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| « March 14, 2004 | Main | March 17, 2004 » |
Nothing But Reviews I really need to get in the habit of doing things on time. I had 9 books piled up to write up on. I've been just reading away the past few days without bothering to record what I read (not a good thing given how forgetful I am). So, having to write these 4 up today was kind of a chore as I had to browse through them to remember what I had read. Not that bad since they were only a few days ago, but still, I forgot enough to doubt my own memory. Hence, it took me more than my usually alloted 20 minutes to write these up. Kutakuta da na. Let's see, anything interesting happen? Nope, well, besides work that is. I got my new Mac 15" Powerbook for work! Hooray! After some technical difficulties yesterday with getting it booted up (it had bad RAM), I'm off and running. Now I just have to wait to get clearance to bring it home. And then I'll finally get to play with it. Heh heh. |
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A.I.が止まらない (Love Won't Stop) Vol. 1
Title: A.I.が止まらない (Love Won't Stop) Vol. 1 This is, I believe the second manga series I started when I felt confident enough to read manga (the first was Love Hina). I really wasn't impressed with it as the artwork isn't as good as Ken Akamatsu's later work, so I stopped halfway and left this volume on my shelf. However, after two years of reading, I'm a more experienced now, having read a lot of less than stellar manga, so I guess I'll dive back into this one. I already bought a lot of the issues, but fortunately, most of them were $1 from Book-Off, which is an awesome price for readable books. I mean, hell, I could buy the entire series for the cost of just one volume of the translated version. Anyhow, the manga hasn't gotten any better the second time around. The story is pretty weak, the artwork isn't up to my expectations, but it does show a lot of where Ken Akamatsu comes from. Hopefully he'll add some more characters in the second volume. Since this is a re-release, there's a bunch of bonuses including newly drawn artwork pages (more Love Hina-like) and interviews with Ken Akamatsu himself. There's a mini-poster pull-out and the inside cover is a pencil drawing of the cover. 1. 呼ばれて、飛びでて、ジャンジャカジャ～ン (Calling, Flying, Jan Jaka Jan): The computer geek and otherwise loser, 神戸ひとし, has been played again by the popular girl he has a crush on, 麻生希美華 (Kimika Asou). On his way home, a thunderstorm arrives and as he's working at his computer, his house gets struck by lightning and the girl he's been programming, Thirty, comes to life. She "transfers" to Hitoshi's school and suddenly she's the talk around the schoolyard. Kimika obviously doesn't like the attention being diverted away from her, so she has a strong dislike for her, but can't surpass her because she's perfect in almost every way (as she's programmed to). One of her few flaws is that she can't cook. When Thirty and Hitoshi are talking in private about her condition and how she's a program, Kimika secretly records it and goes to broadcast it on the school's P.A. system. However, since Thirty is a computer program, she has complete access to the school's system, and averts a disaster by making a mockery of Kimika. 2. めざせ ホテル龍宮城 (Let's Go, to the Imperial Dragon Hotel): Hitoshi is studying all the dating books to program/teach Thirty more about human relationships. Unbeknownst to Hitoshi, Thirty obtains the book and executes the instructions exactly as it is written. To Hitoshi's surprise, she is the perfect date. And like all dates, they end up at a luxurious hotel, which is what Thirty coaxes Hitoshi to do. However, the book doesn't say what goes on at the hotel, so she just turns around, much to Hitoshi's dismay. 3. クラブでGO GO! (GO GO! at the Club): Hitoshi wants Thirty to join some of the clubs at school. She performs poorly at the cooking club, doesn't do well at the floral club, and plays too rough at the volleyball club. Since she's not much a team player (from volleyball), Hitoshi recommends she join the tennis club and tone down her game a bit. However, her first opponent is Kimika and with her lowered ability, she's being beaten pretty bad. Hitoshi then tells her to max out her ability at which she kills Kimika. 4. 