Heart of Manga

It's Moving Time----

2010-09-08T14:11:00.002-05:00

Since staring this site a little over a year ago, I've quickly outgrown it. I'm excited about the new look and location of my new site, and look forward to many more conversations there in the future.

All my followers can follow my rss feed or bookmark me at:
http://heartofmanga.com

Cheers!

Laura

Manga of the Month: Stepping on Roses Vol. 1&2 - Rinko Ueda

2010-08-08T21:37:00.004-05:00

♡ Fans of classic romance, this is the crossover manga for you!

Synopsis: Sumi Kitamura is a young girl of marriageable age, living in poverty during the Meji era. She runs a household of orphaned children brought home by her gambling brother, always promising he's going to make it big and needs the kids to run his future business. When her brother runs off to escape a loan shark and the landlady threatens to evict Sumi and the kids, she becomes desperate. She ventures to the red light district and offers herself for enough money to cover her brother's debt. There she is rescued by Soichiro Ashida, who promises she'll have all the money she needs if she will marry him. The catch - they are never to love one another. She quickly agrees, and finds herself thrown into a new world of refinement and a culture evolving towards western customs. Upper-class society demands she learn to read and write as well as practice the social graces of a lady. She is no longer allowed contact with the kids or her brother. When Soichiro introduces Sumi to a personal friend, Nozoma Ijuin, she discovers her secret prince who's generosity saved one of the children's lives when she was desperate for money. Sumi's affections for Ijuin are obvious, and Soichiro decides to play upon emotions to put himself at a corporate advantage. As Ijuin makes advances and Sumi learns more about Soichiro, she finds herself in an awkward position and her emotions become confused. Which man should she care for, and which one needs her the most?

Review: This series has all the trappings of a traditional historical romance. A pauper maiden rescued by a rich noble, marrying only for inheritance, but wait, we can't fall in love! The introduction of a love triangle is another cliché plot element. It's stereotypical romance roles, and the plot is somewhat predictable. Although, if I've come to the correct deduction, things are going to get mighty interesting when all character backgrounds are revealed.

Sumi Kitamura is portrayed as a very loving and self-sacrificing girl. She takes care of all those children and even decides to sell herself to keep the family together. However, once she is in the presence of Soichiro, Ueda turns her into a helpless maiden. By taking her out of her usual environment she's forced to rely on Soichiro, and Sumi acts more scared than determined. She falls for Ijuin, and lets Soichiro push her around. I guess it has to do with the time period, but I wish Sumi had more backbone and was a little saucier.

As for Soichiro Ashida, now there's an interesting guy. He buys a girl off the street and marries her so that he can gain his inheritance. He tries to match his wife with his childhood friend in order to ruin his reputation so that he has a corporate advantage. He harasses Sumi so that she won't like him, but then realizes that there are things he finds attractive in her. He's had a difficult childhood, and some trauma in his past. Ueda does a fine job making him desirable to the audience, even though he acts like a jerk. I find myself wanting to know a lot more about this young man and why he makes the choices he does. That would be the hook that Ueda uses to take hold of her readers - as well as the good looks. :)

The characters are drawn attractively, and Ueda has a vein for fashion design. Period clothing looks dashing! There is typical shojo toning with roses and sparkles used every few panels. I found an inconsistency with the cover art between volume 1 and 2. On Volume 1, Sumi has brown eyes, and on volume 2, she has blue eyes. Oops! I think I know why that happened. The colored art does look really nice, especially the hair. I'd like to see more of Ueda's colored pieces.
Panels flow well, and at a good pace. The English translation seems well done, but I did find an editing mistake in volume 1.

Overall, I highly recommend this series for shojo fans who like cliché romance, or historical pieces. The plot thickens after volume 2, and the series really is easy on the eyes. If you liked Black Bird, then you will most likely enjoy Stepping on Roses, too.

Romance Rating: Steamy - Soichiro does try to ravish Sumi in one scene, but only suggested nudity.

Media Status: Stepping on Roses is currently running in Margaret magazine in Japan. There are 2 volumes available in English from Viz media.

Dengeki Daisy Vol. 1 - Kyousuke Motomi

2010-08-02T03:00:00.003-05:00

Synopsis: A young high school girl loses her brother, her only living family member. She is given a cel-phone before his death and told that if she ever needs anything DAISY will be there for her. Now two years later, Teru Kurebayashi daringly faces up to high school bullies and ends up breaking school property. A poor scholarship student, Teru must work chores after school for the school janitor, Tasuku Kurosaki, in order to repay the debt. As Teru spends more time with the deliquent janitor, she begins to question DAISY's identity, and his uncanny ability to come to her rescue. Meanwhile, Kurosaki struggles to hold back his emotions as he strives to protect and harass Teru.

Review: The author states in a side bar that she almost named the book "Magical Daisy". Frustrated I demanded, "So then what is Dengeki?!!" After a quick stint on Google, I found the answer, and I realized it's the perfect title for this series. Dengeki means having to do with electricity, or being electric. So the translated title would be "Electric Daisy". That makes a lot of sense, seeing as the persona of DAISY comes from a cel phone.

There is a lot I could write about, but I'm not big on spoilers. I really loved the set up and development of the characters in this series. The mangaka plays on emotions really well. The interactions of Teru, Kurosaki, and DAISY really flesh out the roles of the characters and what may lie ahead. I'm most interested to see what becomes of Teru and DAISY.

I found the relationship that Teru has with DAISY very intriguing. She's never met that person, but trusts him or her. Although she's being harassed at school, she only asks DAISY for help when it's a friend that is in trouble. At one point her cel phone is stolen, and although she is delirious with fever, she is desperate to recover her only connection to DAISY. DAISY has been there to help her through her loneliness, and she relies on that connection.

Kurosaki, the janitor, is a charming character. He acts like a drinking, smoking, delinquent, but has another side that he tries to hide from Teru. When Teru gets in trouble, Kurosaki comes to her rescue armed for bear. He can't reveal his alternate identity, which puts him in some tight spots. He harasses Teru in hopes of irritating her, to keep his own feelings at bay.

The art has a nice mix of styles to fit the right mood. There are the scenes where Teru and Kurosaki are working after school and the characters are more cartoonish. Then it may come to a scene where there is strong emotion, and Motomi draws the characters more detailed and feathery. The paneling and layout flow smoothly, and the drawings are very attractive. It's really enjoyable to read.

If you prefer shojo, then you won't want to miss this new series from Viz. It won't disappoint. Great characters, interesting storyline, and attractive art. Best of all - it's a shojo that isn't cliché.

Romance Rating: Cuddly

Media Status: Dengeki Daisy vol. 1 is available in the states from Viz media. Volume 2 will be released October 5, 2010. The series is currently running in Betsucomi magazine in Japan.

Panic X Panic VS. Fairy Navigator Runa

2010-07-26T02:11:00.003-05:00

Magical Kiddos Unite! Looking for a new magical girl series, but not sure where to start? Del Rey has put out two new series that fall into this category and I've picked up both to see which one grants more wishes.

Panic X Panic

The Gist: A boy of western faith and a girl of eastern faith - rivals in their high school class, they seem to have a combined destiny to fight off evil demons that have been released through a broken gate in order to save the world.

Romance?: It looks like rivals who despise will become crushes in time. Fighting together will bring them closer. Each seems to need the other one's power.

Reminds me of: Cardcaptor Sakura - a boy and girl with their own powers overcoming evil together and falling for each other along the way.

The Art: I actually looked up the publication date, because the art in this series has a more retro look of earlier manga with small faces and big hair. Still, there are many action sequences that flow smoothly and typical busy shojo toning.

Intended audience - Rating says Teen 13+, and I'd imagine teens that are looking for action and romance would really enjoy this series. Gags and romance are aimed at actual teenagers.

Fairy Navigator Runa

The Gist: A young fourth grade girl discovers she's a hidden fairy princess that is destined to save her world.

Romance?: Already a love triangle in the works, one fairy boy tries to protect her, another mystery boy catches her love interest at first sight.

Reminds me of: Shugo Chara! - A girl discovering who she is and what power she holds, destined to save others.

The Art: This one wins hands down. Cleaner line art and toning. More attractive character designs. Judging by the cover art, Michiyo Kikuta has a softer style of cel shading than Mika Kawamura.

Intended audience - Rating says Teen 13+, but with the age of the protagonist, I think it would be appropriate for tweens too. Upper elementary girls would eat it up.

The Verdict

After reading both I do have a preference, and it's based on my feelings about characters. I think I'd rather read a story where the boy and girl are equals fighting together, than a girl trying to make up her mind which boy she loves, as she discovers her powers. It probably is influenced also by the age of the characters. But that's my personal bias.

Right now I think both series look promising, and if you enjoy this sub genre of mahō shōjo then by all means check them both out. However, if you happen to be on a tight budget and must choose just one then I hope some of the comparison above will help to make a decision.

In the meantime, our magical heroes must continue to save the world! ✩

Manhwa of the Month: Pig Bride Vol. 5 - KookHwa Huh / SuJin Kim

2010-07-19T14:06:00.008-05:00

Synopsis: Mu-Yeon returns after enrolling at Si-Joon's private high school. Although Si-Joon and Mu-Yeon accept their feelings and are ready for wedded bliss, now Mu-Yeon must pass approval of Si-Joon's grandfather. Mu-Yeon enters the Miss Beauty Pageant to the chagrin of Doe-Doe. Ji-Oh gets highly embarrased, and Doe-Doe's "mom" has finally gone too far. The ending of this five volume series is anything but predictable.

Review: You can tell the author of this series really enjoyed writing the characters, because she didn't want to stop. She told the story right up to the final pages and even ran out of room to do an epilogue. If I had been the editor, I would have told the author to condense the first three-quarters of the book into a smaller storyline, and then encouraged more post marital and epilogue storyline. I don't really think the audience needed Si-Joon's grandfather's approval or the entire process of the Miss Beauty Pageant. The only major plot resolution with the beauty pageant arch was the revelation of what was to become of Doe-Doe. However, I'm sure the artist was dying to draw the cute fashion designs that were needed for the beauty pageant scenes. One of my favorite scenes in this volume was the actual wedding. The traditional Korean garb of the bride and groom is drawn in detail, and the characters play their parts quite well.

Speaking of the artwork, this volume has some of the best color work I've seen from the series. The cover art of the two main characters looks really nice, even with Si-Joon's pink eyes and hair. I guess it's because Mu-Yeon looks so cute now without her mask! There's also a color insert of the four main characters, which kind of stunned me when I opened the book.

I really like this piece. Maybe it's because I'm partial to butterflies, but I think the close-ups in the four split frames that bleed into each other is some of the best portraiture I've seen by SuJin Kim. It really envelopes the personality of the characters.

Then there is this concluding image of the characters on the back of the book in chibi-form that is very endearing. A happy, sparkly wedding day image of the characters that hits on the fun side of their personalities.

Overall, this series was a fun read, and I'm so glad Yen Press chose to share it with us. It would be fun to see these characters have another adventure together. I think the author felt the same way too, and that's why she couldn't stop writing. In the back she writes a quick epilogue telling what happens 25 years from now. Also, there is a telling of how Mu-Yeon ended up with the mask of a pig. A fun piece of trivia for readers. If you like fantasy and romance with humor to boot, then there's no doubt you'll enjoy the story of Pig Bride.

Romance Rating: Cuddly - Even with all the threats of consummation, the author doesn't go there even after the wedding. Cute and sweet kisses during the wedding is all we get.

Media Status: - Pig Bride is available in English in five volumes from Yen Press.

Shinobi Life Vol. 5 - Shoko Conami

2010-06-24T00:48:00.001-05:00

Instead of a review per se, I wanted to do some creative writing. I can't recommend this series enough. It's great character chemistry, beautiful art, and a well developed story. I've re-read it three times already, and we're only at volume 5. Remembering important plot details requires that when there's so much time between releases, and it's such a confusing plot line. But don't let that dissuade you from enjoying the eye candy. Conami's Kagetora is one of my top 5 bishies at the moment. Fans of the series, enjoy. If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for?

Dear Beni-Sama,
How could you even ask Kagetora to go back to the past again? The poor guy knows he'll be a fugitive the rest of his life, yet he considers jumping into the portal anyway. Then you go and fall through and he gets left behind! Girl, you so need to think about the repercussions of your actions! Lucky you, you actually end up seeing Kagetora as a hormonal teen. Most of us would rather not share those years of our life with our lovers. But damn, if he isn't cute as hell. You make him fall in love with you all over again, poor guy. He doesn't stand a chance in the future. It's no wonder he hankered after Beni-Hime. Then poor 18 year old Kagetora is jumping through portals like a mad man, trying to find you. He looks like he's about to bite it. Stupid Iwatsuru even takes a dive to find your butt, and the whole time you're making googly eyes at little Kagetora. Woman, go find your real man, and get the heck out of there before you get killed!
-Elle Sensei

Dear Kagetora-kun,
Blessings upon you for being so diligent about your woman. I think Beni-sama is a lucky girl. You've had a hard life. No wonder you took a shine to the foreign lady who gazed upon you, an insignificant orphan, with tenderness and longing. She got you good, and is she ever making your life hell now. How many jumps have you made, man? You can't seem to find her no matter which time you jump to. Must have been a shock to see Beni-chan as an innocent child. Too bad her daddy wouldn't listen when you wanted to save her mama. Now you have to deal with wimpy Iwatsuru jumping through portals too. I hope you and Beni-sama don't break some time dimensional rule, and both vaporize. Maybe if you wait in the future, she'll come back on her own? Nah, that's too simple of a plot resolution. We're all hoping you get back to Beni soon!
-Elle Sensei

P.S. - If you want to give up on Beni-sama, then you can be my ninja bodyguard.

Manga of the Month: Library Wars Vol. 1 - Kiiro Yumi

2010-06-22T18:10:00.010-05:00

Library Wars was originally a light novel by Hiro Arikawa and has been turned into a couple of different manga. This series is based on the first light novel subtitled "Love and War", and ran in the publication LaLa in Japan.

Synopsis: Main heroine Iku Kasahara is a rookie trying out for the Library Defense Forces. In her timeline, there is an establishment called the Media Betterment Act enforced by the Media Betterment Committee (MBC), that gives the federal government the right to censor any Japanese media deemed harmful to its citizens. Local govenments opposed to this loss of free media, established library defense forces (LDF) that protect the MBC from raiding local libraries for censorship. Basically, the LDF is a military force to protect Japanese libraries. Iku was inspired to become an officer in high school, when a book she has long awaited is rescued by an LDF officer on her behalf. As the story opens we see her current attempts to make a name for herself in order to join the LDF. This opening volume shares the trials and tribulations that bring Kasahara into the LDF and the relationships that develop as she learns the ropes.

Review: I'm a total bibliophile, so I love the idea behind this series - a military to protect books. However, it is the characters that grab your attention, and they don't let go. Iku Kasahara is a strong heroine from the beginning. Her physical abilities make her stand out to her instructors, but it is her passion and stubborness that wins the hearts of the readers (and the male lead!). Then there's Atsushi Dojo, Iku's drill instructor. His condescending attitude annoys the heck out of Iku, but that makes her push herself harder. The chemistry between the characters is right on. Watching the emotional reactions of Iku and Dojo when Iku talks about her perseverance to join the LDF is priceless. And Iku is so clueless! I laughed out loud several times along with Dojo's team. Fellow recruit Corporal Tezuka's anger and hostility towards Iku causes frustration among the characters now, but it looks like a set up for a love triangle later on. Iku's roommate Asako Shibazaki is a well placed contrast to Iku's tomboyish nature. Her feminitity and flirtiness balance out the overabundance of masculinity, and her friendship is an asset for Iku.

Besides great character chemistry, the art in this series is highly enjoyable. I'd love to see some of the chapter headers in color. There are good action sequences, some superb emotional moments, and even comedic scenes that are all well laid out. The character designs are attractive, and Kiiro Yumi has a talent for conveying facial emotions with a few strokes in the right directions. I felt that the toning was done very well, with emphasis in the right places, and no distracting patterns. The English translation was so smooth, you'd think it was originally written that way. Even the sound effects were translated. Overall it was a pleasure to look at.

This is a manga that will definitely be in this year's best new series come December. If you like action and romance, or have a military fettish, you'll love these characters. It reminds me a bit of Full Metal Panic, with a cute, naive military guy and a strong, stubborn heroine. I can''t wait for the next volume. Highly recommend!

Romance Rating: Cuddly - I wonder if it will be "Mulder X Sculley" chemistry throughout the series?

Media Status: This story is based on four original light novels by Hiro Arikawa. Currently there are five tankobans of "Library Wars: Love and War" released in Japan. There was also an anime made that has 12 episodes.

Happily... Never Ever?

2010-05-20T18:30:00.013-05:00

With CMX pulling the plug, there are several shojo series that we here in the states may never see come to a conclusion. I have just really gotten into some of these titles in the past year, and am so disappointed we will never get the final volumes.

I am most disappointed by the loss of Apothecarius Argentum - There was only one more volume!!! I just wanted to read the ending due out in July!

Venus Cappriccio - This one was just getting really good with volume 3. We'll get volume 4 but then no more. Ughh!

Swan - A shame to lose such a classic shojo. This series still had six more volumes until the final.

Stolen Hearts - a new favorite of mine for 2010, and now there will only be 2 volumes.

Here's a link to the current line of CMX titles, some of which will never see the light of day here in the states.
*5/25 Update: DC already trashed the CMX site. So I re-linked ANN for a list of titles.

It's really disheartening that a major company like DC couldn't have done more for CMX. They published some really fantastic shojo titles - Emma, Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, From Eroica With Love, and Land of the Blindfolded to name a few.

That's why it's important to buy the books, fellow shojo manga lovers. That's all I'll say.

First Impressions: Knockout Makers 1, Pig Bride 4, Stolen Hearts 1

2010-05-09T14:01:00.010-05:00

Knockout Makers

If you are an avid feminist, then this title is not for you. This is a shallow series about how making a girl look her best will win the heart of the boy she loves. Not what I would want any teen girl to read, by far.

