Aria The Masterpiece Vol 1 Review
Aria was previously partially released by Tokyopop, and, now that they’ve gotten back to publishing manga, this title has been resurrected from license limbo and is being released again in fancy, new, two-in-one omnibus editions. I never picked up the original release, but I recalled hearing good things about it, so I decided to dip…
Komi Can’t Communicate Vol 1 Review
Komi Can’t Communicate is a comedy manga with a somewhat cliché premise. I was initially a bit on the fence about picking it up, but after reading a number to positive reviews, I decided to give it a go and see if it was as hilarious as everyone said. Synopsis: Tadano is a completely average…
Beastars Vol 1 Review
Beastars is the newest manga to be released under the Viz Signature line, a banner that specializes in sophisticated or edgy titles aimed at an older audience, so I knew that I was in for something a little different with this series. Synopsis: In a world inhabited by anthropomorphized animals, predators and prey seem to…
Beastars Vol 2 Review
Beastars continues to be an intriguing character piece that focuses on the troubled psychology of our teen animal protagonists. Volume 2 introduces a new character who seems to be looking to stir up conflict and we also learn a surprising fact about the Drama Club that only raises more questions. Synopsis: Legoshi is thrown off…
Beastars Vol 3 Review
A new volume of Beastars has arrived and things are getting more complicated for our favourite wolf-boy, both in terms of his personal life and his understanding of himself. Synopsis: Following their explosive fight during a drama-club production, Louis comes close to suspending Legoshi and Bill from the club, but ultimately decides to let them…
Beastars Vol 4 Review
Whoo boy! This volume of Beastars was a real emotional-rollercoaster ride! We have torrid love affairs, the reveal of a tragic backstory and violent plots, all sandwiched in between high school hijinks, as everyone prepares for a summer festival. Be warned, this review will include spoilers. Synopsis: The members of the Drama Club are hard…
Beastars Vol 5 Review
I think that this might be the most intense volume of the Beastars manga yet! It’s certainly the most violent! Fair warning, this review will include some spoilers for earlier events in the series, and possibly for the anime, which I still haven’t seen. Synopsis: Haru has been abducted and the calling card found at…
Sand Land Review
While combing through the boxes of old manga titles at a big comics sale, I recently came across this little gem. Sand Land is a one-shot series by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the mega-hit manga series: Dragon Ball. To give you a little bit of background information on my history with Akira Toriyama, the…
Astra Lost in Space Series Review (manga)
I feel like I’m arriving a bit late to the party when it comes to Astra Lost in Space. I haven’t watched any of the anime yet, but it’s been receiving such positive buzz that I decided to give the original manga a try. The manga has been fully released in english and is only…
Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls Vol 1 Review
I don’t typically read a ton of horror manga, as it’s just not a genre that I tend to enjoy very much. There are a few exceptions though, usually for series where elements of other genres are mixed into the story. Enter Danganronpa! Originally a video game series, the Danganronpa franchise has expanded into anime…
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Vol 1 Review
Monokuma is back and up to his old tricks in this sequel to the first Danganronpa manga. Danronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, drawn by Kuroki Q, adapts the second game in the Danganronpa franchise and is actually the second manga adaptation of said game that has been released in English – the first being Danganronpa 2:…
That Blue Sky Feeling Series Review
What does it mean to like someone? This is the central question the main character of That Blue Sky Feeling wrestles with in this unusual and poignant manga. Originally a webcomic, this manga is a remake, with art by Coma Hashii and the story written by the original creator, Okura, that tells a thoughtful story…
Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town (Manga) Vol 1 Review
It seems like over-powered protagonists with the skills and/or the smarts to easily destroy any obstacle in their path have become common staples in fantasy manga and anime, particularly those that take inspiration from video games, and it’s easy to see why – it’s a fun power fantasy that allows the audience to imagine how…
