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
VIZ
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-
Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee 2 by Hiroyuki Asada: C
From the back cover: Amberground is locked in darkness. A man-made star casts only a dim light over the land. The pitch-blade wilderness is infested with Gaichuu—colossal insects with metal exoskeletons. The Gaichuu make travel between the cities of Amberground extremely dangerous. But thankfully the Letter Bees, a brave corps of messengers, risk their lives in order to keep … [Read more...] about Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee 2 by Hiroyuki Asada: C
All My Darling Daughters by Fumi Yoshinaga: A
“A mother is an imperfect woman.” So thinks Yukiko Kisaragi, the central hub around which the collection of stories in All My Darling Daughters revolves. As the story begins, Yukiko’s mother, Mari, has just undergone a successful cancer operation and decides that, from now on, she’s going to live her life the way she wants. To Yukiko’s dismay, this involves getting remarried … [Read more...] about All My Darling Daughters by Fumi Yoshinaga: A
RIN-NE 2 by Rumiko Takahashi: B
From the back cover: After a mysterious encounter in her childhood, Sakura Mamiya gained the power to see ghosts. Now a teenager, she just wishes the ghosts would leave her alone! Then one day she meets Rinne Rokudo, a boy who is far more than what he seems. Sakura and Rinne deal with the ghosts of an ancient warrior and a girl who drowned in the school swimming pool, but … [Read more...] about RIN-NE 2 by Rumiko Takahashi: B