Manga Review: Author's Pet by Deathco Cotorino

Rating (Out of 5): ~2

Publisher: June/DMP

Release Date: 2008

Volumes: 1.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

High school student Yuta bumps into a man outside the train station, injuring him. The man's name is Tsubaki Nishijima, occupation novelist. In exchange for crippling his arm, Tsubaki demands Yuta work like a slave every day!

Review:

This volume has several stories in it. The title story is a couple chapters, and it stars a guy who starts ghost writing for an author when he's at fault for the guy getting hurt and unable to write himself. This is a bit dramatic but just okay, as the author ends up taking advantage of the guy, with a rude, cocky attitude.

None of these stories really stood out for me, and the one that did wasn't very good. I didn't really like any of the characters, the story wasn't very well written, and the artwork wasn't very good; it was all a bit one-dimensional.

Manga Review: Saikano: The Last Love Song on This Little Planet, Volume 7, by Shin Takahashi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Editor's Choice (VIZ Media)

Release Date: 2006.

Volumes: 7.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. RightStuf.

Volume: 1.

Goodreads Synopsis:

With the war finally winding down, Chise begins to realize that her last chance for happiness is slipping away forever. Desperately trying to reclaim the humanity that she lost, the shy teenager makes one last bid for true love. But is it too late? Has Chise lost the opportunity to experience the most basic of all human emotions? Despite her awesome arsenal of military might, Chise has never been able to take control of her own personal life. One way or another, that's about to change.

Review:

I mostly just don’t know what to think about this series. I wasn’t in love with it, that’s for sure.

I didn’t really connect with the characters until near the end, and even then I wasn’t in love with any of them. I liked seeing the two as a real couple, when they were living together. This seemed like a very sedated, quiet series, where things happened slowly, almost in a boring way, but also quite depressing.

There was never much of an explanation, in a sci-fi sense, for why she was the way she was, or how all that worked. Mostly, the whole world and reasons could have been explained a lot more.

The characters could have been developed a lot more.

And the ending just… just why? I don’t understand the point of it all, with that ending. (Although, maybe that's the point?) It’s depressing, and I just… Maybe I just don’t get it? I mean, I guess it kind of makes sense, it was kind of leading up to this, and yeah the title makes more sense now. Maybe it's just that I don't like the kind of stories that end like this. It's disappointing, it seems like too much, and just doesn't always seem necessary?

I didn’t really care for a lot of this series, and I didn’t really get the ending. But also, I am definitely not the intended audience for this series.

Manga Review: Made in Heaven: Juri, Volume 2, by Ami Sakurai and Yukari Yashiki

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Tokyopop

Release Date: 2006

Volumes: 2.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. RightStuf.

Volume: 1.

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Juri met Kazemichi, she felt like she'd met a kindred soul. But little did she know that he used to be Reiji, a boy nearly killed in a terrible car accident but pieced back together with prosthetics and covered in unfeeling, artificial skin. She also didn't know that his parts were wearing down, or that he was about to die...again.When Kazemichi's body is found in the wreckage of a mysterious explosion, Juri begins to unravel the dark secrets of his past: his mother, the organization that rebuilt him...and the man who gave him the name Kazemichi. There are two sides to every story. Look for Made in Heaven: Kazemichi, also available from TOKYOPOP.

Review:

The first volume of this series was interesting, and I found the story line and characters intriguing. But it also felt a little distant, with not a lot of emotions. This volume gets more emotional, thankfully, and now we’re in the girls’ head.

Juri is left wondering what happened to Kazemichi, and who he really was now that she discovers he had been experimented on. She was clueless and now she needs to know, she needs closure. It’s sad to see what happened, to see her struggling with her search and being turned away, until she finally figures it out and finds what he wanted her to.

This was a very interesting series, odd and unique. I quite like the idea and the thought put into developing it and how it ended. I’m pleased.

Manga Review: Honey Senior, Darling Junior, Volume 1, by Chifumi Ochi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Net Comics

Release Date: 2008.

