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Review Archive

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

Review: breath (Vol. 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, September 30, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Chifumi Ochi
Publisher: Yaoi Generation
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: May 2009

Synopsis: “Yanagi and Arata’s encounter started off as a simple pick-up at a bar, but Arata – who balks at homosexual sex – upsets Yangai to the point of being blackmailed into a sex-slave relationship. It is Arata’s charming and innocent personality, however, that breaks through Yanagai’s resolve and deeper feelings begin to form between them. Just then, Yanagi’s sex friend and Arata’s younger twin brother, Takashi, notices Arata’s strange behaviour…”

One old boyfriend, an inquisitive brother and a relationship that begins to teeter between romantic and purely physical are boys’ love staples awaiting readers in this second volume of breath. Yannagi, still laid back and ready to go, may seem more apt to push forward but a sharp blast from his past puts a damper on his enthusiasm and begins a renewal of old concerns, levelling out the proverbial playing field of emotion between him and Arata.

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

Review: The Quest For The Missing Girl

Posted by Shannon Fay on Monday, September 28, 2009

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Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Jiro Taniguchi
Publisher: Ponent Mon
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: December 2008

Synopsis: “Mountaineer Shiga made a promise to his best friend following his tragic death in the Himalayas. Twelve years later and he is called upon to honor that promise. When 15 year old high school student, Megumi, fails to arrive home one evening from school her mother calls on her dead husband´s best friend for help. Shiga abandons his refuge in the mountains and descends to the city to look for the girl. With the police investigation at a standstill, Shiga has to go it alone. But the metropolis can be a much more hostile and dangerous ground than the mountains. What has happened to the youngster and will Shiga find her before it is too late?”

The Quest for the Missing Girl is as straight-forward as its title. There are no real twists or turns in the story and the characters never do anything unexpected. If you’ve already guessed that the climax will involve Shiga’s mountain climbing skills, go have a cookie.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Ponent Mon

Review: Time Guardian (Vol. 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, September 27, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Daimuro Kishi
Manga-ka: Tamao Ichinose
Publisher: CMX Manga
Rating: All Ages
Release Date: June 2007

Synopsis: “Is the Time Shop closing for good?! In this eries finale, Miu tries to stop two former sweethearts from trading in their memories in order to forget their past relationship. Then Mr. Kusaka announces he’s selling all the Time Shop’s assets and closing up for good. Can Miu and Ginzo change his mind?”

A romantic entanglement becomes Time Guardian Miu’s first big job of volume two, taking her on an emotional journey as go between for two struggling lovers. But their waffling relationship proves only the tip of the book’s real iceberg as Miu is thrown for a loop when she learns what all the memories the shops’ been collecting are really for, then finds herself traveling to another world to see that the Time Shop isn’t closed for good.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: CMX, Manga

Review: Bleach (Vol. 28)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, September 24, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Kubo Tite
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: September 2009

Synopsis: “Ichigo, Chad and Uryû are determined to rescue Orihime from Aizen’s vile machinations. But though the Arrancars’ fortress is in sight, the would-be heroes must first pass Tres Cifras–the land of the disgraced Arrancars, who see destroying Ichigo and his friends as a way to redeem their honor!”

Cue the next damsel-rescue quest. Ichigo, Chad and Ishida have made their way into the world of the Hollows and their volumes of training are finally being put to the test. With new powers requiring exposition, and an entire world of potential new characters, the lead cast takes their official plunge into Bleach’s next giant battle arc.

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

Review: Black Bird (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, September 20, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Kanoko Sakurakoji
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: August 2009

Synopsis: “Everything changes one day when Misao is attacked by a demon. Her childhood friend Kyo suddenly returns to save her and tend to her cuts–with his tongue! It turns out Misao is the bride of prophecy, whose blood gives power to the demon clan who claims her. But most demons want to keep her power for themselves–by eating her! Now Misao is just trying to stay alive…and decide if she likes it when Kyo licks her wounds.”

Waiting for the day when her childhood Prince Charming will return, high school student’s Misao’s life is flipped upside down when a demon attack leads her to learn that she is a ‘bride of prophecy’. Now demons of every shape and size are after her, seeking her special blood which will imbue them with great power, and though she thankfully finds herself rescued by a familiar face from her past, Misao unfortunately realizes his intentions don’t seem entirely pure either.