Stolen Hearts
A chemistry between two unlikely classmates develops from wearing kimonos. It's hard not to like the protagonists in this series, and watching their affection grow over a few chapters has that shojo "awww" factor. Definitely one of the best new shojo titles so far this year.

Pig Bride 4
The spell is broken, but the story is not over yet. Now it's Si-Joon's turn to seek out Mu Yeon, since he's come to terms with his feelings. I'm looking forward to the concluding volume in July.

First Impressions: Pink Innocent 1, ION, Rasetsu 4

2010-04-13T21:01:00.011-05:00

Not wanting to be verbose about it, I decided to come up with a way to give quick reviews that provide mostly first impressions. I hope to write more in depth reviews later. Here goes!

Pink Innocent 1

Rich girl falls for techy boy. They experience the joy and pain of dating. Cute and funny, may cause one to face palm.

ION
Arina Tanemura's first manga volume - one shot. Girl falls for geeky boy. She discovers her psychic powers and thinks this may be the reason boy likes her. A rival? Oh, no! No powers? Oh, no! Will he ever like her? Typical Tanemura style - interesting to see where she started. Recommended for fans of the mangaka or sci-fi buffs.

Rasetsu 4
The deadline gets closer. Kuryu realizes Rasetsu's feelings towards Yako and makes his move. Yow! Some risky action on Kuryu's part. Cliffhanger! What comes next? Shiomi does supernatural sizzle at its best!

So how is the short format? Hit a feedback button folks!

Venus Capriccio Vol.1&2 - Mai Nishikata

2010-03-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

Venus Capriccio was serialized in Hana to Yume magazine from 2006-2008. This is Mai Nishikata's first serialized work.

Synopsis: Takami Habara was raised in a family with four older brothers. So it's no surprise that along with her tall, attractive physique, she has a bluntly honest and outgoing personality. This is far from her ideal girly personality of a beautiful and demure princess. Her long time childhood friend, Akira Sasaki, has served that role in her mind; a talented pianist whose blond hair and blue eyes project a delicate beauty rivaled by any princess - except that Akira is a boy. Now teens, Akira decides to enlighten Takami about his own masculinity and sets out to prove which of them is really the "princess".

Review: While Venus Capriccio is Nishikata's first serialized story, I find many aspects of this piece nostalgic. I can easily refer Takami and Akira's story to other characters and events from popular shojo titles I've previously read. Strangely, this doesn't diminish the story. I find that Nishikata stuck with what appeals to a shojo audience and used it to her advantage. Unsure if her work would be serialized or not, Venus Capriccio starts out episodic in nature. This seems to be what works best since the two protagonists only have the piano school as a common setting. As the series continues though, there are longer story arcs as the couple spends more time together outside of piano school.

I find the gender reversal in this series entertaining. Takami, the female protagonist, plays the oblivious teen in this series, which is usually the role of the male. She is clueless to her own femininity and desirability. With four older brothers, she's used to being "one of the guys" and thinks of her relationship with Akira as having a cute younger brother. Akira, on the other hand, plays the more feminine role. He is declared the more beautiful of the pair. Even though he is the guy, he is the one frustrated by attempts to get his feelings of love across to clueless Takami. He gets jealous of other guys, tries to protect her, shows her she can be beautiful and attractive, and still Takami avoids the obvious presentations of his feelings. It's classic role reversal, and the personalities of Nishikata's characters pull it off fantastically.

The art in this series is very simplistic. I would say Nishikata uses conservative toning and coloring, when compared to other shojo works. The paneling and layouts tell the story well. I find the main characters attractive, drawn with expressive faces. My only complaint would be cover art layout and lettering, which would be the design of the publisher. The title lettering doesn't fit the series, especially when you see the original Japanese fonts.

Overall, Venus Capriccio is a fun and enjoyable read. I highly recommend it, especially if you like classical music or gender role reversal. I'll have more on volume 3 coming soon!

Romance Rating: Cuddly.

Media Status: Venus Capriccio is published here in the states by CMX. Volumes 1-3 are currently available.

Cactus's Secret Vol. 1 - Nana Haruta

2010-03-17T23:25:00.003-05:00

Synopsis: First year Miku Yamada has harbored a crush on classmate Kyohei Fujioka since middle school. After working hard for two years to remake her plain image, she scrounges enough courage to confess her feelings to the boy. Kyohei happens to be the oblivious type, and Miku's attempts to confess are misinterpretted by Kyohei time and again. Frustrated, Miku despairs if she'll ever get through to Kyohei. Although Kyohei eventually gets the message, he doesn't know how he really feels. In the meantime, it looks as if another classmate has his eye on Miku.

Review: I don't remember where I read the premise for this story, but I had it in my head that I was going to be seeing some magical, fantasy elements in this story. I thought that it was "Cactus's Secret" because the girl accidentally turned into a cactus a la "Fruits Basket" style. Don't ask where I got that idea, because that's obviously not the premise of this manga after reading it. It's called "Cactus's Secret" because the main protagonist Miku has a prickly personality and is harboring a secret love for her classmate Kyohei. Despite my misconceptions, I found Haruta's story to be entertaining, especially for a younger crowd.

There's nothing that makes this series stand out from other shojo mangas, and that makes it somewhat formulaic and clichéd. Girl likes boy, boy is oblivious, the two characters clash emotions, and to add more conflict, another love interest is introduced. The character designs seem cookie-cutter style cute girl and boy. No personality developments set them apart from other shojo protagonists.

That being said, I can see tween and teen girls really loving this series. The frustrations of the main protagonist Miku can easily be related to. Kyohei is a typical oblivious teen boy, and watching Miku try to get her message across to him shows her courage and determination. She never gives up, even when so many things are misunderstood, and she eventually gets an answer when Kyohei tells her he's not sure how he feels. The first volume ends with the introduction of a rival for Kyohei and a new love interest for Miku.

The art is decent with nice line drawings and toning. I found the paneling to be confusing in places when I couldn't tell if Miku was having a flashback or if it was actually happening in the present. Other readers may not have a problem. Overall the designs are attractive and fitting for the story.

I can recommend this series for a younger crowd, but I myself found it to be a forgettable read. Enjoy it for the moment and let it entertain you, but don't expect anything deep. It will make a great escape when you just want fluff.

Romance Rating: Cuddly.

Media Status: Cactus's Secret volume 1 is available from Viz Media. Volume 2 will be released in June 2010.

Manga of the Month: High School Debut 13 - Kazune Kawahara

2010-03-07T09:23:00.016-06:00

Synopsis: Yoh's graduation means it's time for this quirky couple to make commitments or part ways. Haruna struggles with her selfish desire for Yoh to stay local, or supporting him in his future studies that take him to Tokyo. Yoh realizes what it will mean to leave Haruna behind when she becomes the target of another boy's interest, and waffles with this important decision as well. In the meantime, Haruna meets Yoh's mom and leaves a lasting impression. Haruna's special graduation gift to Yoh is also very memorable, and Yoh feels strongly enough to respond. The volume concludes on a bittersweet moment, then comes full circle with a scene that will have readers in stitches.

Review: High School Debut has been a joyful ride, and volume 13 does not disappoint as the series comes to a close. Haruna's boisterous, outgoing personality continues to compliment Yoh's quiet, reserved one. The couple's strong emotions for one another surface when they realize that their school days together will shortly come to an end. At first, Haruna begs Yoh not to leave, knowing the separation will be sad and painful. When Yoh decides he'd rather stay with Haruna than leave her behind, she quickly realizes her error and encourages him to pursue his dreams for the future. Her strong resolve to support Yoh in his decision to attend college in Tokyo is difficult, but her enthusiasm and determination, so characteristic of Haruna, eventually put the couple's difficult decisions to rest.

Yoh shows some stronger emotions in this final volume when his feelings for Haruna are tested. Not wanting to leave Haruna behind, Yoh worries what may happen to her once he leaves. He gets a reality check when Haruna gets hit on while the gang is attending a skiing trip. We finally get some actual jealousy from him, and see his uncertainty of his hold over Haruna once he is gone. His emotional response to Haruna's graduation gift is very touching. Although mostly reserved, in this volume Yoh shows some passionate responses to Haruna's love for him that are tell-tale signs that he returns her feelings just as strongly.

Though there are many memorable scenes in this volume, my favorite has got to be the concluding one. I don't want to provide spoilers, so you'll have to check it out yourself. Kawahara does a fine job of bringing the plot full circle and providing a comical moment for what could have been a bittersweet ending. The artwork in this volume is as nicely paneled as always. Moving between a realistic style or more abstract forms, the main characters' actions play out in the right tone of comedy or seriousness. The toning is over the top in places, but not distracting and still fitting into what is typical for a shojo manga.

Of all the shojo manga I've read in the past couple of years, High School Debut is one of my favorite series to date. The series is full of comical as well as sentimental moments, and Haruna and Yoh's relationship is based on friendship and mutual respect. Volume 13 is a well thought out ending to the series and leaves readers satisfied that Haruna and Yoh will still be together far into the future. If you haven't delved into this series yet, I highly recommend you pick up volume 1.

Romance Rating: Cuddly - passionate kisses leave this series very teen appropriate.

Media Status: High School Debut Volumes 1-13 are available from Viz Media.

Yack Your Stack - March 2010

2010-03-01T06:31:00.001-06:00

With fewer reviews as of late, my TBR pile has not gotten any smaller. It seems I just keep adding more to the pile. Literally, I have a 2 foot stack of books on my bedside table, and another one on my dresser.

With my personal life interfering, I have not spent much time writing about books lately. I planned on participating in the Movable Manga Feast, and got through three-fourths of Sexy Voice and Robo. But with the stack of books I have, my interest got pulled in another direction. After seeing The Lightning Thief movie, I had to go back and read volume one of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series because the plot of the movie was so different than I remembered from the book. Despite getting side-tracked, I was able to finish Shinobi Life 4, Happy Cafe and the rest of the High School Debut series. Seeing as I picked volume 13 for Manga of the Month, that review will be forthcoming. I'm still withholding judgment on Happy Cafe until I see more.

So, the stack, or stacks as it is. There's a mix of genres at this time. I have next to pick up King of RPGs and am highly looking forward to that one. Also in the shonen category is Pandora Hearts. I've got to catch up with ongoing series like Vampire Knight 9, Kimi ni Todoke 3, We Were There 9, Rasetsu 4, and Skip Beat 20. I have a few newer series to explore like Basara, V.B. Rose 1-2, Cactus's Secret, Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei 1-5, Land of Silver Rain, With the Light 1-3, Hollow Fields Omnibus, and Natsume's Book of Friends. Then there are the series that I've started and just need to finish up to what's released like Ouran High School Host Club 10-13, Red River 25-28, D N Angel 3-13, Venus Capriccio 2-3, and LoveCom 10-15. And no, I still haven't tackled all of Suzuka.

As you can see I have plenty on my plate. I hope I can get some writing done soon. If there's something you'd like me to review, let me know. I may have already read it and just haven't done a write up. Plus, I'd like to know what books others are interested in reading. Just post in the comments. Arigato!

Black Bird Vol. 3 - Kanoko Sakurakoji

2010-02-02T05:00:00.004-06:00

Synopsis: In this third installment of the series, Misao Harada discovers that there will be consequences for becoming the bride of Kyo, head of the tengu clan. As a gift, Kyo gives Misao one of his primary feathers. This allows her freedom from the minor demons that usually plague her. However, it does not keep the other clan heads away, and kitsune heir Shuhei Kazunoha reappears along with the heirs to the shirohebi clan, Kensuke and Kiyo Dojoji. Kyo has his hands full dealing with the sly and scheming bunch, who tempt him with an offer to see the "Senka Roku"- a book documenting a successful bride taking by the kitsune clan. Misao's fears and doubts of leaving behind her family and friends make her hesitant to become the official bride, while Kyo patronizes himself over having to hurt Misao to make her his bride when he is suppose to be the one protecting her. The information in the Senka Roku would be quite valuable for both Misao and Kyo. Although, having read it, Kazunoha tells Kyo that if he really does love Misao he might not be able to follow through in the end.

Review: Birds, foxes, and snakes, oh my! Volume three of Sakurakoji's Black Bird brings the Japanese folklore to the forefront, with the tengu, kitsune, and shirohebi clans all fighting over Misao. Kyo's character has finally settled into the role of heroic protector with a blatant perverted side. I thought I might get through the volume without any corny sex jokes, but alas, half way through Misao overhears Kyo discussing the "nuka roku", a feat of sexual stamina, with one of his vassals. Sigh.

It was refreshing to see Misao get to act like a regular high school girl for a short span, once she receives Kyo's gift. Her position as demon bait has left her more or less dependent on Kyo's presence. At this point in he story, Misao has accepted Kyo as her protector and realizes that means becoming his wife. Her fears of being "swept away" from her family and friends are well grounded, as Kyo admits that he does not want to hurt Misao when he makes her his bride. The existence of the senka roku confirms that there is indeed some process that Misao must endure to become the tengu's wife.

The pace of this volume was smoother than the last. The action scenes moved the plot along quickly while the romantic encounters were fewer and more meaningful. Paneling and lettering make the story flow evenly enough, but the tonal patterns still look tacky in places. Surprisingly, while reading I came across one grammatical error that must have gotten past an editor. Most readers likely won't notice it when they're so involved in the story. It's easy enough to overlook all the faults when there are so many bishies (ie. hot demons!) staring you in the face.

Volume three ends on a rather climatic note, and leaves the audience speculating what the outcome may be. A rather amorous encounter could create more problems for the protagonists. While I may not be in love with this series at the moment, it still makes for an entertaining read. For now, Sakurakoji's recipe of violent action and spicy passion is the best substitute for a naughty romance novel in manga form.

Romance Rating: Steamy - he's gotten to second base.

Media Status: Black Bird 3 is currently available in English from Viz media. Volume 4 is slated to be released on May 4, 2010.

Manga of the Month: We Were There Vol. 8 - Yuki Obata

2010-01-30T09:58:00.015-06:00

Synopsis: With one year of high school left, Yano and Nana are making decisions that will greatly impact the future. Yano's mother has decided to get a divorce and move to Tokyo. Torn between going to Tokyo to care for his mother, or staying in Hokkaido to finish high school with Nana, Yano knows either decision will leave him with regrets. College choices only emphasize the uncertainty of the couple's future. Despite that, Nana and Yano's emotions still flow strongly. When Yano comes to a final decision, it only deepens Nana's devotion.

Review: Opening this volume, I began watching scenes from my high school days unfold before my very eyes. I've always wanted to write a story using the experiences I had with my first love. In We Were There volume 8, Yuki Obata has done it for me, and exceptionally well. She portrays the couple's indecisive agony of pending separation. The special secluded trip to spend those last precious moments together. Then there's the farewell scene on the train platform, where the boy leaves the girl full of hopeful devotion and grief at the same time. Obata has got the emotional naivety of young love nailed.

Excluding my own personal connections, this volume has some memorable moments of characterization. Motoharu Yano's growth in maturity shines as he struggles with difficult decisions. Should he leave for his last year of high school? He is forced to choose between his fragile mother, who needs caring for herself, or Nana, whom he loves and cares for deeply and fears losing. It's a no win situation, and either choice will leave him unhappy. How does he cope with the outcomes? In later scenes it becomes apparent how much he really does love Nana.

Masafumi Takeuchi, Yano's best friend who also pines for Nana, plays the responsible friend in this volume. Supporting both Yano and Nana at times, he's there to be the confidant and adviser. Going so far as to point out to Yano that it will be he, not Yano, that will be helping Nana study, and taking her for coffee, if he leaves. He even encourages Nana to tell Yano how she really feels; that she doesn't want him to leave. Of the two boys, it appears Takeuchi will be the one that remains stable in Nana's day to day life.

Nana Takahashi's reactions to events characterize the typical emotions of a 17 year old girl. Her indecisiveness about her feelings on Yano's decision to leave or not, along with her selfless devotion to Yano exemplifies young love. Her naivety on how events will come to pass, and her belief that their love will endure, perfectly personifies the heart of a teen girl in love. Even in the flash forward scene, where Nana is shown at age 21 in college, we see how such emotions linger through the passage of time. A fact that rings true for anyone who has ever parted while in love. The conclusion of the volume left me speculating what has happened in the time that passed. Even now, I'm still trying to imagine how volume 9 will unfold.

Artistically, We Were There volume 8 is a pleasure to read. Smooth pacing, balanced layouts, and stylized characters only add to the overall impact of the story. While the more serious moments are drawn in a more realistic style for effect, the day to day or lighter moments are drawn more abstract, or cartoonish. The English translation does not interfere with the story telling, and there are a few editor's notes included in the back for more obscure references.

We Were There is a slice of life shojo that treads the path of a more realistic look at relationships. Even with some typical cliches, the story feels fresh because Obata isn't afraid to address the awkward and even unhappier aspects of loving someone no matter his or her flaws. Though volumes 1-7 were deeply engaging, volume 8 left a deeper impression upon me since it paralleled some of my own personal experiences. It is because of this mangaka's ability to connect her characters with the audience, that this story has resonated with so many. I highly recommend this series.

Romance Rating: Steamy.

Media Status: We Were There is available in English from Viz media. Volume 9 will be released March 2, 2010. A 26 episode television anime was aired in Japan in 2006. The series known as Bokura ga Ita in Japanese, is currently serialized in Betsucomi magazine.

New York Times Best Seller Ending 1/16

2010-01-22T20:23:00.003-06:00

Read vampires much, America? Looks like Hino's series has found more new readers. Vampire Knight 1 has resurfaced on the bestseller list two years after its debut.

Vampire Knight 8

#7
Vampire Knight 1

Black Bird Vol. 2 - Kanoko Sakurakoji

2010-01-04T12:14:00.006-06:00

The other day while flipping through channels I came across a marine program that showed the mating process of octopi. I don't usually watch animal planet or anything like that, but I was so intrigued by the idea that I couldn't help but stop and watch as the narrator explained what was happening. When the commercial break occurred, it dawned on me what I just watched, and though now enlightened on the mating process of octopi, I was just as confused as why in the world I actually watched it.

