February 3, 2012
by Joy
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Today I looked at the Diamond comics sales figures for January and found myself pondering the reasons why comics like Justice League so consistently leave me cold. It’s a bestselling series: clearly this is a story that works for a … Continue reading
March 31, 2010
by Joy
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This afternoon I read volume 3 of Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service by Otsuka Eiji and Yamazaki Housui while sitting in one of my favorite neighborhood cafes. This series is another that reminds me that first impressions of manga series are … Continue reading
March 4, 2010
by Joy
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This week marked the return of Shiho Sugiura’s Silver Diamond to Tokyopop’s publication schedule, and that is a reason for much rejoicing. It has been almost a full year since US readers got a new volume of this underappreciated shōjo … Continue reading
February 9, 2010
by Joy
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Fifteen volumes in, I’m ridiculously fond of Claymore’s women warriors, but I still have a sneaking suspicion that Yagi’s target audience does not necessarily include me. Continue reading
January 6, 2010
by Joy
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To say I am fond of Yotsuba&! is a bit of an understatement. When a new volume of Yotsuba&! reaches my hands, I tend to drop everything else I am reading and immediately dive into Yotsuba’s latest adventures. By this … Continue reading
December 13, 2009
by Joy
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Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 20-21 Story and Art by Hiromu Arakawa Translation by Akira Watanabe Adaptation by Jake Forbes Viz, 2009 Original Japanese editions: Square Enix, 2008-2009 Paperback $9.99 978-1421530345 (vol. 20) 978-1421532325 (vol. 21) Between this blog and Manga Life, … Continue reading
December 10, 2009
by Joy
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Fairy Tail, vol. 1-3 Story and Art by Hiro Mashima Translation and Adaptation by William Flanagan Del Rey, 2008 Original Japanese editions: Kodansha, 2006-2007 978-0345501332 (vol. 1) 978-0345503305 (vol. 2) 978-0345505569 (vol. 3) Being generic isn’t always a bad thing. … 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
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
September 6, 2009
by Joy
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Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 19 Story and Art by Hiromu Arakawa Translation by Akira Watanabe Adapted by Jake Forbes Viz, 2007 Original Japanese edition: Square Enix, 2008 Paperback $9.99 978-1-4215-2568-6 While reading vol. 19 of Fullmetal Alchemist, it’s hard not to … Continue reading
August 25, 2009
by Joy
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Kojiro, a high school kendo instructor at Muroe High, has made a risky bet in a moment of desperation. If his all-girls kendo club can beat the Machido High club coached by his old friend, Kojiro will win a year’s … Continue reading
August 17, 2009
by Joy
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The last time I reviewed Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle for this site I noted that CLAMP had just kicked the plot of the series into high gear. Well, after many chapters of high drama, volume 22 finds our protagonists enjoying a … Continue reading
May 20, 2009
by Joy
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When Haruhi enters the SOS Brigade into a local baseball tournament, the club members once again find themselves scrambling to cater to her whims. Winning isn’t everything to Haruhi; it’s the only thing. And it’s up to Kyon and the … Continue reading
April 22, 2009
by Joy
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Fifteen-year-old Nanami is looking forward to starting high school, since it will give her an opportunity to be closer to her long-time crush Kazuto Sanjouin. But her hopes for a normal springtime of youth are promptly derailed by the arrival … Continue reading
December 1, 2008
by Joy
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Via umadoshi: Jake Forbes on the joys of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga. An excerpt: Any anime fan who’s followed the scene for the last five years is probably quite familiar with this ongoing tale of angst and alchemy, but if … Continue reading
November 19, 2008
by Joy
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As others in the comics & anime blogosphere have already reported, Viz will be repeating last year’s Naruto Nation in the first half of 2009. On the manga front, eleven volumes of manga will be released between February and April … Continue reading
October 15, 2008
by Joy
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CLAMP kicks the plot of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle into high gear in volumes 16-18 of this ongoing series. Readers of the first fifteen volumes would have been somewhat justified in wondering if the story’s determined group of travelers–Sakura, Syaoran, Kurogane, … Continue reading
June 4, 2008
by Joy
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My review of vol. 16 of Fullmetal Alchemist is now up at Manga Life. An excerpt: In Volume 16 of Fullmetal Alchemist, the story returns to the present after the long flashback to the Ishbal campaign in Volume 15. As … Continue reading
April 2, 2008
by Joy
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My review of vol. 15 of Fullmetal Alchemist is now up at Manga Life. A teaser: The fifteenth volume of Hiromu Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist takes readers several years into the past, as Lieutenant Hawkeye tells Ed about the Ishbal campaign. … Continue reading