Flowers of Evil Volume 1
Reviews , Vertical / September 17, 2012

Nowhere to go. Nothing to do. The routine of class and endless stupidity in a provincial town is taking a toll on middle schooler Takao Kasuga. Though he gets along well enough with his peers, they’ll never begin to dig any of that reading business that’s his only true escape. What can he expect when he’s in love with foreign stuff like the poems of Charles Baudelaire? Yet, his life threatens to take a turn for the worse when he finds and takes home, in a moment of weakness, the gym clothes of pretty, sweet, and smart Nanako Saeki on whom he has a major crush. Witness to the theft is the oddest girl in class, who seems to consider the whole world a pile of excrement and to nurse a terribly sadistic streak… Rising star Shuzo Oshimi, the author of the hit apocalyptic series “Drifting Net Cafe“, finds his groove in an ever-so-slightly autobiographical work that grows more soulful with each volume. Nominated for the 2012 Manga Taisho (Cartoon Grand Prize). By Shuzo Oshimi Publisher: Vertical Age Rating: 13+ Genre: Psychological Price: $10.95 Shuzo Oshimi’s Flowers of Evil begins innocently in a school setting where the seemingly normal Takao…

House of Five Leaves Volume 4
Reviews , Viz Media / September 13, 2012

Getting halfway through a series and finding things to talk about can sometimes be quite challenging; with Natsume Ono’s work, it’s a fairly simple matter. It may be my love for her characters, her designs, and her writing, but the complexities are fascinating and are great for discussion.

Picks and Mix: Message to Loveless
Picks and Mix / September 9, 2012

Every week, the Manga Villagers will go through the new releases for the week and pick out the titles they are most looking forward to reading. Whether it’s buying or just window shopping, check out what we’re looking at every week!

Picks and Mix: Where’s the Manga?
Picks and Mix / September 2, 2012

Every week, the Manga Villagers will go through the new releases for the week and pick out the titles they are most looking forward to reading. Whether it’s buying or just window shopping, check out what we’re looking at every week!

Ai Ore! Volume 5
Reviews , Viz Media / August 30, 2012

Much to Akira’s dismay, his lecherous tutor from middle school, Sho Kasuga, has suddenly reappeared. Akira has a secret from his past that he doesn’t want Mizuki to know, and he’s terrified Sho will reveal it!

Picks and Mix: Doro Kiss
Picks and Mix / August 26, 2012

Every week, the Manga Villagers will go through the new releases for the week and pick out the titles they are most looking forward to reading. Whether it’s buying or just window shopping, check out what we’re looking at every week!

Black Bird Volume 13
Reviews , Viz Media / August 22, 2012

Sho’s plans to plunge the world into chaos continue as he targets the Eight Daitengu, hoping to strip his brother Kyo of all his protectors. And now Sho has Hoki, whose secret past makes him easy prey. Can Hoki stand up to Sho, or will his efforts to aid Kyo backfire?

Picks and Mix: Bunny Magica
Picks and Mix / August 19, 2012

Every week, the Manga Villagers will go through the new releases for the week and pick out the titles they are most looking forward to reading. Whether it’s buying or just window shopping, check out what we’re looking at every week!

Picks and Mix: Kiss of Evil
Picks and Mix / August 11, 2012

Every week, the Manga Villagers will go through the new releases for the week and pick out the titles they are most looking forward to reading. Whether it’s buying or just window shopping, check out what we’re looking at every week! Alex: This is a huge week for Viz – they’ve released a ton of good manga, including the 20th volume of Kaze Hikaru, a series that is woefully unappreciated. They’ve also got the 13th volume of Bakuman out this week, and now that they have gone day and date with their digital offerings, I’ll be grabbing my volume on the Viz Manga store. Not to be left out Kodansha is releasing the 6th volume of Sailor Moon to comic stores this week, and Vertical is releasing the second volume of Flowers of Evil. All in all, a great week for manga! Lori: Kodansha has already got me with Fairy Tail and Deltora Quest, but Viz is neck and neck with the latest Bakuman and the penultimate volume of La Corda d’ Oro. Yes, it is a guilty pleasure. Kamisama Kiss is another title I want to take a closer look at. With an anime slated for the fall, it…

Picks and Mix: Wild Blossoms
Picks and Mix / July 28, 2012

Every week, the Manga Villagers will go through the new releases for the week and pick out the titles they are most looking forward to reading. Whether it’s buying or just window shopping, check out what we’re looking at every week!