Anime lover: September 2010

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Es Volume 1

Publisher
Broccoli Books
Country of origin
Japan
Length
12 volumes
Year of production
1997
Writers
Satol Yuiga
Artists
Satol Yuiga

Publisher
Tokyopop
Country of origin
Japan
Length
3 volumes
Year of production
2005
Writers
Svetlana Chmakova
Artists
Svetlana Chmakova

Publisher
Viz
Country of origin
Japan
Year of production
1984
Writers
Akira Toriyama
Artists
Akira Toriyama

Publisher
Dark Horse
Country of origin
Japan
Length
240 pages
Year of production
1980
Writers
Katsuhiro Otomo
Artists
Katsuhiro Otomo

Publisher
Dark Horse
Country of origin
Japan
Year of production
1996
Writers
Masamune Shirow
Artists
Masamune Shirow

Publisher
Broccoli Books
Country of origin
Japan
Year of production
2007
Writers
Hekaton
Artists
Takehito Harada

Publisher
Broccoli Books
Country of origin
Japan
Length
1 volume
Year of production
2003
Writers
Arashi Shindo
Artists
Arashi Shindo

Publisher
Dark Horse
Country of origin
Japan
Length
1 volume
Year of production
2001
Writers
Adam Warren
Artists
Adam Warren

Publisher
Antarctic Press
Country of origin
US
Length
4 volumes
Year of production
2006
Writers
Rod Espinosa
Artists
Rod Espinosa

Manga Fans Unite! Di Gi Charat GN 1 & 2

Manga Fans Unite! Desert Coral GN 1

The Darkness Ultimate Collection

Manga Fans Unite! Blue Inferior GN 1 (The Definitive Edition)

The samurai epic is a staple genre in the Manga universe, varying from the extreme violence of the 'Lone Wolf and Cub' series through to the animalistic spin of Usagi Yojimbo. Somewhere in this mix sits Hiroaki Samura's opus, 'Blade of the Immortal'.
Samura himself says when he set out to write Blade, he wanted a more realistic and harsh environment for his characters to populate. Hence the reader is thrown headlong into the seedy underbelly of Shogunate Japan. The protagonist, Manji, is a ronin, a masterless samurai with a price on his head. He's a man on the run and has killed a hundred men while trying to escape the clutches of the law, the last one being his brother-in-law. Somehow he bumps into an old lady who infects him with blood worms, worms that are able to knit together damaged flesh. Thus the man who wants to die and be released is made immortal, his only way to salvation is to kill a thousand wrong-doers. On completion of this task he'll be given the cure to the worms and be able to die. So far, so flimsy, I hear you cry. Well, here's where it goes a bit strange for our hero. His first charge is a girl called Rin who wants revenge against the 'Itto-Ryu', a sword school who killed her family; and many volumes and story-arcs later, we are still to complete this first mission. You see, Itto-Ryu is no ordinary school, and Blade turns from being a slash epic in the early books, into a more psychological and philosophical journey. We are treated to some political chess, rival factions, conflicting interests and uneasy alliances as the various strands of the story come together.
Samura is very gifted with his stylus, that's something that cannot be denied. Blade is rendered in black and white pencil with some ink-work in certain frames. The overall style is very kinetic, great movement for the battle sequences, varying between striped down shots of the fighters through to two-page spreads of samurai sword-locked, drawn in lavished detail. You can also see a definite influence on Takehiko Inoue's fight-work in 'Vagabond' comic series (published by Viz). Standard scenes are also drawn with the same care and attention, while the integrity of the comic is also unquestionable. Frames have been cut and moved around so the artwork looks exactly the same as the Japanese original, even though we read left to right, but I have to admit this can cause minor problems in the flow of some fight scenes.
Story wise as well, Samura holds his own. He doesn't pull any punches in his depiction of violence, nor does he glorify, giving the reader an uneasily struck balance between the required and the gratuitous, the only exception for me being his last volume Beasts, which is VERY heavy going. The pace is also kept well. In the early books we get relentless fight after fight after fight. Samura must have realised that keeping this kind of frenetic action going would have required a drop in plausibility and also would have become very repetitive. Thus, after volume 2, we are treated to more exposition, characters become more rounded, with drives and motivations, not only our main pair, but the henchmen of Anotsu, such as Magatsu Taito. This deeper, more textured feel definitely adds to the mood, slowly transforming the work from a cut and dice special into a true 'jidai-geki'.
All in all, I would have to rate this as an excellent series. What starts well just gets better. The main thing is Samura has let his work evolve and not stay stuck in a particular perception of a genre. Even the artwork has progressed, with one of the last duels with Anotsu being particularly striking. On the negative, the pace has slackened in the last couple of volumes, and Beasts is one hard, hard book to get through cos of the subject matter, but things are speeding up again. After the large battle preceding all this, this could be seen as having it's pros and cons. I would definitely recommend that you read some of this, you should be pleasantly surprised, if not hooked like I was!
'Blade of the Immortal' was first published in a compendium book format by Dark Horse Comics in 1997, and is still being written and printed (despite protestations over the last couple of years by Samura that the 'next' cycle will be the last). The 12th volume (Frost Fall) is due out in December.
9/10

Black Cat Volume 1

What is it with titles using the name Black Cat anyway?
How many titles are there again named Black Cat (or some variant)? More than one? Less than four? Something?
Well the latest Black Cat to cross your path did so off of the VIZ line (Shonen Jump to bre precise), and concerns a former assassin turned bounty hunter (aka Sweeper) named Train Heartnet. Once upon a time he was this infamous assassin for this organization called “Chronos”, but after all he left his old calling (maybe because of a certain man who you’ll see pop up in this volume) and went on to become an easygoing food critic… I mean bounty hunter (though he really has a thing about eating, man does he).
Partnered with his pal Sven (who isn’t a bad stereotyped Swedish person) he goes after the big bounty… only it’s not good picking in his chosen profession as this volume starts. First off he ends up “dancing” with a paid hitman of a silly sounding crime family when he ices a man he’s protecting, then he ends up chasing after a guy who eats and runs off without paying his food bills only to run into a former associate of his from the bad old days of Chronos (things don’t go well after that for the guy as he seems intent on bringing Train back to the organization… on his feet or as a kill on his worksheet).
Things are just a warmup as the two end up joining forces with a less than honest female thief with her own agenda… but forget about that, their target is a weapons smuggler who seems to be marketing the latest in bioweapons/nanotechnology that looks like somebody tried to cross the girls of Gunslinger Girl with the body reconfiguring power of… some title. Of course Train has to drop in on the large mansion of the crazed bioweapons madman and his child prodigy, which goes way out of hand… especially with the little revelation that the young bioweapon girl in question seems to have tagged Train as having similar blood to her’s… which means…
Well, if I review this title again maybe we’ll find out.
Otherwise I actually liked this read. It’s a good enough time passer and the action is decent though it’s cast doesn’t really leap out at me as something great. Mildly good, writtem well enough and drawn nicely, maybe you’ll like the cast better than me, but still it does hit the spot for a good read if you need something fresh. 3 out of 5.

