Kyoko takes a break from acting jobs in this volume to focus on throwing a fabulous non-birthday birthday party for the boss’s granddaughter, Maria, who refuses to celebrate the occasion since it’s also the date of her mother’s death, for which she feels responsible. What follows is possibly the most shojotastic volume of manga ever, filled with warm expressions, bright smiles, … [Read more...] about Skip Beat! 20 by Yoshiki Nakamura: B
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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
InuYasha 42-44 by Rumiko Takahashi: B+
I had determined some time ago not to get excited about any seeming progress in this series until the last couple of volumes, but I broke my own vow with these volumes, in which our heroes get closer than ever before to defeating one of the chief obstacles standing in their way. These three volumes focus on two things: swords and defeating Moryomaru, a creation of Naraku's who … [Read more...] about InuYasha 42-44 by Rumiko Takahashi: B+
Hikaru no Go 18 by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata: B
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
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