For the first two volumes of The Record of a Fallen Vampire, one thinks one has things figured out. There’s the vampire king, Akabara Strauss, who has tirelessly searched for his imprisoned queen for 1000 years despite being hunted by both human and supernatural foes, inspiring much romantic speculation. There’s the dhampire (a human/vampire mix) Jin Renka, who is also … [Read more...] about The Record of a Fallen Vampire 1-3 by Kyo Shirodaira and Yuri Kimura: B+
Supernatural
Blood+: Kowloon Nights by Hirotaka Kisaragi: B-
In the world of Blood+, a girl named Saya and her trusty servant Hagi battle against chiropterans, a race of blood-sucking creatures. This one-volume prequel focuses on Hagi’s 1993 stay in Hong Kong, during which he teams up with a hot-headed cop named Nishi to put down a man-made pack of chiropterans that’s been leaving corpses in a certain area of town. Unlike the other … [Read more...] about Blood+: Kowloon Nights by Hirotaka Kisaragi: B-
Black Butler 2 by Yana Toboso: B-
This volume begins with Sebastian, butler extraordinaire, whipping together impressive preparations for a charity function with very little notice while simultaneously dealing with disasters caused by the other (incompetent) members of the household staff. From there, Ciel’s investigatory skills are called upon by Queen Victoria and the action relocates to London, where Jack … [Read more...] about Black Butler 2 by Yana Toboso: B-
Bleach 30 by Tite Kubo: C+
From the back cover: Ichigo and his friends are moving ever closer to the center of Hueco Mundo and rescuing Orihime. But their battles against the Arrancars are testing them in ways they never thought possible. Can they keep their honor in a world where it doesn't exist, or will Hueco Mundo leave an indelible mark on their souls?! Review: Ichigo (who actually appears very, … [Read more...] about Bleach 30 by Tite Kubo: C+
Mushishi 1 by Yuki Urushibara: A-
From the back cover: Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. Shortly after life emerged from the primordial ooze, these deadly creatures, mushi, came into terrifying being. And they still exist and wreak havoc in the world today. Ginko, a young man with a sardonic smile, has the knowledge and … [Read more...] about Mushishi 1 by Yuki Urushibara: A-