Manga Review: Orange Planet, Volume 2, by Haruka Fukushima

Rating (Out of 5): ~2.5

Publisher: Del Rey

Release Date: 2009

Volumes: 5

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.

Volume: 1. 3-4-5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

SCANDAL AT SCHOOL!

Rui has many boys interested in her–including Taro, the cute guy who’s always loved her; Eisuke, the gorgeous teaching intern; and of course, Kaoru, the one she really has a crush on. But then word spreads that Rui and Eisuke are roommates, and the school is none too happy about the coed living arrangement. Rui says it’s innocent. Will scandal destroy Rui’s love life forever?

Review:

Why do I keep reading this authors books? I honestly don’t even know any more. I guess I liked it when I was younger, but now I just get annoyed.

I don’t like Rui. She’s exaggerated and freaks out over everything and she just gets on my nerves. Having her freak out over every kind of sexual situation and hate on Tachibana for his playboy ways was so cliché. Most of the plot and the characters are so cliché, none of it is new or exciting for me. The humor is too exaggerated and over-the-top.

In the first volume, having Tachibana move in with her made no sense, mostly just convenient. Having someone find out and freak out about it also seemed convenient for dramas sake. Same with having Rui’s parents pass away and her move in with her aunt, then live on her own. Though I guess since that’s changed, maybe that’ll be good for her?

I was annoyed with them changing Nakamura be gay. If that had been a thing, maybe for awareness or actual characterization, then okay. But it was simply to throw a twist in. Completely changing the end of the first volume for it to work pissed me off, but it also didn’t make sense with everything he did with Rui, unless it was to make Taro jealous. Only none of that was given any development.

Then we skip ahead two years, and Rui thinks she’s found the guy who gave her the bear, and (surprise!) he’s a jerk. I was already convinced it was Tachibana, since the boy is supposed to be significantly older than her.

Why am I even contemplating picking up the final three-in-one, even if it is only one book? Ugh. This was annoying and so not my style anymore, but I do hate giving up on a series so close to the end. I don’t know if I’ll finish it or not.

Manga Review: ES: Eternal Sabbath, Volume 8, by Fuyumi Soryo

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Del Rey

Release Date: 2008

Volumes: 8

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. (Out-of-Print)

Volume: 1. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

LAST BREATH

Isaac is dying–and he’s determined to take as many people with him as possible. This psychotic superbeing is using mind control to unleash chaos and destruction on Tokyo. Only Shuro, his clone brother, can stop him. This ultimate battle will be the end for some and a whole new beginning for others. . . .

Final volume of ES: Eternal Sabbath!

What Will I Miss?:

• I will definitely miss the psychological aspect, mixed with the dark, violent parts of people. Soryo seems to like that element, and she does it really well. It's very interesting to see how that develops in this series.
• I will also miss the way that she tells the story. Slowly, getting the characters to slowly get to know each other, and progress as people, and then make important decisions.

Review:

I started this series forever ago, back when it was still being published, and it took me a while to get those volumes and then finally finish it, because I couldn’t remember where I left off. And now I’m really glad that I got to it.

Firstly, this is a really fast series to read. It took me, at least, half the time to read one volume than it usually does. Which I think is both because there’re less words, and really short chapters. And that works really well for the type of story this is.

Second, I really enjoyed this series. The characters are great, the story is really dark and violent and interesting, and I love the psychological aspects. I didn't grow too attached to the characters, but I did like them. I’m not really sure what I think of the ending, though, since I was hoping/expecting something else, but this one works, too. It’s kind of sad, but also kind of fitting. 

I rather enjoyed this series, and am glad that I read it. And, given that Soryo is also the author of Mars (one of my absolute favorite series), I really hope that someone brings another of her series over here, possibly Kodansha. I know it’s been requested, and I hope someone decides to.

Manga Review: Papillon, Volumes 5 & 6, by Miwa Ueda

Rating (Out of 5): 3.5

Publisher: Del Rey

Volumes: 8

Goodreads Synopsis:

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Ageha is finally living her dreams. After a fabulous makeover—and a little help from her handsome guidance counselor–turned–boyfriend Kyû-chan—Ageha is happier than she’s ever been in her life. But she still has one problem: Hana, her twin sister, has her eye on Kyû-chan. Hana is willing to do anything to snare him—even if it means disguising herself as Ageha! Will she succeed? Find out in this special omnibus edition, collecting volumes 5 and 6 of Papillon!

