Goodbye, CMX

Yes, it's been silent around here, even with my one-year blogiversary passing me by. But, I am compelled to write today because of the shutdown of local manga publisher, CMX.

CMX published a slew of great books, many of which I enjoyed. While I'm sad to see some series will never be finished (like Two Flowers for the Dragon, Apothecarius Argentum, Venus Capriccio and Swan), there is a small measure of satisfaction knowing that other personal favorites came to a close in time, including Emma and The Name of the Flower.

I had the opportunity to meet editor-in-chief Asako Suzuki at San Diego Comic-Con International last year. I felt beyond lucky when she extended an invitation to visit the CMX offices in La Jolla, just minutes from my home in San Diego. I took her up on the offer a month later, during my first unpaid furlough day from my full-time job. It was a much-needed pick-me-up during an uncertain time.

There, I met editor John Chadwick and creative director Larry Berry, in addition to others on the CMX staff. They were all gracious, wonderful people willing to indulge my keen interest; they also introduced me to some awesome series, many of which I've continued reading. So, it was doubly troubling to hear the news earlier today; these people are fellow San Diegans and, working in media myself, fellow colleagues. I just hope that all of CMX's staff members land on their feet, as nothing regarding employees has been released thus far.

While I don't have much to say about CMX's relationship with parent company DC, I do know that it was always disappointing to find zero CMX presence at SDCCI, despite the Time Warner subsidiary's large footprint. As a public relations professional, I was also surprised by the lack of marketing support lent, especially considering the critical acclaim many titles earned.

With other recent and unwelcome manga industry news, it seems the niche is in a sorry state of affairs tied to the still-flagging economy and the larger publishing industry's difficulties in navigating an increasingly digital market. What this means for the future is anyone's guess.

All I know is that I'm disappointed that the market is contracting and consolidating. It means less choice, variety and competition overall, and there's nothing good about that.

not simple

The story: Ian has a troubled past and the only thing he wants to do is find his sister. Traveling across Australia, England and America to find her, he’s trailed by a reporter, Jim, who is recording Ian's travels for his book. As a lonely young man, Jim is the closest thing Ian has to a friend. Will Ian find his sister, or will his tragic life continue?

Reaction: To say this story is a tragedy is an understatement. Reading it was somewhat akin to a watching a train wreck—you simply cannot look away.

But, the problem is that this story is nothing but tragedy. There’s no hope, optimism or redemption; it’s a grim story, plain and simple. His emotions, his family and his life are all within his always-eluded grasp, but he never displays passion, or makes a grab for it. The only exception is his sought-after sister, who seems oddly detached despite her promise to meet him again.

I kept hoping for a light at the end of this dark tunnel of a story, to no avail. While I hoped side characters would provide some sort of comedic relief, even they fell short, especially Jim’s neighbor, Rick.

Deep thoughts: Unlike a traditional narrative, not simple starts at the end, with the completion of Ian's journey. While I don’t loathe the non-linear narrative structure—my favorite film is Pulp Fiction—it doesn’t work well here as there's no "aha!" moment revealing something worth caring about.

There’s flashes to Ian’s childhood, interspersed with his interviews with Jim and the storyline based in the present. It’s disconcerting and muddles the spiraling uncontrolled trajectory of Ian’s life.

Artwork: Unlike some other reviewers, I actually like Natsume Ono’s art style here. It gives a decidedly contemporary, post-modern edge to this story. As precarious as the lines may seem in their unfinished state, they perfectly mirror the razor’s edge that Ian lives on. While the distorted eyes, dimensions and perspectives in not simple may be disconcerting to others, I thought it a fitting pair with this dark tale.

The verdict: Meh. As much as I wanted to like this story—and you do when you see the kind of life Ian has lived—I couldn’t bring myself to do it. There’s a sense of masochism afoot as there are few happy moments in Ian’s life and just when he seems in reach of some semblance of happiness, it’s taken away not only from him, but also any reader seeking any kind of redemption in this melancholy single-volume manga. not simple is available in the U.S. from Viz.

Honey and Clover, vol. 9

The story: It's the beginning of the end in this penultimate volume—graduation is just around the corner for Takemoto and Hagu, while Morita and his brother will finally have their peace, or so they think. Even Mayama's life is changing when he moves to Spain to be closer to Rika.

While the gang begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel that has been their college experience, they’re still wistful for days gone by. Can they leave their carefree existence behind and tackle the real world?

Reaction: This is by far the best volume of the whole series, with a tragic accident consuming the dreams of one of the main characters and creating a ripple effect of self-exploration throughout the group. Without revealing too much, it calls into question everything the person affected thought they would do following their departure from art school. I found myself tearing up at times, astounded at the character’s strength and Chica Umino’s sheer brilliance in creating said character's reaction to the very tough situation they're presented with.

There’s raw emotion, too, especially in explaining the reason for Morita’s crazy work schedule and standoffish behavior. So much is revealed about why he is the way he is, and showing all the sacrifices he’s made over the years despite all outward appearances. While no definitive romantic choices are made, the book moves towards resolving the two love triangles that have consumed this series thus far.

Deep thoughts: What I’ve especially appreciated in this series is Umino’s skill in surrounding panels with a character’s inner monologue. Interspersing beautiful imagery and the character’s spoken words amongst black spaces filled with near-poetic prose draws me into this world that is so downright beautiful, even in its jarring tragedy.

There’s also the clever little details in Umino’s text. In the beginning chapter, Hagu expresses interest in someday carving a statue out of marble. In a later chapter, Umino loops back to this scene, noting the look of her face—“white as marble.” It’s a detail easily overlooked, but speaks to the poignancy with which Umino has created her characters and the world of Honey and Clover.

Artwork: There’s a certain artistic balance between innocence and its loss in this volume. From playful scenes during Morita’s childhood to Mayama’s sheer joy at being invited to join Rika in Spain, there’s an optimistic lightness afoot. But, this is balanced and tempered by the darkness and conflict approached in the volume’s second half. There’s blood, tears and dark emotions illustrated, providing an intimate look at the pain and turmoil bubbling up. In visually telling this story, Umino builds the main conflict up to a boil slowly, but surely. At volume’s end, it was all I could do but sigh at the perfectly simple last panel.

The verdict: Highly recommended. There’s just so much raw emotion here, like clay pots waiting to be fired. It pours out of the characters in a way that never feels forced and in words that never become stilted. It’s just real. While what happens next will no doubt be sad, there’s a sense of closure at hand. All I know is that despite my connection to these characters, I'm looking forward to seeing them move on. Honey and Clover is available in the U.S. from Viz.

MangaCast Review: Hero Tales, vol. 1

During my unplanned hiatus, not only was i♥manga ignored, but so was MangaCast, another great manga blog where I occasionally provide reviews. But, I'm back with my latest post—this time around, I took a look at Hero Tales, vol. 1. Here's an excerpt of what I thought:

Brother and sister Taitou and Laila are heroes of their town, fighting the Imperial Army as it tries to impose its will upon the people. But, things are not what they seem—when the master of the temple gives Taitou a mysterious sword following his coming-of-age ceremony, it is quickly stolen away by an even more mysterious man named Shimei. ... With its shonen roots showing, Hero Tales hits the ground running with quick action and a larger plotline laid out in the opening chapters. With a mythic tale connecting several characters, there’s something familiar in this unique story.

