Manga Village

It has been a while since Neon Genesis Evangelion fans have been treated to a new manga installment of this beloved series, and Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project corrects that error. Or does it? This Evangelion is a “reimagining” of the Evangelion world hinted at the end of the anime TV series. ByOsamu Takahashi Publisher: Dark Horse Manga Age Rating: 16+ Genre: Action/Adventure Price:  $9.95 This alternate retelling starts out as a high school rom-com where Asuka and Shinji have been friends all their lives. It wouldn’t be any fun without some sexual tension and it isn’t many pages before the odd but beautiful Rei Ayanami shows up to throw a wrench in any plans Asuka may have had (not intentionally, of course). Too detailed a plot summary would ruin the fun, but writer and artist Osamu Takahashi delivers young love comedy that may not be always original, but is fun and funny. Non-Evangelion fans may not understand what the big deal is, but regardless, this is better than a lot of shojo romance sitting on shelves today. But this is Evangelion, and the heart marks and bloody noses can only last so long. By the end…

It’s been quite a while since I’ve read any American superhero comics with any regularity, so when I picked up X-Men: Misfits, I was quite skeptical, even if it was a tale of American superheros remixed into a new story in manga format. Originally reviewed by Dan Polley Written by Rainer Telgemeier; Art by Dave Roman Publisher: Dey Rey Manga Age Rating: Teen (13+) Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, Action Price: $12.99 But, quite simply, it was really good. The story centers around Kitty Pryde, who feels like a loner now that she has discovered she has mutant powers, unlike everyone around her, including her family and classmates at school. One day she comes home and her parents are talking to someone about an educational opportunity for her. Her parents tell her that they have noticed her “quirks,” and so she ends up in Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Once she arrives at the school, she is awed by the beauty of it — and of all the male students. (So many of them!) And she is keenly aware that all of the other gifted students around her have better control of their powers. And when she arrives at her room,…

Abandon the Old in Tokyo is a collection of eight short stories each with an interconnecting theme. Each is centered upon a working class male living in a gritty urban setting, and sometimes the protagonists are even drawn in similar manners. Originally reviewed by Matthew Rozier By Yoshihiro Tatsumi Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly Age Rating: Not rated, but contains mature content. Genre: Drama Price: $19.95 Each story is thought-provoking as Tatsumi deals with a variety of subjects ranging from alienation/disconnection from society to poverty to sexual dysfunction. Tatsumi deals with each subject with such a down-to-earth sense of honesty. Almost as if he experienced each of these things himself. He also manages to put so much depth into each of his short stories, so much that he really asks all the right questions. Questions like: why do we do the things we do? what does it take to stand out amongst other “individuals?” are we really any different from animals? Tatsumi’s art is gritty and rough, even sloppy at times. His character designs also do not exhibit the greatest range, as sometimes it is difficult to tell characters apart. He also draws the protagonist exactly the same in a few…

The Guin Saga series as a franchise is as epic as the story that it tells. The Guin Saga novels are an insanely popular with 126 books in the main series and 21 side story novels. There is a manga, an anime, cds, artbooks, rpgs, and even a musical based on the books. The only thing that stopped the series was the author’s untimely death. So with a mountain of source material it can be quiet a daunting task to try to adapt any of the Guin Saga story. But fortunately there is a simpler place to start. The side story novels start with Guin as an established character but are stand-alone stories that do not directly tie into the massive ongoing plot of the main storyline. One or two major characters carry over but most of the main story is unimportant and unaffected by the events in this manga, which make it and unusual but excellent place to start. Originally reviewed by Alain Mendez By Kazuaki Yanagisawa Publisher: Vertical, Inc. Age Rating: Older Teen Genre: Fantasy Price: $12.95 The country of Cheironia is under the grip of a horrible plague that is clearly magical in nature is killing more…

The manga market is fairly saturated with books about ninjas. Ninjas are the latest craze for boys, just like vampires are the latest craze for girls. It’s no surprise that plenty of people are trying to get in on the ninja bandwagon.  Yen Press’ entry into ninja fiction, Nabari no Ou, has been publishing monthly in its Yen Plus anthology for more than a year now, and it’s picked up a lot of steam, but only recently has the compiled trade paperback (manga fans call them tankobon) been released. By Yuki Kamatani Publisher: Yen Press Age Rating: Older Teen Genre: Action Price:  $10.99 The first volume introduces us to Miharu Rokujou, a completely apathetic schoolboy who wants nothing more than to take over his family’s restaurant and make sure that he never has to care about anything. Unfortunately for him, he is the carrier of hidden ninja world’s most powerful secret – the Shinra Banshou, and a faction of ninjas called the Iga Grey Wolves wants it bad enough to kill him for it. Members of the Banten and Fuuma villages don’t want that to happen though –his classmates Aizawa, Shimizu, and his strange teacher Kumohira have all decide to…

