By Junya Inoue
Publisher: Yen Press
Age Rating: Mature
Genre: Game/Survival Horror
Price: $11.99

I had mixed feelings when I heard about BTOOOM! There were comparisons of this series to .hack going on in the mangasphere, which didn’t inspire me. Though having read the first volume, I think being stuck in a video game like BTOOOM! would have been better than the “Battle Royale”-esque “game-in-real-life” that the series has ended up being.

BTOOOM! doesn’t waste much time in throwing the reader into the action. After a short introduction to Ryouta and the video game BTOOOM, Ryouta finds himself on an island without any memory of how he got there, and having to fight for his life against a drugged-out punk. Over the course of the volume, Ryouta gets flashes of memory, and with the help of another abducted player, Kiyoshi Taira, he is able to piece how he got to the island, but not the why.

This question is about the only thing I really found interesting about BTOOOM! Ryouta Figures out that they are being forced to play a live action version of the game BTOOOM. That and the fact Ryouta recognized the person who explained the game makes his presence suspicious. Is he there become someone at Tyrannous Games wants to get rid of him? If he is, who or why is he hated so much? Or, since he is so skilled at BTOOOM, is he there to help “beta test” the LARP? These possibilities did intrigue me a bit.

The other thing I liked about BTOOOM! was the way Ryouta reacted to being placed in a real life version of his favorite video game. He wasn’t excited about it. He was sickened by the thought of killing real people. During the briefing, he even called out about telling the difference between the real world and virtual world. With so many attacks against video games being the cause of violence, it was nice to see a realistic reaction from a gamer over being asked to become a killer in real life. Ryouta’s reaction to his first kill, in self-defense, was well done as well. He questions himself if he is capable of becoming a killer, even if it’s to survive.

And here’s where the title loses me. I liked Battle Royale for its social commentary on Japanese school life. However, this whole “pitting average people against each other in a kill or be killed scenario” does not appeal to me in any way. I didn’t enjoy it in Battle Royale, or Hunger Games, so I know I won’t enjoy it here. I don’t like the idea of forcing people to go against their nature and make them killers. It’s not the natural state for humans. Yes, we can be forced into it in extreme situations such as these stories create, but I don’t find those stories to be entertaining. They are overly melodramatic as they play on our sympathies for the characters being put into this impossible situation.

I don’t have any objections to the art. It is competently done, but it’s nothing to write home about. This series is rated “M”, and deservedly so with its graphic depictions of body parts, and guts, and some things I don’t even know (or want to know) what they are. This is not a series for the faint of heart. It’s also going to be a series with some hard fanservice. The first girl we see on the island is shown with her blouse open and some lingering panels of what’s lower down. This didn’t endear me to the title either.

BTOOOM! shows some potential, and could grow as the title goes on. The interaction between characters and co-op versus pvp could make for some interesting drama. But the whole kill-or-be-kill aspect of the story will keep me from continuing to find out. If the story was reversed, with Ryouta trapped in a video game and having to fight his way out, I would be more inclined to stick around. As it is though, I’m going to have to give this title a pass. If you like titles like Battle Royale, check this title out.

By Hiromu Arakawa
Publisher: Yen Press
Age Rating: Older Teen
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Price: $10.99

I liked the first two volumes of Hero Tales, though I had my reservations. These last three volumes move the plot along quickly to get to the final battle between Taitou and Keirou. Along the way, the story touches on the themes of dealing with loss, taking responsibility for one’s actions, and defying destiny. While I still think Hero Tales is a good story, these three volumes still can’t elevate it to a great one.

In order for the story to go forward, there has to be a lot of looks back. Taitou’s past is confirmed, and Ryouko’s and Keirou’s are revealed. The reasons behind Keirou’s intense hatred of the Ken Empire is explained and understandable. Many of the people who joined Keirou’s cause hate the Empire, as do Ryouko and Taitou, for its corrupt officials and terrible treatment of the people, but because of the power of his star, Tonrou, Keirou burns so bright that he loses all sight, and only sees the Empire’s total destruction as the answer to his pain. He blames the Empire for his past tragedies, and would sacrifice his own blood to reach his goal.

Taitou is the exact opposite. He cares a lot for the people who raised him. Even though they aren’t related by blood, they are still family. It’s this bond that helps keep Taitou grounded, and not lose control like Keirou. Taitou feels the weight of all the people who have died for him or because of him, and it almost breaks him. But once Taitou is able to accept that it was not his fault the people died, and that his destiny isn’t written by anyone else but him, he gains the will and the power to face Keirou. Ryokou has his own trails, and like a true man, has to have reality beat into him by Taitou. He has a harder time accepting what he did, and making it a reason to go on, but in the end, Taitou gets through so he can help him in his battle against Keirou.

