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Review Archive

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

Review: Black Sun Silver Moon (Vol. 05)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, May 13, 2008

1 Comment »

Manga-ka: Tomo Maeda
Publisher: Go!Comi
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: April 2008

Synopsis:
“As Taki finds out about Shikimi’a past, secrets of his own family come to light… leading him to actually strike a deal with Grey! How long can Taki keep his pact with Grey a secret from Shikimi, eve thought it’s for the priest’s own good?”

It’s back to the full cast in volume five of Black Sun Silver Moon. While previous volumes took readers into Shikimi’s past, this one returns us to present with Taki taking the spotlight with some revelations of his own.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: GoComi

Summer Review Time!

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, May 12, 2008

3 Comments »

This is a little heads up post about some current and upcoming stuff happening with Kuriousity manga reviews! First of all, I went back today and added where I got all the books I’ve reviewed so far, including online sources, comic shops and directly from publishers. I’ll be including that information on all future reviews. Second thing, I’ll be moving to a more casual review writing style, such as use of the words, ‘I’ and ‘my’, for one. Some claim profressional suicide. I disagree. I want my reviews to be objective but still a bit personal. My opinions afterall. I’m curious about others’; thoughts anyone?

Now for some future stuff: there’s been some talk on various sites about more reviews for older series, perfect timing for my upcoming summer manga review project! I’m all up for reviewing older series, showcasing some classics, and perhaps hidden gems, of the hundreds of titles out there. Throughout the summer I’ll be having themed weeks: each week a new theme and five reviews related to it. I’ll be focusing on older manga releases that are still available for purchase. There will also be some guest reviews sprinkled in so expect some nice diversity in both genres and opinions!

On that note, if you’re a fellow Canadian and you’d like to see your manga reviews posted here on Kuriousity, send me an e-mail with an example! I’m looking for reviews on any genre of manga, positive or negative, it’s all what you think. Reviews should be written in similiar formats to those already posted here, with thought given to story, art and publisher, but past that, have fun with ’em!

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Categories: Misc, Reviews

Review: Aventura (Vol. 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, May 11, 2008

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Manga-ka: Shin Midorikawa
Publisher: DelRey
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis:
“Always dream big. Becoming a great wizard takes courage, practice and dedication. Lewin Randit has all thse things, and possibly something more: He may have a special talent that wil make him the greatest wizard of all. But Lewin’s gift could also turn out to be a curse…”

Aventura, volume two, takes off where the first volume left readers: undead creatures have risen up and are attacking the main cast. With Chris already injured and Darwell useless against the skeletal creatures, Lewin steps in to save them. When all things seem lost, Lewin, a boy who had seemed to all as a magic-less individual, is able to summon a fire spirit of tremendous power. Now it’s up to the school faculty, and other higher-ups lurking in the background, to decide the fate of this surprising new pupil.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Del Rey

Review: The Sky Over My Spectacles

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Friday, May 9, 2008

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Manga-ka: Mio Tennohji
Publisher: 801Media
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: March 2007

Synopsis: “Even though Azumas “spectacle fetish” is infamous, guys are out of the question, and Sorachi is definitely way out of the question – hes too serious for him to even carry on a decent conversation with. One day, however, Azuma finds Sorachi asleep without his glasses, and can’t help himself from kissing him! Glasses may be the thing that attracts Azuma to Sorachi… or is it?”

Azuma has a fetish for people wearing glasses. It’s considered common knowledge in his class how his loves and lays were all with cute girls with spectacles. However, Azuma suddenly finds himself attracted to his fellow male classmate, Sorachi, causing him to wonder if questioning his sexuality is worth his fetish (especially when the object of his attraction seems to hate him). It doesn’t take much imagination to realize where things are going and soon the two are hopelessly in love with each other, cueing all the usual dramatics. This is the title story of the small collection and takes up just over half of the book.

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

Review: The Good Witch of the West (Vol. 05)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, May 8, 2008

3 Comments »

Author: Noriko Ogiwara
Manga-ka: Haruhiko Momokawa
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “Firiel Dee’s necklace is proof of her royal blood – and that she might inherit the throne of Graal! While two intelligent and ambitious Queens-in-Waiting duel for succession to Graal’s throne, a greater challenge awaits our plucky heroine Firiel in the south – where dragons and unicorns roam, and even the best intentions of friend may twist into poisonous lies…”