That's kind of like my fascination with this new series by Sakurakoji. Although the characters in Black Bird 2 continue to push the envelope with sexual innuendos aplenty that make me cringe, I just can't help but be drawn in by the fantasy story elements. Volume 2 introduces a new cast of characters that includes the eight daitengu or tengu clan retainers, known fondly by Misao as the "Tengu Host Club" for their looks. With the new cast we get a new perception of Kyo, shown as more of a heroic and gentle leader, than the previous overbearing pervert. A new adversary arises when the daitengu arrive. Amongst the retainers is Shojo, Kyo's older brother and previous heir to the clan leadership. Once Misao learns about Shojo's interference with her past, she finally makes up her mind about her feelings for Kyo.

When it's obvious that the artist tries to make every other scene somewhat erotic, it does begin to get old quickly. There are some scenes and dialogue that I just had to roll my eyes at. What I realized as the plot reached a more serious point, was that the perverseness of the male protagonist is supposed to be a corny character trait. I guess in a josei manga I would not have blinked an eye. A guy in his twenties would say some of those perverted things flirtatiously, but his counterpart would usually be in her twenties also - not a teen in high school. That's what made those comments seem out of place to me. At least Misao responds by smacking him every time. As for the storyline, I found one transition a bit sudden in the plot line, when Misao goes missing. There is not much set up for that event. And although I complimented the artwork last time, I do have a gripe about the toning in this volume. The patterns chosen for the clothing are distasteful. In some scenes there were too many conflicting patterns in one layout.

Despite the more thorough analysis this time, the only reason I can fathom I'm still reading this series is that, at the heart of the storyline, it's about a boy who waited ten years to return to the girl he cares for. There's so many questions I have still unanswered. I'm hoping the cheesy sexual innuendos will calm down once the tension between the two protagonists is eased. Who knows how many volumes that may take. It could be at some point it will no longer intrigue me, and I'll move on and change the channel. In the meantime, I'm declaring this title only for hard core romance fans. Other casual readers beware.

New York Times Best Seller Ending 12/26

2010-01-02T10:17:00.002-06:00

Looks like Vampire Knight was on many Christmas lists this year. Volume 8 jumps back up a spot from last week and volume 7 returns for an encore.

Vampire Knight 8

#8
Vampire Knight 7

Best New Shojo of 2009

2010-01-01T12:59:00.019-06:00

One more "best of" list that focuses only on the shojo genre of 2009.

1. Kimi ni Todoke - Adorable and heartwarming, Kimi ni Todoke is a high school slice of life love story between Sawako, a shy, socially inept girl and Kazehaya, a kind, popular boy. Art style and paneling combine to accent the poignant moments in this story.

2. Black Bird - Spicy and naughty, Black Bird is the newest shojo guilty pleasure. The target of demons due to the power she holds, Misao can only accept the protection of her perverted childhood friend, Kyo, leader of a tengu clan and a demon himself. Does Kyo only want Misao for the power he can gain, or is there more behind his desire to possess her?

3. Rasetsu - Supernatural romance with beautiful artwork, Rasetsu continues the story of Yako Hoshino from Yurara. Cursed to find love before her 20th birthday or be taken away by a demon, Rasetsu works as an exorcist while looking for the right guy. Yako Hoshino with spiritual powers of his own, works as part of Rasetsu's team while pining for his lost love. Will he become the one who saves Rasetsu from her horrible fate?

4. Honey Hunt - Another girl becoming a celebrity title, Honey Hunt provides a love triangle between brothers. Yura's parents are both famous celebrities. When her parents divorce, Yura finds her first love with her mother. Furious, she decides to destroy her mother's image by becoming an actress. With the support of two brothers, she determines to make her way as a success.

5. Otomen - Otomen is the teen girl's fantasy male character that could be your best friend. Captain of the kendo team with excellent judo and karate skills, Asuka Masamune is considered the manliest guy on campus. He has worked hard to preserve his darkest secret. He loves cooking, sewing, the color pink, shojo manga, and plushies. However, once he meets outgoing Ryō Miyakozuka who has just transferred to Ginyuri Academy, his hobbies become more difficult to hide.

6. Venus Capriccio - Playing with the idea of role reversal, Venus Capriccio tells the story of tall and athletic Takami Habara who has a bluntly honest and outgoing personality. This is far from her ideal girly personality of a beautiful and demure princess. Her long time childhood friend, Akira Sasaki, has served that role in her mind; a talented pianist whose blond hair and blue eyes project a delicate beauty rivaled by any princess - except that Akira is a boy. Now teens, Akira decides to enlighten Takami about his own masculinity and sets out to prove which of them is really the "princess".

7. Name of the Flower - Serious and sentimental, Name of the Flower tells the story of a young girl Chouko, taken in by a distant relative when her parents suddenly pass away. The relative Kei, a young novelist, relates to the girl's grief and watches her as she begins to live again. In his latest novel "Hana", his deepest feelings are expressed. Will Chouko reach Kei and help him find happiness?

8. Maid-Sama! - A fun romp, Maid-Sama! centers around Misaki Ayuzaka, president of the student council at her recently all boys turned co-ed high school. Working hard to keep the school in high reputation to increase the girl population, she is considered a tyrant by the boys. Since her father left her family Misaki must work part time after school at a maid cafe. When one boy finds out her secret she expects to be belittled at school. Instead he keeps the secret. What could his motive be?

****************************************************************************

The following titles I would have included except the first book was released in November 2008.

Shinobi Life - A time-traveling romance, Shinobi Life brings together an orphaned ninja from history and a modern day rich girl. Kagetora believes himself to be protecting his princess Beni-Hime, and modern day Beni, who has already been the subject of numerous kidnappings, thinks he's a bodyguard hired by her rich father. When both realize the time difference, Kagetora's feelings get confused, because he realizes he is now developing emotions for the new Beni, and poor Beni just wants Kagetora to love her for herself and not think of her as Beni-Hime.

We Were There - Serious and depressing, We Were There focuses on a boy's grief and angst at his first love who dies in an accident, and the girl who tries to love him. Yano cares for Takahashi Nanami but has numerous issues with jealousy and trust. Takahashi loves Yano, but until he can heal himself, there is only so much she can give him to provide happiness. A realistic look at a relationship and how emotions linger in one's heart.

Shojo New Year Scene

2009-12-31T07:00:00.000-06:00

What is the most memorable new year's scene in a shojo manga? A few come to my mind, but I wondered what every one else out there could think of. Post it in the comments and let's see if we can come up with a pretty good list. Domo arigato!

Memorable Manga Moments - M³: Shinobi Life

2009-12-22T06:05:00.001-06:00

Anyone need a laugh today? Recently I was going back through Shinobi Life as I reviewed the third volume. I remembered that the first volume had some humorous moments and this was one of the best.

To put things in context, the ninja Kagetora has just time traveled through a few centuries to the present time. He thinks that the girl here, Beni, is actually his beloved princess from history. Beni thinks that Kagetora was hired by her father as a body guard.

Shinobi Life Vol. 1 Ch. 2

When Beni wakes up the first morning after Kagetora arrives in the present, she finds him hanging above her bed guarding her. She freaks out when she discovers that Kagetora is always guarding her secretly, even when she's changing. (Duh - He is a ninja!) When Kagetora notices Beni's weird attire, he tries to remove her loin cloth. Pfft! Leave it to a ninja to get off a girl's thong without removing her clothes!

New York Times Best Seller Ending 12/12

2009-12-19T09:50:00.002-06:00

What do you know! D N Angel 13 moves up the list, and Vampire Knight 8 continues to maintain the #2 spot.

Vampire Knight 8

#7
D N Angel 13

Pig Bride Vol. 3 - KookHwa Huh / SuJin Kim

2009-12-12T16:20:00.006-06:00

Synopsis: Starting right where the story last ended, volume three opens with Doe-Doe getting hold of Mu-Yeon's pig mask. Greedy Doe-Doe now in possession of the mask, decides to try it on herself and suffers the consequences. Meanwhile, Si-Joon and friends are out searching for Mu-Yeon and Doe-Doe. Once Doe-Doe is found, Si-Joon must decide whether or not to give the mask back to Mu-Yeon. The next morning Si-Joon's friend Ji-Oh brings it to his attention that he may have some tender feelings towards Mu-Yeon. In complete denial, Si-Joon continues to fuss about Doe-Doe. A flash back shows Si-Joon and Mu-Yeon from their previous lives. When Mu-Yeon's main nemesis, Ki Ryong, shows up dressed as Mu-Yeon, she tries to seduce Si-Joon into her arms. Si-Joon is then left to decide what his true feelings for Mu-Yeon really are. The volume ends once again with a cliffhanger. Ji-Oh has been kidnapped!

Review: Ah! Finally we get to know why Mu-Yeon wears her mask! At the beginning of the book we see the consequences if someone sees Mu-Yeon's face. Then later on in flashbacks, we learn about the curse of the mask and what Mu-Yeon's goal is now at this point in time. The flash backs are integral to the plot of the story, and my favorite one of this volume was one we have seen before. The very first volume of this series begins with the flashback of when Si-Joon met Mu-Yeon for the first time. At eight years old he gets lost, little Mu-Yeon finds him, and he is tricked into marrying her. Now in volume three, we see that flashback again, yet from Mu-Yeon's point of view. Even at eight years old she recognizes Si-Joon from her past life, and already loves him. It's very sweet.

Si-Joon himself has started to come around to his feelings for Mu-Yeon in this volume. Even though he could demand that Mu Yeon show him her face when she loses her mask, he sympathizes with her, and offers it back. We also see him ask her for protection when the place they are staying at loses electricity. Although he denies any affection for her, he becomes jealous when Mu-Yeon praises Ji-Oh and asks for help in studying. He tells Ji-Oh to go to the hospital to see Doe-Doe, because he doesn't want to leave Ji-Oh and Mu-Yeon alone together. Another time he wakes from a dream of Mu-Yeon being attacked in his past life, and the first thing he does is find Mu-Yeon and embrace her. Until he comes fully awake, and then he shoves her away. His ever conflicting emotions make him weak to whatever attacks the antagonist has planned.

Speaking of the evil one, previously we've had hints and glimpses of Mu-Yeon's nemesis, but now in volume three we see her in action. Aiming to keep Mu-Yeon and Si-Joon apart, she has come to fulfill her historical role of assassinating Si-Joon. Attempts on his life have been occurring since volume one. The shockingly beautiful temptress now takes it upon herself to intervene, trying to also keep Mu-Yeon from breaking her curse.

The humor in this volume really steps it up a notch. In my opinion the raccoon steals the show. He's just randomly there, but keeps on playing a role that either saves the day, or gives you fits of laughter. Then there's poor Doe-Doe. If you weren't sure about Doe-Doe before, it becomes apparent now that her character really is there for comic relief. When she tries on Mu-Yeon's mask, she is struck by lightning. They then show in a news broadcast her strawberry panties that have a hole through the butt, and her drooling face with fried hair. Later on we discover that because of the lightning strike, Doe-Doe has become magnetized and anything metal is attracted to her. Which becomes quite comical at one point. Eventually she becomes so embarrassed that she starts wearing a paper bag over her head. If you ever wanted to watch the spoiled brat get her just deserts, then this series does a fine job of it.

As I've said in previous reviews, the color art is not that fantastic, but it's the layout and paneling as well as the clean line art and toning that carry this imaginative plot. Pig Bride is enjoyable to read and keeps me giggling through out each volume. If a series can do that, then I'll keep coming back for more. If you're looking for something sweet, light-hearted, and humorous then I highly recommend you give this series a try.

Romance Rating: Steamy - Not that there are any passionate scenes happening in this story, but Si-Joon does walk in on Mu-Yeon while changing clothes or bathing more than once, so there's some implied nudity. Then there's the insistence every volume that the couple consummate the marriage by Mu-Yeon.

Media Status: Pig Bride volume 3 is available in English from Yen Press. You can find the most recent chapters in the Yen Plus publication. Volume four will be available April 2010.

New York Times Best Seller Ending 12/5

2009-12-11T20:52:00.004-06:00

Vampire Knight 8 hangs on the the #2 spot while D N Angel 13 pops in to the bottom ranks.

Vampire Knight 8

#9
D N Angel 13

Shinobi Life Vol. 3 - Shoko Conami

2009-12-07T17:05:00.006-06:00

Synopsis: Beginning with Kagetora's kidnapping by fellow time-traveling ninja Hitaki for Beni's arranged fiance Iwatsuru, volume three jumps right into the story. By bargaining to become Iwatsuru's girl, Beni is able to save Kagetora from torture. Feigning happiness to protect Kagetora, Beni suffers in silence. Her self-doubts about Kagetora's feelings for her, and a blunder by Kagetora himself, push Beni to believe that Kagetora really still loves his first princess, Beni-Hime.

Meanwhile Iwatsuru seeks Beni's attention in order to discover for his father how Beni's mother had the ability to predict the future. When Iwatsuru tries to force his affection on Beni, he despises himself and realizes that he has truly fallen for Beni, despite what his father desires.

Ashamed that he can't protect her, and burning with jealousy at Iwatsuru's affections towards Beni, Kagetora lashes at out Beni in anger when he discovers she has been protecting him all this time. Depressed and disheartened, Beni escapes her father's confinement only to fall down a well on her own property. When Kagetora finds her, sparks ignite as the two act on what really lies in their hearts.

Review: Shoko Conami continues the journey of her star-crossed lovers in this third installment of the series. Filled with pages of high strung emotions, this volume focuses on Beni's depth of feelings for Kagetora, and the complications from her newly announced engagement. The passionate sentiments displayed by Beni, Kagetora, and Iwatsuru reveal how their perceptions of each other have evolved. Beni wears her heart upon her sleeve, and even when confronted by Iwatsuru to love him, she points out that she can't make her heart love him (especially when she already loves someone else!). Iwatsuru really wants Beni to be happy, and struggles with his own inability to provide that for her. Kagetora finally acts upon his rage and jealousy, showing Beni how he truly feels towards her. While some may be turned off by the soap-operatic feel of this series, others will be engrossed by the romance and angst at the heart of the story.

Though there are usually more action sequences in Shinobi Life, volume three focuses on character development using dialogue scenes. That may sound boring, but Conami pulls it off with her talent of expression. Key plot elements are revealed through these conversations, and the character dynamics play a large role in story development. Through her feathery drawings and fervent dialogue, emotions flow off the page so effortlessly that you can't help but empathize with the main characters.

With such emotional content, the toning greatly impacts the mood of the scene. A strength of this particular series is that along with well chosen panels, contrasts in toning help focus in on the character actions and expressions. Add to that the attractive character designs, and the pages really are easy on the eyes.

A word of caution, though. Without previous knowledge from the first 2 volumes, readers will be lost trying to fathom the story starting at volume 3. The plot would be confusing not knowing the back story of Beni-Hime and Kagetora. Plus, the time traveling aspect would need to be better explained. Begin at volume one if this story piques your interest.

Romance Rating: Steamy - Heart-breaking sacrifice and intense kissing scenes spice up this volume. This time-traveling drama will captivate audiences that enjoy adventure along with an epic romance.

Media Status: Serialized in Princess magazine since 2006, Shinobi Life is being released by Tokyopop here in the states. Volume 3 was released November 10, 2009.

New York Times Best Seller Ending 11/28

2009-12-04T18:38:00.005-06:00

Vampire Knight 8 falls to number two. Other shojo titles are slowly receding as newer manga volumes debut.

#2
Vampire Knight 8

#6
Ouran High School Host Club 13

#9
Black Bird 2

Vampire Knight 8 - Interrupted

2009-12-01T22:35:00.004-06:00

So after waiting a couple weeks to dive into my copy of Vampire Knight 8, I got a rather disappointing surprise. My copy happens to be a misprint. I know these things can happen, but I wondered if it was just my particular copy or if it happened to a whole batch. There are about four pages that look like the one below:

I know Viz would happily replace the book, but what is the best way to go about it? Do I return it to the book store, or try to somehow contact Viz for a new copy? Anyone had this experience before?

New York Times Best Seller Ending 11/7

2009-11-14T15:15:00.006-06:00

Saw this one coming. Vampire Knight 8 at the top of the list after one week. Ouran High School Host Club 13 debuting towards the top as well with Black Bird 2 following closely behind.

#1
Vampire Knight 8

#4
Ouran High School Host Club 13

#5
Black Bird 2

Yack Your Stack - November 2009

2009-11-10T21:02:00.003-06:00

It's been awhile since I last reported what was in my TBR pile. I'll also include some of those that I just finished, say within the past week. Seems like the size of the pile doesn't change much, no matter how much I read!

Some series I just read through include Kieli 1&2 -manga version, Apothecarius Argentum 1-3, Yurara 1-5, Rasetsu 1-2, Kimi ni Todoke 2, Skip Beat! 19, Nightschool 1 &2, and Ghost Hunt 10.

I really got into Apothecarius Argentum and am waiting on the rest of the books to be shipped at this point. (Told you I'd get hooked, Lorena!) I also recently became a Chika Shiomi fan. (Thanks to your reviews a few months ago, Kate.) I still love Skip Beat! and Kimi ni Todoke. I first saw Nightschool in Yen Plus, then I discovered Dramacon. Needless to say, I became a Chmakova fan. Nightschool has a very promising beginning. Ghost Hunt got on my radar from the anime, and now I want to know the rest of the story. Finally, Kieli is a series I researched for paranormal, but there's not much romance in the manga.

What's left in my pile? I still haven't picked up the rest of Suzuka 3-12. I'm kind of stuck with that series since I watched the anime. I read somewhere that there is more to the story than what was animated, so I just need to get past that point. I'm waiting on the rest of Apothecarius Argentum 4-8, and those will be the moved to the top of the pile. The rest of the pile consists of volume one of Name of the Flower, Black Bird 2, Vampire Knight 8, We Were There 1, Red River 24-27, Shakugan no Shana light novels 1 & 2, and Black Jack vols. 7-8.

