Nephylym Volume 1 By Rei Kusakabe Publisher: DR Masters Age Rating: 13+ Genre: Supernatural Price: $9.95 Rating: Shun has a unique power to electrically charge metal materials. A mysterious winged being named Ale picks up on his powers and chooses him to be her partner. Shun’s classmate and school crush, Sanari, finds out and reveals her winged partner, named Blissful. She explains that the beings are called Nephylym, and their chosen partners are called Answerers. Together with Sarari and Tsukasa (Shun’s rival in love and an Answerer as well), they battle along side their Nephylym against Noirs that possess human beings. I can’t remember the last time I read a volume that was so lackluster. The story and characters are just cookie cutter cutouts of typical shonen action fare with some moe and moments of fanservice to draw in a audience that will hopefully be too enthralled by the cute little girls to notice the complete lack of a decent story.
It’s been a year since Yen Press debuted their manga anthology magazine Yen Plus. I picked up the first issue at SDCC and reviewed it in two posts, one for each side. I wasn’t thrilled with the Japanese side, and really enjoyed the Korean/OEL side. A look at the second issue re-enforced those feelings. It’s been a whole year, and at SDCC this year Yen Press had their anniversary issue, so I picked it up again. I wanted to see if the magazine had improved over the year.
Cute Dogs: Craft your own Pooches By Chie Hayano Publisher Vertical, Inc. Age Rating: All Ages Genre: Craft Price: $14.95 Rating: Vertical Inc is a unique publisher in the manga world. They are a boutique publisher who does more than bring manga over from Japan. They also publish novels from horror to business, Sudoku puzzle books, and coolest of all, craft books. Their newest release is Cute Dogs, which is filled with exactly that; little stuffed dogs that don’t just look cute, but look fun to make. Cute Dogs is a thin book at just 79 pages, but it’s packed with 16 different dogs you can create on your own. Ranging from the Boston Terrier, Chihuahua, Welsh Corgi, Miniature Dachshund, to the Miniature Schnauzer, you’ll find many of the most popular dog breeds. The first half of the book is filled with pictures of each of the finished pieces, showing them from different angles so you know how they should look. They are all posed with accessories like food bowls, wagons, bowls and baskets. All the dogs have names and little sayings that give them personality. It’s fun just looking at these pictures and reading about each dog. After seeing…
Viz’s second big foray into the online world of manga is Shonen Sunday. It’s based on another manga magazine from Japan. Several popular titles came from this magazine, such as most of Rumiko Takahashi’s works (Urusei Yatsura, Ramna 1/2, Inuyasha, Mermaid Saga), Detective Conan, Zatch Bell, and Yakitate!! Japan, just to name a few. Now Viz has brought some titles from the magazine online.
It’s just another night on the prowl for vampires for Kyrian of Thrace when he meets the most frightening thing imaginable. And accountant. But Amanda Devereaux is much more than she seems. Hunted by one of the deadliest of vampires, Amanda is the key to our survival. If she goes down, so does he, and –no offense– he doesn’t want to die (hence the whole immortality thing). And he doesn’t want humanity dead either, which is a good thing for us since he and Amanda are all that stands between us and oblivion. Let’s hope they win.
Manga for older readers has been few and far between, as teen manga dominates bookstores and sales. But as manga readers grow up, there needs to be something to appeal to them and keep them interested in the medium. Viz Media has been working in that direction with their Signature line, and now with a website that provides manga to read for free. Working with Ikki Monthy magazine, they have brought out a diverse line of titles, many of which I liked, but not all will appeal to everyone. But the beauty of doing this online, it doesn’t have to.