To read the rest of my review, check it out here. Hero Tales is available in the U.S. from Yen Press.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

My Darling! Miss Bancho, vol. 1

The story: After her parents’ divorce, Souka is determined to not be a burden on her now-single mother. Choosing to attend a technical high school, she sets her heart on learning a trade that can help her get a job immediately after graduation.

But, there’s a major kink in her plans—her new school’s male delinquents have caused all the girls to leave and she’s the only one left! Refusing to reveal the truth to her hard-working mom, Souka stays on at the troubled school and, in a hilarious turn of events, ends up a gang leader. Just what will Souka do now that she’s surrounded by tough guys committed to honoring and protecting their new bancho?

Reaction: This story is certainly a different take on reverse-harem comedy—instead of being surrounded by beautiful and silly rich boys, Souka must deal with a bunch of knuckle-headed gang members. While the antics here are as silly as any high school shojo, the technical high school setting and ensemble cast proves a difference maker.

I really liked Souka, especially because she disproves the stereotype that girls don’t like science. If she sets her mind to it, Souka realizes that she “gets” science. Other characters proved equally likeable, especially Katou who belies his greaser exterior with a laughable mother hen personality. It’s a great balance and entertains with its unexpectedness.

Deep thoughts: I feel like I’ve been reading a lot of science-related manga lately. While this book isn’t very scientific, it does drop a few mathematical formulas and chemical names here and there, providing a backdrop of sorts. Overall, I think technical high schools are an interesting facet of Japanese secondary education options and I wonder why more manga don’t feature them. While they don’t have an exact American equivalent, California's high school ROP, or regional occupational programs, are fairly similar, preparing young adults and others for "further educational, employment and occupational changes."

Artwork: There’s a definite evolution of characters in this first volume—in the opening chapter, faces are awkwardly shaped at times. The art is reminiscent of some of the early work by Nari Kusakawa, mangaka of The Palette of 12 Secret Colors and Two Flowers for the Dragon. By volume’s end, there’s more consistency and uniformity in design; I especially liked one character's design in particular, an anonymous gang member who looks like Aang from Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, his bald head tattooed with an arrow. Otherwise, the art here is nice enough, but it doesn’t make a big impression in comparison to other shojo manga.

The verdict: If only… While the humorous story definitely carries this book, there’s a sense of repetitiveness in each story. It wasn’t until volume’s end that things got interesting by introducing a love rival and other complications between Souka and Katou. Luckily, that’s enough to keep me reading until volume two! My Darling! Miss Bancho is available in the U.S. from CMX.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Moyasimon: Tales of Agriculture, vol. 1

While the connection to today's review may seem a bit tenuous, I'd like to give a nod to Cesar E. Chavez, who led the first successful farm worker's rights movement in the United States. In California, we celebrate his life's work on March 31 with a statewide holiday. Since this book focuses on farm work and agriculture, it seemed an opportune time to note Chavez's work in providing equal rights to migrant and other farm workers.

The story: It’s the first day of college for Tadayasu, an agriculture student with a special skill—he can see bacteria and other germs without the help of a microscope or other tools. While he’s kept the secret to himself for many years, his nutty professor, Dr. Itsuki, soon finds out and seeks to use Tadayasu’s gift for scientific research. While all Tadayasu wants is a cool Tokyo college experience, it seems other forces are conspiring against him!

Reaction: This unique story was funny, science-filled and gross—but in a good way! The inordinately gifted main character, Tadayasu, provides a close-up view of all the things better left unseen, like fungus and bacteria. While the obsessive professors and goofy classmates were reminiscent of the art college manga (and personal favorite) Honey and Clover, the similarities ended there. With entertainment and education in equal doses, I found myself enjoying this story on several levels.

Deep thoughts: With a microbiologist mom and a science-filled childhood, I probably enjoyed this book more than most. Growing up, The Anatomy Coloring Book was an unlikely part of my childhood coloring book collection. More recently, I shared this book with a colleague at work—the dean of the College of Sciences at the university I work at, who also happens to be a microbiologist himself. He was so interested in it that he immediately bought the book and then informed me of the anime based on Moyasimon!

Artwork: This is definitely a seinen book in design, with realistic character designs (Hasegawa, in particular, reminded me of Detroit Metal City at times) and detailed backgrounds. But, the cartoony depictions of fungus and bacteria are unexpected, while providing a “fun” balance to the graphic grossness of agricultural life.

The verdict: Highly recommended. There is no other book like Moyasimon, manga or not. From Tadayasu’s unique gift to the disgusting situations he’s thrown into, I found this a promising start to a series I’ll definitely continue reading. Moyasimon is available in the U.S. from Del Rey.

Twin Spica, vol. 1

Time to dust off my poor, neglected blog! After a month of silence, I'm glad to be back—moving and freelance writing assignments have been keeping me busy. And what better way to come back to manga blogging than with a super-sized review of Vertical's new Twin Spica?

The story: For as long as she can remember, 13-year-old Asumi has wanted to become an astronaut. But, since her mother died a few years ago, she's reluctant to pursue it as a career, lest she leave her dad alone.

But, when she's selected for further testing by the new astronaut-training high school program, her dad tells her to follow her dreams. Can Asumi and her team survive the mentally and physically exhaustive examination process?

Reaction: Take one part astronomy, add a sympathetic heroine determined to persevere and round it out with a compelling cast of supporting characters, and you've got Twin Spica. Kou Yaginuma has created a fascinating alternate future for Japan, where tragedy becomes the foundation of both the protagonist’s story and her country’s entry into the space race.

While I didn't care for the glossed-over physical violence between Asumi and her father (it further complicates their already-strained relationship), I was pulled in by Asumi’s classmates and her mysterious friend, Mr. Lion; the bits of scientific fact peppered throughout; and Asumi’s back story.

By volume’s end, I found myself wanting to see Asumi deal with more hardship. Not out of some misplaced sense of sadism, but because she has an amazing ability to overcome even the toughest of hurdles. She’s a really remarkable character, even in comparison to the oft-used shojo trope of down-on-their-luck, yet-plucky heroines overcoming adversity.

Deep thoughts: In my real-life work, I’ve had the opportunity to work with astronomers, influencing my reading of Twin Spica. About a year ago, I interviewed a San Diego State University professor about his research on the death of a large star; Asumi’s passion for the stars reminded me of my conversation with Doug Leonard (embedded below).

Of course, the main tragedy in Twin Spica also reminded me of the Challenger explosion years ago; the incident has continued to influence space exploration efforts in the United States, much as it does in this story.

Artwork: Yaginuma’s character design is his greatest strength; from the petite Asumi to the self-assured Shu Suzuki, the cast here is wide-ranging in looks and personalities.

There’s a dichotomy of settings in this story, with the main storyline taking place in a sterile, one-room environment, in comparison to Yaginuma’s expansive backgrounds of space and its role in his characters’ imaginations. He’s also deft at portraying the emotional hardships the teams experience during testing. Lastly, flashes to Asumi’s personal tragedy throughout the story help build an unexpected emotional crescendo.

