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Review Archive

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

Review: Prime Minister’s Secret Diplomacy

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, March 13, 2008

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Manga-ka: Youka Nitta
Publisher: 801Media
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: January 2008

Synopsis: “Yoshinaga’s genius and his gift for political maneuvering have helped him ascend to the higher spheres of the Ministry of Foreign affairs at an early age. As for Shiraishi, the prestige of his family as well as his dedication to his job has also led him to an early career in diplomacy. Yoshinaga is Shiraishi’s future brother-in-law as he is soon to be married to his sister. When the two meet in Thailand, a stunning tale of love unfolds.”

The Prime Minister’s Secret Diplomacy follows Yoshinaga, Thailand’s Japanese minister and Shiraishi, a young up and coming politician, as they weave together a tangled web of politics, lust and something that resembles love.

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

Review: Nabi the Prototype

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, March 13, 2008

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Manga-ka: Yeon-Joo Kim
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: October 2007

Synopsis: “A young girl is kidnapped by her father’s political enemies… a bride-to-be embarks on a journey to her new home, but her escort has other plans… and a tough boy falls for the orphan girl he’s supposed to protect… In these moving, poetic stories, people are often not what they seem, while love comes from where you least expect it.”

Nabi the Prototype is a collection of six short stories, most of which are all directly connected to each other. The thing that maintains this as a collection of short stories over a continuous story with a couple shorter ones tacked on is that though directly connected, the bulk of the stories are not presented in chronological order. Upon first reading, this may seem a little odd to readers but it’s a unique way of keeping readers interested, if not at least a little confused at first.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhwa, Tokyopop

Review: Love Is Like A Hurricane (Vol. 03)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, March 13, 2008

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Manga-ka: Tokiya Shimazaki
Publisher: 801Media
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: December 2007

Synopsis: “Since being informed by student council President Asuma that they’re going out, Mizuki has somehow managed to be led into the relationship. Despite how often Mizuki voices his adamant protests, before he knows it he always finds himself falling in step with whatever Asuma says. “But is that really such a bad thing?” The long-awaited third volume of the ever-popular high-school love comedy series commences!”

It’s more trouble for Mizuki when an aphrodisiac leaves him lusty but also under threat of being taken by his schoolmates. Where’s Azuma when you actually want him? A notable twist to this dilemma is the side effect: Mizuki wakes up the next day as a child! What follows is a sneaky shota (visibly underage individual) slip in so a bit of warning to readers. Soon it’s back to business as usual; school, studying and… vibrating sex toys? The sexual antics continue in volume three of Love is Like a Hurricane.

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

Review: Yume Kira Dream Shoppe

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, March 13, 2008

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Manga-ka: Aqua Mizuto
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: September 2007

Synopsis: “They say that any dream can be made true in exchange for something dear to you. The Yume Kira Shoppe flies through the dusk sky as Rin the shopkeeper listens for wishes that travel on the wind. With the help of his assistant Alpha, Rin uses the magical wares of the Dream Shoppe to make desires a reality… but at a price.”

Yume Kira Dream Shoppe takes a plot that seems more suited to a horror story, reminiscent of mangas such as Petshop of Horrors, and gives it a fluffy shoujo twist. It’s a collection of short stories all strung together through the characters’ connection with the mysterious Yume Kira Shoppe. It’s shopkeeper, Rin, hears ‘wishes on the wind’ and grants them in exchange for something he deems equivalent.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Viz Media

Review: Princess Princess (Vol. 05)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, March 11, 2008

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Manga-ka: Mikiyo Tsuda
Publisher: DMP Books
Rating: Teen (16+)
Released: November 2007

Synopsis: “Thought Akira would have no competition in the election? Think again! A new face has come to town and he’s dead-set on winning the Presidency. Transfer student Mitaka has declared war and is steadily rallying the support of more and more students. Even the support of Mikoto? But Akira’s die hard supporters Tohru and Shihoudani have a secret plan to ensure Akira’s success. The tale of our beloved princesses has finally come to an end!”

