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ありさ² (Arisa's Circumstances)
Another Ken Yagami manga! Apparently he really likes these promises and dual personalities stories. This manga is based on an ecchi video game that he also did the character designs for. However, from reading the descriptions of the game, it doesn't seem like there's much of a connection between the game and this story. I like the basis for this story (and as always, his character designs), but it's a bit short. A few more volumes would have done it justice. Comes with a bonus 4 panel comic. 1. FIRST CONTACT: As a child, 森崎眞一郎 (Shinichiro Morisaki) made a promise to Arisa when she was about to move away. He wakes up from that dream again with his sister waking him up, making him go to school. On his way there, he meets a girl who trips over a rock and lands right on him, passed out. He brings her to the school's nurse's office. In class, a new girl comes running in shouting Shinichiro's name. She looks awfully familiar to the girl Shinichiro brought in earlier. The class leader knocks the new girl out for being to rambunctious and Shinichiro brings her to the nurse's office too and finds that there are actually two girls who look very similar. When they come around, they get officially introduced. The girl he saved in the morning is named 沢渡有佐 (Arisa Sawatari), the loud one is named 沢渡アリサ (Alyssa Sawatari). While their names are identical in pronunciation, they have no apparent relation. Shinichiro looks at Arisa and thinks she's the girl from his past as she's very bashful and shy. However, Alyssa wears the cat-ears that he remembers and she also remembers him. When he goes home, he finds out that his uncle, who he lives with, has taken the two girls into his house. 2. SECOND CONTACT: Arisa and Alyssa both try to help out that Shinichiro's uncle's restuarant, but both mess up in their own distinct ways (although the customers think they're cute). In the bath, Alyssa tells Arisa about where she got her cat-ears. They were from Shinichiro as a gift to cheer her up. The three of them go out around town and Arisa becomes more depressed. Apparently, she doesn't have any memories. Shinichiro vows to help her regain them. 3. THIRD CONTACT: It's sports festival time and Alyssa is enjoying it until he gets knocked out in a heated volleyball contest. After waking up in the nurse's office, he asks Shinichiro if he likes Arisa. Shinichiro responds that he curious about her since she looks like Alyssa and goes on to remind Alyssa of the promise they made. She doesn't remember. 4. FOURTH CONTACT: Shinichiro, his sister, Arisa, and Alyssa all go to the amusement park. They split up with Shinichiro with Arisa and the sister with Alyssa. Shinichiro and Arisa see a lost girl who is looking for her parents. Shinichiro makes a promise to the girl and this triggers something in Arisa's head. Eventually, the girl's guardian arrives. The guardian tells them that he parents had died in a car accident a while back while driving her to the amusement park. That's why the girl is searching the area. This reminds Shinichiro of his own situation. His mom died when they were young and his dad ran off to do be more involved in his research. Alyssa, in trying to find Shinichiro, seems to have bumped into someone. 5. FIFTH CONTACT: Shinichiro's father drops by the uncle's place when the kids aren't around. Arisa hasn't been happy since the amusement park trip and has a flashback. She had bumped into Shinichiro's father at the park who told her that she was Arisa's clone. When she comes back, Shinichiro tries to play a big party for Alyssa, but she's not in the mood and runs outside. Shinichiro sees his dad outside. 6. SIXTH CONTACT: His father tells them everything. Arisa was the daughter of a colleague. One day, while she was visiting, a horrible accident happened where Arisa and her dad got serious injured. With his dying breath, Arisa's dad asked Shinichiro's dad to take care of her daughter. However, Arisa remained in coma, so in order to keep his promise, he made a clone of her and created Alyssa. But then, Arisa awoke, so there was no more need for Alyssa. They eventually find Alyssa who is on the verge of dying because her cloned body is breaking down. While his father could have regenerated her body, her memories would be erased too and Alyssa didn't want that to happen. Months later, a new girl appears in town. |
Title: ありさ² (Arisa's Circumstances) |
少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine), '04 Vol 48
Negima to be animated. This is only the second volume of Shonen that has Negima on the cover. One of the other news items is that Ai ga Tomaranai wil be re-re-released. I have the second release as I bought them for $1 a piece. I don't know if I'll get the latest version. I didn't like it that much. The Kodansha this week manga features this year's Miss Magazine. Suzuka: ＃３６目撃 (Witness): After the competition, the track team is celebrating. Yamato goes outside to gather his thoughts together about the two girls, Suzuka and Honoka. As he sits by a pond, Honoka comes and sits beside him. A fish startles her and she leans into Yamato. When she tries to give her a kiss, he says that he can't. However, he has second thoughts and kisses her instead. Suzuka's friend, Miki sees them in a lip-lock. Negima: ７２時間目 もえろ 乙女たち！ (Burn It Up, Girls!): Negi writes to Nekane about how things are progressing, how everyone is treating him nicely, what he's learning from Ku Fei and Eva, how Asuna is still having trouble at school, and that he's gotten a new friend, Kotaro. He stops short of telling her the other bad events that have happened. At school, the girls are preparing for their cultural festival. That night, Asuna tells Negi that she's noticed he's been pretty bummed lately and has been crying in his sleep. She offers to let him sleep with her for the night. In the morning, Konoka and Setsuna catch Negi clutching to a half-disrobed Asuna. Tsubasa: ６１最強の２人 (The Strongest Two): Shaoran takes on the two people who look like Fye and Kuro. As he combats, he realizes that the two can't be the Kuro and Fye that he knows. However, he recognizes Kuro's sword as the Souhi, the one that was given to him a couple of dimensions back. King's Sword: ９再び某城 (Back to that Castle): Ahi's injured, but he'll live. Ryuhi has him rest while he and Kanu go back to the fort. When they reach the fort, they find that there's a human shield composed of the male residents. Full Swing: ６思い知らせてやる！ (I'll Make You Remember!): Tama gets partnered up with Shun Momose during practice. Since he doesn't like Tama, he gives him a hard time and eventually pegs him with the ball. During serve returns though, Tama shows that he has some skills by blasting an ace past Shun. The secret is that Douchi told Tama that serving uses the same motion as throwing a baseball from the outfield to home base. Hamanaka Ai: ０５７N先生 (N-sensei): Nakamura introduces Seiji, the new teacher who she used to date. They have a little reunion and he calls in sick the next day as he's hung over. Changing Now: ２６修業！！出直しの連続 (Training, Continual Adjustments): One of the enemies that Dog Fighter defeated has decided to go to Kyoto to train. However, he gets caught up with the tourism there and sends Dog Fighter and Crimson Bunny postcards of himself. |
Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 48 |
すぱすぱ (Spas-pa) Drama CD LE
I've had this CD since it was released, but I've been waiting until I finished volume 3 of the manga, just in case the story was included in that volume. But it turns out that the drama CD contains an original script. I can't really say it's one of my all-time favorites, but it's still pretty good story. Off the top of my head, the only seiyuu that I recognize immediately is Haruna's voice actress, Akemi Kanda, who plays Asuna in Negima. However, that's only from the cast list. Haruna speaks with a very slow prosody and a lot of uncertainty which is a stark contrast to Asuna's independence, so it's hard to make the connection that they're from the same seiyuu. The background music is cute, although there are other drama CD BGMs that I like better. Like the Karin Drama CD, the limited edition comes with a bonus CD with 10 short drama tracks and a long seiyuu free-talk. The conversations with the seiyuu isn't as interesting as the one that came with Karin. Akemi Kanda isn't even a part of the conversation and only has a pre-recorded message that they play back at the very very end. LE also includes a postcard. 1. Story starts off with Itsuki being followed by an evil spirit. Rin and Suzu are there to exterminate it. Itsuki then introduces Suzu as a world class ghostbuster and childhood friend, although he doesn't remember much of it. Suzu reminds him that she's also his fiance at which time, Rin jumps in and gets introduced too. 2. In the morning, Itsuki wakes up to find Suzu in his bed. Rin and Enki barge into his room to find the two together. Before the two of them can fight, Itsuki tells him to start their morning chores at the shrine. While he's sweeping the grounds, Itsuki's father drops by and makes suggestions that he and Suzu should get married. When Itsuki dismisses his talk, the father piles on guilt trip and even brings up his deceased mother. The kids leave for school, but Itsuki is already beat and has an upset stomach from Suzu's cooking. Little do they know that they're being stalked by two ghosts, Sakon and Ukon, who think that the two girls, Rin and Suzu, are disrupting the order. They plan to bring back their boss ghost. At school, Itsuki introduces his classmate, Haruna and Chihaya. During lunch, Suzu and Itsuki have some pastries. 3. That night, Itsuki's father brings up that the summer festival is next week and fortunately there's Rin and Suzu to help out. There's a hugh storm caused by Sakon and Ukon and during the night, Suzu and Rin both want to sleep by Itsuki. The two spirits manage to revive their boss with the storm. 4. The next morning, the skies are clear and they leave for school. Meanwhile, the spirits show their boss, who has taken a human form for now, this world which he hasn't seen in 500 years. The boss fumbles around this society full of cars and bikes. As Suzu and Itsuki are walking to school, Suzu senses the presence of spirits. The boss sees Suzu and thinks she's adorable. During lunch, Itsuki ends up having some lunch with Haruna who just happened to make too much and is more than willing to share. The boss spirit sees the two and thinks Haruna is cute too and is jealous of Itsuki that he goes for the attack. Suzu jumps in just in time to fend him off, but in the aftermath, Suzu sees Itsuki having fallen on top of Haruna. The two sidekick ghosts try to convince their boss not to pursue those girls, but he won't give up. 5. After some failed attempts, Rin teaches Suzu how to make some miso which Itsuki can finally enjoy. 6. At the summer festival, everyone's busy at work. The boss spirit transforms into a clone of Itsuki and convinces Suzu to go to the woods without her ghostbusting gun. Chihaya and Haruka see Suzu and the fake Itsuki together and both freak out, but then the real Itsuki comes with Rin. Rin tries to eliminate the ghosts with her oversided brush pen, but it's suprisingly ineffective. Suzu apologies to Itsuki for being suckered and then asks Itsuki to kiss her so she can turn into her adult form and fight. He does so and she manages to rid the evil spirits. 7. After the fight, Suzu and Itsuki apologize and thanks each other. However, their romantic moment is interrupted when Chihaya, Haruka, and Rin catches Itsuki with a semi-asleep Suzu. |
Title: すぱすぱ (Spas-pa) Drama CD LE |
すぱすぱ (Spas-pa) Vol. 3
I don't know who to cheer for, Haruna or Suzu. I'd probably say Haruna right now as she's better at cooking. However, Suzu in her adult form wouldn't be a bad choice either. In the author's letter, he says that this series is planned for 5 volumes. These volumes are rather short, so I would like it to go a bit longer as I've come to like this series. Bonus includes two bonus chapters and the cover under the dust jacket contain a couple more panels of comics. 13. ２人きりの夜 (Two of Us Alone at Night): Itsuki's dad and Rin have to go attend a service so Suzu and Itsuki are left alone for the night. After failing again at cooking, Suzu is taking a bath. As she's coming out, she sees a mouse running around so she runs into Itsuki's room. She gives him a kiss and turns into her adult self. However, just as things are getting romantic, an evil spirit comes in and ruins the situation. 14. 文化祭と春奈の夢 (The Cultural Festival and Haruna's Dream): It's the for the cultural festival at school and Itsuki's class decides to do a cosplay cafe. Haruna remembers how she's always wanted to dance with Itsuki at the bonfire after the festival, but never had the courage to ask. This time though, she gathers her courage and asks. Itsuki accepts, but during the dance, they trip over each other's feet and Itsuki lands on top of her. Chihaya and Suzu aren't too happy. 15. 聖なる夜に小さな奇跡を (A Small Miracle on a Holy Night): On Christmas Eve and Suzu wakes up feeling sad. She's sharing her feelings with a deceased girl, 美沙 (Misa), who had promised her former boyfriend to meet her underneath a Christmas Tree tonight. Suzu and Itsuki help her by going to the promised location and the boy and the spirit have their reunion before Misa disappears into the night sky. 16. 星空の下で (Underneath a Starry Sky): The family is on vacation at a hot springs and Itsuki and Suzu accidentally go in the springs not knowing that it's mixed bathing. They enjoy the night sky in the warm water and Suzu tells him that she loves him. However, Rin catches the two together. 17. それぞれの想い（前編） (Various Feelings, First Part): Haruna accidentally sees Itsuki on the roof giving a kiss to Suzu (since she's fighting an evil spirit, but Haruna doesn't know anything about that). She falls down the stairs and twists her ankle. Itsuki hears the crash and carries her to the nurses office. In the nurses office, Itsuki tells Haruna that the kiss was an accident. Haruna feels a little less worried as he hasn't committed yet, so she takes the opportunity to tell him that she loves him. Suzu is outside and overhears their chat. 18. それぞれの想い （後編） (Various Feelings, Last Part): At home that night, Suzu feels like she's been rejected, but Itsuki tells her that she didn't listen to his answer to Haruna's confession. Itsuki isn't ready to make a decision yet, but when he does, Suzu will be the first to know. So, Haruna and Suzu are still competing for the same guy. |
Title: すぱすぱ (Spas-pa) Vol. 3 |
真月譚 月姫 (Lunar Legend Tsukihime) Vol. 1
Tsukihime is another series that I'm trying to catch up on in Dengeki Daioh, but unfortunately, this book ends a few months short of when I started my subscription. The art is good, the story is good, and maybe I should have gotten the anime for this too. It looks like this series has a large following as there's a plethora of doujinshi manga. I tend to shy away from series that are really popular where I can't get the original story/media (i.e. getting the game for Kiminozo, the manga for Love Hina, etc...). I'll probably keep this as manga only. No bonuses, just a colored first page. Prologue. As a child after a bad car accident, 遠野志貴 (Shiki Toono) began seeing these dark lines on everything. The doctors though it was just shock, but Shiki realizes that he could break anything just by applying pressure at the locations designated by the lines. It started driving him crazy. After running out into the field, he met a woman who gave him glasses that would eliminate those lines from his vision. 1. After 8 years, Shiki moves out of his relative's house to his own house with his sister and their servants. He goes to school where they talk about the recent killings by vampires. On the way home, he sees a mysterious woman and something lures him into slicing her up along those dark lines that he still sees when he takes off his glasses. After the deed, he thinks it's only a dream, but on his way to school, he sees that woman again. 2. He runs off, but the woman follows him and subtle reminds him of what he did to her last night. At school during lunch, there's more news about the random killings around town. After school a female classmate, 弓塚 (Yumizuka), asks him if they can walk home together. Along the way, she reminds him of an incident two years ago when he was able to free her and some other students from a locked storage shed. After Yumizuka heads off to her home, Shiki sees the mysterious woman again. 3. The woman introduces herself as a vampire who in the business of killing vampires. Since Shiki chopped her up, she says her powers have weakened a bit and asks him to help her do her job. A dark panther appears and attacks the two and she fights it off. She introduces herself as Arcuid Brunstad (?). I'll just call her Arc. 4. The two of them go back to her apartment where she takes a rest. She asks Shiki to be on the lookout while she rests, but he goes out. When he comes back, she scolds him, but he explains that he just went to get some medical supplies as he noticed that she was bleeding. After bandaging her up, he accidentally drops his knife. She sees it and is curious as to if that's the weapon he used to kill her. 5. Some evil looking dude is searching for Arc. Shiki shows her his skill and she explains that he can see the lines of death. The evil guy comes to her apartment and kills everyone he sees. He lets loose the the panthers and they go after Shiki and Arc. 6. Shiki fights back utilizing the lines he sees. When they get out-numbered, Arc takes him and runs away. Meanwhile, there's a mysterious Sister who seems to also be interested in the two. 7. Shiki doesn't come home and his sister becomes a little worried. She has a short flashback. Meanwhile, Shiki is also bad dreams. He wakes up find he's in someone's house. |
