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Review Archive

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

Review: Legend of Zelda – Oracle of Ages

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, July 13, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

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

Synopsis: “One day, Impa, Princess Zelda’s attendant asks Link to accompany her into the forest to find Nayru, the Oracle of Ages. But Veran, the evil sorceress of shadows, has possessed Impa in order to deceive Link. Veran then possesses Nayru and travels back to the past to kill one of Link’s ancestors so that Link will never be born! Link once again battles across time to save Hyrule – and himself!”

While previous Zelda volumes have proved great side-enjoyments along with the original games they were based on, I actually liked this rendition of the story quite a bit more than the game. The added characterization of Link, and personality given to each character, really adds a new level of entertainment.

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

Review: Vampire Hunter D (Vol. 03)

Posted by Andre Paploo on Monday, July 13, 2009

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Reviewer: Andre

Author: Saiko Takaki
Manga-ka: Hideyuki Kikuchi
Publisher: Digital Manga
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: May 2009

Synopsis: “The vampire hunter know only as D is now on a race against time—this time, to hunt down a vampire lord who’s kidnapped a daughter of a wealthy village elder. D must also contend with a notorious band of bounty hunters also hired to track down the abductor, and hell-bent on eliminating anyone or anything in their way of their bounty. D is faced with obstacles every corner he turns…can he reach the damsel in distress before she becomes one of the undead?”

Many old-school anime fans have had numerous exposures to Hideyuki Kikuchi, whose works have often been adapted into anime and manga, from Darkside Blues to Demon City Shinjuku. Curiously, one of his most well known works only received a manga adaptation recently, with this work created in part for the domestic market from Digital Manga.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: DMP, Manga

Review: Pure Heart (Vol. 01)

Posted by Shannon Fay on Sunday, July 12, 2009

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Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Hyouta Fujiyama
Publisher: June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: February 2009

Synopsis: “Tozaki is a freelance writer who, through a coincidental assignment, is reunited with his first high school crush, Kurata. Certain that the once-popular athlete doesn’t remember him, Tozaki confesses his past feelings after a night of drinking together – but Kurata does remember. Curious enough to agree to a one-night stand, will Kurata develop the romantic feelings Tozaki always hoped for? Or is the relationship that follows between them merely Kurata’s way of humiliating his bookish, former schoolmate?”

If there’s one thing I like best about Pure Heart volume one, it’s that the characters are adults. Maybe it’s because I’ve been on a bender of high-school romances lately, but there’s just something refreshing about characters that have to worry about their career as well as their romantic entanglements.

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

Review: Guin Saga – The Seven Magi (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Friday, July 10, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Kaoru Kurimoto
Manga-ka: Kazuaki Yanagisawa
Publisher: Vertical
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: December 2007

Synopsis: “After awaking in a forest with a leopard mask fixed to his head and no memory of his past, the peerless warrior survives the treacherous wilds of Nospherus and the mean intrigues of the Middle Country. Now, as King of Cheironia, he must contend with dark forces that dare to prey on his realm.”

More than once I was confused by this story, which is so rigid in its linearity that at times I was left wondering if the book even wanted me to finish reading it. Can a book be considered stubborn when it seems to have resigned itself to mediocrity?

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Vertical Inc

Review: Sarasah (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, July 9, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manhwa-ga: Ryu Ryang
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: July 2009

Synopsis: “High schooler Ji-Hae is desperately in love with her classmate Seung-Hyu. She has done all she can think of to win his affection, but to no avail. When her latest scheme crosses the line, Seung-Hyu decides he’s had enough… and inadvertently pushes her down a staircase! Ji-Hae awakens in the world beyond, only to learn that it’s not her time to die. But why go back when the love of her life hates her to death? Touched by her passion, the keepers send Ji-Hae to her past life to mend the rift between her former self and Seung-Hyu. But can Ji-Hae keep up the act long enough to find Seung-Hyu and set things right?”

Ever wondered what it was like from the other end of the stalker stare? Ever considered what it was like for the obsessive teenage girl with the one-sided passion for an uninterested party? Well say hello to Ji-Hae, a young girl who is madly in love with fellow student, Seung-Hya. Unfortunately he wants nothing to do with her and has been trying to ignore her in hopes she’ll go away. But refusing to be deterred, Ji-Hae tries yet another ploy to get his attention… only to find herself half way to heaven.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhwa, Yen Press

Review: Over The Rainbow

Posted by Andre Paploo on Wednesday, July 8, 2009

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Reviewer: Andre

Manga-ka: Keiko Honda
Publisher: Central Park Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: January 2005

Synopsis: “A modern masterpiece of romantic storytelling! Arou and Keita are two clueless lawyers whose law office serves all manner of zany characters with way-out problems. Things get even crazier when they meet Key, a young woman with amnesia. Can the good-hearted heroes help Key retrieve her lost memories… and does she want them to?”