私を海へつれてって (I Said I'm Taking You to the Ocean): They go to the beach only to find that it's polluted with cans in the sand and that there's a little brat who doesn't want them to be there. The reason is that the little kid thinks they're just going to pollute more. Moved by this, they offer to help, and with some of ingenuity on the part of Hitoshi and Thirty, they use Fleming's right hand rule to use electro-magnetism to pick up the trash (or something like that. I took physics sooo long ago). 5. 笑う侵入者 (The Laughing Intruder): Hitoshi is sick, so Thirty tries looking at a computer database for some cures. She executes a mysterious program which seems to give the computer a virus and eventually makes her weaker and weaker. At the end, the virus, a laughing clown, is revealed and it mentions that he has 64 minutes before Thirty is erased. 6. SAYONARA: As the time ticks down, Hitoshi tries to figure out where the virus is originating from. Since he has so many computers, it takes him a while to figure out that it's his little laptop. He unplugs the data cable and the virus is destroyed. 7. Moneyで大変！？ (A Problem with Money!?): Hitoshi is low on funds so Thirty tries to help. She first prints up some money, but they're definitely fake. She then alters his bank account, but he says it's wrong. So in order not to get caught, she hacks her way back into the bank's database. This journal takes her underwater to the island/database. She fixes his account, but is pursed by "guardians" and she narrowly escapes. |
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がぁ～でぃあん Hearts (Guardian Hearts) Vol. 2
I really have to say that I hate the pesky cat mascot, Daisy, in this series. She appears as the main focus of attention for at least half these chapters, and man, she's is so frickin' annoying. The story has toned down a bit with the number of girls not increasing as much (even though there are enemies). Still very episodic, but there are some connections between chapters which I hope is going to be expanded in the coming volumes. There's two bonus mini-comics at the end of the book. The front cover underneath the dust jacket has a sketch different from the cover, and the back has a message from the author, like the previous one. 8. 敵の名はBURN (The Name of the Enemy is 'BURN'): There is a new enemy faction in town called "BURN" and they're after Kazuya. The first henchwoman to go after him is 風の紫音 (Shion of the Wind). She tries to play the sympathy card, but he doesn't take notice. She gets more aggressive and eventually drugs him, but when faced with Hina (as a Guardian Angel), he's able to break out of the spell. 9. やすらぎ (At Ease): The girls and Kazuya go out hiking and Hina is feeling down because she feels like she can't help out. Using fireworks as the setting for his analogy, Kazuya cheers her up a bit. Later on, they find out that Kotono and Daisy are gone. Hina, using her special powers, saves them from a collapsed cave. 9. 決戦！文化祭（前編）忍びなれど。。。 (Showdown! Cultural Festival First Part, A Shinobi but...): Maya is acting strangely lately and becomes very flustered at the sight of Kazuya. During the camping trip, Kazuya saw her in the bath, in the nude, and that's what's bothering her as only her husband can see her nude. Not being able to live with it she decides to kill him, but Hina comes and saves the day, but not before her bomb explodes and destroys parts of the school which Hina has to repair. 10. 決戦！文化祭（後編）宿敵と現実 (Showdown! Cultural Festival Last Part, An Old Enemy and Reality): "Burn" has another henchwoman, this time named 静 (Shizu). At the festival, we find out that Kazuya's teacher is a huge fan of his mom because his mom was a such a cool person in school. Shizu and Maya scrap it out with Maya almost being defeated when Kazuya's mom unleashes Daisy to defeat Shizu. Apparently, Kazuya's mom isn't as normal as she looks and may have some special powers. 11. 夢見るデイジィ (Dreaming Daisy): This is a mini-chapter where the extended family of girls living in Kazuya's house discuss what they should do about Daisy's lodging as she doesn't have her own room. Kazuya's mom suggests that they build her a house, but it turns out to be a poorly made doghouse. 12. デイジィ大あれば キャッツカードは死の香り (If Daily Were Bigger, the Cat's Card is the Touch of Death): Kurusu is running out of uniforms and as such is losing powers fast. Kazuya is sick, but her nurse uniform doesn't cut it so with help from Daisy, she goes out to steal a very expensive nurse uniform. During their heist, Hina arrives to prevent the theft, but Daisy successfully prevents her from dispensing justice. 