I could add more, but we'll save that for another time. Note that I don't always write reviews for everything I read, but you can see what I'm reading currently on the shelfari widget. I try to keep that up to date daily. In the meantime, I think I'll go tackle some of that pile. :)

Creepy + Chemistry = Supernatural Shojo

2009-10-28T21:15:00.002-05:00

As the crisp cool evenings settle in, it's time to curl up with some spine-tingling, bone-chilling tales of the supernatural to set the mood for the coming season. For a shojo fan, those haunted horrors are even better when they involve memorable characters with romantic chemistry. If you're in the mood for something spooky and spicy, consider delving into some of the series below.

If terror like Ringu is what you enjoy, then try out The Reading Club by Cho Ju-Hee and Suh Yun-Young. A manhwa that combines gory horror and romance, The Reading Club revolves around a cursed book that leads its readers into gruesome circumstances. The couples include a high school student that decides she's going to keep her crush from being destroyed by the book, and local coroner and cop that have a flirtatious relationship. Chilling artwork adds to the eerie quality of this recent series. ♥♥♥

Not into all the gore? You might prefer a tamer series like Ghost Hunt written by Fuyumi Ono and drawn by Shiho Inada. This paranormal series combines elements of mystery, suspense, and supernatural events that build a relationship between a spunky, not so average high school girl and a handsome, narcissistic seventeen year old genius. With a quirky cast consisting of high school students, psychics, a monk, a shinto shrine maiden, a Catholic priest, and a medium, Ghost Hunt provides plenty of characters to involve in romantic entanglements. Creepy cases and the hope of further developments between the lead characters keep readers coming back for more. ♥♥♥

Like the paranormal without all the darkness? A series like Yurara or Rasetsu by Chika Shiomi may be just what you'd enjoy. Yurara precedes Rasetsu in storyline, but both can be read independently with no problem. Stories with more chemistry than horror, these series follow attractive heroines with strong spiritual powers supported by a couple of hunky guys with their own rightful abilities. Their desire to help lost spirits leads them to finding love in the process. With all the beauties to look at, you'll never get tired of viewing these paranormal romances. ♥♥♥♥

Speaking of beauties, let's not forget the vampires! If you like it dark and dramatic then be sure to dig into Vampire Knight by Matsuri Hino. Set at a boarding school for humans and vampires, main character Yuki seeks her forgotten memories. In her search she encounters Zero and Kaname, both set on protecting Yuki from whatever dangers she must face. ♥♥♥♥♥
If you prefer comedy over drama, then you need to check out Chibi Vampire (aka. Karin) by Yuna Kagesaki. A shojo that makes fun of its own genre at times, this series approaches vampire lore from a unique angle. Karin just can't fit in as a human or a vampire. Unlike most vampires, Karin doesn't suck. She instead overproduces the amount of blood in her body and must inject it into someone at least once a month. That is, until she meets Kenta, and her system goes off kilter. Just being in Kenta's presence causes Karin the urge to inject others with blood - and she can't get away from seeing him, as they're in the same class and work at the same establishment. Kagesaki's sense of irony lends itself to some great comedic moments. ♥♥♥

So, as costumed critters scamper about these coming eves, consider meeting some colorful characters yourself. Whether you're in the mood to laugh or scream, supernatural shojo manga's got you covered.

New York Times Best Seller Ending 10/17/09

2009-10-23T19:51:00.007-05:00

New York Times Manga Best Seller List for the week ending October 17th includes three shojo titles. Here are the week's shojo rankings:

#4
Chibi Vampire 14

#5
Vampire Kisses:
Blood Relatives 3#7

Skip Beat 19

New York Times Best Seller Ending 10/10/09

2009-10-17T11:07:00.008-05:00

New York Times Manga Best Seller List for the week ending October 10th includes five shojo titles. Here are the week's shojo rankings.

#3
Chibi Vampire 14

Vampire Kisses, Blood Relatives 3#6
Skip Beat 19

#8

Shugo Chara! 7

#9
Wild Ones 8

Shōjo Sensei - The Kotatsu

2009-10-14T23:00:00.001-05:00

In the culture of Japan you'll find an interesting piece of furniture that many a manga have built warm or humorous scenes around. The kotatsu is a table that is about the height of an English coffee table, and is meant to be sat around on the floor. The table has a blanket draped around all four sides and underneath it is an electric heating element. Since Japanese houses tend to be less insulated, often the kotatsu is used as a main heat source during cold winter months.

I first saw a kotatsu in an anime, but throughout my reading journeys, I've come across many manga that also have memorable events around a kotatsu. For example, in Nodame Cantabile, there's an entire chapter where the students do not want to leave the warmth of the kotatsu to throw away trash or even get food. The kotatsu is brought into Chiaki's western style apartment by Nodame. After spending several days enthralled by the warmth of the kotatsu, Chiaki realizes his normally neat apartment has become completely trashed. That's when he takes the kotatsu out to the curb, in hopes of getting rid of it and Nodame from his apartment. Humorously, Nodame finds the kotatsu on the way home from class and brings it back up to the apartment claiming that now Chiaki can have his own kotatsu too!

How about building a kotatsu by hand? Heroine Sunako Nakahara from The Wallflower takes it upon herself to build a kotatsu for the mansion when Kyouhei comments that it would be nice to eat naba around a kotatsu with family. Her skills lead to a giant kotatsu that she tries to carry home herself. Ironically, Kyouhei finds the giant kotatsu on his way home from the market and underneath is Sunako, crushed in the snow. He carries the kotatsu to the mansion. Shortly after that the rest of the guys at the mansion find them collapsed out on the front lawn. After warming up they all eat naba around the kotatsu together.

Would you like some fan service with your kotatsu? In Love Hina, Keitaro has to suddenly hide when he's studying with Naru in her girls-only dorm room. He ducks under the kotatsu only to end up in an akward situation. Dizzy from the heat and unable to see without his glasses, Naru gets an embarrassing surprise from Keitaro!

Even with all the anime and manga inspired sentiments, kotatsu are rare outside of Japan. When you find one online, there's the added cost of international shipping. However, thanks to the simple design, they are not that difficult to build. If you want to experience the warmth of a Japanese kotatsu this coming winter season, you just need the right materials and a little bit of elbow grease.

Have any fond memories of a kotatsu moment? Tell us in the comments!

Boys Over Flowers - Yoko Kamio

2009-10-12T04:09:00.008-05:00

Yoko Kamio’s shojo series Hana Yori Dango, translated as Boys Over Flowers, ran in Japanese publication Margaret from October 1992 to September 2003. In 1996 it won the Shogakukan Manga Award in the shojo category. It’s still the all time best selling shojo series in Japan.

Synopsis: The series begins with high school student Makino Tsukushi trying to blend in at the elite Eitoku Academy. Since the academy is the choice school of wealthy and high society families, Tsukushi does not relate well with many of the students being from a family that is very poor. It is her strong sense of justice that catches the attention of the F4, or Flower Four, the four wealthiest and most beautiful boys on campus. Headed up by Tsukasa Domyoji, the heir to the large and successful Domyoji Corporation, the group also includes Rui Hanazawa, Akira Mimasaka, and Sojiro Nishikado. When Tsukushi becomes the target of the F4’s harassment, she clashes wills with Tsukasa Domyoji. Tsukasa becomes infatuated with Tsukushi because she is one of the first girls who doesn’t fawn over him for his money. During the course of the series, Tsukushi develops feeling for Rui Hanazawa, Tsukasa’s best friend. However, she learns that Rui is trying to overcome his feelings for another girl and does not reciprocate Tsukushi's feelings at the opportune time. Meanwhile Tsukasa continues to pursue Tsukushi, and as Tsukushi notices the changes in Tsukasa’s personality for her own benefit, she begins to develop feelings for him too. These two angsty teenagers from opposite backgrounds must overcome numerous obstacles to unite their ever-diverging lives.

Review: My expectations for Boys Over Flowers were not set up to disappoint. I honestly approached it like I would any other series I start reading. I didn’t know it was the best selling shojo title in Japan until I started doing my research. I can only fathom that it earned this title because the target audience devoured it, and it ran for sooo long. Admittedly, I, too, was engrossed by the clashing characters - at first. It was not until I was asked to do a review of the epilogue volume, though, that I seriously sat down to analyze the plot. That’s because the ending of this series was such a puny finale for a decade’s worth of emotionally invested readers.

Main character Tsukushi Makino is a strong and determined girl that like her name “weed” continues to thrive despite a pitiful environment. Her character alone holds this series together as it struggles to an anti-climactic ending. Although Tsukasa does eventually become a decent guy, the amount of torture he puts Tsukushi through in this series left me dumbfounded as to how she could continue to love him. I found Rui Hanazawa to be a better match for Tsukushi, since he understands her better and supported her more throughout the story. If only Kamio had paired them together there at the beginning of the story, it would have saved me from this excruciating drama that is Boys Over Flowers.

Despite the uncertain emotions, the evolution of Tsukasa and Tsukushi’s relationship is slow enough that it is possible to believe her feelings could change towards him. Yet just when you think the two will finally be together, Kamio writes another crux that pulls the two apart. Lather, rinse, repeat. It makes me wonder if Kamio’s editors were telling her to find ways to drag out the story. Every shojo plot twist you could think up, Kamio probably tried to implement it. I’d finally had it when Tsukushi decided to be with Tsukasa after denying her feelings for so long, and Kamio writes Tsukasa to have amnesia and forget who she is. What the heck?! From there the story goes downhill.

As for a happily ever after to Tsukushi and Tsukasa’s relationship, that’s up for debate. There is a wedding in the final volume, Jewelry Box, but it’s not for the main couple. Although there is promise of a future relationship, Kamio leaves no lasting assurance that Tuskushi and Tsukasa do have a good life together, and for such a long-running and emotional series, it’s just unacceptable. I feel sorry for all the people who spent a decade reading this series. I can only imagine the amount of hate mail that Yoko Kamio received from irate fans.

The only redeeming quality of this series is the artwork. Kamio has a good grasp of paneling and toning. It’s interesting to see the evolution of styles throughout the decade on her characters. I found Tsukasa Domyoji’s character design to be the most interesting because of his hair. He reminds me a famous boy band member from the late 1980s. Kamio does backgrounds and settings well, too. From seashores to cityscapes, she has a good sense of perspective.

As for this series as a whole, unless you absolutely want to torture yourself and wind up disappointed at the end, stay away from Boys Over Flowers. It’s not worth the time or emotional investment.

Romance Rating: Steamy - There are two bedroom scenes in this series. One is between supporting cast members, and though there is little nudity it is evident what's happening. The second scene happens between our main couple. There's implied nudity, and just when you think the two love birds are going to get intimate, Kamio writes it out of the plot. More irate fans!

Media Status: Boys Over Flowers is available from Viz Media in 36 volumes. The epilogue volume is translated as Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box. A Hana Yori Dango anime series of 51 episodes was produced by Toei Animation in 1996. The manga series also spawned five television show productions occurring in the countries of Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. In 2008 Hana Yori Dango Final was released in theaters in Japan. It was the best selling DVD for 2008 in Japan.

Shojo Vampires Unite!

2009-10-11T09:16:00.006-05:00

New York Times Manga Best Seller List for the week ending October 3rd includes three shojo vampire titles. Here are the week's shojo rankings.

#1
Chibi Vampire 14

Vampire Kisses, Blood Relatives 3#7

Shugo Chara! 7

#10
Vampire Knight 7

Guest Review at The Manga Critic

2009-10-04T22:14:00.005-05:00

Katherine Dacey over at The Manga Critic graciously offered me a guest review of Viz's latest release of Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box, available October 13, 2009. You can read the review and check out all of the rest of her great features at The Manga Critic. Thanks again, Katherine!

As mentioned in my review, I ended up reading the entire series of Boys Over Flowers. Look forward to that review coming up soon here at Heart of Manga!

Vampire Knight - Matsuri Hino

2009-09-26T21:11:00.011-05:00

Vampire Knight by Matsuri Hino began in 2005 and currently runs in LaLa magazine in Japan. This is Hino's third work to be translated into English.

Synopsis: Yuki Cross is a guardian at Cross Academy, a boarding school that is operating to prove that the human and vampire races can peacefully coexist. Yuki is part of the Day Class, the group of students that attend classes during daylight hours. But once the sun sets, the Night Class arrives, and Yuki is responsible for patrolling the grounds to keep the day class students in their dorms. Yuki has lived at Cross Academy for the past ten years. She has forgotten what her life was before that time. Her very first memories are of being attacked by a vampire out in the snow, and being rescued by another vampire. That kind and gentle vampire who came to her rescue is head of the Night Class, Kaname Kuran. Kaname leads the Night Class because of his social status as a pureblood vampire. He has always watched out for Yuki since rescuing her as a child, and she cares for him fondly for that reason. Yet there is another boy that holds a place in Yuki’s heart, someone whom she has tried to support since he came to the academy four years ago. The son of vampire hunters, Zero Kiryuu is believed to be the lone survivor of his family that was attacked and killed by a pureblood vampire. He was brought to Cross Academy and given into the care of the headmaster. Now a guardian of Cross Academy alongside Yuki, Zero fights against his eventual fate of becoming the very thing he was born to hunt. As events unfold, Yuki stands beside Zero in his struggles, while seeking the mystery of her own past. Behind the scenes, Kaname Kuran uses his power to manipulate people and events to meet his own agenda. When matters at Cross Academy become dire, Yuki must choose what path to walk as she retakes her memories and moves forward toward the future.

Review: What I thought would be a high school teen love triangle with gothic flare, turns out to be much, much more than I could have imagined at the beginning. This story has the stereotypical shojo plot devices, like a love triangle, the hunky mysterious savior, and the beautiful boys so dazzling to behold. However, Hino has put so much development into the plot and characters that the story of Vampire Knight has gone beyond the confines of a typical shojo romance. What may seem like insignificant details at the beginning of the story, end up becoming major plot elements that Hino incorporates to add more depth and complexity to the story. I can’t even imagine what her character notes must look like.

As for the characters, Yuki Cross starts out as a mediocre heroine. She has admirable qualities of strength and determination, yet her indecisive emotions make her annoying at times. What Yuki lacks, Hino more than makes up for by surrounding her with strong and intricate characters like Zero Kiryuu and Kaname Kuran. Most fans of the manga are split into two camps, each supporting the pairing of one of these two boys with Yuki. Zero quickly wins the admiration of some readers with his determination to overcome his difficult situation and his willingness to sacrifice himself to protect Yuki. Kaname’s obsessive protection of Yuki as well as his expression of love for her equally wins over the other set of readers. Which one is the vampire knight? That has yet to be answered, and girls are still debating it in forums everywhere.

So how does Vampire Knight break the shojo mold? The underlying plot elements of political intrigue, revenge, and racism provide material for a much deeper storyline than your typical shojo love story. The social-political world of the vampires, which we only see a micro-example of at Cross Academy in the beginning, takes hold of these characters and throws the little love story into a quagmire of issues that end up solely focused on the vampire world. It seems like the story might have taken Hino-sensei by surprise in its development, since she intended to write a high school vampire love story, and now the story has gone beyond the high school setting. If the story isn’t exciting enough, then the art will captivate you even more. The gothic designs are darkly attractive, and the panels keep just the right pacing, be it an action sequence or a love scene. Striking characters adorn every page, with great expression and anatomy. The toning and backgrounds add to the moody quality of this gothic setting.

Is Vampire Knight a story for you? If you like goth, vampires, or romance that’s a no brainer. Go pick it up now. However, don’t disregard it if that’s not on your list of favorites. With the storytelling talent of Matsuri Hino, this one may yet be the next tragic love story of the modern century.

Romance Rating: Steamy - Hino makes blood sucking look more erotic than making love. There are enough heart aching and tender moments to satisfy any romance fan.

Media Status: Vampire Knight is available in 7 volumes from Viz Media here in the states. Volume 8 is due out November 3, 2009. So far there have been 11 volumes released in Japan, but the series is still ongoing. There have been 2 drama CDs released in Japan, as well as a 26 episode anime produced by Studio Deen. There are 2 Japanese published light novels jointly written by Hino that are side stories within the Vampire Knight universe. Vampire Knight even got a dating simulation DS game released in Japan, January 2009.

Memorable Manga Moments - M³: Lovely Complex "Love Sick"

2009-09-23T21:23:00.005-05:00

Due to the weather and allergies, I've spent the past week trying to get well. I know that it's that time of year when colds and flu start raging. This got me thinking about shojo manga and how there always seems to be at least one cliché sick scene in almost every slice of life series I've read. Of all the ones I could remember, this one stood out the most because it was just so funny.

Volume 6 Chapter 21

In this scene, Risa has come to visit Otani since he has been home sick from school. Ever since Risa confessed that she loved him, Otani has been unwilling to accept her feelings. Right before this scene, he admits that he doesn't even want to make a move on her, even though they're alone in his bedroom. Sad and disheartened, Risa attempts to seduce him anyway, and leans in to kiss him. Delirious with fever, Otani at that point passes out. Pftt! Nakahara chose such a humorous way to commemorate the akward couple's first kiss. Otani doesn't even remember it! Poor Risa!

New York Times Best Seller August 30- September 5

2009-09-11T21:33:00.008-05:00

Shojo is still selling well with popular titles. Fruits Basket 23 has been on the chart now for 10 weeks and continues to sell!
#2

#6
#9

#10

Memorable Manga Moments - M³: Dramacon

2009-09-10T20:58:00.006-05:00

I have to preface this by saying that it took me for-ever! to pick just one memorable moment from this series. There were many great little moments that stuck in my mind weeks after reading it. I ended up with this one because it was the turning point of the first volume and wasn't a really big spoiler.

This week's is from Chmakova's Dramacon series.
Volume 1 Chapter 5

To set this up a little, main character and comic writer Christie is at her first con with her loser artist boyfriend and a couple of chaperons. Within the first few hours at the con, Christie runs into Matt and the chemistry sparks. Back at the hotel that evening said boyfriend gets jealous and becomes a mean drunk. When Christie flees the room, she ends up at Matt's door having no where else to go. Matt just holds her while she cries. You can't finish this volume without really liking Matt as a character. He's a sensitive guy with a smart mouth and a sharp wit. This particular scene shows his sensitive, protective side. I loved the ending chapter art as well. Chmakova's series is full of little memorable moments like this one.

