It's been a year since I read the first two volumes of Immortal Rain, and though I was initially somewhat lost when I started the third, the heartbreaking nature of Rain's backstory immediately pulled me back in. Hints had been sprinkled through the first two volumes, but here we get the whole, terrible story. We learn about Rain's relationship with Freya—the woman he once … [Read more...] about Immortal Rain 3-5 by Kaori Ozaki: A-
Manga
Tidbits: Catching Up with Shojo Beat
New and recent Shojo Beat releases are piling up, which means it's time for another Tidbits column! In this installment, you'll find reviews of three newer series—volume three of Dengeki Daisy, plus volumes five and six of Honey Hunt and Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You—while two old favorites, Ouran High School Host Club and Skip Beat!, bring up the rear! Dengeki Daisy 3 by … [Read more...] about Tidbits: Catching Up with Shojo Beat
Karakuri Odette 4-5 by Julietta Suzuki: A-
When a manga’s back cover features the lines “She's a hot robot in high school! What's the worst that could happen?” one might be forgiven for expecting some sort of titillating romp to ensue. In reality, Karakuri Odette is about as far from that as it’s possible to get. Odette is the crowning achievement of her creator, the genius roboticist Professor Yoshizawa, and when she … [Read more...] about Karakuri Odette 4-5 by Julietta Suzuki: A-
One Piece 32-45 by Eiichiro Oda: A
Tired of tackling the epic One Piece in three-volume chunks, I decided to do something new and review the entirety of the Water Seven arc—comprising volumes 32 through 45—at once. If you've never read the series, this isn't the place to start, but man, is it ever worth waiting for! Typically, the drama in One Piece comes from some sort of ongoing conflict the crew discovers … [Read more...] about One Piece 32-45 by Eiichiro Oda: A
Tidbits: Four by Hinako Takanaga
This installment of Tidbits is devoted to the BL stories of Hinako Takanaga! Today I'm focusing on some shorter works, but look for Little Butterfly and Challengers in future columns. A trio of one-shots is up first—A Capable Man, CROQUIS, and Liberty Liberty!—followed by the second volume of You Will Drown in Love. That series is still ongoing in Japan, where the third volume … [Read more...] about Tidbits: Four by Hinako Takanaga