13. なくせない場所 (The Place that Can't Be Lost): Hina's boss gives her the duty of protecting an very important egg for a week and to prevent it from getting into enemies hands. At almost the end of the week, Shizu and Shion from "BURN" try to take it from her. Hina tries to transform, but she can't. The egg hatches and out pops a girl who gives Kazuya the power of the Guardian Angels. Hina's boss comes back to see what's happened and is puzzled by his ability to obtain that power. 15. こびず甘えず でもかまって欲しいぜよ (Unflattering and Not Nice, but I Want You to Take Notice): A mini-chapter where Daisy causes a fuss in Kazuya's room. Gawd, I hate that cat. |
Title: がぁ～でぃあん Hearts (Guardian Hearts) Vol. 2 |
Gunslinger Girl Vol. 1
I was going to get the anime to this, but after reading the manga, I've decided not to (plus the fact that they're not releasing the DVDs until after its peer shows have already finished). I'm not very impressed by the story. It's interesting, but not something that made me want to read it cover-to-cover in one sitting. What I do like about this manga is the mood that it sets, particularly the psychology of the characters couple with the character design. I think the characters here, especially the girls, are drawn very straight and rigid, making them seem to lack personality. That's really how they are, given that they know almost nothing about their past and are half reconstructed to be killing machines. To add to that, the unwavering loyalty to their bosses adds to the tension, and "freakiness" of their persona. This aura makes up a bit for the lack in story. There's nothing extra in this book, not even a little intro by the author on the front cover flap. And just as a note, the names and places in this story throw me off a lot as a lot of the names are in katakana, and aren't necessary in English. I'm not good at names, especially if they're in languages I'm not familiar with (I've never like Russian literature because of that...Russian is tough stuff). 1. 天体観測 (Stargazing): Henrietta is "saved" by Jose from a social welfare company, which is in fact a front for an organization that takes these terribly disfigured children and makes them into partially mechanized assassins. They also make the children forget their previosu lives as to make them more efficient killers. Henrietta becomes one of them after her family gets murdered and she's the only one alive, but left with missing limbs. This job is for her and her master (I guess), Jose to take out an Albanian man. She loses her cool when a henchman roughs up Jose a bit and causes the mission to fail. She herself gets injured and needs some repair. She thinks she's made Jose mad by failing the mission, but Jose takes her up to the roof and enjoys the night sky with her. 2. Love Thy Neighbor: This chapter features Rico, another girl assassin. She wakes up at the beginning of the day, grateful that she can do various chores by herself. At the training range, the girls talk about what makes them happen, and it seems like pleasing their masters/guardians is it. On the mission, Rico is told to scout out the surroundings of the building, but she meets a nice boy named Emilio. They have a long conversation which causes her mission to be delayed another day. At home, she and Henrietta talk about boys in general. The next day, they go make the hit and Emilio shows up unexpectedly. Heeding what her master, Jon, hold her, she kills him happily. 3. THE SNOW WHITE: This chapter features Toriella and her guardian, Hirusha. During one interrogation, she kills the prisoner in haste despite her orders. At home, she's going through her period, and although it's painful, she savors it because it means she's alive. Her next mission is to take into custody and protect a somewhat important figure. However, he doesn't not lend himself to be held captive and always seems to find a way to escape. She captures him again, and he explains to her that he just came back to town to see his daughter. Apparently moved by this, she lets him go and plans to tell Hirusha that he escaped. 4. エルザ・デ・シーカの死（前編）(The Death of Elsa de Shika, First Part): Raoul and his assassin girl, Elsa are found dead. In particular, Elsa seemed to have died a gruesome death with a gun wound through her eye and out her head. Ferumi and Gabrielli are brought in to investigate who could have done such things. Meanwhile, Jose gives Henrietta camera for Christmas and it seems like their relationship is getting even closer. Ferumi and Gabrielli interview Toriella and Rico as well as visit Elsa's room. ５．エルザ・デ・シーカの死（後編）(The Death of Elsa de Shika, Last Part): Henrietta and Jose are away at a distant hotel, probably to keep them away from the potential murderer. F & G interview them and as Gabrielli talks to Henrietta, we slowly see how much she is tied to Jose. In the end, she reveals that if something ever happened to Jose, she would kill herself, in the same manner that Elsa did. |
