-trick pony, but if you like the trick then it’s still pretty entertaining. Much of the humour in the series comes from the characters being painfully straightforward, especially the male lead Hoshino. Hoshino isn’t mean-spirited in his bluntness, in fact he’s usually just trying to tell his girlfriend Negishi how much he loves her. Sometimes she gets the message, other times she whacks him over the head for being an idiot. Rinse, wash and repeat and you have Love Roma.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Del Rey, Manga

Review: An Ideal World

Posted by Andre Paploo on Tuesday, November 3, 2009

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Reviewer: Andre

Manhua-ka: Chao Peng, Weidong Chen
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: March 2009

Synopsis: “Time and again, A You finds himself chasing a mysterious rabbit through his dreams. But before he can reach out and grab it…his mother is shaking him awake for another day of work. A You’s not exactly thrilled with his job at the factory, so when a persistent streak of bad luck leaves him unemployed, it seems like a great opportunity to start over. The trouble is, A You doesn’t have anything to move on to. With no goals or aspirations, A You roams the city searching for direction. Deep in thought on one of his strolls, A You suddenly rouses himself only to discover he’s lost in the woods. He catches sight of a rabbit, and in desperation follows it through the forest. But this scene seems familiar…Is it a dream? Or could there truly be An Ideal World within the darkness?”

Chinese comics have been imported to the English comics market since the 80’s, but those were primarily Hong Kong action comics. Now, we’re beginning to see a larger variety, including some titles from mainland China, such as this title – Yen Press’s release of An Ideal World. A mixture of European, Hong Kong and manga aesthetics, An Ideal World offers a change in pace from normal asian comics fare, with vivid colours and a self-contained, single volume story.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhua, Yen Press

Review: Ludwig II (Vol. 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, November 1, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: You Higuri
Publisher: June
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: September 2009

Synopsis: “The kingdom of Bavaria was absorbed into the German Empire during the latter half of the 19th century. The stunningly handsome king of Bavaria— who never married and who would have operas and plays privately staged for him—wandered between fantasy and reality, alone in his extravagant crystal palace, Neuschwanstein. “I want to remain an eternal mystery to myself and others,” Ludwig II once said, and now we reach the final act of his drama.”

Bringing to a close the tragic life of Ludwig II, You Higuri’s loosely-based historical take on the reign of Bavaria’s King continues to view his life from a personal perspective – following the sordid romance between Ludwig and his consort Hornrig while madness continues to nip at his majesty’s heels.

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

Review: Soul Eater (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, October 31, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

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

Synopsis: “Maka is a weapon meister, determined to turn her partner, a living scythe named Soul Eater, into a powerful death scythe — the ultimate weapon of Death himself! Charged with the task of collecting and devouring the tainted souls of ninety-nine humans and one witch, Maka and her fellow meisters strive to master their weapons as they face off against the bizarre and dangerous minions of the underworld. But the meisters’ own personal quirks may prove a bigger obstacle than any sultry enchantress!”

Sporting a scythe wielding young girl next to a witch with a grinning Jack o’Lantern as the background on an otherwise sparse-white canvas – and with just as many ghouls, guises and grins on the inside, you’d be hard pressed to find something more festive than Soul Eater during Halloween night. Granted, you’d easily be able to find something scarier than this, but if you’re looking for the energy of Halloween embodied in something other than having your pants scared off, then this may be the book you’re looking for.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Yen Press

Review: Karakuri Odette (Vol. 01)

Posted by Andre Paploo on Tuesday, October 27, 2009

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Reviewer: Andre

Manga-ka: Julietta Suzuki
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: September 2009

Synopsis: “What does it mean to be truly human…? Odette is a lovely android built by Professor Yoshizawa. Curious to find out what it’s like to be human, she convinces the Professor to enroll her in high school. And thus, with a new group of friends in tow, Odette sets out to discover the true meaning of life as a human, where even the simple stuff is an adventure!”

