Title: KaNa Vol. 1
Artist/Author: 相楽直哉 (Naoya Sagara)
Original Creator: 為我井徹 (Tohru Tamegai)
Book Size/Pages: A-5, 196pp., w/o furigana
Volume: 1/4
Original Serialization: Comic GUM Vol 8, '98 - Vol 13, '98
First Printing: 2/10/99
Rating: 4/4

Yet again, I'm starting a new series before finished many others. I think I'm become more attracted to these supernatural and Miko-like girls. I have a few more series that I'll start soon that also fall under similar categories. I guess it's just evolution of a hobby.

I got to browse a few pages of this series at the store before I bought all 4 books. The artwork is very simple, not much backgrounds and there's not much half-toning. Character design is good, but artistically, it's on the simple side. The story however, has me captivated.

Bonus has a letter from the creator, a lot of color pages from the original GUM magazine, and if you take off the dust jacked (I always do when I read), there's a letter from the author who comments on the fact that people reading his letter have bothered removing the cover.

1. あたしは人間じゃない (I'm Not Human): In class, 安倍佑二 (Yuji Abe) listens to his teacher talk and makes fun of an old legend about a famous person (maybe?) encountering a female devil. After class, he sees a strange girl, 哀 (Kana), at the subway station and only has time to say hi and "we'll meet again, right?" He goes home and gets pestered by his sister and guardian, 由子 (Yuko), as she can tell he's hiding something. Kana goes home and explains her experience with meeting a human to her guardian, 狼 (Ro), a talking wolf. The next day, Ro meets up with Yuji and tells him to forget about Kana, but Kana catches Ro as he's about to forcibly make him forget. Kana tells him that she's not human. In the subway again, they get attacked by a monster and with Ro and Yuji both hurt, Kana's anger transforms her into a demon and quickly finishes off the beast before transforming back to her normal self.

2. 七つの頭 (7 Heads): Back at Kana's hideout, Yuji finally wakes up and hears Ro's story about how Kana's late mother, 滝 (Taki, a devil), wanted her half-human daughter to not have to show her devilish side. Meanwhile, there's a conversation going on outside a bar with Elizabeth, a vampire, and another man (later find out as Masaru Ookubo) who is also a half breed. He wants to recruit her, but she refuses and he attacks. She managers to escape and shows up outside Kana's place.

3. デートしよう！ (Let's Go on a Date): Beth, as Ro calls her, busts out some drinks at Kana's pad and gets Yuji to drink. It makes him drunk to the point where he tells Kana to go on a date with him. Next day, they go on a date (Kana doesn't exactly know what a "date" is, but plays along) and wander around town. Ro sees a strange woman following the happy couple. Later back home, Yuko tells Kana in the bath about how she's happy her little brother has a girlfriend. After Yuji sees her off, he also sees that strange woman.

4. 老夫婦（前編） (Old Married Couple, First Part): There's a society (two members previously mention, strange woman being Michiko Arai) who are interested in Kana. They lure her to the old couple living in the mountains. Kana goes to the mountains, but makes sure Yuji doesn't come.

5. 老夫婦（後編） (Old Married Couple, Last Part): They meet the old grandma of the mountain who tells Kana about her history with Taki, Kana's mother. Later, another member of the 7 Heads, Kousuke Haga, has controlled the husband and the two couples end up dying. With their deaths, Kana transforms again into a devil and dishes out some punishment before Kousuke runs away.

Title: 君が望む永遠 (Kimi ga Nozomu Eien) Vol. 7 LE
Original Creator: Age
Volume: 7/7
Catalog No.: ZMBZ-1761
Release Date: 8/25/04
Rating: 4/4

I take it back. Manami finally has a voice in this last volume. To be honest, I was a little disappointed with the ending. I knew what ending it was based on the bonus book that they gave, but I expected it to be a little more. The game's ending had things flushed out better including what *also* happens to Haruka (it's implied if you read the poster Takayuki looks at, but not immediately obvious). Akane and Mitsuki also settle their differences in the game, but that bitterness never made it to the latter half of the anime series.

The two episodes included here were really moving and brought back some memories. But alas, the ending was just a less than "perfect." They also had Rino singing and I think I've already mentioned that I like Minami's version better. But it still gets a 4/4 because I said so.