Cai-Shen tags along with Yun-Shi to his next job and secretly helps him out since he does not realize how hopeless he is at exorcising demons.  However, the exorcism is a trap set up by an old enemy of Cai-Sheng.  Just as Cai-Sheng appears to be in trouble, Zi-Qiu the deity-in-training, comes to her rescue.  Afterwards, she assures Yun-Shi that it is he who had scared the demons away.  On the other hand, Zi-Qiu does not think much of Yun-Shi, and they engage in a heated fight! By Yi Huan Publisher: DrMaster Age Rating: 13+ Genre: Romance Price: $9.99 Even though two hundred years have passed, and Cai-Shen’s powers have grown, in many ways, she has not.  In this second volume, we see just how immature Cai-Shen can be, and the consequences her childish behavior bring now just for herself, but for those around her. Two hundred years isn’t enough time for a deity to grow up, and we see this in many of Cai-Shen’s actions throughout this volume.  Yun-Shi is sent by his Shifu to find an ingredient to the elixir of immortality, Yun-Shi decides that immortality is not for humans and throws it away, but Cai-Shen, who wants…

In the fifth volume of Takehiko Inoue’s Slam Dunk, the “friendly” match against Ryonan High is beginning to wind down. With captain Akagi out of the game momentarily, Hanamichi Sakuragi has finally been given his chance to strut his stuff and prove that he is a bona fide ball player. Originally reviewed by Matthew Rozier By Takhiko Inoue Publisher: Viz Media/Shonen Jump Age Rating: Teen Genre: Sports Price: $7.99 Like a rookie in most any professional sport, Hanamichi’s play is wildly erratic. At times he shows flashes of brilliance and shows off his raw athletic ability, but most of the time his greenness, combined with his inflated ego, steals the show. In this volume, Hanamichi has his hands full. Not only does he have a tough task in defending Ryonan’s center Uozumi, but Rukawa has become exhausted from having to defend the talented Sendoh. Still, Hanamichi has managed to give Shohoku a spark, and thanks to his efforts they have decimated Ryonan’s previously big lead by the time Akagi returns to the court. Hanamichi is one of those characters who, despite being unbelievably dense at times, is one who is all the more endearing thanks to his relentless energy and…

In the fifth volume of Takehiko Inoue’s Slam Dunk, the “friendly” match against Ryonan High is beginning to wind down. With captain Akagi out of the game momentarily, Hanamichi Sakuragi has finally been given his chance to strut his stuff and prove that he is a bona fide ball player.

Everything changes one day when Misao is attacked by a demon. Her childhood friend Kyo suddenly returns to save her and tend to her cuts–with his tongue! It turns out Misao is the bride of prophecy, whose blood gives power to the demon clan who claims her. But most demons want to keep her power for themselves–by eating her! Now Misao is just trying to stay alive…and decide if she likes it when Kyo licks her wounds. By Kanoko Sakurakoji Publisher: Viz Media – Shojo Beat Age Rating: Teen+ Genre: Supernatural/Romance Price: $8.99 I was really looking forward to this title when it was announced. I loved Backstage Prince by the same mangaka. The characters were great, and the setting, kabuki theater, was different. It was a lot of fun. This title also features Yokai, Japanese monsters, which I also love. So, I had high hopes for this title. Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite measure up, with too many cliches, 2-D characters, and a romance that doesn’t really do it for me. The plot to this title is almost like a checklist of cliches. Girl who is the only one at her school who can see demons. Check. Girl yearns…

Jin is a typical high school kid who lives with his chiropractor dad and homebody sister. But one day he discovers that he has abnormal martial arts powers (great fighting, leaping and running skills). Mysteriously, however, he only has these powers one day a month. Jin has a core group of friends: an attractive girl named Fusano (who likes Jin but would never admit it) who’s also good at martial arts; former bad boy Choji; and brainy computer nerd Tomonori. After school one day, Jin and his friends go to an arcade, where he is called outside by some tough guys posing as cops. It seems they were hired to test his abilities, but unfortunately he doesn’t have any of his special powers on this day, so they beat him up until his friends come to help him. Almost more mysterious than his occasional powers is the truth about the gang of bullies…who were hired by his estranged older brother. Originally reviewed by Dan Polley By Shoko Fukaki Publisher: CMX Genre: Action, Martial Arts, Adventure Rating: Teen+ Price: $9.99 Jin and his female friend, Fusano, both have very good fighting skills. But Fusano is a much more adept student while…