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Jormungand part 1 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : February 12, 2014
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Category: Reviews

Jormungand part 1Title: Jormungand part 1

Director: Keitaro Motonaga

Writer: Keitaro Takahashi

Studio: White Fox

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Date: Feb. 11th, 2014

Format: DVD/Blu-ray/ 12 Episodes/ 300 minutes

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Personal Rating: A

 

Synopsis:

Jonah is a child soldier and the newest bodyguard for Koko, an international arms dealer with an entourage of hired guns. The cold-blooded kid hates Koko’s line of work, but following her into the darkest corners of the black market might be the only way he can find those responsible for his family’s slaughter.

Besides, his employer isn’t like most merchants of death. She uses guile and cutthroat tactics to keep her clients armed to the teeth – all while cultivating her own warped plan for the future of world peace. With the CIA desperate for her capture, assassins eager to collect her head, and the potential for every contract to end in ultra-violence, Koko and her comrades in arms bring the boom to every corner of the world.

Commentary:

Very rarely are there serious dramas released for the U. S. market and thankfully Jormungand is one that has made its way to our shores. This hard hitting anime doesn’t pull any punches when showing the underbelly of the human condition. Jormungand joins a list of anime like Black Lagoon that stand out as the true existentialist series. The loss of the human responsibility toward other and their very special self proclamations or free will. As you move through Jormungand you will discover that at times it is easier just to detach and do what ever needs to be done no matter how insane it may seem. This don’t mean that there is no moral or ethical slice to this darker world of the weapons dealer it just means that there is a clear lack of value in the human lives that inhabit the same industry.

The animation is solid and at times comes across a little too slick, but the look suites the series well. I found the voice acting to flow naturally and that the english dub does a great job of capturing the essence of this dark series. The writing is clearly the strength of the series and it follows the manga well enough to maintain the high standard that was originally in print.

Overall Grade: A

Jormungand is a great reminder how well the Japanese create serious adult entertainment. From the quality of the writing to the high standard of animation Jormungand stands along side many other seminal series that both end up reminding us of our own failings and at the same time gives a picture of the world that very few of us ever really understand.

I will never recommend something Jormungand to anyone under 17 but for all adults who love a great action drama then this one’s for you. Even though there is lenity of violence it is always given a good reason to exist. There are moments is part one that does give me pause, but at those moments I can still see the point. Even though I know how the series ends I can still see a wonderful weaving of a tail that is pointing to something bigger than the limits of its parts. I am looking forward to part two. Now if FUNimation would find it’s way to stop making two parts out of these great series I think things would find a wider audience. Be sure to check this one out, it is worth it!

 

Bokurano Ours 10 Manga Review

Posted by :Joann On : February 11, 2014
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bokurano ours 10Title: Bokurano Ours 10
Author/Artist: Mohiro Kitoh
Publisher: Viz Signature
American Release Date: February 18, 2014
Format: Manga
Publisher Age Rating: T+ for older teen
Genre: Science Fiction, Suspense, Mecha
Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

Bokurano Ours Series Overview:

A group of middle school students unwittingly enter into a game which is actually a contract to pilot a giant mech in battle against a mech from another universe. Losing has immense consequences for each world. As each kid takes a turn, we explore their back story which helps explains why they make the choices they do and how they end up handling it all.

If you haven’t read the books up to volume 9, please skip the next paragraph because, as it is specific to volume 10, it may give clues that could ruin the natural unfolding of the story but I’m trying not to.

Volume 10:

More of the origins of the game are revealed. Machi explains all she knows to Jun but there is more, even Koyemshi doesn’t understand it all. There is no escaping the game.

Now that only Machi and Jun are left, they try to make their remaining time mean something as they wait for the next battles. They leave on the train to visit the families of the other pilots. They see how things are affecting others, something they hadn’t had thought of before.

 

Commentary:

Whoa, another intense volume. Once again, I have to leave out important stuff, but that is how Bokurano Ours really is. There is so much story in each volume.  This volume doesn’t fail on the twists. There is a real stunner in here and leaves me wanting to see what happens in the next (and last) volume. I’m not even sure what happened at the very end of volume 10 and looking forward, I no longer can assume how I want it all to end.

