MICHELLE: It's time for another installment of Let's Get Visual, a monthly feature in which Manga Bookshelf's MJ and I work to expand our artistic horizons! This month's column is inspired by a recent TOKYOPOP release, How to Draw Shojo Manga. Instead of simply offering tips on drawing faces, poses, or cute little animals, this book surprised and impressed me by its wealth … [Read more...] about Let’s Get Visual: Tricks of the Trade
TOKYOPOP
Immortal Rain 3-5 by Kaori Ozaki: A-
It's been a year since I read the first two volumes of Immortal Rain, and though I was initially somewhat lost when I started the third, the heartbreaking nature of Rain's backstory immediately pulled me back in. Hints had been sprinkled through the first two volumes, but here we get the whole, terrible story. We learn about Rain's relationship with Freya—the woman he once … [Read more...] about Immortal Rain 3-5 by Kaori Ozaki: A-
Karakuri Odette 4-5 by Julietta Suzuki: A-
When a manga’s back cover features the lines “She's a hot robot in high school! What's the worst that could happen?” one might be forgiven for expecting some sort of titillating romp to ensue. In reality, Karakuri Odette is about as far from that as it’s possible to get. Odette is the crowning achievement of her creator, the genius roboticist Professor Yoshizawa, and when she … [Read more...] about Karakuri Odette 4-5 by Julietta Suzuki: A-
Hetalia Axis Powers 1-2 by Hidekaz Himaruya: B+
I really wasn't sure how I would fare with Hetalia. I knew that its cast featured characters based on countries and that it had a rabid fan following, but that was about it. I expected a screwball gag comedy that would probably not amuse me much, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Hetalia is actually far more clever than that. Really, there isn't a plot here, or … [Read more...] about Hetalia Axis Powers 1-2 by Hidekaz Himaruya: B+
The Stellar Six of Gingacho 1 by Yuuki Fujimoto: B+
From the back cover: Mike, Kuro, Iba, Q, Sato and Mamoru star as the Stellar Six, the children of various store owners of the Galaxy Street's shopping district. Once inseparable childhood friends, they find themselves falling out of touch. But when a store on their home turf falls victim to vandalism, the Stellar Six come together again to help out, remembering the roots they … [Read more...] about The Stellar Six of Gingacho 1 by Yuuki Fujimoto: B+