Title: 真月譚 月姫 (Lunar Legend Tsukihime) Vol. 1 |
千夏のうた (Chinatsu's Voice) Vol. 2
It's hard to believe that a story like this is running in the same publication as Hiyoko Brand. I don't feel like there's much character development here, but I like the situations and the stories that come out of it. Color first page and the cover has the same textured treatment as the first volume. 10. 弟とボール (Brother and the Ball): The old man, who is about to save Chinatsu, has a flashback to when his younger brother died. During the war, they were all going to the bomb shelter when he forgot his favorite baseball. He had his brother go get it, but he never returned. That's why he's always thought that he was the one who should have died and why he's so willing to go and rescue Chinatsu even though he's blind. Chinatsu decides to sing a song so the old man would know how to reach her. After the incident, the old man passes out from exhaustion. When he awakens, he tells Chinatsu that her song reminded him of someone he knew long ago. 11. さくら貝 (Sakura Shell): About 30 years ago, he met a young girl who sang just like Chinatsu and told him that dying is never the answer. She had him make a promise about never thinking of dying. As a gift, he have her two shells. Years later, he hears the same voice on the radio and knows it's the same girl. That girl had become a professional singer who later mysteriously disappeared, Fukiko Inaba, Chinatsu's mom. 12. 母の歌 (Mother's Song): Chinatsu doesn't remember her mom, but is happy that she's at the exact place that her mom use to be at, seeing the exact same landscape she saw. She then remembers that she has a pouch from her mom and inside is the same two shells that was given to her. Chinatsu makes a promise to the old man that he'll see her mom again someday. 13. 白い帽子 (White Hat): Fuyuki and Chinatsu are playing around when they see a white hat fly past them. They pick it up and find out that it belongs to a woman who is in town trying to find a guy that she met years ago here who picked up the same hat for her. She doesn't remember anything about him except the location. After her story, Chinatsu sings her a song, and the power of the music finally makes her remember his face. 14. お父さん (Father): Fuyuki's father is finally back from the work in the city and both father and son are excited to see each other. The mother, however, seems like she could care less. 15. 部会の記憶 (Memories of the Meeting): While Chinatsu, Fuyuki, and his dad are out fishing in the river, his mother is entertaining some old friends who have come from the city to this country town to visit. After they leave, she says under her breath for them to never come back. When the kids come back with a bucket of fish, the mom tells them that she doesn't need them and to just give them to Chinatsu. The two parents start bickering. 16. 家族 (Family): Chinatsu jumps in to stop them from arguing and then runs home. She meets up with Fuyuki later on and he explains that even though they fight, they always make up. They go like some fireworks in the summer night sky. When he goes home, Fuyuki's father tells them that they'll be going to the amusement park tomorrow. 17. 帰り道で (On the Way Home): While Fuyuki and his father are at the park, Chinatsu goes and visit his mom. The mother asks Chinatsu how she feels about this hick town and then explains that she hates it here. On their way home, Fuyuki's father tells him that he and his mom are thinking of divorcing. 18. 父の告白 (Father's Confession): His father explains the reason why they're thinking of separating, but Fuyuki runs off. At home, the mom doesn't like the fact that the father told Fuyuki. Fuyuki meets up with Chinatsu and asks her to be runaways with him. 19. 家出 (Running Away From Home): The parents want to call for help, but the old man tells them that Fuyuki ran away so that they would come after him. Fuyuki tells Chinatsu that she can go home, but she decides to stay by him. She starts singing which is heard by the parents. |
Title: 千夏のうた (Chinatsu's Voice) Vol. 2 |
Crossover Vol. 3
Just like I said before, this whole volume doesn't even finish a single game. The pacing is okay for now, but I can't imagine having to read this on a weekly basis. It goes too slow to have to wait a whole week for the next few minutes in the game. No bonuses in this volume. 15. 殻 (Shell): Mariannu takes a surprising lead at the beginning of the first quarter. Fujinohara then change strategy to a "shell" defense where they don't allow Natsuki to enter beyond the three point line. 16. 言い訳 (Excuse): At the beginning of the second quarter, Fujinohara has taken the lead. One of Mariannu's players, Nanba, feels like they're no match for the opposing team. Natsuki tells him that when they're on the court, they're all basketball players. 17. 悪ガキ (Bad Boys): To overcome the defense, Natsuki and Eiji use their speed to get to the basket before Fujinohara has time to position their players. The game is a tie at 31-31 at the half. 18. ただの敵 (Ordinary Enemy): For the third quarter, Fujinohara stops playing around and the coach has the first-string players go in to play. The crowd gets hyped up, but Natsuki tells his teammates that they're still just regular opponents. 19. 負けちゃヤダ！！ (We Can't Lose!!): Fujinohara is pulling ahead and their defense is almost imperviable as each player is taller than Mariannu's center (except for Hayato). Mizuki shouts out to her team that they can't lose and Natsuki finds that if he ducks low enough, he can go past the triple-team. 20. 闘争心 (Fighting Spirit): After a time out, Mariannu's captain has his team go all-offense, no defense. With that strategy, Mariannu slowly catches up to Fujinohara. 21. 取られたら取り返せ (If You Can Catch It, Get It!): After some clever teamwork, the score is 44-52. To top it off, Natsuki makes a full court shot to make it 47-52 at the end of the 3rd quarter. 22. Cheer Up!: At the break, everyone's concerned that Natsuki has tired himself out. But when the bell sounds, he's up and running around like it's the first quarter. 23. 一人じゃない！！ (You're Not Alone!!): In the 4th, Natsuki plays like a pro. He weaves around the defensemen and even pulls a Michael Jordan where he knows he's going to be blocked on the lay-up, so he switches hands and throws the ball in. With a minute to go in the 4th, it's 63-64. |
Title: Crossover Vol. 3 |
Hiyoko Brand Vol. 5
There's really not much of a story in this one. What caught my attention was how well Asami's hands were drawn. Everything other than her chest is censored out, but during one of the scenes, she's trying to "revitalize" her husband. Although they can't show it, the way that her hands are drawn is more than enough to show what she's doing. I could have done with less pointless sex though. Bonus is another postcard, this time with her wearing her underwear correctly. Asami tries to take Ichimaru to a love hotel and things start off okay, but Ichimaru turns flaccid blaming it on the fact that it's his first time in a love hotel and he's really nervous. He says he would prefer it at home. So they try at home, but Asami's little (perverted) brother tries to break into the house as they've locked the doors. Fortunately, he gets taken away by a friend before he finds what they're doing. Asami finally loses her virginity and it goes down hill from there. "Once you pop, you can't stop" or at least that's how Ichimaru looks at it...so it's like that for the next few days, almost every night when she comes home. |
Title: Hiyoko Brand おくさまは女子高生 (The Wife is a High School Student) Vol. 5 |
まほらば (Mahoraba) Vol. 7
Mahoraba is coming to anime! Too bad they've gutted the original CD drama cast, which I really though fit the characters, for a new batch of seiyuu. But, Yui Horie plays Tamami which is a surprise as Tamami a bit evil but I don't think she's ever had a bad role. I just hope the others can do as well as the CD drama. This volume has a lot more emotions than the previous volumes combined. A bit unexpected for Mahoraba, but a welcomed change. This volume has a color first page and a bonus manga with Natsume. 33. シロクロミケトラマフィア (Black, White, and Calico Tiger Mafia): Haibara's puppet and his voice, Johnny has been stolen by a cat, so the gang tries to find the culprits. They discover that there's a gang of kittens roaming around. Tamami tries to scare them away, but they only leave when Kozue feeds them some olives. 34. 暮れ (End of the Year): The year's almost over and each member of Narutaki apartments is doing their own thing. Sayoko goes to the park and meets an artists who carves wood. She makes a carving of Asami before her stomach growls and leaves. Momono is on the phone with her boyfriend and is surprised that Haibara/Johnny know about him. Tamami and Kozue are at school and Ryuushi hangs out with his classmates at the game center. 35. 気持ち (Feelings): Ryuushi's friend at school asks if Ryuushi's ever been in love and tries to find out what he is feeling himself is love. Back at home, Kozue has become the male-phobic Yuriko. To cope, the other girls dress Ryuushi up in a wig so that Yuriko can deal with him. After some talking, his wig is accidentally removed and she passes out/changes personality. Tamami sees Kozue on top of Ryuushi and asks to talk to him alone. She tells him she has something important to say and asks how long he's going to live in the apartment. 36. 告げる夜 (Informative Night): Tamami tells Ryuushi that she loves Kozue and do anything in the world to make her happy. She then asks how he fells about her and he responds, almost nonchalantly, that he loves her too. She brings up the fact that Kozue's multiple personalities is a sickness that needs to be cured, even if it means ridding Saki, Nanako, Natsume, and Yuriko, but she feels sad in preparing herself for the sacrifies. Ryuushi assures her that they'll find a way not to have to do that. After their discussion, Tamami cries in Momono's arms explaining that she lost to Ryuushi. 37. こころ１(Heart 1): The next day as he's thinking over the conversation he had last night, he realized that he's actually in love with her and had already confessed. After school, Tamami lets Ryuushi walk Kozue home, but he starts acting strangely around her. 38. こころ２ (Heart 2): Tamami is alone in the school building and the president of the occult club comes and talks to her. After school, Tamami meets with Kozue who tells her that she's her best friend. |
Title: まほらば (Mahoraba) Vol. 7 |
一撃殺虫！！ホイホイさん (Interceptor-Doll Hoihoi-san) LE
I really liked this manga. It's unfortunate that it's only one issue, but it's been running for the past three years so I guess all things have to come to an end. The format of the manga is similar to a 4 panel comic, but each "episode" is one full page. Some stories are multiple pages. Despite being disjoint though, there's a cohesive plot that prevails throughout the book very much like Azumanga Daioh. The limited edition comes with a 10 minute anime. For $30, it's kinda expensive, but the anime is hilarious, mostly because it follows some of the funniest moments in the manga. The book also has a full complement of design sketches and color illustrations. This story revolves around 油壺 (Aburatsubo), a typical otaku who spends all his money on these little dolls, Hoihoi-san and Combat-san who are programmed to kill bugs (mostly roaches). The store where he frequents for his addition is a pharmacy with a clerk, 出羽きみ子 (Kimiko Dewa), who also likes cute dolls, but doesn't like Hoihoi because of the bugs it kills. Lastly, the third focus is with the owner of Mars Pharmaceutical, the creator of the Hoihoi-san doll and competes with Kinryu, the people who create Combat-san. The plot is simple, but would take forever to explain. Some of my favorite story arcs are when Kimiko puts a "reserved" sign on the last Combat-san she has in stock, thus fending off Aburatsubo from purchasing it and buying it herself. Of course, Combat-san is a bug-killing machine and she ends up becoming afraid of it too. He manages to sell her returned item to Aburatsubo. I also liked the the arc where she goes with her friend Mutsumi to Doll-ke (Doll Market Convention) and she has to deal with all the otaku there and meets Aburatsubo. And of course, the "romantic" ending topped it off perfectly. |
Title: 一撃殺虫！！ホイホイさん (Interceptor-Doll Hoihoi-san) LE |
Crossover Vol. 2
I like the action in this volume so far. Not much with the romance, but it's okay. There's still 5 books to go. However, I have a sense that the basketball game their playing in the last chapter is going to take a few chapters to finish. That might become a drag. There's a bonus chapter with a mix of fantasy and basketball. 6. フツーの武器 (Ordinary Weapon): Team St. Mariannu has some locker talk and practice a few plays. 7. 誤解 (Misunderstanding): The team travels to the IH competition with the school's cheerleaders. Unlike the basketball team, their cheerleaders are national champions. However, the girls don't like Natsuki since they remember he's the one who saw them in the hot springs in chapter 1. At the hotel, he meets Hayato again. Hayato offers to carry his bags despite not knowing how Natsuki is. Natsuki sees his former teammates who still are bitter that he chose Mariannu over Fujinohara. 8. 証明 (Proof): Natsuki and his former teammates exchange some words before going their separate ways. It's almost game time and Mizuki tries to get the cheerleaders to watch it and support their team. Only one of them, Moe, does so. The game starts between Mariannu and Sasayakita with no one in the stands as the crowd only shows up for Fujinohara games. 9. 空転 (Idling): They play the first quarter, but Natsuki seems very unfocused and keeps on losing the ball. 10. 告白 (Confession): During the break, Natsuki tells him teammates the grudge between him and the opposing team. In particular, he tells them that he turned down Fujinohara. This gives his teammates some pride and they play better in the second quarter, which in turn also makes Natsuki play better. 11. 復活 (Revivial): Mariannu wins by the score of 89 to 51. After the game, Natsuki doesn't get the see his former teammates before they leave, however, they do sign his jersey the same way they signed his middle school jersey. 12. ２つの未来 (Two Futures): Natsuki's team wins their second game. At night, Natsuki keeps on practicing and meets Hayato. Natsuki boasts that he's going to defeat him. 13. 檸檬の味 (Taste of Lemons): They enter the next game, playing against Fujinohara and for the first time, they see the stands filled with people. Mitsuki brings out the lemons and Natsuki reaffirms that they're gonna beat their opponent. 14. 高校一年生 (High School Freshmen): The mayor of the town has come to cheer on Fujinohara, like everyone else. The game starts and the coach for the opposing team decides to just use his first-year students against Mariannu. The game starts and Natsuki shows his speed and skills. |
Title: Crossover Vol. 2 |
KaNa Vol. 4
Quite a shame, quite a shame. This story got prematurely cut off with a pretty lousy ending. I had planned on getting the novels as the previous books were pretty good, but I'm a little more ambivalent now. This volume comes with an bonus short parody story. 23. 飛騨へ１ (To Kida 1): Ookubo and Minami are at Kida where the two headed beasts roam. The two of them ask for cooperation, but they get rejected. Minami then unleashes the Ring of Solomon upon them, forcing them to comply. Meanwhile, Kana and Yuji prepare for their journey to that mountain. 24. 飛騨へ２ (To Kida 2): Kana and Yuji take the bus, but Ro decides to go by foot as he's not allowed on the bus. Meanwhile, there's talk about erecting a new Tower of Babylon. 25. 飛騨へ３ (To Kida 3): Kana and Yuji get off the bus at their destination and Ro happens to be there too despite having walked. They reach the shed of the leader of the two headed beasts. Back in the city, Ookubo still has some feelings for Yuko and almost follows her at the train station. 26. 飛騨へ４ (To Kida 4): The two of them get an unfriendly welcome and Yuji gets captured and an arrow strikes him. 27. 飛騨へ５ (To Kida 5): Kana goes berserk and after she kills everyone, she finds out that Yuji's Hihirokane had protected him from the arrow. With his dying breath, the leader of the beasts apologizes for being possessed and hands Kana, who he calls Babylon, the keys to the Amafune. 28. 勇気 (Courage): Yuji explains that after they disposed of the beasts body, Kana took the ship to Babylonia. His life is back to normal, but he still has memories of her. |
