Category: Manga

By Yutaka Tachibana (Tokyopop)
ISBN: 1-59816-153-9

This barbed high-school rom-com expands on the traditional romantic triangle by adding a fourth to the mix. Yuri Muroi is a cute young girl but has a chequered past. She’s sweet but a bit of a slut, and most of her previous boyfriends have been pretty bad boys.

Then she is noticed by the beautiful, but dangerously wild, Motoko Kagurazaka. She is the terror of the school and lives to shock and make trouble. Frightened and flattered, Yuri becomes as much a toy as a friend to Motoko.

Takahiro Yabe is the baddest boy in school and Yuri really wants him. He also seems to like her, but he seems to think of her a kid. This thug in waiting apparently only has eyes for Motoko, who is happy to keep everybody guessing.

By contrast Hirao is the perfect student, good-looking (of course), studious, responsible, and president of the Student Council. He is respected by all and has a spotless reputation. So why is he drawn to the “damaged goods” troublemaker Yuri?

Departing from many Shojo manga norms this compulsive modern romance is funny and sharp; a delight for the reader in search of a more mature story of young love. The early chapters, however, might be a little confusing until one gets comfortable with the major characters as well as the innumerable second stringers that populate the school.

This series is compelling reading, humorous but tinged with pathos, and harbouring a genuine potential for tragedy as well as the traditionally expected “happy ever after”.

© 2001 Yutaka Tachibana. English script © 2006 TokyoPop Inc.

By Ki-Hoon Lee & Seung-Yup Cho (TOKYOPOP)
ISBN: 978-1-59816-770-2

Sometimes you just feel the need to say “F**k Art, Let’s Dance”.

Phantom has no overweening redeeming social agenda, no subtle interplay or illuminating subtext. It is, though, an old-fashioned, heavy metal-manga shoot-’em-up, executed with superb aplomb.

Neo Seoul, after the Age of Nations has passed. After the “Meteo Rain” devastated the world, corporations took over society, wielding absolute executive power in a high tech world built by the lowest bidder. It is efficient, oppressive and dystopic. But the human spirit is never content to be suppressed.

‘K’ is a cop, a hot-shot mecha-pilot, who drives a robot battle-suit for The City. But when his day-to-day skirmishes with “terrorists” open his eyes to the true nature of bosses, he is primed for a moral epiphany. But we’ll never know how he might have reacted, because his superiors chose to cut their losses by “firing” him, though not before torturing him and his girlfriend Yura.

Rescued by the Freedom Fighters, Yura is caught in crossfire and terminally injured. After massive surgery, she lives only due to technology. But the life-support tech is expensive and freedom isn’t free.

K might have turned into an idealist and rebel. He’s piloting an AI mecha for the opposition now. But as they’re charging him for Yura’s care, he’s billing them for every mission…

This is a splendid slice of all-out, high-tech action hokum. It is a cynical, sardonic, high-octane thriller: fast and furious, lightning-paced and wonderfully well drawn. Load up, strap in and gun your fun-throttles. Weak-kneed sissies need not apply. Yeee-Hahh!

© 2004 Ki-Hoon Lee, Seung-Yup Cho, and DAIWON C.I. Inc.
English text © 2007 TOKYOPOP Inc.

By Yayoi Ogawa (Tokyopop)
ISBN 1-59532-140-3

The exploration of modern relationships continues to oh, so slowly unfold in the second volume of Yayoi Ogawa’s beguiling modern romance. Sumire Iwaya is a thoroughly modern woman, a hard-bitten, hard-headed journalist, who can’t allow her softer side to weaken the armour she uses to survive in the male-dominated workplace.

Her romantic life is still complex. There is a man, a fellow journalist and he seems perfect. But somehow Sumire just can’t be herself with him. At least she still has her best friend to confide in, and the unconditional love of her dog Momo.

