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Review Archive

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

Review: +Anima (Vol. 04)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, August 27, 2008

1 Comment »

Manga-ka: Natsumi Makai
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: April 2007

Synopsis: “While on their journey, Cooro and the others pass through large and lively Maggie Vil. The soft-spoken town leader, Maggie convinces Cooro and company to go watch the world-famous coliseum games. Senri and Husky join the games after getting caught up in all the action. It seems too much action could be a bad thing. Will Cooro and the others find their way out of the coliseum?”

So as I was reorganizing my bookshelf the other day, I discovered a surprising gap books three and five of +Anima! Seems I’d somehow missed it and hadn’t noticed. Of course this was a problem quickly rectified. With it being a neatly contained story, I can see how I didn’t catch on when reading through, but that didn’t diminish its entertainment value!

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Review: Yotsuba&! (Vol. 04)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, August 26, 2008

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Manga-ka: Kiyohiko Azuma
Publisher: ADV Manga
Rating: All Ages
Released: July 2007

Synopsis: “Having already tackled such diverse topics as cicadas and global warming, Yotsuba is back and ready to face a whole new set of challenges. See as she strives to master the complexities of rock-paper-scissors! Feel as she becomes one with the water during a weekend of fishing. Be confused as she tries to get money from strangers to buy her groceries!”

There’s nothing quite like sitting down for another volume of Yotsuba&! Summer continues through volume four as Yotsuba, and her family and friends, go up against groceries, trout and a little heartbreak.

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Review: Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (Vol. 18)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, August 25, 2008

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Manga-ka: CLAMP
Publisher: Del Rey
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: August 2008

Synopsis:
“In the world of Infinity, Princess Sakura has become a Chess Master and the other travelers are her pieces. But the Mafia is running the game, and they don’t care if Sakura’s opponents break the rules or murder Sakura’s companions! Why is Sakura so determined to risk everything?”

After the drama in the previous volume, Yuko feels its time for the band of travellers to finally know what’s going on. The results of previous events still affect everyone harshly, including the world around them, before Mokona transports them all to a new dimension for more trials ahead.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: CLAMP, Del Rey, Reservoir Chronicles Tsubasa

Review: Nightmare Inspector (Vol. 03)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, August 21, 2008

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Manga-ka: Yumekui Kenbun
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: August 2008

Synopsis: “For those who suffer nightmares, help awaits at the Silver Star Tea House, where patrons can order much more than just Darjeeling. Dreams on the menu in this volume: an amnesiac with a misplaced sister, a voice actor who can no longer be heard, a wall that blocks true love, an author with a mythical case of writer’s block, and a boy who literally masks his feelings.”

Tales of trial and salvation continue here in volume three of Yumekui Kenbun’s Nightmare Inspector. The Silver Star Tea House receives more patrons seeking help from Hiruko to rid them of their nightmares, from a young man trying to reach an X on his mind’s map, to a boy whose emotions are trapped behind a mask.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Viz Media

Thumbs Up? Thumbs Down?

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, August 21, 2008

5 Comments »

A little slow on the news and commentary front this week but it’s given me the time I need to get ready for Fan Expo this weekend. While finishing up some reviews, I got to thinking about how readers like having reviews set-up. Thoughts were spurred by a post by Brigid , and the following comments, about what it is about reviews that readers like and dislike.

On my site, I write my reviews with generally the same structure: Short synopsis, thoughts on the story and characters, opinions on the art, publisher and then a closing paragraphs that rounds up all my thoughts. But should I have something more? Would readers prefer a rating system along with the write up? I’ve tried the number rating system before but I find it hard to pinpoint something down to a number and I agonize too much over the 4.5s, 3.8s and 6/10s.

I’m thinking, if you my readers believe it’d be beneficial to you, of having a thumbs up, thumbs down, no thumbs system: a yes, no or meh set-up. It’ll be a simple image addition to my usual layout but will act as an instant like-it-loath-it-or-indifferent overview of my thoughts.

So, what I’m getting at is, what do people think? Is this a good idea? Is there a better idea? Please, share your thoughts!