Title: KaNa Vol. 4 |
フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 10
I really didn't know why Mayuko was introduced into the story. Maybe she serves as encouragement for Hattori, but it seemed a bit sudden to introduce another character into the story. I guess I should be interested in Yuki and the hat, but I can't say that it's something that has perked my curiosity just yet. No bonuses in this volume. 54. The group is vacation at the Sohma beach house, minus Shigure who is currently meeting with Akito. As Yuki looks on, watching Tohru, Hatsuharu, and Kyo play in the water, he is reminded of what Akito told him as a kid, that he'll always live in darkness. At the end of the day, Yuki takes a timeout on the sofa and gives a subtle hint to Tohru that she'll be the one who "saves" him. 55. Kisa and Hiro arrive at the beach house and Kisa ends up sharing the room with Tohru. She asks Tohru why she has a picture of her mom in this temporary room. Tohru says that it's because they'll be together. The next day, Tohru drops her wallet and Hiro picks it up. As he returns it, he makes a comment about Tohru having a mother-complex. While Tohru acts like it's not a big deal, Kisa scolds Hiro for being insensitive and doesn't talk with him for a while. They eventually make up. 56. Shigure pays a visit to a local bookseller, whose daughter, 白木繭子 (Mayuko Shiraki) is in charge of for a day. Mayuko used to be Shigure's girlfriend a few years ago and so they talk a bit about their past. Mayuko used to be friends with Kana, Hattori's old girlfriend. She and Shigure got together because Mayuko was getting jealous of her best friend's blossoming relationship and in fact, had a crush on Hattori herself. Mayuko was also there when Kana found out about Hattori's eye injury. After Shigure leaves, Hattori shows up at the store. 57. They find out that Shigure was the one who set up their meeting at the bookstore. She doesn't have the book he ordered today, so she asks him to come back tomorrow. The next day while Mayuko is being nagged by her parent about not being married, Hattori shows up and she runs outside with him. She gives him the book and listens to Hattori, but takes offense when Hattori says he can't ever be happy. 58. Kisa and Hiro find out that their mother is pregnant again, and so they talk about their new sibling. As their going to break/eat watermelons, Tohru thinks about everyone else's parents. She asks Kyo about his family, and Kyo tells him that his mom died in an accident. He then asks her, to which she tells the story about breaking watermelons with her mother and how her mother broke a pot instead. Meanwhile, Yuki finally meets Akito at the beach. 59. The find out that Akito is in the area, so everyone except for Kyo and Tohru go pay a visit. When they don't come back, Tohru goes outside to look for them and sees Yuki standing on the cliff. They talk and Yuki reflects on the time he gave her his hat and admits that he's in love with her. |
Title: フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 10 |
Hiyoko Brand Vol. 4
I had forgotten about this series until I saw volume 5 at the bookstore. Like the previous volumes, the story is really weak, but the art is excellent. There's a lot more nudity in this volume, but as it's a Young, everything besides the breast is censored. My gripe in this volume is that Asami is too indecisive. She's married already, she doesn't need to be a flirt! Bonus comes with a postcard and a few color pages that contain quite a bit of flesh. After the film shoot, Asami finds out that Iwazaki (who people call Ero-zaki) is brother of Iwazaki, the teacher. At home, as she's waiting for Ichimaru, she gets a phone call asking her to be with him as he's doing his observations. However, she goes to find that Iwasaki-sensei is with her husband and runs off in jealousy. He comes home, trying to calm her feelings with some lust, but Asami doesn't allow him. At school the next day, Iwazaki comes up to Ichimaru telling him that she knows the two are dating (but doesn't know their married) and while she says she'll keep it a secret, she recommends that they break up. For the next few nights, Ichimaru and Asami try to be like husband and wife, but Asami's younger brother, Sasuke always gets in the way. |
Title: Hiyoko Brand おくさまは女子高生 (The Wife is a High School Student) Vol. 4 |
美少女戦士セーラームーン (Sailormoon) Vol. 12
It's finally over! I thought the ending was a bit of a cop-out, but I understand the message that it was trying to get across. Overall, I liked the story. Unlike the anime, there weren't extraneous episodes (some of which I liked though), but still, it feels like there were places where the story could have been tightened up. I guess it's just the fact that it's a girl's manga that it's kinda obligatory to have more dialogue than needed. Bonus is the stickers with the images from the last 4 covers. 55. スターズ６ (Stars 6): Sailor Galaxia came to power after leaving her pathetic planet and falling towards the dark side. Sailormoon has dreams about some Zero Star and a Galaxy Cauldron, although she doesn't know what those things are. She later tries to find the 4 outer scouts and find out that they've been defeated and their Star Seeds taken away. With the help of the Starlights, Sailormoon decides to go to the Zero Star to find Galaxia. 56. スターズ７ (Stars 7): As they approach Zero Star, the three cats get defeated, causing a ripple effect into the 30th century. Chibiusa and the Amazoness Quartet decide to go back to the past. Meanwhile, the Starlights have been defeated by Sailor Rete, the one who also killed the cats. However, her twin, Sailor Munemoshune (sp?) tells her sister to stop. They explain that they're fighting now, but hope for a peaceful future. However, the two of them soon get eradicated by a stronger enemy and the Starlight's Star Seed get taken away. The only ones left are Kakyuu, Chibichibi and Moon. 57. スターズ８ (Stars 8): The three of them move on and see the graves of the Sailor Soldiers with their graves being dug as they look on. They get caught, but Chibiusa and the Quartet come and free them. They continue to Galaxia's castle, but first they have to go past Sailor Phi and Kai. They kill Kakyuu and the next enemies they face are the defeated Sailor Scouts. 58. スターズ９ (Stars 9): Tuxedo Mask makes an appearance and orders the scouts to kill Sailormoon. The Quartet and Chibimoon all get defeated. Of course, Moon doesn't want to fight and gets nearly killed when Chibichibi gives her the power and eliminates the false scouts. She runs inside and sees Galaxia, Mamoru, and the super star crystal formed from the Star Seeds. 59. スターズ１０ (Stars 10): Moon has the final showdown with Galaxia in front of the Galaxy Cauldron, the place where stars are born. Galaxia gets defeated, but not before Sailormoon finds out that Chaos lurks inside the Cauldron and the way to defeat it is to destroy the Cauldron, but that would mean terminating the place of birth for the stars. Chibichibi transforms into her true self, Sailor Cosmos. 60. スターズ１１ (Stars 11): Cosmos, the future entity Sailormoon will become, has always regretted not finishing off Chaos when she could, so that's why she came back in time to do so. However, after witnessing Moon, she realizes that she could never destroy the Cauldron. So, with her powers, she restores all the Sailors and allows Usagi and Mamoru to live out their lives. Oshimai! |
Title: 美少女戦士セーラームーン (Pretty Guardian Sailormoon) Vol. 12 |
フルメタル・パニック！ (Full Metal Panic!) Vol. 4
Up to this point, I think the action is pretty good, but the relationships between Kaname, Tessa, and Sosuke needs a little work. The romance part of it isn't coming out for me. This volume has another Kaname foldout and a longer self-manga by the author. 21. 想いでが一杯！ 宗介が先輩に完敗！？ （前編） (Full of Memories! Sosuke Defeated by an Upperclassman!? First Part): Kaname meets one of her old upperclassmen, Fuwa and they plan to go to the amusement park. Sosuke doesn't know what's going on, but Kaname has not been herself lately. Kyoko Tokiwa tells him to accompany her on the day the date is suppose to happen and they stalk Kaname. Kaname has a run-in with some drunk gang members and Sosuke, not wanting to be revealed but also not wanting to have her hurt, dresses up in a bear costume and fights. 22. 想いでが一杯！ 宗介が先輩に完敗！？ （後編） (Full of Memories! Sosuke Defeated by an Upperclassman!? Last Part): After the incident, the security guards are hot on Sosuke's trail. Kaname pulls him aside and confesses to this stranger in a bear suit. She tells him about why she's been acting depressed recently. 23. 開けてビックリ、聞いてビックリ、君は誰！？ (Opening Surprise, Hearing Suprise, Who Are You!?): During an unexpected visit, Kaname goes to Sosuke's apartment and finds Tessa just coming out of a shower. She runs off thinking there's something going on between the two of them. However, what she doesn't know is that Tessa has just fortunate escaped with a prisoner, Takuma Kugayama, from a terrorist group and is staying in Sosuke's place. 24. 泣いた大佐に対策なし！？ (Nothing Against The Crying Colonel!?): As expected, the members of Takuma group come to Sosuke's place looking for him. After defeating the lone scout, they decide to move the prisoner to a safer place. Meanwhile, Tessa is crying as she feels like she's useless, especially after allowing some of her men to get killed from the place she escaped from with Takuma. They arrive at Kaname's place where Kaname recommends that they go to the empty school building. 25. 宗介の決意 (Sosuke's Determination): One of Kaname's men, Karinin (sp?) wasn't killed, but captured by the terror group. The leader explains to him about the origins of their organization, how it was born from a group of abused children, and tells him that they kept him alive so they can extract information about the Lamda Drive. At the school, both Tessa and Kaname get captured and so the enemies ask Sosuke to exchange Takuma for the girls. Who will he pick first? 26. 宗介よ、無事でいて！！ (Sosuke, Be Safe!!): Sosuke picks Tessa first, much to Kaname's disappointment. As they release Kaname, fighting breaks out and Sosuke gets knocked out. The two girls get taken away to a ship where they meet the leader, who happens to be Takuma's older sister. Sosuke and his comrades plan to go after them. |
Title: フルメタル・パニック！ (Full Metal Panic!) Vol. 4 |
Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 4
The DVD box is on it's way and I'm only half way done with the manga. I was reading the reviews on Amazon and many say that there's no plot to this series. I can concur with the manga. However, not everything needs a plot and as long as each episode is executed well, it's not a problem. Color pullout of Lisa, Miharu, and Ebi and an extra manga chapter are the the bonuses. 20. Fukuyama has stolen "embarassing" items from Miharu, Koyomi, and Kirie and makes them play a treasure hunting game to recover them. Kirie is particular angry at what was taken from her and plays the game with determination. They eventually recover their goods, but Kirie never reveals what the picture was to Yukinari: a picture of her as a child having wet her bed. 21. Miharu and Koyomi realize that it's April Fool's and thinks that it's a day when humans lie, so an "I hate you" means "I love you" and vice versa. Confusion ensues as the people and the Selen misunderstand each other. Yukinari only finds out about her reverse meanings after she becomes gleeful when Yukinari tells her that he hates her. 22. Lisa has a plan to rid Yukinari of Miharu and Koyomi by given them a cake that will shrink them into the size of dolls. Unfortunately, Yukinari eats it too. Kirie comes over and dresses them up as cute dolls, Lisa and Fukuyama both come over later on and make their claim. But eventually, they get restored to their normal sizes. 23. It's sports day at school and Fukuyama is up against Koyomi in ping pong. Koyomi is surprisingly good, so Fukuyama distracts her with embarrassing talk right when she's about to hit the ball. Yukinari tells her just to think that the ball is Fukuyama's face. With that, she regains her dominance. 24. Kirie has a dream about the three girls being secret superheros, the Phantom Bunnies going against Fukuyama. 25. It's Tanabata time and everyone is putting up their wishes. While in the bath, Miharu sees a creature get teleported to earth. She wants to keep it and changes her wish to becoming the owner of this creature who she calls Ebi. 26. Lisa finds in her spell book that the last ingredient for love potion is a creature similar to Ebi, and so she tries to trap it. However, she's reminded of an incident in her past where she found a dying kitten and her heart softens. |
Title: Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 4 |
Gunslinger Girl Vol. 3
I get a sense that this series is wandering a bit. I don't feel a plot going besides the fact that people from Pandania are being killed off one by one. Found out that Joze is short for Joseph, although I never thought that was an Italian name. Nothing much in bonuses except for a colored first page. 12. Kaleidoscope: Joze has come back from a trip to France and Henrietta goes through his stuff to see what he's brought back for her. She finds a kaleidoscope that has the name "Louis Antoinette Laure" and thinks that it's Jozes new girlfriend. She feels better when Claes explains to her that the name belongs to someone who has already died, so the kaleidoscope is second-hand. 13. ピノッキオ１ (Pinocchio 1) : After finishing a hit and reluctantly having to kill the young daughter of his target, a young assassin, Pinocchio comes back to his hometown of Montalcino. At home, he's neighbor, a young girl named Aurora, looks up to him as a big brother although he doesn't tell her what he does for a living. When he comes to his apartment, he finds someone snooping around and kills him. Pinocchio's boss and a leader in Padania, Christiano has called for him and the pair, Franco and Franca, to keep guard on a munitions during their next operation. 14. ピノッキオ２ (Pinocchio 2) : Using the lead from the missing officer, Toriella and Hirusha are sent to investigate. Toriella meets Aurora on the streets and she naively tells Toriella information about Pinocchio. After Toriella leaves, Aurora wanders into Pinocchio's apartment and picks up a gun laying there. Franca sees this and immediately thinks she's one of the young girl assassins from the government. 15. ピノッキオ３ (Pinocchio 3) : Franco tackles the unsuspecting Aurora and the three of them decide to just tie her up. Toriella and Hirusha move in and after some scuffles, Toriella is left unconscious on the ground. However, Pinocchio doesn't kill her because as he's said from the previous chapter, he's not good around girls. Franco and Franca make their escape too. After she awakes, Toriella feels terrible for having failed. 16. Sever the chains of retaliation: Bruno, the guy who disposes of bodies for Padania, is asked for his services one last time. Angelica hasn't fully recovered, but is asked to go out on a mission again. Marco tries to find out the whereabouts of Pinocchio and through his investigation, he learns of Bruno. During an operation, Angelica freaks out and has to be sent to the hospital. She asks Rico that when the operation continues the next day, she wants to be the one to make the last shot. Rico doesn't keep this promise, but it's okay as Angelica got praised by Marco already. 17. Retiring Tibetan Terrier: The group is asked to protect a higher up who is being targeted. Meanwhile, Henrietta's kaleidoscope breaks and is sent to a local repairman to get fixed. Unbeknownst to them, the repairman is part of the opposition. |
Title: Gunslinger Girl Vol. 3 |
天使のルージュ (Angel's Rouge) Vol. 1