The art comes across as a bit stark and stiff, yet very concise and clear. It struck me how emotionally deficient their faces usually are. It is more than a sense of calm, which is part of it, but the drawings don’t do much to convey emotion. The emotions come most from the words. I don’t know if it is intentional, an artistic style, or lack of skill. Still, it doesn’t change the overall performance of the series.

Two peeves that I have about this volume are: Not always making it clear when the Machi and Jun arrive at another family, even with a location shot because they were not labeled. There is a large secondary cast with the families and there is no way I could remember what they all looked like or where they lived.  My second issue was something Machi said to Jun, another one of those too adult moments for middle school age kids.

Volume 10 seems wordier than usual, but it makes sense because there is a lot of explaining to do as we near the end of the series. It was unexpected but good to see how the battles and the losses were affecting the families and other citizens. What they were doing now, how they were handling it, how they all adapt to deal with what happened. This really got us out of the group box and brought us closer in as spectators.

Bokurano Ours  is a Viz Signature series and it meant for adults, and I think will best be appreciated by those a little older. Even though it is a story about kids, it is about kids who have to deal with things they shouldn’t because they are kids. These are still adult issues.  This series has a lot of merit, but it isn’t flashy, or romantic, or funny or cool, so I think it might be one of those with a quiet place on the manga shelf but it probably deserves more attention because it can really illustrate what is beyond the typical manga.

 

Overall Grade: A-

 

MM! The Complete Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : February 8, 2014
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MM!review provided by Katie and Andrew

Title: MM! The Complete Collection

Director: Tsuyoshi Nagasawa

Studio: Xebec

Author: Akinari Matsuno

U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U.S. Release Date: February 11, 2014

Format and Length: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Romance, School, Ecchi, Harem, Parody

Industry Age Rating: TV-MA 17 and older

Overall Personal Rating: C-

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: Okami-San and Her Seven Companions, Mayo Chiki! and Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends

 

Synopsis:

Taro Sado has a problem. He just realized that he actually likes being made miserable and knowing that only makes him more miserable. Then it turns into a viscous cycle. Desperate to break the cycle, Taro volunteers for a special club where he can hopefully work through his issues, but he soon discovers that the other members have equally complex issues to deal with. There is the club president who believes herself to be a god, a girl who is terrified of men, an adult who forces other people to perform cosplay, and a compulsive cross-dresser. Will Taro be able to get over is problem or will it take over his life?

Commentary:

MM! The Complete Collection is a strange anime to say the least. The main character, Taro Sado, is a hard core masochist. He seeks the help of a club called the Second Voluntary club to help him turn back into a normal person. However, the club president is a sadistic girl named Mio Isurugi, who believes she is a god. She loves to hurt him and he loves the pain. That is basically the entire plot of the series bar a few episodes in the beginning that had some romantic feeling.

The plot was interesting and funny until they began parodying older animes. Then the storyline got silly, and not in a good way. They used the parody to fill in spots of the plot that were dragging along. I know I counted at least three animes that were parodied. Of the three, I recognized two off the bat and thought they were not used in the right way. But that is neither here nor there. Then they decided to have Taro’s mother and sister try to have an intimate relationship with him and that was just not right. At least Taro tried to run away or yell at them each time they tried to start something. Things got very interesting when Arashiko Yuno showed up at his house one day because his mother and his sister were very jealous and hilarity ensued.

The character development was nonexistent in MM! The Complete Collection. The characters seem very one dimensional and only have one interesting quality, their “complex” issue that they each have. Mio Isurugi is the president of the Second Voluntary club and is a sadist. She also believes she is a God and is also afraid of kittens. Arashiko Yuno is Taro’s classmate and she is afraid of men. She will attack any men who touch her and whenever Taro touches her, he is assaulted and he loves it. Michiru Onigawara is the school nurse who loves to make people dress up and perform cosplay and take pictures of it. She is a sister figure to Mio. Finally, we have the compulsive cross-dresser Tatsukichi Hayama who is also Taro’s closest friend. Sadly, each character does not grow or change any during the series.