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Categories: Reviews

Review: Silver Diamond (Vol. 01): Silver Seed

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, August 20, 2008

1 Comment »

Manga-ka: Shiho Sugiura
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: July 2008

Synopsis: “Rakan is a lonely orphaned teen with an unusual attraction to flowers and plants. Chigusa is his surprise guest, who arrives mysteriously one day out of nowhere. Together, these two uncover secrets about each other – including the fact that Rakan may be a special prince, who Chigusa insists on protecting at all costs!”

Rakan is a kind-hearted orphan and student, living off the inheritance from his grandfather in a house surrounded by unending plant life. One day a man named Chigusa suddenly appears, laying in Rakan’s backyard. He shoots bullets from guns made of a tree branch and saves Rakan from a strange, black creature, then tells Rakan he’s from another world. Not only that, but Rakan learns he’s got abilities of his own and shares the face of a Prince from Chigusa’s realm.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Tokyopop

Review: Love Lesson

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, August 19, 2008

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Manga-ka: Hanae Sakazaki
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: April 2008

Synopsis: “Shirai is a math teacher with a problem… a handsome young problem, named Akagi. Akagi is an actor, but he’s still in school, and can’t always make it on time to class. As a result, Shirai has to give him individual instruction to ensure that his studies don’t suffer. The problem is, Akagi is in love with Shirai, and won’t give him a moment of peace.”

Love Lesson is a collection of short boys’ love stories by Hanae Sakazaki. Ranging from friends in school who become something more, to cousins who once exchanged quiet words now exchange quite a bit more.

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

Guest Review: Sunshine Sketch (Vol. 01)

Posted by Marsha Reid on Monday, August 18, 2008

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Manga-ka: Ume Aoki
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: All Ages
Released: June 2008

Synopsis:
“Accepted to a high school specializing in the arts, Yuno moves into a nearby apartment complex to make her commute easier. Just a few days into her new routine, she quickly discovers that creativity doesn’t end with the art school bell! Will the quiet Yuno be able to handle this creatively kooky cast of characters?”

The Hidamari apartments are located next to the popular Yamabuki private high school, known for its specialty in arts. Many students, mostly girls, move into the small apartment complex to get closer to the school and attain further knowledge in everything from painting to film. Yuno is an underclassman (or freshmen, aka newbie) in this school and has just moved into Hidamari. We readers follow her through living alone and making new friends in this simple life as a high school student.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Yen Press

Review: Twilight of the Dark Master

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, August 17, 2008

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Manga-ka: Saki Okuse
Publisher: DMP
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: August 2005

Synopsis: “In 2009, Shinjuku’s drug trade just got a whole lot bloodier. A new narcotic endows users with demon-like horns, fangs and a raging appetite for human flesh. When a man named Eiji Kuraza transforms into a murderous demon and then goes missing, his girlfriend Shizuka will stop at nothing to find him. Following a trail of violence, narcotics and prostitution, Shizuka hires supernatural P.I. Tsunami for his expertise, while she joins the red light district to conduct her own investigation.”

Twilight of the Dark Master is a one-shot manga, taking place in the dark future of Shinjuku. Dangerous drugs that cause mutation, and an appetite for human flesh, are circulating the city and serial murders are occurring at an alarming rate. After being violated and maimed by her boyfriend, a young woman named Shizuka seeks out a notorious detective who lives in the city’s most dangerous area, looking for the final salvation for her lost lover.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: June

Review: Love Circumstances

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, August 16, 2008

1 Comment »

Manga-ka: Aco Oumi
Publisher: 801Media
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: March 2008

Synopsis: “Somehow over the summer, Yamaguchi ended up going out with his best friend, Takagiri. But now that they’re together, something’s really been bothering Yamaguchi; why does Takagiri love him so much? It is his shaggy hair that begs to be petted? His often stubborn personality? Or the way he blushes when lavished with Takagiri’s umm… affection!?”

Yamaguchi and Takagiri are best friends and over the summer they’ve started to date. While Takagiri is very open about his affections, and desires, Yamaguchi has trouble expressing his feelings, or accepting Takagiri’s.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: 801Media, Boys' Love/Yaoi