The truth about Laila and her apparent ability to control Hagun in Taitou is revealed. She gets a fight scene with Shimei where the truth behind his origins are revealed as well. They have a sort of connection that makes Laila the only one who can end his seemingly eternal life. It was nice to see him finally get his comeuppance, especially since he takes over the dead body of Housei, which may have backfired on him, and been the cause of his death.

The final battle between Taitou and Keirou takes several chapters. Taitou tries to reach out to Keirou, and give him the same change he gave Ryokou, but Keirou is beyond reason. He has completely bought into the destiny of the stars, and is determined to bring it to its destructive conclusion. When the final punch is thrown, we don’t see it, just the power of the stars returning to their home. An epilogue explains what happen not just to Taitou, but to all the surviving characters. It was nice to see the Emperor not just accept his role, but take the reins and prove he didn’t need a sword to prove his worth.

In the end, Hero Tales was an entertaining read, but ultimately a forgettable one. There are some memorable scenes, such as Taitou’s shock from both his father’s death and Ryokou’s betrayal. I really liked Laila’s fight where she shows she’s Taitous equal. And I really liked the Emperor and his wife. They were strong characters in their own way. Arakawa’s art has improved since this series, but it’s still really good. Arakawa fans will probably want to keep this series for their collection. For everyone else. digital, rent or borrow would be good enough. I would recommend this series, just not highly.

By Risa Motoyama
Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing
Age Rating: 10+
Genre: Drama, Shojo, Slice of Life
ISBN: 9781569702871
Price: $12.95

Start with a Happy Ending might seem kind of odd by combining death with cute kitties, unless you believe your cat is trying to kill you. But it’s not really about death, but what happens after, when people are given a second chance to re-examine their lives, and help their loved ones or themselves find peace and happiness.

Start with a Happy Ending is a series of short vignettes that tell the story of someone how has just died. Sometimes it is while saving a cat, or it might be because of overwork, or old age. Whatever the reason, they will wake up in a cat’s body with the Cat God telling them they have 7 days to make sure they have no regrets in this life before moving on to the next. Most of the time, after getting over the shock of being dead, the people will waste their 7 days, only figuring out what went wrong in their life just hours before their time is up. Sometimes it’s habit, like the man who died of obesity spending most of his days sleeping, or the girl who didn’t value anything in life just wanting to get it over with in death. Sometimes the person has to see how those they left behind are dealing this their loss, such as the man who gave up on music seeing his music collection shared with family and friends again, or the wife who thought her husband was cheating to find out he wasn’t and just wanted to know if she loved him. But whether they have the seven days or seven minutes, once they have the epiphany, they always succeed in making the change.

Since this title is a series of short stories, there aren’t any recurring characters other than Cat God. He is a tall, imposing figure, with a long white beard and a pocket watch that tracks the person’s allotted time. Sometimes he’s rather abrupt, simply stating the person is dead and has the seven days, and sometimes he tries to give them a nudge to get them into the right state of mind. He can be fairly humorous, such as sitting playing video games while a programmer has to figure out his last promise to himself. Everyone who gets a second chance did something kind for a cat or owned a cat one time or another, which is why the Cat God is giving them the second chance. A lot of people die saving cats from cars, trains, or falling signs.

Reincarnation plays a big role in this title, as often after the person truly dies, they get the chance to choose how they want to come back; as either a cat or a person. The choices are often interesting. The wife who though her husband was cheating comes back as his granddaughter so she can say “I love you.” There is also a teenage girl who comes back to become a vet with her childhood friend. Sometimes though, they choose to be cats. The first story features a girl who keeps the life of the kitten she saved so she can be adopted by the boy she couldn’t admit to liking. The cats get into the act too, such as the man who never left his shop only to discover in his previous life he was a cat who wanted to come back as his owner’s son. The cats are helpful too, such as the cat who gave up her body so her elderly owner could rest knowing her husband could manage without her.

The art in this book is a little sketchy. It’s not what you would expect from a manga, with very simple character designs and backgrounds. It doesn’t take away from the much, though sometimes it did stand out more than it should have. But the plain art works. The stories might not have made as much of an impact with more detailed art. I was in tears at some of the stories as it was.

