In these two volumes, Ash largely leaves the follow-up concerning Banana Fish to reporter Max Lobo and his colleague, Steve, and instead sets his sights on exacting bloody vengeance against Arthur, a former member of Ash's gang who betrayed him. At first, it seems like two major events are going to complicate things for Ash—namely, that he's the prime suspect in the arson at … [Read more...] about Banana Fish 7-8 by Akimi Yoshida: A
Comics
When the Heavens Smile by Aki Senoo: B+
Book description: Takagi, a rather cute and innocent guy, is best friends and classmates with Kumoi, a tall, intellectual guy. One day, Takagi is stunned to find a pencil sketch of a man between Kumoi's notebook pages that resembles his older brother... who passed away six years ago! Could Kumoi have possibly known his brother? Review: I'll admit that what initially appealed … [Read more...] about When the Heavens Smile by Aki Senoo: B+
Bakuman。1 by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata: B+
Moritaka Mashiro is bored. For his fourteen years of life he’s merely gone along with the flow, a path which is destined to end with him becoming a normal white-collar worker. He doesn’t want this, but sees no alternative until Akito Takagi, the top student in class, notices Moritaka’s artistic skills and proposes that the two team up to create a manga. Moritaka is resistant at … [Read more...] about Bakuman。1 by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata: B+
Yotsuba&! 2-8 by Kiyohiko Azuma: A
The theme of this month's Manga Moveable Feast is a Kids' Table featuring discussion of Yotsuba&! and other kid-friendly manga. Here is my take on the former; be sure to check out this week's Off the Shelf where MJ and I will talk about the latter! My opinions on these seven delightful volumes of Yotsuba&! can be summed up as: "Yep, still awesome!" I really don't have … [Read more...] about Yotsuba&! 2-8 by Kiyohiko Azuma: A
Sugarholic 1-5 by Gong GooGoo: B
Jae-Gyu Sin is a lazy and listless twenty-year-old living with her mother and grandmother. When a mudslide destroys their house, her grandmother ships Jae-Gyu off to Seoul with very little money and instructions to stay with her brother, a university student, for a while. On her way there, she manages to tear the shirt being worn by a random hottie then spots her childhood … [Read more...] about Sugarholic 1-5 by Gong GooGoo: B