I don't know how the this series and Secret Rouge were presented in Young Jump. It seems like this should be the successor, but according to the books, Secret Rouge Vol. 1 was first, then this comic, and then Secret Rouge Vol. 2 appeared again. Hmm. Like Akane, the author is presenting the story again after a short 2 volume stint. However, the main female character here has a different name and a different personality. Rather than being attracted to her new secretary, she actually hates him and it's the manager who likes Daisuke. 1. コスメ・フリージアへようこそ (Welcome to Cosmetic Freesia): Daisuke Hifumi has just been fired from his current job and since he doesn't want to take over the family's sushi business, he made an agreement with his dad to find another job within a week. Meanwhile, 綺月彩香 (Ayaka Kozuki), the president of a small cosmetics company, Freesia has trouble dealing with other male bosses at other companies. Her manager, 黛麗子 (Reiko Mayuzumi), suggests that she get a male secretary, namely a body guard. So they start interviewing people. Daisuke hasn't had a lot of luck and it's almost his last day. Through his sister, he finds out about this opening at a cosmetic business and the night before the interview, gets together with his friend and drinks. They end up at a party with some other girls, who happen to employees of Cosmetic Freesia and Ayaka herself. Daisuke gets drunk and starts babbering about how he has to interview at this small, negligible cosmetics company in front of the girls. The next day he goes to interview and sees the same girls who he, the night before, had bad-mouthed to. 2. 面接会場味方なし！？ (No Friends at the Interview!?): He goes to the interview and gets grilled by the girls. Reiko, however, asks him as he's walking out why he wants to be secretary. His answer is simple and honest, so Reiko hires him for the job, much to the disgust of the boss and employees. He shows up to work and his first job is to mop the floors. The co-workers make him go outside and clean windows where he manages to peep in on Ayaka as she's changing. 3. 彩香の夢 (Ayaka's Dream): Ayaka brings Daisuke along as an escort to a high-class boat party. On the ship's deck, Ayaka sees a little girl who complains that despite her mother working in the industry, she's not allowed to wear makeup. Ayaka puts some lipstick on her and later, explains to Daisuke that makeup changes how a woman feels about herself. Daisuke realizes that she's really devoted to her job and feels like he should do his best too. 4. 秘書だから！！ (Because I'm the Secretary): While sweeping the floor, the end of Daisuke's broom accidentally fondles one of the female co-workers standing behind him, causing ruckus among the other girls who already dislike him. Later, he accompanies Ayaka on a business trip and in the car, surprises Ayaka with his knowledge of their product line that he had memorized. 5. 予感 (Premonition): Ayaka takes Daisuke to 翠庵 (Suian-sensei), an old woman that lives in a traditional Japanese house who trains people in manners, to get him up to snuff on etiquette. Daisuke gets kicked around a bit during training by her. As he's sweeping the grounds, he sees Ayaka in a kimono. She sees a spider and jumps into his arms. 6. そばにいさせて (Let Me Be With You): The other girls in the company come to this house to enjoy the bath here. They didn't know that Daisuke was training at the same place and are surprised by his presence. However, they take full advantage of him by having him keep the fires going to keep the water warm. As he's doing that, they start a rumor that Ayaka has another secretary and make sure he overhears. Daisuke runs up to Ayaka to confirm this but she says that having one secretary is more than enough. 7. 弱い男の固い意志 (Weak Man's Strong Will): Before going to a business meeting, Ayaka stops by 杉浦 (Sugiura's) research center to me with him. Maybe they've had something in the past. After the meeting, she goes to the obligatory party with the boss she did the presentation for. He's already drunk and tries to hit on her, but she prevents him. Her peers think she should have let the boss have his way. Afterwards, Daisuke accompanies her home and she falls asleep leaning on him in the car. |
Title: 天使のルージュ (Angel's Rouge) Vol. 1 |
宇宙のステルヴぃア (Stellvia) DVD Box 2
It took me 4 months to finish this box, 8 months after its release. Like I said before, I thought the series should have ended at the end of the first half of the show. They hyped the Great Mission since the beginning and that pretty much ended at episode 13. This second half could have been a season two as it feels a bit tacked on. What I liked from this half was the relationship between Shiipon and Kouta. Despite the huge mystery of the cosmic fracture, I enjoyed constant tension between Shiipon's self-doubt and Kouta's insensitivity. Like the first box, this comes with a booklet with summaries, art, interviews, designs, etc... There are 4 DVDs in the box, but lacks any type of video bonus. I don't think it included a textless ending for the last episode. The quality of the video is still superb, but there was this one scene where the picture became pixelated because of the grid-like background, typical of MPEG compression. After successfully deflecting the earth from the Second Wave, the students go home thinking that all is over. However, they discover a cosmic fracture that is approaching earth with the power to destory the planet. They first witness it destroy Ultima as it comes in from space. Having been successful during the Great Mission, Shiipon and Kouta are selected to pilot Infinity for this Genesis Mission. However, Shiipon can't seem to use the DLS system and feels like she's inferior to Kouta who has no problems with it. Kouta's also been hanging out with Ayaka a bit too much, stirring up some jealously. In the end, they manage to eliminate the cosmic fracture by sacrificing the space stations, including Stellvia. |
Title: 宇宙のステルヴぃア (Stellvia) Mission 2 DVD Box |
Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 3
With all the crazy characters in this book, I've come to dislike Fukuyama. I don't mind eccentric personalities, but he's just annoying. The collection of stories in this volume ranged vastly. I liked the last story, but could have done without all the fighting in the chapter before that. First four pages are colored. 13. Yukinari and Miharu are about to enjoy a peaceful card game when Kirie and Fukuyama show up. Fukuyama brings with him a strip-MahJongg game which he claims his family's an expert at. After a few rounds of Kirie and Miharu having to disrobe and Yukinari having to wear a bunny suit, the three of them get the last laugh when Fukuyama loses and has to be a playboy bunny in public. 14. Lisa discovers Koyomi living with Yukinari and feels threatened that she's a new rival. Her two underlings, Hayate and Kosame, tell her that Koyomi has a fear of guys, so Lisa goes out and makes her the target of lustful men. When that fails, Lisa personally talks to Koyomi and introduces her to her brother, Fukuyama. 15. Yukinari is a bit worried about Miharu working, so Kirie gets the idea to dress him up as a girl so he can work alongside the two of them incognito and changing his name to 佐藤雪菜 (Yukina Satou). Their job involves entertaining kids, which isn't too bad until the men show up, including Fukuyama. The men take a particular liking to Yukina, but Fukuyama hordes Yukina to himself and doesn't find out that she's Yukinari until he starts feeling his body. 16. In going to Fukuyama's Christmas party at his house, Kirie sees a strange mirror and walks though it. On the other side, there's a parallel universe where the personalities are all switched. Fukuyama is the female-allergic, Koyomi has a crush on him, Yukinari horny one, and Lisa is in love with Kirie. After a few struggles, Kirie manages to escape that world. 17. Miharu feels like everyone is avoiding her, although they're just planning a surprise party in her name. When she doesn't show up, Yukinari goes out and finds her partying with Fukuyama to forget her sorry. He manages to convince her that she's not disliked, and even Lisa puts in a good word on this day. 18. The gang is celebrating Setsubun by the traditional throwing of beans to ward off evil spirits. However, things get out of hand when members start throwing each other out of the house. 19. A mysterious girl shows up looking for her mother and Koyomi helps her look. For some reason, the girl has a sense of urgency and says that she has to find her today. However, they stop after she finds a toppled over snowman. The next day, the girl disappears and Koyomi realizes that she might have been a snow-person herself. |
Title: Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 3 |
美少女戦士セーラームーン (Sailormoon) Vol. 11
This is the beginning of my second favorite arc in the series. Did Mamoru go to Hahvahd in the anime? Don't remember. What I do remember was that Ami mentioned Columbia University in one of the episodes, and well, guess where I went to grad school. Sailor Iron Mouse is my favorite enemy Sailor, it's a shame she got disposed of so quickly. The bonus stickers are the same as the cover images for Venus, Chibiusa, Neptune, and Uranus. 50. スターズ１ (Stars 1): Usagi is having nightmares again. While things seem to be back to normal, Usagi isn't happy as Mamoru going to Hahvahd. As Usagi sees him off at the airport, he mysteriously disappears and Sailor Galaxia shows up. Usagi passes out, is saved by the three idols, and forgets about the incident. Meanwhile, Sailor Iron Mouse, a hench-creature of Galaxia comes to steal the scout's Star Seeds. The inner and outer scouts can't defeat it, but out of nowhere, three new scouts appear and eliminate Iron Mouse. 51. スターズ２ (Stars 2): The Tsukino family has a new addition, Chibi-Chibi, and like before, this new member uses some memory magic to make the parents think that she's a little sister. At school, the three Idols Yaten, Seiya, and Taiki suddenly enrolling at her school and become the popular guys at school through each of their talents. Through Michiru, the girls get to attend one of their live concerts and Usagi can feel that the song they sing serves as a beckon for someone. After the concert, Sailor Aluminum attacks and kills Mercury and Jupiter, taking their Star Seeds away before the three idols reveal that they're also Sailor Scouts by transform in Sailor Star Healer|Fighter|Maker. 52. スターズ３ (Stars 3): The Starlights depart as soon as they appear. Later, Taiki makes Usagi remember what really happened to Mamoru and why he hasn't been in contact. Galaxia makes her official debut. Mina(-P?) and Rei confront the idols/Starlights, thinking that they might be enemies and Rei's two crows come under attack by the new hench-woman. 53. スターズ４ (Stars 4): The new enemy, Sailor Red Crow kills Phobos and Deimos. Venus and Mars fight back, but they're soon killed and their Star Seeds taken away. In the future, King and Queen, with Chibiusa, feel that someone terrible is happening in the past. Present day, a strange new cat-like student transfers into class. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto do some investigations to find out about the extra-solar system Scouts and through Chibi-chibi, the Sailor Starfighter's princess, the one who they sing about, appears. 54. スターズ５ (Stars 5): The princess reveals to her protectors that Chibi-chibi herself is also a Sailor Scout. The new student is Sailor Tin, another villain who attacks the cats. Sailormoon saves them, but not before Chibiusa, in the future, senses something wrong with Diana. Usagi meets Kakyuu (I think), the Starlight's princess. She explains to Usagi about Galaxia, the Sailor of Destruction. Later that night, Usagi meets a woman with tremendous power. |
Title: 美少女戦士セーラームーン (Pretty Guardian Sailormoon) Vol. 11 |
フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 9
While it was twice as long as any other chapter, I enjoyed Saki's background story. Like in a previous volume, it looks like the parts I like best about Fruits Basket isn't the main characters, the development of the side characters. This volume has a bonus chapter. 49. As Yuki is going to his pre-semester student government meeting, he ponders over Kyo's words that he's a boring person. At the meeting, he meets two new members, one of whom after some interactions, tells Yuki that he's an interesting type of guy. Yuki explains to Tohru that he felt better after hearing that praise. 50. At work in the store, Alyssa meets a guy who reminds her of Tohru's clumsiness and becomes attracted to him. During lunch, she sees him in the streets and has a meal with him. Some misunderstanding happens when he belittles his visit to the store, but they manage to come to even terms. Turns out that he's a member of the Sohma clan too. 51. Saki was born with a special extra-sensory power that she never wanted, but had to live with. Being different, she was teased and pushed around by he peers as a young child. Once, it got so far that she willed on of her abusers to die, causing him to collapse. After that, things only got worse for her and she had to transfer out to another school. At this school, she met Tohru and Alyssa and their friendship started well until rumors of her past surfaced again. Saki tried to distance herself, but Tohru wouldn't allow her to isolate herself and wanted to be a friend no matter what happened before. 52. Kyo and Tohru visit Kyo's master's house where Tohru helps him with some cooking after he burnt his own meal. However, he gets a phone call from Kyo's father who wants to meet with him. He leaves the two kids alone and meets the dad who still blames Kyo for the chaos in the family. However, Kyo's master vows to protect him. 53. Momiji comes over and invites everyone to go on vacation at the Sohma summer house. While Yuki and Tohru are studying, Yuki brings up the topic about the cap that Tohru keeps around. Tohru explains to him that it was given to her by a kid who helped her out when she got lost as a child. And it's implied that the boy was Yuki as a child. |
Title: フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 9 |
CooRie: 秋やすみ (Akiyasumi)
I have the singles of rino singing the ending to Nanaka 6/17 and the intro to Narue no Sekai from last year and have been waiting for CooRie to release a full album. I love her singing, especially from the above mentioned shows but this album is a bit weak. 8 out of the 12 tracks are songs from anime shows like Nanaka 6/17, Narue no Sekai, Da Capo, and Midori no Hibi, with 4 original compositions (one of which is only half a minute long). The intro/endings to the other shows that I haven't watched didn't impress me to much. rino's voice is very soft, but can keep up with relatively fast songs like the intro to Narue, Midori no Hibi, and the cover song for the album. I was hoping there would be a song on there like the ending to Kiminozo, but unfortunately, there wasn't a slow ballad that stuck with me. Good CD overall, but my favorite songs are the ones I already have the singles to. First edition comes with a raffle ticket for an opportunity to attend her latest concert free of charge. The deadline was 10/20, which happened to be the day I received the CD, so I couldn't even if I wanted to. |
Title: CooRie: 秋やすみ (Akiyasumi) |
藍より青し (Ai yori Aoshi) Vol. 14 LE
I get to cheat for this review since I've already "read" almost all of this volume before I got it. Like I suspected, the recently released drama CD covers this volume. In fact, it covers almost all of it with the exception of the last chapter and bonus chapter. However, I've already read the bonus chapter as I got that Young Animal Island issue, so the only new item in this volume for me is chapter 118. Limited edition comes with an Aoi figurine. For the main story, read the summary from the latest Ai yori drama CD. Chapter 118 has Tina and Aoi back home and after some typical michief, Tina and Aoi have a talk on the riverbank where Tina makes Aoi say that she loves Kaoru. Meanwhile, back home, the news reports that Kaoru's father has died (ooo, they finally go back to that). The bonus chapter is written up in the synopsis of Young Island, under "Magazines." |
Title: 藍より青し (Ai yori Aoshi) Vol. 14 LE |
Crossover Vol. 1
