Kuriousity | manga reviews and news

Review Archive

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

Review: Love Share

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, March 25, 2008

No Comments »

Manga-ka: Aoi Kujyou
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released:

Synopsis: “Kazushi has longed for his childhood friend Izumi for years. And just when it looked like Kazushi had finally convinced him that they would make an excellent couple, Izumi up and disappears!?!? Watch the two lovers’ relationship evolve and mature, in this collection of works by Aoi Kujou.”

Love Share is the story of two men: the levelheaded and predominantly passive Kazushi, and the free-spirited and mysterious Izumi. Though all follow the same couple, the chapters in Love Share are more like a string of short stories that give us different glimpses of this passionate but unstable relationship.

Share on Tumblr

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

Takin’ A PiQ

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, March 24, 2008

No Comments »

The magazine asked for these puns; it’s out of my control. Today I’m posting my review on the first issue of PiQ, ADV’s new magazine as follow up to NewType USA’s cancellation. Originally written last week, it was a task in itself avoiding the reviews for it that began springing up everywhere until I was done my own, but in literacy-freedom now, there seems to be a lot of the same things said for PiQ‘s premiere publication.

PiQ: Entertainment for the Rest of Us
Issue 01 April 2008Pages: 128

Coming in on the heels of NewType USA’s cancellation arrives PiQ, ADV’s new entry into the magazine industry. Is it really “Entertainment for the Rest of Us”?

Revealed shortly after the announcement that NewType USA was approaching its final issue, PiQ was promoted as of “keen interest” to NT fans with content including “anime, manga, video games and other aspects of pop culture.” Almost immediately the anime community rose up in scrutiny over the broader reach this new magazine would cover. While multi-subject magazines don’t usually find themselves under this kind of pressure from individual communities, its position as NewType’s replacement has made PiQ a prime target for critical anime fans everywhere. Could it still offer the same quality, and quantity, of anime content that NT readers had come to expect?

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Misc, Reviews

Review: Kilala Princess (Vol. 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Friday, March 21, 2008

No Comments »

Manga-ka: Nao Kodaka
Writer: Rika Tanaka
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Everyone
Released: May 2007

Synopsis: “The wicked Queen has captured Kilala and Rei! Unless Kilala gives the Queen Rei’s magic tiara, she will be forced to eat the poison apple! Snow White shows up just in time and offers to eat the apple instead – can Kilala defend the tiara and save Snow White?”

It’s not a bunny but it is cute and fluffy! I continue to be undeniably charmed by these short but adorable books. The story picks up where volume one left off as Rei and Kilala are forced to face the evil Queen to retrieve the magical tiara. When Rei is injured and the two are taken hostage, it’s up to Snow White and the seven Dwarves to come to their rescue.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Tokyopop

Review: Kilala Princess (Vol. 03)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Friday, March 21, 2008

1 Comment »

Manga-ka: Nao Kodaka
Writer: Rika Tanaka
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Everyone
Released: August 2007

Synopsis: “When a giant wave washes Kilala and Rei into the sea, they discover the magical world of the Little Mermaid under the sea. Kilala wishes she could enjoy and swimming with Ariel and the other mermaids, but she’s worried – the sea is a vast place, and Rei has suddenly disappeared. This latest volume of the hit series is filled with the most enchanting Disney princesses and packed with tons of magic!”

The drama heats up volume three of Kilala Princess. Kilala’s best friend Erica is acting strangely and makes off with the tiara. Meanwhile, Rei is about to leave forever unless Kilala’s peril is enough to make him stay (naturally). A stormy boat ride leaves the two separated and Kilala finds herself in the care of Ariel under the sea but Rei’s nowhere in sight.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Tokyopop

Crimson Spell

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, March 20, 2008

1 Comment »

More clean-up around the site today. All manga reviews are up and now complete with some handy Amazon.ca links for fellow Canadians out there looking to add to their collections!

Over at ComicsVillage, the weekly reviews have been posted including one for Kitty Media’s Crimson Spell by yours truely.

