If asked for a one-word description of Rei Hiroe's seinen action series, Black Lagoon, my response would be “kick-ass.” I'd quickly follow that up, however, with “and a lot more intelligent than one might assume.” Black Lagoon is the story of the Lagoon Traders, a group of seafaring couriers based out of the fictional city of Roanapur, Thailand. African-American Dutch, an … [Read more...] about Black Lagoon 1-3 by Rei Hiroe: A-
Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead: C+
From the back cover: It was a time of legend, when the last shadows of the mighty Roman conqueror faded from the captured Isle of Britain. While across a vast sea, bloody war shattered a peace that had flourished for two thousand years in the doomed kingdom of Atlantis. Taliesin is the remarkable adventure of Charis, the Atlantean princess who escaped the terrible devastation … [Read more...] about Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead: C+
Darker Than Black by BONES, et al.: C+
I reviewed the omnibus edition of this shoujo manga based on the Darker Than Black anime for Comics Should Be Good. Basically, all of the elements borrowed from the anime are pretty intriguing, but the manga's storyline just doesn't hang together very well. You can find that review here. Darker Than Black is published in English by Yen Press in a 384-page omnibus edition … [Read more...] about Darker Than Black by BONES, et al.: C+
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris: B-
From the back cover: Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too datable. Then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome—and Sookie can't … [Read more...] about Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris: B-
MMF: That’s a Wrap!
The Paradise Kiss MMF has now come to a close. Thank you again to everyone who participated—each contribution was a pleasure to read, and their quality made my job as host both easy and fun! Tune in next month when we'll be doing something a little bit different with the MMF: a kids' table! Our main course will be Yotsuba&!, but we'll also be feasting upon a variety of … [Read more...] about MMF: That’s a Wrap!