“Away From Here” - Clover (Manga) - 4/10 Sugar Cubes

A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski

Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Shoujo

Review Status: Full (4 Volumes/ 4 Volumes)

Art: Minimal. While it is CLAMP, and it is very clean and easy to look at, it also seems like a midpoint in their styles, from early CLAMP to the style they’re known for today. It’s still very nice, though.

Summary: In a futuristic world, the government has conducted secret research called the 'Clover Project'. Each Clover is tattooed with a power level by the Five Elders Council. Sue is a Four Leaf Clover, the only one in existence. Ran is a Three Leaf, one of two. Gingetsu is Two Leaf and Oruha is One Leaf. Each book tells a different tale of these tragic children, backtracking from when Kazuhiko takes Sue to Fairy Park to when Ran becomes Gingetsu's ward.

Kazuhiko is a former soldier turned private eye who is giving the mission of picking up and delivering Sue to Fairy Park. Sue is part of a race of children called Clovers who are children with special powers, and in this futuristic world, the government is out to control them. (From ANN.com)

Review: The keyword for this manga is Minimalist. This story is told with the least amount of pictures and words possible. I find it amazing that they were still able to fill four volumes with what they had, but….

In any case, this was a decent manga. You got a look into the backgrounds of many of the characters, but as little as possible. However, that doesn’t seem to detract much from how sad they all are. Even so, much of the story had been stripped away, from the history between Kazuhiko and the military, the politics of what was going on, even what had happened in the world that had obviously been ravaged by some sort of disaster.

The one thing that apparently gives a lot of symbolism to the story is the song that Sue wrote and was sung by Kazuhiko’s former girlfriend. The lyrics are very nice, and it’s practically on every page, giving a melancholy undertone/narrative to the story that’s happening.

Even with all of this, there were too many unanswered questions about what was going on, who people were, and what the overall message was for me to be satisfied with this brief foray into the future.

Overall, too existential for my tastes, but if you’re looking for something philosophical then this might be for you.

Recommended: Maybe. If this style appeals to you.

Others you might like (instead?): Try some of CLAMP’s other works- perhaps Tsubasa Chronicles or XXXHolic (pronounced ‘Holic’), or even Chobits, gives some more background and some existential questions to go along with it.

“It goes on… And on… And on…” – Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror (Manga) – 3/10 Sugar Cubes

"Sanity calms, but madness is more interesting." ~John Russell

Genre: Horror

Review Status: Full (3 Volumes/3 Volumes)

Art: Rough, not that pretty. Appropriate, given the subject matter. Gives a good atmosphere, though.

Summary: Kirei lives in a town that lately has odd occurrences, and each one somehow is connected to a spiral. Soon the spiral occurrences spread to infect even the bodies of people, which suddenly turns the everyday events in her life into chaos and horror. (From ANN. com)

Review: I picked this up hoping for some chills up my spine. I got them… for about the first volume and a half. Then everything fell into your typical horror-movie mentality- lots of stupidity and a definite lack of common sense.

Which is a real shame! This had a lot of things going for it- a creepy atmosphere, a strange obsession taking over the townspeople, one entirely sane character that could clearly see what was going on… It was going great!

Too bad it didn’t last. No matter how strange, odd, or downright impossible the occurances became, no one bothers to escape… until it’s TOO LATE! Yeah, you heard me. Because no one can escape the curse of the spiral! *DUN DUN DUNNNN*

….So, yeah.

Overall, this isn’t the best horror that you could pick up. If you’re up for a cheap thrill, then go for it- at three volumes, it’s a short diversion.

Recommended: Not really. Maybe if you can find it at your local library.

Others you might like instead: The Higurashi series (both the manga arcs and the anime), Hell Girl (both the manga and the anime), Elfen Lied (both the manga and anime are horrific, though the manga is much longer and more involved), Bokurano (both the manga and anime are very good)

"What Are We Again?"- Your And My Secret- 1/10 Sugar Cubes

Women get the last word in every argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument. ~Author Unknown

Genre: Gender-bender/Romance/Comedy

Review Status: Incomplete (2 Volumes/? Volumes – still in publication)

Art: Ugly. Most of it is drawn in ugly chibi characters, and whatever isn’t is drawn in ugly, badly-proportioned regular characters. And it seems like the mangaka couldn’t figure out when to lighten the pen off the page, so the lines are very heavy and dark, sometimes making it hard to see what’s what in a panel, or just ruining the aesthetic.

