Welcome to another installment of Tidbits! This time I turn my attention to sports manga, a genre for which I nurture an inexplicable adoration. First up is Crimson Hero, a shoujo tale that attempts to balance volleyball and romance, followed by six early volumes of Eyeshield 21 and four later ones from The Prince of Tennis, in which the Seishun Academy tennis team finally … [Read more...] about Tidbits: Sports Manga for the Win!
Mitsuba Takanashi
Crimson Hero 12 by Mitsuba Takanashi: B
From the back cover: With one of their ace players injured, Nobara and the Crimson Field girls must fight harder than ever. Their challenge is the Newcomers' Tournament, and their performance in this venue will determine just how far the team can go. But Nobara's distracted when she learns that one of her not-so-secret admirers seeks to crush Yushin and destroy the boys' … [Read more...] about Crimson Hero 12 by Mitsuba Takanashi: B
Crimson Hero 11 by Mitsuba Takanashi: B
The Crimson High girls’ volleyball team has made it to the third round of the Newcomers’ Tournament and is facing its first serious challenge. Things are going well and they win the first set, but when the opposing team intentionally wounds Crimson High’s star setter, there’s no one who can fill in. Instead, the Crimson High girls rearrange their strategy to protect their … [Read more...] about Crimson Hero 11 by Mitsuba Takanashi: B
Crimson Hero 10 by Mitsuba Takanashi: B
The six members of the Crimson Field High School girls’ volleyball team have come a long way and are now participating in the Newcomers’ Tournament, an important stepping stone to their ultimate goal, the Spring Tournament. They win their first two rounds handily, but are faced with a tough opponent for the third round. Meanwhile, Nobara and Yushin are still keeping their … [Read more...] about Crimson Hero 10 by Mitsuba Takanashi: B
Crimson Hero 9 by Mitsuba Takanashi: B+
From the back cover: Just when Nobara is set to play with the Eagles against the men's team at Central Sokai University, Yushin shows up on campus! Has he come to make a play for Nobara? Review: At last! I love seeing good things happen for characters I like, and this volume is immensely satisfying in several important ways. Nobara gets her first taste of victory when the … [Read more...] about Crimson Hero 9 by Mitsuba Takanashi: B+