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Review Archive

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

Review: Legend of Zelda – Four Swords (Part Two)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, October 21, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Akira Himekawa
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: All Ages
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “The Green, Red and Blue Links reach Death Mountain, where they challenge Shadow Link and Violet Link in battle. Then, inside the Fire Temple they learn a terrible secret about the Dark World and the evil power behind Vaati. To defeat this great enemy, the different colored Links must find a way to become one again in order to harness the power of the Four Sword!”

Part one of this story arc left us with an unnerving betrayal as the battle between Links becomes two against three. But with characters’ motives still unclear, and the evil Ganon pulling the strings of the dark lord Vati, Hyrule and its Princess only have the remainder of this volume to see their heroes reconnected and the country saved.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Legend of Zelda, Manga, Viz Media

Review: Detroit Metal City (Vol. 01)

Posted by Andre Paploo on Tuesday, October 20, 2009

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Reviewer: Andre

Manga-ka: Kiminori Wakasugi
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: June 2009

Synopsis: “By all appearances, Soichi Negishi is a sweet, well-mannered boy who loves Swedish pop music, trendy boutiques, and all things fashionable. But at the same time he’s also Krauser II, front man for Detroit Metal City, an indie death metal band whose popularity increases by the day. Once the DMC makeup goes on and Soichi takes the stage, his natural talent as a death metal god can’t help but flourish. Is this the band he’s truly destined to be in?”

For those who have grown bored with schoolgirls, robots, samurai and pretty boys, VIZ’s Signature imprint has proven a salvation, offering such stellar series as Monster, Golgo 13, and the endearingly post-apocalyptic children’s series Drifting Classroom. They’ve recently reinvigorated the line with a range of over-sized trim titles that offer more variety from the normal manga fare, and Detroit Metal City is a great example of the diversity they’re bringing us.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Viz Media

Review: Nightschool (Vol. 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, October 13, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Creator: Svetlana Chmakova
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “Schools may lock up for the night, but class is in session for an entirely different set of students. In the Nightschool, vampires, werewolves, and weirns learn the fundamentals of everything from calculus to spell casting. Alex is a young weirn whose education has always been handled through home schooling, but circumstances seem to be drawing her closer to the Nightschool. Will Alex manage to weather the dark forces gathering?”

Alex begins her quest to discover what happened to her sister, a staff member at the city’s secret night school, who mysteriously vanished leaving not even a memory behind in the minds of most. Her sister’s place of employment is the first stop, but to wander the school halls, Alex must first become a student.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Global Manga, Yen Press

Review: Kaze Hikaru (Vol. 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, October 12, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Taeko Watanabe
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: June 2006

Synopsis: “Sei devotes herself to becoming an ideal bushi, or warrior, and accompanies the Mibu-Roshi to Osaka. There, she finds the man responsible for killing her father and brother. Desperate to avenge her family, Sei uncovers his hideout with the help of a friend, but they are soon discovered and her companion is slain. Is Sei ready for the hardships of the Mibu-Roshi? Or should she return home to lead the life of a normal girl?”

The first chapter of this book cracked me up, sharing with readers an honest peek into the mind of Sei, living a life among men who are anything but as refined as she had envisioned. Smelly, rude and perverse, she sees the honest side of men and has no plans to be a part of it. When her plan to rise to the ranks of ‘a real man’ is taken into the hands of the boisterous Serizawa, Sei is suddenly whisked away to find her masculinity in a misinterpreted manner.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Shoujo Beat, Viz Media

Review: 13th Boy (Vol. 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, October 11, 2009

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

Synopsis: “With fierce determination, Hee-Soo continues to follow her heart — not to mention her beloved Won-Jun — everywhere! When she discovers Won-Jun is a Boy Scout (and that pesky Whie-Young too, boo!), she wants nothing more than to be a Girl Scout, especially so she can take part in the joint Scouts campout and be by Won-Jun’s side! But the other girls won’t let her get away with it that easily! Sheer willpower may not be enough to get Hee-Soo there…but maybe a little magic might do the trick?”

