After I read the first two volumes of SangEun Lee’s 13th Boy, in which a pertinacious girl named Hee-So Eun does everything in her power to win the love of the handsome Won-Jun Kang, I had high hopes for the quirky series but apparently not high enough because, starting with volume three, the story veers into unexpectedly (and awesomely) dark territory. That’s not to say that … [Read more...] about 13th Boy 3-6 by SangEun Lee
Soliloquy in Blue Joins Manga Bookshelf!
Some might wonder "What took so long?" but personally, I'm sort of pinching myself. To be in the company of such esteemed bloggers as MJ, Kate Dacey, and David Welsh is a big honor, and I'm very flattered they wanted to make me officially part of the family. You might notice regular Soliloquy in Blue features like Let's Get Visual are now appearing on Manga Bookshelf's … [Read more...] about Soliloquy in Blue Joins Manga Bookshelf!
Kamisama Kiss 2 by Julietta Suzuki
From the back cover: Nanami Momozono is alone and homeless after her dad skips town to evade his gambling debts and the debt collectors kick her out of her apartment. So when a man she's just saved from a dog offers her his home, she jumps at the opportunity. But it turns out that his place is a shrine, and Nanami has unwittingly taken over his job as a local deity! Nanami … [Read more...] about Kamisama Kiss 2 by Julietta Suzuki
Let’s Get Visual: Mono no Aware
MICHELLE: It's the last Saturday of the month, and that means it's time for another Let's Get Visual column! Joining me as always is MJ, from Manga Bookshelf. This month, we've chosen images that convey the feeling of mono no aware, which Wikipedia defines as, "the awareness of impermanence, or the transience of things, and a gentle sadness (or wistfulness) at their passing." … [Read more...] about Let’s Get Visual: Mono no Aware
Cross Game Color Commentary
As part of this month's Manga Moveable Feast on Mitsuru Adachi's Cross Game, Kate Butler and I engaged in a bit of conversation about our love of sports manga in general and this series in particular. As we reference the plot and characters, this page from VIZ's Shonen Sunday website might come in handy. MICHELLE: I'm fighting the compulsion to start this thing off by going, … [Read more...] about Cross Game Color Commentary