This is the previous work of the author who is currently doing Suzuka in Shonen Magazine. I have more than half the series already as I started my magazine subscription just a few months after Crossover started, but never really paid attention as I wrote it off as just another sports manga that I didn't have the time to read. But like I've said before, I'm less discrimintory, and I like Suzuka, so I decided to start this series. To my surprise, I enjoyed this first volume. Unlike Suzuka, this series leans more towards the sports side more than the romance side, but it still kept the relation between the hero and the heroine in the forefront. Bonus includes a profile of Natsuki and Mizuki and two pages of fan art. 1. 檸檬 (Lemon): 緒方なつき (Natsuki Ogata) was the star of his middle school basketball team and will soon need to pick the high school that he wants to attend. All his teammates think that he should go to 藤ノ原 (Fujinohara) High as that school has one of the best basketball team in the nation. He goes and tries out. Despite being short, he's really fast and out-maneuvers the other players and catches the attention of the coach. Later as he's walking out in the snow, he meets 橘水希 (Mizuki Tachibana), who serves as the team manager for another high school's team, Mariannu. The team is very weak, but have a strong sense of unity. Today, they're going to be playing Fujinohara as the final game of the season. Mizuki invites Natsuki to come and gives him a sample of her lemon slices, something that she gives the team for good luck. It's a blowout, but Natsuki sees that the coach for Fujinohara isn't satisfied with his team's performance and is rather harsh on them. During the game, one of the players on Mariannu gets injured and with no replacement players, the opposing coach tells them it's a wash. Mizuki pleads with him to allow the game to finish out of respect for the seniors, but he pushes her aside causing her to spill her lemons. 2. 門出 (Departure): After seeing Mizuki get abused, Natsuki jumps in to play. He doesn't reverse the 150+ point deficit, but manages to score one last basket after executing his specialty move, the crossover. After the game, the coach for Fujinohara comes up to him and tells him that he's been accepted to join his basketball team. The Mariannu team comes out later and asks him what high school he's going to. He responds saying that he didn't make it to Fujinohara and will go to Mariannu instead. 3. 新入部員 (New Team Members): High school has started and at the first day of practice, Natsuki meets a fellow new member, 片山英二 (Eiji Katayama). To Natsuki's surprise, Eiji's long reach gives Natsuki some difficulties in trying to out-maneuver him. Meanwhile, the other prospective members of the team try their best to dribble. 4. 王者の理由 (The King's Reason): Natsuki and Eiji have become somewhat rivals, on the court and even for Mizuki. They decide to go and scout out Fujinohara's practice and there, they see 前田隼人 (Hayato Maeda), a new star player who is similar to Natsuki in size and specialty. 5. Basket Boys in Spa: The Mariannu team hangs out at Natsuki's aunt's hot springs as Natsuki tells stories about his experiences on his middle school basketball team. The team captain later announces that their first game will be against 笹谷北 (Sasayakita), the school that Natsuki's ex-teammates attend. |
Title: Crossover Vol. 1 |
少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine), '04 Vol 47
The big announcement concerning Negima is in issue 48, according to the previews page in this volume. Cover girl is 18 year old Aya Matsuura. She really doesn't look 18. Suzuka: ＃３５揺動 (Vacillations): Honoka kisses Yamato, tells him that she wants to always be with him, and then runs off. Suzuka comes up to him after witnessing this and just tells him to do his best tomorrow at the meet. The next day, Suzuka beats her personal record (but she's done better unofficially). As Yamato looks on from the stands as Suzuka is being interviewed, he feels even more distant. Honoka comes and sits at his side, touches his hand, and to her surprise, he decides to hold her hand. Negima: ７１時間目 ネギの選択 (Negi's Choice): Kotaru tells Negi that they should fight WIlhelm together. Konoka and the other girls break free from their bubble, capture the Slimes, and remove Asuna's pendant which allows Wilhelm to be vulnerable. Negi attacks and defeats the foe. Negi refuses to finish Wilhelm off, and Wilhelm tells him about his 9 spells. The next day, after WIlhelm vanishes, Negi feels depressed, but Kotaro is there to ruffle him up. Hamanaka Ai: ０５６N先生 (N-Teacher): Rinko gets saved by the popular new English teacher, Tota. While discussing the possibility of a relationship, it turns out that Nakamura-sensei had dated him before. King's Sword: ８張飛危うし (Chohi in Danger): The three heros catch up the enemies and Ryuhi engages them. He manages to slay some of the bandits, but gets out-numbered. Ahi decides to jump in and help out and the chapter ends with him getting slashed. Full Swing: ５認めない (I Don't Acknowledge You): It's been 10 months since Tama's hand got busted and now he's joining the school's tennis team. During his first day of practice, he's already disliked by 百瀬駿 (Shun Momose), a fellow teammate who doesn't like how he plays tennis like baseball. Douchi shows up at practice and Shun freaks out as he's been Shun's idol and reason to play tennis. However, he's also displeased that Douchi knows Tama. In the end, Shun tells Tama that he'll never accept him as a tennis player. Tsubasa: ６０心の奥 (In the Heart): Sakura is still sleeping from last night's party and so Shaoran has lunch with their new host, Ashura. Mokona sends a bottle of wine back to Yuuko (I wish I still had Young Magazine) and Ashura tells Shaoran a bit more about her country, the fighting they do with Yasha and about the castle in the sky. Shaoran tells her to take him to that castle in the sky and he goes out, prepared to fight in order to do so. During the battle, he spots the two people who look like Kuro and Fye. Changing Now: ＃２５開発！！ 男たちの涙 (Development!! The Men's Tears): Has a documentary where the creator of Machina VV explain how they made him. It also has an epilogue about their surprise when they hear of his destruction. |
Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 47 |
Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 2
I had thought that the series ended with 8 books as bk1.co.jp, where I ordered the books from, sold the whole "set" with 8 books. But it looks like volume 9 is coming out soon. I was looking at the cast of the anime from the obi, and Mamiko Noto is doing the voice of Yukinari. I don't know how well that's going to turn out as she has a really soft voice, but I'll just have to see when I get the first DVD box. The first few pages are colored and there's a bonus chapter in the book. 7. Yukinari feels like he's been treating Miharu terribly recently, so he tries to apologize to her. Lisa looks to break up their relationship, so using some voodoo, she creates a clone of Miharu who tells Yukinari that she hates him. However, her plans get foiled when the real Miharu shows up and Yukinari gets to give his apology. 8. It's experiment day at school, and despite Yukinari's warnings, Miharu drinks down the concoction they make in lab, which is pure alcohol. She gets herself drunk and as such, he produces multiples of herself that appear and disappear. Things settle down after she sobers up. 9. It's a hot day and Fukuyama decides to take Miharu to his pool at his house. He had thought that the two of them would be alone, but Kirie and Yukinari show up. There's some power struggle between Fukuyama and Yukinari, but Miharu ends up choosing Yukinari because he gets ignored by everyone else. 10. They're supposed to be finishing up their summer homework, but Lisa comes over and says she's going to help Yukinari get over his allergic reactions to girls. Chaos ensues, and Miharu gets jealous. Yukinari and Miharu end up being wrapped together in bandage with their hands joined. 11. A new character, Koyomi, appears out of the fountain in the park and faints. Miharu brings her home. She has apparently lost her memory, likes to hide in holes, and is terribly afraid of men. Fukuyama comes over, sees Koyomi, and falls in love with her too. Later, her memory comes back when she sees her own reflection in the bath tub. 12. Koyomi's job is to bring back Miharu to Selen, but after seeing how close she is with Yukinari, Koyomi can't get herself to do it. Miharu tells her that she's willing to go and despite a last minute plea from Yukinari, Miharu returns to her homeland through the bath. Three days later she comes back. |
Title: Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 2 |
美少女戦士セーラームーン (Sailormoon) Vol. 10
I love the cover on this volume. Hotaru has always been my favorite. Besides that, I never really did like this arc, and after reading the manga, it's still hovers at the same level as it did before. The stickers this time are the same as the covers with Moon, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter. 45. 夢７ ミラー・ドリーム (Dream 7, Mirror Dream): The final showdown with the Amazoness Quartet. The 4 other Sailor Scout battle and are soon joined by the three outer scouts. Chibiusa sense that the scouts are in action and runs out to help. Usagi and Mamoru, still weak, run out also. As the Dead Moon approaches, Sailormoon and Tuxedo Mask get caught in it's powers and so Eriol transforms them into children to warp them out of there. Sailor Saturn tries to tell the Amazoness Quartet that they're being manipulated. They hesitate for a bit, showing that the spell is weakening, but Zirconia doesn't let them finish their though when she captures the four of them back. Hotaru and Chibiusa get trapped inside glass. 46. 夢８ エリュシオン・ドリーム (Dream 8, Illusion Dream): Usagi and Mamoru are taken to the world Illusion. This place seems very familiar to Mamoru and Eriol tells him that this used to be his kingdom, Golden Kingdom and that the Golden Crystal is inside of Mamoru. Usagi sees the cage that holds Eriol and runs to it, but it's a trap to inform Neherenia about their presence. Using his last ounce of strength, Eriol transports Mamoru and Usagi back to Earth. Back on land, Zirconia attacks the two of them. 47. 夢９ デッド・ムーン・ドリーム (Dream 9, Dead Moon Dream): Using their joint attack, the Scouts make Zirconia retreat back into his mirror. Sailormoon follows her in, but the others can't pass through the glass. Inside, Sailormoon manages to free Hotaru and Chibiusa, and the four balls that contain the Amazoness Quartet and escapes after destorying the mirror. The circus creatures disappear. After the victory, Tuxedo Mask tells them to go to Illusion. There, Chibiusa finds Eriol in his cage and soon after, the Circus ship comes flying with the real Neherenia. 48. 夢１０ プリンセス・ドリーム (Dream 10, Princess Dream): Sailormoon attacks the mirror on the ship that has Neherenia, but her attack gets reflected and she's sent back to her mother's chambers where she finds out about the Neherenia's banishment from the kingdom. Back in current day, Neherenia thinks she's gotten Sailormoon's crystal and it's power, but Sailormoon shows her, after kissing Tuxedo Mask, that power is not something she can take. During her transformation, she has the other scouts see their Sailor Scout Fairies before transforming, and she herself becomes Eternal Sailormoon. 49. 夢１１ アース アンド ムーン ドリーム (Dream 11, Earth and Moon Dream): Neherenia gets defeated and Eriols gets revivied. The Amazoness Quartet come back to life and show that they were all originally Sailor Scouts. Things are back to normal and Eriol departs. |
Title: 美少女戦士セーラームーン (Pretty Guardian Sailormoon) Vol. 10 |
フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 8
I think Ri-chan and her mother are hilarious and her chapters were fun to read. But besides those, I though the other chapers were just ho-hum. No extras this volume either. 43. Momiji tells Kyo, Yuki, and Tohru that Hatsuharu has caused trouble in the classroom and indeed, he's torn up the place. Hatsuharu tells Yuki that he's been dumped and hence the destruction. On her way home, Tohru meets Ritsu (Ri-chan), who shares the same eccentricity and self-blame as her mother, Okami. 44. Ri-chan tells Tohru and Shigure that she's come to introduce herself as all the others in the family have already. After some fumbling around, she accidentally drops some plates and freaks out. Tohru embraces and finds out that she's the monkey. At that time, Tohru finds out that she has a cut on her hand. Yuki helps bandage the minor wound up, but Ri-chan is already on the roof about to commit suicide for injuring Tohru. She falls off, but quickly catches the roof and springs back up because twisted her ankle. 45. In the morning, Ri-chan accidentally finishes all the milk, leaving none for Kyo. After school, Tohru finds Ri-chan struggling with a cat who has taken a bite out of her grocery bag. On the way home, Tohru talks to Ri-chan about self-confidence and self-worth. At home, they meet Shigure's publisher and apparently, Ri-chan and her "click." 46. The topic of what they're future plans has come up. Tohru says she'll get a job and Alyssa interjects that Tohru probably also wants to be a wife. Momiji says she knows, and will tell Tohru someday. Yuki doesn't know. At a late night mean, Tohru and Kyo talk and Kyo would like to be the successor of his dojo, but knows he can't and expresses that he's still a bit loss. This gets Tohru thinking and brings her to tears. As they get a little closer, Shigure suddenly appears, breaking up the mood, and interjects some uplifting words to Tohru. 47. Ayano has come over for a visit and while walking and talking with Yuki, he finds out that Yuki is concerned over the parent-teacher meeting at school as he doesn't like his parents. Ayano offers to go in lieu of the parents. 48. After several long minutes, summer vacation starts. After class, Momiji invites the group to go to a haunted house. Despite being afraid, Tohru makes herself go in. After a few scares, Hatsuharu destroys some of the props and gets them in trouble. |
Title: フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 8 |
電撃大王 (Dengeki Daioh) October '04
Gunslinger Girl starts again this month, but I have to wait until volume 4 of the tank to start following it in the monthly. I'll also be starting Hoi Hoi-san once the first volume arrives tomorrow (with bonus DVD). This month's bonus comes with an inflatable ball (that yellow character on the front cover) as well as a pull out illustration and some card. Uta-Kata: 1: It's right before summer vacation and 橘一夏 (Ichika Tachibana), 14 and second year middle school student is on her way to school. Her dad is 理人 (Masahito), mom is 泉水 (Izumi), and she also has twins for tutors, Sei and Kai. Before class, she cleans the hallways of her school with her friends 皐月 (Satsuki) and 蛍子 (Keiko). She has a third friend, 未知留 (Michiru), the occult-like girl, who tells them that the last place they have left to clean is the room with the scary big mirror. As Ichika's cleaning it, her reflection winks at her and startles her. She has to go back to that room after class as she dropped her cell phone there earlier in the morning and meets a strange girl in front of the mirror. The girl uses some magical stones which allows Ichika to float above buildings and gaze at the world below. Afterwards, the mirror girl, 舞夏 (Manatsu), asks Ichika to write up her experiences as it's Manatsu's homework. Outside, there's another girl, 沙耶 (Saya), on top of a tower making an ominous warning. Yotsuba to: ２０よつばと花火大会？ (Yotsuba and the Fireworks Show?): Jumbo tells Yotsuba about the fireworks show tomorrow and has her go to the neighbor's house to also invite the girls. He hopes that Yotsuba will get Asagi to come and she does. Ichigo Marshmallow: ??: It's a hot day and so on the way to school, the girls play rock-paper-scissors to see who carries the bags and Matsuri gets the privilege to carry all of them. At school, all the girls except Matsuri are out of it, either sleeping in class, not paying attention, or just coming up with random things as responses to their teacher's questions. Muv-Luv: 2: Yuuko explains the history of her parallel universe to Takeru. Takeru, under the watchful eye of Sakaki, practices rifle assembly, but always finishes too late. As they break, Takeru sees another person that he recognizes from his previous world, 尊人 (Mikoto). This gets him reminiscing about where he came from. That night, he practices rifle assembly some more and seems to be able to do it in time. He slows comes to realize that this is the current world that he's has to live in. Kashimashi: ??: Hazumu's childhood friend, Tomari, has always been the person protecting him, despite being a girl. Now that Hazumu's gender has changed, she's a little confused about her feelings towards him. She gets annoyed when Hazumu's with other girls, but when the media comes looking for Hazumu, Tomari still protects him/her just the same. KuraKURA: 2: Runa still bummed about her botched confession from last time. However, as co-class leader, they still have to prepare for the cultural festival this weekend. Another monster appears requiring Runa to transform again, but this time, Hayakawa sees the monster too and after Runa comes back, Hayakawa presses her into talking about what she just saw and wonders if Runa has been hiding things from her. Siren: 3: Meruna is stuck under the rubbles and Dr. Soichiro has already dismissed her. Meanwhile, Hokuto (I think) is fighting against a tiger-like cyborg and gets herself into some trouble. Meruna manages to transform and help defeat the machine, but then goes looking again for Soichiro. Having transformed back into her plain clothes, she finds Soichiro walking around and is grateful that he's still alive. |
Title: 電撃大王 (Dengeki Daioh) October '04 |
少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine), '04 Vol 46
