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-
Comics
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
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight 5 by Jane Espenson, et al.: C+
From the back cover: When Buffy's former classmate-turned-vampire Harmony Kendall lands her own reality TV show, vampires are bolstered into the mainstream. Humans fall in line; they want a piece of the glitz, glam, and eternal youth bestowed upon these mysterious creatures of the night. What's a Slayer to do when vampires are the trendiest thing in the world? While humans … [Read more...] about Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight 5 by Jane Espenson, et al.: C+