Title: ガンスリンガー・がーる (Gunslinger Girl) Vol. 1 |
苺ましまろ (Ichigo Marshmallow) Vol. 1
The reason I put story in quotes is because there isn't an underlying plot. Each chapter is a story in itself without much connection the previous or next except for the characters themselves. I don't believe a continous plot is an essential item in manga. Good art and design, along with very well crafted isolated stories can surpass the quality of some longer, yet boring storytelling. Azumanga Daioh, which was published in the same monthly as this, is a good example of that. While I do like some of the chapters in this book, a lot of it was pretty bland, neither funny nor cute. There's a bonus 2 page comic with the girls and the author in the back and the first few pages that has Nobue introducing the girls is fully colored. Nobue is shown with brown hair here, but in the black and white pages, she's shown with no darkening of her hair. This threw me off for the first chapter. episode 1. 傷心伊豆旅行 (A Trip to Heartbreak Izu): The girls are getting reading to go to school, and Nobue offers to drive them. Chika declines, and later finds out that going to school, she drove the other two girls far away so that she can pick up some ceramics. episode 2. 人間ゴミ (Human Trash): Nobue is bored, so she gets her sister to play games with her. Miu comes over and starts playing, and so Chika's free to go back to studying. However, Nobue loses and in her anger, puts Chika butt-first in the wastebasket and the other two have a laugh watching her trying to get out. episode 3. お泊り (A Stay-Over): The 4 of them are at Nobue's house. Matsuri and Miu aren't getting along too well. The group eat dinner and bath together, and afterwards, Matsuri apologizes...then passes out from being too tired. While she's sleeping, Nobue and Miu play with her hair. episode 4. 寝るな！ (Don't Sleep!): It's Nobue's birthday tomorrow, so Miu and Chika decided to stay away through the night to make presents for her. In order not to fall asleep, they come up with different techniques to stay away with ice, peppers, etc... In the end, they finish their birthday cards, but Nobue isn't too happy about Chika's. episode 5. 禁煙 (No Smoking): This is probably the funniest chapter of the book. Nobue decides to refrain from smoking. However, everytime she looks down, she always has something in her mouth. In the end, she gives up and goes back to smoking. episode 6. 外で遊ぼう (Let's Play Outside): It's a nice day outside, so Nobue recommends that they play outside. They try baseball, soccer, and kendo, but in all these events, Miu plays a little too rough. They finally retreat to playing video games, but they lock Miu out. episode 7. 起きるな (Don't Get Up!): Miu is playing dead, so Nobue and Chika tickle, slap, put her in front of the radiator, etc... However, after all that abuse, she still tries to play dead. That is until her favorite program airs on TV, and she wakes up for that. She then goes back to playing possum. episode 8. にゃあ (Nyaa): Matsuri wants to buy a hat, but is embarassed to, so Nobue has Miu give her a hat with cat ears to wear as she goes to the store. Along the way, people look at her strangely. At the store, she finds the hat she likes and buys it, but in the end, she seems to like the cat hat better. episode 9. 自由研究 (Self-Study): Miu is doing research for her summer homework and follows everyone around, even to the bathroom. Unfortunately, she doesn't get any interesting information, so for her final work, she makes up more exciting stories. episode 10. 海はどうだ (How About the Ocean?): The girls go to the ocean to play. Miu brags about her two piece, but is told she isn't "filling" the top. In revenge, she takes the top off of Nobue which gets her buried in the sand. |
Title: 苺ましまろ (Ichigo Marshmallow) Vol. 1
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