Back to School Shojo Manga

2009-09-06T14:18:00.014-05:00

It's that time of year again here in the states. With summer time escapades come and gone, students are back to classes and learning new subjects at schools all over the country. In recognition of this annual ritual, I'd like to highlight some of our reader's favorite school mangas.

Last month I ran a poll asking for everyone's favorite shojo/josei manga in a school setting. Excited with the amount of response, I'd like to thank everyone who voted. Unquestionably, the most favored title is Bisco Hatori's Ouran High School Host Club. Not surprising considering the amount of bishies covering the pages of this elaborate private high school story. I personally haven't read the entire series, just a few volumes, but it's in my to be read pile to be reviewed at a later date. With that confessed, I can still say that it's understandable why fans are so drawn to this series. Hatori's characters are memorable at the very least, and fans readily have their favorites. The school itself is such a posh environment that it doesn't even compare to an average high school experience. Then you have the heroine, who is so unconcerned with her appearance that she doesn't care if others mistake her as a boy. That goes against the stereotype of all the affluent girls that do attend the school. Which leads us to the host club which, really, what high school in Japan would even allow that as an extra-curricular club? The fantasy of Ouran High School is such a buy in for fans that girls just eat it up. Who wouldn't want to be Haruhi, surrounded by cute or hot guys all the time that secretly adore you? The humor in the series is often gut busting, and then there's the more serious ongoing storyline of Haruhi and her relationships with and among the boys. If you haven't given this series a read yet, then you may want to give it a try. Underneath all the laughter and frills is a simple story that warms the heart.

Another read you might want to pick up if you haven't already is After School Nightmar e. This also was a fan favorite for a school manga. I have done a formal review of this title and highly recommend it. An interesting cast of characters along with a mind boggling premise, After School Nightmare keeps readers guessing down to the last few pages. The high school that Ichijo attends along with his classmates has an interesting after school class. There the students sleep, and in their dreams they must compete to find a key that will open the door and allow them to graduate. Only the dreams are more like nightmares, since everyone's true personae are revealed and many of their forms are terrifyingly distorted. Add the fact that you must destroy your classmate in order to find the key inside them, and you have a very disturbed group of teenagers vengefully trying to graduate this class. Then what happens once you graduate? Well, that's the whole secret of the story my friends, and I'm not one for spoilers. So go grab the first volume and get started. You'll be so absorbed by the art and the story, you'll have to read this series twice!

If comedy and horror are not your thing, then you might enjoy a more typical, slice of life shojo like Kimi ni Todoke. With it's recent popular release, it has captured the hearts of many devout shojo fans, including myself. Although we only have the first volume here in the states, the second one will be released next month in October 2009. Most fans are eagerly waiting to see just what happens next between Sawako and Kazehaya. In the same class their first year of high school, Sawako respects Kazehaya for always being friendly and pleasant to her. That's despite the rest of her classmate's fears that Sawako has the power to curse them or see ghosts. Stigmatized with the name "Sadako" from Ringu, quiet, shy Sawako has a hard time making friends. That is, until sweet, popular Kazehaya takes notice and extends her his friendship. With Kazehaya's encouragement, Sawako endeavors to make more friends and eventually succeeds. Truly thankful and honored by Kazehaya's help, Sawako expresses her deepest respect. Though Kazehaya is touched, he obviously yearns for more than Sawako's respect. To see this endearing relationship blossom, you'll have to pick up the latest copies from Viz.

Other titles that were voted highly include CLAMP's Cardcaptor Sakura, Umino's Honey and Clover (coming out in anime this month!), Minami's Special A, Kanno's Otomen, and Kawahara's High School Debut. So now that it's time to be hitting the books again, be sure that you've picked up some enjoyable reads as well. There's no setting like school that can bring so many memorable or lovable characters together in one place.

Writing in the Wee Hours...

2009-08-29T21:07:00.004-05:00

I have to say that this past week has been exhausting. I've gone back to work after being a stay at home mom for the past two years, and I'd forgotten how much time my career eats up. Now with a toddler in tow, it is even more frazzling and my personal time has been whittled down to almost nil. I'm so tired from my first week back at work that my brain is slush and even if I tried to write it would be junk. My writing time is now allotted to the couple of hours I have in the evening once I put my son to bed (recently I can't even think straight then), or when he is asleep on the weekend. That is why there have been fewer posts of late, and hardly any this week. I am still reading and even had a series all completed in order to write the review this weekend, but I had some things for work to get done that took precedence over my writing time. So it will most likely be delayed another week, until I get rejuvenated and adjust to the new routine. Bear with me until then, and know that I will be back - I'm just taking a week off to recuperate. Read some good shojo this week and let me know what you absolutely loved. Arigato!

Black Bird Vol. 1 - Kanoko Sakurakoji

2009-08-22T20:06:00.019-05:00

Serialized in Betsucomi magazine since 2007, Black Bird received the 2009 Shogakukan Manga Award in the shojo category. Previewed in the final issue of Shojo Beat (July '09), volume 1 was released in August in the states.

Synopsis: Misao Harada is quickly approaching her 16th birthday. Burdened with the ability to see the spirit world, she has always been plagued by pestering spirits and wishes only to have a normal high school life. As her 16th birthday arrives, she finds herself attacked by demons. When her long lost childhood crush, Kyo, comes to her rescue, she discovers that she is the legendary bride of prophecy - a human whose blood gives power to the demon clan that claims her. Without adequate protection, Misao's life is constantly in danger from blood seeking demons. Only a very powerful demon can keep the others at bay, and to Misao's horror, Kyo has come back to claim her as his bride. Refusing to marry a demon yet unable to protect herself, Misao has no choice but to accept Kyo's attentions. Yet she struggles to overcome her childhood emotions. Does her demonic childhood love just want her for the power he can gain, or are there other reasons behind his desire to possess her?

Review: A bodice ripper, smut, trashy...these are all terms I've seen used to describe this recent manga series. Typical literary criticisms for a series that follows a traditional formula for a romance story. And it does follow the formula, from a victim type heroine being forced into the arms of a strong protector, to sensual scenes of seduction, to proposals of marriage...it's all there in the first volume.

Sakurakoji uses interesting Japanese legends as plot elements, and spices it up with sexual tension and character development. Misao's fate as the bride of prophecy puts her in a difficult position. While some may see her as weak-willed, she is more of a victim of circumstance, never being informed of her situation and therefore unable to prepare herself for what is to come. She tries to be strong, but things are beyond her control and she is overwhelmed. Her childhood feelings for Kyo muddle her emotions, yet she still refuses to become the bride of a demon. Kyo is a typical dominant male personality. We see glimpses of his sweet demeanor as a child, but it is his arrogant attitude and confidence that he exudes at Misao now. When he is not trying to save or heal Misao, his too forward actions cross the line with what could only be considered as sexual harassment. He knows Misao is left with very little choice as to his protection, and in fact he is determined to be her only protector. An action that hints that his feelings may be more genuine than Misao realizes.

Within this first volume, Sakurakoji uses attack after attack to emphasize the true danger Misao is in, and to heat up the sexual tension between Misao and Kyo. Every time Misao is attacked, Kyo comes to her rescue and always ends up providing healing using his saliva. That's where all the naughty scenes come into play, with Kyo having to lick Misao's wounds to make her well. Since Misao is attacked every chapter, Kyo is healing her every chapter, so the first volume is made up mostly of scenes that are either action or sensual.

That being the case, Sakurakoji does both types of scenes well. The action sequences are drawn fluently making good use of speed lines and chosen imagery for panel transitions, leaving no confusion as to what is taking place. The more sensual scenes make effective use of toning to convey the intimate mood. Misao is drawn to be pretty or attractive, not an average looking protagonist. The male characters are all designed to look attractive, with the demons being the main bishonen.

If you are a part of the crowd that doesn't like romance novels and finds them sub-par literature, then you probably won't like Black Bird. However, if you're a fan of the genre and enjoy those steamy moments thrown in with an intriguing plot line, then you'll most likely be pining for the next volume as soon as it's available.

Romance Rating: Steamy - Plenty of sexual tension and suggestive imagery to satisfy the most devout romance fan.

Media Status: Black Bird volume 1 is available in English from Viz Media now. Volume 2 is due out in October 2009, and volume 3 in February 2010. As of May 2009, 8 volumes have been released in Japan, but the story is still running in Betsucomi.

New York Times Best Seller August 9-15

2009-08-21T18:51:00.005-05:00

Vampire Knight 7 stays at number one for a second week, Fruits Basket 23 remains in the top five for the seventh week in a row, D N Angel 12 moves up a spot, Black Bird 1 moves up three places, and Otomen 3 drops to ninth place.

Memorable Manga Moments - M³: Please Save My Earth

2009-08-19T19:24:00.008-05:00

This week's is from Saki Hiwatari's Please Save My Earth

Volume 11, pages 24-29

Right before this scene, Mokuren and Shion went through something very traumatic which should have destroyed their relationship. However, to Shion's surprise, their relationship is not over. Shion claims "I'm not the man for you" even while he confesses that all he's wanted is the love of another human being. And Mokuren sees in Shion what she has been looking for her whole life - somebody who sees her as a person. Then there is a flash-forward in time to Shion during his time of insanity at Mokuren's tomb.

This moment stands out because there is so much happening in these six pages. It is told from Shion's viewpoint, but later we see Mokuren's viewpoint. That makes this moment even more poignant in the second reading because we know what Shion does not. It is ironic that, as Mokuren is talking about how people keep searching for big things when what they want are the small things before them, Shion is doing just that - he is focusing so hard on his pessimism that he does not see that Mokuren is offering what he has always secretly yearned for - love. It is only in the flash-forward that he appreciates Mokuren. And yet, rather than being angry at himself, knowing that she loved him brings him calm.

I feel like I cannot express adequately what makes this scene so moving. It depends so much on understanding the characters of Mokuren and Shion. This feels like a moment which could only happen between these two, and that this is happening between real people. There have been times when I failed to recognize the truth before me because I was caught in my emotional defenses. Mokuren's forgiveness is far stronger than her rage ever could be, just as Shion's peace at Mokuren's tomb is more moving than his hatred. This is one of my very favorite moments in Please Save My Earth, and that is saying a lot.

This week's Memorable Manga Moment was brought to you by

♥ Sara K. ♥ =D>

Thanks, Sara, for sharing this very moving moment with us, and a great big high-five from me on the writing! Well done! \:D/

Manga of the Month: Kimi ni Todoke vol. 1 - Karuho Shiina

2009-08-16T19:22:00.003-05:00

Kimi ni Todoke is currently serialized in Bessatsu Margaret since 2006. In 2008 it won the Kodansha Manga Award for best shojo manga. With such an accolade, it's no surprise that this series has been highly anticipated here in the states. After reading the first chapter preview before the end of Shojo Beat, I know myself and others were eagerly awaiting volume 1. That's why this book was voted "Manga of the Month" for August 2009.

Synopsis: Sawako Kuronuma is a shy, socially inept girl who since elementary school has been called "Sadako" after the character from the Japanese movie Ringu (The Ring in English). With long black hair and a quiet nature, she has been stigmatized as being able to see ghosts and cause curses, making her peers wary of her. Only one classmate seems immune to the rumors. Shota Kazehaya remembers meeting Sawako the first day of high school. Lost on his way to school, Sawako points him in the right direction and leaves a lasting impression upon Kazehaya. Kazehaya is part of the popular crowd, well liked by his classmates. When he extends his friendship to Sawako despite the fears of their classmates, it encourages Sawako's efforts to overcome the class's misconceptions of her and form other friendships. Though Sawako admires Kazehaya's kindness and expresses her deepest respect for him, he on the other hand has a genuine romantic interest in Sawako. As Sawako acclimates to her new social world, a sweet affection has blossomed between Kazehaya and Sawako that hints at a deeper love to come.

Review: Honestly, I haven't enjoyed a high school manga this much since I first read High School Debut over a year ago. That makes this difficult to review, seeing as I am so partial to it. I'll do my best to be objective, but no promises.

The strength of this story lies within the character development. The amount of growth in Sawako's character in just the first volume speaks of a story enriched by the characters themselves, in addition to the events of the plot. Sawako's struggles are not too far from what many teens actually experience in regards to peers' perceptions and rumors. That makes her character easy to relate to and empathize with, since most have endured the role of social outcast in some form at one point or another. Kazehaya's character seems too good to be true. The popular boy falling for the social outcast? A female teen fantasy come to life if I've ever seen one. Yet Shiina reveals his faults to the audience, making him less of a fantasy and more realistic, if not very believable. Still, his actions are endearing the way he stands up for Sawako, and it's hard as a girl to not like him. A gentlemanly protector - heck yes, we all want him to exist! - even if it's not the norm. As well as the personalities, it's the shared moments between the two characters of Sawako and Kazehaya that show Shiina's talent as a writer and artist. From chosen panels to portraying the character expressions, the art reinforces the wealth of development in both plot and characters. The contrast in styles from Sawako's chibi form, to the standard character designs, to the detailed feathery textures in the more emotional scenes, provides a sense of balance and really gives more depth to the story. I'm really looking forward to reading this series as a whole. From what I've read it only gets better, and it will be a delight to see where the journey of these two characters takes them.

Romance Rating: Cuddly - Sweet affection and friendship start off this relationship.

Media Status: Kimi ni Todoke is available in English in one volume from Viz Media. Volume 2 will be in stores October 6, 2009. As of November 2008, there are 8 volumes in Japanese. An anime adaptation is currently underway by Production I.G. and is announced to be out this fall 2009 in Japan.

New York Times Best Seller August 2-8

2009-08-14T18:46:00.006-05:00

Vampire Knight 7 hits number one with a strong showing of other shojo titles in the top ten.

#7
#9
#10

Blogger Requests Your Favorite Manga Memories

2009-08-12T21:08:00.005-05:00

REQUEST! Submissions for Memorable Manga Moments!

I have a great time choosing favorite moments myself, but I admit that my personal library is somewhat limited. I would like to share some touching or funny moments that other readers besides myself remember. It's a great way to introduce others to your favorite titles as well.

Click on the button in the side bar (or below) and fill out the form. No personal data is collected and forms go straight to my inbox. Make up a kooky code name if you want. :) Submissions will be considered as received. So have fun, be witty, and tell us what you find memorable in your favorite shojo mangas!

Pig Bride Vol. 2 - KookHwa Huh / SuJin Kim

2009-08-09T23:49:00.012-05:00

Pig Bride is a Korean manhwa currently serialized in Yen Plus magazine.

Synopsis: When cute and conniving Doe-Doe Eun arrives to visit Si-Joon Lee at his home, she is possessed by an evil snake spirit determined to harm Si-Joon. A new character is introduced and the source of the evil spirits comes to light. After reviving Doe-Doe, Mu-Yeon Park passes out and Si-Joon must lift the mask to give her CPR. It is at this time he has a flashback and some history between the souls of Mu-Yeon and Si-Joon is revealed. Si-Joon's psyche has begun to acknowledge the significance of Mu-Yeon, however he continues to yell accusations of blame at her for everything that goes wrong. Despite this, Mu-Yeon uses her own knowledge and powers to protect and and take care of Si-Joon and his friends, including Doe-Doe. When Doe-Doe determines that Mu-Yeon is Si-Joon's fiance, she conspires to get rid of the girl once and for all. With Doe-Doe in custody of Mu-Yeon's mask, the volume concludes with a cliff hanger, and it looks like the spoiled brat is in for an ugly surprise.

Review: With more action and character development, volume 2 is much more entertaining than the first. From fighting evil spirits to fortune telling, Mu-Yeon's enigmatic aura continues to remain the centerpiece of the storyline. This volume reveals the existence of a powerful physical rival for Mu-Yeon. Thus, the supernatural elements from the first volume begin to take shape and make more sense. Si-Joon is still his passionate, oblivious self. I still want to knock some sense into him for how he acts towards Doe-Doe and Mu-Yeon. However, with recent events he is evolving to become more aware of the connection between himself and Mu-Yeon. As one event quickly leads to another the plot of this volume spirals to a cliffhanger, an effective if annoying device cleverly used by the author. The art in this volume looks attractive. The panels transition smoothly, even in the action sequences. The scenes are nicely balanced with clean line art and dynamic toning to suit the mood of the story. Overall, this story has readily captured my attention and the wait for volume three will try my patience. A cliffhanger? Really?!

Romance Rating: Cuddly - Some questionable kissing, possessive affection, and heart aching attraction heat up the romantic action in this volume.

Media Status: Pig Bride is available in two volumes from Yen Press, with volume three being released in December 2009. You can read the most current chapters in Yen Plus magazine.

New York Times Best Seller July 27-August 2

2009-08-07T20:17:00.003-05:00

Although Fruits Basket 23 moves down a spot, Vampire Knight 7 and D N Angel 12 come on strong with early release copies.

#2
#4

#7

Unforgettable Manga Beginnings

2009-08-06T19:45:00.003-05:00

In one of my more reflective moments I began thinking back to which manga series I've read that had the best "hook". This would be an image or content within the first chapter that roped me into the story and made me HAVE to read it. For me, it usually starts with an image, since I'm more of a visual person.

One of the most striking images in recent memory comes out of Setona Mizushiro's After School Nightmare. As I flip through the first few colored pages, the bright red blood on a pale tile floor catches my eye. Scanning down, the next panel shows main character Ichijo (male) standing gangly and nude in the shower from the waist up. Finally my eyes come to rest on the last panel of his feet, blood running into the drain. Now some of you are probably thinking "ewww...", but the idea of a boy menstruating in the shower was a shocking enough image to make me start wondering where in the world the author was taking this character. I had to know more. After reading the whole series it was a fantastic journey, and I'm so glad I read it. I may not have ever bought the first novel if it hadn't been for Mizushiro's dramatic and shocking imagery.