Review:

Ahhh, this series. It just... I don't really know what else to say about it. This volume wasn't too much different than the others. But on the bright side, I did generally enjoy this(these) volume(s). I'm not really sure why, but I did. Don't get me wrong, it's still terrible like always, but it's kind of terribly fantastic, in a way that makes me want to keep reading even if I'm hating on it. That's just how this series is, and other ones like it, are.
So Ageha is still working with Hana's ex-boyfriend, Shinobu. And we are reminded that he confessed to Ageha when they were younger, but get more insight to it. Because apparently she heard him and his friends talking about her, and so she thought he was joking, but in the present, he tells her that he was serious. Oh, also, Hana confesses her feelings to Hayato (and he turns her down, don't worry).

So then Ageha decides to talk to Hayato about Shinobu's confession, which would be a good idea, if she didn't treat him like a counselor who has no feelings for her, someone who wouldn't mind that someone confessed to his girlfriend, and then asks him what she should do about it. And then she's surprised when he gets upset. Then Hayato's sister mistakes Hana for Ageha, who doesn't correct her.

There's a little subplot thing of Shinobu helping out one of their co-workers, which makes Ageha admire him and all that. And then Hana and their grandmother come to work, and Hana is upset that Ageha is working with her ex and didn't tell her. And Hana makes this speech to Ageha about her being insensitive to everyone around her, which, I wouldn't say is completely untrue, but isn't totally true, and is also hypocritical of her, since Hana is pretty insensitive to everyone.

I was all 'what?' when Hana went on about it, because it's absurd for her to say that. But it makes Ageha think, and she totally buys it, and re-thinks the situation with Hayato and how she was insensitive there. And so she hurries to Hayato's, only to overhear him and his sister talking about her, and she gets upset and runs off, and he sees her and runs after her, and they make up before her friends see her, and she runs after them. I guess I do understand her reaction to what Hayato said, but I got how his sister took it, and I thought it was sweet and cute in general. She over-reacted, but that was to be expected. And her two of her friends forgive her, but one of them is still upset over it. Yea, she should have told them, so I see why they were upset. But whatever.

And then Shinobu takes her to a cemetery, and they talk about something he went through and how she helped him. I thought it was actually pretty entertaining.

The next several chapters focus on Hana pretending to be Ageha, and Ageha finding out and interrupting them after they've kissed once and Hayato finds out on his own. This is just dumb of Hana to do, again. And Ageha over-reacts, again. I did like Hayato in this part. He thought it was Ageha, until she starts crying, and I love his explanation for it. I even feel a little bad for Hana, actually. Ageha gets totally pissed, and fights her a little bit. It's a bit dumb. But I think I might just not like Ageha.

In the 6^th volume, which this plot continues into, there's actually a really cute scene between Ageha and Hayato. I really enjoyed it, which I expected to, but I was glad to see a scene like it, since there aren't too many.

And then in the next chapter, Hana gets hurt, Ageha gets worried only to find out that it's a minor injury. But then Hayato sees someone he knew from before, and things get a little awkward as there is obviously something between them, but he won't explain it to them, saying that he isn't ready yet. Oh, there's also a little subplot between Hayato and Ageha. Ageha feels that her necklace is 'dirty' after Hana wore it, and so he does a thing to make her feel better about it. It was nice, sweet of him, and all that.

Hana decides to go behind his back and to the woman, Rena, and she finds out some of what happened. And so Hayato explains some of it to her. And then they go behind his back and to his sister, who does explain it to them. Apparently his girlfriend, and Rena's sister, died, and the girls sister doesn't remember it, has blanked it from her memory, and blames him for it. That's not how it happened, though, and neither of them blame him. And we find out that he became a counselor for Rena, to try to help her. But whatever. I was a little excited, and intrigued, when I found out that there was some secret he was keeping, only to be a bit disappointed when it was one of those cliché situations. So whatever.