Beastars Vol 6 Review
After the last, action-packed volume, Beastars shifts the focus back to the character’s interpersonal relationships and the romantic drama between Legoshi, Haru and Juno. As with my previous reviews of the Beastars manga, this review will contain spoilers for previous volumes in the series. Synopsis: After rescuing Haru, Legoshi finally confesses to her that he…
Spy x Family Vol 1 Review
Of all of the new manga scheduled to come out in 2020, Spy x Family was the one I was looking forward to reading the most. People who I follow online have been praising this series for months and everyone I know who’s read it only had good things to say about it. I couldn’t…
Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina (manga) Vol 1 Review
Based on a series of light novels by Jougi Shiraishi, Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina is a manga that embodies the saying: “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” Beautifully illustrated by Itsuki Nanoa, Wandering Witch brings readers along for the ride, as the titular Elaina takes a fantastical trip to places unknown. Synopsis:…
Beastars Vol 7 Review
Oh my god! Did this manga actually remember that it has a murder-mystery subplot? As with my reviews of the earlier volumes in the Beastars series, this review will contain some spoilers for events that occurred in the previous volumes, so I suggest getting caught up on the series before reading this. Synopsis: Things feel…
Wonder 3 Review
Wonder 3 is a manga series by Osamu Tezuka, the prolific manga and anime creator who is often referred to as “the god of manga”, in honour of how his impressive body of work served to push the medium forward. His more famous works include the likes of Astro Boy, Princess Knight, Pheonix and Black…
Nameless Asterism Series Review
Despite centering on a love-triangle between three girls, I don’t think I’d classify Kina Kobayashi’s manga, Nameless Asterism, as a yuri series. While unrequited love and emotional angst are the driving forces behind much of the plot, the type of relationship being celebrated by this manga isn’t romantic love, it’s friendship. Synopsis: Shiratori, Washio and…
Sayonara, Football Vol 1 Review
So, this wasn’t quite what I thought it was going to be. The description on the back of the manga describes the story of Sayonara, Football as being about two girls, who were on rival soccer teams in middle school, but who end up on the same team in high school and need to learn…
Beastars Vol 8 Review
As with my other reviews of the Beastars manga, be aware that this review will contain some spoilers for events that occurred in the previous volumes in the series. Synopsis: After being attacked by the same student who murdered his friend, Tem, Legoshi seeks out Gohin to ask him to train him in combat. Gohin…
Moriarty the Patriot Vol 1 Review
Stories that reimagine the villain as the hero are always intriguing to me, so Moriarty the Patriot, which follows the exploits of Sherlock Holmes’ most famous foe, immediately caught my interest. This manga, created by Ryousuke Takeuchi and Hikaru Miyoshi, paints a more complicated picture of the title character then the nefarious lord of criminals…
Ascendance of a Bookworm (manga) Vol 1 Review
The full title of this manga series is Ascendance of a Bookworm: I’ll Do Anything to Become a Librarian Part 1 If there aren’t any books, I’ll just have to make some! Whew! Even amongst all of the crazy-long titles that are popular nowadays, this one feels excessive. Going forward, I’ll just be referring to…
Love Me For Who I Am Vol 1 Review
It took me a long time to track down a copy of Kata Konayama’s Love Me For Who I Am. COVID 19 has, of course, caused a number of printing delays, as well as some continued distribution issues, at least in Canada, anyway. Thankfully, I finally got my hands on volume one and it was…
Beastars Vol 9 Review
So, there are just a few minor developments to discuss in this volume of Paru Itagaki’s Beastars. Let’s see, one of the drama club members gets their arm ripped off, we learn a huge secret about Legoshi’s heritage and the identity of Tem’s murderer is revealed!!! Be aware that this review will contain some spoilers…
How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom (manga) Omnibus Vol 1 Review
Based on an isekai light-novel series by Dojyomaru, this manga adaptation of How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom by Satoshi Ueda, initially drew me in with its striking cover, which pays homage to Jacques-Louis David’s famous painting: Napoleon Crossing the Alps. The premise of a hero who uses their wits and knowledge of the…