Firiel Dee continues to struggle with Rune’s sudden disappearance amidst a torrid of controversy over her Uncle’s assassination. Her depression plagues her throughout the day in Rune’s absence as she remains trapped in a political world, so unlike the one she grew up in. However, it all allows her to realize some powerful truths about herself and her love for Rune. When a team of knights, lead by Firiel’s short-lived fiancée, Eusis leave to travel South to deal with an escalating Dragon problem, Firiel leaves at the same time, looking to find Rune in the only direction she knows he’d be.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Tokyopop

Review: Absolute Boyfriend (Vol. 06)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, May 7, 2008

3 Comments »

Manga-ka: Yuu Watase
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis:
“Rejected way too many times by good-looking (and unattainable) guys, shy Riiko Izawa goes online and signs up for a free trial of a mysterious Night Lover “figure.” The very next day, a cute naked guy is delivered to her door, and he wants to be her boyfriend! Riiko has chosen her one true boyfriend, but she finds her life changing quickly after he decision is made. Will Riiko and her boyfriend have their happily-ever-after?”

Absolute Boyfriend, volume six, marks the end of this series. With Riiko having chosen Night as her true love, she discovers that Soshi is moving to Spain. Confused and torn, will Riiko and Night get their happily ever after? Remaining review contains minor spoilers.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Absolute Boyfriend, Viz Media, Yuu Watase

Review: Black Cat (Vol. 14)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, May 6, 2008

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Manga-ka: Kentaro Yabuki
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: May 2008Synopsis: “Glin, a mysterious information broker, is forming a Sweeper Alliance in order to destroy Creed and the Apostles of the Stars. He invites Train, Eve and Sven to join their group. But even if this motley crew can locate the Apostles’ hiding place, will they be able to survive the perilous journey to get there?”

Starting the book off with a bang, Train must finish his battle against fellow sweeper, River, in exchange for information about finding Creed. Both Train and River are given the information by Glin, an informant with a mysterious history, who plans to form a team of the best sweepers in order to defeat Creed. Eve and Train need to work together to decipher the information and join up with this new group. Meanwhile, Sven continues his training to master his eye’s abilities to glimpse the future so he’ll be of help when the great battle finally comes about.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Black Cat, Shonen Jump, Viz Media

Review: Genju no Seiza (Vol. 06)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, May 5, 2008

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Manga-ka: Matsuri Akino
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: April 2008

Synopsis:
“Ibaraki, the Demoness, has finally appeared – but what impact will her presence have on the violence already taking place? And why do Fuuto’s Guardian Beasts seem so familiar with her? She’ll play a crucial role before this terrible day is done… but will she be a force for good or evil?!”

Recap of the plot up until now: Fuuto, a Japanese student with a history of transferring schools, found out that he may in fact be, by reincarnation, the true King of a country. With a boy already on the throne, Guardians are sent as assassins to kill the ‘fake’ king in Japan. One after another, they realize that there may be truth behind Fuuto’s lineage (much to his dismay) due to his powerful psychic abilities and particular apathy for others so they stay as his Guardians, protecting Fuuto from those who follow them and the young King’s own inability to control his powers. In the previous volume, Fuuto, his guardians and a friend are all accidentally hurled back in history, trapped between saving lives and altering history.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Tokyopop

Review: Air Gear (Vol. 08)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, May 4, 2008

1 Comment »

Manga-ka: Oh!Great
Publisher: DelRey
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: April 2008

Synopsis: “Behemoth has already taken out part of Ikki’s Air Trek team. Now Ikkie and Onigiri are faced with their toughest opponents yet: a deadly femme fatale known as the Gorgon and the unstoppable punching machine, Bandou. Ikki’s team has come a long way in their battle for Air Trek supremacy. Can they defeat Behemoth and get back in the game?”

The battle begun in the previous volume continues here in volume eight of Air Gear. Ikki’s Air Trek team, Kogarasumaru is going up against the deadly team Behemoth and his teammates are going to need a lot of creative, and just flat-out weird, methods to take them down!

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Air Gear, Del Rey

Review: Sensitive Pornograph

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Friday, May 2, 2008

2 Comments »

Manga-ka: Ashika Sakura
Publisher: 801Media
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: October 2007

Synopsis: “Seiji-kun is a novice manga artist. A long time fan of the works of Sono-san, a famous manga-ka, he’s surprised to learn that Sono-san is a guy! A chance meeting leads to a night in bed and Seiji-kun becomes completely addicted to the body of the incredibly beautiful Sono-san. Is this love or is Seiji-kun taking his admiration for Sono’s work just a little too far?”

Few veteran yaoi fans haven’t heard of the popular Sensitive Pornograph: a collection of steamy short stories that spawned the equally popular OVA of the same name. With six stories spanning about 180 pages, 801Media brings Ashika Sakura’s hit to English shores.

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