One part I did like about this is that Ageha and Hana seem to be getting closer. They're working together to find out what happened with Hayato, and they both know that the other likes him. I kind of doubt that they're going to become best friends, but at least they're not fighting or anything right now. That means things between them are looking up, right?

And the last chapter. Rena stays the night with Hayato, because she can't sleep (but again, don't worry, nothing happens. Hayato is practically the only trust-worthy one in this series, if you think about it). And then him and Ageha, after she finds out about Rena staying the night and objecting to it (since she knows that he liked Rena before he liked her sister, and is worried), start planning their trip, and she makes a plan for her parents to think she's going on a trip with friends. I hope that we get to see them go on a trip, as that could be actual fun, but Hana finds out and gets upset about it, and decides to sabotage it. She goes to the hospital and talks to Rena, where she's mean and tries to force her to remember the actual occurrences of the accident by telling her how it happened. And then Rena trips and falls down some stairs.

This is obviously a terrible ending. I want to know what happens next. Right now. Why isn't it out yet?

So, yea. One thing that bothered me was the way the book was put together was that it seemed like they just binded the two books together, without any editing. They still had the to-be-continued at the end of the first volume, as well as the notes at the end and the characters and things at the beginning. I feel that they should have just glided into the next volume better than that. Oh, I also noticed that Ryusei isn't in the characters at the front of the book. What's up with that? Is all the drama with him over, so he doesn't matter anymore? I'm actually a little upset about that... And is more stuff going to come up with Shinobu? He seemed to be ignored in the second half of the omnibus.

Also, Ueda always makes me wonder. Because the general storyline, and several of the characters, and just the drama, is terrible in this series. And yet she will foreshadow to things pretty well, and Hayato actually has good counselor characteristics, among other small things that are well done. It kind of amazes me how she can contrast these good and bad traits so well in this series.

So, Kodansha. When are you, if you are at all, going to publish the next one? I mean, there's only two volumes left, you can make an omnibus out of them like Del Rey did with this one. I want to know how it all ends. Please?

Manga Review: Papillon, Volume 4, by Miwa Ueda

Rating (Out of 5): 3

Publisher: Del Rey

Volumes: 8

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

SISTER ACT

Ageha used to live in the shadow of her pretty, more popular sister, Hana. But those days are gone! Now Ageha is confident, independent, and dating her hot guidance counselor, Kyû-chan. Everything is going great. That is, until Hana seeks help from Kyû-chan. Will she succeed in stealing Kyû-chan’s heart?

Review:

 

I've been trying not to put these reviews too close together, but I want to be able to read the next one, so here's volume four.

So the last one ended with 'Ageha' and Ryusei kissing. Ryusei freaks out a little and then they talk and she sweet talks him and they kiss some more before she reveals that she's actually Hana. (I totally guessed right.) (But, Hana was very good at being Ageha, which is a little weird. Because Ueda usually draws her as pretty obvious around guys, and while she was a little more 'seductive', or something, she was still very good as Ageha.) This has Ryusei freaked out, because he doesn't know how to act around Ageha and he's avoiding Hana. He talks to one of Hana's ex-boyfriends later, after moping and not knowing what to do with himself, and finds out that it's something that she's done before, and apparently does a lot. So he goes and freaks out on Hana, saying that she set herself up for it and won't open herself, and that he has feelings too, and all that. While Hana is talking to Hayato, and they do some more talking.

Previously to this, Hayato and Ageha have made up, and kissed, because she doesn't want to lose him, and he knows how upset she is about it now and all that. Anyway, so Hayato and Hana start hanging out more. She's talking to him about her problems, and how Ageha always seems more appealing after a while to the guys that she goes out with, which is why she pretends to be her, as she wants someone to only like her. Ageha starts wondering what going on with them, since they are around each other so much, even after school. Plus, she has this friend who can 'smell' it when people have just had sex, and she can smell the same scent on both of them. This is a little weird, but it mostly only pushes Ageha to overreact, and make a scene about them being around each other and having sex behind her back. The both of them resolve this for her, talking about this cologne that her friend smelled. This is a common occurrence, it seems. Ageha wasting time worrying about something before overreacting and then whatever it is being solved in a couple of pages. And she never seems to understand that she could just have asked about it instead.

