From the back cover: Average student Moritaka Mashiro enjoys drawing for fun. When his classmate and aspiring writer Akito Takagi discovers his talent, he begs Moritaka to team up with him as a manga-creating duo. But what exactly does it take to make it in the manga-publishing world? After Moritaka and Akito collaborate on a manga together, they venture to publishing house … [Read more...] about Bakuman。 2 by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata: B+
Comics
Chi’s Sweet Home 3 by Konami Kanata: A-
From the back cover: Kitten-rearing is something, but raising a street-smart feline in a building with a strict no-pets policy is another story altogether. When mentoring a curious kitty, tactful tabbies must teach with patience and a firm paw. Remember, cats are a special breed. While we can survive well enough on instinct, those same feline responses can lead to unwanted … [Read more...] about Chi’s Sweet Home 3 by Konami Kanata: A-
The Story of Saiunkoku 1 by Kairi Yura and Sai Yukino: B+
From the back cover: Shurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office. The emperor Ryuki, however, refuses to take command, leaving everything to his advisors. Shurei is asked to become a consort to the emperor to persuade the ne'er-do-well ruler to … [Read more...] about The Story of Saiunkoku 1 by Kairi Yura and Sai Yukino: B+
Planetes 1-3 by Makoto Yukimura: B+
Planetes is the story of Hachirota Hoshino, dubbed “Hachimaki” by his crewmates for his propensity to wear a headband (hachimaki), who dreams of earning enough fame and fortune to buy his own spaceship and achieve complete freedom. As the series begins, however, he’s part of a crew of “extraplanetary sanitation workers” who clean up space debris. The first volume introduces … [Read more...] about Planetes 1-3 by Makoto Yukimura: B+
After School Nightmare 1 by Setona Mizushiro: A-
From the back cover: You have just awakened to find your darkest secret revealed to a group of people who would do anything to destroy you: your classmates! That's what happens to Ichijo Mashiro, whose elite school education turns into the most horrifying experience of his life when he's enlisted to participate in an after-hours class. The only way for Mashiro to graduate is to … [Read more...] about After School Nightmare 1 by Setona Mizushiro: A-