Manga Review: Hunter x Hunter, Volume 34, by Yoshihiro Togashi

Rating (Out of 5): ~2.5

Publisher: Shonen Jump Advanced (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2018

Volumes: 36 (Hiatus)

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 33. 35.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Plucky Gon’s quest to find his dad leads him into a whole world of crazy adventure.

Hunters are a special breed, dedicated to tracking down treasures, magical beasts, and even other people. But such pursuits require a license, and less than one in a hundred thousand can pass the grueling qualification exam. Those who do pass gain access to restricted areas, amazing stores of information, and the right to call themselves Hunters.

All aboard the Black Whale, because the journey to the Dark Continent is beginning! And this will be anything but a pleasure cruise, because the King of Kakin has ordered his princes to fight to the death to succeed him—on the ship! But this won’t be an ordinary battle. They’ll be using hired guards with fantastic powers to fight! Including Kurapika and some of the Zodiac members!

Review:

I haven't read or watched any of this series. Jumping into this volume... This is a very weird series, weird characters in an odd setting.

We're in a tournament-style fight, where Chrollo and Hisoka are against each other, possibly to the death. After that, there's a titanic-like spaceship that's taking some special people off to a new planet. It's clear that bad things are planned for this, though it's unclear who is planning and who is on which side; who knows and who doesn't. Kurapika is on the case.

There are some weird-a characters in this series. It's a weird concept behind the whole thing, as far as I can tell. The whole battle in itself was crazy, too. Violent and weird, and then they got the audience involved. It was bad.

This is definitely a shonen series I don't follow, and it's not something I would look for. If you like these kinds of stories, then I can see the appeal, though. Sometimes crazy weird is fun.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: My Hero Academia, Volume 16, by Kohei Horikoshi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2018

Volumes: 22+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 15. 17.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

The Hassaikai crime gang, led by the young boss Chisaki, has been working on a plan to distribute a Quirk-destroying drug. The key to this evil scheme is the young girl Eri, held prisoner in Chisaki’s hideout. Nighteye asks other heroes to form a team to launch a rescue attempt—and the students of Class 1-A are going into the lion’s den with them! But Nighteye, who can see the future, refuses to look at the fates of anyone going on the mission…

Review:

They're preparing for the sting, and then it's time. Only, there's more people on the Hassaikai team than they thought, and they seem pretty prepared for the heroes. They split up to take care of different groups of villains, and to try to catch up with Chisaki and save Emi.

I'm still surprised by how much time Kirishima is given. I've never thought too much of him, but he's working hard to compete with these villains, and he's doing pretty good. The team he's on, too, work together well. We get some extra backstory on them here, which I suppose helps.

We don't see much of Deku in this volume, but I hope we'll get more in the next one. He's trying to catch up with Chisaki, and he's determined to save Emi. Of course, he's getting stalled by Toga, yet again. I don't like this girl, at all.

This is shaping up to be a pretty big fight, strewn about and with a lot of very different powers. I'm intrigued, but I also really want to get to the main fight.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

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: The Demon Prince of Momochi House, Volume 12, by Aya Shouoto

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2018

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 11. 13.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Himari Momochi inherits a mysterious house that comes with its own gorgeous demon guardian.

On her sixteenth birthday, orphan Himari Momochi inherits her ancestral estate that she’s never seen. Momochi House exists on the barrier between the human and spiritual realms, and Himari is meant to act as guardian between the two worlds. But on the day she moves in, she finds three handsome squatters already living in the house, and one seems to have already taken over her role!

Himari Momochi inherits Momochi House, an estate which exists on the barrier between the human and spiritual realms. Out of his attachment to Amane, the previous nue, the shikigami Kagura created a false version of Momochi House’s guardian. But now that Amane has returned, what will happen to the current residents of Momochi House?

Review:

After how underwhelming the previous volume was, I'm not feeling all that strongly about this one, either. It just isn't hitting me like it's trying to, I think, when I have a hard time believing it. The only thing I think has actual sinister possibilities is how Aoi can't leave, and his relationship with the Nue, but most of that is being ignored for now.