Start With a Happy Ending is a wonderfully heartwarming title. Every story ends with a happy ending, which is perfectly okay. Being a cat manga already gives it a plus in my book, but this title really goes the extra mile by being funny, touching and inspiring. I found the content of the title to be appropriate to tween and up and would highly recommend it to any one looking to put a smile on their face.

Furthermore, Takao is now in search now a utopia. One that can only be shared with his best and only friend, that will sit, even if briefly, among the rice paddies and in the mountains of his rural hometown. And most importantly, it will be a place that pokes fun and undermines every little thin ideal that holds this town together. There is no way this new society will be accepted, but that is exactly what these two wanted in the first place.

By Shuzo Oshimi
Publisher: Vertical
Age Rating: 13+
Genre: Psychological
Price: $10.95

Shuzo Oshimi’s latest volume of Flowers of Evil takes place a few weeks after where the third volume left off. Takao is left to view his two muses back in their school setting but from a distance. His resolve to win back the friendship of one over the over was somewhat unexpected but not entirely shocking. Though Takao’s self realizations seem somewhat egotistical, whereas his resolve to not leave the one muse ever alone again it brings the assumption that she needs him to continue on the search for the “other side.”

The first three volumes of this series had me thirsting for more but not so much with this volume, though I am still anticipating the release of the fifth volume this upcoming April. Despite my high expectations for this volume I’m curious nonetheless how this series will now progress. Takao may have chosen one muse over the other but manga has taught me that doesn’t mean the male protagonist has truly given up on both. Though it is the other muse’s development that I’m hoping to have fleshed out more.

As an added bonus the end of the volume includes a locations tour showing pictures of actual locations that the artist used for scenes in the series. Though as a reader it did gives off a slightly creepy sensation.

Reviews are subjective things. A reviewer is drawing on many things when they write their review. Besides technical things such as story structure, character development and art, a reviewers personal preferences and experiences can affect their feeling about a book. And sometimes, even their gender can make a difference as to whether a book gets a good score or bad. In the following discussions, reviewers Alex Hoffman and Lori Henderson will look at different books and examine the similarities and differences they have over each of them.

Shonen Jump Alpha/Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine
Publisher: Viz Media
Age Rating: Teen
Genre: Action/Food/Supernatural/Historical/Game
Price: .99/week; 26.99/yr

Lori: It’s been quite a year for Shonen Jump Magazine. The digital edition started running weekly at the end of January 2012, with chapters 2 weeks behind it’s Japanese counterpart. The print magazine officially ended in April. And now, in 2013, the magazine has gone same day with the chapters as the Japanese print edition. I’ve been a subscriber to Shonen Jump since it debuted back in 2003. How long have you been reading Alex?

Alex: I’ve been with Shonen Jump since it went digital – although I read a few of the paper versions while I worked at my small town library. I loved the idea of the anthology, but at the time I wasn’t that into shonen manga.  I’m a Shonen Jump Alpha adoptee, since the digital format worked a lot better for me, and I don’t have to deal with the physical copies. So much of the problem with Yen Plus before it went digital was that the anthologies took up so much space. But I’m definitely sticking with Shonen Jump for now. Lori, what are your thoughts on SJ’s first year as a digital product? Did it meet expectations?

Lori: Being a collector/borderline packrat, the piles of issues never bothered me much. They fit into comic book long boxes and nicely fit under the bed. I didn’t buy Yen Plus because of price more than space. But I have to say, I wasn’t happy with Shonen Jump’s transition to digital. The big problem for me was the ENORMOUS gap in story that the jump to 2 weeks behind Japan meant for print Shonen Jump readers. For some of the regular titles like Bleach and Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, that meant 10-20 volumes of story just got bypassed. That might be okay for those who read scanlations to keep up with the story, but I was just fine with SJ’s slower pace, so this jump was really jarring. If, like with other speed-ups of One Piece and Naruto, there had been some acknowledgement of this gap and there had been something, arc descriptions, anything, I wouldn’t have been as disappointed as I was when I read the first digital issue after reading the last print issue.

Alex: I also found myself lost – and I found that if I was reading a series in paper or on the VizManga app, I refused to read the Shonen Jump content because I didn’t want to spoil it for myself (Bakuman is a prime example – the series ended in Shonen Jump with 6+ volumes left to be printed). I’m about as lost with One Piece as I possibly can be (I only got to volume 12 in the combined tankobon and didn’t  want to get 60 volumes deep on the series). But the saving grace of Shonen Jump Alpha (and why I reupped my subscription) was the new series that were introduced through SJA. What did you think about the new content introduced in SJA?