Summary: High schooler Nanako Momoi may be petite and adorable, but she is far from sweet, she is obnoxious, violent and has the table manners of a wild boar. Akira Uehara, a dainty, feminine boy has, for some mysterious reason, developed quite a crush on her. One day, Akira stumbles upon Nanako's grandfather, a man best described as a mad scientist. He is performing an experiment on Nanako, but Akira manages to get in the way and suddenly finds that he and Nanako have switched bodies. Akira, the now dainty and feminine female, is desperate to get back into his old body, especially after one of his long-time friends starts flirting with him. Switching back may prove difficult, though. It looks like Nanako is starting to enjoy life as a guy. (From ANN.com)

Review: When I saw this at the local bookstore and read the back, I figured it couldn’t be too bad. It actually has a surprising twist and decently original storyline. However, when I cracked open the covers I was shocked and horrified at how very bad this was.

The first thing that hit me was how very bad it looked. But hey, sometimes it’s just an inexperienced artist. As I kept reading, I discovered that this was full of sexism and sexual harassment that did a poor job of writing itself off as comedy! Momoi is a pig- she has to be one of the most singularly disgusting characters I have ever come across. When she and poor Akira change bodies, she akes full advantage of the situation, masturbating, exploring, even having sex in order to “fully experience” what it’s like to be a male.

And then does the most horrifically sexist, if not outright misogynist things to Akira! While she can do whatever she’s in the mood for, she threatens him with pain and embarrassment should he even catch a glimpse of her (now his) body. So that means he must bathe blindfolded, and heaven forbid if he touches anywhere private! What only makes this worse is when he must fend off the over-amorous attentions of his “best friend” (read: His best friend when he was in his guy body tries to rape him in the female body). And this is supposed to be read as a romantic development!

At that point I had to stop. There was nothing funny or interesting in this manga- only things that made me want to hurl it at the mangaka’s head.

Overall, this is an awful manga. I’m ashamed to say I read as much as I did.

Recommended: Never. If you happen to pick it up by accident, put it back down gently and back slowly away.

Other series you might like instead: Ouran Host Club, Tokyo Crazy Paradise… It doesn’t matter! Just don’t read this!

"Death Isn't Always The End"- Ballad of a Shinigami- 9/10 Sugar Cubes

Do for this life as if you live forever, do for the afterlife as if you die tomorrow. ~Ali ibn Abi Talib

Genre: Supernatural/ Drama

Review Status: Complete (3 Volumes/ 3 Volumes)

Art: Looks more like your typical shoujo, but clean lines, easy-to follow panels, and cute character designs all make this look good, even if it’s not the most eye-catching manga on the shelf.

Summary: The series revolves around Momo, a shinigami, and her familiar Daniel, a talking black cat, as they interfere with the world of the living. Or, more specifically, the people that she gives a nudge in the right direction.

Review: This is a collection of sweet, short stories from the perspective of Momo, a shinigami that has a habit of interfering with the lives (and deaths) of those she comes to collect. Stories of loss, love, and moving on with the help of our loved ones fill these pages. Most have the stories have a happy ending…. Some, not so much. Even so, each manages to pull the heartstrings. Though they may not all end the way the reader may hope, it never lessens the messages of hope and love that can exist after a loved one dies.

Overall, this is a very nice manga. It’s short enough that it can be a quick read, but involving enough for the reader to leave touched.

Recommended: Unless you have qualms about reading about the Japanese gods of death, then no. As this also touches on themes of abandonment, suicide and murder, it might not be suitable for those under 13.

Other series you might like: This was originally a series of light novels, and there’s also been an anime made from this. Others that are similar are Hotel, Chrono Crusade (manga, not anime), Someday’s Dreamers

"Girls with... Magic Swords?"- Magic Knights Rayearth- 7/10 Sugar Cubes

Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes

Genre: Mahou Shoujo/ Adventure/ Fantasy

Review Status: Full (3 Volumes/ 3 Volumes)

Art: While the panels can occasionally be confusing, the art is sparkly and clean. Though the character designs can seem slightly outdated, as it is one of their earlier works, CLAMP does it again!

Summary: Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu, girls from separate schools, find themselves linked together as they fall through the floor during a field trip to the Tokyo Tower. They land in a place called Cephiro, where their will controls what happens. They meet with Guru Clef and find out that they were summoned to save Princess Emeraude who has been imprisoned by High Priest Zagato. They learn magic and acquire weapons on their quest to save Cephiro from the evils of Zagato. (From ANN.com)

Review: This is a nice, short little fantasy series that’s good for a quick read. However, it being CLAMP, the story can be more involved than it would at first seem. From the standard power-ups, to the not so standard girl who gets the Prince (hint- it’s not the main heroine!), and an ending that is as bittersweet as atypical, this manga shows a superior sense of storytelling that hallmarks many of the works by this group.