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

Review: Boys Over Flowers (Vol. 32)

Posted by Shannon Fay on Thursday, September 17, 2009

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Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Yoko Kamio
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: October 2008

Synopsis: “Although Tsukushi Makino is from a poor family, she attends an elite school for the super rich, where her life has become intertwined with the “F4,” the ruling boys of the school, in a whirlwind of love and confusion! Tsukushi’s on-and-off boyfriend Tsukasa is hospitalized after a gruesome head injury! While his life hangs in the balance his devious mother shows no emotion at all! Could a mother really be so heartless?! Even if Tsukasa is able to survive, he may never be the same again…”

This volume of Boys Over Flowers (or Hana Yori Dango for you purists out there) ties up one cliché plotline and moves onto another: out with the controlling family and in with the amnesia. It’s not surprising that the manga pulls out such a tried and true trope: it’s used just about every other rom-com road block to keep the two leads from getting together. Heck, it’s more surprising that it took 31 volumes before one of the leads lost their memory. Yet despite being a cliché and a half, this new arc manages to be funny and heart-touching.

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

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

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, September 16, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Akira Himekawa
Publisher: VizKids
Rating: All Ages
Release Date: August 2009

Synopsis: “Link, a Hylian Knight, serves Princess Zelda at Hyrule Castle. When Shadow Link kidnaps Princess Zelda, Link once again must prepare himself to defeat the forces of evil. To do so, he needs the legendary Four Sword, but getting it means battling the ancient evil power Vaati. The Four Sword also splits Link into four different versions of himself, and these new Links aren’t team players! Rescuing Zelda, beating Vaati, and getting his wild alter-egos under control isn’t going to be easy!”

It’s the start of another Link incarnation here in the sixth book of the Legend of Zelda series. Link, now the son of a Hyrulian knight, is also a knight himself but to the dismay of those around him is arrogant and impetuous. However he soon learns the hard way that that’s not the kind of person that makes a hero, and when a dark sorcerer kidnaps the Princess Zelda, he draws a legendary sword that splits its wielder in four people.

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

Review: Junior Escort

Posted by Shannon Fay on Monday, September 14, 2009

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Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Sakurako Hanafubuki
Publisher: June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: November 2008

Synopsis: “Ayukawa is a hot up-and-comer in the flashy world of celebrities…but he pales in comparison to the superstar Mizuhara! It’s impossible to pass a newsstand or television set without seeing Mizuhara’s perfectly chiseled features or delicious body. So, when Ayukawa agrees to a special “transaction” involving his incredible idol, he figures it’s just part of his rise to the top…but is there something (or someone) lurking behind the velvet curtain?”

Male modelling is the backdrop for the main story in this collection of boys’ love tales, but unfortunately the manga-ka doesn’t take full advantage of the story’s setting. Making your main characters models raises the bar in terms of character design: if you’re going to make them models, they better be pretty darn hot. Ayukawa and Mizuhara may be good looking, but nothing makes they extra special. There are better looking couples in the book, many of whom also have a more interesting plot line.

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

Review: Ghost Hunt (Vol. 10)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, September 13, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Fuyumi Ono
Manga-ka: Shiho Inada
Publisher: Del Rey
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: August 2009

Synopsis: “Naru is the brilliant, eccentric and deeply mysterious leader of Shibuya Psychic Researchers – a band of intrepid Ghost Hunters. But none of his colleagues know anything about his past. Now the brave paranormal investigators venture to a haunted school – and deep into their leader’s secret history!”

While I’ve always liked the balance between supernatural education, character exploration and dangerous ghoulish encounters, here I found myself impatient to get past the slow parts and into the literal nitty-gritty of the book’s events. Thankfully readers and I are well rewarded with a dark twist that could, despite what’s happened before, be the most dangerous case the group finds themselves literally trapped within.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Del Rey, Manga

Review: Shirley (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, September 10, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Kaoru Mori
Publisher: CMX
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: July 2008

Synopsis: “From the acclaimed author of Emma, this collection of short stories presents further exploration into the stratified world of English society, portrayed through the experiences of young maids. Miss Bennett lives alone and keeps busy running the pub she inherited. Needing some help, she posts a notice for a maid. Along comes Shirley, a girl who can clean and cook as well as any maid – even if she’s only 13 years old!”

After a long day’s work, Miss Bennett returns home only to find a quiet young girl waiting patiently on her doorstep. In her hand she has the ad that Miss Bennett has placed in the paper only recently, an ad seeking a healthy young girl to be hired as a live in maid. Though her patience is admirable, the young girl is just that, very young. But faith is rewarded as Miss Bennett takes in the thirteen year old and gains both a dedicated maid and kind company.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: CMX, Manga