Lori: I was like that at first, not wanting to read Bakuman, but I figured (at the time) that the issues would expire, and I probably wouldn’t remember most of what happened anyway, so I went ahead and read them. As for the new stories, I haven’t been too impressed, but as far as Japanese sensibilities go, I seem to be justified. Barrage wasn’t bad, but it was too generic. Barrage wasn’t an interesting protagonist. I like Tiamat more, and I felt more sympathetic to Black, the main villain of the first arc, than Barrage. I didn’t find anything appealing about Takama-ga-hara, in either art or story. But since both have been ended, I guess I wasn’t alone.

I didn’t enjoy the new Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration either. I don’t mind reboots or showing characters in a different light, but I really didn’t care for the way Watsuki went about Kenshin’s reboot. I also don’t like the art. It’s very sharp and angle-y (if that’s a word). I didn’t think I would like Cross Manage, but that has surprised me. I’ve enjoyed the chapters I’ve read so far. I like the main character Sakurai and am interested in seeing his story. I haven’t read Nisekoi or One-Punch Man yet. I’m still in November.

Alex: So overall not very overwhelming. And that’s kind of what is going on with me too. I liked Barrage well enough, but it didn’t capture my imagination. The same could be said for Takama-ga-hara, which had a rough set of characters and rough art and direction. The comic was “funny” but in reality, it wasn’t that good.

Cross Manage has been the overwhelming winner out of the new starts in Shonen Jump Alpha. The way that the story has developed, its unique and interesting characters, and how it makes the game of lacrosse interesting makes it a delightful read. Nisekoi starts in the middle of the series, and you have to really start at the beginning. It reminds me of a mix of Love Hina and Wild Roses, but it’s got a lot of humor and I’ve been really enjoying it. The first volume is available digitally in the Viz Manga storefront.  I am also not caught up with the latest edition, so I haven’t read One-Punch Man.

Lori: Well, it looks like we mostly agree on the new series. What do you think of SJA adding some monthly titles from other Jump magazines like Blue Exorcist and Rurouni Kenshin? I do like being able to check out other Jump titles that aren’t necessarily WSJ. Would you like to see more of these Monthly titles?

Alex: I think it’s a great idea to add non Jump titles into the mix. I like reading Blue Exorcist and while the Ruroni Kenshin remake isn’t really my favorite, it’s nice to see some variety in WSJ’s lineup. I would be glad for other titles to go into WSJ. One of Viz’s recently announced Shonen  Sunday title, Magi, would be a great choice.

Overall, I think the WSJ has a lot of room to grow, but it’s on the right foot. And with new titles being added, it’s a great service for such a low-cost. I’m happy to keep buying WSJ subscriptions if they are delivering new content and getting more licenses for the US market.

Lori: I’m looking forward to the new title Magi too, but I think that might be too big of a line to cross. The monthly titles we’ve seen so far are still Jump titles. I would still love to see more Shonen Sunday though. Really, I wouldn’t be adverse to seeing a monthly digital magazine from Viz. The return of Shojo Beat would be awesome.

While I agree that Viz has taken a lot of good steps with Weekly Shonen Jump, they are just too big of steps for me. Ten years ago I was thrilled to get to read so many great titles in one magazine for a great price. But the titles have changed, and I have changed. I just don’t have time to keep up with the weekly reading, and trying to marathon issues just feels like slogging through a swamp. I will be moving to the collected volumes, and letting go of my subscription.

The Manga Village reviewers have covered a lot of manga over the years, and Naoki Urasawa and his titles are no different. It is interesting to note which titles are reviewers chose to review for the site. You’ll notice a lot of 20th Century Boys and Pluto, and a strange absence of this first big title here in the US, Monster. It could just be a case of choosing the new and shiny over an older series. Let’s take a look at what our reviewers have said about Urasawa’s titles over the last 5 years.

Charles Tan was one of the founding reviewers for the site. While some of his reviews have been lost over site moves, some of his feelings could still be dug up. He summed up Volume 1 of 20th Century Boys as:

Complex and intricate but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Has the same vibe as Old Boy and Monster.

For the 1st volume of Pluto he said:

Revitalizing Astro Boy for an adult audience.

Not all of his reviews were lost. In his review of Volume 2 of Pluto he tackled the sci-fi elements of the series:

There’s an old school science fiction flavor to it thanks to its reliance on the Asimovian Laws of Robotics and this is the venue where Urasawa tackles a different kind of philosophy. It isn’t particularly original but the presentation is impressive and keeps readers interested.

