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この醜くも美しい世界 (This Ugly and Beautiful World) Vol. 1
I passed up on the anime of this show, but decided that I could try out the manga. A $6 dollar manga is cheaper than a $60 DVD. I like the story, but it somehow, it doesn't strike me as too original. When I first heard about the anime, I got the feeling that it was another Mahoromatic and reading this first volume confirms it. As this is an Young Animal serialization, there's plenty of nudity (probably more-so than the anime). The bonus is a 4 panel comic with the director of the anime. 1. Takeru believes he has seen a shooting star in the middle of the day. His friend Ryo doesn't believe it and continues walking with his other friends, Sakurako and Amika. They all arrive at Takeru's house (they apparently run a delivery service). In a discussion, they talk about what kind of girl Takeru would like and Ryo draws a sketch of her. Takeru and Ryo go out on a delivery and see a bright light. Takeru approaches it and finds a naked young girl. 2. The girl is named Hikari. Ryo mentions to Takeru that she looks a lot like the girl he sketched before and tells him to take her home before she catches a cold. On their way home, Takeru and Hikari get accosted by a monster. Somehow, Takeru transforms and defeats the monster. 3. The family is surprised that Takeru has brought home a girl. Takeru tries to explain, but falls asleep. Hikari, feeling a little lonely, decides to sleep next to Takeru. Meanwhile, Ryo is still outside walking home, wondering what has happened. In the morning, Mari, Takeru's sister finds him sleeping in the hallway. In the woods, there's apparently still another girl. 4. At school, rumor has gotten out about Takeru's new alien friend and they all come over and visit. Hikari mentions something about a promise, implying that she and Takeru had promised something in the past. Meanwhile, Ryo is out in the woods again. 5. There's been reports of thievery in the neighborhood, and the culprit is the other girl in the woods. She's accompanied by a little flying creature, Kuon. Ryo has discovered her and gives her the name of Akari. 6. Ryo takes Akari into his home. Since his parents died, he lives alone with his younger sister, Kimi. The next day, they prepare the attic for Akari. 7. During a tour of the school, Takeru sees Ryo and the two aliens finally meet each other. They don't know each other, but see the resemblance. Ryo explains that they both came from the same flash of light that night. 8. The group of friends go to the beach. There, Mari, the daughter of the family Takeru's living with feels a little uneasy with a new girl in Takeru's life. Meanwhile, Hikari feels uneasy seeing how close Takeru and Mari are. 9. That night, Hikari explains to Takeru how she doesn't feel comfortable when Takeru is with someone else. Outside, Akari and Ryo see that the ocean is filled with dead sea-life and implies something about Hikari's true self. |
Title: この醜くも美しい世界 (This Ugly and Beautiful World) Vol. 1 |
すぱすぱ (Spas-pa) Vol. 1
I would really love this series if I had read it some other time. But right now, it's in the mist of XXXholic, Kamisama da mono, and Maburaho, all of which share very similar commonalities with this series. Anyhow, this is one of the series I need to catch up on for my Dragon Age subscription. The drama CD (limited edition), which I've already pre-ordered, is also coming out at the end of the month, so I should get up to speed with the story. There are color pages in front, comics on the inside covers, mini-bonus comic at the end of the last chapter and a letter from the author. 1. 突然の訪問者 (Sudden Visitor): 水森樹 (Itsuki Minamori) has fallen asleep in class and dreams about a girl from his past. He is awakened by 春奈 (Haruna), a girl who apparently has a crush on him, but her friend, 結城千早 (Chihaya Yuuki) tells her to stay away from this boy. He explains that he's spent his life being followed by evil ghosts and during the exposition, another one shows up. However, it gets destroyed by a little girl with a big gun. He runs home to find the little girl in his house. She introduces herself as 栖羽鈴 (Suzu Suwa), his fiance. At the same time, she's a ghostbuster, by the code-name "Spas." Itsuki comments on how small she is for a 17-year-old, but she shows him that she can transform into a more mature girl by kissing him, but only for a little while. 