Central Park Media was an early shojo pioneer, releasing some charming works by bilingual manga-ka Tomoko Taniguchi. Towards the end of their manga output, they released two one-shot graphic novels by Keiko Honda in an attempt to build another stable of works around an obscure but charming artist. Thinking the first of these, Over the Rainbow, might be similar to Taniguchi’s output, I picked up this collection, hoping to find something similarly sweet and simple.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga

Review: Time Guardian (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, July 7, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Daimuro Kishi
Manga-ka: Tamao Ichinose
Publisher: CMX
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: March 2007

Synopsis: “High school student Miu Asahina stumbles upon a shop where time is loaned to anyone who needs it. But the price is a memory one risks losing forever. Miu gets hired by the manager to help other people manage their time… too bad she can’t handle her own!”

With a bit of accidental dumb-luck, Miu Asahina finds herself a guest in a magical shop run by a man who exchanges time for people’s memories. Intrigued by her mistaken entry into the store, the shop-owner hires her on as an assistant of sorts, there to help be a bridge between his entrepreneurial prowess and his customer’s emotional needs.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: CMX, Manga

Review: Gestalt (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, July 6, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Yun Kouga
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: June 2009

Synopsis: “After experiencing a crisis of faith, Father Olivier of the Valaria Order decides to go to G and find out the truth behind the legends. Olivier’s journey is unsanctioned, and the head of the Order engages the dark elf Suzu to stop him. As he begins his quest, Olivier encounters Ouri, a young girl from the south who cannot speak. But Ouri reveals another side of herself when Suzu catches up to them!”

Gestalt has been compared numerous times before to an RPG in manga form, and after reading this first volume for myself, it’s very evident as to why. From fantastical magic powers, multi-person party quests and even a stat box for each newly introduced character, Yun Kouga puts a classic fantasy RPG together on paper. But does it work…?

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Viz Media

Review: The History of the West Wing

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, July 5, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Sun Jiayu
Manhua-ka: Guo Guo
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: June 2009

Synopsis: “Lavishly illustrated in full color and based on the classic Chinese play Xixiang Ji by Wang Shifu, The History of the West Wing tells of the illicit romance between the daughter of a Chinese government official and the roaming scholar who seeks to win her hand. But before he can turn his attentions to his ladylove, the young man must win the heart of her mother! When it seems even heroic deeds in the face of murderous bandits will not please the strict matriarch, the young man goes off to become a civil servant. Will he return in time to marry his true love?”

Love at first sight, and with only deeper to fall, History of the West Wing is a fantastical visual treat that follows the quick-to-bloom love of two fated souls for whom potential suitors, invading ingrates and provincial exams hold no chance of separation. A gift for both the heart and the eyes, this is a quaint one-shot release worth taking notice of.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhua, Yen Press

Review: Very! Very! Sweet (Vol. 04)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, July 4, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: JiSang Shin
Manhwa-ga: Geo
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: July 2009

Synopsis: “Tsuyoshi and Be-Ri’s charade has Grandfather convinced, but it’s just a bit too convincing for Erica and Mu-Hyuk. Forming a coalition of their own, the pair is determined to prevent Tsuyoshi and Be-Ri from becoming anything more than business partners. Meanwhile, Gyu-Ri and San-Ne are on the rocks as Gyu-Ri’s unfaithfulness becomes increasingly apparent. Be-Ri watches their relationship crumble before her eyes, her heart filled with concern for the suffering San-Ne.”

Be-Ri and Tsuyoshi’s plan to appease Tsuyoshi’s Grandfather seemed to be working smoothly but every façade needs to come to the surface eventually… and yet, not so for this pretend-couple just yet. With their childhood friends, aka other prospective love interests, bent on seeing the two separated and Tsuyoshi’s Grandfather sceptical after only a single meeting, the two have more work on their hands to be convincing. But how far will a lie go before it starts becoming true?

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhwa, Yen Press