John Thomas, another of our original reviewers, looked at the first volume of 20th Century Boys, commenting on Urasawa’s story telling skills:

This is nothing short if an amazing introduction to an epic and expansive series. What is most incredible is Urasawa’s ability to switch between the past, present, and (in a few pages) the future so seamlessly. Simpler tales in other manga can sometimes seem convoluted, and this is where Urasawa’s true genius as a story-teller comes through.

Matthew Rozier was a reviewer for only a short time, but still managed to get in reviews of 3 Urasawa volumes. He also comments on Urasawa’s story telling skills in his review of Volume 4 of 20th Century Boys where he says:

He knows full well how to keep a reader on the edge of their seat with revelation after revelation, all while layering even more onto this already complex plot to keep everyone guessing.

In his review of volume 5 of 20th Century Boys he continues to be impressed with Urasawa’s story telling:

…Urasawa continues to prove his storytelling prowess all the same with another very good volume. Volume 5 answers some questions while bringing to light many more, bring the series to a significant turning point.

And again in his review of Pluto Volume 5 he says:

Urasawa certainly flaunts his storytelling prowess here, he proves that he can do heart-pumping action, while still deftly handing Uran and Dr. Tenma having to cope with Atom’s death.

Alex Hoffman reviewed volumes 8-9 of 20th Century Boys and had mixed feelings about the series at that point:

It is hard to find bad things to say about Urasawa, but it is worth mentioning that 20th Century Boys is not as gripping a tale for me as was his earlier series, Monster.

But he finishes up his review by saying:

There is no reason to not be reading 20th Century Boys; it is a solid thriller backed with a well-constructed dystopian framework, and with the 9th volume ending in such an interesting direction, it is possible that the series could get a lot weirder very quickly.

It’s obvious that all our reviewers enjoy Urasawa’s suspenseful writing skills, even if they aren’t always convinced of his ability to hold a story together over time. Check out the links to see the full reviews of the titles by “Japan’s Master of Suspense.”

By JinJun Park
Publisher: Yen Press
Age Rating: Older Teen
Genre: Action/Horror
ISBN: 9780316220002
Price: $11.99

Raiders has been a rough ride for me. I started out detesting the series, but as a story started to emerge, I became more patient with it. Just as I thought it would be going somewhere, the title ends, but not before pulling out character and concepts from out of nowhere to accomplish it. The final battle is rather anti-climatic for all-powerful beings duking it out, but the ending is an appropriate one.

Volume 8 picks up where 7 left off with Chris and the Zombie Hunter pretty much demolishing Area 51, with some added help from Crossline, who is looking to clean up the mess. Really, this whole battle at Area 51 served no purpose other than to eat up pages. Chris gets to fight and get beat up, and call his Zombie Hunter partner Teddy Bear. But other than that, the whole search for evidence of Crossline’s wrong doing that Chris is so determined to get goes absolutely nowhere after the battle, and really feels like a waste a of time and pages.

The Zombie Hunters decipher Crossline’s date regarding the experiments on creating undead, and have found a way to turn them back to humans. All they need is a bottle of Christ’s blood, which coincidentally is all Lamia needs to become human again. So Lamia is left with the choice of saving herself or all the others who have become undead like her. Lamia shows how much she has grown with Irel’s influence, and really his friendship when she has to make a decision. She thinks of herself as a monster throughout the series, and doesn’t believe she deserves the salvation Irel wants her to have, but in the end, she makes the most human of choices, as she sacrifices herself for the good of others.

Of course, it would have been a more meaningful decision, if Ian didn’t show up with his puppet Jeanne D’Arc, a woman who was experimented on like Lamia, but with no will of her own, and with greater training to make her a threat to Lamia. She just shows up out of nowhere, and just suddenly starts tearing into Lamia and Irel. Ian helps by deflecting Irel’s bullets and shows off his ultimate power “Absolute Imperative” which allows him to permanently kill one tainted by Christ’s blood. With it, he kills Lamia and dismembers Irel, but not enough before Irel learns its secret to destroy Jeanne. I really found this battle to be the most annoying with new powers being pulled out of nowhere and thrown at the heroes just to make their positions seem more dire. It’s really just a cheap trick.

Irel decides now is the time to face Ian and stop him. Ian is waiting for him at Notre Dame. Ian is confident at first, as all villains at the beginning of the big battle, and Irel gets beat up for most of it. But Irel uses psychological as physical means to get to Ian, planting a simple seed of fear into him, one that Irel has already accepted that is Ian’s Achilles Heel and allows Irel to win the battle, but not before Notre Dame is reduced to rubble. It’s the only building to be destroyed, as their battle seems to be confided to the church. Not what one would expect from omnipotent fighters. It’s really not much of a battle, just lots of disappearing into feathers, and making weapons extend to reach the opponent.