Volumes: 2.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

W/A) Chifumi OchiA senior and a junior, members of their school's tennis team, take a spur-of-the-moment trip. When they arrive, however, they find no hotel vacanies, except in love hotels. With no other options, they act as if they are lovers and check into a room. While playing around, one boy accidentally touches the other's private parts - but they find that they can't stop there. What begins as shy, unexpressed mutual attraction quickly evolves into a full-blown affair.

Review:

Meh.

There are four short stories in this volume, and none of them really stood out for me. They were okay in story and character, but especially the first one was very rushed and underdeveloped. I didn’t care for it.

The artwork is okay, nice to look at. The smut would be okay, if the stories were a little more developed and it didn’t happen so fast, though in some it was more mentioned than shown.

It wasn’t particularly memorable, and it was just average to me.

Manga Review: Pixie Pop: Gokkun Pucho, Volume 3, by Ema Toyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~2.5-3

Publisher: Tokyopop

Release Date: 2007

Volumes: 3.

Spoilers?: Light.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.

Volume: 1. 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

For Mayu, things are getting a Little fruity! Pineapple Juice turns her into an arrow-toting Cupid, and melon makes her the most sought after Girl in School! But she's still not happy! When a serious new love rival enters the picture, Mayu will have to choose between the perfect man and her long-time crush... who's leaving for America!

The juicy conclusion to Pixie Pop will be sure to leave you thirsty for more!

Review:

This is clearly an early series by Toyama, because her newer stuff is done so much better.

Firstly, the drama is okay. I don’t mind all the competing and rivals showing up. I didn’t particularly care for any of them, but that was okay.

My biggest problem was the romance. It’s given so much attention, and yet feels so underdeveloped. I didn’t feel the chemistry or attraction between any of the characters. I didn’t see why she was in love with him this entire time. And in the end, I really didn’t believe that he was returning her feelings. There wasn’t enough time given to develop their mutual romantic feelings, and so having the series end with a wedding just annoys me. It’s such a cliché for no reason.

That part does really annoy me, but I didn’t hate this series. It was okay—the friendships weren’t bad, the idea was okay, the art wasn’t bad. I’m just not impressed with it.

Manga Review: Pearl Pink, Volume 4, by Meca Tanaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Tokyopop

Release Date: 2008

Volumes: 4.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Our little heroine's passed the gauntlet of auditions and been given the chance to star in a new television drama. The real drama takes off from there! Explosions, fighting...and a kissing scene? With Tamako growing closer to Kanji every day, she may be forced to choose between her career and her relationship. As the curtain on Pearl Pink comes to a close, is a happy ending in store for Tamako and Kanji?

Review:

This series was kind of just average for me. The art is definitely her earlier work, but it’s not bad.

The romance is definitely slow going, not taken seriously for most of the series. The ending for the couple, though, was cute, and fitting for them. I do like that the acting part of the series was taken more seriously than some, and that they had to work for it and try their best. The family element, particularly between Tamako and her mother, was sweet and given a nice amount of attention. I liked how seriously that was taken, between them and publicly.

This was a cute series, and I liked reading it. But it was slow at times and a little boring. I did like the ending a lot, though, and I'm glad I picked it up.

Manga Review: Songs to Make You Smile by Natsuki Takaya

 

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Tokyopop

Release Date: 2010

Volumes: 1.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. RightStuf.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In these unforgettable tales from the creator of "Fruits Basket", a pop band vocalist meets the only woman who touched his heart; a girl wonders if her deceased father ever loved her; the son of a musical genius tries to find his own voice; an 18-year-old boy tries to learn to be a man; and, in a side story to "Tsubasa: Those with Wings", ultimate love thrives.

Review:

The first story in this volume kind of makes the rest of it worth it. It has the same art and setting style as Fruits Basket, about a boy who is quiet and misunderstood as rude when he’s really a nice guy. And he falls for his friends' sister, a girl similarly misunderstood, who was bullied. Their story is super adorable and sweet. I really enjoyed it.

After that, there are several one-shots, some clearly earlier works, some cuter than others. The last one is a fairy-tale like one-shot with the characters from Tsubasa, but I haven’t read that series yet. It was cute, though.

