After the drama of the past few volumes, “the main storyline takes a holiday” (to quote the back cover) in volume eighteen and instead we get six short stories of varying quality. A couple of stories, like those focusing on Akira Toya and Yuki Mitani, fill in some background for scenes from earlier in the series, and one revisits what’s left of Hikaru’s old middle school go … [Read more...] about Hikaru no Go 18 by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata: B
Shonen Jump
Hikaru no Go 13-17 by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata: A
These five volumes represent the emotional crux of the series and, as such, plot spoilers will be discussed. Proceed at your own risk. I'm always sorry when I fall far behind on a series that I love, but when it results in half a dozen volumes to read at once, the pleasure of catching up makes the wait worthwhile. These five volumes are the most important and emotionally … [Read more...] about Hikaru no Go 13-17 by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata: A
Slam Dunk 8 by Takehiko Inoue: B+
After an admirable performance in an exhibition game against a tough rival, the Shohoku High basketball team is ready to get back to practice, but a gang of thugs with a grudge against team member Ryota Miyagi makes that impossible. They invade the court with the intent of starting a brawl that’ll get the Shohoku team disqualified from competition. Just when the thugs have been … [Read more...] about Slam Dunk 8 by Takehiko Inoue: B+
Slam Dunk 3-7 by Takehiko Inoue: B
How did I let myself get a whole year behind on Slam Dunk?! Of course, the upside to such a monumental lapse is having half a dozen volumes to gobble up back-to-back! At the end of the second volume, hot-headed protagonist Hanamichi Sakuragi impressed team captain Akagi by declaring himself “a basketball man” in answer to pressure to join the judo team. As a reward, Akagi … [Read more...] about Slam Dunk 3-7 by Takehiko Inoue: B
Sand Land by Akira Toriyama: A-
From the back cover: In the far future, war has destroyed the entire Earth, leaving only a barren wasteland where the supply of water is controlled by the greedy king. In search of a long-lost lake, sheriff Rao asked the king of the demons for help... and got the king's son, Beelzebub, and his assistant, Thief. Together, the unlikely trio sets off across the desert, facing … [Read more...] about Sand Land by Akira Toriyama: A-