The main characters are fairly well-rounded. You do come to care for their hardships and challenges, and can see how they grow as people and friends. You also get a surprising glimpse into the eyes of the main baddie and the princess which is touching and yet heartbreaking.

Overall, this is a good starter manga if you want to get into deeper, more involved works. It’s also good as a stand-alone if you’re pressed for time. And if you’re not into the ending, there’s also a sequel!

Recommended: Sure. It’s short and bittersweet. Maybe not for those young enough to understand the idea of sacrificing oneself for their love. 10 and over.

Other series you might like: This was turned into an anime. There’s also a follow-up series to this- Magic Knights Rayearth II. Card Captor Sakura, Chobits, Ballad of a Shinigami, Half Prince, and Alice 19th are also good manga I’d recommend if you like this!

“The Hard Part Isn't War- It's What Comes After” -Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms – 10/10 Sugar Cubes

You've got to forget about this civilian. Whenever you drop bombs, you're going to hit civilians. ~Barry Goldwater

Genre: Historical/ Drama

Review Status: (1 Volume/ 1 Volume)

Art: Somewhat cartoonish, but in a way that helps- it emphasizes the rural feeling of the story, and also eases the images of the bombing’s aftermath.

Summary: Part 1: Set in 1955, a family from Hiroshima struggles to come to terms with their survival of the atomic bombing of their city. The protagonist is Minami Hirano, about 20 years of age. Part 2: Set some decades later, the niece of Minami Hirano is bewildered by her father's mysterious disappearances. She and a friend follow him to discover what he is doing. Parts of this story are told in flashback. (From ANN.com)

Review: This manga has two stories- one from the view of someone directly affected by the bombing of Hiroshima, and one from the view of someone who’s still living with the aftermath, even though it’s 30 years after the bombing. Describing this manga is hard- the first is a heart- and- gut wrenching account of something that wasn’t uncommon- a woman who is affected by her memories of the bombing and radiation sickening years after the fact. And her family member who is featured in the second half still has family that questions about what happened and how it affect their health and family to that day.

You are taken into the memories of that day- something that is terrifying. While you are never shown outright gore, it doesn’t seem to matter. The sheer number of bodies, represented as they are by rough sketches, don’t do the descriptions of the aftermath any justice. Even though they’re brief in both images and descriptions, it’s more than enough to convey how horrific those days were. What makes it ring even more true is that those descriptions and characters were drawn from those of survivors of the bombings that the mangaka has interviewed.

This manga has a strong anti-war message, but it’s never overbearing or insistent- it merely shown the effects of what happens afterwards.

Overall, this is an amazing manga. Go out and buy it, read it, and share it.

Recommended: Yes. Share it with your neighbors, share it with your friends. Ten and over, but you should be prepared to sit down with those of a younger set and explain the aftereffects of radiation poisoning and the like.

Other series you might like: This was also made into a movie, but other manga series that are similar are Someday’s Dreamers, Hotel, Cesare, Historie.

“When Your Feelings Sync, You Get Magic” -Someday’s Dreamers- 10/10 Sugar Cubes

“Love and magic have a great deal in common. They enrich the soul, delight the heart. And they both take practice.” ~Anonymous

Genre: Shoujo/ Drama/ Magical

Review Status: Full (2 Volumes/2 Volumes)

Art: Solid, but has a watercolor-like, dream-like quality. Very suited towards the storyline.

Summary: Yume, melancholic and passionate girl of high-school age, lives in the world of Magic, being one of the apprentice mages in Tokyo. Although magic use restricted by the laws, Yume masters it in rather blatant ways, following not reason, butt her pure heart. Throughout this short story the fragile soul of the girl trifles with the reality of the Magic Users - their responsibilities and boundaries towards redundant magic. Yume is engulfed in another dimension of reality – a world with no bounds between normal and magical, which sets her to make it real to all other people. (From ANN.com)

Review: The only bad thing I can say about this manga is that it was too short. I don’t mean that it detracted from the story in any way- I just wished that this story could continue on for another volume. This world, and this girl’s troubles, are fully realized in this manga. Not only does she have to learn how to use her gift responsibly, but she must also learn how to use it to truly help others and not just help them how she thinks they need.