When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does. Sora begins investigating their strange connection to the sea. But the current research is too slow for Sora, who is lured away by with the promise of answers. This leaves Umi severely depressed, and it is up to Ruka to help her new friend find his brother. But time is quickly running out… Children of the Sea Volume 1 By Daisuke Igarashi Publisher: Viz Media Age Rating: Teen+ Genre: Mystery Price: $14.95 Rating: In an attempt to draw in more adult readers, Viz has been expanding their Signature imprint. The titles in this imprint are meant for a more mature audience that have out grown or aren’t interested in the eternal power ups of shonen or the angsty drama of shojo. Children of the Sea, the first title from the online manga magazine Ikki, is the perfect debut title. With none of the usual manga conventions,…
A few days ago on Twitter, @debaoki mentioned she liked Animal Academy, an all ages title from Tokyopop, and thought that kids would like it. She mentioned she thought the books based on properties, like Disney were boring, but ended by saying, she didn’t know, since she wasn’t the target audience. Well, I have a daughter that’s in the target audience range, and both Animal Academy and Disney’s Kilala Princess. So, I gave both books to my youngest daughter Krissy and asked her to read them. When she finished, I asked her questions about the books.
Broken Blade Volume 1 By Yunosuke Yoshinaga Publisher: CMX/Flex Comics Rating: T+ (Older Teens) Price: $9.99 ISBN: 978-1-4012-1882-9 Rating: Rygart Arrow is a man with a problem. He’s one of the tiny minority, perhaps one in a million, who cannot charge the quartz crystals that power all of the machines in his world. He cannot drive vehicles, he cannot use machinery, he’s what is known as an “unsorcerer”. However, he is well educated and old college friends with the King and Queen of Krisna, who are facing an incursion from their neighboring nation of Athens. When they learn that the Athen army is led by Zess, the final part of their college foursome and he’s marching on their borders, they call on Rygart in their time of need. Can he figure out how to operate the Under-Golem, an ancient magic-less machine in time to save his friends?
RIN-NE Volume 1 By Rumiko Takahashi Publisher: Viz Media Age Rating: Teen Genre: Supernatural/Comedy Price: $9.99/Free online Rating: Ever since a childhood incident Sakura Mamiya has had the power to see ghosts. Now her life has gotten a lot more complicated with the arrival of her mysterious classmate Rinne, who seems to know a thing or two about detecting ghosts himself! Having enjoyed so far Takahashi’s shonen titles since Urusei Yatsura, I was thrilled to hear that we in the US would not only be getting her newest, Rin-ne, at the same time as Japan, but it would available for free online to read. Having now read the first volume’s worth of chapters, I have to say my initial excitement may have been premature.
Pokémon Adventures Volume 1 By Hidenori Kusaka Publisher: Viz Media Age Rating: All Ages Genre: Game/Action Price: $7.99 Rating: Red doesn’t just want to train Pokémon, he wants to be their friend too. Bulbasaur and Poliwhirl seem game. But independent Pikachu won’t be so easy to win over! What was the story about? This story is about a 10 year old trainer named Red. He goes through many adventures. What did you like about the story? I loved the part when Bill was picked up by Fearow. I just couldn’t stop laughing at Mr. Director. I love the part when a Pidgey poops on Professor Oak. I think the pokemon Red chose were great because they help him. What did you dislike about the story? I just hate Blue for hurting the Kangaskhan and it’s young. Would you recommend the story to kids your age? Why? Yes, because pokemon are so loveable!
Naruto Volume 32 By Masashi Kishimoto Publisher: Viz Media Age Rating: Teen Genre: Action Price: $7.95 Rating: A new ninja causes trouble among the ranks of Team Kakashi when they return from the battle against Sasori. The secrets this stranger hides could be disastrous for Naruto. Meanwhile, Naruto’s old nemesis Orochimaru has troubles of his own-his stronghold may be infiltrated by a spy! After saying their goodbyes at the Sand Village, Teams Kakashi and Guy return to the Hidden Leaf. Kakashi is laid up since his new jutsu takes so much out of him, so a new leader is needed for the team as well as member to even it out to four members. There’s only six days left until the rondevou Sasori told them about. Naruto goes searching out his old friends to get them to join, and we see Choji, Shino, Kiba and Hinata. But the team has already been decided. Sai, a member of the Foundation of the Black Ops is chosen, and Yamato, also Black Ops, is chosen to lead. Sai gets on Naruto’s nerves immediately, and on Sakura’s only a few moments later. But, in order to accomplish the mission, both try to tolerate Sai.