The verdict: Highly recommended. There’s a lot of heartfelt emotion balanced with space-based science in this tale of a young girl’s desire to visit the stars. Asumi’s single-minded dedication to her childhood dream is admirable, with a promising ending to this introductory volume. As soon as I finished this book, I found myself already longing to read more. Twin Spica will be available in the U.S. from Vertical.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Flashlight Worthy Books List: Graphic Novels: About Women. By Women.

Earlier this month, I was asked to contribute to a graphic novel list by Flashlight Worthy, a website with lists of books recommended by bloggers and others. In recognition of Women's History Month in March, the list, "Graphic Novels: About Women. By Women," focused on graphic novels about and by women.

Unsurprisingly, many manga filled the list, including my selection, Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms. Check out the list for many other "flashlight-worthy" tomes that are worth reading "past bedtime."

MangaCast Review: King of RPGs, vol. 1

While it's been more than a month since I reviewed this book, I'm listing it here as part of some belated blog-related housekeeping.

Last month, I reviewed King of RPGs, vol. 1, for MangaCast, a blog featuring manga news and reviews. Here's an excerpt from my review:

It’s freshman year at the fictional University of California Escondido for Sessions Maccabee and, while it’s a brand-new start, he’s hiding a big secret — he was addicted to online role-playing games in high school, resulting in a serious mental breakdown, hours of therapy and now regularly taking psychoactive drugs. ... First things first, I’m no RPG gamer, online or otherwise. But, I absolutely loved this book because of all the cool references to places and things familiar to me.

To read the rest of my review, click here.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

My Heavenly Hockey Club, vol. 3

The story: Sleep- and food-loving Hana is a none-too-willing member of her high school's field hockey club, even if it is filled with gorgeous boys. This time around, Hana and one of the boys get lost in the jungle while on vacation, leading to hilarious results. Up next is the obligatory group vacation at a hot springs resort, only this isn't what the team expected. When the vacation ends and it's time to head home, Izumi finds an unexpected guest waiting for him. In trying to avoid his guest, he ends up dragging Hana into a faux relationship against her will.

Reaction: This series grew on me in this volume -- it takes all the expected shojo tropes and makes them more hilarious and satirical. While it would be so easy to give in to fan service, or let this story take a dramatic turn to develop the romantic relationships, Ai Morinaga avoids it and skewers typical storylines instead. I will freely admit that the last chapter is a little stupid, but it's too ridiculous to not be found at least a little bit funny.

Deep thoughts: In talking to a friend about this series, I realized that I was a little too hard on it initially. I often compare it to the reverse-harem comedy Ouran High School Host Club, which came out first. But, the way she looked at it was through the lens of satirical comedy and measured it on its own merits. In some ways, MHHC is a caricature of OHSHC and takes some of the situations presented there to their logical, if more extreme, conclusion. I don't know that MHHC does "it" better, but it certainly is entertaining in its own way.

Artwork: There are some great physical comedy moments throughout this volume, especially during the hot springs chapter. Overall, though, my favorite panel is probably from the first chapter where Hana shouts, "Whose dad are you!!!?" She's leaping through the air, mouth agape and ready to pounce on Takashi in anger. Meanwhile, he's turned away from her, cowering in fear. It's an unexpected interaction between the two, especially since Takashi usually plays the bully. Of course, there are also exaggerated shojo moments, like furiously blushing cheeks and perfectly timed tears. But, the "crutch" of nudity as rom-com plot device is a bit overdone by now and I'm ready for them to crack a new joke.

The verdict: If only... I know I've yet to be totally satisfied with this series, but I still enjoy it based upon its merits. With a few tweaks here and there, I could see this easily becoming more of a favorite. For now, I'll just enjoy the goofy plots and abundant laughs. My Heavenly Hockey Club is available in the U.S. from Del Rey.

Kitchen Princess, vol. 4

The story: Najika has an amazing ability -- anything she tastes she can cook from memory. When her parents died when she was younger, she found comfort in the kindness of a boy she named her "flan prince." Now at Seika Academy, she's trying to find her prince while making new friends. Unfortunately, Najika and Daichi have had a fight, and Najika doesn't know why he's upset with her. Why all is eventually forgiven, Najika is quickly distracted by a major discovery. Has she found her flan prince at last?

Reaction: There's something fishy going on here and it has nothing to do with Najika's cooking! For some reason, I don't think the big reveal of the prince is for real. Call me suspicious (and no spoilers please!). Other than that, there's another Akane-related storyline here and I find myself tiring of the character and her many personality defects. Lastly, this volume reveals a major development in our story's love "cube," and I found myself wondering how the romantic plot will resolve itself. As usual I really liked the food here, since it was very dessert focused. Thankfully, all the tasty recipes, as always, are featured at the end of the volume!

Deep thoughts: There's mention in this volume again of the rift between Sora and Daichi. Thus far, there's been no explanation for their estrangement, outside of some vague references to their mother and her death. While Najika's flan prince is the big mystery in this manga, I find myself more compelled by the brothers' relationship. What grudge does Daichi have against Sora and why doesn't Sora feel the same for his younger brother?

Artwork: The art here is really shojo-esque, more so than prior volumes. Think lots of floating flowers, blushing cheeks and toner-filled panels. It's not necessarily bad, but it's more visually distracting than usual. I also noticed some awkward anatomy, which I attribute more than anything to Natsumi Ando's angular style. Otherwise, the food still looks good!

The verdict: If only... I found this volume a little less interesting and tedious, but I was given one cliffhanger of an ending, so I'll be sticking around. Besides, by the next volume, I'll have made it halfway through this series, so I'm not stopping now! Kitchen Princess is available in the U.S. from Del Rey.

Land of the Blindfolded, vol. 8

As you may have noticed, posting has been pretty non-existent around here during the past week or so. Unfortunately, I'm experiencing some technical difficulties with the home computer I use for writing reviews. Hopefully, I'll be able to have it taken care of soon. Until then, expect fewer posts than normal. Now, on with the review!

The story: High schooler Kanade has a unique gift that allows her to sometimes see the past of people and objects. When two mysterious boys with similar abilities transfer to her school, they become her closest confidants. In this volume, the whole gang is back from their hot springs vacation and life gets back to (somewhat) normal. Namiki follows an extremely unlucky day with an incredibly lucky birthday surprise. Then, poor Kanade gets sick and puts Arou in a tough position. At one point, Eri, Kanade's best friend, learns about Arou's similar gift when a school thief strikes. By volume's end, Arou's uncle Suo can't contain his curiosity about his nephew's strong ability to see the past. Will his jealousy push him to the brink?

Reaction: There are some good self-contained stories in this volume that I really enjoyed and the last chapter raises some concerns that I hadn't really thought about before. Regardless, it was nice to see Namiki's birthday celebration, as it was to see Arou's classmates' support. While Kanade has been close to her classmates for some time, it seems that only now are Arou and Namiki beginning to experience the same. It's very heartwarming and is great evidence of the character growth the three leads have experienced, especially considering their personalities at series' start.