That is where this story shines. Her learning to help others, that the way they need to be helped isn’t always obvious. And in order to graduate, she must do one of the hardest things she can- help someone make peace with the dead.

The stories aren’t always happy, but they are always heart-wrenching. The true magic of this story is in how it can touch the reader.

Overall, this is an excellent manga. Maybe not for the youngest, but one that many readers can enjoy.

Recommended: 13 and over, for themes of death and loss.

Other Series You Might Like: Time Stranger Kyoko, Someday’s Dreamers ~Spellbound~, Hotel. This series has also been turned into an anime.

“To Serve And Protect” -Pluto- 8/10 Sugar Cubes

“A robot may not injure humanity, or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm. [The Zeroth Law of Robotics]”
Isaac Asimov quotes

Genre: Sci-fi/Drama/Action

Review Status: Full (8 Volumes/8 Volumes)

Art: Gritty and realistic. No surprise as the primary artist is infamous Naoki Urasawa. Beautiful with a smooth flow.

Summary: Based off of a story arc from Osamu Tezuka's Tesuwan Atomu, Pluto follows the Europol detective Gesicht as he tries to uncover the mystery behind a string of robot and human deaths. The case becomes much more puzzling when evidence leans toward the murders being the work of a robot, which is something that hasn't happened for 8 years. (From ANN.com)

Review: The good thing about this series is that you don’t have to be familiar with Tezuka’s other series in order to enjoy this one. This can be considered a stand-alone series, which is wonderful. This is a thought-provoking manga, in the line of Hotel and many other robotic stories. It also questions the meaning of being a robot in a human world (though one in which robots have become as revered as many humans). You also see how people question the role of human-robot relations, and how deep they can run.

It also poses questions about humanity, and the lengths we will go to in search of power and control. The mysteries lead to scientists long-dead, worldwide conspiracies, and something that must be stopped at all costs.

Overall, this series is one that you should take a look at. It’s complex, intriguing, thought-provoking, and most definitely worth your time.

Recommended:For those 15 and over. There is death. For the most part, any death is off-screen, for both humans and robots, but you do get to see the aftermath. Don’t worry, though- it’s not graphic.

Other Series You Might Like: Tezuka’s Astro Boy is the series that this arc was taken from. Then there’s Urasawa’s other series, such as 20th Century Boys and Monster.

“What If I’m Walking Into Some Kind Of Trap?” – Hollow Fields – 8/10 Sugar Cubes

“For mad scientists who keep brains in jars, here's a tip: why not add a slice of lemon to each jar, for freshness?” ~Jack Handy quotes

Genre: Steampunk, Mystery, Adventure

Review Status: Full (3 Volumes/3 Volumes)

Art: Strong, bold lines, easy-to-follow panels, adorable character designs and detailed, intriguing backgrounds!

Summary: Little Lucy Snow was meant to be enjoying her first day at the nice elementary school in town; however a macabre twist of fate sees her enrolled instead at Miss Weaver’s Academy for the Scientifically Gifted and Ethically Unfettered- also known as Hollow Fields. Located on the outskirts of Nullsville and run by the insidious Engineers, the grim boarding school dedicates itself to raising the next generation of mad scientists and evil geniuses! Classes include Live Taxidermy, Cross-Species Body-Part Transplantation and Killer Robot Construction, and for her own survival Lucy has to master them quickly… the student with the lowest grades at the end of teach school week is sent to the windmill for detention- and so far, no child has ever returned! (From the back of the cover of the first volume)

Review: Rare is the cute horror manga. Rarer still is the one that you can share with your younger siblings. This is that manga, with characters that everyone can relate to and an exciting storyline that will enthrall those of all ages. At three volumes, this is rather short, which unfortunately meant that the ending is rather lacking. But what it offers cannot be missed.

I have to admit, some of the most eye-opening, funny scenes were ones similar to my own experiences my biology classes- fainting as the thought of dissection, dealing with dead creatures, etc. Except in these classes, those normal happenings are in a background that’s anything but!

Overall, this can be enjoyed by the entire family. However, be warned- there are some things that may gross out or frighten the younger readers, so you might consider reading it with them.

Recommended: Yes. But know the tolerance level of the young ones for some of the more horrifying aspects of this title.

Other Series You Might Like: Card Captor Sakura for the younger, Goth and Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service for the older.