But it's not always just an image. Sometimes it's the characters and the actions that occur that demand my attention. Now, normally I'm not really big on fan service. I can do without it. Yet for some reason Mizuki Kawashita's introductory scene of Strawberry 100% stands out as quite memorable. Maybe because it was a unique character introduction, or perhaps just the absurdity of the situation itself. But after main character Junpei is flashed by a pretty girl in strawberry panties on the roof of the school at sunset, my interest in the characters was piqued. Who is this clumsy girl? What happens to the guy who wants to get the panty shot in the sunset on video? (Future porno director?) Kawashita's tale doesn't disappoint, and of course there are many more funny fan service scenes that provide comic relief through out this series, but it is the characters that drive the story. That vivid presentation of the protagonists (with the white strawberry panties) still sticks in my mind.
There are many more that I could describe. Fruits Basket, anyone? How about High School Debut? After coming up with some memorable ones for myself, I wondered what images or content in stories sucked in other readers. So tell me, what jumps out in your mind as a story that has an unforgettable "hook" ?

Memorable Manga Moments - M³: Kimi ni Todoke

2009-08-05T18:35:00.008-05:00

This week's is from Karuho Shiina's Kimi ni Todoke

Volume 1 Chapter 3

In this scene Kazehaya is attempting to send Sawako a note during class. Having never received a note in class before, she doesn't consider it's for her and tries to pass it on to one of the gang around her. Kazehaya already embarrassed, retrieves the note with some commotion and this time writes her name on it. Even when she sees it, she is surprised and still verifies with him that the note is for her. He smiles and confirms that it is. I think it's moments like the one pictured above that have drawn so many shojo fans into this story. It's the little things between shy Sawako and sweet Kazehaya that make them so endearing.

The Devil Does Exist - Mitsuba Takanashi

2009-08-01T20:25:00.013-05:00

The Devil Does Exist, or Akumo de Soro, ran in Bessatsu Margaret from 1999 - 2002. This is the first serialized work of Mitsuba Takanashi, better known for her most recent translated title of Crimson Hero.

Synopsis: Kayano Saito’s shy personality makes confessing her true love for basketball captain Kamijo difficult. When she finally finds the courage, her clumsiness and embarrassment cause her to confess to first year Takeru Edogawa. Takeru is the son of the principal and his reputation as a trouble-maker leads Kayano to believe the worst of him. He doesn’t help when he teases Kayano, steals her first kiss, and declares she will belong to him and not Kamijo. Events get complicated when Kayano’s single mom announces that she’s getting engaged – to none other than principal Edogawa. Now Kayano will never get away from Takeru, and must become his older sister! Things only get worse when the two teens discover that they may actually be developing feelings for one another.

Review: Sibling rivalry at it’s finest? Hardly. Naughty scenes of incestuous relations? Um, no, not that either. So what does The Devil Does Exist provide? Takanashi presents a struggle of teenage relationships and difficult family emotions. The story begins weakly, with the main characters not even very likable personalities. Kayano exhibits the wishy-washy feelings of a teenage girl who cannot decide how one boy makes her feel. Her gullibility is annoying. Her feelings are easily manipulated, and she falls for the same threats repeatedly. Her friends describe her as “pure”, and she tries to believe the best of everyone - both a good and bad trait. She eventually comes to realize her own strength, which makes her a more satisfying character. Like Kayano, Takeru also starts off as a non-endearing lead. He’s introduced as a bad boy who disgraces Kayano until she (and the reader) resents him. Then fickle Kayano decides she likes him and he’s become a sensitive, caring guy. It's a confusing, sudden transition that doesn't feel right for the character. All of this is just evidence that Takanashi’s first piece is very rough around the edges. Once the two teens declare their feelings, the plot becomes more about how to hide their relationship from their parents in order for the family to be together and happy. Pleasantly, the plot and characters improve as the story progresses. Takeru becomes enjoyable as a character more and more because he is always pushing Kayano to become stronger. Takanashi does a superb job of wrapping up any loose plot lines as the story concludes, leaving readers satisfied. The artwork begins just as unpolished as the storyline, yet improves as the story progresses. The character designs show her distinctive style. I chuckled as Takanashi admitted in a sidebar that Takeru was drawn to look like Hyde from L’Arc en Ciel. (Way to pull in the fangirls!) Still, the panels are well laid out, and nice toning as well as backgrounds accent the scenes. Her ability to age the characters from the beginning to the end of the series really shines. All in all, The Devil Does Exist is like a diamond in the rough, showing Mitsuba Takanashi’s promising talent, just lacking that certain polish her later work exhibits. A good read if one sticks with it, and certainly a better understanding of the mangaka’s abilities as a whole.

Romance Rating: Steamy - One bedroom scene, but no nudity.

Media Status: The Devil Does Exist is available in English in 11 volumes from CMX. A live action drama of the series called Devil Beside You was made in Taiwanese and broadcast on China television in 2005.

New York Times Best Seller July 19-26

2009-07-31T13:54:00.001-05:00

Fruits Basket stays at #1 and Kitchen Princess remains strong!

Memorable Manga Moments - M³: High School Debut

2009-07-30T19:03:00.007-05:00

This week's is from Kazune Kawahara's High School Debut. Forgive the amount of images, but it was difficult to condense without losing the imapct. ;)

Volume 1 Chapter 4

When coaching Haruna on how to interact with boys, Yoh tells her on several occasions not to cry because he finds it annoying. In this scene she's crying because she was frightened, and relieved when Yoh comes to her rescue. She was being kidnapped by a jerk and his friends with intent to harm her, and Yoh is annoyed because he tried to warn her and she ignored his advice and acted on her own anyway.

Volume 2 Chapter 6

Things change however, when Haruna's feelings have truly been hurt by a boy she cares for. She tries to act brave for Yoh, and put on a smile since she knows the crying annoys him. However, sensitive Yoh does understand how she feels, and tells her that this time it's okay to cry. I love the contrast of these scenes because it shows how Yoh's feelings for Haruna have developed, and the feelings that Haruna has for Yoh that she doesn't even realize yet. That's what makes this such a memorable moment.

Shōjo Sensei: Secondary School Class Structures

2009-07-28T18:33:00.018-05:00

Undoubtedly, those who have read manga or watched anime for quite some time will have determined that Japanese school systems are organized somewhat different than in native English speaking countries. The most marked difference is the fact that upper secondary education (high school) is not mandatory in Japan. Public education can be completed at 15 years of age. Despite that, most students do choose to attend upper secondary, and it is a rigorous process to study and take entrance exams for schools in high demand. Their families must save the money to pay for the education as well, since it is not publicly funded like in America.

If you are familiar with Nakamura's Skip Beat!, main heroine Kyoko decides not to go to high school in order to work and support her best guy, Sho. She later resents him for depriving her of a "fun high school life", and treasures getting to wear a high school uniform for a commercial shoot.
Japanese upper secondary schools consist of three grade levels, equivalent to American grades 10-12. I've noticed in different translations terms such as freshman and senior are used, but more commonly the class translations have been changed to first, second or third years.

In the published translation of Hatori's Ouran High School Host Club, the character introductions include the students' year of school.

In comparison, most American and native English secondary schools are structured so that there are 4 to 5 years of upper secondary instruction, mandatory until students are 17 to 18 years of age.

Classic Manga: To Terra Vol. 1 - Keiko Takemiya

2009-07-27T12:54:00.014-05:00

To Terra was originally serialized in Gekkan Manga Shonen from 1977-1980. It won the very first Seiun award in 1978, and in 1980 won the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo/shōnen series.

Synopsis: In the future of mankind, Superior Domination has been established, where the population has become digitally run by computers. The human race has colonized the stars and all children are genetically created in test tubes and raised in an educational space colony by approved foster parents. They are carefully monitored by a supercomputer and must endure strict psychological testing until they are of 14 years of age when they are declared mature. At this time they are then sent to isolated space stations to be groomed into the perfect social beings for the planet of Terra. The story begins with main character Jomy Marcus Shin quickly approaching his 14th birthday in the Education City of Ataraxia. His boisterous and inquisitive personality lead the adults who care for him to be suspicious, and he endures frequent checks for ESP. During one such painful session he encounters another essence that remarks on his dormant telepathic powers. On the day of his birthday he is sent to his "awakening", where his memories of his parents are suppose to be erased so that he is a blank slate when he is sent to be programmed to become a Terran. In Jomy's case, he hangs on to his memories, and using telepathic powers is ejected from the reconditioning and collected by another group of people known as the Mu. The Mu were once the same as the humans on Terra, but over time developed telepathic powers, and became shunned as mutants. Forced out of Terra they have banded together and are currently led by Soldier Blue, the essence that contacts Jomy. Jomy has been chosen as Soldier Blue's successor to lead the Mu, because he is not only telepathic but is physically healthy and strong, unlike a lot of the Mu. The first arc ends with Jomy learning to become one of the Mu. The second arc starts at one of the education stations in space where the character of Keith Anyan is introduced. Keith is close to graduating and becoming a member of the Terran Elite. His grades and conduct are near perfect, and he is looked upon by others at the station as a role model. Unlike the other students at the station, Keith realizes he has no memories of his former time at an educational city. This and other events lead him to question the current supercomputer system of socialization. When Jomy attacks the station with his telepathy trying to trigger the students to remember their pasts everyone is affected but Keith. This drives Keith to discover what makes him so different from everyone else. The final arc of this volume is back with the Mu on Naska, a new colony that's been established for the sanctity of the Mu. Here we see Jomy come in contact with aspects of his past, and the Mu defy the Superior Domination of society by biologically conceiving and birthing a child.

Review: Takemiya's grand vision of the future is thought provoking and sensitive. With skillful hands she has related a tale of human resilience and self-discovery. As this is the first volume, much of the development was exposition of the key characters, Jomy and Keith. Takemiya assumes correctly that readers will empathize with Jomy's escape from the Superior Domination's super computer, seeing as it is human nature to preserve one's humanity. No one would want to lose their childhood memories unwillingly. As for the Mus, their position as outcasts is unfortunate. As the result of having telepathy, they are shunned from society. Yet, once again, it is another characteristic of human nature to classify, separate from others, and fear what you do not understand. Even the Mu colony has the same fears when Jomy arrives. His upbringing to become a Terran is most obvious until his telepathy is no longer dormant, and others belittle him for his thoughts and appearance. I found it astute of Takemiya to next show the audience what might have happened to Jomy, when she introduces Keith at the space station where the mature students arrive for training. It provides another viewpoint of how the system works, and gives readers an opportunity to decide for themselves how they feel about the Superior Domination social system. Keith's own journey of self-discovery and interaction with the system are a contrast to Jomy's painful one. Yet even Keith begins to question how effective such a system is. What impressed me most about this work was the ease of reading, despite the dated style. This is the oldest work of manga I've read to date. I expected some of the style to be a turn off, since I am used to the modern paneling style of manga. These panels have older transition styles and bubbling, a more boxy look than current trends in manga. Despite that, Takemiya's talent still shines. The space scenes are epic in proportion. Machinery and settings still look futuristic in this day and age. What an imagination! The dating is more evident in character design, because the manga/anime style of drawing has evolved since then, but that doesn't affect Takemiya's ability to express human emotions. If you are a science fiction buff, or just want to see some quality classic manga, this is a title you can't miss. I personally can't wait to see how Takemiya resolves this story line.

No romance rating for this title as that is not the main focus of the story.

Media Status: To Terra is complete and available in North America from Vertical publishing in three volumes. In 1980, To Terra was adapted into an anime movie named Toward the Terra, produced by Toei Animation and directed by Hideo Onchi. Right Stuf International has released the North American version of the Toward the Terra film within the past year.

Review copy provided by Vertical publishing.

New York Times Best Seller July 12-18

2009-07-24T21:48:00.003-05:00

Fruits Basket hits #1 and some other titles hang in there!

I Still Like Comics...at 30...and I'm Female

2009-07-23T10:55:00.011-05:00

After reading several blogs about the SDCC Twilight events and gender debates, I was forced to consider my own experiences with gender bias and comics. My two copies of Shonen Jump I've received in place of my Shojo Beat subscription are still sitting untouched on my dresser. Maybe I'll eventually read them if I find time and interest. It frustrates me that the newly highlighted enterprises in the graphic novel industry have been for shonen and seinen manga. I know from a business perspective, that it's a wiser investment. But I still feel like I'm being punished. It's like when you take a piece of candy from one child, and then you give it and another handful to another child just because he's a boy. I realize it's not as simple as that, that's just how I FEEL about it. No matter how much I could advocate for the shojo/josei/romance genre of comics, it all comes down to the numbers. As for the critics of the genre, everyone's allowed their opinion, and I get to decide whose I find valid. So criticize it all you want, there are others who appreciate it for what it is.

Being a long time fan of romance literature, I guess I have become conditioned to gender bias in the sense that I have been looked down upon for my reading material for most of my life. Sadly as a teen, I still put book covers on all my romance novels I took to school so no one would know what I was reading. I was embarrassed. But now I am used to it, try not to let it get to me, and tell myself that everyone is allowed their own opinions. I know what is enjoyable for ME to read, and if I get something out of it, that's all that matters. I don't have as big of a problem when I am personally confronted with gender bias, such as when I'm in a book store. I've had a tween boy stare at me open mouthed and ask, "You read that?!" when I've picked up a copy of Naruto. Or when a college guy snickers as I pick up the most recent Fruits Basket. I either respond with, "Is that a problem?" or I ignore it. But it's not so much a gender issue for me as it is an AGE issue. I know the stereotypical image of a comics reader is a tween to young adult male. And slowly that is evolving to include females of that same age group too.

In my comics experience, I've had more issues with age bias than anything. (It doesn't help that I'm female too.) For example, I get perturbed with my local library when I go to check out manga. The manga, with the exception of adult or hentai titles, are all kept in a glass encased room declared "Teens". On the doors and throughout the room there are large posters (maybe 6-8 posters) that say: "12-18 only...no trespassing". I get that it's suppose to be a haven for teenagers at the library, and also a warning to parents that the books within are for a specific age appropriate audience. I think it's great that they're giving teens their own space. What bothers me is that the propaganda is discouraging me from getting to the material that I, in my 30s, would like to read. I just ignore the posters and walk in the doors to the manga shelves. But I'll be darned if a librarian doesn't ask me if she can help me find something. That doesn't happen in the children's section of the library, which I frequent to find books for my son. Now, I'm not bashing librarians for doing their job, I'm just making an observation that because of my appearance, I look like I need assistance in that section of the library.

The other day I went into a local bookstore chain and headed towards the comics section, which is in the back close to the children's lit section. On my way an employee stopped me and said, "Ma'am, I can direct you to some recent fiction releases that you may enjoy." - which happened to be in the opposite direction. I told her thanks, maybe later, and maybe she was just trying to sell me merchandise, but geez! - I just wanted to see the most recent manga releases. And it never fails that I get some odd looks from other adults who drop in that area with their tweens and teens. Almost as if they're taken aback that I'm standing there reading a manga.

*sigh* I guess like with my romance preferences when I was younger, I'll eventually get used to being looked at strangely when I pick up the most recent comics. I just wish people would be more open minded, and quit stereotyping me. Although, that's a long shot, seeing as it's human nature to classify and stereotype. Maybe by some miracle shojo and josei comics will explode in popularity. But until then, I'll just remain a small minority of proud female comic readers over 30.

M³ - Memorable Manga Moments: Mars

2009-07-23T09:36:00.008-05:00

Mars, Volume 1, Chapter 1

This moment always makes me bust out laughing. Shy, quiet Kira makes Rei, who tries to be so cool and confident, fall on his ass. Ha! Rei tries to be so flippant about loaning Kira his body as payment for a painting, trying to shock her. She then turns it around on him, asking if she can borrow his body, which shocks him because Kira is not that kind of girl. However, she just wants him to model for her as an artist. It's nice to see a guy like Rei knocked flat on his butt every once in a while. Thanks for the visual pleasure, Soryo!

The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross - Arina Tanemura

2009-07-20T20:21:00.008-05:00

The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross, aka. Shinshi Doumei Cross, ran in Ribon magazine from 2004-2008. This is Arina Tanemura's sixth work to be translated into English.

Synopsis: Haine Otomiya is a first year high school student at the elite Imperial Academy. Having been sold for 50 million yen to her foster father as a child, she believes her real father no longer loves her, and her mother no longer communicates with her. Lonely and unhappy, she becomes part of a gang. She decides to reform when she reunites with Shizumasa Togu, a childhood love, who reminds her that she has the power to make herself happy. She then is accepted at Imperial Academy where she seeks to find Shizumasa and try to win his love. She is tricked by a member of the student council into becoming the body guard of the emperor, or the student council president, an office held by none other than Shizumasa. Unexpectedly, when Haine meets him again he is cold to her. Through her interactions with him, Haine discovers why he has become this way, and must use her wits and her heart to save the love of her life.

Review: There's way more to the story than I could summarize, and that's because the rest of the synopsis would include spoilers. I was quite torn over writing this review. The girly side of me so loved this story. Yet, the academic side was looking for every little thing wrong with it. At first I found Haine to be sappy and dim-witted. I wasn't impressed with her goal of trying to win Shizumasa's love. As the story developed, Haine endures much, and I realized that not only was she strong but also very caring and sensitive. I found myself irritated with Shizumasa-sama, until his situation is revealed, and then I couldn't help but sympathize with them both. Tanemura takes the story from being very shallow to very deep, using character development and complex plot threads. Every time I would try to step away and become objective about the story, Tanemura would pull me back in with the next engrossing plot arc. She cleverly constructs the plot so that each arc builds upon the main story, skillfully intertwining all the characters and their relationships. I think part of my issue with this manga is that Tanemura's drawing style seems too fluffy for the dramatic elements. Admittedly, I think her ability as an artist is gifted. Her figure drawing is fantastic, as well as clothing and backgrounds. The panels and compositions are also well done. My complaint is that her character designs from her works all look too similar. In Gentlemen's Alliance Cross, I had a hard time telling Haine and Ushio-chan (another student council member) apart, until Tanemura "cut" Haine's hair. Then there are all the sparkles, flowers, and ribbons which I consider the "fluffy" aspects of the drawing. It looks nice when it's kept simple, but sometimes Tanemura doesn't know when to stop and it gets distracting.