Big O V. 1 & 2

“Wake up! Don’t be afraid of knowledge!”
Michael Seebach, aka Schwarzwald (Big O II Episode 17)
One of the series I talk about in glowing terms in term of the Anime series, mainly the Big O from BANDAI, let’s talk about the manga now (and why that’s also worth your time and effort to check out).
Put out by VIZ, and done by Hitoshi Ariga, the series follows the action that happened in the Anime but is not a straight translation (filling in the blanks here and there with either stories that happened between the anime, or stories that take Anime episodes and brings a different slant on it).
Presently you should be seeing Big O II volumes, as Ariga was talking (as of Big O V. 5) about doing a set of mangas concerning the second half of Big O, but this is the first season (Episode 1-13).
Volume 1
(PS - This is the review of the actual issues, back when VIZ put out issue by issue titles at $3.50 a pop. Because of this I don’t have any notes of what “extras” are included in the collected volumes of Big O… sorry.)
40 years ago something happened. Nobody knows what happened… probably because it had to do with everyone losing their memories and all… but 40 years ago everyone lost their memories.
They forgot their lives, they friends, their families, their debts, their profits, their house keys, their house, to make another Dynasty Warriors and Romance of the Three Kingdoms game… whoo-hoo!!
But in this city there’s someone who is ready to negotiate for you. Ready to help you in the crippling maze of lost memories and found troubles amongst the forgetful. A name known to all who know not much.
The Negotiator of Paradigm City. His name is Phoenix Wri-- wait… (blinks)… why the hell does Phoenix Wright (Nintendo DS’s Phoenix Wright : Ace Attorney) look like Roger Smith of Paradigm City?!?
Well, until Sunrise remembers what Roger Smith looks like and sues whoever made Phoenix Wright we’re stuck with the two Rogers… or is it the two Phoenixes… something.
Meanwhile back to Volume 1. The first 4/5th of the title gets you in touch with Roger Smith, and his good work… but the bad guy of the title is somebody you probably didn’t think could lead a title for long, mainly bad old Beck himself (he who thinks he’s The Joker meets some half (bleep) Bond villain).
In two negotiations Smith is going to have his hands full with situations instigated by Beck, who is actually abit smarter than he looks… believe it or not.
Volume 1 ends with the arrival of R Dorothy, and the tie in to Episodes 1 to 2.
Volume 2
At the end of Volume 1 we were left with a cliffhanger in the first appearance of R Dorothy, which ends quickly with her joining the household of Roger Smith and Norman.
From there it’s off to the races of first appearances with the arrival of Angel (she who is known as Wendee Lee in the English dub version), the first appearance of R Instro (he who teaches R Dorothy how to tickle the ebonies and ivories of the piano) as well as a most interesting tale of a killer cyborg who just remembered what he forgot to kill, and finally we wrap Volume 2 with the first appearance (in an alternate tale) of he who is probably the one true “Batman” like enemy of Roger Smith. Former newspaperman Michael Seeback, aka Schwarzwald.
As we end we past the Episode 4 mark, with much yet to go through before we reach the halfway point.
Now the breakdown, quickly now quickly.
Big O Breakdown the 1st & 2nd
What’s Hot?
It’s one of the few series I really really have lots of good things to say about.
Series like this, Cowboy Bebop, Planetes, Galaxy Angel, Azumanga Daioh and more are tops on my list, and this is one of those titles that I feel the same about both the Anime and Manga.
If you love the Anime you’ll love the Manga, but if you are curious about the Anime then maybe you should be picking up the Manga to see if you’ll like it. Either way the manga is worth recommending and checking out, especially since they’re now available as a nice easy to afford $10 a pop (when they first came out they were not so easily priced but not anymore).
What’s Not?
Hmm… I can’t think of a fault with this. Kudos.
Moments to Remember?
Hmm… you can find that for yourself. Really. Though I do have a favorite R Dorothy issue in Volume 3 to talk about, but that’s next review.
What to Ignore?
What do you know… Beck is not such a pain, but the overusage of Beck in Volume 1 though… ah, I guess some people like Beck’s character. I guess.
Overall?
Recommended from me to you. If you can? Try it out. Should be a nice read, and you don’t even need to be a fan of the Anime to like this (but it helps). And you can even fit a few in your Christmas stocking if you want an alternative to candy for Christmas morning.

Betty & Veronica Double Digest #151

Archie Comics have been giving themselves a wee bit of a makeover of late.
First off was the manga-ization of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, now it’s Betty & Veronica’s turn.
Betty & Veronica, the duo that (no) are so not lesbian lovers, step into a new age with the coming of the four part “Bad Boy Trouble”. 24 pages per issue (unless otherwise said on a future review), the groundbreaking new look for the series updates the Betty & Veronica series and makes it more relevant with a fresh visual style you haven’t seen before.
But since this digest is not “Bad Boy Trouble” alone let’s browse quickly the rest of it before we look at the new series.
In “Let it Rain”, Betty finds a rainy day to be almost “soothing”… almost.
In “It’s in the Stars” & “Madwoman of Riverdale”, existence in general seems to have it out against Betty & Veronica… why? I don’t know, but they’re not having a good day.
Actually overall existence burdening Betty & Veronica seems to be a general theme throughout, that and the endless “quest” to get Archie or whoever.
Well, let’s get to it.
For 65 years (as the opening states) the Archie-verse has rolled along and entertained for so long (which you can see from the rest of this digest which is a who’s who of the many years of Betty/Veronica). However 65 years HAVE passed, and maybe it’s a time to give the universe a fresh look.
No, it’s not the manga style (like Sabrina), this time out it’s to ask a question you never thought might be asked… for years, it seems, people have wondered what the Archie universe would look like if the series was drawn in a “realistic” style… no, Alex Ross isn’t drawing the series.
Bad Boy Trouble is the answer to that question.
With a brand new dynamic look that really leaps off the page, with a mix of color and B/W (dream sequences and sitting in a dark theater setting), the new look shines as we see the series’ true potential with this newest “evolution” of the series giving it a fresh feel that should draw a new gathering of readers… IF it is not a one trick wonder.
But first, the story. It’s a typical Betty & Veronica story as a new guy (who is nothing but trouble) threatens to break apart Betty & Veronica as one of them realizes the guy is no good, which may tear the duo apart as he becomes a point of contention that turns the two friends against each other. Of course it may be typical B&V, but that isn’t always a bad thing (if you think about it).
Written with abit more thought and character construct than some of these stories in this Digest, the new look comes with a solid writing style and a promise of greatness that will last long past this experiment (if Archie knew what was good for it).
Over the next 4 issues (Betty & Veronica Double Digest #151 to #154) this will run… but then what? Hopefully Archie Comics has an eye towards the future, and keeps this team together for more and more storylines past this point, because if the series turns out to be a gimmicky one-trick pony then the only ones who are going to suffer from it’s shortness is Archie Comics itself.
To the future of this new step in the evolution of Betty & Veronica, and the future of Archie Comics as a long lived company looking to reach a new audience, Betty & Veronica Double Digest #151 gets… what… it’s only 24 pages and most of it is reprints? Well that may be true, but it’s still a solid own if you are a fan of the pairing (or looking for something new to sink your teeth into that’s abit of serious romantic drama, aka Bad Boy Trouble, and a large fistful of teen angst humor).
Betty & Veronica Double Digest #151 get 4 new age artistic makeovers out of 5.

Berserk

After what may seem like an interminable wait for many manga aficionados, Dark Horse acquired the rights to a seminal epic which many thought would not see the light of day in an English translation form. The artist, Kentaro Miura. The work, Berserk.
This is going to be a difficult one to review, because, at the moment, there is only one volume out in the English form. Miura has been writing Berserk since 1989, and it currently numbers 24 volumes, plus there was an anime released in 1998, which covers the first two story arcs. How much do I let you into? Well, scenario-wise I can say this. Looking at the first volume it seems like we are in a medieval world where sword and sorcery rule, with evil depraved spirits haunting Guts, our protagonist, demons and elves wandering the earth, and unbelievable amounts of violence. But, as the story continues in the following volumes, we find out things were not always this way (apart from the unbelievable amounts of violence). The second arc deals with a flashback to earlier times, where we gradually see how the forces of darkness began to inhabit this world, and Guts' place in the shape of things.
Drawings wise, Miura has definite influences. Tetsuo Hara (Fist of the North Star) can be read as the major one, with the characters faces and physiques echoing Ken and Shin from that manga series, which is not a bad thing. Miura possesses a great way of framing and the ability to strike an image into your mind. For a start, you won't be able to forget the first couple of frames due to the startling introduction to our main character. What he does suffer from is unnecessary cluttering of the frame in the battle sequences, which means it takes a few seconds for the image to sink in and realise who's limb has gone flying where. This does act as a counterpoint to the extreme violence portrayed though, meaning that the reader doesn't feel shock, but gradually has a feeling of uneasiness creep over them as they understand what just occurred. It's an interesting effect, and it works, but the question remains in my mind whether Miura is talented enough an artist to do this intentionally. Sometimes it seems that way, at other times it seems like he's trying too hard. Overall though, the level of work is of a high standard, and the tempo of the characters is shown skilfully.
The starting leaves the reader off-balance, being thrown into a conflict where you don't know what is going on. Gradually the pieces fall into place. The first volume will leave you with more questions unanswered than resolved, but as the story continues you'll begin to see the characters motivations, what has driven them to the point where human life no longer matters, the point where revenge is the only thing that keeps them going. To say the story is dark is an understatement, with the depths of man's ability to inflict misery on others and on themselves shown in its full blood-drenched glory. The levels of violence are extreme with ample sword-fodder provided for our characters, and more than a touch of the sadistic thrown in to boot. The story itself is two-dimensional but the saving grace is the amount of work Miura has put into building the characters. As the series progresses this becomes more evident. It's a good structure. Revenge is primal, so lets keep the story stripped down, raw, but the characters inhabiting this world? Miura would show the story behind Guts tying his boots in a certain way if it added to our understanding.
Berserk will mean different things for different readers. For some it will be one of the best works they have read, others will absolutely hate it. It is a work that gets better the more you think about it. The way Miura at least tries to counterpoint everything makes this a really influential and, I would say, experimental piece. It's hard to think that about something that seems to be played for shock value at many points, and is, at face value, a middle-ages swordfest. But is you look deeper you'll find a very dark and twisted look at human nature. Berserk is very disturbing due to its primal energy and raw emotions, but understand some of Berserk, and you can understand something about man's self-destructive nature. For everyone who doesn't like analysing, there's nothing cooler than some geezer being chopped in half with a big sword. Well, that's what I think anyway.
'Berserk' was first published in 1989 in Japan. Dark Horse and Digital Manga started publishing an English translation in 2003. It's currently standing at 24 volumes with only one released. Dark Horse & Digital Manga are planning to publish the first three volumes, and will gauge demand before publishing the rest. The second volume is out early next year.
8/10