“Love Is Blind” – Koi Kaze (Manga) – 9/10 Sugar Cubes

When love is not madness, it is not love. ~Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Genre: Romance/ Drama/ School

Review Status: Full (5 Volumes/ 5 Volumes)

Art: Simplistic, but merely because this is a simple story, not because it’s childish. There is great detail and attention paid to the character’s expressions.

Summary: Saeki Koushirou works as a wedding planner, but his own love life is a shambles. His background makes it difficult for him to commit himself wholeheartedly to love. The child of a divorced couple, he lives with his father. He has a mother and a sister, but he has not seen them in years. After being dumped by his girlfriend, a chance encounter with a female high school student shakes Koushirou's calm and awakens new feelings in him - but he learns that the girl is in fact his sister, who will now be staying with his father and him. Yet, the feelings in Koushirou's heart... (From ANN.com)

Review: First of all: Yes. This is a story about incest. It’s not your usual fodder of “oh we grew up together and I lurve u lots!” No, this utilizes and actual, documented scientific phenomena of genetic sexual attraction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_sexual_attraction), where two siblings of the opposite gender who meet as adults find each other sexually attractive.

And that’s where everything goes wrong for these two- they meet, have no idea that they’re siblings, and find themselves falling for each other. And when they do meet, well… it’s not like they can live happily ever after. They both know that their love is wrong, and try to deny their attraction, but even so, end up together.

Don’t get me wrong- this manga doesn’t try to say that incest is okay or normal. Nor does it have its characters condemned to fire and brimstone. It doesn’t moralize the story, though one of the side characters that figures out what’s going on does openly show her disapproval (though, out of respect for her coworker, doesn’t share her knowledge).

Overall, this manga handles the subject of incest in an intensely tasteful, delicate way. It doesn’t use it merely as an excuse for porn, or say it’s right, only that between the two characters in the story, it exists.

Recommended: Yes. This is an excellent, tasteful, realistic story. However, as it is a sensitive subject, it isn’t for the family. So if you’re 16 and over, folks!

Other series you might like: I’m gonna throw a few out that I haven’t reviewed yet: Bitter Virgin, Alice 19th, NANA, and Ayashi no Ceres.

“But I Wanna Pet It!” - Beast Master (Manga) – 4/10 Sugar Cubes

I don't like small birds. They hop around so merrily outside my window, looking so innocent. But I know that secretly, they're watching my every move and plotting to beat me over the head with a large steel pipe and take my shoe. ~Jack Handy

Genre: Shoujo/ Romance

Review Status: Full (2 Volumes/ 2 Volumes)

Art: Since this manga was made for a younger age set, it’s a tad cartoonish. But it’s clean and easy to look at.

Summary: Yuiko Kubozuka is a high school girl who loves animals. Unfortunately, animals hate her and flee from her whenever possible. So when a new classmate, Reo Aoi, turns out to be a scary guy who resembles a wild animal than anything human, she is intrigued. Not only because Reo has an affinity with animals which she envies, but also because he isn’t the wild animal that he seems to be. He seems to hide a very sweet disposition behind his scary features. Or so she thought. The truth is revealed when they are attacked and Reo immediately behaves like a wild animal and gets violent like a blood-thirsty animal, just to save Yuiko.

Review: This started out pretty well. Girl that can’t get animals to like her? Sure. Boy who’d essentially been raised in the wilds? Fine (even though even in the deepest reaches of Africa they still have cola, and the only desert islands that are around now are the ones that are so barren they can’t support life). I could deal with all that- I mean, stories are built on improbabilities.

So why such a low rating? Because I totally lost respect for it around chapter 3. Out of a 6-chapter manga, I lost respect at chapter 3. Because the heroine, a fully mentally-developed high school girl (or at least so the mangaka claimed) decided that it would be a good idea to feel a dog that had obviously gone feral and had shown vicious behavior towards her earlier. *headdesk*
Seriously?! Five-year-olds know not to approach dogs like that! She deserved to be ripped to pieces!

Of course, it’s used as an opportunity to show how beast-boy can save her, how wild he is, etc, etc. But I still think that’s one of the outright STUPIDEST ways to get that to happen.

Bad mangaka! Bad!

It doesn’t help that something out-and-out ridiculous happens in the two chapters after. I couldn’t regain the vague respect I’d had for it before.

Overall, you should drop this like a hot rock and read something- anything- else.

Recommended: Anything else. Or give it to your ten-year-old-sister.

Others you might like instead: Time Stranger Kyoko, Ouran High School Host Club (both the manga and anime are good), Card Captor Sakura (the anime).