Bonus is the book that Haruka writes years after her awakening. Video bonus is a previous of Akane Maniax OVA.

13. Haruka has come to terms with the fact that she's been out for the last 3 years. Mitsuki is bumming and Takayuki tells Haruka that he's not currently dating anyone. Akane knows this is a lie and has Mitsuki come over to talk to Haruka. Haruka gives her a nice slap. Later, Haruka endures some rehabilitation, but despite showing determination she still suffers inside.

14/Last. Takayuki has a heartful breakup with Haruka on beach where she realizes that Takayuki is the same person she remembered three years ago. Akane reads Mayaru's Gift and sees that it parodies Haruka's tragedy. Takayuki gives up his promotion to be with Mitsuki. Years later, Haruka has published a book, a allegory of the 4 friends. Story ends with a reading (just a showing) of Haruka's book, "The Real Treasure."

Title: 鋼鉄天使くるみ (Steel Angel Kurumi) Vol. 11
Artist/Author: 介錯 (Kaishaku)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 170pp., w/furigana
Volume: 11/11
Original Serialization: Monthly Shonen Ace 8/03-2/04
First Printing: 3/1/03
Rating: 4/4

Another series over. I liked the ending to this series as they put in a few interesting twists at the last minute. Maybe I've been too dense to see them coming, but I was a little bit surprised at what happened. Good stuff, though. Maybe I should (finish) watching the anime?

As always, color pages, character intros, and the behind the dust jacket bonus is a little musing from the authors.

61. 決戦１ (Final Battle 1): Nakahito has a dream about super Kurumi defeating the dragon fused by the 6 Chaos Minds before being awaked. Dr. Ayanokoji finally shows up, much to Nakahito's surprise and tells him that he had to remain hidden to fix history. Amato has summoned a dragon to fight the devils, Kurumi vows to defeat them and save Nakahito. Meanwhile, Magato and Diana are preparing to show their true selves.

62. 決戦２ (Final Battle 2): The dragon gets defeated by Kaga, Kirigakure (powered up), and Amato and the 6 Chaos minds are collected. Kurumi and Saki cleanse the artifacts.

63. 決戦 (Final Battle 3): Dr. Ayanokoji celebrates prematurely and notices something's wrong in the furnace of the Academy filled with Steel Angels. Saki notes that they've only gotten 6 Chaos Minds, but there's supposed to be 7. Magato shows himself as the 7th and explains Dr. Ayanokoji's original plans, which weren't so altruistic. Diana has also paired up with Magato and since she can control any Steel Angel, Kaga accepts defeat.

64. 決戦 (Final Battle 4): Amato and Nakahito are praying hard. The other Angels try to fight, but are easily deflected. Kaga finally gets the strength to strike back at Diana, something he has great anguish in doing and manages to kill her. With her last breath, she explains that she just wanted to set things right. Aoi slices up Magato, Academy falls into the sea and Nakahito's curse has been exorcised.

65. 戦いの後に…… (After the Battle...): They celebrate at the cafe and despite not having the Academy anymore, Dr. Ananokoji says he has another location deep inside the school, the Cradle, where they can send back the time travelers. However, Nakahito gets wisked away by Excelia to the Cradle where Amato waits. Amato apparently is cursed too and despite the deveils being defeated, his curse is still eating him up. He tries to have the curse flow into Nakahito's body. Kurumi and gang come to find the Cradle, which happens to be the Kagura shrine to find it protected. They fight through and encounter themselves.

66. 弐式 (2.0): The 2.0 Kurumi (and gang) is the Kurumi of present day. They're fighting, just like the old Kurumis, to protect their master. They also remember the day when they lost their master and won't let it happen again.

67. 帰還 (Return): (Old) Kurumi, Saki, and Karinka win! It turns out that Amato is part Nakahito. In the current world, Nakahito died 100 years ago (hence the 2.0 Kurumi's memories) from the curse and was revived as Amato with genes from both Mikhail and Nakahito. Since he has Nakahito's blood in him, he was able to control the present day Steel Angels. Excelia steps in to stop Amato and the gang goes back in time.