Title: よつばと！ (With Yotsuba!) Vol. 2
Artist/Author: あずまきよひこ (Kiyohiko Azuma)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 191pp., w/o furigana
Original Serialization: Monthly Dengeki Daioh 10/03-4/04
First Printing: 5/15/04
Rating: 3/4

Yotsubato is something I can depend on for a good laugh. Created by the same person behind Azumanga Daioh, the main character, Yotsuba, is a blend between the tiny Chiyo and the naive Osaka. While this story is in usual manga form, not 4 panel comic form, it's still hard to convey the humor to someone who hasn't read it yet. Each chapter is isolated and the story isn't packed with cultural references as its predecessor. Again, good stuff.

Besides a cover printed on textured paper, there's not much in terms of bonuses. Since these stories are really hard to explain, I won't even try.

8. おえがき (Artist): Ena and her friend Miuchi are going out to the riverside to do some paintings and Yotsuba tags along.

9. 復讐 (Vengence): After watching a detective movie where one person shoots another, Yotsuba, armed with a water gun, goes around her house and the neighbor's house shooting everyone.

10. ケーキ (Cake): Miuchi has come over and Yotsuba, who had arrived earlier, wants to serve him some cake. There's none in the house so Ena's father tells her, Miuchi, and Yotsuba to go out and buy some cake because they don't have any in the house and he wants to eat some.

11. どんまい (Don't Mind!): Yotsuba's father has finished his work but hasn't slept. They eat breakfast, he teaches her the phrase "Don't Mind," and takes a nap. In the meantime, Yotsuba messes around.

12. プール (Pool): Yotsuba's father got some tickets to a water amusement park so he invites Jumbo and the two younger girls next door. Out of all of them, only Yotsuba can swim.

13. かえる (Frog): Yotsuba is out trying to catch a frog. When she does, she brings it to her neighbor's house.

14. おみやげ (Gift): Asagi, the oldest of the 3 sisters next door, has come back from Okinawa and has gifts for everyone.

Title: 十兵衛ちゃん２〜気付けば音楽聴いていた〜 (Jubei-chan 2~When I Paid Attention, I Heard Music~) Original Soundtrack
Original Creator: 大地丙太郎 (Akitarou Daichi)
Composer: 松田俊郎 (Toshio Matsuda)
Release Date: 3/3/04
Catalog No.: KICA-633
Rating: 4/4

I ordered this CD almost immediately after I finished watching the preview disc. Like the music in the first season of Jubei, it has a range of melodies ranging from lively and solemn. While the lively songs are good, what I like about the Jubei series is the dark and samurai-esque. The main theme is also quite good, much like the main theme from season 1.

To my surprise, there were a few vocals in here. Of course, they have the TV sized version of the theme song sung by Yui Horie. However, they also have a vocal song sung by Ritsuko Okazaki and a duet between Jubei and Felicia. In trademark Ritsuko Okazaki style, she sings with a very soft voice to this melancholy song. The duet is also pretty good, although I still have a preference to the Jubei's group song in season 1.

Title: ヤングアニマルあいらんど (Young Animal Island)
Issue Date: 6/10/04
Publisher: Hakusensha
Pages: 336

This is a special edition of Young Animal filled with romantic comedy stories, with a main focus on Ai yori Aoshi, which I believe is the bi-weekly magazine's most popular manga.

First things first, to help sell this special volume, they include an extra cover for vol. 13 of Ai yori. The front and back are similar, just a bit more provocative. Rather than wearing a kimono, Aoi is only hold a towel to her chest to cover herself up. The back cover has all the girls at a hot springs with white mist conveniently covering up certain portions of their body. The mist is removed in the bonus cover.

The two comics I was interested from just reading the list of authors was the bonus chapter to Ai yori (of course), and secondly, Ken Yagami's (of Nanaka 6/17 fame) short story.

The Ai yori story has Chizuru having a crush on a new teacher. In order to find out how to appropriately date someone older, they turn to Chika who hangs out with Kaoru for a day while Natsuki and Chizuru look on.

Ken Yagami's story reminds me a lot of Shamneko's last complete work, "Mikan and Sakura." It's about a pair of twins, one who passed away and comes back 13 years later as a ghost to say her final farewell.

However, I love this genre and ended up reading a lot more than I had planned. There are some authors now that I'm interested in reading their other works. The comics range from cute (Komugi-chan) to some pretty risque. This is a seinen magazine though, so it's not too suprising.