I think I would have enjoyed MM! The Complete Collection more if Taro had learned to control his hard core masochism or if any of the other characters changed at all. There was a lot of fan-service because of the cosplaying that was used to torture Taro. The opening theme kept my interest but I found the ending theme boring. If you like fan-service heavy animes that are of the harem genre then you will probably love MM! The Complete Collection.

Extras:

MM! The Complete Collection includes commentary with voice actors, Japanese promo and TV spot, DVD commercials, 10 short stories, clean opening and closing animation, and Sentai Filmworks / Section 23 trailers as special features.

Overall Grade: C-

MM! The Complete Collection is a good anime for what it is however; I usually like romantic or harem animes that have a better plot line and more character development. If you are strictly seeking a perverted comedy then I suggest you watch this, but if you want comedy with some romance and other things then watch either of the animes suggested below.

“In The Radius”:

I recommend the following animes: Okami-San and Her Seven Companions, Mayo Chiki! and Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends. Haganai is has a similar plot line, however it was better written and much more enjoyable.

Maria Holic the Complete Collection on Blu-ray (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : February 5, 2014
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Maria Holic on Blu-rayTitle: Maria Holic the Complete Collection on Blu-ray

Director: Akiyuki Shinbo

Studio: Shaft

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date (English Dub): March 4th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Gender Bender

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall personal Rating: B

 

Synopsis:

It’s not easy to find the perfect girl, even when you’re the same sex! Kanako thought attending an all-girls school would be the perfect way to meet the girl of her dreams, but after her hot new roommate turns out to be a guy in drag and catching the eye of the most popular girl in school only brings down the wrath of all the other similarly obsessed girls, she’s not so sure!

Complicate things with a cat-eared dorm leader, her roommate’s rude-mannered maid and identical twin sister (who attends an all-boys school, of course,) and way too many attractive girls of questionable persuasions and the question becomes whether Kanako can die from frustrated nosebleeds! (Life would be SO much easier if guys didn’t literally give her the hives!) Will Kanako ever find a non-polar opposite of a compatible non-opposing polarity?

Commentary:

If there is one thing other than useless fan service that I dislike it is a hyperactive, spastic, spacey lead character. Maria Holic gives us Kanako who starts the series off  entirely to spastic and almost completely annoying. This does take a little bit of a rest as the series gets into its flow. but starting off with a uncontrolled loss of anything reasonable in a character just about sent me to the door looking for something else to do. I also had a hard time getting into Mariya as a character, but once the understanding of why he is cross dressing is uncovered it makes more sense than the bumble headed Kanako.

At first it was the post modern approach to the animation that drew me in and after a while I found the comedy to be much more even handed even if most of it revolved around Kanako’s perversion. I slowly began to enjoy her personality and once she calmed down it I found her to be much easier to watch. And every time I began to loose interest I was teated to some wonderful deconstructive animation that made all the other nonsense worth while. I don’t think that most people will see the animation as creative as I did, but there was only one other series that struct me this way and that was ef-a Tale of Memories / sf-a Tale of Melodies which were both done by Shaft. They did manage to make their mark on the quality of the style and pacing that the anime has. I think that with some series the added deconstruction makes all the difference in the world and for Maria Holic it saved the series foe me.

The comedy does a lot for the series and at time I found myself letting out a hearty belly laugh.  I know that the center to the series is Kanako and her inability or rather dislike of boys and her lust for girls, but there are plenty of other funny moments that prove to be very helpful in maintaining a solid approach to the over comedic relief for the series.

Overall Grade: B

The key elements to Maria Holic are the characters and the art design of the animation. I enjoyed most of the characters and maybe if Jessica Calvello had not been so over the top with Kanako I would have enjoyed better. Monica Rail did a very good job with Mariya and did an even better job of switching from male to female voices for the characters. The real hit for me is the wonderful work that Shaft does in giving us a story that says more than “Hi I’m an Anime” it says “Het, I got something else to say and I want to make you think a little!”.