2. 樹と春奈とスカートの中！？ (Itsuki, Haruna, and Inside the Skirt!?): Itsuki prevents Suzu from following him to school. At school, while he's talking to Haruna, a ghost appears. Suzu comes to the rescue, but Itsuki and Haruna had gotten tangled with each other while trying to escape. Chihaya and Suzu see them and give Itsuki a beating. Afterwards, Suzu announces that she's now a new student in class. 3. 陽だまりの縁側で (At the Sunlit Porch): At school, Suzu almost lets out the secret about her and Itsuki. After school, Suzu explains to Itsuki about her gun and how it doesn't affect people (he's not so sure). They end up sitting on the porch next to each other and talk about their childhood and how he's protected her in the past. Suzu almost gives Itsuki a kiss but Chihaya and Haruna just happen to show up and catch them in the act. 4. 風邪の特効薬 (Special Medicine for a Cold): At school, Suzu has collapsed and has been taken to the nurse's office. As Itsuki is carrying her out of the office and on home, a ghost appears. Suzu tries to fight, but doesn't have the energy to, so she asks Itsuki for a kiss so she can become her adult form. He does so and the ghost gets blown to bits, but then Chihaya catches the two of them in an embrace. 5. 過去と現在の繋ぐもの（前編） (The Thing That Binds Present and Past, First Part): With rumors of ghosts floating around, a few of them decide to have a challenge and brave the school at night. Chihaya wants to be with Haruna and Suzu with Itsuki, but Haruka ends up with Itsuki and Chihaya with Suzu. As Suzu is walking along, she takes out a ring. She explains that she used to be a lonely girl until Itsuki and this ring was given to her when they had to separate after their summer vacation. Suzu and Chihaya hear some noise and run to see that Haruka has fallen on top of Itsuki and giving him a kiss. In the rush, Suzu realizes that she's dropped her ring and runs off looking for it. Chihaya is bummed that Haruka kissed someone else. 6. 過去と現在の繋ぐもの（後編） (The Thing That Binds Present and Past, Last Part): Itsuki gets a visit from his mother's ghost and she fills in his memories about Suzu. She then gives him her ring before disappearing. Itsuki later returns the ring to Suzu. |
Title: すぱすぱ (Spas-pa) Vol. 1 |
KaNa Vol. 2
More good stuff. I think the artwork is getting a little better, at least that what my impression is from memory. It feels like the artists is putting more details into the backgrounds. Like before, there are letters from the author and creator, a couple of colored art pages, and a summary of the previous book with character list. 6. 空回る気持ち (Aimless Feelings): Okubo, one of the members of the 7 Heads, used to date Yuji's sister and has paid her a visit. He wants to invite her to a dinner, but gets caught by his current girlfriend. At the 7 Heads meeting, they talk about whether they've determined if Kana is "Babylon." As the meeting adjourns, Saku arrives and tells the leader where Kana lives. Yuji's sister comes back drunk and Yuji goes out to get her some drinks. He meets Saku and thinks he's an enemy of Kana. 7. 僕にできること（前編） (What I Can Do, First Part): The next day at Kana's hideout, Saku shows up. He's Kana's brother, but Yuji doesn't trust him. Beth and Kana get summoned to lake in Ueno by Ken Kageyama, another member, where he'll will explain everything to them. They arrive (without Yuji -- he's with Saku) and get told about Babylon. Babylon is suppose to be the one who brings the hail in the new age of beasts and humans, and they suspect that it's Kana. Kana denies this and changes into attack mode. 8. 僕にできること（後編） (What I Can Do, Last Part): Ken summons a water snake to take care of Kana. Kana eventually defeats it, but gets seen by Yuji, so unexpectedly appeared. 