After the mess with the haunting, we get an odd couple chapters where Aoi shares a recurring dream with Hayato. It's a little unsettling, but mostly just sad. Because we know it's not going to last, that Aoi is the only one who will remember it.

After that, Aoi and Himari get into a little spell where they're stuck together. The cliffhanger is actually surprising to me, but I'm still wary, doubtful. While it might still be interesting, it's likely not going anywhere actually serious.

Manga Review: Awkward Silence, Volume 6, by Hinako Takanaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: February 2018

Volumes: 6.

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A shy boy gets a chance at love.

Final Volume!

Satoru Tono is too shy to speak to classmate Keigo Tamiya. Instead he fills his sketchbook with drawings of the boy he likes. But perhaps Keigo has noticed him too...?

It is time for college entrance exams and Satoru takes on the challenge. Will he get accepted to the most competitive art school in the country and become a college student alongside Keigo?! And what will happen to their plans of living together after graduation...?

Review:

Now that they're graduating, they have exciting things to consider. Exams for university to take, and Tamiya is moving out on his own. This brings up the topic of living together, and while Satoru hadn't considered this before, he's instantly excited.

Seeing them overcome some issues along the way, and how it resolves rather well for them, is very sweet. They get to live together, Satoru's parents give them some rules, and they get to be adults in college and living on their own.

At the end of the volume are some chapters in the future, and it's nice to see the couple ten years in the future, and still very cute and loving. It's also nice to see Satoru's parents still happy together and doting on their kids. They're all very cute.

This was a really good series, a favorite yaoi series of mine. The conclusion is really sweet, without being too cheesy, with some hot scenes thrown in. It's a happy conclusion to such a cute series.

Manga Review: Kaguya-sama: Love is War, Volume 5, by Aka Akasaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2018

Volumes: 13+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Two high school geniuses scheme to get the other to confess their love first.

Two geniuses. Two brains. Two hearts. One battle. Who will confess their love first…?!

Will Kaguya and Miyuki find a way to see each other sooner rather than later over summer vacation? And is tweeting really an effective way to communicate with your crush?

Then, Kaguya’s overprotective staff try to prevent her from going to the fireworks festival with the rest of the student council, Miyuki and Kaguya both try to find a way to enroll in the same elective class and someone tries to celebrate someone else’s birthday with style!

Some people believe the stars determine your compatibility.

Review:

It's summer vacation. And while Kaguya and Miyuki have shared their phone numbers, and potentially made plans, they both still refuse to be the first to make contact. They're essentially in the same position: miserable because the other person won't text them.

We get a surprising amount of vulnerability in this volume. All Kaguya wants to do is see the fireworks with her friends, and yet her family turns out to be very strict regarding her whereabouts. Miyuki does something spur-of-the-moment for the first time, in an attempt to make her wish come true. It's very sweet, and should be a momentous occasion as they're actually honest about something with each other—but, of course, instead they end up worrying and regretting everything.

After summer vacation, a new school year starts. They get new electives, and get to catch up with their classmates. Poor Chika gets tortured again, as Miyuki needs her help overcoming a weakness of his—and he admits that Chika is the only one he can show his weaknesses to. Though probably not in the way that Chika takes that statement.

It looks like Miyuki's birthday is coming upon us, and it should be interesting how Kaguya decides to show affection while pretending she's superior.

This is really a great series. I'm rather hooked now, and hope that they figure themselves out at some point. In the mean time, though, I enjoy discovering more out about Chika, and seeing how Yu gets scarred and insulted even more.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

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: Noragami: Stray God, Volume 19, by Adachitoka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: December 2018

Volumes: 20+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 18. 20.

Goodreads Synopsis:

TRIAL BY PLEDGE

With Bishamon badly injured and Yato and Yukiné arrested by the Heavens, Tenjin has invoked their very last hope: a Trial by Pledge. If the plan works, Amaterasu will pardon all perceived wrongdoings, but the stakes are high. Three gods must pledge the lives of their most trusted shinki. The score is tied when Daikoku volunteers himself as a sacrifice...