Okay, anyway, so Hana and Hayato are still hanging around each other quite a bit. He has previously covered her from glass shattering, and then near the end he pulls out of the way of an oncoming car, after saving her from some pushy guy. And then she wraps her arms around him, wanting him to hold her. (This is ridiculous, because she totally should have seen the cars moving around on the road. They were moving before she started crossing it. Is she stupid, or did she want him to save her?)

And that's it for this volume.

This is terrible. And it's not getting any better. It's pretty much the same amount of terrible as it was from the beginning. And if I didn't already have the next one (the omnibus), then I probably wouldn't read it. (I think that might be a lie. Because, despite how terrible this is, I don't mind reading it. It is horribly stupid, and yet I can't seem to stop.)

Ageha isn't any better. We've got more insight into Hana, but I don't really feel sorry for her. She's pretty much done this to herself. Hayato I'm unsure of. Ryusei is still pretty pathetic, but I still kind of like him. Ageha's friends are alright, but we've only seem a little bit of them. Their family is alright. It's all pretty much the same. Which isn't a particularly good thing, but at least it's not worse, right?

Also, I'm still wondering if Kodansha is going to publish the next one. I will probably talk more about this on the next volume, since it is the last one released.

Manga Review: Papillon, Volume 3, by Miwa Ueda

Rating (Out of 5): 3

Publisher: Del Rey

Volumes: 8

Goodreads Synopsis:

ENEMY SISTER?

Shy tomboy Ageha has decided to make all her dreams come true. Thanks to her inspiring (and very attractive!) guidance counselor, Kyû-chan, Ageha is taking total control of her life. But she has one major obstacle to overcome: Hana, her twin sister, who’s jealous of Ageha’s amazing transformation. And Hana will stop at nothing to ruin her sister’s life!

Review:

This volume focused more on Ageha and Hayato's relationship. Within the first chapter, Hayato mistakes Hana for Ageha, and so Hana takes advantage and acts like a complete whiny brat to him. He decides to break things off with Ageha, which she is very upset about since she doesn't know what she did wrong. Also, another counselor (someone who also works at the school or something. We only see him for this one scene, and are never really introduced,) talks to her and gets it in her head that a counselor/patient relationship is bad. That if the counselor starts a close relationship with their patient, then they're failing with the therapy because therapy is what needs to help the patient, not the relationship. Ageha gets all upset about it, thinking that Hayato doesn't actually like her and was just being nice when he accepted. (While talking to the counselor, before he goes off on counselor/patient relationships being bad, Ageha states "But, but... can't they be in a relationship if there's chemistry between them?" This is one of the stupidest things I've read in a while. I mean, really? It's like a teacher/student relationship. They're usually prohibited, it doesn't matter how they think they feel about each other. How does she not already understand that?) And then she gets sick, which is when the whole mess with her sister starts. After a couple of chapter where everything just gets worse, they realize their mistake and make up. Ageha also meets Hayato's supervisor, who gives some good advice that makes her rethink some things. Also, Hana confesses to Hayato that she doesn't like seeing Ageha happy, which is why she did all this. (I guess Ueda had her openly confess this to him because he's going to be the one to help Ageha grow up, or something?)

Most of this could have been resolved had the two talked things over. But they didn't, and Ageha just kept running away and not trying to find out why he had suddenly changed his mind. And Hayato didn't try to find out why she was suddenly acting like a different person. Hayato's reason isn't as understandable as Ageha's is, with all of her low self-esteem.

Anyway, after they have made up, Ageha starts bothering him with text messages. And she believes something Hana has told her and overreacts, which Hayato resolves with a sentence. I hope that she doesn't continue to fall for things as she has been. Hayato calls her honest, which is kind of true, but she's also stupid. She makes up with him by giving him a gift and talking to him, which is a little cute (and stupid).

