From the back cover: Eiji's life hangs in the balance as factions once again shift and realign. Asahi struggles with her new powers and guilt over what happened in the past, while Tamaki strives to control the continuing outbreak of chaos in the present. And a mysterious new figure emerges to join the battle, but is he an ally or an enemy?! Fruits Basket creator Natsuki … [Read more...] about Phantom Dream 4 by Natsuki Takaya: B-
Reviews
One Piece 16-18 by Eiichiro Oda: B+
If there remains anyone who doubts that One Piece is something special in the world of shounen manga, they need only read these three volumes to be convinced. Volume sixteen begins with Luffy and Sanji on their way up a treacherous, snowy mountain to deliver a feverish Nami to the only doctor (Kureha) left on Drum Island. They're waylaid by some giant killer bunnies, but an … [Read more...] about One Piece 16-18 by Eiichiro Oda: B+
Adolf 2: An Exile in Japan by Osamu Tezuka: A
From the back cover: Japanese reporter Sohei Toge returns to his homeland, where he finally learns the secret that led to his brother's brutal murder at the hands of the Gestapo. But now the Japanese secret police are on his tail, and the SS officer who tortured him in Germany has followed him to Japan to hush him up—permanently! As fate would have it, Yukie Kaufmann, the … [Read more...] about Adolf 2: An Exile in Japan by Osamu Tezuka: A
Cheeky Angel 11-13 by Hiroyuki Nishimori: C+
In my review of volumes 1-10 of Cheeky Angel, I wrote, "Sometimes I’m not a fan of episodic storylines, but Cheeky Angel pulls it off because Nishimori-sensei never loses sight of the most important aspect of the story: Megumi’s struggle to choose between accepting her current femininity and finding a way to return to what she once was." Unfortunately, this no longer holds … [Read more...] about Cheeky Angel 11-13 by Hiroyuki Nishimori: C+
Skip Beat! 20 by Yoshiki Nakamura: B
Kyoko takes a break from acting jobs in this volume to focus on throwing a fabulous non-birthday birthday party for the boss’s granddaughter, Maria, who refuses to celebrate the occasion since it’s also the date of her mother’s death, for which she feels responsible. What follows is possibly the most shojotastic volume of manga ever, filled with warm expressions, bright smiles, … [Read more...] about Skip Beat! 20 by Yoshiki Nakamura: B