Manga Review: Full Moon O Sagashite by Arina Tanemura

Full Moon o Sagashite, Vol. 1Full Moon o Sagashite, Vol. 1

by Arina Tanemura

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Only 7 volumes long. It’s not a super long — or super involved series. It’s cute and fun, and actually deals with the serious topic of suicide and retribution. It doesn’t seriously deal with it, but it’s a serious topic. It has a sad/cute feeling like Fruits Basket. Tanemura has a really distinct drawing & story style. Always very sweet. Maybe the story is a bit young for me, but I recommended to read at least once.

About a 12 year old girl (Mitsuki) with a benign tumor on her vocal chords. Her only wish is to sing. But, if she has surgery — she will have to have her vocal chords removed and won’t be able to sing again.

She is visited by a pair of shinigami (death-god/grim-reaper) whose mission is to claim her soul. The shinigami are all human souls who’d commit suicide when they were humans, and now cursed to work sending souls to the afterlife.

Mitsuki’s charm appeal to the shinigami who not only protect her but transform her into a 16 year old girl (sans disease). As a 16 year old she runs away from home, and auditions as a singer debuting as “Full Moon”. As the shinigami help heal her heart (and body) she helps them discover what they’ve lost, and find peace.

I read this because I was writing a blog post for work about the symbolism of rabbits in Japanese mythology. This series is about the moon (you can see my confusion) — but it is NOT about rabbits. Onto the next…

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Manga Review: Genshiken: Second Season by Shimoku Kio

Genshiken: Second Season, Vol. 1Genshiken: Second Season, Vol. 1

by Shimoku Kio

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genshiken Second Season Volume 1 (or just Genshiken Volume 10)? I’m not otaku enough to know why this was released as “second season” — but I can assume it was to confuse fans into thinking that this was a new series and to buy it even if they didn’t have the first season.

It’s a new season — but all of the original characters are still there. They just don’t necessarily come to club meetings anymore. Except maybe Madarame-kun.

The new president, Ogiue has set out to find new members to join the club by doing the one thing that she knows how to do… draw. However, her drawing style, brings in a certain kind of otaku… the fujoshi (girls who love yaoi/aka gay-manga). On top of everything, one of the new members is just too pretty to be a girl!

It’s a fun series, and continues to please. I didn’t relate much to the fujoshi fangirl, so to me it’s not as comfortable as previous volumes. And some of my favourite characters take a back seat. It could just be the fact that so many new characters have been introduced, and a few of them don’t have a unique enough personality for me. I hope this is just growing pains.

Ogiue continues to charm as the classic tsundere character — and I’m so happy with Sally. I’ve read A LOT of manga in my time… and this is one of the best characterizations of an American otaku I’ve read. Usually Americans are “weird”, but Sally is weird with purpose. I’m really pleased about this!

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Manga Review: Genshiken by Shimoku Kio

Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, Vol. 1Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, Vol. 1

by Shimoku Kio

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Genshiken is brilliant. And, one of my favourite manga indulgences. The artwork is beautiful and obsessively detailed — and the story is hugely character driven. I’m impressed with Kio Shimoku’s sense and understanding of human nature; an expression of this group of outsiders and their interactions with the world around them.

I’m always sad when I get to the last volume. Of all the manga I read, I feel this one most closely matches the world that I want to live in. When it’s over, I miss it. And at the end when the graduating members of Genshiken are moving on… I hate that it reminds me I have to move on and live my life again.

Every time I go to Japan, I go with an expectation that somehow I’ll fall into this reality. And despite the relief and happiness I feel about being there, I can’t seem to find it.

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Quick Review: Beast Master by Kyousuke Motomi *spoilers*

Beast Master, Vol. 1 (Beast Master, #1)Beast Master, Vol. 1

by Kyousuke Motomi

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have a few shorter series that I like to read over and over — this is one of them. A short story about Yuiko who uninterested in boys – loves animals instead – but animals seem to HATE, and the new “beast-like” male transfer-student that everyone’s afraid of: Rei Aoi.

…you see where this is going…

When Rei Aoi is scared or sees blood his hair turns white, he loses control, and becomes a wild-beast beating-up his aggressors. He’s lived away from civilization on an uninhabited Island, in Africa, and other places. This was his father’s and guardians’ way to protect him from his family as when he turns 18 he will be the sole inheritor of his grandfathers’ 12 billion yen fortune.

Yuiko quickly realizes that he isn’t scary — he’s just nervous, and not used to being out in society. They form a quick and solid bond…

The series is short — but very satisfying. The romance is sweet and the premise is fun, without having to drag on and pull out every shoujo plot-device in existence.

I will say though that Kyousuke-san REALLY should have rethought the drawing of the father. For every other adult the drawing was fine — but her reveal of the father seemed like a joke. Every time I read it I cringe when I see his face. He is a very very odd drawing. And even now I can’t quite decide what it is about it that is off-putting…. the “Jesus Hair” maybe??? …or his head is smaller than his body… I can’t decide. But, it’s WRONG!

Anyways, I like this one. I read it often. I recommend it.