First Look at Beauty Pop V. 1

have fallen a wee bit behind on my reviews of VIZ titles.
As much as I wish VIZ was one of those companies that supplied me with review material copies from time to time (like Broccoli Books, Dark Horse or Icarus Publishing on the hentai side of the reviewing coin) I do still have a thing for their Shojo Beat line of books and titles (even if they are not giving me any to review).
Still, even if I am not presently picking up new graphic novels which I should totally get back on the ball on in September I am not behind on my Shojo Beat manga magazine reading, which I pick up monthly without fail (it’s one of my few monthly rituals that I have).
So, while I am abit behind on the books (need to get Aishiteruze Baby V. 3, Crimson Hero V. 3 and upcoming Nana V. 4) I can tell you about two upcoming titles for the VIZ line, Beauty Pop & Vampire Knight (this is the first look at Beauty Pop, previewed in Shojo Beat V. 2, Issue #8)
The world of fashion has been getting a once over lately. Now I mostly know of the world of fashion through series that focus on clothing and style and so forth, but a good hairstyle is just as important (if not more) than a good selection of clothing or style, which brings us to Beauty Pop.
Instead of being focused on the beauty of a new clothing style, the title takes a most rudimentary thing like a good hairstyle and gives it a shojo style all it’s own.
Kiri Koshiba wields the scissors of beauty (and by that I don‘t mean Weird Al Yankovic worldwide tour named Running With Scissors wield), and in her mind is the ability to unleash the power of making anyone beautiful through the art of hairstyling… yeah, not as impressive as the ancient art of using the force but it’s more useful and no whiney (bleep)er named Anakin ever tried to wipe out the Ancient Order of Hairstylists… so live with it.
A tomboy of a girl, she first uses her talent to help out a poor little girl who has been mauled hairwise by a triple threat of jerk boys with scissors, which by the way seems to be the theme of Beauty Pop since trouble with boys seem to come in threes in this title.
Her nemesis is three annoyingly pretty boy guys (one Chiyo-chan type prodigy without the charm of a Chiyo-chan, one heir to a beauty empire, and one with tons of personality to spare) who seem to form this fashion themed “fad” in her school called “The Scissors Project”. “The Scissors Project” is basically this one trick pony show where they have this 10 minute “timed attack” of beautification where they pick one female student and make her into goddess material… bleah if you’re Kiri and totally not into braggards and egotist in your refined beautiful art of hairstyling (aka the “dark” side of the hair).
And now it’s time to meet the Trek Three of the Scissors Project. The Kirk, Spock and McCoy of fashion (and boy, have I gotten a ton of mileage out of Classic Trek references ever since G4TV hooked me up with Star Trek 2.0! Thanks guys, and I mean it genuinely! Thanks!)
First, in reverse order, is the Doctor of nail manicurists and nail art, Kei Minami (I‘ll call him “Nails“)!
He seems to be the middle ground between the emotional Shogo (“Sho!” (“Jim!”)) and the cold calculating computer Kazuhiko (“Kazu!” (“Spock!”))… no mint julips for you, Kei. His specialty though, besides doing the ladies’ nails, is his spunky energetic personality that makes him ideal for being the MC for each and every one of the “Scissors Project” events.
Second, in reverse order, is the computer with legs (because he is, and so does not have the pizzaz of a Leonard Nimoy in my opinion) Kazuhiko Ochiai (heir to his family‘s gigantic cosmetics company despite the fact that his specialty in the Scissors Project is NOT cosmetics).
Whenever he meets someone he processes all the data on that person in his head, and comes up with an answer time and time again… until somebody throws a pair of scissors into the blender of his mind in the first chapter of the first volume, but that’s in a few minutes.
As for Kazu-cku (who will not go into Pon Farr every seven years) he’s the consultant for overall beauty for the Scissors Project, much as Leonard Nimoy was the consultant for overall logic in the Star Trek Project (and overall 9 out of 10 people would rather be consulted by Leonardy Nimoy than by this Kazu guy).
Finally there is “NAILS!!”… “SPOCK!!”… and the head of the “Scissors Project“… (arms seized up in fake pain)… “KIROK!!”… (oh, wait, wrong episode)…. Uh… “SHOGO!!” (yeah).
Uh… here’s Shogo Narumi, the ringleader of the trio and the one who does the actual nip/cut of the hair. He’s the one, of all three, who gets on heroine Kiri the most. How so? Well, she’s sitting in her awkward eating place on the ledge outside of a window on the second or third floor (which happens to be a good spot to spy on people passing by… speaking of which…) when a childhood friend (Kanako Aoyama) gets humiliated by the head of the “Scissors Project” (which Kiri already thinks is “lame” in her esteemed opinion) it gets her on their fearless leader’s case.
This, however, gets him back on the ball and scheduling another “Scissors Project” (which the trio’s fans have been demanding but to date he has been reluctant to give).
After the event, however, shocker comes when a mysterious beauty shows up only to end up being, yes, the formerly “unbalanced” (beauty wise) Kanako Aoyama which brings the trio to a shrieking halt.
This puts them on the trail of the mysterious hairstylist, who they will find at any cost… I guess.
Oh no, Shogo is angry. “KHHHHHHhhhhhhaaaaannn…” (oh, wait, wrong enemy) “…KIIIIIIIIiiiiiiirrrrrriiiiiiii….” (there, even if they don‘t know it was Kiri as this preview ends)
As for what happens next? That’s for the full review in the near future. Stay tuned.
And is it just me, or is Shojo Beat shilling Yaoi titles abit more prominently than they used to? An entire page ad for a line of Yaoi titles featuring hot blooded beefcake guys in tight tight hotpants, no shirts and all clingy onto each other? Oh, and look, a Brokeback Mountain type hard riding cowboy sto -- whattya mean I’m psychologically scarring you? Uh… ok, let’s just wrap it now. Anyway I can see why and all but it’s 16+ titles here… oh, right, 16+ people are reading Shojo Beat, I got it. Doesn’t mean I have to like it, but I got it. Stay tuned for my review of Beauty Pop V. 1 in the near future, I‘ll order it soon.

Battlestar Galactica

Wrack your mind back, back, back to 1995.
It’s years before the newly restored and revamped Battlestar Galactica would premiere. Similarly long before the spinoff Razor, or the Hollywood Writers’ Strike that would cripple the series and leave it on hiatus filming wise for weeks on end.
And yet at this time Battlestar Galactica is in the public eye again.
It’s 1995 and Rob Liefeld (he, if memory serves, one did a biographical comic about -- himself) did the continuing saga of Battlestar Galactica in comic format. This short mini series featured the original classic cast, newly revisioned ship designs and new ways to look at the whole series including a new way to draw Cylons, and -- a large T-Rex versus a Viper, something about Eden (and Adam & Eve the people), and the continuing search for Earth… yeah, I bet you totally missed this release, didn’t you.
Written by Rob Liefeld and Robert Napton, the story opens with Lorne Greene… I mean Adama about to pass on. With the fleet on the run, pushed by the relentless march of the Cyclons, it is almost a welcome release to suddenly find the fleet in orbit over what seems to be the Earth… except for the fact that the planet is occupied by dinosaurs and a strange artifact that seemingly marks the planet as Earth (and all that 13th Tribe stuff). Yeah, didn’t they find Earth in the old TV Series and it was like our Earth and not this world? I think so, which means if this isn’t Earth then it must be… a trap?
I don’t know what’s worst about Liefeld’s Galactica. That’s it’s completely overbearing and rambling (fans of the new Galactica are so not going to like this vision of the series) or the fact that Rob Liefeld didn’t draw this and yet it looks like his artwork throughout (some of the characters look like leftover cast from his old work on his X-stints).
I’d have to say that the title is totally a 360 flip from the kind of Galactica you’ve become addicted to as of late. Instead of the hardcore sexy nasty totally deep sci-fi you’ve been enjoying it’s campy, whacked, abit overdone and overall not something if you are a present fan unless you are totally into all things Galactica. Unless you are trying to make the ultimate collection with all incarnations of the series (including this) then you might as well not go through the trouble of finding this one in some back box in the bargain bin of your local well stocked comic shop (either this graphic novel or the original issues).
If I were to hold this up as a title to tempt people into the series… I’d hide it, it’s not the face of Galactica I want people to see if they’re making up their minds about being fans.
Still… it’s there, you can’t ignore it since it is a piece of the old history (good or ill), and it’s at least average… if again too campy for words. Rob Liefeld, wherever you are (and whatever you’re doing now) you tried your best (I think), but really… an autobiographical comic about YOURSELF?!? I hope by now you got over you already. 3 out of 5, Rob, live with it.