Deep thoughts: Maybe it's just me, but the author's notes in this series seem a bit more extensive than many others. The only other mangaka that comes to mind that pens extensive author's notes throughout volumes is Aya Nakahara of Love*Com fame. Here, I feel like I know Sakura Tsukuba better and have a real feel for what she's doing with this series. Then again, maybe it's just that I'm actually reading the periodic asides, as opposed to glancing over them as I might in other series, especially those that are more "slice of life" moments or personal asides.

Artwork: There are some really great panels in this volume, possibly the best of the entire series. I especially liked the opening page of the last chapter -- Arou, wrapped in bandages, walks towards a burst of light set against a black background. It's stark and depressing, but is set against the joy these characters are experiencing. I also liked the chapter cut pages, particularly the first one where Namiki looks like a beaten soldier. There's something world-weary about his look that juxtaposes nicely with the chapter that focuses on him.

The verdict: Highly recommended. This is an amazing series that I'm sorry I didn't get to sooner. There are some typical high school moments, but they are done so much better than most other shojo stories. This story has a lot of heart, due in large part to its heroine and the group of people she has surrounded herself with. I'll honestly be sad to see this series end in the next volume. Land of the Blindfolded is available in the U.S. from CMX (online preview available).

V.B. Rose, vol. 1

This is another title that I was turned on to by Danielle Leigh's Manga Before Flowers column, "10 Underrated Shojo Titles." I was intrigued enough to check this out since, so far, Danielle is yet to let me down!

The story: When Ageha finds out her perfect older sister, Hibari, is pregnant and will be marrying her "lame" boyfriend, she loses it and says some pretty hurtful things. Feeling bad about it, she becomes determined to help her sister with the wedding in order to make amends. When Ageha finds out Hibari is getting a custom-made dress from specialty store V.B. Rose, she jumps in to assist since she's pretty handy with a needle and thread. Unfortunately, the owner is a jerk and his assistant is a big flirt. Just how will Ageha survive working with the V.B. Rose staff and will she be able to make it up to her big sister?

Reaction: Perhaps appropriately, Ageha is a spoiled brat -- who else would feel betrayed by her older sister getting married? Initially it was annoying and off-putting. Thankfully, she has enough self-awareness to realize how wrong she is and does what she can to apologize. While I think she should just say she's sorry, Ageha wants to make a grand gesture, which, in some ways, shows her immaturity and lack of life experience. However, it is the thought that counts!

Deep thoughts: Having gotten married a couple of years ago, I still can't believe how much some brides are willing to spend on a dress they wear once. Since there are few repeat customers in the wedding industry, it seems like anything that's labeled "wedding" is automatically more expensive. While I think a bride or groom should be able to do whatever they want for their wedding, it amazes me that the average American wedding costs around $35,000.

Artwork: I think it goes without saying, but Banri Hidaka's character design is fairly unique. As the author of I Hate You More Than Anyone and Tears of a Lamb, both published by CMX, she's prone to lithe, effeminate men and girls with long legs and heart-shaped faces. But, Hidaka really mixes up this comic with chibis, cute fashion-oriented details and other visual embellishments, including a restrained use of screentone and the occasional flower-framed panel.

The verdict: If only... I liked the premise of this story and the unique cast of characters, but I had a hard time identifying with Ageha -- maybe it's because I'm an older sister myself, or that I'm just too old to fully appreciate her "struggle." But, I'm a sucker for arts and crafts, so this volume's shortcomings won't stop me from continuing on. If you're looking for humorous doses of teenage angst, needlework and pretty boys, you'll definitely enjoy this book. V.B. Rose is available in the U.S. from Tokyopop (online preview available).

We Were There, vol. 2

The story: Nana has a crush on popular guy Yano, but he's constantly picking on her in school. When she finally 'fesses to her feelings, all she gets is an ambiguous response in return. But, in this volume, Yano's behavior is explained with flashbacks to memories with his now-dead, ex-girlfriend. From the start of their friendship to her death in a car accident, Yano's emotions run the gamut. But, things change and he admits to his new feelings for Nana; she's understandably elated. But, can they overcome Yano's troubled romantic past, or is Nana forever doomed to live in the shadow of his ex?

Reaction: This is not your standard shojo fare. Where other high school romances run the comedic route, We Were There uncomfortably settles into bittersweet reality. There's a dark place where Yano's personality escapes to and, at times, it's painstaking to watch Nana try to help him while simultaneously being pushed away. But, there's something to be said for Nana's seemingly unending capacity and determination to love Yano; it's an optimism you have to have a certain sense of maturity to truly appreciate.

Deep thoughts: In 2006, We Were There won the 50th Shogakukan Award, which is given annually by Shogakukan Publishing. Interestingly, the award is not exclusive to the company's works. Shogakukan, which started the awards in 1957, is part of one of the largest publishing conglomerates in Japan, Hitotsobashi Group. Along with Shuiesha, also part of the Hitotsobashi Group, Shogakukan also owns Viz Media (and We Were There publisher) in the U.S.

Artwork: As I've said before, there are some visual reminders of Monkey High! in terms of character design. But, more often than not, there are blushing cheeks, mildly humorous classroom scenes and respectfully illustrated serious moments. The art is even-handed in terms of "shojoness" and never veers into the extremes of screentone addiction or ridiculously floating flowers -- it's simply not that kind of manga.

The verdict: Highly recommended. There's a certain tenderness of youth here, with an edge of cynicism. Sure, there's time to appreciate romance, but it's a double-edged sword, too -- love can bring pain. Thankfully, this series only skates on the edges of melodrama and instead reveals a compelling teenage relationship that adults can appreciate. We Were There is available in the U.S. from Viz.

Profile on Manga Views

A few weeks ago, Manga Views put out a call to profile manga bloggers. And today, they published my profile! If you've ever wondered what motivated me to blog about manga, click here to find out.

Manga Views "is a hub for manga reviews and reviewers from around the world. Bringing together writers, their thoughts and a love for manga..."

MangaCast Review: Stolen Hearts, vol. 1

Sorry about the lack of posting these past few days -- life gets in the way, you know? Regardless, it's back to our regularly scheduled programming with a new guest review I wrote for MangaCast, a website featuring manga news and reviews. This time around, I take a look at Stolen Hearts, vol. 1, a new kimono-centric title from CMX.

Here's a peek at what I thought:

Koguma is misunderstood — everyone at school is afraid of him because he’s big and looks intimidating. When petite Shinobu spills a drink on his bag one day, he tells her she’s ruined an expensive kimono and she must repay him for the damage. ... Just like tiny Shinobu, Stolen Hearts has quite a bit of cute appeal. But, it’s also without romantic tension; it’s obvious the author originally meant this to be a one-shot as the first chapter gets our couple together quickly.

Wondering what I thought in the end? Then be sure to click here and read on!

Review copy provided by the publisher.