Romance Rating: Cuddly - sweet kisses is all you get. I was hoping it would get steamy :D...but so far Tanemura keeps it age appropriate.

Media Status: Currently there are 9 volumes of Gentlemen's Alliance Cross available from Viz Media. Volume 10 will be released in October 2009. The series will be complete at 11 volumes. Also being released in November 2009 will be the art book for this series known in Japan as Shinshi Dōmei Kurosu Tanemura Arina Irasuto Shuu.

Yack Your Stack - July 2009

2009-07-19T10:32:00.012-05:00

Alright all you readers out there, time to fess up. I want to know what your TBR pile looks like. Since I started reviewing manga, my To Be Read pile just keeps getting taller and taller. Even when I put a dent in it, more books get added. Not all of them are manga either, I do have other genres I like to read. As of now, here's what's in it:

City of Glass* (Currently reading)
Gentleman's Alliance Cross 8-9*
To Terra 1
Princess Ai 1-3
The Devil Does Exist 1-2
Venus Capriccio 1
Black God 1
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Suzuka 1-11
Cardcaptor Sakura: Master of the Clow 2-6
Pretty Face 1
(I could add more, but I'll stop here for now.)

So I've shared what my pile looks like, but I'd really like to know what you shojo fans are reading too. It helps to find new titles, and see what seems to be popular among readers. It doesn't matter if it's manga or not. So hit the comment button and type it up! Time to yack your stack!

After School Nightmare - Setona Mizushiro

2009-07-18T15:27:00.010-05:00

Originally serialized in Princess magazine from 2005-2008, After School Nightmare was chosen by the Young Adult Library Service Association as one of the 10 best graphic novels for teens in 2008. This story is a psychological thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Synopsis: Mashiro Ichijo is a favorite among the girls at school. His good looks and sweet personality are charming, but we soon discover his secret dilemma - he's neither fully male nor fully female. He has the upper body and build of a boy, while his emotions and internal organs are that of a girl. One day a mysterious nurse introduces him to a class in which he is to participate, located in the previously non-existent basement of the school. There the students sleep, and in their dreams, they must compete to uncover the location of a hidden key that opens a door and allows them to graduate from the class. In these dreams, the students' true personae are revealed, and many of them are distorted to unrecognizable forms. Ichijo finds that he is himself, only dressed in a girl's school uniform. Conflicted about his gender identity, he seeks to prove himself a heroic male, only to be confronted with his feminine emotions. Outside of class, he befriends Kureha, a girl who struggles with her own fear and hatred of men, yet she feels comfortable with Ichijo. Also vying for his attention is Sou, a quiet boy who desires Ichijo no matter the consequences. Confused by his own emotions, Ichijo must decide once and for all what gender he most desires in order to escape the horrible nightmares of the after school class.

Review: Ever gone to a dive expecting to get a meal that was edible and somewhat tasty, and instead found yourself eating a gourmet tasting dish that cost next to nothing? That's been my experience with After School Nightmare. Not knowing anything about it when I picked it up off the shelf, I flipped through the first few colored pages, blushed, and immediately went to the counter and purchased it. Expecting a thrilling and naughty high school manga, I was instead blown away by the literary quality of the story. I don't want to provide any spoilers, so I won't go into the plot, but the author's ability to string the audience along, dropping hints here and there without giving away the ending....it is a brilliant construction by Mizushiro. The characters are developed as you watch, with the internal struggles played out through action sequences in the students' dreams, as well as through their social interactions at school. The mangaka keeps you guessing during the entire story which students in the school match the distorted personae in the nightmares. Throw in some sizzling love scenes and unexpected plot twists, and you have a gourmet recipe for After School Nightmare. The artwork as well is pleasant to look at. Good paneling, figure drawing, toning, and backgrounds all combine to accent the rich plot. Mizushiro has cleverly left imagery and dialogue that are presented in such a manner that, unless you know what to look for, you'll miss it. That's why this unique series requires more than one read through. I highly recommend you find a copy if you haven't already read it.

Romance Rating: Steamy - There's a little for everyone here. Not knowing what gender Ichijo is, scenes could be shonen-ai, shojo-ai, or just plain romantic. Some good sizzle moments for all the fans.

Media Status: After School Nightmare is available in English in 10 volumes from Go!Comi.

New York Times Best Seller July 5-11

2009-07-17T13:18:00.006-05:00

What do you know! A good showing of shojo titles in the top ten!

#2
#4
#6
#7
#10

M³ - Memorable Manga Moments: Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne

2009-07-16T06:42:00.001-05:00

This week's is a submission from our first brave volunteer - Mina Murray =D>

She wrote in about her favorite scenes in Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne. They were some great scenes, and without giving away too much of the story, I chose one climatic moment that expresses the essence of the story's meaning. In this scene Maron is having to fight against a past version of herself in order to win an important battle. She has come to realize through loving another person, that being emotional does not make you a weak person, but it makes you stronger. Now knowing this, she is able to overcome her past self by admitting her weakness.

Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, Volume 7, Chapter 30

Mina said it is memorable to her because, "the (character) development shown in the last chapters is presented with an incredible heart warmth that will make the reader like Maron - determined and honest, sappy and glad. Accepting and knowing yourself is the key to being happy, isn't it?.... All in all, it just says look positive at life, the solution will arrive as long as you keep on searching for it."

I have to agree! That's a great overall message that I've seen Tanemura incorporate in several of her stories. (I'll have to add this story to my TBR pile after I finish Shinshi Doumei Cross!) Thanks for writing in, Mina, and I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else out there wants to submit, too. The next one could be yours!

The Recipe for Gertrude Vol. 1&2- Nari Kusakawa

2009-07-15T15:10:00.016-05:00

The Recipe for Gertrude by Nari Kusakawa is a short fantasy series that ran in LaLa magazine starting in 2004.

Synopsis: Gertrude is a 100 year old demon who looks sixteen, and is made up of various body parts of other powerful demons. He was constructed by a man named Claude, and brought to life by a recipe from an ancient spell book. While fleeing from some demons who are demanding their stolen body parts, Gertrude stumbles upon Sahara, a teenage girl who seems fearless of him. After he rescues her from the demons, the two form a friendship. Sahara then joins Gertrude on his quest to find the "recipe" and destroy it.

Review: After reading the first volume of this series, I almost didn't pick up the second. The paneling was confusing and at times I had to reread sections to figure out what was happening. Most of the story in the first volume was episodic and felt very choppy, making it difficult to follow the events. It is a good premise for a story, but the execution just starts out so poorly. I did like what little I could fathom of the characters, which is why I begrudgingly picked up the second volume. In the second volume, slowly, things began to improve. The storyline gets much better, the characters develop more, and the paneling is not as confusing. For her first series, it's as if Kusakawa was trying to learn to ride a bike and finally succeeded in not falling over, for lack of a better metaphor. After reading the first couple chapters of volume three, I can see that she's gotten the hang of it, and the story is coasting smoothly.

What I like about this series so far is the story. Kusakawa doesn't go for dark and dramatic when it comes to demons - it's more lighthearted and comical. The relationship between Sahara and Gertrude is built on friendship with the affection developing over time. I liked Sahara's matter of fact attitude and her sarcastic banter with Gertrude. The plot gets deeper in the second volume after the audience has discovered what actually happened to Gertrude's recipe. We find out how Gertrude and Sahara are connected, and who is behind the events occurring. Since there are three volumes of story left, I might as well see how it ends.

What I don't like about this series is the artwork. The character designs are too similar. Sometimes I could only tell Sahara and Gertrude apart by the hair color. The head shape, big eyes, wide mouths, and tiny noses often left the impression I was looking at frogs. (Seriously, in some images I was just waiting for a long tongue to flash out of Gertrude's mouth and swat a fly.) So, big fail on anatomy. At first the paneling is everywhere. It makes it difficult to follow the action sequences and dialogue. That slowly improves in volume 2 and by 3, the layout is much steadier and easier to follow, but nothing exceptional, just adequate enough to tell the story. Some scenes don't even have backgrounds, just toning, and not necessarily effective toning.

Romance Rating: Cuddly - best friends that eventually kiss? - yes, some sentimental scenes.

Media Status: The Recipe for Gertrude has been released completely in 5 volumes from CMX. Kusakawa has 2 other English manga, The Palette of Twelve Secret Colors and Two Flowers for the Dragon.

Shōjo Sensei - Ocean Day

2009-07-13T17:04:00.009-05:00

The third Monday in July is designated as Ocean Day in Japan. Declared a national holiday in 1996, Ocean Day is really a good excuse to not go to work and enjoy a day on the beach. Now I didn't learn this from a manga, it happens to be on my calendar and I looked it up out of curiosity. We all know, however, that many mangakas enjoy incorporating those swimsuit scenes into their stories. So there are plenty of examples of characters enjoying themselves on the beach or near the water, whether it's Ocean Day or not. I thought it would be fun to find some of those maritime scenes and share them, since many of us are basking in the sun this time of year.

Kyo, Tohru, and Yuki in In Fishing from Fruits Basket mangaka Nutsaki Takaya

Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori

Risa and Otani from Lovely Complex by Aya Nakahara

Ann and Fuji from Sand Chronicles by Hinako Ashihara

Nakatsu and Sano from Hana-Kimi by Hisaya Nakajo

Sailor Mercury from Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi

Sorry I can't include everyone's favorite characters, but it took me a long time to find the images I did above. If you have a specific title you would like me to add, just comment and I'll see if I can find pics from that artist. Until next time!

You're So Cool Vol. 1 - YoungHee Lee

2009-07-12T09:45:00.007-05:00

You're So Cool is a Korean manhwa from publisher Yen Press.

Synopsis: Nan-Woo's crush on the most popular boy in school turns her life upside down. Cute and clumsy Nan-Woo Jung fantasizes about her romantic life with Seung-Ha Ryu, knowing that the seemingly perfect prince of the school would never like her back. However, with all the ruckus she causes, Seung Ha does notice her and decides to make Nan-Woo's fantasy come true. Nan-Woo is overcome by his attention, and being her sweet and honest self, she confesses that if given the chance she would love him completely and without regrets. Seung-Ha then declares that he and Nan-Woo are dating to the freshman class and asks Nan-Woo out on their first date. There she meets the real Seung-Ha and discovers that her fantasy prince is more like a demon from hell. Blackmailed into the facade of his loving girlfriend, how will Nan-Woo get away from Seung-Ha?

Review: As I read the first couple of chapters, I immediately began to question, "Are these characters for real?" With a goofy, klutzy heroine like Nan-Woo and a regally manicured prince-type like Seung-Ha, I was waiting to be disappointed by another high school manwha cliché. What happened instead was that I was pleasantly surprised by the character development and intrigued against my better judgment to know what might happen next. Not that the "good-looking guy is really a bad boy" story line hasn't already been done, but the author makes it mysterious enough that it compels the reader to want to know more. It could also be that despite Nan-Woo's naivete, I admire her determination. I look forward to seeing her knock Seung-Ha down off his high pedestal further on. For whatever reason he chose to use Nan-Woo right now, eventually he will come to care for her, if typical sunjeong (shojo) paths are trodden. It also looks like the story will include a side romance between Nan-Woo's brother Jay, and another guy, Hyun-Ho Ha, which may interest some boy-love fans. As for the artwork, the panels look great. Lee reaches for a more realistic style and succeeds in some respects. The close ups of faces and clothing are closer to realistic proportions. Seung-Ha is one fine looking guy. However, when full body shots are drawn, the figures look distorted to my eyes - long lanky bodies with heads too small. Maybe it's just a style issue. I wasn't all that impressed by the colored pieces either. The backgrounds on the front and back cover are beautiful renditions of flowers. But, even on the cover art, Seung-Ha's body looks out of proportion. Then again, there's an insert that's a close up of Nan-Woo and Sueng-Ha under some cherry blossoms that looks really nice compared to the others. So I think that it's the artist's ability of drawing whole-body vs. close-up that shows where the strengths and weaknesses lie.

Romance Rating: Cuddly - not much action in this series yet. The relationship is unstable so far. It will be interesting to watch how that changes.

Media Status: You're So Cool is available in 4 Volumes from Yen Press, the most recent being released this July. Volume 5 will be released in November.

Blogger Friendships Are Heartwarming

2009-07-11T07:10:00.001-05:00

I have to say I love the book blogging community. There are so many sweet people out there! This award comes from Keri Bo Beary @ Books With Swords.

Hearthfelt Award
Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when your relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family & friends? You know that feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea ~or a hot toddy? That is what the Hearthfelt Award is all about, feeling warm inside.

Rules:
1) Put the logo on your blog/post

2) Nominate up to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside.

3) Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4) Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog.

5) Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

Keri, you absolutely spoil me! I hope that the following nominees enjoy the sincerity of this award. I could curl up with some hot cocoa and spend a day perusing your blogs:

i ♥ manga
Shojo Flash
Manga Critic
Manga Xanadu
There it is, Plain as Daylight
Kuriousity
kelakagandy's ramblings
Mho Shoujo Manga

(Although with the heat right now, I'm probably drinking lemonade. :D) Cheers!

New York Times Best Seller June 28-July 4

2009-07-10T11:13:00.004-05:00

Your shojo rankings straight from the New York Times Arts section:

As expected the last volume of Fruits Basket is a big seller.

Bisco Hatori's Ouran High School Host Club drops four rankings.

M³ - Memorable Manga Moments: Kare Kano

2009-07-10T06:50:00.003-05:00

Kare Kano Volume 6, Act 26

This particular scene is one of the most memorable in Kare Kano because of Tsuda's use of this visual metaphor. When the two teens first decide to make love, we see them kissing and on the bed. Then, instead of an explicit sex scene between the two protagonists, we get this imagery of them as children, young and innocent. The wind blows off Yukino's hat, the symbol for her virginity or innocence, and it is Soichiro that catches it. Both of them are shown smiling in happiness. Then it cuts back to the two of them lying in bed asleep, under the covers. I think it is a sensitive way to portray the intimacy between these two young teenagers, and clever of Tsuda to keep her book tame. This same imagery was even used in the anime. It is one of the few visual metaphors that I've seen in a manga for the act of making love that actually makes sense. I'd love to know if you've seen something else even more clever. Post in the comments!

New York Times Best Seller June 21-27

2009-07-09T20:05:00.003-05:00

Still the shojo loner, Hatori's series climbed up one rank from the previous listing.

Mangas of the Month (Yes, a tie vote!) - July 2009

2009-07-09T07:01:00.006-05:00

I asked and you responded. Our mangas for the month of July are...

From Eroica With Love

By YASUKO AOIKE

Skip Beat!
By YOSHIKI NAKAMURA

Both series have extremely devout fan bases, and are produced by very talented mangakas. If you haven't already, find a copy of either of these titles and find out what you've been missing!

From CMX:
"FROM EROICA WITH LOVE is the masterwork manga of Yasuko Aoike serialized in Akita Shoten's Princess magazine since 1976! Set in Continental Europe, it depicts the adventures of British aristocrat Dorian Red Gloria and his alter ego Eroica, Europe's most wanted international art thief. His nemesis — Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach, a German NATO intelligence officer — has tried for years to catch the man who claims each crime scene with a card signed "From Eroica with Love." Things are just getting started when a trio of telepathically linked teenagers becomes aware of Dorian's identity and plans to capture him. But their plot goes awry as the master thief branches out — no longer content with stealing great art, he's moving on. Now the trio must foil his attempts to kidnap their leader, Caesar, as they try to save the great art treasures of Europe!"

CMX will be releasing the newest chapters of From Eroica with Love in volume 14, on July 15, 2009.

From Viz Media:
SKIP BEAT!
"Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he's casting her out now that he's famous! Kyoko won't suffer in silence--she's going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show biz!"

Volume 18, the most recent release of Skip Beat! was available in May 2009. The next volume, 19, will be released by Viz media on October 6, 2009.

New Feature - Share your shojo love!

2009-07-08T12:34:00.007-05:00

After much hair pulling and cursing of javascript, as well as several deleted posts (sorry to all my followers)...

Here it is as requested...
Now YOU can nominate a Memorable Manga Moment!

Click on the button in the side bar (or below) and fill out the form.
Submissions will be considered as received, given they have enough information to create a post. So have fun, be witty, and tell us what you find memorable in your favorite shojo mangas!

Pig Bride Vol. 1 - KookHwa Huh / SuJin Kim

2009-07-06T19:04:00.007-05:00

Serialized currently in the magazine Yen Plus, Pig Bride is a Korean manhwa.

Synopsis: The first volume released in April 2009, begins with the main character Si-Joon Lee, lost in the mountains on his summer trip at eight years old. He wanders to a stream and there he finds a young girl wearing a pig mask. Hungry and tired, he follows her further into the woods hoping to find a way home. Soon they arrive at a house where Si-Joon is told that he must marry the girl in the mask to release her from an ancient curse. Willing to do anything to get to eat the huge feast in the next room, he hurriedly agrees and then realizes what he's done once the food has settled. The young girl gives him an item and ...he wakes up from what seems like a dream. Having had these dreams of the pig mask girl all his life, Si-Joon, now sixteen, shrugs it off and heads to school. Only today happens to be THE day that strange things start happening on campus, and guess who shows up...the pig mask girl. Eight years later the forgotten bride has now come to claim her groom. Si-Joon's parents agree to house the girl, Mu-Yeon, at their residence so as not to cause a scandal for his father, who has a sensitive political career. Yet there is another girl on Si-Joon's radar. Powerful Doe-Doe Eun wants Si-Joon all to herself and is willing to do just about anything to make that happen.