Beastars Vol 10 Review
We’re gearing up for a big showdown in this volume of Beastars! Will Legoshi be able to defeat the murderer in a head on fight? Well, we don’t find out in this volume, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a lot that happens. As with my other reviews of the Beastars manga, this review…
Beast Complex Vol 1 Review
Beast Complex, is an early work by Paru Itagaki and a precursor to the popular manga series, Beastars. It’s set in the same world of anthropomorphized animals as Beastars, and this short-story collection is composed of self-contained stories that explore the tensions between herbivores and carnivores. Short-story anthologies can sometimes be a mixed bag, but…
Beastars Vol 11 Review
It’s finally happening! Volume 11 of Paru Itagaki’s Beastars, the official midpoint of the manga, FINALLY features the climactic battle between Legoshi and Tem’s murderer! And boy, do things get coco-nuts! As with my other reviews of the Beastars manga, be warned that this review will contain spoilers for this volume and events that occurred…
A School Frozen in Time Vol 1 Review
A School Frozen in Time is a mystery/psychological thriller manga with a bit of a supernatural twist. Written by Mizuki Tsukimura and with art by Naoshi Arakawa, of Your Lie in April and Sayonara, Football fame, this is a suspenseful tale of a group of trapped teens, who must discover why they’ve been transported into…
I’m the Catlords’ Manservant Vol 1 Review
The release of I’m the Catlords’ Manservant, by Rat Kitaguni, kind of snuck up on me. I don’t remember hearing about it getting licensed and I didn’t have it on my monthly list of manga to buy; I only found out about its existence when it showed up at my local comic book shop. Despite…
Your Turn To Die: Majority Vote Death Game Vol 1 Review
Your Turn to Die: Majority Death Game is a horror/mystery manga, written by Nankidai and with art by Tatsuya Ikegami, that’s based on a game of the same name, which I might need to track down and play now. Synopsis: Sara has felt like she’s being watched for days, but hasn’t managed to get a…
Beastars Vol 12 Review
Volume 12 of Beastars seems to be kicking off a new era in the series. With the murderer storyline resolved, the plot is moving on and introducing new problems for Legoshi to contend with. Like with my other reviews of the Beastars manga, this review will contains some spoilers for events in this and previous…
The Tale of the Outcasts Vol 1 Review
Lovers of the Monster Boyfriend genre rejoice, Makoto Hoshino’s The Tale of the Outcasts is here to serve up some spooky and sweet supernatural romance! Synopsis Marbas is a powerful and immortal demon who is consumed by boredom and apathy. Most humans can’t see him nowadays, a sign that demon kind’s influence in the world…
Sadako-san and Sadako-chan Review
Sadako-san and Sadako-chan is a comedy manga starring the ghost from the popular horror franchise, The Ring, and a little girl she intended to curse, but winds up befriending instead. Apparently, this manga by Aya Tsutsumi was created to be a promotional tie-in to the 2019 film, Sadako, which dealt with the aftermath of Sadako’s…
Mashle: Magic and Muscles Vol 1 Review
I think the best way to describe Hajime Komoto’s Mashle: Magic and Muscles is that it’s basically the main character from One Punch Man as a teenager attending Hogwarts. Synopsis: In a world where magic is everywhere and you’re status is determined by your magical aptitude, any person born without any magic is ostracized and…
Beastars Vol 13 Review
Yeah, Gosha is on the cover this time around. Not surprisingly, this volume features a lot of everyone’s favourite scaly grandfather, and he gets plenty of opportunities to prove that he’s still pretty spry! As with my reviews of the other volumes of Paru Itagaki’s Beastars manga, this review will contain some spoilers for events…
The Faraway Paladin Omnibus Vol 1 Review
Based on the light novels by Kanata Yanagino, The Faraway Paladin manga by Mutsumi Okubashi is an atmospheric fantasy series that takes it’s time establishing it’s world and protagonist. This omnibus edition collects the first two volumes of the manga, so we’ve got a good chunk of story to discuss in this review. Synopsis: As…
When Will Ayumu Make His Move? Vol 1 Review
Soichiro Yamamoto is probably best known in the west as the creator of Teasing Master Takagi-san. I haven’t actually read that manga though, so When Will Ayumu Make His Move? is my first introduction to his work. Let’s dive into this high school tale of romance, strategy and shogi! Synopsis: Yaotome and Ayumu are the…