I know that there is very little about this series that the Maria Holic fans will dislike, but I think that there is plenty of material here that fans of comedy and solid art will love. So, check this out, it is fun and worth seeing for your self.

 

Happy Marriage 4

Posted by :Joann On : February 3, 2014
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Category: Reviews

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Happy Marriage 4“The Radius”

Title: Happy Marriage 4

Writer/ Artist: Maki Enjoji

U. S. Distributor: Viz Media

U. S. Release Date: Feb. 4, 2014

Format: Shojo Manga, Joesi

Genre: Romance

Age Rating: M

Overall Personal Rating: B+

 

Synopsis:

Returning to the hotel, Chiwa and Hokuto expect to finally consummate their marriage but it doesn’t work out. the next day, things are tense between them and they aren’t communicating well. Chiwa leaves soaked in her misery. She runs into her friend Takana who lets her vent over a couple of drinks. For several days, she continues to over drink but Kokuto is there for her when she needs help.

As Chiwa is waiting outside, she is kidnapped. They seem to be amateurs and when it is known who is behind it, that doesn’t make it any less dangerous. They contact Hokuto to come there but can he rescue her or would it be a better idea to contact the police?

 Commentary:

Caution: This commentary mentions things which could hint at spoilers.

There is definitely much more in the story than listed in the synopsis, but I’m trying not to give anything away.  The resolution of the kidnapping and everything that happens after its very important and leads to some pivotal moments. If I tell you any, the unfolding will be spoiled and the feeling will change. There is a method to the sequence, and though it is typical in a romance, it works, so let’s not ruin that.

As a manga story, it seems to be a mix of a romance novel and a high school romance. Chiwa is in her early 20’s but still naive. She hasn’t been many places or had a variety of experiences. This makes her shy and rather innocent in romance and love making. Hokuto is older and more experienced, yet willing to take it slow. It is fun to read even though Chiwa is a weak character around Hokuto and seems to need saving. All of this is formulaic and what people make fun of, but it fills its intention. It is definitely written for adult women. Sometimes I feel silly reading a romance like this. I guess I’m not quite the regular audience and that leads me to suspect it might deserve a higher grade.

A note on the kidnapping, I do see the reason to include it as a plot device but it still seemed contrived and unbelievable for the situation. However, the future impact it makes could make any issues mute.

Visually, there is definitely skill in portraying people.There is a slight stiffness and simplifying of the figures, but it didn’t come across as distracting. As a character and relationship driven story, the focus on faces and to a lesser extent bodies, is perfect for the story telling.

In reviewing volume 3, I mentioned that I didn’t see why it was a M rating. This series has the most kissing in manga that I’ve seen, but that doesn’t cause the rating. Okay, with volume 4 it has become very evident why this has a mature rating. Even though things change, the characters retain their core selves and the dynamic between them is intact for now and there is still more story than sex.

Overall Grade: B+ Chiwa’s shyness and inexperience keep her in a state of avoidance, but Hokuto is ready and in love. 

 

 

 

Hayate the Combat Butler vol 23 (manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : February 2, 2014
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ItemDescription-1review provided by TJ

Title: Hayate the Combat Butler vol 23 (manga review)

Author: Kenjiro Hata

U.S. Distributor: Viz Media

Release Date: February 11, 2014

Format and Length: Manga; 186 pgs

Genre: action, comedy, romance

Industry Age Rating: T+ for Older Teen

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Similar Series: Rosario + Vampire

Synopsis:

Volume 23 picks up with Hinagiku trying to confess her feelings to Hayate. However, somehow the subject gets changed and they end up talking about another girl that Hayate is in love with, yet he thinks that the girl hates him for something he did a long time ago. Against her own judgement, Hinagiku encourages him to go talk to her and find out if she really does hate him or not.  The girl is Athena Tennos, the heir to the rich Tennos household.