9. イレギュラー (Irregular): After seeing Kana like that, he goes home pretty bummed. Meanwhile, the leader of the 7 Heads gets the report that the contact has failed and again, Saku shows up and tells them about Yuji. At school, Yuji's friends also see that he's depressed and cheer him up by having him play soccer again, his favorite sport. 10. イレギュラー２ (Irregular 2): After a day of fun, Yuji and two friends, Nakada and Kayo go home. Along the way, they get accosted by Minami Saito (another member of the 7 Heads). 11. イレギュラー３ (Irregular 3): She dispatches some monsters (flying frogs) to kill them, especially Yuji. They get cornered in a building and then on the roof 12. イレギュラー４ (Irregular 4): As the beasts fly towards them, Ro shows up and takes a few bites. Minami runs away and Kana makes her appearance. |
Title: KaNa Vol. 2 |
少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine), '04 Vol 42
Freakin' Waka. King's Sword: ３鉄騎来襲！？ (Steel Horsemen Attack!?): The bandits with the yellow bandana come on horseback and start attacking. The first few waves of defenders get mauled down without much challenge. The guys in the back start to back out, but Ahi and Kanu are able to bring down the 3 enemies by themselves. Suzuka: ＃２９好転 (Improvement): Yamato thinks that his relationship with Suzuka is getting better. Meanwhile, Honoka is a bit bummed as she wonders what's going on with Yamato and Suzuka (she has a crush on him, as described during her introduction). After practice, she asks Yamato to accompany her home, but he innocently brushes her off. Suzuka comes to where Yamato is sitting and tells him to stretch after he runs. She helps him stretch, but they're in an odd position and Honoka sees them. Negima: ６７時間目 どっきりぬるぬるバスタイム (Frightening, Slimy, Bath-Time): The girls at Eva's place want to go into her magical "room," where time slows down so they can study. Eva warns them that they'll age faster though, and with that, they decide it's not worth it. Ayaka bumps into Kotaro and is furious that a guy is wandering in the girl's dorm. Chizuru explains that Kotaro is actually Natsumi's little brother and has come to live with her because of family problems. In the exquisite bath in the dorm, a few of the girls are bathing when the blobs (from previous chapters) go in the water and play around with them. As Ayaka, Chizuru, Natsumi, and Kotaro are having dinner, a mysterious man appears outside their door. Tsubasa: ５６男と女 (Men and Women): After the performance last night, Sakura apparently got pretty wasted. This morning, she and Shaoran talk and she mentions that she has the memory of Clow Country and the ruins that arose in the desert after an earthquake. The men from Fye/Kuro's side of the country then come attack the troupe, blaming them for the quake. Shaoran steps in and fends them off. Hamanaka Ai: ０５２奥深い日本語 (Deep Japanese): Masahiko's back is hurting, so Ai helps him stretch. He tries to explain this to Misaki the next day, but the words come out wrong and she interprets it differently (and ends up giving Masahiko a bump on his head). Changing Now: ＃２０訪問 犬と兎 (Visitation, Dog and Rabbit): Dog Fighter and Crimson Bunny have tea at her place. They agree that they can still be coworkers, but fight each other at night. He comes home late at night to a suspicious Takeko. |
Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 42 |
愛人 (Ai Ren) Vol. 3
Unfortunately, Bookoff didn't have this volume on the shelf when I bought the other 3, so I had to order this from overseas, hence the delay. I find out thought, that they now have it...for half the price of importing. The bulk of the chapters are cute romantic chapters with only a few dedicated to the real story. It's not that I don't like it, but the series is already half over. Speaking of that, I recently found out that volume 5 is going to be released later this month. I had thought that the series ended at volume 4 as that was published more than two years ago. Had I actually read more of the preview pages of volume 4, I would have found out that vol. 5 was slated to be released in 2002. I guess they just delayed it.