Thankfully for our abounding curiousity since the end of volume one, this second volume of 13th Boy picks up right where we left off as far as the resident plot-oddity is concerned. Return of the talking cactus! Who turns into a pretty boy once a month for 24 hours. Why? We’re not sure yet but it’s so silly and out of no where that I’m too entertained to bother being critical about something that’s just meant to be fun.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: 13th Boy, Manhwa, Yen Press

Review: Mr. Flower Groom

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, October 7, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Lily Hoshino
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “The honeymoon’s not quite over yet… The Souda family tradition of marrying off its younger sons to male clan members leaves no generation untouched! Childhood friends Ritsu and Kouichirou may have taken their first, tentative steps into married life in Mr. Flower Bride, but now they have to wrangle with past loves, new misunderstandings… and each other (!!) to get to matrimonial bliss!”

A sequel to Mr. Flower Bride, Mr. Flower Groom follows the series’ newly wed couple – Ritsu and Kouchirou. They may still have their insecurities to deal with but it’s evident there’s more than just tradition binding the two together. But even with positive premise memories from the last book, are the characters themselves compelling enough to leave us fervent for this follow-up?

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, Manga, Yen Press

Review: Black God (Vol. 07)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, October 4, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Dall-Young Lim
Manhwa-ga: Sung-Woo Park
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “Having systematically destroyed all the protective soul stones in Japan, Hiyou reveals his plot to gather alter egos together and unleash a massive wave of negative energy that could threaten the entire country. The last soul stone is in Okinawa — the stone once guarded by Makana and Kakuma’s family. With Kuro and Keita detained at the resort and Kakuma captured by Tribal Ends, Makana’s ready to step up and defend the pure place of his fallen relatives. But a lone Mototsumitama may not have the strength to oppose the evil at work…”

Keita and Kuro have infiltrated the hotel serving as Hiyou’s plotting base but when the enemy swoops in and captures Makana, Kakuma flies off in a rage to do whatever he can to save her. But with her abilities to unseal Japan’s final sacred stone now in the hands of the enemy, it may very well be the world that the group is out to save… or at least that’s what I believe is going on.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhwa, Yen Press

Review: Red River (Vol. 25)

Posted by Shannon Fay on Saturday, October 3, 2009

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Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Chie Shinohara
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: April 2009

Synopsis: “Charged with treason, Nakia is interrogated by the Hittite council of ministers. Nakia denies her guilt and, despite being confined, uses her magic to free her henchman Urhi, who is then suspected of launching a campaign of murderous retaliation against Kail and Yuri. Nakia, however, seems to have made one mistake that could undo all her schemes–overlooking the devastating effect all the intrigue and treachery has had on Juda, her son and intended heir to the Hittite throne!”

Red River is a series that manages to mix political intrigue with shoujo romance. The characters all strike a nice balance between being idealistic reformers and shrewd politicians. As in any good shoujo manga, the relationships between the characters are always at the forefront of the action. The series is at its best when it pits the strong bonds between the cast against what’s best for the Hittite Empire, making the characters choose between helping their friends or helping the country. Luckily, that is exactly what volume 25 of Red River does.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Shoujo Beat, Viz Media

Review: Cowa!

Posted by Shannon Fay on Friday, October 2, 2009

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Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Akira Toriyama
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: All Ages
Release Date: July 2008

Synopsis: “Paifu, a half-vampire half-were-koala, is always getting into trouble with his best buddy, José the ghost. But when the Monster Flu sweeps through town, the fun and games are over. If the monsters don’t get the medicine soon, everyone will die! With all the adults sick, it’s up to the kids to save the day! Paifu and José are off on a big adventure, but will they get the medicine in time… or will they become victims themselves?!”

Sometimes it’s hard to remember that the creator of the ultra-violent Dragon Ball Z can also do cute and funny. What’s really surprising is how well he does it. Cowa! Is basically Yotsuba&! If the kids were monsters, and if that doesn’t sound great than I don’t know what else to tell you.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Shonen Jump, Viz Media

Evangelion 1.0 Across Canada – Good Movie and Great Fans

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, October 1, 2009

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Last night was the first of two showings across Canada of Evangelion 1.0, part one of a four-part retelling of the popular Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series, revamped with new scenes and new graphics for an old, an undeniably well-loved, story.

I went to the showing in Halifax, Nova Scotia, along with over 200 fellow fans – not only did the show almost entirely sell out but we also made up the biggest turn-out across the entire country! Way to come out and show your support, Haligonians – you guys rock! Winning moments include a fun pre-show with lots of prizes and trivia and an impromptu light show during the film’s closing credits where everyone took out their cell phones and swayed them to the lovely Utada Hikaru song.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Anime, Canada, Movies, Neon Genesis Evangelion