Beastars Vol 14 Review
There’s a lot to discuss in this volume of Paru Itagaki’s Beastars. A dramatic meeting with Yahya! An emotional reunion between Haru and Legoshi! And the reveal of a new antagonist! Let’s get into it! As with my reviews of the other volumes of the Beastars manga, this review will contain some spoilers of events…
Manga Mini Reviews: Spooky Halloween Edition
It’s almost Halloween and I wanted to get into the spirit of the the season by reviewing some manga and comics of a spooky nature. I say spooky, rather than scary, since I’m too much of a wimp to read much actual horror. Instead, these titles are all works that contain supernatural or light horror…
The Exo-Drive Reincarnation Games Vol 1 Review
With it’s unnecessarily lengthy title, The Exo-Drive Reincarnation Games: All-Japan Isekai Battle Tournament is poking fun of isekai manga and light-novel tropes right out of the gate. Written by Keiso and with art by Zunta, The Exo-Drive Reincarnation Games is a playful parody of the isekai genre which reimagines the now ubiquitous plot-device of being…
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Vol 1 Review
Have you ever wondered what exactly happens to the heroes after they complete their quest and save the world? Or how those mystical elf characters in fantasy stories feel about how much longer they’ll live than all of their friends? Then Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe’s manga, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, might just be the…
Reign of the Seven Spell Blades (manga) Vol 1 Review
When I first started reading Reign of the Seven Spellblades, a manga adaptation of the light novel series by Bokuto Uno, I had this nagging feeling that I knew this art style from somewhere. Then I realized that the artist of this manga is Sakae Esuno, the creator of Future Diary! Man, it’s been a…
Beastars Vol 15 Review
Our newest villain graces the cover of this volume and makes quite an impression in it’s pages, as he runs circles around Legoshi in this installment of Beastars. As with my reviews of the other volumes of the Beastars manga, this review will contain some spoilers for both this and previous volumes in the series.…
Akira Toriyama’s Manga Theater Review
As a Dragon Ball fan, I’m always excited whenever something by Akira Toriyama in licensed in english. For such an influential creator, he doesn’t actually have that many series to his name, so it’s a treat whenever I get the chance to read anything new by him. Akira Toriyama’s Manga Theater is a collection of…
Alice in Borderland Vol 1 Review
I’m not a big horror person, but the idea behind Haro Aso’s manga series, Alice in Borderland, sounded interesting enough that I decided to give it a try – this in spite of the fact that there is a guy with a super creepy-looking horse face on the cover! Let’s get into the review and…
Beastars Vol 16 Review
I’m getting behind in my reviews. Here I am, finally posting my review of volume sixteen of Beastars, and volume seventeen is already out! It’s about time I get caught up, so let’s dive into this review! Synopsis: Legoshi wakes up is the hospital having survived a brutal attack at the hands of notorious mixed-species…
Sheepily Horned Witch Romi Vol 1 Review
An unconventional manga that’s part teen comedy, part quirky supernatural adventure, Sheepily Horned Witch Romi is a manga you won’t want to miss! Created by Yoichi Abe, this eccentric manga is weird, goofy and poignant all at once – a unique combination that makes for a hell of a read! Synopsis: Uryuu wakes up at…
Beastars Vol 17 Review
Our favourite wolf boy just keeps getting more redesigns and thus we have a white Legoshi on this volume’s cover. We’ll get into the reason for his fur colour change in this review. As with my other reviews of Paru Itagaki’s Beastars manga, this review may contain some spoilers for events in both this and…
Sakamoto Days Vol 1 Review
Sakamoto Days is a manga series that I’ve been really looking forward to checking out. The premise sounded funny and I was anticipating a lot of action and laughs. And, Yuto Suzuki’s action/comedy series pretty much delivered on my expectations. Synopsis: Taro Sakamoto was a legendary hitman, unrivaled in his field and feared by everyone…
Beastars Vol 18 Review
Here we are at the 18th volume of Paru Itagaki’s Beastars manga, and the plot seems to finally be getting back to the unresolved problem of who will be the next Beastar! As with my other reviews of this manga, this review will contain some spoilers for both this volume and earlier volumes in the…
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