Review:

After that awful cliffhanger, and such a long wait, this honestly felt a little anticlimactic. It was still awful and intense, but maybe there's been too much time to still feel the drama of it all.

After the turnout of the god's trial, we get a bit of a reprieve. The characters get to go back home and recover, process what happened and attempt to move forward. There's a scare as Ebisu is kidnapped (and how Ebisu and his team reacts is honestly fantastic), and then Yato wants to do a flashmob surprise for Yukine's birthday.

But of course, nothing good lasts forever. Because the stray is still hanging around, causing trouble for Yukine... and Yato has to make some possibly-drastic decisions regarding his dad.

Once again, not a great cliffhanger, and who knows how long till the next volume. This is probably one of my favorite series, and I really want to know what happens next. I will be waiting not-so-patiently for it.

Manga Review: Saikano: The Last Love Song on This Little Planet, Volume 1, by Shin Takahashi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Editor's Choice (VIZ Media)

Release Date: 2004.

Volumes: 7.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shuji and Chise are high school seniors in a small town who have just started dating, when Shuji discovers that Chise has been engineered by the SDF so that she can transform herself into a powerful weapon. While Shuji and Chise keep trying to nurture their relationship, Chise continues to grow even more powerful as the Ultimate Weapon, and becomes increasingly torn between being a destructive fighting force and remaining an ordinary teenager. What do you do when the girl you love becomes a weapon of mass destruction?

Review:

I borrowed this from a friend at work, and I wasn’t too sure what to expect. Clearly I knew that it was explicit (which I don’t mind), and it’s from VIZ, which was a good sign. I was intrigued from the get-go, and slightly wary.

I’m still not too sure what to expect. This first volume seemed a little slow, or subtle. The concept is intriguing, and I’m interested to see how it develops—what with her being the ultimate weapon and all, while falling in love with him, a normal guy. It seems a bit typical teenage love story angst, aside from the war part. Plus, quite a bit of the war parts and technical aspects are skipped over, which I hope changes later, but also might be because it’s from the guy’s point of view.

I do think that the feel of the book works well with the artstyle. It’s more old-school and subtle, with some wordless panels for emotion, especially at the end of this volume. I do appreciate that.

I feel like there is still a lot for this series to work out and develop, like the story is just getting started. I’m interested to see where it goes from here.

Manga Review: Idol Dreams, Volume 5, by Arina Tanemura

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2018

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Chikage Deguchi, age 31, reverts her appearance back to age 15 to pursue love and success as an idol!

At age 31, office worker Chikage Deguchi feels she missed her chances at love and success. When word gets out that she’s a virgin, Chikage is humiliated and wishes she could turn back time to when she was still young and popular. She takes an experimental drug that changes her appearance back to when she was 15. Now Chikage is determined to pursue everything she missed out on all those years ago—including becoming a star!

To pursue missed chances at love and success, 31-year-old Chikage Deguchi takes an experimental drug that changes her appearance back to how she looked at age 15. Chikage meets Tokita’s girlfriend for the first time and is shocked to discover that she knows her! Even worse, she knows his girlfriend has been cheating on him…

Review:

Chikage faces a real challenge as her teen idol self as the volume starts. Someone has sabotaged her costume right before she's to go on stage, and so she has to think quick to fix things and put on a good performance, if she really wants to do this thing. As she continues to work hard, and her relationship with Hibiki grows, the plot strays away from her and to Tokita for most of the volume.

We discover who Tokita has been dating this whole time, a surprise connection with Chikage, and there's some drama as they fight. It's a surprising plot line to me, though the connection makes a little sense. It's also surprising to me how it wraps up, since it definitely narrows down Chikage's pool of boys.

Despite how this series started, it's matured a bit, I think. Or, at least, Chikage seems to have grown up at least a little. It's also wrapping up in ways that make me suspect the series might not go on for too much longer. It's definitely gotten better, though, which is good. And I look forward to the next release more than the previous ones, whether it'll be a while or not.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!