And it’s over in only two chapters. With Irel as the winner, Judah and the others are left to wonder if Irel will take Ian’s place or if he is really different as Lamia believed. The question is never answered definitively, as Irel disappears leaving Judah with a cryptic message, but Irel’s whole character leaves one to think not. He does have one final act that shows that he is till more human than Ian ever was, and it give the series a happy ending.

Much like the series, these volumes of Raiders had their moments, but were disappointing overall. I was mostly glad for the ending, I just didn’t care for how it got there. There was too much fighting and bad plot twists that overshadowed some of the character growth. This title was about Irel and Lamia, so it’s appropriate that it ends with them. The questions of god and religion are left to the reader to decide, but I think the story took the right path to emphasize searching for the truth rather than relying on others to tell you what is true, and who or what is God. Raiders had so much potential to be a better series, but it just failed in the execution.

Review copies provided by publisher.

Story by Masahiro Totsuka; Art by Aguri Igarashi
Publisher: Yen Press
Age Rating: Older Teen
Genre: Sports
ISBN: 9780316189583
Price: $11.99

I was really drawn in to Bamboo Blade with the Burnish Academy arc, not knowing it was also the final arc of the series. My review of volumes 9-13 had me brimming with excitement for more, but this last volume of the series isn’t about the intense action and drama that the last 5 had. Instead it’s a quiet reflection of how far all the characters have grown and changed. But that is far from being a bad thing.

After all the intensity of the match between Erina and Ura, this volume starts out much lighter. The rest of the TV shoot is narrated by Kojiro. The story then goes into tying up the last of the character arcs. Ryouko and Erina have become friends and rivals, with the reason for Ryokou’s hatred of Erina revealed to the Erina’s manager (and the reader). Ura Sakaki has returned to the world of kendo, intent on showing her rival Erina her strength again, but Erina has other ideas for her. The biggest arc that gets tied up though is the one the whole series was about; Tamaki.

Throughout this volume, Tamaki is asking everyone she knows why they do kendo. She has seen the intense emotions others like Erina, Ura and Sueno feel and still doesn’t understand why. Each person she asks has their personal answers, but every time their “real” reason is never revealed to the reader. But these answers never help Tamaki. It isn’t until she sees an interview with her mother doing kendo before she was born, and not only sees her mother, but hears her words that she finally finds her answer. The series essentially ends with this discovery and the airing of the Burnish Academy TV special, that they team gets together to watch.

But not really. There is an epilogue. The Burnish Academy kendo special was so popular, that there now a sponsored kendo competition that anyone,  not just high school students can participate in. Muroe High is there, as well as the special Burnish Academy team that includes Erina and Ura. And of course, their first match is against Muroe High, where Tamaki and Ura are set up to go against each other, and finally ends without showing the conclusion of it. It’s a match to show how Tamaki has embraced her answer and in doing so has helped the rest of the team to grow.

This was a great way to end the series. There is time to reflect over everything that has happened over the last 13 volumes. Kojiro is one of the characters that grew the most, as he not only enjoys being a teacher to the girls, but takes pride in helping Tamaki find the path that will take her further on her journey through kendo. Tamaki is different by the end as well. She is more emotive, and more excited to participate. It’s really gratifying to see her getting involved instead of going through the motions as she seemed to before. There was some fun moments too. The writer of Black Duran, Ushimatsu, is asked to do an all female show, which he refuses until he sees the Burnish Academy special. He writes the new show, which has a cast that looks a lot like the girls of Muroe High. And that silly cat is still popping up.

The last half of Bamboo Blade turned out to be an exciting and fun ride. With great characters and a very exciting last arc, it was a hard series to put down. and even harder to say goodbye to. But the end leaves you feeling good about where the characters are and where they are going. Kendo isn’t going to be just some 3-year stint for them. It’s something that they are going to take with them and practice for the rest of the lives, and that is a great feeling. Bamboo Blade is the perfect sports manga for people who hate, or think they will hate, sports manga. I highly recommend it.

Story by Magica Quartet; Art by Hanokage
Publisher: Yen Press
Age Rating: Older Teen
Genre: Action/Fantasy
ISBN: 9780316217163
Price: $11.99

All the loose ends get tied up in this final volume of Puella Magi Madoka Magica. The truth behind Kyubey, why Homura is so determined to keep Madoka from becoming a magical girl, and Madoka’s wish are all revealed, and like the rest of the series, none of it is what you would expect.

