December 2, 2009
by Joy
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The mysterious shop is one of my favorite tropes in manhwa and manga. When done well, it’s a setup that lends itself to interestingly episodic storytelling. I hadn’t read Antique Gift Shop before receiving a review copy of volume 9 … Continue reading
November 29, 2009
by Joy
5 Comments
Over the last week, many manga bloggers have been writing gift guides in response to the NY Times’s decision to include no manga in their own Graphic Novel Gift Guide. David Welsh has a roundup of the posts thus far … Continue reading
November 26, 2009
by Joy
3 Comments
This week I’ve been rereading Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, a project I plan to continue as soon as I recover from my case of post-Thanksgiving sloth. Right now I’m up to volume 3 (Dream Country). I first read Sandman in early … Continue reading
November 17, 2009
by Joy
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Maximum Ride is the story of six friends, led by Max Ride, who are the products of some unscrupulous genetic engineering. When they were younger, a sympathetic scientist helped them escape from the school that had made them by knitting … Continue reading
November 15, 2009
by Joy
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Darren Shan and Steve Leonard are best friends with a shared taste for creepy things. Steve is a fan of horror movies and has an interest in the occult, while Darren’s favorite things in the world are spiders. When a … Continue reading
November 3, 2009
by Joy
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Taitou Shirei is one of the strongest fighters in his village–so strong, in fact, that he helps drive out soldiers from the Imperial Army when they make trouble for the other villagers. On the day Taitou finally completes his coming-of-age … Continue reading
November 2, 2009
by Joy
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Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment By James Patterson Adventure, Science Fiction, Teen Time Warner, 2005 Paperback $6.99 978-0446617796 Since I work as a teen librarian, I often check out books of dubious entertainment value because I want to stay stay … Continue reading
October 30, 2009
by Joy
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Yotsuba&!, vol. 6 Story and Art by Kiyohiko Azuma Translated by Amy Forsyth Yen Press, 2009 Original Japanese edition: Media Works Inc, 2006 Paperback $10.99 US ISBN-13: 978-0316073240 In Volume 6 of Yotsuba&! we continue to follow our heroine as … Continue reading
October 22, 2009
by Joy
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Alex Treveney is searching for her missing sister, Sarah, who has disappeared and been forgotten by all who knew her. It doesn’t take Alex long to realize that any answers will be found inside the Nightschool where Sarah worked; however, … Continue reading
October 13, 2009
by Joy
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The Summer of the Ubume By Natsuhiko Kyogoku Translated by Alexander O. Smith with Elye J. Alexander Mystery/Horror Vertical, 2009 Originally published in Japanese as Ubume no natsu by Kodansha, 1994 Paperback $16.95 978-1-934287-25-5 When Sekiguchi, a hack writer, becomes … Continue reading
October 9, 2009
by Joy
6 Comments
[Continued from Kdramas for beginners, part 1]
October 8, 2009
by Joy
5 Comments
Not all manga fans watch anime, but I think most people in the manga blogosphere acknowledge the synergy between the manga and anime industries. I’ve sometimes wondered, however, if dramas are being overlooked. Dramas may not be as closely tied … Continue reading
September 28, 2009
by Joy
2 Comments
It’s been all Urasawa, all the time, around my apartment this last month, as I’ve been busy catching up on three of his series. I’ve reviewed 20th Century Boys and Pluto elsewhere, so that leaves Monster for this post. For … Continue reading
September 24, 2009
by Joy
3 Comments
Dokebi Bride, vol. 1-6 Story and Art by Marley Translated by Michael Han (vol. 1-4), Ernest Woo (vol. 5), and Soyoung Jung (vol. 6) Netcomics, 2006-2007 Original Korean editions: Ecomix, 2004-2007 Paperback $9.99 US ISBN-13: 978-1600090752 (vol. 1) ISBN-13: 978-1600090769 … Continue reading
September 21, 2009
by Joy
6 Comments
The other night I finally got a chance to read the first volume of the much-talked about Japanese food manga, Oishinbo, by Tetsu Kariya and Akira Hanasaki. This is the story of a cynical journalist, Yamaoka Shirō, who has been … Continue reading
September 17, 2009
by Joy
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Sugar Princess: Skating to Win, vol. 1 Story and Art by Hisaya Nakajo Translation and Adaptation by Anastasia Moreno Viz, 2008 Original Japanese edition: Hakusensha, 2005 Paperback $8.99 978-1-4215-1930-2 When middle schooler Maya Kurinoki takes her little brother to the … Continue reading
September 14, 2009
by Joy
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Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, vol. 1 Story and Art by Karuho Shiina Translation by Tomo Kimura Viz, 2009 Original Japanese edition: Shueisha, 2005 Paperback $8.99 978-1-4215-2755-0 Sawako Kuronuma is the terror of her high school classroom. Her … Continue reading
September 10, 2009
by Joy
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Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, vol. 4 Story and Art by Naoki Urasawa With the cooperation of Takashi Nagasaki English Adaptation by Akemi Wegmuller Viz, 2009 Original Japanese edition: Shogakukan, 2001 Paperback $12.99 978-1-4215-1923-4 Naoki Urasawa now has three different … Continue reading
September 9, 2009
by Joy
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In the latest volume of Goong, the ladies of the royal court think they have discovered the perfect solution to Shin and Chae-Kyung’s marital woes: sex. The young couple finds themselves locked in a bedroom on a cold winter night … Continue reading
September 8, 2009
by Joy
4 Comments
Bride of the Water God, vol. 1 Story and Art by Mi-Kyung Yun Translation by Heejeong Haas Edited and adapted by Philip Simon Lettering by Steve Dutro Dark Horse, 2007 Original Korean edition: Seoul Cultural Publishers, 2006 Paperback $9.95 978-1-59307-849-2 … Continue reading