Yuuko-rin! Suzuka has a color page this time and the featured author in the Kondansha comic is the author of Suzuka. According to Ken Akamatsu's blog, there's supposed to be a big announcement in next week's issue. It's probably that Negima is to be animated in January, but most people already knew that. Suzuka: ＃３４口唇 (Lips): The track team goes to Hiroshima to compete in the Inter High School competition. On their way to the hotel, Yamato sees Arima but gets a cold-shoulder response. After dinner, Yamato practices by himself and is frustrated that he can't improve his time. Honoka shows up and talks with him a bit. She Honoka sees Suzuka come to the trackside, Honoka suddenly kisses Yamato. Full Swing: ４絶対つかんでやる (I'll Get It): Tama practices by himself trying to figure out how to play tennis with a baseball swing. He keeps on hitting it outside the fence though. Koto meets Douchi again who gives her a video tape to pass along to Tama. Douchi says there's a hint inside. It's footage of Jim Courier, who used to be a baseball player before becoming a tennis player. After watching him, Tama and Koto rally and he's able to do a two handed swing just like Courier. Hamanaka Ai: ０５５男の選択 (Man's Choice): Rinko mentions that they're going to have a chorus concert next week. Masahiko tell her not to say that out loud as the tutors will hear it and get distracted. Too late. The tutors take the kids out to a karaoke bar and after the girls sing, they urge Masahiko to sing. He's afraid to do it alone, so the girls offer to do a duet with him and now he's stuck with who to pick. King's Sword: ７劉備戦う (Ryubi Fights): Ryubi, with Kanu and Ahi, try to catch up to the bandits who have made it across. Kanu asks if Ryubi has killed anyone before, and he tells him that he's killed more than he can count with his fingers. They come up to their last bandit and Ryubi kills him with an arrow. The next person gets his throat slashed. The boys come to understand the meaning of "battle." Tsubasa: ５９王の招き (Royalty's Invitation): The moons risen, so the battle comes to temporary stop. After everything calms down, Ashura invites Sakura and Shaoran to her castle and they party a bit. Mokona tells Shaoran that the Sakura's feather's presence feels strongest in the castle that floats in the sky. Changing Now: ＃２４重要！！ビッグプロジェクト (Important, Big Project): Fujioka (Dog Fighter) and Rika (Crimson Bunny) were supposed to go on an overseas business trip, but Fujioka informs Rika that she'll be staying behind. Rika goes home and weeps over her situation as Crimson Bunny and how she's been replaced. The next day, Fujioka finds out that he's the one not going from his supervisor. |
Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 46 |
No more politics until election day The debates are over, I've cast my vote (absentee ballot), and made a donation to the political party of my liking. Now I'm going to stop reading the news until election day. It's been havoc on my daily schedule for the past two weeks to be incessantly reading news, pundits, blogs, and opinions, but it's gotta stop. |
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花右京メイド隊 (Hanaukyou Maid Tai) Vol. 10
A bunch of fun stories, not really related to one another and don't really add to the plot. I wish they had more of Ikuyo in here though. Book includes a character listing and a letter from the author at the end. 60. ある雪の日に (On the Day There's Snow): It's a snowy day outside. Ikuyo show's Taro her new invention, a new massager than can also make rice cakes. Later outside, the maids and Taro have a snowfight. Mariel comes back asking Konoe if she can help her make a different variety of soup as her style is programmed into her. As they're making the meal, Ikuyo's machine goes crazy, making an enormous amount of mochi. Konoe steps in and cuts them up and Taro enjoys a warm soup. 61. メイド天国の乱 (Rebellion Against Maid Heaven): Taro tells Mariel that he would love to see her in a different form. After talking to Cynthia, Mariel gets the idea that he wants to see her dressed with other maid's uniforms and steals the other uniforms from the other maids and wears them for Taro to see. 62. メイドと遊ぼう ピンポンパン (Let's Play With the Maids, Pin Pon Pan): Mariel gets really stressed out when a gust of wind lifts her dress allowing Taro to see her underwear. She consults Ryuka and Konoe about it and feels a little better. But then, they see Taro without pants on (thanks to Ikuyo) and things are evened out. 63. メイドはうたう (The Maids Sing): Taro suggests karaoke at the mansion and Ryuka and Ikuyo go at singing, despite their poor vocal skills. Konoe breaks the two of them up and stops the cacophony. Later, Mariel goes to a concert hall in the mansion and sings. Her lovely tune is heard by everyone and they starts humming the same song. 64. やさしみの世界 ("Yasahimi" World): I'm guessing it's a play on words meaning "Gentle and Sad World." Grace has been keeping herself locked up in her computer room for way too long. Taro manages to trick her into coming outside and rolls around a bit with her on the grass. He suggests that they take daily walks, but she realizes that she can't as she doesn't have much time left before Cynthia takes over completely. 65. 八島、青いレモン (Yashima, Blue Lemon): Yashima escapes from her duties and goes into town where she meets Taro and spends the day with her. She comes back and Konoe scolds her for not doing her duties. Taro tries to cover for her and say that she was accompanying him, but Yashima tells Konoe the truth. Konoe forgives her anyway. |
Title: 花右京メイド隊 (Hanaukyo Maid Tai) Vol. 10 |
少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine), '04 Vol 45
No extra features this week, just comics. The extra comics with the Kodansha staff interviews 塀内夏子 (Natsuko Heiuchi), the author of King's Sword. No Negima next week. Negima: ７０時間目 戦う理由 (The Reason For Fighting): Negi's magic is ineffective against his new foe as Wilhelm is able to use Asuna's magic cancelling powers (from her pendant?) against him. Kotaro and Negi try physical attacks but can't get close. Wilhelm then asks Negi why he's fighting and suggests that he's running away from that terrible winter night. Wilhelm then reveals himself as the demon who fought against his father and petrified Nekane and Stan. The enemies words awaken some latent energy still inside Negi and makes him fight even more ferocious than before, much to Wilhelm's/the demon's delight. Full Swing: ３野球打ち！？ (Baseball Hit!?): While shopping with her friends, Koto bumps into Douchi (guy from last time who gave Tama the card). She and Douchi talk about Tama. She explains about why she got him started in tennis as he hand no longer serves him for baseball. He agrees to get him motivated to play tennis. Later, she invites Tama to play against him on the court in a 2-on-1. Tama gets frustrated and unleashes a baseball swing which launches the ball outside the fence. Douchi then does the same and impresses Tama as he's able to power the ball inside the court. Suzuka: ＃３３宣戦 (Declaration of War): Suzune, the older sister, checks up on Suzuka as she didn't come back to visit Kazuki's grave this time and suspects that Suzuka has a new boyfriend. Honoka finally has the courage to ask Suzuka if she can confess to Yamato. Suzuka remarks that she doesn't particularly like him, but this is overheard by Yamato as he's walking towards the two. As he's leaving, Yamato tells Suzuka that he understands, but Suzuka doesn't look too happy. King's Sword: ６橋の上の攻防 (Battle on the Bridge): Ryuhi waits on the bridge while Ahi and Kanu cut the ropes. He jumps out just as the bridge is falling and takes some baddies and horses, but a few of them make it across. Tsubasa: ５８天の世界 (World in the Sky): Both Kuro/Fye's clan and Sakura/Shaoran's circus group see the sky being torn apart and both sides plead to their god and blame the other. As the storm gets more violent, Mokona tells them that Sakura's feather isn't in this world, but rather on the other side of the sky and transports all of them. The group wakes to find themselves in the middle of battle field where they meet the Yasha and Ashura fighting. Hamanaka Ai: ０５４幼なじみの真髄 (The Essence of Childhood Friendship): The two tutors are curious as to why Misaki calls Masahiko by his surname rather than his first. The two have a plan since they suspect Misaki like his, so they convince her to call him "Oni-chan" (big brother). Masahiko knows something is wrong when she says it and sees the two tutors hiding around the corner. Changing Now: ＃２３破壊！！ マシナー停止 (Destruction, Machina Ceases): Velvet Rose has her way with Machina, causing Dog Fighter to break down into tears and Machina losing his memory of who his. |
Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 45 |
せんせいのお時間 (Doki Doki School Hours) Vol. 5 LE
Doki Doki School Hours is starting to wear off on me. There's only so much that you can do with characters if they never grow old. It's another year at school with Valentine's day gags and Christmas gags. While I'm sure they're unique, it just feels like they've been repeated before as it has the same type of humor that's prevailed in the last 4 volumes. Limited edition comes with a replica of Mika's school id holder and date book. The book also has some color illustrations only available on this special edition. The impression I got from this volume was that one of the central gags is the roundness of Mika's face. Kitagawa is one of the main characters to brings up the puns. The only "arc" that I liked consistently was when the class got an exchange student from America. Like all Americans interesting in Japan, he was an Otaku and got along with Watanabe pretty well. |
Title: せんせいのお時間 (Doki Doki School Hours) Vol. 5 LE |
双恋 (Futakoi) Character Image Song
The anime is out, so might as well finish up all the Futakoi CDs that I have so far. Unfortunately, I won't be able to watch the anime until it comes out on DVD, but it's okay. There are two more CDs coming out for me to enjoy as well as the PS2 game in November. This CD is released by King Record, so I figure this is more aligned with the anime whereas the previous CDs were more aligned with the original publication in G's. First edition has the CD being picture-labeled. This CD has two songs that have all 12 characters singing, which I'm too lazy to list out. The first song on the CD grew on me this past week after hearing it a few times. I'm actually able to tell apart a few of the seiyuu including Akane and Mitsuki from Kiminozo, and of course, I can tell Yui Horie from a mile away. It has a good rhythm and I think they arrange the song to use the 12 voices pretty well. The second song has a more "gradiose" sound to it. Like most second-tracks, it falls short. "Yay!" |
Title: 双恋 (Futakoi) Character Image Song |
ひみつのルージュ (Secret Rouge) Vol. 2
It feels like the ending was a bit rushed. I'm guessing that the author wants to do this 2 volume, followed by another long series like Akane. Maybe. No Yamahana series would be complete without the female lead being tied up, and this series continues the trend. First page is color. The story for this volume is pretty linear. Ai's mother, who is the president of Rose Ballerina's parent company, decides to transfer Daisuke away from her daughter's business. At the same time, she has Ai go on an international business trip so she wouldn't know what's going on. Ai's mother tries to bribe Daisuke into leaving, but he wouldn't accept. The next tactic is to bribe the other female employees in the company. The reward is 1 billion yen (10 million bucks) for the girl who manages to snatch Daisuke's heart. Daisuke holds firm, much to the disappointment of the girls. The climax of the story has a crazed man who comes in and takes Ai hostage and threatens to cut up her beautiful face. Daisuke comes to the rescue. |
Title: ひみつのルージュ (Secret Rouge) Vol. 2 |
双恋 (Futakoi) Character Single #5
On the Steel Angel Kurumi OST, they had an interview with the 3 seiyuu whose impression of the theme song was "kuru kuru kuru kuru kuru..." since the chorus uses those sounds a lot. When I listened to the first song on this CD, that was my first though as the word "kuru" is heavily abused here, even more so than the Kurumi theme. The first song has a feel of 60's pop and surfings songs, I'm thinking it has a very similar sound to "Palisades Park" by Freddey Cannon. I enjoy oldies so it wasn't hard to have me hooked to this song, even though it's sung by high pitched female voices in Japanese. The second song is slower and uses the synthesizers a little more. I recognize the general style, but can't find the exact words to describe it. It's not as addicting as the first song though. |
Title: 双恋 (Futakoi) character song series #5: Hinagiku Ruru & Rara |
藍より青し〜旅情編〜 (Ai yori Aoshi ~Travels Chapter~) Drama CD
Like Kaoru's voice actor said in his reflections of this drama CD, this is the essence of Ai yori Aoshi. After almost a full year of irrelevant drama CDs, anime, and games, they finally have come back to the story. I would be more than happy if they didn't make another season and focused on more drama CD releases like this one. Track 10 is performed really well and is very effective. Tina really should have remained a contender. The story is almost word for word the same as the manga. I can only say that up to vol. 13 as I'm waiting on vol. 14 to be shipped to me, but they stuck with the manga and that's one of the reasons why it was so powerful. No first edition gimmicks and the only new artwork is the cover, which is also the artwork on the CD itself. 1. 始点〜してん〜 (Starting Point): Same as first half of chapter 103. After looking over some photos, Tina decides to invite everyone to go to Kyuushuu. There's passing reference to a school that's going to be demolished. 2. 出発〜しゅっぱつ〜 (Departure): Covers the latter half of 103 and the first few pages of chapter 104. Tina manages to get everyone, including Mayu, to go to Kyuushuu. After getting off the airplane, they talk a bit about where they want to go. 3. 総湯〜そうゆ〜 (Bath): Covers the rest of 104 and a bit of 105. They first all hit the hot springs where Kaoru ends up with the girls as mixed bathing is allowed. Hilarity ensues. Afterwards, they have dinner. 4. 秘事〜ひめごと〜 (Secret): Finishes 105 and half of 106. After dinner, Kaoru asks Aoi to take a bath together. While they're bathing, Chika, Natsuki, and Chizuru come wanting to play some cards (different motivation in the manga). Kaoru and Aoi fumble around trying not to be noticed and manage to keep their experience a secret from the younger girls. 5. 動揺〜どうよう〜 (Tremors): Covers up to the end of 107. Tina and Mayu have a drink together and Tina wants to make up for everything she's done to Mayu. Mayu knows that Tina is planning on going back to America and doesn't accept the apology telling Tina that she's a coward for running away. 6. 臆病〜おくびょう〜 (Coward): Covers from the latter of chapter 108 to the beginning of chapter 109. Tina hears Mayu's scolding over and over in her head, but is still in denial and believes that fooling everyone, including herself, into thinking she's alright is appropriate. At mealtime while planning what they'll do for the next day, Tina says she wants to go on a date with Kaoru. The other girls, including Mayu, reluctantly allow her. 7. 勇気〜ゆうき〜 (Courage): Covers a little more of 109. Later that night, Tina goes into Kaoru's room, gulps down a large volume of beer and asks Kaoru to be her boyfriend, even if it's make-believe for the day. 8. 母校〜ぼこう〜 (Alma Mater): To the middle of 110. The next day, she says she has a place that she has wanted to bring her boyfriend. It's her old elementary school that the TV news mentioned would be demolished. 9. 宝物〜たからもの〜 (Treasure): Starts at chapter 111 where Kaoru digs out Tina's time capsule. Inside there are old photos and a camera that her father gave her as a way of making friends. It was then that she learned that if she was happy, everyone else would be happy too, even if her happiness was superficial. Vol. 13 finishes here. 10. 告白〜こくはく〜 (Confession): This track is twice as long as any other track on the CD. The two of them are in the classroom where Tina asks Kaoru if he's ever wanted to photograph his lover in the nude and gets her picture taken. Tina then starts her confession about how she's always been happy around others, but in fact, she's been really afraid of being disliked. She then tells him about a guy she used to have a crush on. Despite her feelings for the guy afraid of being rejected. It eventually drove her to the point where she couldn't even meet him and decided to focus on the happy things in her life. But she realized that she couldn't run away forever. The story was about Tina's first encounter with Kaoru and she finally tells him that he loves him. She then tells him that she knows that she could never replace Aoi, no matter how hard she tries. Because she doesn't want Kaoru to suffer having to juggle all these girls around, she tells him, as someone who has to live with an unrequited love, to always remind Aoi that he loves her. After she finishes confession, Tina announces that they can stop this make-believe lovers and go back to their normal selves. As they leave, the memories her childhood echo through the classroom. 11. 悪友〜あくゆう〜 (Bad Friend): Afterwards, Tina thanks Mayu for helping her. Mayu says that whoever Kaoru ends up loving, whatever he feels, it's his decision. And as someone who also likes him, Mayu will support him in his choices. 12. 波音〜なみおと〜 (Sound of Waves): On the beach alone with Kaoru, Aoi shows her (incessant) insecurity again, thinking that Kaoru would have a wavering heart after his date with Tina. Kaoru-sama... Aoi-chan... Kaoru-sama... Aoi-chan... kiss kiss kiss. 13. 帰去来〜ききょらい〜 (Returning): As they're about to return, she tells the group that she'll be return to America after she graduates. She promises to make the best of her time left and thanks everyone for allow her to be a part of their lives. Tears and group hug ensues. |
