Manga Village

The exploits of Black Jack, the world’s greatest black market surgeon continue in these 28 stories. The themes turn again to Black Jack’s pride and his not-so-well-known generous side. But in quality of stories overall, volume 14 definitely outshines volume 15.

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. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Volumes 1-2 By: Hiroshi Shibashi Publisher: Viz Media – Shonen Jump Age Rating: Teen Genre: Action/Supernatural Price: $9.99 ISBN: Vol. 1: 978-1421538914 Lori Henderson: That was quite a debate we got into with Degenki Daisy. Will Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan be just as contentious? Alex Hoffman: I don’t know Lori – I guess that depends on what you think of the series. Want me to give the rundown? LH: Please do. AH: Here goes nothing. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan is a series about a boy named Rikuo who is the descendant of one of the most powerful yokai in Japan. Being ¾ human…

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. Bakuman, Volumes 1-4 Written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata Publsiher: Viz Media Age Rating: Teen Genre: Shonen/Drama/Comedy Price: $9.99 ISBN: Vol. 1: 978-1421535135, Vol. 2: 978-1421535142, Vol. 3: 978-1421535159, Vol. 4: 978-1421537931 Alexander Hoffman (AH): It looks like our first He Said, She Said was pretty big success, Lori! Lori Henderson (LH): It does indeed! We even got some ‘likes’, so I guess they really like us! AH: I wonder if they’ll like us after we discuss this edition’s topic – Bakuman? Let’s find out. If you don’t mind Lori, I can do our introduction. LH: I yield the keyboard to you. AH: Bakuman is a comic that focuses on…

Some of my critics are quick to point out that I don’t give very many high scores on my reviews. I generally don’t have nice things to say about the books I read, and I don’t really give out high marks on my reviews at Manga Village. I don’t know if this is because I have a high standard for the materials I read, or if I just want to be as honest as possible about the content so that people can get an opinion before they go out and buy the manga. I think it is probably a mix of these two personal factors and one key point I constantly fail to remember: the manga I read and review oftentimes are not written with me in mind. By: Mitsuru Adachi Publisher: Viz Media – Shonen Sunday Age Rating: Teen Genre: Sports/Drama Price: $19.99 When I received the Cross Game omnibus a few weeks ago, I worked through it with a bit of trepidation. I love baseball, so I was worried that the manga would either be too preachy about the rules or have large errors in gameplay that would make my enjoyment suffer. My misgivings were buffered by the…

Shoyo’s ace, Fujima, drops himself into the lineup and quickly helps his team retake the lead from Shohoku, and despite struggling with fatigue, Mitsui stays on the floor as well. Realizing that they are the keys to winning the game, Coach Anzai focuses on both Mitsui’s scoring finesse and Hanamichi’s monstrous rebounding, but with only five minutes left on the game clock, Shohoku will need to deliver, and fast. Which player will ignite the spark that will carry Shohoku on to victory? And does Mitsui have enough stamina left to hit some crucial three-pointers? By Takehiko Inoue Publisher: Viz Media Age Rating: Teen Genre: Sports Price: $9.99 I first read Slam Dunk during its short stint in Shonen Jump. While there was nothing wrong with the story, I just couldn’t really connect with the characters, and I don’t care about basketball, so I didn’t keep following it. Ten volumes later, I’ve picked it up again, and while I find the characters during play compelling, and all the basketball action entertaining, it’s not my cup of tea. Though I think I might have an idea who should. After ten volumes, the Shohoku basketball team seems to have really come together. The…

Manji the bodyguard is known as the Red Dog because of his red hair and fierce temper. When he runs into a boy named Kal fighting the dangerous creatures known as “toys”, Kal tells him to keep away because he’s no match for them — but Manji takes that as a challenge. Soon he’s swept into the battle between the creator of the toys and the mysterious group known as “Cards”.

I had high hopes for Shonen Jump’s latest series, Nura, Rise of the Yokai Clan. Unfortunately, things don’t always go like you want them to. Find out why after the jump!

Having moved all over the country for the better part of a year working one-month stints as a pharmacy student, I have come to appreciate the postal system. It has often been a physical link to family and friends when I was in an unfamiliar location…

To put it frankly, and not all that delicately – this shit is horrid.

Publisher’s description: In a savage world ruled by the pursuit of the most delicious foods, it’s either eat or be eaten! While searching for the tastiest foods imaginable, Gourmet Hunter Toriko and his bottomless stomach travel around the world facing every beast in his way. When Toriko is hired to capture the rare and delicious Puffer Whale, he’s going to require some help. In order to remove the Puffer Whale’s poison Toriko will need to track down his old friend and fellow gourmet hunter, Coco, but will this team be enough to beat the other dangerous hunters to the prized ingredient? By: Mutsutoshi Shimabukuro Publisher: Viz Media Age Rating: Teen Genre: Action/Food Price: $9.99 There’s two kinds of shows, for the most part, on the basic cable Food Network. From the beginning, it’s been a channel dominated by the cooking show as invented by Julia Childs: engaging, knowledgeable host makes cooking and recipes both fascinating and accessible at the same time. Then there’s the contest shows, in which various skilled chefs compete against themselves and each other to produce the most delicious, conceptually stunning food possible. Whether cozy or over-the-top (Sarah Moulton vs. Guy Fieri), crazy or deadly serious (Outrageous…