Throughout the first two books, Homura has been vehemently adamant that Madoka not become a magical girl. We finally learn why through a series of flashbacks that show how Homura became a magical girl and what her relationship to Madoka is. It all relates to her special power, time-manipulation, and it may turn out that her attempts to fulfill her wish may be what affecting Madoka’s fate.

That fate is that she is to become the most powerful magical girl ever, and in turn, the most powerful witch ever. Kyubey tells Madoka the truth about who he is, where he is from, why he creates magical girls, and for how long. It’s an interesting twist, but it doesn’t convince Madoka to accept his offer. If anything, it turns her against him. While Kyubey claims to not understand human emotion, he certainly knows how to manipulate them, as his interference, or non-interference really, leaves Homura as the only magical girl available to take on the Walpurgis Nacht, and leaving Madoka no choice but to become a Magical Girl to save her friend.

Kyubey’s machinations backfire on him as Madoka does make her wish, but it is the last thing that would occur to him or anyone. It is a wish of such magnitude that is rewrites the laws of physics. Madoka’s fate is still a tragic one, but it doesn’t end up feeling that way. Her sacrifice is immense, but it gives not just her friends, or magical girls in general, but the whole world so much more. I didn’t feel sad at the end, and Madoka herself was so full of joy at what she was going to do, that it was hard to feel anything but happy for her as well.

In the end, Puella Magi Madoka Magica lives up to be a true Magical Girl series. Light triumphs over darkness, and hope is renewed. It is definitely a Magical Girl series for the 21st century, where the story and themes take a darker turn, but also keeps friendship and hope alive. I loved this title and highly recommend it for the great characters, strong story-telling, and ultimately the promise of a brighter future.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Another year has wrapped up, and it’s time for the Manga Villagers to take a look back at all the manga that came out in 2012 and weed out the good, the bad, and the meh.

Amy: As an omni-edition -fangirl, 2012 was a great year! Hana-Kimi, Paradise Kiss, and even Loveless. One of my top shojo series of the year is Kamisama Kiss and I look forward to seeing more of Tomoe in the coming year. Though my overall top favorite series to debut in 2012 is Flowers of Evil. It had me captivated within merely the first few pages.

Lori: A lot of new titles debuted this year. My favorite shojo were The Earl and Fairy and A Devil and Her Love Song. I was surprised by how much I liked A Devil and Her Love Song. My favorite new All Ages title was also an omnibus; Young Miss Holmes. It was full of fun characters and classic Sherlock Holmes stories.The best comedy has to be Thermae Romae. Yen Press pulled out all the stops for this one,and it really deserved it. I was glad for the omnibus of Hana-Kimi too. I had missed that series the first time around, and am glad I could discover it this time.

Alex: My favorite new shojo title was Demon Love Spell, for its fun premise, and its slightly scandalous nature (I need something to fill the void that Butterflies, Flowers left behind). Best short story collection has to be Danza by Natsume Ono, from Kodansha.While Anything and Something is a lovely hardcover with wonderful stories, I felt that the stories of Danza held a lot more weight for me as a reader. That being said, “Sumire’s Flowers” by Kaoru Mori was by far the best short manga story published in 2012, which was in the Anything and Something collection. My greatest shonen addiction for 2012 was Psyren from Viz Media (technically, the first volume was out in 2011, but I didn’t pick up on it until 2012). This series has a lot of great action, some really interesting character development, and a plot that has twists so big you would think this was major league baseball. Best new seinen was Thermae Romae, from Yen Press.

We can talk about our favorite new series release in 2012 (mine were Limit and 5 Centimeters per Second, both from Vertical), but what about best continuing series? Lori and Amy, what series do you think continued to shine in 2012?

Lori: One Piece has been one of the few shonen titles I continue to follow with interest. It definitely still has the fire that drew me in all those years ago. Fairy Tail from Kodansha has the same kind of great ensemble cast, so I’m still loving that series as well. I would be remiss if I were neglect mentioning Chi’s Sweet Home, one of the best all ages/cat manga there is! For shojo, Story of Saiunkoku and Natsume’s Book of Friends continue to enchant me, and nothing can beat she sheer beauty and detail of A Bride’s Story.

Amy: Kamisama Kiss is one of the my favorite shojo series that I was able to continue following though not religiously at times. And of course can’t forget about my favorite manga kitty Chi! Chi’s Sweet Home held strong with one of my go to manga with having either a craptastic day or a relaxing evening. But the manga that shone the most for my weary eyes in 2012 was Wandering Son. It continued to be one of my most anticipated pre-orders all year!

