I think I must be a Momoko Tenzen fan, because this is the second time I’ve been impressed by her ability to create compelling characters in a short story format (the first being Unsophisticated and Rude). Not only that, she’s able to write stories about romance between middle schoolers and teachers that aren’t completely icky (only mildly icky). There are five stories in this … [Read more...] about Ciao Ciao Bambino by Momoko Tenzen: B
Comics
Moon Boy 7 by Lee YoungYou: C+
Myung-Ee and her childhood friend, Yu-Da, are “earth rabbits,” and must be on guard against the members of the fox tribe who want to eat them. Yu-Da is particularly special—as the rare “black rabbit,” his liver has the potential to restore the foxes’ queen. For that purpose, he was kidnapped by the foxes as a child and magically kept docile while they wait for his liver to … [Read more...] about Moon Boy 7 by Lee YoungYou: C+
Serenity 1: Those Left Behind by Whedon, Matthews, and Conrad: B+
From the back cover: Here's how it is—in a universe filled with hearts and minds as cold and dark as the reaches of space, one small Firefly-class starship named Serenity takes its ragtag crew of mercenaries, outlaws, and fugitives in search of a job, any job, that'll earn them enough cash to afford that most elusive commodity—peace. Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the … [Read more...] about Serenity 1: Those Left Behind by Whedon, Matthews, and Conrad: B+
Raiders 1 by JinJun Park: B-
From the back cover: Irel Clark is a professor's assistant whose latest find is the "Holy Grail" for members of his profession—literally! But when it turns out that some decidedly unholy individuals are also after the blood of Christ, Irel must drink from the chrism bottle he's recovered to save his own life. Immortality leaves something to be desired, though, when undead … [Read more...] about Raiders 1 by JinJun Park: B-
not simple by Natsume Ono: A
From the back cover: A story within a story, A book within a book, A tale about the search for family, For an emotional home. Ian, a young man with a fractured family history, travels from Australia to England to America in the hope of realizing his dreams and reuniting with his beloved sister. His story unfolds backwards through the framing narrative of Jim, a reporter driven … [Read more...] about not simple by Natsume Ono: A