But is Momo’s love still uncomplicated and unconditional? After all, he’s not a real dog. He’s actually a rather beautiful young man she found living in a dumpster. He seems to be a complete innocent, vital, energetic and without guile – or manners. So she adopts him; feeding, cleaning and training him in return for companionship, warmth and the kind of love that only an animal can provide.

But Momo, a talented, if flaky, dancer is human, and Only Human. Isn’t it impossible for his innocent adoration not too deepen into something stronger, perhaps more selfish? Sumire feels the pressure too, occasionally, but she’s still got more urgent issues to deal with first, such as whether to finally have sex with her current- and unbelievably patient – boy-friend, and what to do with her ‘ex’ now that he’s squirmed back into the picture…

This sophisticated spin on a classic When Harry Met Sally dilemma continues to delight. By expanding the intimate circle affected by the strange relationship the author has intensified the tension without resorting to melodrama. As Sumire and Momo battle their own natures and to strive to break the deadlock of their relationship, they are continually reminded of just how much they could lose by precipitate action. Is the chance of deeper happiness worth the potential loss of their only emotional refuge?

This tale is a revelation. The progress is so cautious and hesitant you often feel like shouting at the pages but nonetheless the story does move subtly on. Sharp, charming and strikingly drawn, this is a book for grown-ups that depict maturity whilst still being decorous. More, Please!

© 2000, 2004 Yayoi Ogawa. All Rights Reserved.

By Asami Tohjoh (TokyoPop)
ISBN 1-59816-373-6

The Japanese have a peculiar skill in blending seeming opposites in their culture and especially in their arts. This series, with the faintest echoes of Kazuo Koike and Ryoichi Ikegami’s Crying Freeman saga, recounts the adventures of Kaito Yagami, a florist with an unusual side-line. He is a melancholic, contemplative assassin-for-hire who uses his knowledge of botany to kill with vegetable based poisons.

As we follow his contracts from commission to completion we experience his innermost ruminations and recollections. In Japan killers are more often poet than psychopath, it seems, and the author’s ability to create empathy if not sympathy is impressive, whilst the artwork haunts and captivates.

Slow and lilting in delivery, this is a thriller to ponder with rather than rush through. This book is printed in the ‘read-from-back-to-front’ manga format.

© 1998 Asami Tohjoh. All Rights Reserved. English text © 2006 TOKYOPOP Inc.

By Masami Tsuda (TokyoPop)
ISBN 1-59182-485-0

Soichiro Arima is a good looking, over-achieving boy who has just moved to a new school. Normally that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing but Yukino Miyazawa is already the perfect student. Pretty, athletic and super-competitive, she is the school’s number one student, the last thing she wants is some Johnny-come-lately stealing her glory. She also doesn’t want to like him. Yet she can’t stop herself and that “like” might be turning into something stronger…

This is well drawn if oddly confused and meandering school romance story in the Japanese Shojo tradition (‘stories for girls’). It’s full of the misunderstandings, confusions and little victories and defeats that define these always-evolving, never-resolving storylines. Competent and engaging for the gentle-hearted, there is nevertheless an odd quirk in this volume.

After concentrating on Soichiro and Yukino, the book suddenly diverts to another young romance; that of “plain-Jane” Koharu and cool bad-boy Toshiro Sakajo, with a promise to return to the main cast in the next volume, which means that this is a book that has not one but two unfinished tales. It’s just like a damned soap op…. oh wait… I get it…

Although not really my cup of tea, this is a good graphic equivalent to those interminable dramas that teens seem to thrive on and if that equates to more comic readers I’m all in favour (even if I am a soured old prune who doesn’t remember first love and never had a heart to break in the first place…)

This book is printed in the ‘read-from-back-to-front’ manga format.

© 1994 Masami Tsuda. All Rights Reserved. English text © 2003 TOKYOPOP Inc.

