For my latest column at Comics Should Be Good, I reviewed the debut volumes of two (relatively) new Natsume Ono series: House of Five Leaves and Gente: The People of Ristorante Paradiso. I really loved House of Five Leaves, with its story of a hapless samurai drawn into the schemes of a fascinating criminal. Gente is more a collection of low-key short stories than a single … [Read more...] about Two by Natsume Ono
Manga
Maid Sama! 1-4 by Hiro Fujiwara: B
When I started reading Maid Sama!, it was with the goal of catching up on the series so that I could cover the review copies I received of volumes five and six. I planned to give my personal copies of volumes one and two—as far as I ever got in actually buying the series—to my (awesome) local library when finished. Volume one went into the to-donate box as planned, but … [Read more...] about Maid Sama! 1-4 by Hiro Fujiwara: B
Millennium Snow 1-2 by Bisco Hatori: B-
Millennium Snow is the first series by Bisco Hatori (of Ouran High School Host Club fame), one of those that began as a stand-alone but eventually achieved serialization. It’s been on hiatus for some time, but now that Ouran has wrapped up, some fans are hoping that Hatori will return to it. I’m not so sure that’s a worthy endeavor. Chiyuki Matsuoka has had a weak heart since … [Read more...] about Millennium Snow 1-2 by Bisco Hatori: B-
Gyo 1-2 by Junji Ito: B+
Walking fish aren't the usual sort of monsters one associates with Halloween, but their invasion makes for creepy reading nonetheless! Tadashi and his high-maintenance girlfriend, Kaori, are vacationing in Okinawa when Kaori begins complaining of putrid smells. Soon after, a chase ensues between Tadashi and a barely glimpsed, fast-moving creature, culminating with the … [Read more...] about Gyo 1-2 by Junji Ito: B+
In the Walnut 1-2 by Toko Kawai: B+
More mystery than romance, this BL series features some unremarkable "cases" but a pair of interesting leads who are already an established couple when the story begins! Shocking! You can find my review for Manga Bookshelf here. In the Walnut is published in English by Digital Manga Publishing. The series is still ongoing in Japan; the third volume was just released there on … [Read more...] about In the Walnut 1-2 by Toko Kawai: B+