Once Hayate arrives their, her butler greets him at the gate. Assuming that Hayate must have done something horrible to Athena, he immediately attacks Hayate. Hayate is easily overpowered, but once knocked unconscious, Athena orders her butler to bring him inside.

It turns out that Athena has ulterior motives for bringing Hayate inside. It seems she needs the Kings Jewel that he wears in order to acquire her inheritance. The problem is, however, that Hayate has promised his master that he would always protect the stone. When athena heard his refusal, her desparation to have the stone allows her sould to bind itself with a divine spirit. Hayate just barely escapes from her onslaught. When he returns to his group, and discusses what happened, it is revealed that he has an ultimatum. He can either give the Jewel to Athena to release her from the divine spirit, but that would also make Nagi lose all her own vast inheritance.

 

Commentary:

While reading Hayate the Combat Butler volume 23, it felt fun and interesting. However, once it was finished, I was left with the feeling that nothing had actually happened in the volume. Nothing changed between Hayate and Hinagiku, Nothing was accomplished when Hayate went to see Athena, and the volume ends with Hayate’s ultimatum. Nothing actually happened. Even so, there was a certain intensity that came with the unfinished fight with Athena and the impossible choice surrounding Hayate’s jewel. It gives a suspence that almost forces the reader to come back next volume just find out what Hayate will choose, and how they are going to solve the problem with Athena.

I do like the placement of the shopping scene at the end of the volume. It serves as a sort of relief from all the intensity that has been accruing throughout the entire volume. It is a calm, silly break, from the life changing choices that Hayate is being forced to make. But it does not let the reader completely off the hook. At the very end it cuts back to Hayate deep in thought, thinking “What should I do?” which immediately brings the reader’s mind back around to the suspense and intensity that will make them want to come back for the next volume to find out what is going to end up happening and what Hayate’s choice will be.

 

Overall Grade: B+

Even though this volume left the feeling that nothing actually happened, it was able to create enough suspense to create interest in what is going to happen in the next volume.

 

Aria The Natural Season 2 part 1

Posted by :Patches On : February 1, 2014
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Aria The Natural Season 2 part 1Aria The Natural Season 2 part 1

Director: Jun’ichi Sato

Studio: Hal Film Maker

U. S. Distributor: Nozumi / Right Stuf

U. S. Re-Release Date: Jan. 7th, 2014

Format: DVD / 13 Episode / 325 Minutes

Genre: Slice of Life, Sci Fi

Age Rating: 13+

Overall Personal Rating B+

Synopsis:

Akari, Aika and Alice are three girls who share a single dream: to become the most talented gondoliers in all of Neo-Venezia! Every day they train toward their goal, exploring all the wondrous sights that the water-covered planet Aqua has to offer. Whether it’s spending a wild day at Carnevale, sharing a beautiful sunset, or even crossing paths with the mysterious spirits that dwell in Aqua’s shadows, for these three friends, each day is a new adventure!

Commentary:

As season two of Aria begins the magic and wonderful presence of these young women jumps right out at you. Aria The Natural picks  up right the first season left off and  we still see three young ladies taking their jobs seriously and all have the goal of becoming the best gondolier. Even with that goal they still manage to remain young and keep  the thrill of discovery alive. The thing about Aria The Natural is that it stands a  beacon for anyone who has a long term life goal. Aria is not a jump up and scream action series or a leave you crying story, but rather one of those single slice of life / coming to age series that is simple and straight forward. I gives us characters that are easy to connect with and very sweet in nature. They have no crosses to bear or a score to settle, they only have their lives to live and to stay focused in their goal. Of course Aria may come across as being very simple and doesn’t always hold your attention, but for me that is part of the charm. 

The animation may not be overtly slick and for this series it fits well. For Aria The Natural the looks are important and the easy stylings are friendly and inviting. That is very important and also very important to the series as it progresses. The voice acting also plays into the series easy charm and all of the characters are given a chance to be themselves without feeling forced or heavy handed. The production of this series is well balanced and perfect for what it is.

