Manga Reviews
Kawase, Natsuna: The Lapis Lazuli Crown, vol. 1
The Lapis Lazuli Crown, vol. 1
Story and art by Natsuna Kawase
Translation and adaptation by Sheldon Drzka
CMX Manga, 2009
Original Japanese edition: Hakusensha, 2004
ISBN-13: 978-1401221201
Paperback $9.99
Like many people in the kingdom of Savarin, Miel has been born with magical power. Unfortunately, she has not been able to master her ability. Her sister, Sara, is the overachieving genius [...]
Tsukuba, Sakura: Land of the Blindfolded, vol. 1-9
Land of the Blindfolded, vol. 1-9
Story and art by Sakura Tsukuba
CMX, 2004-2006
Original Japanese editions: Hakusensha, 2000-2004
Paperback $9.99
ISBN-13: 978-1401205249 (vol. 1)
ISBN-13: 978-1401205256 (vol. 2)
ISBN-13: 978-1401205263 (vol. 3)
ISBN-13: 978-1401205270 (vol. 4)
ISBN-13: 978-1401205287 (vol. 5)
ISBN-13: 978-1401210168 (vol. 6)
ISBN-13: 978-1401210175 (vol. 7)
ISBN-13: 978-1401210182 (vol. 8)
ISBN-13: 978-1401210526 (vol. 9)
Kanade is a high school student with a special ability that she [...]
Azuma, Kiyohiko: Yotsuba&!, vol. 7
My review of vol. 7 of Yotsuba&! is now up at Manga Life.
Fujieda, Toru: Oyayubihime Infinity, vol. 1-6
Oyayubihime Infinity, vol. 1-6
Story and Art by Toru Fujieda
CMX, 2006-2007
Original Japanese editions: Akita Shoten, 2004-2006
Paperback $9.99
ISBN-13: 978-1401210755 (vol. 1)
ISBN-13: 978-1401210762 (vol. 2)
ISBN-13: 978-1401210779 (vol. 3)
ISBN-13: 978-1401210786 (vol. 4)
ISBN-13: 978-1401213053 (vol. 5)
ISBN-13: 978-1401213077 (vol. 6)
When Kanoko’s classmate Tsubame discovers that they both have butterfly-shaped birthmarks on their thumbs, he decides they’re fated to be together. According [...]
Shiina, Karuho: Kimi ni Todoke, vol. 2
Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, vol. 2
Story and Art by Karuho Shiina
Translated by JN Productions
Viz, 2009
Original Japanese edition: Shueisha, 2005
Paperback $9.99
978-1421527567
Good news! Volume 2 of Kimi ni Todoke shows that the sweetness and charm of the first volume of the series was not just a flash in the pan; it was, in fact, [...]
Arakawa, Hiromu: Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 20-21
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, this is the fourth full review I’ve written for the Fullmetal Alchemist series. I’ll be honest: it’s hard to find a lot of new [...]
Mashima, Hiro: Fairy Tail, vol. 1-3
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. This probably sounds a little strange coming from me, since that’s one of my most frequent complaints as a reviewer, but hear me [...]
Hatori, Bisco: Ouran High School Host Club, vol. 11-12
Ouran High School Host Club, vol. 11-12
Story and Art by Bisco Hatori
Translation by Masumi Matsumoto
Viz, 2008-2009
Original Japanese edition: Hakusensha, 2007-2008
Paperback $8.99
978-1-4215-2255-5 (vol. 11)
978-1-4215-2672-0 (vol. 12)
Anyone who has read enough high school shōjo knows there are a few plots that are almost guaranteed to show up in any given series. There’s Valentine’s Day and White Day, [...]
Patterson and Lee: Maximum Ride, vol. 2
My review of vol. 2 of the Maximum Ride manga is up at Manga Life.
Shan and Arai: Cirque du Freak, vol. 1
My review of vol. 1 of the Cirque du Freak manga went up at Manga Life while I was on vacation. Enjoy!
Arakawa and Zhou: Hero Tales, vol. 1
My review of vol. 1 of Hero Tales is up at Manga Life.
Azuma, Kiyohiko: Yotsuba&!, vol. 6
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 she learns about and explores her everyday world. This time she’s unraveling the mysteries of recycling, bicycles, sticky notes, and work. This [...]
Nakajo, Hisaya: Sugar Princess, vol. 1
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 skating rink, she inadvertently draws attention to herself when she attempts and manages to land a double-axel jump. One person who witnesses [...]
Shiina, Karuho: Kimi ni Todoke, vol. 1
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 resemblance to the lead character from the horror movie The Ring has earned her the nickname “Sadako,” and her classmates claim that [...]
Urasawa, Naoki: 20th Century Boys, vol. 4
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 series available in English from Viz, and I suspect if you asked any group of manga readers to choose their favorite, they would [...]
Arakawa, Hiromu: Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 19
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 get the feeling that the series is slowly heading towards its endgame. This is not to say that it is going to be [...]
Urasawa, Naoki: 20th Century Boys, vol. 3
Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, vol. 3
Story and Art by Naoki Urasawa
With the cooperation of Takashi Nagasaki
English Adaptation by Akemi Wegmuller
Viz, 2009
Original Japanese edition: Shogakukan, 2000
Paperback $12.99
978-1-4215-1922-7
Having now written full reviews of 20th Century Boys, vol. 1, and Pluto, vol. 1, the big challenge I face in writing this review of 20th Century Boys, vol. [...]
Urasawa and Tezuka: Pluto, vol. 1
Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, vol. 1
By Naoki Urasawa and Osamu Tezuka
Co-authored with Takashi Nagasaki
Supervised by Macoto Tezka
With the cooperation of Tezuka Productions
Translation by Jared Cook and Frederick L. Schodt
Viz, 2009
Original Japanese edition: Shogakukan, 2004
Paperback $12.99
978-1-4215-1918-0
Pluto takes readers to the future, where a series of murders is putting an unwelcome spotlight on the imperfect coexistence [...]
Yoshinaga, Fumi: Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, vol. 1
Story and Art by Fumi Yoshinaga
Translation and Adaptation by Akemi Wegmuller
Rated M for Mature
Viz, 2009
(First published in Japan in 2005)
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-2747-5
List Price: $12.99
Review
In Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Fumi Yoshinaga (Antique Bakery, Flower of Life) takes her readers to an alternate Edo Japan, where a mysterious disease has taken a heavy toll on the male population. [...]
Totsuka and Igarashi: Bamboo Blade, vol. 2
My review of vol. 2 of Bamboo Blade is now up at Manga Life.
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