I’m glad that I picked this volume up, and enjoyed reading it. I look forward to picking up her other stuff, and I'm enjoying her newer releases.

Manga Review: Priceless, Volume 3, by Young-You Lee

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Tokyopop

Release Date: 2006.

Volumes: 3.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Rightstuf.

Volume: 1. 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Jimmy begins attending Lang-bee's school, he decides to take Dan under his wing--but more for his own selfish reasons. Jimmy tells Dan that he's training him to become the type of man that Lang-bee would want, but he's really using Dan as his own personal servant! From Young-You Lee, the creator of Kill Me Kiss Me, comes the final volume of the romantic love triangle that's filled with delicious gossip, a false alarm, and one important basketball shot...in a word: Priceless! 

Review:

Meh. That’s mostly how I feel about this series.

Lang-bee is living on her own after her mother runs off, leaving her with debt and finding odd jobs to pay it off and her living expenses. When a guy her age shows up claiming to be her mothers new guy, he proves only to be more of a hassle. Then there’s Dan, who has somehow fallen for Lang-bee and is very protective of her.

I do think the ending was nice, I suppose. I liked that a romance didn’t form between Lang-bee and Jimmy, and that she does kind of get with Dan, in an odd way. But mostly I didn’t grow attached to the characters, I didn’t love them, and the ending felt a little meh, like there should have been more.

It was okay in the end.

Manga Review: Princess Ai by Misaho Kujiradou, Courtney Love, and DJ Milky

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Tokyopop

Release Date: 2004

Volumes: 3 (plus spin-offs)

Spoilers?: No.

Buy Vol. 1 here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository (box set, in stock).

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ai is the only royal princess of Ai-Land, a magical kingdom caught in the midst of a horrific revolution. When Princess Ai makes a hasty escape from her war-torn land, she finds herself in modern-day Tokyo. Confused and in shock, Ai wanders the streets in this strange new land to unravel the secrets that could tear her and her kingdom apart ... The first volume of Princess Ai is a journey to the heights of fame and fortune found in this world and beyond!

Review:

I was really hoping to love this series, but was oddly not too impressed.

Ai is a princess from another world, and she shows up on Earth with no memory, and slowly starts gaining it back by the end of the series, when she has to go back to her own world to save it. The ending was a bit cheesy, and a little open-ended, but it was okay. The character development was just okay—I did like the main romance, but otherwise we didn’t get enough complexity.

I do think the artwork is very pretty.

I also am interested in the character of Ai. As a person, she’s kind of annoying. Very stubborn and a bit of a spoiled brat, with no care for anyone but herself and a select few. Even after she signs a contract to be an idol, she doesn’t give a shit about all the agreements she’s made or the shows she’s agreed to do, and hates when they want her to do her job. She’s a pain in the ass.

But on the other hand, she’s a strong female character. She doesn’t stand for people bullying her or trying to take advantage of her, she can fight anyone if she wants to. I particularly like that with all the revealing clothes she wears, she wears them because she likes them, and doesn’t stand for it when people try to act like she’s easy because of the way she looks. I was impressed with that.

Overall, it was an okay series. Not amazing, not horrible. It didn’t keep me glued to the pages, but I might pick up the spin-off.

Manga Review: Game x Rush, Volume 2, by Mizuho Kusanagi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Tokyopop

Release Date: 2009.

Volumes: 2.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.

Volume: 1.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Japan's greatest bodyguard and greatest assassin caught in a deadly game...

The mystery behind Yuuki's sordid past is revealed, but can Memori tell the difference between what is fact and what is fiction? And what if the truth has something to do with Memori's own mysterious past?

From the creator of Mugen Spiral and NG Life comes hot bishonen action with a deadly twist!

Review:

This is clearly a weaker series, probably an earlier series, by Kusanagi. I have quite enjoyed her previous ones, whereas this was more meh.

The humor is rather exaggerated but funny, and a lot of the chapters are episodic with only hinting of something deeper. Until we finally get further in this volume, and we finally see what Yuuki has been hiding. And, honestly, it is really bad. It’s dark, and I feel terrible for him.