Overall Grade: B+

Aria The Natural part 1 is something that needs to be given a chance. I understand that for many anime fans it is the series that have high impact, action or even hard hitting drama , but i think that Aria is a great example of a quiet series that has plenty to offer. Trust me on this, I believe you will walk away understand the magic that this series has to offer. Don’t be afraid to give this series a chance, I have a feeling that you will find it a great little get away.

 

Excel Saga Volume 27 (manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : January 30, 2014
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Excel Saga 27Title: Excel Saga Volume 27

Writer: Rikdo Koshi

Publisher: Viz Media

U. S. Release Date:  Jan 14th, 2014

Format: Manga / Paperback

Genre: Action, Parody, Sci Fi, Comedy

Age Rating: T+ for older teens

Overall Personal Rating: B

 

Synopsis: 

 

Excel, who had seemed back to her old self, is now a stranger once more after making contact with something – or someone – beyond the forbidden portal. Will she be the captive in the end of a tragedy that happened so long ago? There is but one power that can prevail over all the mysteries of human knowledge: namely, the power of Excel’s ego. You didn’t think she’d ever forgotten about world conquest, did you?

Commentary:

The Final Volume of Excel Saga gives just what we expected from the strange quirky series that pokes fun at the world it lives in. Now that it has reached the end you would think it would become easier to understand and that the pacing would contain some regularity, but alas Excel Sage proved to all that it is a odd as ever and following along can be a genuine task.

As much fun as it is to see the finally come into full blossom for the superbly odd story I found it a little flat at times and wondered that maybe Rikido Koshi had begun to loose focus. These flat rather lackluster parts didn’t last ;ing but did find their way into the story more often thanI would have liked.

What I did appreciate was the way it was wrapped and the twist that just kept coming as we got there. The move at the end is not completely unexpected, but in many ways didn’t pull of the surprise I was looking for.

Overall Grade: B

As much as I enjoyed watching this bizarre tale come to an end I also felt a little let down by the lack of odd parody that flows through so much of the series. I realize that this plot line was developed from the very beginning, but the way this final volume obsessed on the out come felt a little unnatural for the series. With all of the other slow rather unimportant pacing throughout the rest of the volume I just came away a little disappointed. Don’t be discouraged, there are still plenty of twist and plot devices that seemingly make no sense that are trademark for the series and also keep it fresh enough to drag you kicking through the rest of the story. When there are so few manga that are just strange enough to be funny and funny enough to keep you coming back for more, Excel Saga stands out among them as one of the best. All I can really say is that if this is world conquest bring it on. It is still a crazy story and I know that all the Excel Saga fan out there will be happy with the book, but sad to see it go.

Strobe Edge 9 Manga Review

Posted by :Joann On : January 29, 2014
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Strobe Edge 9Title: Strobe Edge 9

Author/Artist: Io Sakisaka

U.S. Distributor: Viz Media

Release Date: March 4, 2014

Format: Shojo Manga

Genre: High School Romance

Industry Age Rating: T

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Similar Series:  kimi ni todoke, Say “I Love You”, A Devil and her Love Song

A beautifully illustrated high school romance of sorts, with Ninako trying to figure out who she is and how to navigate the world of relationships.

Synopsis:

Ninako has opened up to her friends, trying to explain what is going on. They don’t really understand, but it helps Ninako to release her feelings and hopefully think straighter. She is struggling to give up her interest in Ren so as not to interfere with his friendship with Ando. Besides, she believes that Ren is a friendly guy and the way he acts around her doesn’t mean anything special.

Now that Ren has admitted to himself he like Ninako, he is feeling jealous when he seen her with Toda. Why does she talk and confide in him so much? Can he get Ninako to accept his feelings?

Even during the school festival, many in the group is distracted by their feelings and inner confusion. Mao (Ando’s ex) reveals the motives behind her behaviors.

Ando knows he is running out of time if he is to win Ninako’s heart before Ren confesses his love to her.

