By Yoko Nihonbashi | Published digitally by Kodansha Comics Neri Oishi was a great volleyball player in elementary school, when she was captain of a team that took second place in the national championship. At her prestigious middle school, however, she’s a benchwarmer, often tasked with picking up balls and doing laundry. One of her teammates, Chiyo, is vocally frustrated … [Read more...] about Shojo FIGHT!, Vols. 1-2
Manga
Otherworld Barbara, Vols. 1-2
By Moto Hagio | Published by Fantagraphics It's 2052 and Tokio Watarai, a dream pilot, is coming home to Japan for the first time in three years. Although his ex-wife and son are in Japan, he's actually returning for a job involving a girl who's been sleeping for seven years since being found with her parents' hearts in her stomach. Her name is Aoba, and when Tokio enters … [Read more...] about Otherworld Barbara, Vols. 1-2
Love’s Reach, Vol. 1
By Rin Mikimoto | Published digitally by Kodansha Comics I am an enormous fan of Kodansha’s digital offerings, so it pains me to admit that I can’t find anything to recommend about Love’s Reach. Sixteen-year-old Yuni Kururugi, a “genius ice queen,” excels in every subject except for English, which is taught by her 24-year-old, supposed-to-be temporary homeroom teacher, … [Read more...] about Love’s Reach, Vol. 1
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, Vol. 1
By CLAMP | Published by Kodansha Comics It’s been a long time since I read anything by CLAMP. After failing to love Kobato. and Gate 7, I just sort of drifted away from paying attention to what they were doing. When a beloved favorite got a new arc, however, my interest was piqued. And when Kodansha Comics not only licensed it, but released the first volume digitally months … [Read more...] about Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, Vol. 1
Plum Crazy! Tales of a Tiger-Striped Cat, Vol. 1
By Natsumi Hoshino | Published by Seven Seas It is definitely a good time to be a manga fan, particularly if you (like me) are fond of niche genres like food manga, sports manga, and cat manga. The latest entry into that final category is Plum Crazy! Tales of a Tiger-Striped Cat and, predictably, it’s cute. Plum lives with the Nakarai family, including a woman who teaches … [Read more...] about Plum Crazy! Tales of a Tiger-Striped Cat, Vol. 1