Ikki Tousen (Battle Vixens) V. 1

Ever had the misfortune of reading a title whose only saving grace (if you can call it that) is it’s pure fan service appeal and… well… turns out it’s NOT as appealing as it should have been? That is the case when fan service and violence finally proves that bouncy jiggly females falling out of their tight skimpy clothes while beating on others really can stop being appealing after almost immediately if done wrong… like here.
Say hello to severe fan service gone wrong Ikki Tousen, aka Battle Vixens depending on what “print” of this manga you are picking up. Violence slathered with a fistful of near bare ladies jiggling it all (including a ton of panty shots, near topless shots and more and as close to nude as possible shots) shouldn’t be so unappealing, and yet it is. Still, despite of this, Ikki Tousen somehow managed to also (besides a manga) have an Anime DVD Series… AND a shot on the PSP UMD format with one release (to date)… which seems to me abit too much for a series that is mostly inept titillation than anything truly serving fans (seeing how this is supposed to be, you know, “Fan Service” and all).
Don’t commit this to memory, it’s not going to matter all that much.
Ages ago during the Three Kingdoms era (as in the actual Three Kingdoms era which inspired the whole Romance of the Three Kingdoms franchise from KOEI) heroes tried to unite China… then said heroes began to roll over in their graves as their deeds spawned a series of not so satisfying titillation and violence that could have been more satisfying if it, you know, went the last 10% of the way and went hentai on viewers since, well, this almost hentai -- urgh -- never mind. (Then again for all we know a fully hentai Ikki Tousen could have just been a drawn out goofy version of Iron Virgin Jun).
Meet Hakufu Sonsaku, whose mother wants her to become a dignified woman and marry a rich man. Buuuuttttt…. With her perchance for loving violence, losing her clothes, wearing skimpy stuff in the first place and overall being a titillating source of violence you stop caring that Sonsaku is going to be moving to this school of violence just because she saw this little thing carried by this weird guy who tested her (and later on she’s supposed to be some reincarnation of one of those ancient heroes which probably is more of a disappointment to those ancient heroes than you could possibly imagine). Meet a few more characters, see her flaunt her body more and punch more things (and get punched in turn) and you got the gist of the first volume of disappointment.
If you are (overall) seeking something deep and/or profound in this title you’re going to be so disappointed. Fan service laden titles are just for careless shameless guilty pleasure fandom and that’s it. Must be working though as somehow it warranted an Anime series AND that, in turn, warranted a shot on the PSP system for a UMD shot. I couldn’t disagree more that this series isn’t all that, or worth that much attention (right up to the doors of the PSP) but I’m not the target of this series, someone else is.
Let’s just break this down already.
Ikki Tousen Smackdown V. 1
What’s Hot?
I guess the fact this is quite shameless violence and titillation is hot for some. I mean if you like this sort of thing then here you go, ask not why this title is smeared with a OT for Older Teen rating because I just explained in triplicate why this title has that OT for Older Teen rating.
Guess this shouldn’t have been, but somebody out there likes this sort of thing. Not me though.
What’s Not?
If you’d expect more out of your titillation and violence then you’re not going to go for this.
If you DON’T expect more out of your titillation and violence the… well.. Rejoyce I guess.
Moments to Remember?
Let’s see… (flips through pages randomly)… violence… (flips)…kissing… (flips)… mysterious girl with a medical patch over one eye… (flips)… panty shot during violent fight scene with mysterious girl with medical patch over one eye flashing panties… ok, you get the gist of it.
What to Ignore?
Nothing if you are into this sort of thing.
Overall?
Think I said enough about this one. Nuff said until the next time I need to fill a quota and remember I have Volume 2 of this one for a quickie review (which is seemingly what all the action in this manga is, quickies)
I’m giving this one two well endowed violent jiggly hyperactive high school girls out of 5.

Basilisk vol 1-4

I’ll make this quick. If you liked Ninja Scroll at all, there’s a good chance you’ll love Basilisk too.
At first glance Basilisk appears to be little more than a Ninja Scroll rip-off - even its sub-title of ‘The Kouga Ninja Scrolls’ is a bit of a giveaway. But a quick scan through Tanoshimi’s set of extras at the back of the book reveals Basilisk is actually based around a novel by Futaro Yamada which was published in the late 1950's. As it turns out, in all probability Yoshiaki Kawajiri was heavily influenced by Yamada’s novels. Well...maybe influenced is too kind a word given the almost uncanny similarities between the two, but considering that imitation is supposed to be the most sincere form of flattery, that should bode well for Basilisk...
The set-up is simple - the former Shogun Ieyasu, in an amazing turn of fair-handedness, has decided that two rival ninja clan must fight on behalf of his heirs in order to determine his eventual successor. Cue one massive ninja bloodbath while the Shogun sits around scratching his big fat ass. The scroll of the title contains ten names from both the Kouga and the Iga clan which must be eliminated in order for either side to emerge victorious; although they’ll need little motivation considering they’ve been sworn enemies for centuries, only held back by a truce penned by Hanzo Hattori. All of which makes life much more complicated for young Gennosuke and Oboro, two ninja from the rival clans who will see their unlikely wedding plans scuppered by these unexpected developments.
From the very first pages Basilisk sets the pace - this is a purely action-driven manga with only minimal character or story development to speak of. And that’s certainly true of the ninja who killed off early in the proceedings as that list of 20 is whittled down to only a handful, helpfully pointed out by each chapter’s heading which is named ‘10 vs 10', ‘7 vs 9' etc etc. As the story progresses we do get to know some of the surviving ninja a little better through their back story and relationships with other ninja - all of which is all handled surprisingly well for an action title - but yet I wouldn’t really approach Basilisk with this in mind.
The action takes up the majority of the page space, and this is where Basilisk really comes in to its own. I’ve always thought that action is so much more difficult to convey on paper than it is on screen, yet Basilisk circumnavigates the usual problems by concentrating more on the situation building up to the fight rather than the actual fight itself. As any reader of Golgo 13 knows, this is a much more effective way of creating the suspense and excitement usually associated with action (although maybe not quite to the extent of that particular title). That’s not to say that Basilisk shies away from a good bout of ninja fisticuffs - the headcount and levels of violence should please any fan of Sonny Chiba - but much like his seminal Lone Wolf and Cub series, it’s so much more than that.
Although it is set during a specific time and place and features such real-world figures as Hanzo Hattori, Basilisk actually has its foot set firmly in the realms of fantasy. This should be clear from the opening sequences which feature a ninja with bulbous growth on his back and thin, spindly legs which can only be described as resembling a pregnant spider. Eww. And even more grotesque, imaginative creatures make an appearance as the story moves on, some of which you might recognise from a certain film directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Not all characters feature such freakish proportions, but they all can boast some kind of incredible special power and half the fun is waiting to discover exactly what this is and how they’ll make use of it to try and knock off a few more rival ninja.
And Masaki Segawa, the artist responsible for adapting Futaro Yamada’s novel to manga, has done a fine job bringing these characters to life. The heavy use of photographic and CGI backgrounds does create a very dark, grey look to the comic, yet somehow this also helps to put emphasis on the characters themselves, which are drawn in a very expressive and distinctive style. It might not be the most saleable of styles, but it suits Basilisk perfectly.
It’s such an easy title to read, and at only five volumes in length it’s fairly easy on the wallet, too. In all honesty I’d usually find it difficult to recommend such an action-driven manga, but Basilisk is a welcome exception. And even though I’ve not yet read the final volume (expect an update when I get my hands on it), it would take a catastrophe of epic proportions to change my mind. If you’re a Ninja Scroll fan like myself you’re sure to love it, but even those of you who are after a good action title could do a lot worse than seek out a copy of Basilisk.