We Were There, vol. 1

The story: It's the first day of high school for Nanami Takahashi and she's determined to make new friends. But, things don't go exactly as planned -- plenty of people already know each other, so she feels left out. Then there's Motoharu Yano, the most popular guy in class -- he has plenty of friends (and fans), not to mention he does well in school. But, there's something about him that both attracts and repels Nana. What secret could Yano be hiding that explains his behavior towards Nana?

Reaction: It seems like ages that I've been wanting to read this series and when I saw We Were There in Danielle Leigh's recent Comic Book Resources column, I knew I had to get on it! This a slowly paced story that takes a conventional high school romance story line and gives it some dramatic twists. But, they aren't overdone, nor are they unbelievable. In Yano, Yuki Obata has created an anti-hero of sorts; he's someone you reluctantly cheer for. Luckily, Yano is balanced by the cute and undaunted Nana, who has an amazing ability to bounce back from adversity (and Yano's put-downs). It felt like a very natural progression for an unlikely friendship.

Deep thoughts: In this volume, Nana and her classmates go on a field trip with a 26-mile hike, essentially the length of a marathon. Taking anywhere from just over two hours to several hours to complete, marathons were originally created to commemorate the run of a storied Greek messenger, Pheidippides. I'm not sure if participating in marathon-length hikes are regularly a part of Japanese physical education, or simply a convenient plot device, but I can't imagine a marathon being a required school activity in the U.S.

Artwork: The artwork here actually reminded me of another shojo mangaka, Shouko Akira of Monkey High! There's something about Yano's face that makes me think of that book's male protagonist, Macharu (but not his ears). However, perhaps because of this series's more somber tone, the artwork is understated in comparison to other shojo comics. There's no floating flowers, inexplicably shining faces or other "shojo sparkles." Instead, there are quietly poignant moments, embarrassed looks and blushing cheeks, much better reflecting reality.

The verdict: Highly recommended. There is an earnestness in We Were There that is both admirable and worth watching. Obata has created characters that are multi-faceted; there's no perfect, nor truly horrible, people. And there's not only the usual depth of feeling that comes part-and-parcel in shojo manga, but there's also breadth of emotion, something rarely seen and done this well. We Were There is available in the U.S. from Viz.

Swan, vol. 5

The story: Masumi is a small-town girl with big ballet dreams. After her successful entry into Japan's National Ballet School and the injury of her talented classmate Sayoko, Masumi is chosen to audition for a special production in Moscow, Russia. In this volume, she's auditioning against the talented Larisa Maximova. In the two-day process, the two dancers each perform the roles of the main characters in Swan Lake. Both girls must interpret Odette, the cursed swan princess, and Odile, the "black swan" and daughter of the villain, von Rothbart. Who will prevail in this contest between our heroine and the Russian prodigy?

Reaction: Watching a ballet in print form, explanatory narration and all, may not sound like an ideal plot. But, this volume had me completely enthralled and I read through it quickly, pausing only to admire the artwork. Again, Masumi is challenged and rises to the occasion (and the competition). It was fascinating to see how these same roles are interpreted by two very different dancers -- and it's lovely to see that Masumi's lack of technical knowledge doesn't necessarily hold her back. While the reaction of the audience seems a bit exaggerated, thanks to Ariyoshi Kyoko, it's easy to see why they would be impressed.

Deep thoughts: Tchaikovsky was commissioned to write the music for Swan Lake in 1875. Interestingly, the Swan Lake that we know today -- and is performed in this volume -- is actually quite different from the original concept and was created after Tchaikovsky's death in 1893. While there is little record of the original ballet, after Tchaikovsky's death, interest in Swan Lake was renewed. The version most popular today was choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov of the Russian Imperial Ballet in 1895.

Artwork: There's some very dynamic and amazingly paced panels here that really showcase ballet. From showing the different positions and movements to the miming and facial expressions, Kyoko really shows why this series is such a classic. Both the imagined backgrounds for the Swan Lake pieces and the studio practices are fairly detailed in comparison to modern-day shojo, dating the series ever-so-slightly. There's some brief comedic moments here, too, and although they are short-lived, they provide a much welcome respite from all of the focus, determination and, at times, despair.

The verdict: Required reading. This volume is a great culmination of everything Masumi's worked up to so far -- despite her limitations as a dancer, she doesn't let that stop her from trying her best. And this volume really shows how far she's come, and hints at how much farther she has to go. Not only that, but there's the thrill of competition, too! Swan is available in the U.S. from CMX.

Two Flowers for the Dragon, vol. 4

The story: Ten years ago, Lady Shakuya's fiance Lucien mysteriously disappeared without a trace and the Dragon Clan found their heir a new fiance, Kuwan. Now that Lucien has returned, she must choose between the two and Shakuya will marry whomever she loves most, as evidenced by the magical, floral tattoos that grow with her increasing adoration. This volume picks up where the last one left off with Kuwan injured after protecting Lady Shakuya in battle. While Shakuya nurses Kuwan back to health, Lucien regains his lost memories and the conspiracy against the Dragon Clan begins to unravel.

Reaction: This volume starts off sweetly enough, but gains some real depth from the political intrigue at volume's end. Lucien also experiences some much-needed growth, both as a character and in his love for Shakuya. I particularly liked the scene where the two acknowledge that they lack control over their lives. It's a bittersweet realization, especially since they are both so young. However, they're not so much resigned to their fates as they simply accept them, which is refreshing to see in a story revolving around young love.

Deep thoughts: Lucien's amnesia resolves itself in this volume, but his experience reminded me of a news article I read a couple of months ago. In it, an amnesia patient known simply as H.M. donated his brain to a new research library created at University of California San Diego. Since having an experimental brain surgery years ago, H.M. was never able to form new memories, making every experience new. His donation will allow researchers to better understand amnesia and memory loss.

Artwork: While Nari Kusakawa's artwork has improved over the course of this series (and the concurrent The Palette of 12 Secret Colors), some distorted faces still snuck in this volume. In one panel, the eyes of Shakuya's handmaid look crossed because of the severe slant. In another, Shakuya's face is squashed, making her look younger and slightly unattractive. However, these are minor distractions from Kusakawa's other handiwork. From the use of visual humor and other effects, like Shakuya's nearly blank, surprised eyes, to the Oriental architectural and ornate clothing, Kusakawa creates a unique world filled with interesting characters.

The verdict: Highly recommended. While the love triangle is the entertaining part of this story, the mystery behind Lucien's disappearance is the thinking part. Here, Kusakawa draws in readers with a one-of-a-kind story with great artwork, surprising twists and compelling characters. Two Flowers for the Dragon is available in the U.S. from CMX.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Parasyte, vol. 5

The story: Shinichi used to have a carefree high school life -- until parasitic aliens stealthily attacked the Earth, possessing and eating people as they pleased. But, when Shinichi's parasite doesn't infect him properly, he and Migi (literally "right hand" in Japanese) must learn to live together in order to save mankind. In this volume, Shinichi and Migi team up again with Oda and the renamed "Jaw" to find out who has sent a private detective after them. Unfortunately, once they find out who is investigating them, Shinichi and Migi find themselves in even more trouble as they become the ones hunted. Will the symbiotic pair survive the attack so they can save mankind, or are they already doomed?