“Love is Painful, and Great, and Confusing, and…”- Paradise Kiss (Manga) – 7/10 Sugar Cubes

To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving. Therefore to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer. To suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy then is to suffer. But suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore, to be unhappy one must love, or love to suffer, or suffer from too much happiness. I hope you're getting this down. ~ Woody Allen

Review Status: Full (5 Volumes/ 5 Volumes)

Genre: Drama, Romance

Art: Sumptuous. Stylized. One might think that the mangaka had spent more time inventing the outfits the characters had to wear than thinking up the storyline itself (and due to how greatly this manga/anime had influenced style in Japan, who could blame me?). Even so, visually, the character designs might take a short time to get used to, but overall the designs that go into this look fabulous.

Summary: Yukari is a typical high-school student who listens to her parents and attends school everyday. As she starts to question her way of life, she encounters a group of fashion design students who has a clothing label known as "Paradise Kiss". The group needs to find a model to showcase their designs in an up-coming fashion show and decides to pick Yukari instead. Initially, Yukari was reluctant to be associated with this seemingly eccentric group, but eventually, she realizes that they are really nice people. Furthermore, their passion and enthusiasm to follow their ideals and dreams make Yukari realize that she has not been enjoying her life and this motivated her to pursue her own dreams. (From ANN.com)

Review: Now that you’ve read the official summary, here’s the real one:

Girl gets recruited into being a model for a group of fashion design students, mostly because she has a huge crush on the guy who tries to recruit her. Major drama ensues as said students prepare for a major fashion show while dealing with their own horrendously confused, and sometimes just messed-up, love lives.

Right now you might be wondering about the harshness of my tone, especially since I gave it a decent rating. Well, it’s complicated (isn’t it always?). You see, this manga inspired many feelings in me. Primarily was “HORMONES AND ANGST! Fuck, I thought I grew out of this stuff!” But in spite of my disdain towards their interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships, I could see where they were coming from.

For those who aren’t highly knowledgeable of Japanese academics, over there there’s a LOT of competition to be in the best schools and best colleges. It’s sorta like how we view football teams here in the US. Except even more so, if that makes any sense. It starts way back in elementary school, right up until the end of high school, when you take your entrance exams for college.. That’s right- your high school transcript isn’t all you need to get into Tokyo U.

Yukari, while bright and hardworking, just isn’t bright enough to get into those top schools- even though her younger brother is. I can totally see where she’s coming from- all her life, she’s been pressured to study harder and get higher grades- of course she’s looking for an escape! And a hawt guy wanting to design clothes for you isn’t easy to resist. But that’s where the trouble starts, because George isn’t the white knight that she dreams of. In all actuality, he’s a pretty sick bastard himself…. And even though at the end Yukari claims to sorta understand him, I never did- I just thought he was a bastard.

Of course, the other characters get plenty of screen time, from Isabella, the cross-dressing wise-woman (man?) of the group. Always keeping herself above the fray, and giving wise advice when needed, she’s definitely one of my favorite characters. There was also decent drama in the sort-of love triangle between Miwako, a girl who feels she can’t measure up to her older sister’s designing success, Arachi, her rock-band designer BF, and the other man she felt she couldn’t let go of (but who had gotten over his feelings for her, and instead was in love with Yukari) Hiroyuki.

Confused about the relationships yet? It’s easier to understand when you read it. Even so, it provided most of the fodder for the manga. But the parts I appreciated most weren’t Yukari’s attempts to understand herself or George, or when she had issues with her mom, it was when she and the others were working together to make the dress for the fashion event, and all the things that went wrong with that (And the fixes they used- omg! So awesome!).

And of course, the clothes! For something that focused on fashion students you saw CLOTHES! Hip clothes, ridiculous clothes, clothes that I envy even now because they were so darned PRETTY! If you’re into fashion, this is something that even if you don’t read, you might want to page through, because there’s always something new to see.

Overall, this manga, while having too much angst and hormones, had a whole lot of awesome, too. It might not be on my bookshelf, but maybe I’ll find it on yours.

Recommended: If your local library carries it. This is definitely aiming at a more niche girl- high school age, I would say. But since it’s aiming at an older audience, it also has mentions and has some (not graphic) sex scenes. Definitely not something you should read or watch with a younger sibling.

Others you might like (instead): The prequel Neighborhood Story, which focuses on Miwako’s childhood, NANA if you like relationship Drama (NANA, NS, and ParaKiss are by the same mangaka), Kamikaze Girls for a different take at people and their relationships with style (live-action, light novel, and manga are all good bets).

Reviews Coming Soon!