19. 少年の朝 (A Young Boy's Morning): Ai has matured and Ikuru can't help but stare at her and wonder why he's suddenly attracted. As they're hanging laundry, Ai says she understands and tells him that he can look under her skirt, which to his surprise is a buruma. She laughs and says he's cute. 20. 月光 (Moonlight): Ikuru believes he's seen the Goddess of Death again. The next day, he and Ai go out on a date. 21. おでかけ おでかで (Trip, Trip): They go out and enjoy the day in the busting town. As they're biking home, it starts raining and they both get drenched. Then spend the night snuggling. 22. 鬼火 (Jack o' Lantern): A flashback to when humanity first met HITO. It's from the same dark skinned character as before, Kamaro. He wonders about their intentions as they disappeared soon after arriving and attacking, and then wonders what it means to be human. 23. ひまわり (Sunflower): Haruka tries to find out more about Ai and her past, but comes to a dead end. Along the way, she apparently also sees the Goddess of Death. In the end, so wonders to herself who Ikuru really loves. 24. あいの絵日記ＩＩ〜すきなひとといっしょに〜 (Ai's Picture Diary II, With the Person I Love): Ai writes about frolicking while doing laundry, a kitten that comes by, their dying tomato plant, her endless crying, and then back to something happy, Ikuru. 25. 夢を見た (I Saw a Dream): Ai has a messed up dream where blood is gushing out of her. The next day, she and Ikuru play with a water hose and she catches a cold. Haruka comes over to check her out and keeps her in bed. Outside, she tells Ikuru to prepare himself for her inevitable death. Meanwhile, Ai has dreams about who she apparently is and how she'll end up killing Ikuru. 26. 情歌 (Love Song): Ikuru managed to borrow a car and drives Ai to a concert where they here another Ai-Ren singing. |
Title: 愛人 (Ai Ren) Vol. 3 |
ちびまる子ちゃん (Chibimaruko-chan) Vol. 3
More adventures with Maruko. This series is one of those where if I'm interested in the story at hand, the pages go quickly. If I'm not really interested, it's a chore to finish. Fortunately, I've liked most of the stories so far, so reading it isn't too bad. It still takes me almost 2-3 hours to finish this little book though because there's so much text in here (for manga). The print quality is consistent in this volume and doesn't suffer from the strange printing issues in the last volume. The postcard has a Christmas theme and as always, there's a bookmark included with the book. My favorite stories from this volume is when Hanawa goes on TV for a talent contest and Maruko is in the audience. The big sign she holds up has his name misspelled. Her experiences with a penpal (who later abruptly stops writing) gave me a good laugh too. Oh, and the story where she has a stomach ache during the test was a hilarious one. She wanted to be excused to go to the bathroom, but someone else in the class already used that excuse and was found out to be lying, so she had to just hold it in. |
Title: ちびまる子ちゃん (Chibimaruko-chan) Vol. 3 |
美少女戦士セーラームーン (Sailormoon) Vol. 8
Looks like my old-timer's memory has kicked in. Fisheye, Tigereye, and Hawkeye appear in this volume during the Pegasys arc as well as that old grand(ma?). Stupid me, to confuse them with Wiseman and all. It's a shame that my favorite story arc is over, but I liked it in the manga version too. The bonus sticker is almost the size of the page. Color pages for the first few pages too. 36. 無限１０ 上空 (Eternity 10, Sky): The city, starting at the school, is becoming a wreck due to Mistress 9's summonings. The spirit of Hotaru comes and frees the demon from her body and awakens Chibiusa by returning her crystal to her. With the demon out and about without a crystal, Sailormoon and Chibimoon power up their attacks. 37. 無限１１ 審判 (Eternity 11, Trial): The two defeat the demon that had possessed Hotaru, but the evil still isn't gone and in fact, it's even greater than before. Hotaru reappears as Sailor Saturn and casts her Death Ribbon Revolution to stop the evil. Unfortunately, this also means that it's the end of everything else. 38. 無限１２ 旅立ち (Eternity 12, Travels): Saturn tells Pluto to seal her away as to stop the evil from spreading and her powers from destorying the earth. Pluto does so reluctantly. Death always brings Rebirth and Saturn is reborn as a baby. Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna become foster parents for this new child. A while later, the scouts are now high school students. During a solar eclipse event, Usagi and Chibiusa meet a unicorn that asks them to save him. 39. 夢１ 日食ドリーム (Dream 1, Solar Eclipse Dream): The Circus of the Dead Moon is in town, but that's just a front for the new gang of villains. Eriol, the unicorn, takes Chibiusa on a night ride around the city and gives her a bell to summon him. Sailormoon and Chibiusa get attacked by the Amazoness Quartest, but fend them off with their new weapons. Fisheye, Tigereye, and Hawkeye get brought to life and the chapter ends with Usagi and Chibiusa changing bodies, which is what they had talked about previously. |