Reaction: Admittedly, I did miss the previous volume in this series and it did make a difference in the story. However, I was able to figure out the gist of what I'd missed in the first couple of chapters. Regardless, Hitoshi Iwaaka does it again -- he finds a new twist that makes for a bone-chilling result and another philosophical discussion between the main pair. By blending action, horror and ethics, Parasyte elevates itself from escapist fare to compelling allegory.

Deep thoughts: In Parasyte, Migi and Shinichi have an ongoing discussion of human behavior from the viewpoint of the alien lifeforms. From showing emotion to creating names, humans possess characteristics that make them unique in comparison to other animals. And, not only are we allotted higher-order thought that allows us to do such things, but we also develop ego-centric worldviews. Some would attribute that survival instinct to evolution and Darwin's theory of natural selection. However, there's also evidence that humans are happiest in large groups, where they're able to help one another, which often serves as Shinichi's counterargument more often than not.

Artwork: The art here is once again both surreal and disgusting -- from metamorphosing limbs to piles of dead bodies, there's plenty of jarring images. But, Iwaaka is just as good at the obvious as he is the subtle, capturing Shinichi's intense face perfectly in several panels, especially to illustrate the ebbing loss of his humanity. Lastly, considering the shape-shifting skill the aliens possess, characters are remarkably easy to decipher even in quick fight scenes.

The verdict: Highly recommended. This was another fast-paced volume that gives Shinichi additional emotional depth and reveals the aliens' horrifying plan for the human race. This thriller has pulled me in hook, line and sinker -- and I can't wait to see what comes next! Parasyte is available in the U.S. from Del Rey.

The Seven Magi, vol. 1

The story: The land of Cheironia is in trouble -- a black plague, mysteriously brought forth by their cursed leopard-headed king, has descended upon the people. In a desperate attempt to save his country, King Guin sets out to find the black magic sorcerer Yelisha. While he seeks out Yelisha, he meets some curious characters and dangerous creatures in the Alley of Charms. But, once he finds Yelisha, his quest has only just begun.

Reaction: The Seven Magi is based on the bestselling Guin Saga fantasy novel series in Japan. From what I understand, the manga series shows some of the side stories in the larger series. Unfortunately, a lot of this felt like insider knowledge at times. In a world with its own terminology and history, there wasn't a lot of stage-setting here, confusing me easily. Thankfully, the characters were easy enough to figure out, but I found the king the only compelling one out of the main cast.

Deep thoughts: Amazingly, the Guin Saga novel series has been going strong since 1979, when it was first conceived as a 100-novel series. Written by female author Kaoru Kurimoto, it is the world's longest-running book series by a single author, with a total circulation of 28 million. Unfortunately, Kurimoto died in May 2009, leaving the series unfinished at 126 volumes and 21 side stories.

Artwork: My biggest problem with the artwork here is the typically chauvinistic costume choices -- men are dressed as traders, knights and magicians, while women are dressed in titillating and exotic fashion with big boobs and all-too-revealing outfits. Otherwise, it seems that there are some wasted opportunities in artwork. There are color pages opening this volume, but it's too bad only two colors make an appearance. Action is fast-paced, but there are close-ups that were hard to identify; I found myself asking "what is that?" on several occasions.

The verdict: Meh. I usually love fantasy stories -- I've enjoyed everything from Harry Potter to The Lord of the Rings (which this series has been compared to). But, it was hard for me to enjoy this book. Maybe it was my unfamiliarity with the larger series, but the lack of connection to the characters, and their sexist design, definitely played a part, too. The Seven Magi is available in the U.S. from Vertical.

Black Bird, vol. 2

The story: Misao was just your normal, everyday teenage high school girl. Except for the whole "seeing demons" thing. But, when she turns 16, her life takes a turn for the weirder when her first love and childhood best friend Kyo returns from a long absence, demanding she become his bride. As a tengu demon clan leader, Kyo wants to marry Misao for the vast power her blood yields -- their marriage will make his clan the most powerful in Japan. While all Misao wants is to be normal, she can't deny her feelings for Kyo, either. When the teenage girl meets Kyo's vassals and his older brother -- who originally was first in line to head the clan and marry Misao -- she learns more about Kyo's past and wonders why she can't remember it herself.

Reaction: I didn't particularly like the first volume of this manga, but I decided to give the second volume a chance. There was definitely more comedy here, and there were more believable "couple moments" that didn't reek of co-dependency. Although the last chapter really pushes it, there was decidedly less licking/healing scenes involved throughout, which I consider a bonus. As far as characters go, I liked the introduction of Kyo's vassals -- it turned it into a reverse-harem comedy, and it revealed a bit of Kyo's true character and his history, which I think was sorely needed.

Deep thoughts: The harem comedy -- or the teenage boy surrounded by a bevy of beautiful girls, or bishojo -- is rather popular in Japanese anime and manga It often includes unnecessary panty-flashing fan service and titillating situations. Increasingly more popular is the reverse-harem comedy; it turns the tables and surrounds a girl with handsome young men. The most popular series of the sub-genre is undoubtably Ouran High School Host Club.

Artwork: Kanoko Sakurakoji knows how to draw handsome young men, unbearably cute tiny tengu and blushing cheeks aplenty. She's also got a hand for turning the usual shojo fare of floating flowers and sparkles towards a decidedly darker, more gothic (and fitting) theme with its blood spatters. There's also some mild groping and rape-like violence involving Misao that's appropriately disturbing.

The verdict: If only... This volume is an improvement, perhaps because Kyo's and Misao's interaction is less one-sided and forced. Revealing Kyo's motivations went a long way towards explaining his (still inexcusable) behavior. But, I still have other issues with this title, namely it's fragile heroine and her unhealthy relationship. Black Bird is available in the U.S. from Viz.

The Palette of 12 Secret Colors, vol. 6

The story: The island of Opal is home to tropical birds and magical craftsmen -- dubbed palettes -- who can manipulate colors. It's the end of the school year (and this series) and Cello must pass her final exams, or she'll be a third-year freshman! While Cello and Dr. Guell have admitted their feelings for one another, there's seemingly no movement on the romance front. But, when Cello learns some big news it disrupts her focus on school. Will Cello be able to pass her tests, or is her dream of becoming a palette doomed?

Reaction: Even though everything's out in the open, I'm rather uncomfortable about Cello's and Guell's relationship. And while I've considered that's probably due to my cultural bias, it still bugs me. However, there are more important issues at hand here -- like Cello's academic future. Cello's entirely too distracted to take her exams properly because of her feelings for the academy's doctor, illustrating the inappropriateness and inherent challenges in pursuing such a relationship at her age.

Deep thoughts: Throughout this series, Cello has shown an aptitude for using the secret colors to save the day. In the last chapter, she uses the secret colors -- this time a bright orange -- to save someone in danger. In many ways, colors can communicate as much as words. For example, red is a well-known symbol for emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks; it can mean "stop," or serve as an alert message within a spectrum of colors, like the American terror alert.

Artwork: Unfortunately, outside of its vibrant cover, there's no color used in this series. From day one, it's been one of the things that has held this series back artistically. For having created such an energetic setting in Opal, Nari Kusakawa lets it suffer with colorless monotony. A revisiting character returns in this volume, and he has an interesting "look" to say the least. In the end, a change in setting works remarkably better considering it's two-tone depiction.