Review: An intriguing premise, Pig Bride offers a sprinkling of fantasy, mystery, humor and romance. Though Si-Joon can be irritating with his impulsiveness and obliviousness to others, Mu-Yeon, his opposite, seems intelligent and quirky. With the mask, she is actually easier to judge by her dialogue, and though surrounded by her traditional appearance and mannerisms, it is apparent that she's much more than a strange girl in a pig mask. Her insistence to try and consummate the marriage whenever she and Si-Joon are alone together, provides some comic relief and evidence that she is a normal hormonal sixteen year old girl. Although, I believe her purpose for making the marriage official is driven by more logical reasoning than just hormones. Of the male characters, I actually found myself liking the supporting cast member Ji-Oh, Si-Joon's best guy friend, better than Si-Joon. He is more resourceful, and a better judge of character than Si-Joon. While Ji-Oh is accurately assessing the personalities of Mu-Yeon and Doe-Doe, Si-Joon is emotionally reacting to circumstances, and misses some obvious leads as to the true character of Doe-Doe, and the purpose of Mu-Yeon and her female ninja companion, Mu-Hwa. It just makes you want to hit him upside the head and yell, "Get a clue, already!" This annoying character trait is not resolved by the end of this volume, however, I know from reading later chapters that Si-Joon will eventually come to his senses. The writers aggressively make you hate Doe Doe, and have no qualms revealing her true personality to the audience. As Mu-Yeon's rival for Si-Joon's attention, there's no doubt that Doe Doe's personality will eventually tarnish her cute appearance.

The art work is detailed and very well balanced. Although I find the faces somewhat distorted, with the eyes, nose, and mouth placed low close to the pointed chins, the expressions still easily convey mood and emotion. You would think that since Mu-Yeon wears a mask, the artists would make her body language more expressive, but I view it as somewhat stiff, forcing readers to rely mostly on dialogue. I'm not too keen on Si-Joon's pink eyes and hair, but that's just personal preference. The colored pieces that are included in the volume are nice but not exceptional. It's the panels that really speak for themselves and show why we're getting to read this fun and mysterious story.

Assuredly, this is a series I'll continue to read, as I'm too curious now not to find out the conclusion. I really want to know what Mu Yeon looks like, and I'm sure that most readers will feel the same. If you're looking for a new fantasy series, definitely give this one a try.

Romance Rating: Cuddly - Though married, Si Joon and Mu Yeon's relationship is just starting, so not much romantic action yet. Though, with Mu Yeon's insistence on consummating the marriage, I believe that the rating will eventually change.

Media Status: Pig Bride is available in one volume from Yen Press, with volume two being released in August 2009. You can read the most current chapters in Yen Plus magazine.

Mars - Fuyumi Soryo

2009-07-05T14:23:00.015-05:00

Initially serialized in Bessatsu Friend from 1996-2000, Mars is a dramatic shojo manga about the unlikely relationship between teens Kira Aso and Rei Kashino.

Synopsis: Kira Aso is an introverted artist. One day while sketching at a local park, a guy from school Kira doesn't care for, asks her for directions to the local hospital. Instead of telling him, she draws him a map on the back of one of her sketches and leaves. When school starts soon after, Kira discovers that the guy, Rei Kashino, is actually in her class. Rei, training to become a professional motorcycle racer, is only attending school because he promised his father, whom he does not get along with. He's known socially as a playboy, so Kira is surprised when Rei one day interferes while their teacher is attempting to sexually harass her. When Kira offers to let Rei keep the oil painting of the sketch on the back of the map, Rei declares that he will protect her as payment. He flippantly offers her his body too, and is caught off guard when Kira asks him to model for her. Spending more and more time together, Rei and Kira begin to realize their true feelings for one another. As more of their pasts are revealed, readers discover what really draws these two teens together. In search of their dreams, Kira and Rei must deal with these issues in order to move forward towards the future.

Review: As a story this series has more depth to it than a stereotypical high school romance manga. The drama can be reminiscent of a soap opera at times, but it is overshadowed by the characters themselves. Soryo really delves into the characters, creating complex personalities that appear more human than your average manga protagonists. The exposition of Kira and Rei stretches over several volumes, allowing readers to slowly realize the psychology behind the characters. I could complain that Soryo really gives her characters some messed up stuff to deal with, but as dramatic as it may be, it only adds to the mystique of how Kira and Rei will make their relationship last. As far as the drawing goes, the mangaka does a fair job of layouts and composition. She has a good sense of perspective, and knows how to use toning to emphasize mood and emotions quite well. The style dating is evident throughout the series, but not to the point of distraction.

Romance Rating: Lustful - Rei and Kira's relationship provides enough heart warming and intimate moments to satisfy any shojo fan.

Media status: Mars is available in English in 15 volumes from Tokyopop. A live action drama was filmed and aired on the Chinese television system.

Last Week for Your Shojo Votes

2009-07-03T20:26:00.000-05:00

All month long I've had a poll running for visitors to type in the title that they want to nominate as July's Shojo Manga of the Month. So far it's gotten little feedback. This is the last week to vote. Take a few moments, think about what titles you've read recently, and cast a vote. The only requirement is that it is a shojo or josei title. It doesn't have to be a recent title, or a new release, just one that stands out to you that you recently read. The title with the most votes will be highlighted next month and have it's own special widget.

poll by twiigs.com

M³ - Memorable Manga Moments: W Juliet

2009-07-03T07:10:00.003-05:00

This week's is from W Juliet by Emura.

In this scene Ito has been at a New Year's party and was dragged off by a college guy. He is an old friend and asks Ito to dress up sexy. Gullible girl that she is, she does it, and then realizes the position she's put herself in and takes off running. It's at that moment she runs into Makoto, who usually dresses as a girl to fulfill his deal with his father. This is the first time he dresses up in public like a guy; add to that his proclamation that he is Ito's boyfriend and you have a memorable moment. This one stands out in my mind because it contrasts the usual image of Makoto as a feminine guy. Here he is protecting Ito, who he cares for, as any strong, masculine guy would. It has a great effect on Ito's perception of Makoto.

Ai Yori Aoshi - Kou Fumizuki

2009-06-27T19:26:00.024-05:00

Ai Yori Aoshi is a tale of childhood love, and how it can endure even through time and circumstance. A seinen manga written by Kou Fumizuki, it was serialized in the publication Young Animal from 1999-2005.

Synopsis: The main character Kaoru Hanabishi is a bastard son of Yūji Hanabishi, the head of the Hanabishi Zaibatsu, who dies when Kaoru is only five years old. Due to harsh circumstances Kaoru leaves his wealthy family at a young age and lives on his own. One day he is returning home from his college courses, when he sees a young lady in a kimono that looks lost at the station. It turns out she is his childhood fiance, Aoi Sakuraba, whose family owns the Sakuraba Department Store franchise. Although their engagement became void when Kaoru left the Hanabishi, Aoi has always loved and cherished his memory since childhood and has sought him out now that they are both of a marriageable age. When her family discovers that she has found Kaoru, they demand her return home. Aoi declares that she wants to stay by Kaoru's side, so her parents send her to live on a western style estate with a guardian. Kaoru is to live on the estate too, but as a tenant in a separate building, and Aoi is to appear as his land lady. Kaoru's college friends intrude upon the estate, and eventually the story becomes a harem with several girls living on the estate all falling for Kaoru. He and Aoi are forced to keep up appearances, denying to others their feelings for one another. Eventually the Hanabishi come for Aoi and she is forced to make a choice that changes her life forever.

Review: It is apparent when flipping through the pages of any of the chapters that this manga was definitely aimed at the male population. The fan service abounds....everywhere. You cannot get through a chapter without some cleavage staring you in the face. Plenty of naked females. One of the college girls, Tina, is even a groper. I'm sure it's appealing to guys, but as a girl, it's somewhat obnoxious. However, if you can get past the fan service, there is actually a touching story about some very well developed characters. Aoi comes across as a very naive girl, and rightly so since she has been sheltered most of her life and groomed to become the wife of the Hanabishi heir. Although Kaoru had a harsh childhood, he doesn't let that keep him from being a sweet and caring guy. As their relationship develops as young adults, their experiences together help shape the people that they eventually become. Aoi learns to become a stronger woman, and Kaoru realizes what having a "family" is really all about. I find that Fumizuki is very crafty with flashbacks. The important childhood moments between Aoi and Kaoru are inserted at very poignant times. The panels are well drawn and you'll hear no complaints about the anatomy....well except maybe the excessive breast sizes. :P During the story Fumizuki has to age the characters over four years and while reading you don't really notice it, but if you take a look at the first and last volume the changes are apparent. That truly shows the talent of the artist. Overall the artwork is very nice. I highly recommend this series as long as you don't mind the fan service. The relationship between Aoi and Kaoru is so very sweet.

Romance Rating: Lustful - As if I haven't emphasized it enough already, there's plenty of nudity. Some intimate moments between Kaoru and Aoi, too.

Media Status: Ai Yori Aoshi is rated mature and available in 17 volumes from Tokyopop. There are two anime adaptations of this series, both produced by J.C. Staff and directed by Masami Shimoda. The first one called Ai Yori Aoshi contains a total of 24 episodes. The sequel series is titled Ai Yori Aoshi: Enishi and contains 12 episodes that take place three years after the the first episode of the original. Both are available in English dubs from Geneon.

New York Times Best Seller June 14-20

2009-06-26T15:35:00.004-05:00

Only one shojo manga on the NY Times manga best seller list.

M³ - Memorable Manga Moments: Hana-Kimi

2009-06-26T08:02:00.001-05:00

Our moment this week is the "Ball" scene from Hisaya Nakajo's Hana-Kimi.

Spending weeks practicing to learn how to dance, Mizuki is then nominated as one of the cutest boys at school to cross-dress in order to make up for the lack of girls attending the ball. (Convenient plot twist, huh?) She is paired with Nakatsu, who passes out, and leaves her standing as an observer. Sano notices and leaves his partner, Rio, who is in on Mizuki's secret, to ask Mizuki to dance. Although everyone believes Mizuki Ashiya is a guy, they still think the couple looks cute together. Pretty obvious to me she's a girl. I like this moment because it's one of the few times you see Sano bust into a wide smile, and they are actually enjoying a dance as a normal couple would do.

Ceres Celestial Legend - Yuu Watase

2009-06-24T07:00:00.017-05:00

Ceres Celestial Legend was originally serialized in Shojo Comic from 1996-2000. In 1998 it won the Shogakukan Manga Award for best shojo manga. A fantasy based on a ten'nyo legend, the story revolves around the Mikage family.

Synopsis: Fraternal twins, Aya and Aki Mikage, discover during a family ritual on their sixteenth birthday their unique heritage. Aya is a reincarnation known as Ceres, a celestial maiden who became trapped on Earth when a farmer stole her hagoromo, or feathered robe. When Aya transforms into Ceres she is bestowed very strong powers, and often forgets what has transpired, thus creating a dual personality. With the revelation of her powers, Aya is deemed a curse of the Mikage family and sentenced to death. Running from her family, she is discovered by Toya, a Mikage employee with no memory of his past. He is assigned to protect Aki from Ceres and also to observe Aya. In his observations he and Aya develop feelings for one another. Meanwhile, Aki is overcome by his own familial "curse" and begins the transformation into Mikagi, the reincarnation of the farmer who stole the maiden's robes. This leads him to seek out Ceres and make her his possession. With the help of allies, and a deal with Ceres, Aya agrees to find the celestial robe in exchange for Ceres not harming her brother or Toya. Her resolve to find the robe wavers as she struggles with the trauma of losing her family, fighting off the advances of her brother as Mikagi, overcoming the complications of her relationship with Toya, and the resulting events created by the c-project, a gene manipulation program that identifies and creates descendants of Ceres. Toya direly searches for his own past and identity, and the comprehension of what draws him to Aya. Together they must fight off the Mikage and return Ceres to her home in the heavens.

Review: Whew...it's a very intricate story, with a long cast of characters. I only mentioned a few, but there are more involved in the production that aid and hinder the main cast. I have to give Watase credit for creating and maintaining the amount of characters used in her story. The story itself is fascinating in its own way. For those not knowing any Japanese legends, the plot familiarizes readers with the stories of the ten'nyo and some of the locations of told sightings in Japan. It has the elements of fantasy, action, romance, mystery, and horror. This is one of the few series that I was completely satisfied with the ending. It is evident that Watase planned out her story and did vast research in order to deliver the chapters with such finesse. She also left some social commentary in there with her views on gene manipulation, and the roles of men and women in society. Her layouts can be boxy at times, due to amount of dialogue, but look nice in the romance or action sequences. The drawings are definitely in her own style, and you can see similarities between these characters and others in her earlier works. The amount of toning and textures definitely add to the scenes instead of detracting from them. Overall the art is appealing for its time.

The relationships in this series are what hold the story together. Aya has three men in her life that support her, her brother Aki, Toya, and Yuhi Aogiri. When things get incestuous between herself and her brother, and her relationship with Toya goes astray, it's Yuhi that stands by her. I find the relationship with her brother the most complex. Being twins they are very close. Then they are separated because Aya is a "threat" to Aki, and then Aki becomes her nemesis. Her feelings of love for her brother always remain in her heart, but his existence is threatened by Ceres. Aya is always trying to protect Aki, but is deeply hurt by his insistence on dominating her as Mikagi. The relationship between Toya and Aya is the main romance, and their relationship becomes intimate. Even though Toya can't remember his past, he feels something right with Aya. His character is vital to the plot. As for Yuhi, he also has deeper feelings for Aya, but Aya is captivated by Toya. Yuhi is the dependable one, her best friend and the shoulder for her to cry on, and his relationship with Aya is the most stable. Watase uses these three character examples of men's relationships with women as being dominating, idealized, or reciprocal. An interesting juxtaposition of characters. I believe any shojo fan who likes fantasy would find this series entertaining and an engrossing read.

Romance Rating: Lustful - There are enough tender and intimate moments to touch the heart of any shojo fan.

Media Status: Ceres Celestial Legend is complete and available in 14 volumes from Viz Media. This series was adapted into an anime. Directed by Hajime Kamagaki and produced by Studio Pierrot, the Ceres, Celestial Legend anime adaptation ran for twenty-four episodes in 2000. It is available on DVD from Viz. Although the art is dated, it is true to the manga.

Shōjo Sensei: Senpai and Kōhai

2009-06-23T19:00:00.002-05:00

If you've watched anime or read manga long enough you've undoubtedly come across the term senpai. Even without a dictionary it was pretty easy to figure out that a senpai was someone with more experience and was looked up to. In shōjo manga it is most commonly seen in a school setting, when an underclassman refers to an upperclassman, however it can also be seen in work settings when a new hire refers to a co-worker with more experience. Senpai and kōhai have a reciprocal relationship in that the senpai are obligated to lead and train the kōhai, while the kōhai help the senpai with their tasks in order to learn from them.

For a long time I knew the honorific of senpai, but didn't realize that the "underclassman" also has the honorific of kōhai. There's only been one instance in which I've seen kōhai used, and it was in a scanlation. This made me wonder why the English publishing companies don't keep ALL the honorifics. You see senpai commonly enough, so why not kōhai? Usually it's replaced with the term freshman or first year.

Senpai and kōhai relationships are very common in shōjo manga since many are in a school setting. Some examples are Haruna and Yoh from High School Debut, Chiaki and Nodame in Nodame Cantabile, Ren and Kyoko from Skip Beat, and Mayama and Takemoto in Honey and Clover.

If you want to add any more senpai-kōhai relationships to the list, please feel free to comment.

Until next time - Arigatō!

Pretty Poison - Yutta Narukami

2009-06-22T14:25:00.015-05:00

Pretty Poison is part of the LuvLuv publications of comics for women, known as the redikomi or josei genre in Japan.

Synopsis: This one shot manga tells the story of a young career woman Riyako, who is looking forward to moving in with her current boyfriend. Only her no good boyfriend has three other women and pays a young high school guy, Shogo, to distract her after he dumps her. Shogo has done this for him before with other girls, but for some reason, Riyako makes an impression on him. After a purely physical relationship Riyako begins to care about Shogo, and wants to help him with his future. Shogo has feelings for Riyako too, and must deal with his own familial issues in order to become a better man for Riyako.

Review: This story reminds me of a Harlequin romance novel in the sense that the plot is quickly executed, the characters are only developed up to a point, and instead of using your imagination for the sex scenes, it's all drawn out for you to see. I was somewhat surprised as to how graphic the content was. Sometimes I was trying to figure out exactly what body parts were being drawn. But if you can get past those scenes, then the rest of the drawings are decent. I don't care that much for Narukami's style. There could have been more detail in the drawings. It looks like simple line art with amateur toning. As for the story, it could have been developed more. I think some more scenes outside of the bedroom would have made the characters more realistic. The female lead, Riyako, came across as weak willed, even though Shogo states that he thinks she's strong. She is portrayed as being easily controlled by her body.

Pretty Poison also contains a short called Yugi Scores. A girl who becomes engaged to a professional soccer player gets cold feet when she begins to contemplate the domestic life. There is very little depth to the story, which leaves no impression upon me.

Romance Rating: Erotic - There is an explicit warning and mature rating on the font and back of the novel for good reason. There is plenty of nudity and explicit sex scenes. They do help define the characters' relationship, but it's also drawn for the women readers who enjoy such displays. I'm trying not to be too judgemental here, but it really is good ol' smut. The book's sole purpose is to provide a short story with all those steamy scenes. Hey, if you like that, then go for it!

Media Status: Pretty Poison is available in one volume from LuvLuv publications.

M³ - Memorable Manga Moments: Skip Beat

2009-06-19T08:02:00.005-05:00

This week's is from a fairly recent release, Skip Beat vol. 18, by Yoshiki Nakamura. It's technically two different moments, but I really like the reactions shown by the two men. Koo, whom Kyoko is assisting for LME, assigns her to act like a young boy, Kuon, who was once his son. The man's reaction on the first day she comes as Kuon is great! He's half-asleep and was really expecting his son since Kyoko was talking in English, then he looks and realizes it's Kyoko.

But what's even better is when Ren sees Kyoko when they both end up at the same site during the work day. Kyoko is acting her role as Kuon when she runs past Ren in a hallway.

Oh, such good stuff! Ren's reaction is heartstopping. If you've read the story then you know the connections between Koo, Ren, and Kuon. The fact that Kyoko nails the role just shows how well she understands "Kuon". The two guys' reactions are priceless. Two very memorable Skip Beat moments. Great plot, Nakamura!