Things with Ryusei are also being brought up. He's having problems with Hana, with her being self-centered and constantly bothering him. He's been talking with Ageha and moping about Hana, and it's obvious that some things are going to happen between him and Ageha. Hana does this sob story thing to him, claiming that Ageha has stolen her boyfriend before, which is totally fake. (It is, right? I don't believe it, at least. But maybe something will be revealed later?) And then the last chapter is about Ageha and Hayato kissing. She sees him kiss someone else, even if it was the girl that forced it and it took him by surprise. He doesn't think it's as big of a deal as she does, and says that it might happen again, since he's a flirt and a counselor, which upsets her. So she runs off to Ryusei (it is her, right?) with her hair in pigtails and her old glasses, and she's still upset and is leaning in to kiss him as the volume ends.

This series is full of ridiculousness. It's all over-exaggerated and stupid, and I still don't like Ageha very much. I really don't like Hana. She doesn't even have much reason for what she's doing, unless that's explored more later. It would be nice if her part of the series ended soon and something else comes up, just so it doesn't drag on too long. And Hayato is alright, still. I kind of like Ryusei, and I don't know why. I'm warming up to him, even though he's a little pathetic and I'm probably going to end up not liking him at all later. And I'm starting to wonder what Hayato sees in Ageha. He's older than her and in college, training to be a counselor, while she's an immature high school student. I don't really see the attraction.

So, overall, it hasn't got much better. It's still terrible. More drama has unfolded, and more is probably to come. Or definitely to come. And I have the next two (one and an omnibus) books, so I will continue reading. I have low hopes, but hopes nonetheless, that it will get better. Or at least hopes that I'll find a character I like, that will have made this worth reading. Maybe Ageha's friends? They seemed nice... *wishful thinking*

Manga Review: Papillon, Volume 2, by Miwa Ueda

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 3

Publisher: Del Rey

Goodreads Synopsis:

A NEW LIFE, A NEW LOVE

Ageha has always lived in the shadow of her popular twin sister, Hana. But with the help of her eccentric and brilliant guidance counselor, Ryûsei, Ageha is turning her life around. Now she’s confident and in control . . . and falling for Ryûsei! Is Ryûsei really the right guy for Ageha?

Review:

I can't really say that this volume was any better. It's still kind of terrible, but I still enjoyed reading it, for some reason. I haven't really read a lot of the drama type of books, mostly because there aren't that many out there any more, but I enjoy them. Even if they are terrible. And this one... is.

So, this one starts with Ageha seeing Ryusei and her sister kissing, and then she freaks out and runs away. And then Hayato catches up with her and she tries to act like everything is fine, even though she just freaked out. But he's all nice and cheers her up. And then they talk some, and she talks about her mother, who she thinks doesn't like her. A bit of the volume is about her and her mothers relationship. Her mom tries to control things between Ageha and Hayato, and then they get in an accident. Hayato plays a trick to get them all to talk things out, and it works and there's a heartwarming moment between them. Or whatever.

And then later, Ageha makes some cookies in class and wants to give them to Hayato. She gives them around, including to Ryusei without feeling any bit of weirdness, because she sees a bunch of girls hanging around Hayato. This part actually wasn't done too badly. Because she doesn't think much of Ryusei, like how she obsessed over him earlier, and is thinking lightly of Hayato without it being overwhelming or realizing it. And she even mopes around the house and eats all of the cookies without really realizing what she is doing.

Anyway, then Hayato calls her for help, and she has to watch these kids for him. She assumes wrong, but does it anyway, and finds out how her mom felt when taking care of her, and gets a little attached. And then she talks with Hayato after the kids leave, (because they are his sister-in-law's), and they go out on this fake date thing to a carnival. He does some perverted, fun things, and they go on a Ferris wheel where she confesses and he's says 'alright', pretty much.

It's kind of cute, I guess, but a little stupidly over-exaggerated and petty. I'm not even sure what I like about it. Because, as I've said, it's terrible. Even the sappy moments, like the ones between her and her mother, were kind of stupid. Really, the art isn't amazing, the story isn't all that well done, the characters aren't even that interesting. Hayato is probably the one I like the most, and he's just alright. Ageha is getting better, I guess, but it seems like she supposedly matured so much between now and the first volume. And while she needs to mature, that's too fast for it to happen, and she still has several moments of immaturity. And her and Hayato's relationship isn't very believable. I just don't see it.