Well, I have a whole host of manga that are coming up for review soon... but first I have to read them! I've picked up several titles, and have several that are ready for me to write the review, but overall, I have a lot of reading ahead of me. So what's on my list?

Hollow Fields*
Magic Knight Rayearth
Magic Knight Rayearth II*
Koi Kaze*
Beauty Pop*
Your and My Secret
Alice 19th*
Bitter Virgin*
Tokyo Crazy Paradise*
Utahime*
Paradise Kiss*
Red River*
The Dreaming*
Zettai Kareshi*
MAR*
Spicy Pink*
Chibi Vampire*
Bizenghast*
20th/21st Century Boys*
Beastmaster*
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind*
Pluto*
Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms
Someday's Dreamers
Shinigami no Ballad
Monster
Yotsuba&!
Skip Beat!
Yokazura Quartet
Ouran High School Host Club
Aria
Kamisama Dolls
Livingstone
Rozen Maiden
It's Love
Zombie Loan
Fuan no Tane
Dorothy of Oz
1/2 Prince
Full Moon wo Sagashite
Clover
Dark Water
Hour of the Mice
Heart no Kuni no Alice
the Higurashi series
Bokurano
Fairy Cube
Usagi Drop
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou
Soul Eater
Black Cat
Ayashi no Ceres
V.B. Rose
Mixed Vegetables
Magical JxR
Bride of the Water God
Nightmare Inspector
Sugar Addiction
Fairy Tail
A Kiss to the Prince
After School Nightmare
Chrno Crusade
Wallflower
Pandora Hearts
Uzumaki
Old Boy

The ones with a * by them denote ones I've read but haven't written reviews for yet.

The rest are, for the most part, ready to be reivewed, with a few still in publishing/scanlation. So I have to pick and sort through those, which means they won't be reviewed in the listed order. Have any other suggestions? Comment below!

BTW- I want to avoid the mainstream faves as much as possible (I'm looking at you, Bleach and Naruto!), so please do not suggest those. I have neither the time nor the energy to go through all of those, especially since they are still in the middle of publishing, with no end in sight! Ones that have finished, well... I'll at least give the description a once-over, and if it looks like it'll give variety to my reviews, then I'll give it a shot. Not guaranteeing I'll give it a good review, though!

PS- Sometimes I'll go ahead and update this list/ mark stuff off as read or reviewed, etc. So if you come back and see something different, no you probably aren't imagining it! That way I can keep you updated (and myself on track!).

“Gods These Days…” – Kamichu! (Manga) – 8/10 Sugar Cubes

The Moon! Artemis! the great goddess of the splendid past of men! Are you going to tell me she is a dead lump? ~David Herbert Lawrence

Genre: School/ Supernatural/ Spiritual/ Comedy/ Romance

Review Status: Full (19 Chapters/ 19 Chapters or 2 Volumes/ 2 Volumes)

Art: Decent. Clean. This is aimed at pre-teens, so it’s more stylistically simple than a few others I can name, but good for what it is.

Summary: Yurie Hitotsubashi was just an average middle school student living in the city of Onomichi on Japan's inland sea in the easygoing times of the 1980s. She spent her days worrying about exams and trying to get Kenji, the clueless boy she likes, to notice her. Then during lunch one day she suddenly announces to her friend Mitsue that the night before she had become a goddess. Their classmate Matsuri quickly latches on to Yurie’s newfound divinity as a way to promote her family’s bankrupt Shinto shrine. She hopes that replacing their hapless local god, Yashima-sama, with Yurie will make the shrine more popular (and profitable). Now, with Matsuri as her manager, Yurie has to grant wishes, cure curses, meet aliens, and attend god conventions. All the while attending school and working-up the courage to confess to Kenji. (From ANN.com)

Review: I can’t deny it- this manga was a lot of fun. Even though Yurie just wakes up a goddess one day, and everyone accepts it right off the bat (logic fail?), this story really isn’t about her getting her powers in the first place- it’s about how she deals with them while trying to live a normal life. But then again, aren’t they all like that?

Well, besides the seemingly-generic storyline, this story has a lot going for it. Yurie isn’t tasked with saving the world. She’s not given a list of things to complete. Nope, her whole thing is about learning how to use her powers, and to use them in a way that will benefit people while trying to make the fewest amount of mistakes possible.

Being a goddess isn’t as simple as it sounds- even though she knows she’s been given powers, she hasn’t the first clue how to use them. She has issues figuring out what wishes to grant. Somehow or another, she must stave off the god of poverty, and confess to the guy she likes- all with the help of her trusty friends!