Banya : The Explosive Deliveryman V. 1

It’s been awhile, hasn’t it. Since the last time I reviewed a Korean Manhwa.
Not to be confused with Manga (Japanese), Manhwa (Korean) is a flavor all it’s own (with it’s own favorite genres and story types). Action (with a dash of weirdness), however, does seem to be one of the favorite archetypes of the standard Manhwa publication, which we got here in Banya : The Explosive Deliveryman.
According to title creator Kim Young-Oh, it was the sight of a sweat laden postal worker delivering the mail (on a beat-up motorcycle) during a hot day that inspired this book, dedicated to South Korea’s mailmen… how this exactly is a tribute to postal employees when it seems all the postmen in this book are half mercenary living in some dark age (possibly post apocalyptic future) world is not too clear to me.
Don’t ask how the world neded up like this, the book doesn’t seem to want to tell you, and believe you me I looked! Yes, the world does seem to be in the middle of a war between humanity and this strange monster race called the Torren (it’s like the Dark Ages went and pissed off J.R.R. Tolkien, only to have Tolkien retaliate by ripping open a can of Lord of the Rings all over the Dark Ages’ rear), but nobody goes into WHY there’s a war between humans and the blatent “Urukai” (forgot how to spell it… darn, it’s not like Lord of the Rings was only finished a few years ago so why did I forget how to spell that anyway!!) warriors (complete with ripoff weapons and costumes as if they were hired right off the set of Lord of the Rings)… nobody even goes into whether this is the past or the future, while I’m at it.
All you need to know as the book opens (according to the book) is that there’s this LOTR epic battle going on over this castle (it’s like it’s Helm’s Deep all over again) and this postman named Banya (who will, thankfully, not give you Kevin Costner from The Postman flashbacks… blessed aren’t we…) who smashes his way through a legion of these LOTR ripoff creatures to deliver the mail… then blackmail the commander of said castle to deliver a message for reinforcements back to their main forces. Nice guy.
Then he goes off back through the forces and that’s it for this scene.
You never find out what happened to all these humans. Did reinforcements arrive in time? Did the monsters win or lose? Did the commander of this castle ever hire another postman to slit Banya’s throat? Who knows! We cut to the female lead of this book, Mei, as she runs into Banya and forms a friendship with him over her insistent screeching and crying over every mutant monster animal (and not so mutant monster animal) that is killed in this book by Banya for food (or survival). She then becomes a homicidal basket case and screams, beats Banya and the book’s young male sidekick Kong (no relation to the large primate of the same last name) around a lot, and acts like a stereotypical female lead character (violence = results).
After that a mysterious courier delivering a vital message (surprise surprise) is saved by Banya and his small gang, and Banya takes on the task of delivering the message… only for the guys who were hunting said courier to find him, cut him in half, and then get talked into taking Mei with them to “deliver” them to the message Banya is carrying (with Kong following behind them).
Story ends with Kong catching up to… eh? Banya? How the hell did he get AROUND Mei and the guys she’s with to somehow get ahead of them… anyway cliffhanger ending as Mei is still in their “guard” (but they’re not threatening to kill her or anything… yet…) and Banya still has that message they seem so hot to get ahold of. Guess I need to order the next volume to tell you what happens next, something for my must order list, but for now let’s break this down.
Banya Breakdown the 1st
What’s Hot?
Well… it’s not horrible. I mean as an action spiel it’s an OK read, and I kinda liked it. Mei’s an OK character and it has some action to it, that’s good.
What’s Not?
However the “World” of Banya is not laid out very well. Without a backstory (yet), history of how the world came to be, or (in fact) anything to really make Banya, Mei and Kong stand out as really intense and interesting characters (besides their sadly cliché personalities that you’ve seen before) I can’t recommend this more as a mild read for that next plane trip or train ride (plane trip since you’ll probably not be allowed to carry your PSP or NDS into the plane, or use it, due to restrictions on stuff like that).
It’s not like this is a horrible title, it just that it’s not really leaping out as this great wonderful read either!
Moments to Remember?
I guess Mei’s first appearance is memorable, and the stuff right up to her being “captured” (voluntarily) by the mysterious men (who don’t seem to have much personality but are quite violent -- sometimes).
What to Ignore?
Nothing yet, let’s just see what that message Banya is delivering is and why it’s so important that it has to be delivered, and that’s going to be next review… so stay tuned.
Overall?
In the end, at this first volume? Let’s split the difference. I am hopeful (fingers crossed) that this book is going to take off at Volume 2 (and things will really start to pick up it’s pacing once things start rolling) but for now let’s give this an even keeled 3 and call it a day.
I kinda liked it, but it wasn’t the best thing I have ever read, Manhwa or Manga-wise.
Now it’s my turn to deliver something to Banya, as I bring his a package that is 3 Special Delivery points out of 5... Now gimme my 350. Pay! Pay! Pay!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Azumanga Daioh GN 1 to 2

tudio - ADVManga
Age - Teen (13+)
By Kiyohiko Azuma
ADVManga credits
Translators - Kay Bertrand, Amy Forsyth, Javiar Lopez and Al Rodriguez
Publishing Editor - Susan Itin
Graphic Novel 1
You are cordially invited to spend abit of quality time (about 3 years) with the class of Room 103 slash 203 slash 303 and one Miss Yukari (English Teacher).
From the start as you open the pages, and the book's four panel comic strip format which you might be more familiar with from the newspaper (the funnies page) you enter a world that is both engaging, humorous, and thought provoking.
As you enter the "world" of Miss Yukari you'll meet her class of irregulars (I.e. the cast of the series) and get to know them better, one at a time...
Chiyo Mihama - The 10-year old child prodigy who has come to High School ‘cause she's smart enough to be there. She's the daughter of a rich family yet she doesn't let that go to her head. Quite a likable personality.
Sakaki - The strange contradiction that is Sakaki. The class athlete and seemingly a tomboy, she is in fact quite the opposite and has a particular love for cats (even if cats don't love her back).
Kaorin - She who may in fact be madly in love with Sakaki.
Tomo - The wildchild of the class, the chaos in order and the overall comic relief... next to one other... childhood friends with classmate Yomi.
Yomi - The most levelheaded and normal of the gang. Childhood friends with classmate Tomo and sort of an odd couple partner with her (being the straight arrow to Tomo's wild irregular personality).
Miss Kurosawa (Nyamo) - Yukari's so called "rival" but mostly her own "odd couple" friend slash counterpart which again plays on their interactions and occasional rivalries for humor (effectively too I might add).
The Biting Cat - ...well, we DO see this cat quite often...
We meet everyone, learn abit about them, then things get shaken up as a new student arrives.
The girl from Osaka, Ayumu Kasuga, soon to be known as "Osaka".
Mind you at first she seems pretty stable... then all bets are off as Osaka becomes the girl we all know and... well... know.
Enjoy academics, PE class (including the usage of volleyballs as dangerous weapons), computer class, lunch, the discovery of a lost kitten, tests and then go right into Summer.
One difference between the Anime version and Manga version of Summer...
Oh, wait, before I go into that I'll note the MAJOR difference between the Anime and Manga.
Other series they usually translate the manga into anime format in a uniform manner (Graphic Novel 1 is the first 2 or 3 episodes, Graphic Novel 2 is the next set and so forth).
This series, however, jumps willy nilly all over the place to form the 3 years in the Anime series.
That's why, for instance, DVD Volume 1 alone has scenes from this Graphic Novel, Graphic Novel 2, Graphic Novel 3 and probably Graphic Novel 4! Same for each following DVD no doubt!
It's different, and it works, that's all that matters.
One thing you won't find in the Anime, however, is Chiyo-chan/Osaka's time working at the local Magnetron Hamburger (misspelled Humburger in the translation) which didn't make the cut, it seems, on the Anime episode representing the first summer break.
Then it's the Primary Class Election between Chiyo-chan and Tomo.
Then we have the first Sports Festival which announces the arrival of Kagura (from Miss Kurosawa's class), and the first Cultural Festival which features the cute stuffed animal exhibit, and wraps with Christmas.
There's more, of course, but I don't want to tell you everything -- where's the fun in that?
Graphic Novel 2
A brand new year is upon the students of the class of 103.
Yomi's going on a die-- I mean a weight reduction program.
(Never ever use the word "diet", it's no good.)
The first dreams of the new year featuring "Flyin' Chiyo" and the first appearance of the alien cat who Sakaki believes may be Chiyo‘s father.
The big marathon and the few of the cast who were "Left Behind" at the back of the pack.
Chiyo-chan turns 11.
Year 1 becomes Year 2 and Kagura joins the cast.
A case of potentially fatal Osakan hiccups, a day in the life of Chiyo-chan, and Summer Break Take 2.
That and lots more, but if I told you everything that'd spoil all the fun.
Azumanga Daioh Breakdown the 1st & 2nd (of 4)
What's Hot?
Whattya mean what's hot? It's a solid piece of work here and well deserving of all the praise it's been getting in both Anime/Manga circles.
Touted by Susan Itin (ADVManga) as being the Anime/Manga "Seinfeld", it is the Essential of a new generation. Wherein classics like Oh My Goddess!, Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2, Tenchi Muyo and so forth are the Essentials of their time, this is the Essential experience of a new generation of Otaku.
Yet it can also be enjoyed by old fans as it is a solidly done piece of work that is perfect in both writing and artwork, and enjoyable from beginning to end.
It's short (only 4 Graphic Novels and 26 Episodes) but worth every moment.
What's Not?
Other than the fact it's short? Nothing. It's one good series and I can't rave enough about it.
Okay. There is one thing. Once you've seen a series like this other series set in schools seem to pale.
Top on my list is another ADV title, the extremely long titled All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku TV.
It's set in school, and Nuku Nuku's classmates get more airtime, but in comparison to a slice of life piece of genius like Azumanga Daioh this series is just flat.
It has it's appeal but it's characters are far too relentless in their character stereotypes. Relentless to the point of becoming a tad annoying. There's no depth to the characters like in Azumanga Daioh, and the characters don't have appealing personalities like in Azumanga Daioh.
The characters in Azumanga Daioh are lovable, deep, thought provoking, and enjoyable.
Maybe it was a blessing to other series that Azumanga Daioh was so short. It's a hard act to follow.
Moments to Remember
...now that's a LONG long long long list... got a few hours to listen to it all?
It's all memorable. From beginning to end. Period.
What to Ignore?
Nothing. Don't ignore it! It's good! Pick it up and read it!
Overall?
An essential of a new generation, it is one of those rare titles that come out of nowhere and just grabs onto your attention like nobody's business and holds on tight. A true "Essential" that'll earn a place in both your Manga and Anime collections no questions asked.
A truly precious series to be treasured and enjoyed.
So go forth and seek "Grains of truth" and buy both Azumanga Daioh GN 1 to 4 (ADVManga) and Azumanga Daioh DVD Volume 1 & 2 (if it's not out now it's coming soon)!