The verdict: If only... The premise here has always promised so much -- innocent romance, color-manipulating magic, a tropical setting -- but it seemingly falls just a little short each time. In comparison to Kusakawa's other work, this story falls somewhere in the middle in terms of artistic skill, plot and theme. But, that doesn't necessarily make it an unlikable story, either. There's still great characters, beautiful backgrounds and comedy aplenty; it's just the "little things" that hold it back. The Palette of 12 Secret Colors is available in the U.S. from CMX.

MangaCast Review: Ooku: The Inner Chambers, vol. 2

I've posted my first review of the New Year on MangaCast, the source for manga news and reviews. This time around, I reviewed the second volume of Ooku: The Inner Chambers. Here's an excerpt:

In an alternate history of feudal-era Japan, a mysterious epidemic has hit the country’s male population. ... While this started as an AU history lesson, it slowly developed into a twisted love story. Yoshinaga’s set-up of the redface pox receives more political detail and shows its role in starting the female line of shoguns.

To read more of my review, click here. Ooku: The Inner Chambers is available in the U.S. from Viz.

Yotsuba&!, vol. 4

As noted in previous posts, this is a review of the ADV release of Yotsuba&! and not the newer release by Yen Press.

The story: It's summertime and the livin's easy for Yotsuba and her pals! From punishing games of rock, paper, scissors and summer fishing trips to a grocery-shopping trip and the pain of heartbreak, silly protagonist Yotsuba is squeezing every last drop of fun from her vacation. At volume's end, there's some breaking news and a major lesson learned when it comes to that signature summer pest, the cicada!

Reaction: What kid doesn't love summer? And if there's anything that exemplifies childhood, it's spending summer vacation goofing off with your friends. Of course, Yotsuba enjoys every last minute of her time with her new friends and I was happy to follow along. There were some great little moments here, my favorite being Yotsuba's roshambo with her dad, a shopping trip involving eggs and tomatoes "for kids" and the creation of the Yotsuba Times.

Deep thoughts: When it comes to humor, it doesn't always translate; what's funny to one group, might not be as funny to another (see: Jerry Lewis or puns). But, in advertising research, the kind of humor that does translate is unexpected humor, where a situation ends differently than what's expected. And that's something that you see in Yotsuba&! quite a bit. Whether it's Yotsuba saying or doing something unexpected for her age (like giving love advice to Fuka), it's a universal joke that anyone can relate to and doesn't require insider knowledge.

Artwork: There's a great visual play on words throughout this volume, involving tsuku-tsuko-boshi, or cicadas; and in another chapter, I really loved the competitiveness between Jumbo and Yotsuba's dad when they played badminton. But, the first opening pages of this volume are my favorite -- everyone's faces are so expressive as Jumbo watches Yotsuba and her dad play rock, paper, scissors. While much of it amounts to facial expressions resembling Japanese emoticons, there's also a smooth pace set along with perfect side-by-side panels showing "before and after." It's little things like this that make the reading this such a delight.

The verdict: Required reading. Another ab-fab volume from Kiyohiko Azuma! Yotsuba's earnestness, combined with the personality quirks of her father and others, makes for an entertaining, giggle-worthy diversion from the everyday. Yotsuba&! is available in the U.S. from Yen Press.

Real, vol. 2

In recognition of Takehiko Inoue's birthday today, I'm posting a review of the second volume of his basketball series, Real. Thanks to David Welsh of Manga Curmudgeon for the head's up!

The story: Nomiya and Togawa are two young men dealing with disability and a shared inability to play basketball as much as they'd like. After being beaten by an elite wheelchair player, Togawa is focused on rejoining his team, the Tigers. Unfortunately, his burned bridges may make that a tougher order than he expected. Sandwiched at volume's middle is the continuing saga of Nomiya's ex-teammate, Hisanobu, who was hit by a garbage truck and sustained a spinal injury, and whose road to rehabilitation is paved with denial. At volume's end, Togawa's past is revealed, including his life before his disability occurred.

Reaction: There are some purely painful moments to watch -- from Hisanobu's slow acceptance of his permanent paralysis to Togawa's rise and fall in sprinting, Takehiko Inoue has a true talent for relating heartbreaking scenes filled with palpable emotion. And then there is the intensity inherent in every panel -- I watched as someone hit rock bottom, while another felt himself rise to the top. But, this isn't drama for drama's sake, either; it serves a greater purpose in Inoue's hands. It's an illustration of the ways in which we're forced to live in the face of tragedy.

Deep thoughts: Togawa's leg amputation is due to osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. It most often occurs in the knees or upper arms, and most often strikes people between ages 10 and 19. Considering Togawa was in middle school when he was disagnosed, it was a prime time for him to develop this rare cancer. While amputation is an extreme form of tumor removal, it is quite effective.

Artwork: This volume, like the last, opens with color portraits of Nomiya and Togawa, and additional color pages are sprinkled between chapters. Inoue has an uncanny ability to capture subtle nuances of emotion, a simple quirk of the brow or squinting eye, can convey so much. This is especially important when there's no way to incorporate body language as the cast has varying levels of mobility. Perhaps showing his experience with action-oriented stories, Inoue's panel pacing and composition keep the reader steady while setting the appropriate tone.

The verdict: Required reading. Honestly, this is a poignant, amazing, yet humble, portrayal of the human spirit. With Inoue's vast skill apparent, this series moves as deftly from humor to tears as a ball smoothly dribbled across the court. These are troubled young men, with basketball their only hope of redemption. At times both startling and inspiring, I can't recommend this manga enough. Real is available in the U.S. from Viz.

Real, vol. 1

The story: Nomiya is just another teenage guy who loves basketball. But, after a nearly fatal motorcycle accident, he's kicked out of school and off the team, which is glad to let him go. While trying to find some purpose in his mistake-riddled life, he runs across Togawa, a guy just as passionate and intense about basketball as he is. Only, the stoic Togawa plays wheelchair basketball. Soon enough, the two team up to scam other b-ballers out of their cash by winning pick-up games against them. While they're pretty confident in their strategy, they come up against another wheelchair player who is the best Togawa's ever seen and promptly lose the game. Will Nomiya and Togawa be able to conquer their inner demons and find a way to play basketball fair and square?

Reaction: This is a really amazing story of two guys' love of basketball -- but the turmoil they each experience is what makes it more than just a story about basketball. Nomiya is wracked with guilt and, in some ways, is punishing himself by not playing ball at this story's beginning; Togawa has been living in a shell, but Nomiya is slowly picking away at it, forcing him to rejoin society. The short moments of growth shown here reveal a lot not only about the characters, but the type of mangaka Takehiko Inoue is; it's a subtly nuanced story with an emotional depth worth following.

Deep thoughts: This book reminded me of the 2005 documentary Murderball, about a wheelchair rugby team. There's the expected explanation of what happened to make the characters disabled, but these are by no means people or, as in this book, characters who feel sorry for themselves. The reason they play a sport is because they need to -- for as much as physical, as social and mental, reasons. There's a lot of frustration and anger, but there's also determination and toughness.