Again, I hope that she gets better. I hope that all of it gets better. Even though the style is probably going to stay the same, and Ageha is probably going to still bother me. Maybe Hayato will get even better, and I will start to believe their relationship, at least?

Manga Review: Papillon, Volume 1, by Miwa Ueda

Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 3

Publisher: Del Rey

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s no fun being a high school outcast. It’s even harder when your twin sister is the most popular girl in school! The ultra-glam Hana is the ultimate teen queen, but her sister, Ageha, is just a shy tomboy. Hana loves being the center of attention so much that she’ll do anything to keep her sister in her shadow. But Ageha has a plan that will change her life. Because no one, not even Hana, can hold Ageha back forever. . . .

Review:

I never read Peach Girl, although I did watch the anime, years ago. I didn't even know that this was by the same author until I started reading it. I've thought about reading Peach Girl (should I?), but the art just doesn't look pretty enough. It looks better in this one, though. The story line doesn't look much better though.

It's about Ageha, the 'ugly' older twin sister of Hana. Ageha wears glasses and has acne (even though, I swear, I thought she had freckles until they said that it was acne. And the fact that it was acne and not freckles, even if it didn't look particularly flattering, bothers me. There is nothing wrong with freckles, and that's what it looked like), and doesn't wear skirts and low cut tops, and has pigtails. And image matters a lot to her. Hana is pretty and has been with so many guys and flirts with them all. Ageha grew up in the country with her grandmother and Hana grew up with their parents in the city, and I guess this is a good enough reason for why they are so different. (It's not, really.)

Anyway, Ageha likes Ryusei, a boy she grew up with. She's too shy and embarrassed to say anything to him, and when she gets advice from this boy, Hayato, who turns out to be the school's new student guidance counselor, she decides to try to get closer to him. This works somewhat, until Hana decides to steal him away from her. She crashes this 'date' type of thing they're doing, dressed like Ageha only with more showing, and she's hanging all over them. And then in the middle of this, her newly ex-boyfriend shows up and hits her but then feels bad after she talks some and says something sweet. This was kind of stupid, and very ridiculous, and I don't believe any of it. And then this picture of Ageha and Ryusei that has been written on (by Hayato, not Ageha, which apparently doesn't matter) gets out and she runs away all embarrassed. A supposed friend of hers found it and showed it off, betraying her (or whatever). Ryusei turns her down, but he feels bad about it. Although, really, his feelings changed really fast about Hana, since he went from being wary of her and not having an interest in going out with her. And then in the next chapter, after she has come back to class with her head held high, not showing any embarrassment, and almost immediately makes friends. This also seems unrealistic. But her friends are nice and help her, which is good for her, I guess. And they encourage her to go after Ryusei, which she does. And she ends up setting up another thing with him, but Hana crashes it by calling him away, and then faking crying before laughing it off, and Ageha is talking with Hayato while waiting for him (even though they're walking, which I don't understand. Ryusei is late, yea, but she was waiting, and then started following Hayato to talk to him. This doesn't really fit,) when she sees them together as they kiss for the first time, I'm assuming. And then it ends with Ageha staring at them, wide eyed.

Honestly, this is kind of terrible. Ageha is whiny and wimpy and only cares about what people think, and Hana is terrible and tries stealing everything from her sister, who, supposedly, can't really compare. Hayato I like, as he is fun and interesting and older (which is also almost always fun). And then Ageha had a crappy friend who turned on her at any possible moment. Several of these things remind me of Peach Girl, but since I have only watched the anime, tell me if I'm wrong. But even though this is a terrible book, with very few redeeming qualities, I'm a little excited to read the next one. This might be since I already have it, but I do tend to like the dramas that are a bit more mature, even though this one isn't very mature, and the main character is pretty much all of the things that I dislike. Either way, the review of volume 2 will probably be up soon.

Oh, also. This was originally published by Del Rey, and, unless I'm mistaken, there are only two volumes left. Does anyone know if Kodansha is continuing it? I was assuming they were, and maybe I'm wrong and volumes 5&6 was published by Kodansha, but I don't think it was. So, are they? I hope they do, if only so I can complete the series.