Aria GN 1

Studio - ADVManga
Age - All Ages
By Kozue Amano
ADV Manga Staff
Translator - Kay Bertrand
Lead Translator/Translator Supervisor - Javier Lopez
ADV Manga Translation Staff - Amy Forsyth, Brendan Frayne & Eiko McGregor
Publishing Editor - Susan Itin
Assistant Editor - Margaret Scharold
Editorial Assistant - Varsha Bhuchar
Graphic Novel 1
I checked it out in the dictionary, the term "Aria", and found this.
Aria (n) - A vocal piece with accompaniment sung in solo; part of an opera.
Perfect for the title in my opinion, and I'll go into that abit more as we roll along.
One hundred and fifty years have passed since terraforming of the planet Mars has turned it from a stark lifeless desert into a water world where 90% of the surface is covered with oceans.
How did that come about? Who would have thought Mars had ice to spare! Once the polar caps melted it turned a majority of the world into a water planet, hence why the world was eventually named Aqua (the world of water). Life eventually flourished in the form of immigrants from Earth, and a human world abit primitive in comparison to life on Earth took root.
Now, at the 150 year anniversary in the year 2301, in a city called Neo Venezia, the story begins.
This is the story of young Akari Mizunashi, and her dream to become a full fledged gondolier (known on this world as "Undines") navigating the watery canals of Neo Venezia on her gondola working for the Aria Company (seemingly from what I can see of it a small but hard working gondola company in Neo Venezia).
The info on the back of the book, however, is misleading in a few points.
Point 1 - It claims she is alone, but she'll never be alone as long as she has her friends.
First there is Alicia, her instructor and mentor, who guides her through the paces on her quest to become a full fledged Undine. Then there's her best friend Aika, who works for a rival company, who also helps her but in a different way than Alicia (who Aika looks up to and admires since Alicia is one of the best Undines on Aqua). Finally there's company mascot "President Aria", the blue eyed cat like creature that is the company mascot. All Undine companies in Neo Venezia have a blue eyed cat as a mascot, and the mascot is always named "President (company name)", hence "President Aria".
And of course there's the citizens of Neo Venezia, as well as those just visiting, who also for brief moments give her company as they board her boat and pass in and out of her life as briefly as a short rainstorm.
Hence why the term "Aria" suits this book best if I got the gist of the term right. Like an Aria, a vocal piece sung in solo with accompaniment, thus is the life of trainee Undine Akari Mizunashi.
It is her solo life, but it is made brighter and more complete with the "accompaniment" of friends, co-workers and the people she meets each and every day she lives and works in Neo Venezia.
I don't know if I got that right, but it seems so right to me at least.
Point 2 - Abit of emphasis on how "primitive" Aqua is.
Well if you want to fixate on how Neo Venezia doesn't look like a set piece from Star Trek-The Next Generation that‘s all well and good, but as you read the book you don't think as much about how "primitive" Neo Venezia is (in comparison to the futuristic floating cities high above that regulate weather on Aqua keeping it perfect year round, or what the Earth must look like), you think more how beautiful it is. Every page there's something to see, and the whole city just spreads out as a wonder to behold rather than a symbol of "primitive life".
If this is the "simple life" than FOX should get the rights to show Aria on primetime because this is truly a simple life worth watching, and reading. Beautiful, attention grabbing, and just something you have to see.
And see you will see lots in this first Graphic Novel.
Travel the canals of Neo-Venezia as you watch Akari help a man find his daughter and her husband, and ultimately maybe find abit of himself in the process.
Watch gondola washing day, and meet Aika (Akari's friend) for the first time.
Wait on a bridge with Akari for Aika, and meet Akari's first customer who has "affectionately" nicknamed her "pigtails"…. though affection doesn't seem to play into it since he seems obsessed with yanking on said pigtails constantly. Stop it!
Visit an island with a Japanese shrine on it's shore, and behold the Wedding of the Inari Fox!
Finally take a trip once again through Neo Venezia on the Vogare Longa, and see how Akari deals with this event, which is rumored to be a "test" of would be Undines who want to become full fledged in their art.
From beginning to end it's a beautiful, quiet yet intense, interesting and simple read that flows with beautiful artwork, a lovely enticing story, and just plain goodness from beginning to end.
Breakdown coming, and you won't be disappointed!
Aria Breakdown the 1st
What's Hot? Sometime ago at CWN I did a review of Kaleido Star episode 1, and noted how beautiful it was because of it's simplistic styling and the purity of it's lead character's dream (to star in the circus that she has been fascinated with since childhood).
Well, if that was beautiful and pure, then this even more beautiful because it's far more simple and pure than that! The dream to become a full fledged Undine, and row the canals of Neo Venezia forever is the dream of our heroine, and it even beats out the dream of Kaleido Star because in that one she wants to be a circus star while here our heroine just wants to be the best she can be and live her life doing what she loves.
That, in my opinion, is truly a pure and beautiful dream which is embodied well in the well crafted artwork, the lovely storytelling, and the overall package that flows like a softly running river with it's beautiful dream from beginning to end of Graphic Novel 1.
It makes me want to just run out and get Graphic Novel 2 because it's so well done. Kudos to Kozue Amano who did an excellent job on Aria. Well done.
What's Not? Nothing. It's excellent.
Moments to Remember? From beginning to end it's all memorable. Sometimes even heartwarming and funny and just plain good. It's all good.
What to Ignore? Nothing… well, MAYBE the hair pulling first customer. Geez! You have something for her you don't have to yank her hair like that! As adorable as it may be try not to be so touchy pully! Sheesh!
Overall? A beautiful dream, written and drawn to reflect the beauty of that dream.
From beginning to end of Graphic Novel 1 a visual treat, and a quiet yet enjoyable read that flows as quietly and calmly as the canals of Neo Venezia, promising a trip that takes it's time, and is beautiful because it does take it's time and doesn't rush it. A must read in my opinion.