Five volumes of cross-dressing later and Princess Princess has come to and end. Mikiyo Tsuda pulls together all that made previous volumes entertaining for one last get together with this vibrant and diverse cast.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: June

Review: You & Harujion

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, March 1, 2008

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

Synopsis: “Haru Akaishi’s father has just died, leaving him an orphan at age 17. His father was in a lot of debt and took out some shady loans, and just when the Yakuza-esque creditors come to collect, a mysterious lawyer named Yuuji Senoh appears and says he’ll deal with the matter personally. As it turns out, Mr. Senoh was someone Haru befriended many years ago as his mother ailed in the hospital, but Haru has forgotten about him. When the bank takes back the mortgage on his house, Haru takes Mr. Senoh up on his offer to live at his apartment.”

You & Harujion begins in the wake of Haru’s father’s death. When debt collectors show up at his father’s funeral demanding payment for his dues, they are chased off by You, a lawyer who claims to be friends with Haru. What develops through the book from here on out is Haru finding in You someone he can trust and love while You wishes to repay the young boy with the courage he gave him so many years ago.

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

Review: Inubaka (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, February 27, 2008

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Manga-ka: Yukiya Sakuragi
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen(16+)
Released: February 2007

Synopsis: “Alone except for her loyal mutt, Lupin, Suguri moves from the country side to the big city to find a career and a new life. In her first job at a pet store, she meets an assortment of quirky dogs and even stranger owners! On a walk to check out their new home, Lupin “courts” another dog while owner Teppei isn’t looking, shattering his dream of a litter of purebred puppies. To make up for her mongrel’s wayward wooing, Suguri offers to work at the pet store Tepeei manages.”

Inubaka is the story of Suguri, a young teenage girl out in the big city trying to find herself a home and a career. After a mishap with her dog, Lupin, getting a little too friendly with a female dog they came across, Suguri deems herself indebted to the female dog’s owner, Teppei. To make up for it, she offers to work in his pet store. It doesn’t take long for Teppei to realize that Suguri seems to have a sixth sense for dogs, a natural at taking care of them and hardworking, even if she is a bit clumsy and air-headed.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Inubaka, Viz Media

Review: Death Note

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, February 25, 2008

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A little change of pace today with a series overview review of the popular, Death Note. Beware, it’s wordy and plot vague for new readers’ convenience.

Author: Tsugumi Ohba
Manga-ka: Takeshi Obata
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Volumes: 12

Synopsis: “Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects but he’s bored out of his mind. All that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal…or his life?”

At this point who hasn’t heard of the popular sensation, Death Note? With surging popularity around the world even before it’s English release, it was no surprise that Viz’s release of the manga, and eventual follow up with the animated series, caused the number of fans to rise without measure. But with just cause?

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Viz Media

Review: Level C (Vol.02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Friday, February 22, 2008

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Manga-ka: Aoi Futaba/Kurenai Mistuba
Publisher: Kitty Media
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: May 2005

Synopsis: “Loneliness and uncertainty no longer scare us… This is our first, true love, and we will make it last forever. The love story of Mizuki and Kazuomi starts today. Mizuki and Kazuomi were complete strangers, but their time together drew them close. Unfortunately there are those with petty jealousy that will try to break them apart. Mizuki and Kazuomi will have to work hard to make their relationship work. Can they beat the odds and find true love?”

The first chapter of volume two drops sets out to remind readers what kind of series they’ve gotten themselves into. A sex scene between Mizuki and Kazuomi stalls when Mizuki realizes his lover is going away on a business trip. Ten days later, Kazuomi returns and promptly rapes Mizuki. Following the vein of yaoi logic (which Level C often abuses), Kazuomi is promptly forgiven for his violent outbreak of lust and their ‘romance’ continues.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi

Review: Digimon (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, February 21, 2008

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Manga-ka: Yuen Wong Yu
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Youth (7+)
Released: March 2003

Synopsis: “Seven kids at summer camp are unexpectedly transported by digivices to a colourful and enigmatic world. Lost and alone, Tai, Matt, Sora, Izzy, Joe, Mimi and TK are befriended by small digital monsters called Digimons. In times of crisis, these cute little creatures digivolve to defend the children from the dangerous of the Digital World. Join Tai and his friends (with their Digimon pals) in their fight for survival as they search for a way home!”

For those who missed the smash hit when it was on television, Digimon is the story of seven children who are teleported to the ‘Digital World’ after receiving Digivices while attending summer camp. Upon arrival in the strange new world, they are met by Digimon (Digital Monsters), small energetic little creatures who claim to be their partners. From then on it’s a matter of discovering where they are and why and the power of the Digimon, both friend and foe.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Tokyopop