By Keiichi Awari | Published by Vertical Comics I wasn’t sure I was going to like Nichijou. Gag manga aren’t really my thing, even when created by mangaka whose other works I enjoy. However, the back cover promised character growth and a take on the school genre that it was “just surreal enough,” so that compelled me to give it a shot. The manga so far focuses on a … [Read more...] about Nichijou: My Ordinary Life, Vols. 1-2
Shounen
Psyren, Vols. 1-2
By Toshiaki Iwashiro | Published by VIZ Media Ageha Yoshina is a first-year highschool student who channels his passion for fighting into helping people (for a fee). When classmate Sakurako Amamiya goes missing, he can’t just ignore it, particularly since she seems to know something about Psyren, a mysterious organization that recently issued Ageha a phone card when he … [Read more...] about Psyren, Vols. 1-2
Durarara!!, Vol. 1
Story by Ryohgo Narita, Art by Akiyo Satorigi, Character Design by Suzuhito Yasuda | Published by Yen Press Here is the sum total of my Durarara!! knowledge prior to reading volume one of the manga: 1. It is based on light novels. 2. There is an anime. 3. People were really excited about the license. It turns out that those light novels are by the creator of … [Read more...] about Durarara!!, Vol. 1
Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei: The Power of Negative Thinking, Vols. 1-10
By Koji Kumeta | Volumes 1-8 published by Del Rey, Volumes 9-10 published by Kodansha Comics When I first set out to read Koji Kumeta's Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei, my goal was to finish the first eight volumes in time for Kodansha's June 2011 release of volume nine. You can see how well that worked out. The problem was that this series simply doesn't benefit from a … [Read more...] about Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei: The Power of Negative Thinking, Vols. 1-10
Arata: The Legend, Vols. 1-6
By Yuu Watase | Published by VIZ Media As a fan of Yuu Watase's shoujo classic, Fushigi Yûgi, I expected that I would like Arata: The Legend, her first shounen series. Turns out, I had underestimated my enjoyment: I really like it! The story begins in a world known as Amawakuni, where the child-like princess is preparing to yield the thrown to her successor after reigning … [Read more...] about Arata: The Legend, Vols. 1-6