Manga Fans Unite! Aquarian Age GN 1 (Deluxe Edition)

Studio - Broccoli Books
Age - 13+
By Sakurako Gokurakuin
Original Concept by Broccoli
Broccoli Books Staff
Translation - Rie Hagihara
English Adaptation - Stephanie Sheh
Clean-up - Tim Law
Touch-up and Lettering - Chris McDougall
Editor - Satsuki Yamashita
Graphic Novel 1
(Since I did a review of Galaxy Angel I kept to the theme and brought you a review of another Broccoli Books title, Aquarian Age).
Before We Begin... a little history.
I don't know about you, but nothing cracks my dilithium crystals more than finding out somebody has been waging a secret war for a few thousands of years and neglected to fill me in on it!
Sheesh! Share why dontcha!
The origins of this thousands year old war, however, is abit more complex.
Originally an original TCG (Trading Card Game) by Broccoli in Japan, this manga was born from a poster drawn by Sakurako Gokurakuin, and eventually took a life all it's own by becoming both a manga AND a CD drama! Good luck on ever seeing the CD drama though unless they attach it as an extra on the Aquarian Age movie DVDs much like BANDAI has been doing on some of their DVDs (attaching the CD dramas onto certain series' DVDs as a unique and splendid little extra!)
As for the game itself? I don't know if the cards are available in English or not, but the game looks rather complex (there's even an extra focusing on it but I'll go more into that in the Optional Extras section.)
And Now...
Seven years ago something happened to Mana that changed her life, and sent her away.
Now that she's sixteen she has returned to her hometown with a new school, and the desire to see her childhood friend. However things aren't as simple as that as she's about to find out.
For instance she's barely in school one day and already somebody has went out of his way to freeze the whole school in a binding spell just to try and test her, and most likely kill her.
Why test her? Well, there's THAT secret war that's been waging for thousands of years.
In this war there are factions (each with members who have unique powers and abilities), but if that isn't enough to handle there's the introduction of a NEW darker faction that might have alien connections that could make things worse.
Oh, why test Mana? Apparently she may be a "Mind Breaker", and that makes her the "Captain" of the team she is going to end up leading in this war... which will include her childhood friend, the one who originally tried to kill her (she didn't mind), and three more including one who seems to have the ability to sprout angel wings from his head.
This is only the beginning. Next time we return to review this Mana should find herself deeper and deeper in this war, and in graver and graver mortal danger.
But for now let's wrap and give the extras and breakdown.
Optional Extras
Translator Notes - Short but useful.
Trading Card Game Info - Want to know how to play the Aquarian Age TCG? Here's your 4-1-1.
Aquarian Age Breakdown the 1st
What's Hot? It's pretty good. Strictly speaking as one of those "it's so secret we're surprised we told ourselves" wars it's a rather nice read. With good pacing, nice artwork, interesting concept and nice storytelling it's a good read.
What's Not? - My only stipulation about the title is that it reminds me of a quote from the All Dogs Go To Heaven movies. Here's a general idea of the quote, don't ask for 100% accuracy though.
"Now I can see why they call it "eternity"... everything takes FOREVER!"
And, thus, is this title. At times single scenes seem to just go on, and on, and on, and on for pages on end.
It's good in one sense because there's detailed storytelling at work, but then again I wish sometimes more got done and some scenes didn't just go on!
Given the balance? I have to say that it's not a big "Not", and if you like having a read that doesn't skimp too much on the details then this might in fact be a selling point for you.
Moments to Remember? Hmm... it's a balanced book but nothing really leaped out at me as truly memorable except for some of the moments with Mana.
What to Ignore? Nothing. Paying attention here is a good thing.
Overall? For a beginning to the manga series of Aquarian Age I found good things here. It occasionally went on and on but for the most part I enjoyed reading it. Solid work here, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the title will take us when I review Graphic Novel 2.

Aoi House V. 1

Have you ever heard it said that if you tried to appease everyone you run the chance of appeasing nobody?
That is the thought we hold in mind as we approach Aoi House, a title that is supposed to appeal to BOTH male and female readers alike with male and female fan service… which will become painfully obvious as you start looking into this one to realize that fan service IS the order of the day with this one.
Now sit down my Yaoi pet… and yes, that is as awkward as it sounds… as I tell you of two losers (Alex the good looking but not all there guy, and Sandy the eternally doomed to being hit and tortured geek) who seem to have a disconnect with the thing called “reality” as they are thrown out of their latest college dorming after so many incidents which ended in the forced “mating” of Sandy’s pet ham-ham “Echiboo” (which is supposed to be Ebichu because Echiboo is… something nasty, which fits this not so pure ham-ham) with one of the “authority” of the college’s hairpieces… ew.
Forced to look for new housing they decide to crash at a local anime group’s pad only to find that it’s filled with women who have the hots for hot guy on guy action (Yaoi)… Yaoi? You don’t know… maybe you do, but just in case… There are two main trains of “thoughts” when it comes to gay/lesbian connections. Yaoi/Yuri. This is basically just a simplified explanation just so we get the meaning across, though I am sure there are more complex explanations out there.
Yuri, of course, is woman on woman (a popular urban myth is that Yuri as a term came about is a reference to the dark haired Yuri from the Dirty Pair series, who was often written in fan writings as a couple with Kei -- btw, Yuri‘s English voice actress from the Carl Macek days of Streamline dubs is, yup, popular English voice actress Wendee Lee).
Yaoi, then as reason has it, is the opposite. The train of thought of man on man couplings.
This is the lifeblood of Aoi House, originally called “Yaoi House” before the “Y” mysteriously fell off the house -- maybe it was crazed woman Morgan’s fault… anyway for whatever reason two straight guys (their hamster and a new female member who happened to show up the same day the guys showed up) have become accepted into a house of questionable women whose motives for having them there vary (from the need to keep them in order to keep their club going, to the need to make one of them her personal Yaoi pet).
The house is a who’s who of stereotypes.
The hyperactively violently high strung Elle (good at synchronized swimming, from a rich family, and favorite “victim” of Echiboo’s panty thieving) starts us off a the President of Yaoi House (Aoi House). Then we have Nobue wannabe Nina, who drinks and smokes her way into our hearts… right. Nobue is better than that. After that the total tease Jessica who trains as a nurse, dresses in nurses’ gear or little bitty panties/top (and seems to victimize Sandy a lot and takes advantage of his insecurity with women without ever being … yeah, I didn’t think he’d ever get any either).
New member Maria (the glasses wearing reserved personality, as if there was any other kind), and finally the insanity that is Morgan (and yet it’s somehow a cute insanity).
Oh, and then there’s the mysterious “Carlos” he or she (or both) who founded the organization originally. All of these form the essential “meat” of the series, and perhaps it’s fatal flaw.
The title is pure fan service fun, and maybe that might be a turnoff because you will find that there is lots of fan service, right… but very little that you haven’t seen before. The title is nice, but is a living breathing walking sign of humor that (if it worked once) works over and over again, like the gift that keeps giving that isn’t Ebola or the Bird Flu pandemic.
However if you were hoping for a fresh breeze of original from Aoi House you will mostly be disappointed. I am sure, very sure, that quite abit of this is “been there done that” territory that doesn’t feel all that fresh. It’s nice, and the read is raunchy bit of naughty (since no punches are pulled except the most obvious bits of “censorship” which doesn’t hurt this title in the slightest in this Older Teen 16+ fare) but it is not a fresh original breeze of naughty guilty pleasure. A pleasure, but abit dated or at least not showing anything you probably have seen before in humor genres that do the fan service thing.
Aoi House Breakdown the 1st
What’s Hot?
The title reads like a little humor guilty pleasure filled with fan service and biting humor. Nice, and a nice change of pace from titles that play it all too safe, so I do have a soft spot for Aoi House.
What’s Not?
Now I didn’t say it was an original slice of guilty pleasure, just a guilty pleasure worth reading.
Don’t expect the title to remake the fan service wheel or anything when you read it, just expect a nice read.
Moments to Remember?
Way way lots… definitely lots. You betcha.
What to Ignore?
Uh… maybe you saw it before but you might as well ignore it since it’s still somewhat good in these days where people are just too darn sensitive about every little thing. A little guilty pleasure read now and then is a good thing, even if it is abit familiar in territory.
Overall?
I can’t think of much else to say that I haven’t said already so I’ll just finish it off.
I couldn’t give this a 3 because it wasn’t horrible. I couldn’t give it a 5 because it’s not perfect.
So I split the difference and give it a 4... Out of 5. Nuff said.