Artwork: Inoue's artwork here is more mature and developed than that seen in his other popular basketball manga series, Slam Dunk. There's a real grit and intensity throughout these pages, but there's also comedy. While Nomiya isn't a pretty boy by any means (in fact, he looks more lumbering and scary than anything else), there's a lot to laugh at when it comes to his hairstyle emulation of other ballers, like Kobe Bryant or Jason Kidd. The action here is well done, with intense game play and believable movement.

The verdict: Highly recommended. In recent years (and thanks to my husband), I've become a big basketball fan. While this series isn't so much about basketball as it is about the lives of two young men, I found it funny, touching, emotional and, well, real. The characters make this story worth reading while the love of basketball makes it easy to connect with. Real is available in the U.S. from Viz.

Yurara, vol. 3

The story: High schooler Yurara and her friends, Mei and Yako, can see spirits and have the spiritual powers to help the wayward ghosts pass on to the other side. After romantic confessions from both Mei and Yako, Yurara's all a tizzy when it comes to the men in her life. Does she like the goofy, perverted, yet secretly sweet Mei, or the seriously aloof and smart Yako? Regardless, she's determined to find out if it's her they really like, or just her beautiful guardian spirit. And, if things weren't complicated enough, her grandfather stops by for an unannounced visit, too!

Reaction: This volume was all about romantic entanglement and the confusion it brings. While Yurara's worries about who really loves her are unique in their supernatural origins, it's a question many girls and women ask themselves: does he like me for who I really am, or just superficial reasons like beauty? By doing so, it turns this story into a more easily relatable one, freaky ghosts notwithstanding! Meanwhile, there's some intriguing background provided on why Yurara has a guardian spirit in the first place, and the connection between the two.

Deep thoughts: Yurara's grandfather asks for curry when he first arrives at Yurara's home, and Mei suggests adding bananas to it. While adding bananas is certainly non-traditional, Japanese curry is still rather different from Indian curry, as is that of other Southeast Asian countries, like Thailand, where coconut milk is used. Introduced to Japan by the British Navy, Japanese curry is more of a stew mixed with a sweet, savory and spicy curry sauce served over rice.

Artwork: Since this volume focuses a lot on our comedic trio's romantic trials and tribulations, there's plenty of magically floating floral backgrounds. But, other than that, there's some really great comedic moments, like when Yurara's rival pelts her with tennis balls, or when Yurara's grandfather tries changing his appearance to look more hip. Unsurprisingly, there are also some slightly scary evil spirit moments.

The verdict: If only... While I can appreciate that there was a need to get this love triangle resolved quickly, I wish it hadn't taken so much of this volume. The subplot involving Yurara's guardian spirit and her grandfather was much more interesting to me and I would have loved to see more development on that front. Hopefully, the next volume will explore it more in depth! Yurara is available in the U.S. from Viz.

Mushishi, vol. 1

The story: In a world filled with mushi, or deadly unseen creatures that can wreak havoc on those around them, Ginko is a wandering mushishi, or mushi master. He heals those affected by the mushi, whether it's a young girl made blind by the mysterious mushi, or a man whose dreams -- and nightmares -- come true due to his contact with the primitive life forms. Other tales include a young artist whose drawings come to life, a boy who grows horns thanks to the mushi and a magical traveling swamp trying to reach the sea.

Reaction: This is a quietly mysterious story with an enigmatic protagonist in Ginko. Episodic in nature, like The Antique Gift Shop or Xxxholic, I found myself visually plodding alongside Ginko as he made his way across this fictional rendering of Japan. With the majority of the chapters involving children, it was easy for me to get emotionally invested. Despite this, Ginko never shows a flicker of feeling; the stories end as peacefully zen as the main character. There's a very que sera, sera, feeling to all this -- "what will be, will be" when it comes to the instinctually troublesome mushi. It's a very mature, yet wistful, way of looking at the uncontrollable events of life.

Deep thoughts: Ginko is frequently seen with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. I don't know what it says about his character, but, in recent years, it has been fairly rare to see a character smoking in film or on television, as it may influence others to smoke. However, this past holiday season, several new films were given the rating of "black lung" for featuring tobacco use by the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education. Additionally, while smoking in restaurants and bars is increasingly illegal due to public health concerns, it seems to be making a resurgence.

Artwork: The art here is similar to that in other seinen manga, with realistically rendered characters. Settings are lushly illustrated; there's a real sense of the rural countryside. The vast solitude of Ginko's travels is almost palpable, but it never feels uncomfortably lonely. But, the real visual treat here are Yuki Urushibara's fantastic images of the ethereal mushi and their many incarnations, from the innocent-looking to the incredibly dangerous.

The verdict: Highly recommended. Ginko is a character that invites interest because of the quiet, yet entirely self-assured, air about him. While each chapter here seemed to involve a lesson to be learned, it was by no means a bore to understand and, by volume's end, I found myself wanting more. Mushishi is available in the U.S. from Del Rey.

Dokebi Bride, vol. 1

The story: Since she was young, Sunbi's been able to see and communicate with dokebi, or Korean spirits and demons. Born into a shaman family, her estranged father left her with her grandmother years ago when her mother passes away from mysterious causes. When Sunbi's grandmother dies, she moves in with her father and his new family in the city. With no friends or family, her sole companion is her dog. How will Sunbi survive the loss of her grandmother?

Reaction: To say this manhwa is different from the more popular sunjeong titles for girls is an understatement, but a truism nonetheless. The story has few happy moments, with those shown tempered by the stark reality of Sunbi's life. While there were a few humorous bits, this story didn't entertain so much as it made me curious -- curious as to the life Sunbi's grandmother lived, why she kept so much a secret from her only granddaughter and how Sunbi will survive the loss of the one person who loved her. Perhaps it's the cultural differences, or something else, but I found myself wanting to learn more. Otherwise, this story jumps around a bit, making it initially hard to follow.

Deep thoughts: Like Japan, Koreans do not hold fast to one religious tradition. Instead, they blend together shamanism and other indigenous practices, with Christianity, Buddhism and Taoism. Much like other shaman traditions worldwide, Korea's indigenous practice has been in place for thousands of years. While it would seem that the practice would die in the modern world, there's still a demand for shamans to perform everything from personal rites to blessing new retail locations.

Artwork: The art here less resembles traditional manhwa art, but there's a larger sense of realism afoot akin to that seen in Japanese seinen, or comics made for a more mature audience. Characters have telling eyes that seemed odd to me at first, but I quickly got over it. While the people are drawn well enough, the highlight of this manhwa are the dokebi, especially the majestic dragon that Sunbi meets as a young girl. But, it isn't all beautiful mythical creatures -- from sea dokebis to the demons at the story's beginning, there is a hint of the macabre. At times, I was also reminded of the intense art from Parasyte.

The verdict: If only... I did find this title intriguing, but was initially put off by the jumping around in time. However, that won't stop me from picking up the second volume to see how it improves and how Sunbi fares. Dokebi Bride is available in the U.S. from Netcomics.