On the news front, June recently announced five new yaoi titles. There’s a lot of my favourtie artists and writers in the bunch (Hinako Takanaga = more please) so I hope others are looking forward to them as much as I am! Check out the following link for all the details and some pretty pictures to accompany them. Source: AnimeNewsNetwork

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Contests, Reviews, Site Updates

Review: Invisible Boy (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, March 17, 2008

No Comments »

Manga-ka: Hotaru Odagiri
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: September 2007

Synopsis: “At the Ouka Acadmeic Institute, an elite all-male private school for the nation’s most gifted, exists a student council with some extraordinary members. Among them is Yuushi Satou, the student council president admired by every student. Despite his cool, elegant demeanor, he is a passionate leader. In fact, unbeknownst to him, his concealed passion is what makes him attractive to the rest of the students.”

Invisible Boy follows the life and escapades of the exclusive Ouka Academy’s student council. Led by the nearly perfect student council president Yuushi Kitou, they’re a diverse group of bishonen out to make the most of their days together at school and be sure that all members are included.

Share on Tumblr

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

Review: Invisible Love

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, March 16, 2008

No Comments »

Manga-ka: Rie Honjyo
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: November 2007

Synopsis: “Inori is a popular guy amongst the ladies in his university, but lately he keeps getting dumped. Cause unknown, Inori decides to drink away his troubles with his good friend Senou. With the beer flowing, Inori finds himself drawn to Senou. But when sobriety hits, will his feelings remain the same?”

Invisible Love is a collection of short stories following multiple couples coming about their inevitable hook-ups. That’s all there really is to say on the matter.

Share on Tumblr

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

Review: Love Me Sinfully

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, March 15, 2008

No Comments »

Manga-ka: Mio Tennohji
Publisher: DramaQueen
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: August 2007

Synopsis: “Yuu Ono has been waiting impatiently to have the house all to himself while parents to Guam for a weekend trip getaway. But no sooner do they board the plane than Yuu bumps into a man who whisks him away to an opulent hotel where he comes face-to-face with… himself?! Pressed into becoming the body double for the Crown Prince of Qurd, Yuu’s life is suddenly thrown into peril but Yuu can’t help but trust the handsome bodyguard who swears, “I’ll protect you, even at the cost of my life…””

Worth noting for Love Me Sinfully is that the title story lasts a mere 46 pages of this 178 page graphic novel. Though this is not necessarily a bad thing, it’s worth knowing ahead of time to avoid the inevitable surprise of the discovery.

Share on Tumblr

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

Review: Voice or Noise (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Friday, March 14, 2008

No Comments »

Manga-ka: Yamimaru Enjin
Publisher: BLU
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: November 2007

Synopsis: “When Shinichiro’s beloved dog, Flappy, starts acting up and disobeying commands, his trusted bet gives him a strange and unexpected referral; he sends Shinichiro to his long-time friend, Narusawa, a college professor who can apparently communicate with animals. At first Narusaea denies that he has this special skill, but a snarky, talking black cat gives away Narusawa’s secret and reveals that Shinichiro may have this special gift himself…”

After a trip to the vet warrants no help for Shinchiro’s dog and his sudden strange behavior, a referral leads the concerned owner to Narusawa, a cold and unconcerned college professor. Shinchiro learns that Narusawa, despite his standoffish attitude, has the amazing ability to speak to animals. Shinchiro wishes to have this power as well and learns that it may actually already possess the talent. He wants Narusawa to teach him to understand animals but doesn’t realize that it may not be that simple.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: BLU, Boys' Love/Yaoi, Voice or Noise

Review: I’ll Be Your Slave!

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, March 13, 2008

No Comments »

Manga-ka: Miki Araya
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Teen (16+)
Released: March 2006

Synopsis: “Moriya is in charge of finding a model for a new product commercial for a big jewelry brand; but, nobody matches the ideal of perfection he has in mind… That is, until he meets Itsuki Ouno. Itsuki is not just perfection incarnate, he’s like royalty, and incredibly spoiled. And he may well be the one person destiny put in Moriya’s way to fulfill his need to adore and serve.”

I’ll Be Your Slave follows Moriya on his quest to find the perfect model for his company’s upcoming project. After hundreds of unsuccessful candidates are tossed aside, he worries he’ll never find the perfect face. Then Moriya sees Ouno, the attractive and dangerously aloof student, and immediately knows he’s found what he was looking for.

Share on Tumblr

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