By Yuu Watase | Published by VIZ Media As a fan of Yuu Watase's shoujo classic, Fushigi Yûgi, I expected that I would like Arata: The Legend, her first shounen series. Turns out, I had underestimated my enjoyment: I really like it! The story begins in a world known as Amawakuni, where the child-like princess is preparing to yield the thrown to her successor after reigning … [Read more...] about Arata: The Legend, Vols. 1-6
Shonen Sunday
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
Cross Game 2-3 by Mitsuru Adachi
The first volume of Cross Game (well, the first collected volume from VIZ, which includes the first three volumes of the Japanese version) introduced the characters and established the motivation for average boy Ko Kitamura to devote himself to becoming a good enough pitcher to reach the Koshien tournament. It’s very good, but there’s little actual baseball. Volumes two and … [Read more...] about Cross Game 2-3 by Mitsuru Adachi
Cross Game 1 by Mitsuru Adachi: A-
When the first volume of Cross Game arrived at my house, I'm pretty sure my exact words were, "Eee!" Happily, I liked it every bit as I thought I would. The back cover really says it best: “Cross Game is a moving drama that is heartfelt and true, yet in the brilliant hands of manga artist Mitsuru Adachi, delightfully flows with a light and amusing touch. The series centers … [Read more...] about Cross Game 1 by Mitsuru Adachi: A-
InuYasha 45 by Rumiko Takahashi: B
A running plot in InuYasha involves the fact that the villain, Naraku, can never be wholly vanquished because he has secreted his heart away and as long as it exists elsewhere, he can’t die. It’s been dozens of volumes, so my memories of his methods are hazy, but his heart has resided for some time in the body of an infant, which has constructed itself a living fortress in the … [Read more...] about InuYasha 45 by Rumiko Takahashi: B