Title: 藍より青し〜旅情編〜 (Ai yori Aoshi ~Travels Chapter~) Drama CD |
いちご１００％ (Strawberry 100%) Vol. 12
While I still believe that there are way too many girls in this series already, the newest, Kozue Mukai cracks me up. While I wouldn't trade the original 4 for her, she has a "unique" personality that makes her worthy of being one of the main characters. The fan-service in this volume is...umm...impressive. News is that the anime will be presented at some tour and drama CD #3 is coming out in December. There's a bonus Ichigo 6~7% manga where the gang eats has some soup that enlarges there chest. Same effect for girls and guys. 99. 放さないで (Don't Let Go): While the two of them are stuck in the ferris wheel, Tsukasa thanks Junpei for everything he's done. He interprets this as a final farewell. They then have a brief incident where she almost falls off the ferris wheel, but Junpei hangs on to her. Later at school, while he's giving chocolate to Aya for White Day, he follows her all the way to her cram school and falls down the stairs with a new girl, 向井こずえ (Kozue Mukai). 100. 走り出した運命 (Sprinted Fate): After the encounter, Kozue runs away and tells her classmate, Aya about the incident. Having failed, Junpei decides to give the chocolates to Tsukasa at work. However, his boss at the theater eats it all up and when she opens the box, it's empty. She says he has until the end of the month to re-fill it. After Aya finishes her cram class, Junpei meets up with her and gives her the chocolates. Aya tells him that it'd be nice if he could attend cram school and end up at the same university. 101. ここは別世界 (It's A Different Dimension Here): After listening to Okusa talking, Junpei decides to get Tsukasa some strawberry underwear. However, being embarrassed to shop as a man, he and Komiyama dress up as women. When the clerk realizes that he's a man, she falls back and hits her head and so Junpei then has to take on the role as store clerk. Meanwhile, the customers, including one of his teachers as well as Satsuki come in and want him to help fit them in new bras. When he finally escapes, he meets Tsukasa and gives her the gift, forgetting that he's still dressed like a woman. 102. 妄想少女 (Delusional Girl): Kozue and Junpei happen to be on the same train to the cram school's placement test. She gets groped on the train and Junpei jumps into help without knowing that he's met her before. At the test, he sits up at the seat next to her and is told that Kozue is bashful but also has a dirty mind about guys (as she's never had much guy experience since she's only attended girl's school, I forgot where that's mentioned). After the test, she asks Junpei to explain to her what "ecchi" is. 103. SMILE FOR ME: Aya, Junpei, Kozue, and another friend meet up at a burger shop a few days later after finding out their respective levels (Junpei and Kozue are in class B, the others in class A). Afterwards, Junpei sees Kozue off at her subway stop even though it's beyond his and compliments her on her smile. She remarks that it's the first time she's smiled like this to a guy. 104. 純情シネマ交差点 (Youthful Cinema Crossing): It's the start of a new semester and Aya and Junpei are now in the same class, but Satsuki is not with them. That evening, she decides to try out her new bathing suit and goes to Junpei's workplace to show him. The boss tells him he's no longer working as he's at cram school. She leaves and sees Junpei and another girl coming out of a video store and decides to follow them. 105. 追いかけてトナイート (Following Tonight): Junpei and Kozue come to realize that they're being followed by some strange person in a trenchcoat, so they dash off into the park. Satsuki sees them running into a park at night and find it highly suspicious. Junpei and Kozue manage to hide behind some bushes but land in an awkward position and can't move as they'll make a sound. 106. UNDER THE MOONLIGHT: Although tension is high as they don't know who this stalker is, Kozue enjoys being in this position with Junpei. The cops arrive and see Satsuki so the two show themselves and find out it's only Junpei's friend that was following them. The next day, Junpei asks Kozue how the movie was. Aya realizes that it's the same movie that Junpei recommended to her previously. 107. 目覚ましGIRL (Awake Girl): Tsukasa comes over to Junpei's house and invites him out to the beach and on a short boat ride. |
Title: いちご１００％ (Strawberry 100%) Vol. 12 |
双恋 (Futakoi) Character Single #4
Mmm...Kanako and MayuMayu. So I got an issue of Dengeki G's Magazine just to see what it's all about as Fukakoi originated from that mangazine. If I wasn't so shoulder deep in everything else, I'd probably subscribe to that magazine too as it preview many of the popular (non-hentai) bishojo games available. A little lacking on content though, but in the issue I had, it featured a novel based on Clannad. While I know both the seiyuu on this CD, I probably could not tell who they were if I didn't have the liner notes to help me. I like the first song as it has a nice soft rock feel to it. The second song starts off with the girls doing a flirtish laugh. Bleh. The rest of the song is pretty good and is a bit slower than the first song. Not really at the level of the first CD, I don't have many complaints about this one. |
Title: 双恋 (Futakoi) character song series #4: Chigusa Ui & Koi |
永久アリス輪舞曲 (Eternal Alice Rondo) Vol. 1
This series in a new series from the two guys who created Kurumi and also requisite reading for me to catch up my Dengeki Daioh subscription. I had guessed that this story had something to do with Alice in Wonderland, and it does to a certain degree (even though in the epilogue, Kaishaku states that they changed the name of the author from Lewis Carroll), but as of this first volume, I can't make out much of the connection. Unfortunately, there's nothing on the reverse side of the dust jacket. There is, however, a color page and a bonus mini-comic at the end with a little explanation of the story and a preview of the next volume. 1. 桐原有人 (Aruto Kirihara) has been fascinated with the story of Alice and thinks about it all the time, even to the point of writing his story. His little sister who suffers from a bit of a brother-complex, きらは (Kiraha) gets annoyed because she can never get his attention. One night, he sees a girl out in the moonlight who he recognizes as *the* Alice. At school, Aruto seems to have a girl who has a crush on him, キサ (Kisa). However, as she tries to talk to him after school, he spots the girl he saw last night and follows her to the library. There, she reveals herself 有栖川ありす (Alice Alisugawa) and says she's looking for the third, hidden, book of the Alice story. Aruto enthusiastically responds saying that he also wants to read it, but soon finds out how the book is compiled. Kisa comes into the library where they are in a transformed state and challenges Alice who also transforms herself. After a little duel, Alice "unlocks" Kisa's story from within her and pages materialize. By fighting and winning like this, Alice explains, they'll be able to gather the stories for the lost book. 2. Aruto has been spending too much time with Alice, or so Kiraha thinks. She tries her hardest, but can't seem to get his attention away from his beloved Alice. As Alice and Aruto are walking along the street one day, a new enemy appears to defeat Alice. She's revealed to be Kiraha. 3. Kiraha eventually gets defeated and Alice unlocks her story. A quick perusal shows that her brother occupies many of the pages, but Aruto tells Alice not to read it as it's his sister. Alice obeys without hesistation and the three of them now decide to join forces to find more pages of the story. 4. Another one member who possess the power of "Alice" is 篝木キリカ (Kirika Kagarigi), an older student at Aruto's school. After Kiriha and Alice both destroy the office she works in over a slight misunderstanding, Kirika asks for their help in continuing her research into the Alice Syndrome. She also tells them that another quality of the 3 book is that the person who reads it can have their wish come true. 5. Recently, bookstores have been burnt down and another one has just been terrorized. Aruto happens to meet a strange girl tells Aruto that his name "Anderson" and her name is Akane. She seems to also like burning books. Alice senses that sometimes not right and transforms to fight Akane. During their fight, a group of "Alice" police interrupt the battle. |
Title: 永久アリス輪舞曲 (Eternal Alice Rondo) Vol. 1 |
Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 1
With the DVD release coming out later this month, I wanted to see if it was worth getting. While I'm not over-the-top enthused about this series, it's funny and has qualities that I would enjoy in animated form, so the DVD box is still on (pre-)order. Kirie should take a chill-pill though, a little too violent there. First four pages are colored. There's also an extra chapter not related to the plot where they mix Japanese folklore with the characters of Girls Bravo. 1. 佐々木雪成 (Yukinari Sasaki) is an undersized boy for his age and has a fear of girls because they've always picked on him for his size. He comes home one day and goes to take a bath when he finds that his childhood female friend, 桐絵 (Kirie), is currently occupying the bath. She punches him, causing him to fall into the tub of water where he then warps into another bath in a distant world. In that bath, he meets an innocent young girl, Miharu who explains to him about her country. She lives in the land of Selen where there are only females. The other girls catch wind of this and come after Yukinari, so Miharu and Yukinari take a dive in the bath again and end up back on Earth in the bathroom again, interrupting Kirie's washing. 2. Miharu is staying with Yukinari, but he keeps her in his room so that his parents doesn't find out. While he's out at school, Miharu gets bored and decides to go outside. She finds her way to the school where she catches the attention of the guys there. Yukinari hears of this and runs to find Miharu before anything bad happens. In his panic, he goes into the girl's changing room as well as bump into Kirie and land in an awkward position. 3. Miharu takes Yukinari and Kirie to a supposed hot springs. There, they meet the ghost who years to be embraced by a guy. After some indecision, Kirie allows her body to be possessed and embraced by Yukinari so that the ghost's wishes can finally be fulfilled. 4. 福山和春 (Kazuharu Fukuyama) is the popular guy in class. This Valentine's though, despite having every other girl drool over him, he wants to get chocolates from Miharu. While Miharu is giving her homemade chocolate to Yukinari, Kazuharu steps in and intercepts the delivery. At first, Yukinari acquiesces, but Kirie later tells him that Miharu tried her best to make the chocolates, so he decides to fight the tall and handsome Kazuharu for it. 5. A new girl is coming to Yukinari's school. The night before, according to her horoscope, the person she'll fall in love with will have a checked handkerchief, bandaid on his face, and a special keyholder. The next day on her way to school, she bumps into Yukinari who has all those characteristics. She makes it know that she loves Yukinari at her self-introduction. The others find out that he's Lisa, Kazuharu's little sister. 6. For someone who used to disliked by girls, he's got a full plate with Lisa and Miharu. During dinner, when he realizes that he and Miharu could be a happy couple, his confidence increases. However, Lisa then enters his house and competes Miharu for his attention causing ruckus and havoc. |
Title: Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 1 |
すぱすぱ (Spas-pa) Vol. 2
Nothing too out of the ordinary in this volume. The stories are sweet and the character designs are cute as always. There are omake comics on the cover, back flap, some in the back pages too. The first few pages are colored. 7. 大きな桜の木の下で (Under the Large Sakura Tree): Itsuki, Suzu, and Itsuki's father go have a picnic underneath a sacred large tree at their shrine. Itsuki eats Suzu's bento even though it doesn't taste good. Suzu then becomes drunk and tries hitting on Itsuki. A phantom appears and in her drunken rage, Suzu eliminates it and then asks for a reward from Itsuki. She gets her kiss. And during all this time, Itsuki's father was on the sidelines observing the relationship between the two. 8. 子猫たちのファーストコンタクト (First Contact with the Kittens): 燐 (Rin) and her little flying ball 焔騎 (Enki) have come back to be with her family after a 3 year departure. She's particular excited about seeing her brother, Itsuki. She affable enough when she first meets Suzu, but when Suzu leaks out that she's his fiance, Rin explains that she's too small to satisfy her brother and won't accept her. When Suzu transforms into her real self, Rin realizes that she's no match, but tells Suzu that she won't give up. 9. 想い寄せおう願掛け祭り (Remembrances, Festival and Prayers): Haruna and Chihaya have come to help out at the shrine during this busy time. After the guests all leave, Suzu takes Itsuki to a place to pray for wishes. She prays for his safety and to always be by his side. As they're about to leave, she slips and Itsuki falls on her, giving her a kiss. Haruna and Chihaya see Itsuki and a passed out busty woman. 10. 海と水着と洞窟と… (The Sea, Swimsuits, and Cave...): At the beach, Suzu and Itsuki go explore a cave but get themselves buried in when an apparition appeared. She explains that her parents both could use magic, but she's hasn't honed her skills in. She tries though, causing a hole in the wall and having the ocean water flood them out. When Itsuki awakened, he noticed that Suzu was grabbing her chest. When Suzu wakes up, he carries her back. 11. 鈴の里帰り (前編) (Suzu's Parent Visit, First Part): Itsuki and Suzu go back to visit Suzu's parents. Despite Suzu's suspicions that something embarrassing about her will be revealed, her mother, 詩織 (Shiori) continues to tell Itsuki more about Suzu's past. She tells him about the scar on Suzu's chest from the attack 10 years ago and how she's waited all this time to be reunited with him. 12. 鈴の里帰り (後編) (Suzu's Parent Visit, Last Part): Itsuki and Suzu's family attend the local festival where her dad, 修士 (Syuji) asks Itsuki how he really feels about his daughter. Itsuki can't come to a concrete answer just yet. |
Title: すぱすぱ (Spas-pa) Vol. 2 |
ひみつのルージュ (Secret Rouge) Vol. 1
The artwork in here is identical to that of Akane. Despite the different characters and their different roles, the main lead, Ai and Daisuke, look exactly the same as Akane and Shinpei. I don't think this is a problem as I enjoy the author's character design, but it's something I noticed immediately. The story itself is similar with a guy in love with a girl, but for some reason, he has reservations about going through with it. This time, it's because of social status and employee rank. First page is colored with Ai dressed in pink. Like Akane, this volume has many little chapters which all contribute just a little bit to the simple main plot. As such, I'll just do a paragraph overview. 一二三大輔 (Daisuke Hifumi) has just been hired to be the secretary of a famous and very gorgeous young president of Rose Ballerina Cometics, 花園愛 (Ai Hananozo). He is obviously attracted to her but won't let his own lust interfere with his role as an employee. She likes him too, but occasionally gets annoyed at his reservations. She's also surrounded by the executive director of her company and friend, 氷堂冴子 (Saeko Hyodo) who hates men (at least the poor ones). And then there's Ai's mother who Ai doesn't particularly like. The mother has had troubled relationships in the past so she's not too fond of the opposite sex either. As a secretary, Daisuke sees many of his company's clients fall in love and try to hit on his boss. These are the people that Saeko would prefer Ai be with rather than Daisuke. While he's jealous, he doesn't let his personal life interfere, but occasionally, he steps in to help her if things go awry. Near the end of the volume, a new girl, 黒姫美貴 (Miki Kurohime) gets employed at the company and falls in love with Daisuke posing some competition with her boss. Ai's mother also drops by to visit and sees that she's apparently in love with Daisuke. |