 

 

Commentary:

They are getting close but Ninako is missing her opportunities, and she’s doing it on purpose. Poor Ren. No matter how much she rejects him, he can’t stop loving her. By the end of the volume I’m not sure if I  want to cheer Ninako on or yell at her. I definitely want to cheer Ren on. Come on you two! You both like each other, stop letting things get in the way. Ninako is always finding a reason to be guilty, maybe she is just so scared that she can’t take the risk to try again.

I am very impressed with the artwork. The images are lovely without being frilly or flowery (like Sakura Hime).The drawings really have the ability to convey a lot, like the weight of the bags Ninako is carrying or the ideas and emotions in the glances Ren gives Ninako. There is obvious skill in portraying the human form and the clothes they wear, it is much more than being cute. There is a naturalness to the way they stand and move. The emphasis really is on the people and faces with little background at all. This really draws all of the attention to the characters and the relationship driven story. Strobe Edge is one of my top 5 favorites in manga art.

The series had been getting a little long with people spending too much time on a one sided love, and the series hasn’t gotten away from it, but it seems to be on the edge of a change. Ninako, no matter how she tries, can’t control how other people’s friendships will go. Her over thinking and constant worry is causing more problems than the ones she is trying to solve. She is seeing this from the position of a child with the ability to reason like an adult, but this is creating faulty logic.

Strobe Edge 9 seems to read easy and comfortably. It has a good flow with the introspective moments and then the characters coming together. It builds an expectation and interests in the situations. It brings us in and makes our thoughts part of the story as well. Unfortunately, it makes it harder to wait for the next volume! (May 6, 2014)

 

Extras: Author’s notes on the manga or personal life.

Overall Grade: A-

Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration, Volume 2

Posted by :Joann On : January 29, 2014
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Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration 2
Review provided by CEVS

Title: Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration, Volume 2

Author: Nobuhiro Watsuki

Distributor: Viz Media

American Release Date: January 7th, 2014

Format: Viz Sig Manga

Genre: Action, Adventure, Shonen

Publisher Age Rating: T (for Teen)

Personal Review Rating: B

 

 

Life after the Meiji Era has come with many perks, such as amazing new foods. But though some things change, the way of the swords remains as the art of killing.

 

 

Synopsis:

Being a swordsman has most definitely gone down in popularity. Even old samurai families who were once wealthy aristocrats are now poor civilians verging on the brink of bankruptcy. One such family, the Sanjo family, is almost to the point of having to sell of their daughter, who is now a waitress at a popular modern restaurant. Yahiko used to live next the Sanjo family, and was even close friends with the daughter, Tsubame. It’s had to believe that in three years, they lost all of their wealth, but Yahiko plans on saving Tsubame from being sold off. However, there is a very powerful “unscrupulous merchant” who will either end the Sanjo family, or save it. Yahiko has to decide if he will save Tsubame, or sell of the Kamiya Dojo.

 

Meanwhile, there is a murderous madman out to get Kenshin. He seeks the ultimate thrill one gets when they defeat their enemy. Simply killing people is not enough. He needs to get to Kenshin. Kenshin hears about the man, and decides that he will need to seek him out, and end him quickly.

 

 

Commentary:

This release is essentially a rerelease of the original Rurouni Kenshi. There are some changes, but Watsuki is basically just going off of the feedback from the first series. There is nothing wrong with that! Rurouni Kenshin is one of those series that will last a long time. It’s an easier read, but, if you look a little deeper, there are many layers and complexities that can make the story more engrossing. This being the series’ second time around, it’s become even more solid as a story. The characters have some new sides to them, and they almost feel more relatable. That said, Rurouni Kenshin has some problems. The restoration that happened during the Meiji is an interesting period of time, but it doesn’t make a good setting for a story like this. Most of the main characters are still too attached to the past and instead of the good guys fighting the bad guys, it’s more like the protagonist fighting modernization (in their thoughts).

 

Overall Grade: B

 

Rurouni Kenshin has always been a fairly solid series, and with this being the rebuild, it’s only become stronger.