Alex: I agree with Amy that Wandering Son was fantastic. Bride’s Story is another piece that I’m really glad I kept up with, and I’m looking forward to volume 4 very soon.  Drops of God, Vertical’s wine manga, has been thrilling, and I’m hoping for more volumes in 2013.

Alex and Amy, what did you guys think of digital manga this year? Jmanga.com, a re-designed eManga that allows downloading in several different formats, Vizmanga expanding, and the premiere of Shonen Jump Alpha. There was a lot of digital manga available legally.

Alex: And I’ve been happy to be a part of that. I love a lot of the content coming from JManga. The three series that I have really liked are Aoi Hana, Pride, and Crazy for You. All of these series have been a lot of fun, and I hope JManga continues to release the variety and quality titles it released in 2013.

I think, unfortunately, that I am going to have to cancel my subscription to Yen Plus. The only thing that I’m interested in is Soul Eater NOT! and I don’t like paying $3.00 a chapter just to read it. The content in Yen Press has been severely limited because they haven’t negotiated the digital rights to their manga, so it’s mostly their book adaptations (I’m not that into teen and pre-teen lit about vampires and werewolves). Shonen Jump Alpha, on the other hand, has been a great purchase. I love the new series like Cross Manage and Nisekoi: False Love, and following Toriko and One Piece has been exciting (even if I sometimes don’t know what is going on). And, SJA has recently gotten rid of the “issues expire 1 year after you buy them” rule, so everything you are subscribed for, you get to keep!

Amy: I was stoked in 2012 that Vizmanga finally had an app for the Kindle Fire! I’ve been utilizing it the most for series that I either had no physical shelf space for or titles I couldn’t wait to get my paws on. The app overall is very user-friendly and as a reader I like the crisp quality. JManga peaked my interest with Aoi Hana and guilty pleasures such as YuruYuri. I’m still holding off on diving into a digital Yen Plus subscription as well, though I’m hoping to see more titles featured for future releases.

Lori: Wow Alex, I’m the exact opposite of you. I’m still enjoying Yen Plus. I’ve found the YA adaptations interesting, and really prefer the monthly to weekly format. It would be nice to see some more Japanese titles, but for now I’m still good with its length. I’ve been subscribed to Shonen Jump since the beginning, I’ve just become really weary of the all the fighting/shonen stuff. I haven’t gotten to the new titles you mentioned, but other new titles, Barrage and Takama-ga-hara, I didn’t really care for at all. I’m ready to move to the volume format for shonen.

Jmanga has really been winning me over with their eclectic collection of titles. And with their Android app that lets me read them on my tablet, that just makes me like them all the more. We would probably never have seen a lot of the titles in English that Jmanga has put out. Edo Nekoe Jubei Otogizoshi, Urameshiya, and Mythical Detective Loki would never have made it in print. I love all the license rescues they made from CMX, Tokyopop and Del Rey, and how the new year will bring us more great returns.

Digital Manga Guild has also surprised me this year. I’m happy to see more shojo coming out from them, and have been pleasantly surprised by some of the titles. I do like their idea of making manga available in different formats, but I’m not so sure about the pricing. I’m not real keen on paying the nearly the same for digital as for print. I think the 4.99-5.99 price point works for manga volumes.

How about disappointments? Were there any titles you read that you hoped were better, or some stinkers that you really regret reading?

Amy: Thanks in part to crushing debt from student loans I avoided many disappointments in manga choices mainly due in part from next to zero blind buys from tight fangirl budgeting. Though overall I had a disappoint in the digital sphere of manga, maybe I had higher expectations for a shojo centralized manga subscription or manga releases in general. My hope is to see more sugary sweet series available digitally in 2013.

Alex: Honestly, nothing is sticking out at me this year – I’ve read a few things that weren’t to my taste (like Heroman, a manga I think is great for younger readers) but I didn’t honestly do a lot of experimenting this year. I bought what I knew I would like.

Digitally, pupa from JManga was a real stinker. It was a mess of a comic, and a $5 wasted. But that’s about it.

Lori: I didn’t read anything new that I disliked. A lot of the new titles I didn’t like I didn’t hate either. I had a lot of average, middle of the road feelings. There were some older titles that I caught up on that I wouldn’t mind getting the time back on (Dazzle, Sasameke). The only new title I really had issues with was also a Jmanga title, Clair Voyance. The editing of that title was bad. I was like reading the raw translation much of the time. It could have been so much better.