The basic plot of Stolen Hearts is summed up succinctly on its back cover: “a mismatched pair finds romance through a kimono shop.” Though the premise has some things in common with other shojo series—a significant difference in height between the two protagonists (Love*Com), a girl who attempts to familiarize her classmates with the finer qualities of her scary-looking love … [Read more...] about Stolen Hearts 1 by Miku Sakamoto: B+
Comics
Sunshine Sketch 4 by Ume Aoki: C
I’m not a particular fan of moe, but Sunshine Sketch, a 4-koma series about a group of girls living in an apartment building across from the art high school they all attend, is actually better than I thought it would be. It wasn’t a good sign when the character introduction page summed up each girl in three sentences, including facts like “She is always on a budget and … [Read more...] about Sunshine Sketch 4 by Ume Aoki: C
La Satanica by Momoko Tenzen: B+
When Shoji Mashita spots his classmate Motoki Matsushima lovingly caressing his (Mashita’s) desk, he abruptly realizes that Matsuhima has feelings for him. He narrates that he’s okay with this, since he respects Matsushima as a friend, but he can’t resist tormenting him since his reactions are so violent. Eventually, Mashita realizes that he has feelings for Matsushima, too, … [Read more...] about La Satanica by Momoko Tenzen: B+
Sand Land by Akira Toriyama: A-
From the back cover: In the far future, war has destroyed the entire Earth, leaving only a barren wasteland where the supply of water is controlled by the greedy king. In search of a long-lost lake, sheriff Rao asked the king of the demons for help... and got the king's son, Beelzebub, and his assistant, Thief. Together, the unlikely trio sets off across the desert, facing … [Read more...] about Sand Land by Akira Toriyama: A-
Deadman Wonderland 1 by Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou: B+
From the back cover: The Great Tokyo Earthquake. Ten years ago, it destroyed lives as it tore buildings asunder. Among those who lived through the disaster was Ganta Igarashi, now a middle school student finally getting a footing in his own life... that is, until the day the "Red Man" appears at his school and turns his world upside down again. Ganta's entire class is brutally … [Read more...] about Deadman Wonderland 1 by Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou: B+