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Review Archive

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

Review: Cross x Break (Vol. 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, December 30, 2008

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Manga-ka: Duo Brand
Publisher: Go!Comi
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: December 2008

Synopsis: “Akito and Neon set out with the mysterious skipper Haran in search of medicine to save Yaya’s life. Their search leads them straight to Neon’s home town, where Neon has been branded a criminal. Can Akira help eon restore his people’s faith in him before it’s too late? And will Haran’s demand that Akito play for him in dangeros circumstances lead to their capture at the hands of the deadly warlocks?”

I keep being surprised while I’m reading Cross x Break that’s it a Duo Brand book. I’ve read several of their boys’ love series, and though this series does have its teasing moments, it still has a dramatically different tone. There’s a lot more focus on humour and a sense of pacing that’s both exciting but erratic. Is it a shonen-like shoujo or a shoujo-like shonen? I can’t say for sure, but it’s neat reading a series by a team who are, to my knowledge, best known for one genre but whom are still capable of doing a notable job on another.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: GoComi

Review: Y Square Plus

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, December 29, 2008

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Author/Artist: Judith Park
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: December 2008

Synopsis: “Yagate was happy to help his best friend Yoshitaka with his girl troubles, but it’s Yoshitaka’s turn to return the favor. Yagate’s ready to escape his female admirers and find the man of his dreams. He’s got his heart set on Ra-Myun, a handsome college student. Unfortunately, Chana has her eye on Ra-Myun too and is ready to put up a fight! Meanwhile, Ju-Jin’s long-awaited photo shoot ends in total disaster! Will Yoshitaka finally tell Ju-Jin how he feels before she turns to another?”

It looks like things may finally be going Ju-Jin’s way when she gets her first modelling gig and she drags the snarky but dependable Yoshitaka along for the ride. But where’s the fun in a smooth road? Now Ju-Jin is angry at Yoshitaka yet again and it looks like his feelings may not get through as clearly as he’d hope. On top of that, he owes his best friend, Yagate, help finding a boyfriend of his own. When it looks like Yagate’s dreams arrive in the form of Ju-Jin’s older brother, things might not be so easy when there’s a little female competition.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Global Manga, Yen Press

Review: One Thousand and One Nights (Vol. 06)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, December 28, 2008

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

Synopsis: “Socrates and Alcibiades must combat intrigue in plague-ravaged Athens when Critias conspires to tear the lovers apart… but the conspiracy does not end with Sehara’s tale. As Shahryar prepares to oust invading Crusaders, a betrayal from within diverts his attention from battle and leaves his kingdom – and Sehara – vulnerable to attack!”

There are very few new releases I await with more anticipation than those of One Thousand and One Nights and volume six is no exception. Sehara’s story continues from where it left off in the previous volume: a love story between Socrates and the beautiful Alcibiades. When war pulls Socrates out onto the battlefield, Alcibiades asks his Uncle to place him in the same group so that he can stay by his lover’s side.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhwa, Yen Press

Review: A Gentlemen’s Kiss (Vol. 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, December 27, 2008

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Manga-ka: Shinri Fuwa
Publisher: DMP
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: December 2008

Synopsis: “When Kyoya, a former employee at Homura Yasobe’s host club, stumbles upon his boss’ clandestine affair with Touji Karasuma, the leader of a rival Yakuza faction-Kyoya seizes upon the opportunity to blackmail Homura into going out with him. But will the cold and calculating Touji accept defeat and let his beloved Homura go?”

After a former employee of Homura’s host club learns about his boss’s four year affair with rival Yakuza member, Touji Karasuma, he seizes the opportunity to blackmail Homura into a date. What begins as a protection of the men’s status turns into an emotional leaning post for Homura whose thoughts just can’t be pried from Touji despite their growing absence from eachother’s lives.

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

Review: Seduce Me After the Show

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Friday, December 26, 2008

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Manga-ka: Est Em
Publisher: Deux Press
Rating: Teen (18+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “A stylish, tempestuous dance of anguish and passion. Seduce Me After the Show contains seven short stories which take place within the artistic worlds of dance, painting and music. Overall themes focus on the dichotomy of hope & despair as well as the relationship between pleasure and longing. Devastated by the death of his world famous dancer mother, Theo Gallardo abandons his own dancing cateer to become an actor and co-stars in a film with popular Hollywood idol Darren Fergus.”