Title: 美少女戦士セーラームーン (Pretty Guardian Sailormoon) Vol. 8 |
フルメタル・パニック！ (Full Metal Panic!) Vol. 2
Mechas come into play starting this chapter. Mechas never seemed to interest me much, but from what I've read so far, it seems like they're secondary to the main story, so hopefully it should be okay. A little bit of Kaname's background and why Sosuke is protection her is revealed in a few chapters here as well. The first few pages are colored and a mini-comic with the author. 8. 憂鬱な修学旅行 (Depressing School Trip): Kaname's class is going on a school trip to Okinawa and of course, Sosuke is also on the plane. However, their plane gets hijacked and they land in North Korea somewhere. Hiding in the bathroom, Sosuke gathers his thoughts and recognizes the leader as Galon and is surprised that he didn't see him before. They terrorists take Kaname for some testing to see if "Black Technology" is implanted in her brain. 9. 深淵からのよび声 (Call From the Deep): Sosuke sneaks around and discovers there's a bomb on the plane. Meanwhile, Kaname is undergoing some tests where she hears a voice calling out to her. She's about to break free from the brain reading contraption, but is told to get back in. Sosuke finds her and tries to take her to safety. They end up running to hanger with an AS (Arm Slave) mecha. 10. オペレーション＝スタート (Operation Start): Mythril, Sosuke's organization has sent some recon, but the leadership is surprised that Galon is still alive. He should have been dead. Some battles back at the base with Sosuke's mecha. Suddenly, Galon appears in his mecha. 11. 暗く長い夜 (Long and Dark Night): The passengers in the plane get rescued, the bomb detonated in a safe area, and Galon's first mecha gets destroyed. Kaname and Sosuke run to the woods and she starts having some feelings for him. They encounter an injured Kurutsu. 12. 天空の眼 (Eye in the Sky): Sosuke tells Kaname to go on ahead while they serve as decoys, but Kaname doesn't allow it. After some gunfights, a new AS falls from the sky near where the 3 escapees are. 13. その「想い」が届く時 (When Those "Feelings" are Conveyed): The AS is unmanned, so Sosuke takes the cockpit. Galon then arrives in his second mecha and fights Sosuke. Sosuke is on the losing end when Kaname tells him to how to properly pilot the machine. 14. 大脱出！！ (Grand Escape!!): Galon gets defeated (and killed, hopefully). Sosuke reports to his superiors and Kaname ends up in the hospitals with no memories of the events. Despite being told that Sosuke has moved on to his next mission, he appears in the hospital room. |
Title: フルメタル・パニック！ (Full Metal Panic!) Vol. 2 |
フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 6
The story about Kyou's identity and the relationship with his mentor carried the plot for me in this book. It's interesting and all, but at the same time, it felt a little tacked on. The fate of Kyou's mother isn't much of a surprise to me either. No bonuses in this volume. 31. Kyou is already having a rotten day as it's cold and rainy. Just to top it off, Kagura has come over for a visit. She drags him out on a "date" as she's been asked to get some food for Tohru. Kyou comes back to find a visitor. 32. The visitor is 草摩藉真 (Kazuma Souma), one of the family members but not a zodiac character. He's also Kyou's mentor and paternal figure, and as Kagura explains, Kazuma's grandfather was cursed as a cat the same way Kyou is so Kazuma could relate to Kyou. Kyou explains to Kazuma that he hates it here, but Kazuma tells him that he's only trying to run away from his true self. 33. Kazuma turns him into his true self, a foul beast. Tohru sees this, and Kyou runs away in shame. Despite his repugnant appearance and smell, Tohru approaches him and implores that he comes back. After some flashbacks to his childhood and his mother, he comes to his senses and Tohru carries him back as a regular feline. 34. Kyou has a dream about when his mother commited suicide and the rumors that he was the cause and continues his dream to when Kazuma adopted him. He wakes up to find that Kazuma has left the house and chases after him. He finds him outside talking to Tohru about why he decided to take in Kyou, partially because he felt he needed to repent for the way he treated his grandfather. Kyou and Kazuma say goodbye in their own way and he leaves. 35. Tohru is somewhat worried. She now understands Kyou's true self, but wonders about Kagura, who left mysteriously before she woke up, and also about Yuki. She takes to Hatsuharu at school, who then has a little chat with Yuki. But in the end, everything seems back to normal...at least for now. 36. Yuki and Tohru go pay a visit to Ayano's store where his assistant plays dress-up with Tohru and has her wearing a gorgeous gown. |
Title: フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 6
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