Having lived in such a terrible situation when he was a kid, and then finally finding the real child who should have been there. It’s bad, and I feel for him. But the reveal needed to happen, and I think it worked out understandably. The ending was fitting.

Overall, it was an okay series.

Manga Review: The Knockout Makers, Volume 3, by Kyoko Hashimoto

Rating (Out of 5): ~2

Publisher: Tokyopop

Release Date: 2008

Volumes: 3.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2.

Add on Goodreads.

RightStuf Synopsis:

Be they homely, happy, chubby or busty, the Knockout Makers exist to help girls feel beautiful, inside and out. They'll tackle any tangle, blush any cheek, and even cross dress if they have to, all in the name of feminine beauty. But after five years and nearly a hundred makeovers, are makeup artist Toshihiro, hair stylist Nobuo and fundamentals expert Ryouhei ready to retire?Story and art by Kyouko Hashimoto.

Review:

Meh. I’m just disappointed and underwhelmed with this one.

Three guys work together, in a secret, special group, to make women feel beautiful and happy about themselves.

Most of this is quite shallow, which is annoying. But mostly there was so little development. The cases are all episodic, understandably, but we barely got to know the three guys. There were glimpses of pasts and personalities, and even possible romances, but none of it went anywhere. No real development, nothing serious, and then it just kind of ends.

I wanted more, and so I’m disappointed.

Manga Review: Liberty Liberty! by Hinako Takanaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Blu (Tokyopop)

Release Date: 2009

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. .

Add on Goodreads 

RightStuf Synopsis:

After fleeing Tokyo trying to escape a personal crisis, hapless Itaru winds up drunk and passed out on a neighborhood trash heap. His misery is documented by prickly cameraman Kouki, who works for a local cable station, and soon the two end up roommates and co-workers. But with a company full of quirky characters, including a perky, winsome crossdresser, and their own personalities to contend with, will Itaru and Kouki ever truly understand one another? Story and art by Hinako Takanaga.

Review:

This was just a pretty average story. The artwork is not as great as Awkward Silence, though all right.

This one is about a photographer who ends up taking in a stray—a guy who has no place left to go, and ends up staying with the photographer. He ends up working for their cable company, then getting a job of his own, and stays as a roommate. The photographer has a female friends who was nice, and pushy enough for them.

The romance is very slow here, especially since the photographer doesn’t think he has any interest in men. But I liked the stray, and I really felt for him at one point. The plot is slow, and the romance is just starting to develop when the book ends.

Overall, it was okay. The storyline and characters didn’t really grab me, but it was a nice book. I hope to pick up more of Takanaga’s previous books, and I hope some of them are better.

Manga Review: The Stellar Six of Gingacho, Volume 3, by Yuuki Fujimoto

Rating (Out of 5): ~4-4.5

Publisher: Tokyopop

Release Date: 2011

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

More charming adventures await the Stellar Six! The bond between Mike and Kuro becomes even stronger when they help a stray puppy find a home, but their relationship sparks the jealousy of other school girls. Meanwhile, a crayon-scrawled treasure map reminds them all of what 'the bestest thing' in life really are. Additionally, Kuro, Q, and Mamoru must deal with the sudden fame that comes from an unknown photo sent to a magazine!

Review:

I don’t even know how to explain my complete adoration of this series.

The artwork is pretty, kind of in an old-school way, and it definitely grows on you.

The characters are amazing. I love the friendship between all six of them, how they’re all there for each other at all times. Their friendship is true and strong. So far the focus has definitely been on Mike and Kuro, but we get enough of the others that it’s easy to grow attached to all of them. And I love that they all live on Gingacho Street Market, working for their parents, so close together. The street market is a very fun setting.

I will admit that this is kind of just a shout out to having this series rescued. Tokyopop closed when barely three volumes were released (and I say barely, because I know volume three is harder to find than the others. I’m surprised I actually found a copy so easily). But there are ten volumes in the series, and I so badly want to see how it ends. I want to see the progression between them all, the heartbreaks and romance and friendships expand. I just want more of this, because it is such a charming and cute series.