This is a story rife with Japanese mythology, too, mainly in the form of the spirits that wander about town- Since you won’t get much information about them, you might have to do your own research into the ones that interest you.

Overall, this was an interesting, amusing look at life as it would be if an ordinary girl woke up extraordinary.

Recommended: It’s okay. Except for the leaps of logic one must take in a few places, it isn’t too bad. If you’re thinking of this for a younger sibling, you might want to explain about other countries having different standards of what’s acceptable in terms of nudity, as you will see the backsides of the girls as they’re getting out of the bath. Other than that it’s cleaner than clean!

Other series you might like: Azumaga Daioh, Shugo Chara!, Sailor Moon (either the manga or anime- preferably the subbed instead of dubbed), Cardcaptor Sakura (the anime!), Kiki’s Delivery Service (this is only an anime, so watch it). Any and all of these would be good bets, as all but Kiki’s have normal girls thrust into extraordinary situations. Kiki’s is similar in other ways though, in the laid-back atmosphere and trying to live out normal lives aspects of them.

Happy 2010!

Happy New Years! (And may there be more manga reviews to come!)

“Be Careful What You Wish For” – Bradherley’s Coach (Manga) – 6/10 Sugar Cubes

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. ~Mother Teresa

Genre: Horror/ Drama/ Psychological/ Historical

Review Status: Full (8 Chapters/ 8 Chapters or 1 Volume/ 1 Volume)

Art: At first I thought that it wasn’t particularly well-done, but as I read on I realized that the rough sketch-like style suited the gritty, dark stories within. Good for this particular manga.

Summary: Every year, Lord Nicola A. Bradherley, one of Europe’s leading aristocrats, sends his coach round to various orphanages to adopt little girls and trains them to join his opera troupe. But most of these girls never make it onto the stage — a far more sinister fate awaits them, sacrificed in the name of the greater good. (From MyAnimeList.net)

Review: I want to get this off of my chest: This has got to be one of the most meaningful-but-pointless manga I’ve ever read. Confused? So am I. This manga is a series of one-shots, in chronological order, about girls who are deemed “worthy” to be in Lord Bradherley’s Opera, but most of them never make it.

In the first arc you get to know what’s really going on, through the viewpoint of a girl who was unfortunate enough to be chosen and not be used as one of the opera girls. As her days pass in pain and suffering, growing worse each day, she commiserates with another girl about what’s going on and reminisces about days gone by. Through this you get a pretty good idea about what’s going on.
The rest of the arcs just emphasize the cruelty, explaining the reasons behind it, why the girls would be so desperate to go (and what some of them are willing to do to be chosen), and even going into one arc that’s from the prisoner’s POV.

Eventually the stories lead to the end of the “program”- thank God.
So why the pointless? Because through it all, hardly anyone suspects what was really going on, even though after a few years it should have been obvious to most anyone with half a brain. In the last arc, it even has the gall to say that Lord Bradherley has tried, in his own way, to atone for what he’s doing. I just don’t buy it. He could have broken off the program in the first place, but even under the direst of conditions he continues a cruel and inhumane practice.

So I think it’s total Bull. Shit.

But what truly embitters me and is also the reason why I can’t say it’s bad is that I think it could have happened. The nobility have always been fond of blood sport at the expense of their subjects- during the Roman period, there were the Gladiators. During the medieval period, they were fond of bear-baiting and dog fighting. In the 1600’s there was Countess Elizabeth Bathory, who was never truly punished for her heinous crimes. During the Industrial Revolution in America, dog- and cock-fighting were still popular, as was bare-knuckle boxing, etc. So the problem is that there’s really no reason it shouldn’t, or couldn’t have happened at some point in history.

That is the only reason that I can’t mark it lower- the realism is too high.

Overall, this is a horrific tale of young women put into tragic circumstances. I don’t suggest picking this up unless you have an interest in this sort of thing (and if you do, don’t tell me about it!).

Recommended: 16 and up, kids. This has implied torture and *somewhat* detailed depictions of rape. Nothing that you wouldn’t see in your average horror film, but still stomach-churning. Preferably not for those weak of heart or stomach.

Others you might like instead: Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service (it’s much more lighthearted, even though it still deals with death), Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (still dealing with death and redemption, but on s lightly more spiritual scale with just as much of the gore. Be wary with which part you pick up- it’s separated into “question” and “answer” arcs). Or read the book “The Lovely Bones”.