Seduce Me After the Show is a collection of seven short stories. Numerous positive reviews prompted me to pick this title up, and though I did find it a nice overall read, ultimately for me its greatest failing was not living up to its community hype.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, Deux Press, est em

Review: Blank Slate (Vol. 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, December 24, 2008

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Manga-ka: Aya Kanno
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: December 2008

Synopsis: “What does it take to find you true innter self? Zen’s memory has been wiped, and he can’t remember if he’s a killer or a hero. And a l ot of people will do anything they can to keep it that way? At an abandoned military base, Zen finally finds the trth about his identity. Now that he knows who he is, does that mean his destiny is written in stone? Conspiracies, espionage and attempted coups d-etat all tie into the conclusion of Aya Kanno’s intense tale of lost identity.”

Zen along with his doctor acquaintance, Hakka, travel back to a location that triggered pain in Zen’s mind, a pain that could signify a connection to his forgotten past. On his trail is the now ex-soldier, Kyrie, determined to defeat the deadly Zen, and protect the blind Rian who, determined to find her own freedom after her encounter with Zen, follows Kyrie on the dangerous mission.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Shoujo Beat, Viz Media

Review: Angel Diary (Vol. 07)

Posted by Marsha Reid on Tuesday, December 23, 2008

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Author: Lee YunHee
Manhwa-ga: Kara
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: October 2008

Synopsis: “Dong-Young confronts Bi-Wal and lets slip a confession of love! But with her engagement to the King of Hell, does this budding relationship stand a chance? As the guardians argue about what to do, Queen Hong appears with an even more earth-shattering revelation!”

The time for fun and games is over and the subject on the table is peace. Keeping the peace between heaven and hell is nothing to laugh about, but the four guardians have had trouble weighing out their morals. Do they send the princess back home to marry a man she has never met, or do they keep hiding her on earth and risk losing everything? The longer they take in making their decision the more complicated the situation is becoming. Only time will tell, and who knows, maybe in this crazy world everything will work out for the better.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhwa, Yen Press

Review: Moon Boy (Vol. 05)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, December 22, 2008

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

Synopsis: “Having survived the battle with the Soon-La renegades, Myung-Ee can’t remember anything about the fight! In her quest to know what really happened, she finds herself crossing paths with Sa-Eun more than once. Though he stays silent about the battle, he lets slip a shocking secret about himself to his rabbit adversary! Meanwhile, Yu-Da has returned safely with the help of two mysterious friends… who appear to be intent on wreaking havoc on both the Rabbit and fox tribes!”

Taking readers back to the battle that the fourth volume ended with, Myung-Ee confronts the dangerous Sa-Eun. Though he defeated those who attacked them, the bloodlust in his eyes keeps Myung-Ee a little uneasy but she maintains her faith in his actions. But when she comes too back in her own world after the fight, she realizes she can’t remember anything that happened after she appeared there in the first place.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhwa, Yen Press

Review: Shards of Affection

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, December 21, 2008

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Manga-ka: Duo Brand
Publisher: DMP
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: December 2008

Synopsis: “The delicate edge of a perfect sword can slice through flesh without a sound… but only the rarest weapon houses an apparition-battling spirit, too! Two warriors – one naïve and one experience – must wield their special blades with great care in order to conquer their opponents. Elsewhere, a clumsy young scientist and a cautious priest feel the sharp pangs of desire… and an ancient-monster lashes out for the one he loves.”

I’m a huge sucker for stories involving priests and monks, and in a lot of cases, traditional Japanese clothing in general, so some of these short stories had me at the get-go. Personal interest aside, however, this collection of inter-connected stories managed to earn few brownie points for itself past that quirk.

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

Review: Freak – Legend of the Nonblonds (Vol. 04)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, December 20, 2008

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Author: Yi DongEun
Manhwa-ga: Yu Chung
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: October 2008

Synopsis: “For their next mission, the Nonblods head to the seaside to locate “the tears of the mermaid.” But this mission won’t be a day at the beach… especially when an unexpected rival shows up to kick sand in their faces! But what are the tears of the mermaid and what deadly, ancient secret do they really hide? And the secret that ties Tublerun and Chroma together is illuminated in this final installment of Freak!”

Volume five of Freak marks the end of this series, a story about a group of thieves calling themselves the Nonblonds and a member in particular, Tublerun, who has mysterious powers. This final book begins with a light hearted side story before throwing itself into a darker plot that serves to explain the real origins behind the mysterious runes from volume four and the truth of Tublerun and his rival, Ecliptor’s, existence.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhwa, Yen Press