Angelic layer

First off this manga series is done by Clamp and it shows. Its typical clamp style a cute girl trying to give her very best in a difficult situation. The lead character Misaki Suzuhara is very much like Sakura from card captors. She small and puny yet her heart and determination are so strong that she accomplishes great things. The manga series though is printed by tokyopop so its read from the back forward which is cool.
The plot is very basic, and why shouldnt it be? There doesnt have to be a long and twisty plot to keep people entertained. Misaki moved to tokyo to attend a school there and while shes there she discovers angelic layer, a table top game where players (known as deuses) battle one another using small dolls which they customise so each one is individual to the player, and basically thats it. Misaki makes a doll (named hikaru from magic knight rayearth) and battles it right up to the national tournament. The end. Its sweet and lovely to read, and Misaki is just so caring and cute that you cant help being happy when things go her way, and sad when they dont.
One thing I love about this series (which is 5 books long) is at the beginning of each book there are newpaper articles, most of which relate to angelic layer but some of the side lined articles are chobits/cardcaptor/rayearth in fact all clamp related. Its pretty clever as they tie in other clamp productions into the angelic layer theme, which i thought was utterly charming, and in my opinon charm is what Clamp does best.
If you want something light and happy to read then I couldn't recommend anything better than Angelic Layer

Alien Nine: Emulators

Studio - CPM Manga
Age - Mature Teen (16+)
By Hitoshi Tomizawa
CPM Manga Staff
Translator - Laura Jackson & Yoko Kobayashi
Retouch and Lettering by Mark McMurray
Previously...
The world changed when first contact was made with aliens... in a rather bad way.
Ever since then aliens have been coming to the Earth, only to be fought by children.
That's the official story anyway. Truth of the matter is the aliens coming are colonizing the world, and these "invasions" are nothing more than tests by these aliens to find suitable hosts to join with (initiated by the very teachers who were supposed to be looking out for these girls' safety).
To this end we go to Elementary School Nine, in "drill" clan territory, and three new Alien Fighters.
Yuri, Kumi and Kasumi.
Yuri, the weakest of the three... and yet the only one who seemed to maintain her humanity at the end of the year despite the horrors around her. Pushed, driven over the edge, lost her mind once, and almost brainwashed by a different alien clan looking to muscle into the "drill" clan's turf... yet still human.
Or is she?
Kumi. She was attacked by an alien and left for dead, but she was saved by "drill" clan technology which turned her into a "drill" clan borg.
Kasumi. She was joined with a different alien clan called the "YellowKnifes" (when she's merged with the soul of a Yellow Knife that raided the school) which made her capable of resisting the "drill" clan which turns out to be a good thing near the end.
But as the year ends it looks like two of the three are barely holding onto their humanity, yet it seems that Yuri is still human... or is she?
Emulators
Who would have thought that it would continue in Junior High?
Apparently alien "expansion" doesn't end just because Elementary School is over.
With only one Alien Fighter holding her ground in this Junior High she needs backup, and with the three Alien Fighters from Elementary Nine things may turn around.
But when it's discovered the attackers are older "generations" of Drill clan parasites, who seem to be focused on finding what may be the latest "evolution" of hybrid... a Generation Ten hybrid... it comes clear that maybe Yuri didn't get out of Sixth Grade untouched after all as it becomes apparent that she might be this "Tenth Generation" hybrid.
But this year may be far worse than anything that happened in Sixth Grade, with jealousy, betrayal, death, violence and what may be heartbreaking endings... this will not go well.
What may very well be the end of the series (which I think it is) we come to a drastic close, and a dark one.
Oh, and there's LOTS of room at the end to see what happened to the teachers from the first three books when they were Alien Fighters. It ends here, and it ends dramatically.
Alien Nine Breakdown
This time out I can't break it down... why?
To be honest I had a very strong reaction to the end of the series, to the point that breaking it down will probably reveal too much spoilers about the end.
What I can say is that this makes what happened before pale in comparison as we wrap the series and bring it all to a conclusion. But due to my reaction to the end, and certain... well... objections I have to the way it ends? It would reveal too much to you to say more.
This is dark, a train wreck, and yet amazing and marvelous all at once.
Something worth having in your collection, four books at once.
Pick it up if you can. Well worth it in my opinion.

Alien Nine GN 1 to 3

Studio - CPM Manga
Age - Young Adult (16+)
By Hitoshi Tomizawa
CPM Manga Staff
Translator - Laura Jackson and Yoko Kobayashi
Interview Translator - Ikoi Hiroe
Retouch & Lettering - Wilson Ramos
Project Manager - Frank Pannone
The manga equivelant of a budding love story slash sci-fi slash train wreck.
Something so disturbing yet you can't take your eyes away from it, nor can you help looking.
That is a pretty accurate description of Alien Nine.
Beautiful, funny, stunning and intense.
Disgusting, disturbing, mind boggling and captivating.
On this Earth aliens visited years ago, and keep coming... and apparently it's the job of Sixth Graders to battle them. This year, for this school, three have been chosen for the Alien Party. To do this duty each girl is equipped with a parasitic alien "helmet" that aids them in their duties. These winged helmets bond with the girls and help them, but is there more to it than that?
The girls? Here they are.
Yuri Otani - From Tsubaki Class (Camellia Class). She is weakenest emotionally and yet the "star" of the book at the same time. She hates the aliens, and doesn't want to be bonded to one. This fact and other things cause the worse emotional damage to her throughout the series.
Kumi Kawamura - From Fuji Class (Wisteria Class). She is the strongest, but can even her strength of will hold her together through the darkness of these books?
Finally we have Kasumi Tomine - Momo Class (Peach Class). The beautiful one who actually volunteered for this duty. She seems so lighthearted at first, but will it last?
Finally Ms. Megumi Hisakawa, the Alien Party Advisor, who is more than she seems.
First off you might ask why Sixth Graders are fighting aliens, when in other universes they rolled out powerful robot warriors (Mahoromatic) or the military (Yukikaze)? Maybe it's because the "situation" of this world is not what it seems.
In fact everything is not what it seems. At first it all looks black and white simple, fight the aliens and drive them away... but as you read on you realize there's a dark gray beneath the simple "duty" which hides a darker truth of the aliens, and the reason sixth graders are used to "fight" them.
The first Graphic Novel introduces you to the girls, and gets you used to them. And also hints at the greater darkness that is yet to come upon them as Yuri ends up snapping during a particularly violent alien incident, her alien "evolving" too fast, which leads to an orgy of death as she kills all the aliens they've been "capturing" and kills the alien parasites of her two companions.
The second Graphic Novel flips their world upside down and shakes it hard, leaving none of them untouched or unspoiled by their duty, affecting them in terrible ways as the book ends.
Each of them is affected, though it seems Yuri somehow escapes the worse... or does she?
The third Graphic Novel is the end, but is there a light at the end of this darkness? Especially now that it seems Kumi at last realizes her feelings for Yuri? They're on their way out towards Junior High but it won't be an easy road towards the next grade, especially with lots of pain and conflict yet to come.
Alien Nine. Without a doubt a beautiful, disturbing, fascinating read that‘ll pull at your emotions and grip you from beginning to end. Alien Nine is a unique thing that should be experienced, and given a shot.
And if you do read it and find it to your liking? Then your in luck! This year saw a sequel come out from CPMManga (as the girls enter Junior High) so there‘s more for you to read.
Oh-kay. Time for a breakdown.
Alien Nine Breakdown
What's Hot? - You never would have thought a read that is both beautiful and disturbing would be hot (and yet not in the horror category), yet it is. Mind you it's not for the weak of heart, of course, because it's definitely a train wreck in it's magnitude of the disturbing behavior that goes on in this book but it's a read that should not be underestimated.
What's Not? - Nothing... oh-kay, it's not for everyone. This read is intense, and rated for Mature Readers only (17+), so you‘ll have to be quite mindful of the age limitation on this title and the disturbing content it has when deciding whether or not to read this for yourself.
Moments to Remember?
Despite the disturbing content it has it's bright fun and beautiful moments that make it all the more worth reading once you get ahold of this. The memorable moments, the happiness between the tragedies and disturbing moments, make it all worth it in the end.
What to Ignore?
Nothing. It's something you can't ignore, trust me.
Overall?
Well, not to keep repeating myself but it's a title that is both good and disturbing, and that combination in a story that is captivating and hard to turn away from is something that I think will make this well worth your time and effort in picking up.
Sci-fi, maybe abit of horror, humor, touching moments and even love can be found here.
Try it out, you should like it and even go out to seek the recent sequel.
There is also an Anime version of this, but I haven't seen that yet so I can't comment on it.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Friday, September 10, 2010

Thursday, September 9, 2010