Moritaka Mashiro is bored. For his fourteen years of life he’s merely gone along with the flow, a path which is destined to end with him becoming a normal white-collar worker. He doesn’t want this, but sees no alternative until Akito Takagi, the top student in class, notices Moritaka’s artistic skills and proposes that the two team up to create a manga. Moritaka is resistant at … [Read more...] about Bakuman。1 by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata: B+
Shonen Jump
One Piece 25-27 by Eiichiro Oda: B
I've heard a lot about the Skypiea arc of One Piece, though I actually knew zero specifics about what Luffy and his crew would encounter once they reached the legendary island in the sky. More, I seemed to absorb the general idea that this arc is really awesome and everyone loves it. Alas, I don't love it yet, but there are some things I do really like about how the story is … [Read more...] about One Piece 25-27 by Eiichiro Oda: B
One Piece 22-24 by Eiichiro Oda: B+
In some ways, I don’t really need to write another review of One Piece. Its virtues remain the same—a likeable core cast of characters who show how far friends will go to help friends and Oda’s sure hand guiding what might otherwise devolve into scenes of chaos—as does its one chief flaw: a tendency for fights to go on and on. And yet, I enjoyed this trio of volumes so much … [Read more...] about One Piece 22-24 by Eiichiro Oda: B+
Black Cat 15-17 by Kentaro Yabuki: B
The last time I reviewed Black Cat, I said, “There are six volumes left of this series, and if they’re comprised of a huge epic battle between the sweepers and Creed and his goons, I think I could be quite happy indeed.” Well, I was wrong. Oh, my prediction as to the contents of these volumes was correct, but I wouldn't describe myself as “quite happy” with the results. Not … [Read more...] about Black Cat 15-17 by Kentaro Yabuki: B
Black Cat 12-14 by Kentaro Yabuki: B+
Black Cat may not have the most innovative or sophisticated plot ever conceived—our hero and his friends face off against a mentally unbalanced bad guy and his lackeys—but it's executed so well and the characters are so likable that I can't help but be thoroughly entertained each time I consume another chunk of the story. In volume twelve, Train and friends meet with Dr. … [Read more...] about Black Cat 12-14 by Kentaro Yabuki: B+