Itsumo Manga

Blog has moved

2009-02-15T18:28:00.001-08:00

I will no longer be updating this blog. Please go to http://itsumomanga.wordpress.com/ from now on. ^.^

Calling all manga lovers!

2009-02-15T16:38:00.000-08:00

I'm looking for a few people that really enjoy manga to help me! I'm not into every genre of manga, so I can't fairly review every new series that hits the streets. So I need your help! If you're interested in helping me review manga, hit me up at eleat.yo at gmail.com. We'll talk about your interests, how readily you can have access to new releases, etc.

Also, let me know what you want reviewed! What's something you've been wanting to buy at the store, but have been afraid you wouldn't like it? Comment on this post (or future ones that mention the release), and I'll give it a look-see!

Time Stranger Kyoko: Series Review

2009-02-15T09:35:00.000-08:00

Author: Arina Tanemura
End Date: January 2009
Genre: Shojo, comedy, fantasy, romance
Publisher: Viz Media

This three volume series is set in the future (though the setting is really more of a mix of modern and ancient times). It is about Kyoko, a reluctant princess whose twin sister is stuck in a suspended state. Though her sister, Ui, ages, she has only slept since she was born. To awaken her sister and relinquish her duties as princess, Kyoko must become the Time Stranger - a person with the ability to control time. She then must go on a mission to find the other eleven Strangers. When they are all brought together, it is believe that Ui will awaken, and Kyoko may go on to live the normal life of which she has always dreamed.

First, I want to point out that this was actually serialized in Ribon in Japan back in 2001, but was only recently picked up by Viz Media. I'd heard it mentioned when people discussed Tanemura-san's series that are more famous in the US (such as Full Moon, and I.O.N.), but had never really heard anything else about it. Scanlations have been available for years now, but since I hadn't ever heard much praise for it, I never checked it out. However, back in June '08, I read a preview of this manga in Shojo Beat. I decided right then that I had to have it. As soon as it was available, I ran out and grabbed volume one. Though I did my best to spread out my reading, I finished it in three days. When volume two hit shelves, the same thing happened! By then, I knew that only one more volume would be released (besides Tanemura-san's notes in the manga itself, I had looked it up and seen that there were only three volumes), and I was pretty sad.

When I picked up volume three last month, I was a little disappointed that so much of the story had been skipped, but it was nice to not have to sit through volume after volume of monster-of-the-day stuff. On top of that, the story got absolutely amazing! I don't want to give much away, but so much happened in volume three, and yet not a single page felt rushed. I teared up a little, I giggled some, and at the end, I didn't even get that 'I can't believe it's over' feeling. I felt like the storoy had been wrapped up nicely, and that everything worked out perfectly.

Even if you're not a big shojo buff, I definitely suggest picking up all three volumes of this. The story is just fantastic, and the art is nothing short of breath taking (but then, that is to be expected of Tanemura-san!).

Misc Releases: February

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Otomen, Vol. 1 Review

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Author: Aya Kanno
Release Date: February 3, 2009
Genre: Shojo, romance, drama
Publisher: Viz Media

Otomen is about Asuka Masamune, the manliest guy in his high school. He excels at sports and is adored by all of the girls. On the inside, he's quite the girly man. He loves to sew and cook, and even reads shojo manga and romance novels. Because of his mother raising him under the pretense that boys should act like boys, he has shoved this part of him deep inside. When he finds himself taking a fancy to Ryo, a beautiful, sweet girl at his school, though, his girliness begins to emerge. He is torn between doing sweet, girly things for Ryo to show his affection and asserting his manly image because of his upbringing.

I'll be honest, when I read the preview for this manga in Shojo Beat a few months back, I wasn't too sure about it. It seemed downright silly, not to mention boring. When I saw it at the bookstore, though, I went ahead and grabbed it. I'm glad I did! After the first chapter, it really picks up and gets interesting.

In general, the art is pretty basic, but beautiful. There are definitely some amazing shots in there, but the art isn't really the focus in this one.

Seven Seas Releases: February 2009

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Afro Samurai, Vol. 2 | Takashi Okazaki
Arkham Woods (Stand Alone) | Jhomar Soriano
Hayate X Blade, Vol. 2 | Shizuru Hayashiya
He Is My Master, Vol. 5 | Mattsu, Asu Tsubaki (Possibly Last Volume?)

Viz Media Releases: February

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20th Century Boys, Vol. 1 | Naoki Urasawa (New Series!)
B.O.D.Y., Vol. 4 | Ao Mimori
Baby & Me, Vol. 12 | Marimo Ragawa
Black Lagoon, Vol. 4 | Rei Hiroe
Boys Over Flowers, Vol. 34 | Yoko Kamio
D. Gray Man, Vol. 12 | Katsura Hoshino
Dragon Drive, Vol. 12 | Kenichi Sakura
Eyeshield21, Vol. 24 | Riichiro Inagaki
Flame of Recca, Vol. 30 | Noboyuki Anzai
Gimmick!, Vol. 5 | Youzaburou Kanari, Kuroko Yabuguchi
Happy Happy Clover, Vol. 1 | Sayuri Tatsuyama (New Series!)
Hayate the Combat Butler, Vol. 10 | Kenjiro Hata
Hikaru no Go, Vol. 14 | Yumi Hotta
Hoshin Engi, Vol. 11 | Ryu Fujisaki
Kaze Hikaru, Vol. 12 | Taeko Watanabe
Kekkaishi, Vol. 16 | Yellow Tanabe
Knights of the Zodiac (Saint Seiya), Vol. 25 | Masami Kurumada
The Law of Ueki, Vol. 16 | Tsubasa Fukuchi (Last Volume!)
The Legend of Zelda , Vol. 3 | Akira Himekawa
The Magic Touch, Vol. 1 | Izumi Tsubaki (New Series!)
Muhyo & Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation, Vol. 9 | Yoshiyuki Nishi
Naruto, Vols. 34-37 | Yasashi Kishimoto
Nightmare Inspector: Yumekui Kenbun , Vol. 6 | Shin Mashiba
NORA: The Last Chronicle of Devildom, Vol. 3 | Kazunari Kakei
O-Parts Hunter, Vol. 14 | Seishi Kishimoto
One Piece, Vol. 20 | Eiichirou Oda
Otomen, Vol. 1 | Aya Kanno (New Series!)
Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Vol. 1 | Naoki Urasawa (New Series!)
Ral Ω Grad, Vol. 3 | Takano Tsuneo, Obata Takeshi
Rosario+Vampire, Vol. 5 | Akihisa Ikeda
Slam Dunk , Vol. 2 | Takehiko Inoue
Tail of the Moon, Vol. 15 | Rinko Ueda
Zatch Bell!, Vol. 23 | Makoto Raiku

Yen Press Releases: February

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Black God, Vol. 5 | Dall-Young Lim, Sung-Woo Park
Comic, Vol. 5 | Ha SiHyun
Goong, Vol. 4 | Park SoHee
Higurashi: When They Cry, Vol. 2 | Ryukishi07, Karin Suzuragi
Moon Boy, Vol. 6 | Lee YoungYou
Zombie-Loan, Vol. 5 | Peach Pit

I've already grabbed Higurashi for this month. I only have the last chapter to actually read (as everything up to that chapter has been published in Yen+), but I'm really, REALLY looking forward to it. I can't wait for volume three in May!