By Kei Kusunoki & Kaoru Ohashi (TokyoPop)
ISBN 1-59532-232 -9

This powerful an engrossing urban horror tale with classical supernatural overtones features the exploits of two mysterious young men, Ren and Rai, as they attempt to help ordinary people enmeshed in the sinister coils of the supernatural.

Years ago two little boys were supposed to have killed a young girl in Chiaki’s apartment building. That’s why it’s half empty and the people that do live there are all weird. Still, she has her own problems. School is awful and her parents are acting strange and her boyfriend won’t talk to her and her period is really, really late…

When she meets Ren and Rai she discovers a whole new world. They sold their souls to the demonic Diabolo – specialises in buying the souls of children – but like all Devil’s Bargains they were cheated, and now they use the powers they’ve been granted to thwart Diabolo’s schemes. But there’s a deadline. All the devil’s clients become insane murderous monsters on their eighteenth birthdays. The boys have less than a year before they must kill each other.

And that’s just the introductory background: The two boys mission to save other victims from making their mistake is simply a vehicle to tell modern horror/adventure stories in a chilling urban setting with ordinary people as the stars, and it works very well indeed.

The action is finely balanced by an oppressive atmosphere not often present in Manga, but which superbly enhances the tension, allowing the beautiful clean drawing style to enhance rather than dilute the aura of fore-doomed intensity. This is a highly recommendable treat for supernatural thrill-fiends.

© 2001 Kei Kusunoki & Kaoru Ohashi. All Rights Reserved.
English text © 2004 TOKYOPOP Inc.

By Ichiro Sakaki & Go Yabuki character plan by Yukinobu Azumi (Tokyopop)
ISBN: 1-5953-2981-1

A traditional manga blending of fantasy and science fiction elements, this is the story of Princess Pacifica and her two protectors, refugees from the rulers of the futuristically feudal kingdom of Linevan.

When the Princess and her twin brother were born fifteen years previously a prophecy declared that she would bring about the end of humanity when she turned sixteen. Although she was condemned to be done away with, she still lives, but as the deadline nears the attempts to destroy her grow more determined and more frenzied. Hunted by Knight and bounty hunter alike, Pacifica, Shannon and Raquel search for a solution to their desperate plight.

Told from the point of view of young knight Recita, who befriends the oddly gentle and fun-loving fugitives, this is a charming and beautifully rendered quest-tale that will delight older kids and adults alike. This first volume shows great promise but be warned that this volume does end on something of a cliffhanger.

This book is printed in the ‘read-from-back-to-front’ manga format, and the comic adventures are based on a series of novels and an anime TV show.

© 2002 Ichiro Sakaki. © 2002 Go Yabuki. © 2002 Yukinobu Azumi.
English text © 2005 TOKYOPOP INC. All Rights Reserved.

 

By Yoshitomo Watanabe (TokyoPop)
ISBN 1-59816-371-X

Futaba is a good, if odd little kid, and a bit of a misfit, but his life takes a distinctly odd turn when a beautiful magical fairy girl called Kiara the Amaranthine literally falls out of the sky at his feet.

This cute-looking girl mystically attaches herself to Futaba before they realise that he isn’t her pre-destined master. The little boy is suddenly the owner of one of the most powerful artefacts in the universe, and one that everybody wants. By the time they do realise the mistake, the attacks of greedy villains have already started, so the pair leave Earth for other Realms to search for Kiara’s true master, in the hope that he can sever their bond.

As they travel they recruit a motley band of companions but all the time their pursuers get closer, and they begin to wonder what to do if The Master is not benevolent either..?

A compelling blend charming fairy-tale and Boy’s Own adventure, this fantastic case of mistaken identity has a little edginess to temper the whimsy, and is a fine example of a genre that the Japanese have all but made their own. This book is printed in the ‘read-from-back-to-front’ manga format.

© 2004 Yoshitomo Watanabe. All Rights Reserved.
English text © 2006 TOKYOPOP Inc.