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Manga Review: Me & My Brothers by Hari Tokeino *spoilers*

Me & My Brothers, Vol. 1 (Me & My Brothers, #1)Me & My Brothers, Vol. 1

by Hari Tokeino

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sakura is 14, and her grandmother has just passed-away. Her grandmother was her sole surviving relative and she’d been living with her for year after her parents died. She`s just getting ready to live on her own when she’s “accosted” by 4 rowdy boys.

It seems that her grandmother forgot to tell her that she had 4 half-brother’s who’ve all been living with different relatives up to this point. They begin living together.

We quickly learn that these half-brothers aren’t really “true” brothers. They were the sons of the father who married Sakura’s mother. But there is no blood relation. This opens up the possibility of having a romance between her & her oldest brother (11 years older than herself).

All the brother’s have a sister-complex. They will do anything for her — and most of the humour comes from the premise that they are protecting her from “unwanted” attention from other boys.

Hari Tokeino is one of my favourite draw-ers of babies. Some shoujo artists are good at it, and some aren’t. Hari-san is a pro! Her babies & toddlers are “squeeeeeeee”-worthy cute! Hari-san often draws the brother’s memories of their time living together before the parent’s died; back when Sakura was a baby. So so cute!

The relationship between Sakura and her novelist/cross-dressing brother Masashi is complicated and long-drawn out. She quickly discovers and declares her feelings for her oldest brother (around book 5), but he also has been showing signs of his complicated feelings for her at this point (it’s obvious that it’ll turn out). In a way he doesn’t take her feelings seriously, and continues to tease her — but there are a few good moments which turn both of them as red as lobsters.

I find the ending of the series — and the official beginning of their “romantic” relationship to be a bit contrived. It’s like they told Hari-san to “wrap it up” already because it was getting too long… and she just ends it after the whole “I’ve lost my memory” plot-device. It’s not a usual place to end the series. Losing your memory is supposed to come AFTER some great declaration or promise for some added tension, not BEFORE the promise. Oh well. I will admit that the series was getting a bit long. Most of her characters don’t make astounding changes or realizations from the first pages. Without major changes in plot or characters the story is bound to get stale by the end.

It’s still a cute series — I often reread it — but there are some parts that I often skip over. Including the short stories at the end of the book. Sometimes I’ll go back and read them, but I don’t feel like I miss anything when I don’t.

The brothers are easily the “same” characters, only less complicated as in Ouran High School Host Club. If you enjoy Ouran, you’ll probably like this one.

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Manga Review: Othello by Satomi Ikezawa

Othello, Volume 1Othello, Volume 1

by Satomi Ikezawa

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yaya is a meek dim-witted teenage girl who lets everyone push her around. Nana is a strong, brazen teenage girl who punishes evil-doers. They are complete opposites, yet they are the same person. Yaya has a split personality. Whenever Yaya is faced with a difficult situation Nana takes over. Nana knows everything about Yaya, but Yaya doesn’t know anything about Nana. In fact, she completely blanks whenever Nana is in control and becomes confused and scared when she doesn’t remember parts of her life, and when other people around her start accusing her of wild and crazy behavior.

This is a fun series! I like the idea that Nana is there as an outlet for Yaya’s emotions until Yaya can become strong enough to deal with them on her own. Apart from all of the split-personality craziness, this series reminds me a lot of Kimi Ni Todoke. The way the nice-guy (Moriyama-kun) takes care of the meek Yaya.

The other characters in the series often mention that Nana and Yaya look alike, but too different. And it is true. Satomi has managed to keep the essence of the characters the same, while also making them look like completely different characters.

It’s a fun quick read [I read the 7 volumes in about 3 hours]– I highly recommend you giving it a try.

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Manga Review: Sensual Phrase by Mayu Shinjo

Sensual Phrase, Vol. 1Sensual Phrase, Vol. 1

by Mayu Shinjo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So, as I said I would I read through Sensual Phrase (Kaikan Fure-zu) by Mayu Shinjo. The story of Sakuya, a visual kei rock band singer (with a distorted past) and Aine, a high school girl. Upon a chance meeting (Sakuya almost runs her over) Aine becomes the lyricist for Lucifer, Sakuya’s band — and their relationship quickly develops into a hot & heavy romance.

I like this series but some parts are certainly better than others. Some of the angsty feelings between this couple get annoying after a while. They’ve obviously said they trust and love each other, and then seconds later they will not trust each other. It’s like no matter how much they can say something, they don’t actually mean it — and that can get annoying.

There are parts which are really good. I love the little side-stories where Sakuya’s bandmates fall in love. I love the relationship their producer has with them. And I do appreciate that bad things actually happen to the characters. Sometimes stories about teenage angst is only emotional. This series gives you plenty of terrible situations that the characters have to overcome. Sometimes they’re more successful than others, but usually they’re entertaining.

The worst part of the series comes in book 18, the final volume. The short-story where Aine, and Sakuya return home from New York after 2 years. The artist is clearly different — it almost feels like a fan-made doujinshi. The characters have metamorphosized into being younger and cuter, which doesn’t suit their characters or where they’ve come from. They’ve been through too much garbage to be looking so cute by the end. I also think the bedroom scene moves it too closely to the “Ladies Comic” (i.e. pornographic) genre of manga. I didn’t think this was necessary, but whatever.

There are a few short stories by the original artists at the very end. They are highly enjoyable, and take away the awful saccharine taste that you get earlier in the volume.

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