Karakuri Odette brings us a fresh breath in the realm of android manga. In place of the more escapist concepts of A.I Love You or Absolute Boyfriend, we are given a fairly realistic, laid back take on what it would be like if androids interacted with humans.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Shoujo Beat, Tokyopop

Review: 20th Century Boys (Vol. 05)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, October 26, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Naoki Urusawa
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “With the Friend’s identity still a mystery, the countdown to the apocalypse continues, day by day – for on December 31, 2000, humanity will meet its final hour. Hoping to get as many people who knew about their group’s emblem involved in their clandestine efforts, Kenji’s crew reaches out to their childhood antagonists: the twins Yanbo and Mabo. Back when they were kids, Yanbo and Mabo terrorized Kenji and company to no end. As adults, and with a crisis looming, will the evilest brothers in history now fight on the side of good?”

Hiding out in the sewer with a handful of explosives, a city on their tail and a world-ending conspiracy just around the corner, Kenji’s humble army is small but dedicated to stopping those who have tainted their childhood memories on a dangerously global scale. The end of the 20th century is upon them, but the final prophecy is as well, and the group knows full well that the world may never be same when the 21st century hits – if they live to see it. Warning: Review contains potential spoilers.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: 20th Century Boys, Manga, Naoki Urasawa, Viz Media, Viz Signature

Review: Astro Boy (Movie)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, October 25, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Original Author: Osamu Tezuka
Studio: IMAGI
Rating: PG (Violence)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist named Dr. Tenma. Powered by positive “blue” energy, Astro Boy is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly. Ultimately learning his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to understand what it means to be a hero.”

Based on Osamu Tezuka’s popular Astro Boy series, this movie had a lot of weight on its shoulders – attempting, and in several ways succeeding, to cater to not only fans of the original but also to a generation of viewers for whom Astro Boy comes along as a just another computer-built children’s film.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Movies, Osamu Tezuka

Review: Rin-Ne (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, October 24, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Rumiko Takahashi
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “Sakura’s curiosity about the mysterious Rinne draws her deeper into an amazing world on the boundary between the living and the dead. Helping Rinne is one thing, but will tagging along with him leave her trapped in the afterlife? And does Rinne really know what he’s doing? Dealing with the afterlife isn’t easy, especially when you don’t know all the rules!”

Like many a manga-character before her, Sakura Mamiya can see spirits – but she’s gotten used to it. One day a student in her class finally decides to show up except only she can see him. She soon learns that the student, Rinne, an oddly dressed redhead, accepts money and food in exchange for his services. His profession? Shinigami …well, sort of.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Rin-Ne, Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Media

Review: Cat Eyed Boy (Vol. 02)

Posted by Shannon Fay on Friday, October 23, 2009

2 Comments »

Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Kazuo Umezu
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: June 2008

Synopsis: “A chilling concoction of dark vignettes dripping with the macabre, the grotesque and the absurd. Hated by humans and demons alike, Cat Eyed Boy dwells in the shadows of the human world. Cat Eyed Boy continues his battle with the Band of One Hundred Monsters, a group seeking revenge upon the corrupt humans who have made them outcasts.”

Cat Eyed Boy is a horror comic that is actually scary. The monsters in each arc have fantastic, spine-tingling designs, but what makes them truly frightening is the fact that they represent more realistic threats such as sickness, death and deformity. Horror is our way of realizing abstract fears and transforming them into forms that can be defeated. Though, in this volume of ‘Cat Eyed Boy,’ the good guys don’t always beat the monsters and win.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Viz Media

Review: The Antique Gift Shop (Vol. 09)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, October 22, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manhwa-ga: Lee Eun
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: November 2009

Synopsis: “When a mermaid princess’s hopes to marry her human prince are squashed by the domineering, morbidly obese ex-ballerina to whom the prince appears to be tied, she decides to return to the Han River. But she’s beaten to the punch by the prince…and then the ballerina! What grave secrets about these two does the murky water conceal… and will either of them make it out of the river alive?”

Bun-Nyuh can’t handle it anymore – she’s through with that cursed Antique Gift Shop, no matter what the deal she made with her shaman Grandmother was. Though she finds herself able to storm away from the shop, her memories of it are another thing, struggling over the loss of her best employee, the beautiful but enigmatic, Mr. Yang – the man who always seem to know what to say. Feeling humbled and abandoned, Bun-Nyuh takes to the rainy streets in this ninth volume of Antique Gift Shop, the book which also sees the end of the twisted ballerina take on the Little Mermaid.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhwa, Yen Press