Title: ひみつのルージュ (Secret Rouge) Vol. 1 |
少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine), '04 Vol 44
They're pimping School Rumble as the anime is going to start this week. CLAMP is (yet again) taking the week off. Is it just me or are do they take more weeks off than everyone else? This week's tour of Kodansha has the characters visiting the recording studio for School Rumble. Full Swing: ２おもしれーじゃん (It's Fun, Ain't It?): Tama sees a tennis player practicing against a wall by himself and is doing pretty well. He sees Tama and gives him a racket to try hitting against the wall, but Tama fails miserably. By accident, Tama finds out that he's a fan of card collecting and has one of his favorite baseball player. They come to an agreement where if he can consistently play against the wall, he'll give Tama the card. Later, Tama has a rally with Koto and she explains how the strings on his racket are too tight for him and that his racket is a mid-size, not an oversized like hers. He then goes and practices against the wall some more, but this time, turns up the music and he's able to rally with the beat going. King's Sword: ５黄巾迫る (Kokin Gaining Ground): The bandits have gotten the news about their messengers being killed and are preparing for an attack. Back at the villiage, people are contemplating running away, but their leader prevents them from doing so. Ryuhi, Ahi, and Kanu make it to the bridge, but the bandits are also there just waiting on the other side. Suzuka: ＃３２花火 (Fireworks): At the water park, Honoka keeps trying to get closer to Yamato, but never seems to succeed as she's always distracted and Yamato seems fixated on Suzuka. After their day of fun, they start walking back, but Yamato has to tie his shoelace. The other walk on ahead, but Suzuka stays behind. The fireworks start bursting, and Yamato tries to grab Suzuka's hand. She pulls away, but not before Honoka seems his actions. Negima: ６９時間目 出撃！ネギと小太郎 (Attack! Negi and Kotaro): Asuna is the only one tied up while the girls are encased in liquid jelly. Wilhelm explains that he wants to see what the bond is between Negi and Asuna. Negi and Kotaro come storming in and after a slow start, they manage to defeat Wilhelm's three little hench-jellies. However, when Negi tries to seal in Wilhelm, something happens with Asuna's necklace and the magic proves ineffective. Changing Now: ＃２２乱入！！悪の華 (Bursting In! The Evil Flower): Velvet Rose has now replaced Crimson Bunny in their organization and shows her stuff defeating the current enemy at hand while Dog Fighter and Bunny look on. Hamanaka Ai: ０５４本の仮面 (Book Cover): The pupils are all reading and Nakamura tells Masahiko that guys usually wrap their sleezy books in plain looking covers so that they won't get noticed as well as protecting it from wear and tear. He covers his book, but accidentally picks up Nakamura's book instead which is a sleezy romance novel. Ayaka isn't too pleased when she asks and flips through the book. |
Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 44 |
KaNa Vol. 3
Being the penultimate volume, the story is quickly coming to it's climax. Despite the simple artwork most of the time, the action sequences, especially the fights, are drawn very well. Kana and Yuji's relationship is pretty simple, but the main story about who/what Kana is and why she's so important drives the story. There are a couple of color pages in the front and back of the book. 12. 告白 (Confession): Yuji tells her sister about Kana and in return, she tells him about their ancestor, Seimei Abe, who was a priest who lived with the beasts and so their family is tightly connected with the non-human creatures. She hands him a keepsake that has been in the family for generations called the "Hihiirokane." It looks just like a piece of metal, but according to his sister, it contains the power of the beasts. Yuji runs out to find Kana to apologize to her, but he is met by members of the 7 heads. 13. 告白２ (Confession 2): They attack him, but his keepsake suddenly emits a power that repels the enemies away. They recognize it as the "Hihiirokane." Kana, as beast, then jumps in to the fight causing the enemies to flee. She then runs away with Yuji chasing her. When asked, she responds that Yuji is the one running away. 14. 告白３ (Confession 3): Yuji tells Kana that he loves her. 15. 母 (Mother): Yuji and his sister Yuko get invited to Kana's place to party. After Ro and Yuko get wasted, Beth explains that she knows a bit about the item Yuji is carrying. Kana then invites Yuji to see her mom. 16. 母２ (Mother 2): Kana brings Yuji to the room where her petrified mother stands. This time, the statue speaks to the two of them, asking Yuji to take care of her daughter. 17. 宇治拾遺物語別巻 (Ujishui Story's Other Chapter): The leader of 7 heads finds out about the missing chapter of Ujishui's story which contains lost information about their kind and is informed that Mutsuo Abe (Yuji's teacher from first chapter) might know something about it. Meanwhile, Yuji is trying to do some research to find out more about Babylon and it's relevance to the non-humans, but Yuko tells him that he won't find it in human history books. The leader of the 7 heads visits Mutsuo at his cabin. 18. 宇治拾遺物語別巻２ (Ujishui Story's Other Chapter 2): Kana has been waiting to talk with her mother again after hearing her when Yuji was there. At the cabin, Mutsuo is questioned, but manages to convince them that he knows nothing about the missing chapter. After they leave though, he goes in his library and shows that he has the scroll. 19. 宇治拾遺物語別巻３ (Ujishui Story's Other Chapter 3): Kana is trying to learn how to cook. Mutsuo summons Beth and tells her to hand the missing chapter to the rightful owner and descendant, the one who possess the Hihiirokane. As she's about to leave, another member of 7 heads, Kousuke (the brawny one), appears. 20. 宇治拾遺物語別巻４ (Ujishui Story's Other Chapter 4): Beth and Kousuke scuffle a bit. Mutsuo jumps in but gets mutilated pretty quickly. Beth does a super transformation into a demon and dishes out the punishment, but Kousuke retreats. 21. 宇治拾遺物語別巻５ (Ujishui Story's Other Chapter 5): At Kana's place, Yuji comes in to see that Kana's brother is passed out from tasting her food. Beth comes back with the scroll in hand and sees Yuji in a different light now that she knows his lineage. |
Title: KaNa Vol. 3 |
フルメタル・パニック！ (Full Metal Panic!) Vol. 3
A mix of a few interesting and funny chapters, but nothing too significant. I really do like Sosuke's unique abilities in dealing with people though. The book comes with a foldout page featuring Kaname. 15. 疑惑、困惑、球技大会は大迷惑！？ (Suspicion, Confusion, The Ball Game Festival Is a Big Mess!?): A note has been left stating that the author, a student, will commit suicide if the ball game festival is to proceed. Kaname and Sosuke investigate and find out it's the co-captain of the basketball team who has become worried that Kaname's skill will surpass hers. Sosuke, using his own techniques, convinces Mizuki not to commit suicide and the games goes on. 16. ナゾ？謎？転校生は何者ナンゾ！？ (A PUZZLE, A Puzzle, Who Is This Exchange Student!?): There's a new person who's going to be sitting Kaname and Sosuke's class named Teresa. Whiel Kaname doesn't know it, she's actually Sosuke's colonel, the girl who had the same reaction when Kaname was being interrogated in Korea. As a boss, Sosuke has started paying more attention to her rather than Kaname. With some stalking, Kaname sees the two of them walking into his apartment late at night. 17. ふたりはひとつ屋根の下！？ (The Two Are Under One Roof!?): Feeling a bit bummed, Kaname runs off into the equipment room at the gym to blow off some steam. She falls asleep and wakes up with the doors locked. After some loud banging, Teresa and Sosuke come to her aid. At this time, Teresa finally explains to Kaname that she's part of the Mythryl organization and has the same characteristics as Kaname in that she also has some hidden knowledge in her brain. The week that Teresa has been here investigating Kaname is now over. 18. ミラクルアニマル大作戦！！ (The Miracle Animal Big Plan): Kaname and Sosuke go to the zoo alone (because her other friends couldn't go). Kaname finds out late in the day that it's the deadline to turn in money for the summer trip. They rush out of the zoo, followed by a group of monkeys and make it just in time. 19. バカンスはロマンス！？ (Vacation is Romance!?): At the beach, Kaname is picked up by a servant to a really rich little boy. Sosuke comes to her rescue, but she purposely tells her new admirer that he's a stalker so bodyguards are dispatched after him. Sosuke manages to defeat each one and rescues Kaname, who despite causing all the trouble, feels happy that he always comes for her. 19. 幽霊なんて怖くない！無人島ドキドキ探索隊！！ (I'm Not Afraid of Ghosts! The Nervous Search Party on No-Man's Island): That night, they see a twinkle of light from the supposedly haunted island a bit off shore. Sosuke and Kaname go investigate and find that it's just a practical joke. |
Title: フルメタル・パニック！ (Full Metal Panic!) Vol. 3 |
フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 7
I didn't really mind the first few and the last chapters in this volume, but I found the middle portion with Alyssa and Tohru's mom quite heartwarming. No bonuses in this volume. 37. Kisa's brother, Hiro is pretty jealous that Kisa has been been spending most of her time with Tohru, so he goes out and abuses Tohru a bit by calling her names and running off with her wallet. Kisa finds out about this and scolds her brother, who despite being a misfit towards Tohru, listens obediently to his sister and explains that he felt terrible that he couldn't help Kisa in her time of need. Tohru finds this all cute and just has to give Hiro a hug, who turns out to be a goat. 38. Tohru talks with Kisa and Shigure with Hattori about Hiro's background. Later, Tohru, Kisa, and Hiro go to a park where Tohru and Hiro have a talk about Kisa while waiting for some crepe where Tohru praises Hiro for being a prince to his sister. In return, Hiro decides to treat Tohru to the dessert. 39. After seeing Tohru still wearing her school bathing clothes, Alyssa and Saki decide to invite Yuki and Kyo to buy Tohru a new outfit. At the store, they encounter some of the biker girls Alyssa used to be a part of. At the cafe, she starts explaining about how she met Tohru. She used to be a biker girl and her hero was Kyoko, aka Red Butterfly, the most revered in the organization. However, she finds out that she's become married and has a child. At school, she bumps into Tohru, Kyoko's daughter, and asks to see her mother. Alyssa is surprised at how motherly her hero has become. 40. The Honda mother and daughter treat her as a guest, but she refuses to accept such familial treatment. However, she seems to yearn for it in private. Later, Tohru finds Alyssa beaten and helps her escape back to her house where Tohru treats her wounds and her mother comes back with some dinner. 41. Alyssa wants to leave the gang now, but they start beating her at the meeting. Kyoko got a word of this and made her presence at the nightly meeting to rescue Alyssa. Since then, she's been good friends with Tohru and shared the same loss when Kyoko died. Meanwhile, the punks currently hanging around them try to attack Alyssa, but to no avail and in fact, Alyssa manages to have them turn a new leaf. 42. The leader of Yuki's fan club is going to graduate soon and so she makes a last attempt at trying to rein him in. |
Title: フルーツバスケット (Fruits Basket) Vol. 7 |
美少女戦士セーラームーン (Sailormoon) Vol. 9
These few chapters remind me of how Sailormoon is supposed to be. One bad guy every week and then repeat. Unfortunately, Fisheye and Tigereye are expended too soon. The stickers included have SD depictions of the characters with dialogue bubbles. 40. 夢２ マーキュリー・ドリーム (Dream 2, Mercury Dream): Usagi and Chibiusa have changed bodies so Chibiusa is now the older and taller of the two. Mamoru has been a little sick recently and Chibiusa wonders about whether she's the princess Eriol is looking for. Meanwhile, Zirconia has a brief chat with Neherenia and they have Fisheye go attack Ami. After Ami brings back a gold fish, they possess her mother trying to bring out Ami's insecurities about her family, but the Sailor Mercury inside her prevails and she transforms and defeats Fisheye. Usagi and Chibiusa come help out and change back to their normal selves, but now Chibiusa doesn't think she's the one for Eriol. 41. 夢３ マーズ・ドリーム (Dream 3, Mars Dream): Chibiusa meets with Eriol who reveals himself as a man this time. The Circus sends Tigereye after Rei. While the others are attending the circus and becoming hypnotized, Rei ends up in the house of mirrors where she's confronted with her own uncertainties in life and what she wants to become. With the help of her two crows, Phobos and Deimos, she overcomes her challenge and frees the other girls at it. 42. 夢４ ジュピター・ドリーム (Dream 4, Jupiter Dream): Mamoru's illness has become worse to the point where he's coughing up blood. The next person, after the two previous failures, is Makoto. The next one is disguised as a new spice store owner, knowing that one of Makoto's hobbies is cooking. Makoto comes back to the store and starts talking with the owner at which time she reveals that she's has other aspirations too. Using her wavering heart, she gets attacked, but the scout within her and Haruka's works strengthen her again to defeat this new enemy. Eriol shows up by the terribly ill Mamoru. 43. 夢５ ヴィーナス・ドリーム (Dream 5, Venus Dream): Eriol shows them that there's a black rose growing inside Mamoru which is the cause for his illness. He tells the scouts about Neherenia and himself, how they have to defeat her to save the earth and get the Golden Crystal to save Mamoru and himself. Meanwhile, Minako has been depressed that she can't transform so she gets herself sucked into competition to become an idol. It's a trap set up by the Amazon Quartet to get her and they end up having her hanging from a tall building with only Artemis preventing her from falling. But then a large boulder falls from the sky right above them. 44. 夢６ ニュー・ソルジャー・ドリーム (Dream 6, New Soldier Dream): It's been six months since the outer scouts have adopted baby Hotaru and she's been growing very fast. In the house, she witness an apparition of Eriol with Chibiusa chasing after it which awakens her to become Sailor Saturn. She then restores the powers to the other 3 outer scouts. Meanwhile, Artemis transforms into a human form and deflects the boulder and apologizes for not lending enough support, hence not allowing her to transform. With that, she's now able to transform and goes to safety. Soon after though, the 4 scouts get caught by the Quartet. Back home, Usagi has started coughing. |
Title: 美少女戦士セーラームーン (Pretty Guardian Sailormoon) Vol. 9 |
ネギま！ １２月：雪広あやか (Negima! December: Yukihiro Ayaka)
I was really surprised by the song and the drama included on this CD. I never knew (or had forgotten) that Ayaka had such a sad background. I particularly enjoyed the the vocal, regular mix. It's a slow song with a slightly melancholy theme. Compared to the other recent releases, I thought the seiyuu did a very good job with conveying the meaning with her singing voice. The remix has a jazz feel to it which is tolerable but the upbeat tempo takes a bit away from song's aura. The Engrish wasn't necessary though. The drama continues with Setsuna trying to find Konoka's panty thief. Ayaka retreats to her own house, escaping from annoying people at the dorm. When she enters, she finds a little boy sneaking around in her house. She catches him and then treats him like a little brother, feeding him and playing with him, trying to re-live the experience of having her late little brother back. Later that night, Setsuna catches this visitor and finally kills him (but not after a polite sermon saying that it won't hurt and he'll meet friends in the other world). Ayaka runs out and finds a note thanking her for her kindness and a bag containing a gift. Ayaka opens it to find girl's underwear. The seiyuu talk reveals that her real voice is a lot lower than the character she plays. Like many of her fellow seiyuu's, she expresses thanks for the privilege of playing a Negima character and some little background about herself with the theme of what she splurges on. First edition comes with a Ayaka tarot card. |
Title: 魔法先生ネギま！ １２月：雪広あやか (Magic Teacher Negima! December: Yukihiro Ayaka)
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