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Title: 真月譚 月姫 (Lunar Legend Tsukihime) Vol. 2
Artist/Author: 佐々木少年 (Shonen Sasaki)
Original Creator: TYPE-MOON
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 226pp., w/o furigana
Original Serialization: Monthly Dengeki Daioh 5/04-1/05
First Printing: 2/15/04
Rating: 3/4
I like the cover a lot, although I don't think she appears in this volume much. This volume for the most part only covers the battle with Neo-Chaos (I think that's how you translate it, although Alcuid isn't all that intuitive either). Anyway, much of the mystic surrounding the series didn't come though in this volume as most of it was just fighting and more fighting.
No bonus in this volume.
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Title: まほらば (Mahoraba) OP Single
Original Creator: 小島あきら (Akira Kojima)
Vocals: 白石涼子 (Ryoko Shiraishi) and 佐伯美愛 (Mio Saeki)
Release Date: 2/23/05
Catalog No.: KICM-3101
Rating: 3/4
While I'm not a big fan of DROPS, I had to get this CD because it's Mahoraba. The CD contains 4 versions of the same opening song. The first is a duet, second is with Ryoko as a solo, third with Mio as Solo, and the last is the karaoke version.
As much as I hate to admit it, Ryoko's version is my favorite version on the CD. Mio's voice is just a little to whiny for me. The song itself is a little more mellow than what I would have thought of for such a wacky series as Maburaho.
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Title: はやてxブラード (Hayate Cross Blade) Vol. 2
Artist/Author: 林家志弦 (Shizuru Hayashiya)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 193pp., w/o furigana
Original Serialization: Monthly Dengeki Daioh 7/04-1/05
First Printing: 2/15/05
Rating: 3/4
While the obi advertises the series as a contrast between the cool (Ayana) and the stupid (Hayate), this volume mostly focuses on the latter. The story is a good read, but not anything extraordinary. Hayate almost gets suckered in by another team who uses her naivety against her. What I like about this series though, is the whimsical artwork, especially of Hayate in her clumsiness.
Bonus is only a letter from the author in the back.
7. バカが狙うもの (What the Baka Aims For)
8. そんなバカな (That's Stupid)
9. バカなればこそ (If You Became a Baka)
10. 信じるバカは救われる (A Faithful Baka Is Saved)
11. バカとボケ (Baka and Boke)
12. バカにして一周年 (A Year as a Baka)
13. バカの祭典 (A Baka Festival)
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Title: 恋風 (Koi Kaze) Vol. 5
Original Creator: 吉田基己 (Motoi Yoshida)
Volume: 5/5
Catalog No.: GNBA-1045
Release Date: 11/25/04
Rating: 3/4
The manga ends at volume 12. When the anime was made, the manga hadn't finished so these last few episodes deviated a bit from the original comic. I really didn't think episode 13 was necessary, but that's just my preference as I liked the ending to the manga just the way it was. I liked the fact that Chidori had a larger role to play in the anime. She really ought to have been a counter-balance to Nanoka. While quite not meeting my expectations (I had been comparing this series to Someday's Dreamers), it was still a good show. I still don't like the ending though.
First edition comes with stickers and a postcard of toddler Nanoka and father (I think this a picture used in the opening too).
11. 余寒 (Lingering Winter)
12. 春雷 (Spring Thunder)
13. 陽炎 (Heat Wave)
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Title: Kagetora Vol. 1
Artist/Author: 瀬上あきら (Akira Segami)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 197pp., w/furigana
Original Serialization: Monthly Magazine Special 7/02-11/02
First Printing: 2/17/03
Rating: 3/4
I got interested in this series after the 4 issues of Shonen Magazine a few weeks ago that had special chapters for this story. It's basically a love comedy between a ninja, Kagetora, and a girl, Yuki. She comes from a line of legendary fighters, but is a complete klutz, so her mom summons Kagetora to come and train her. As expected, he seems to fall in love with her although he tries to convince himself otherwise.
I enjoyed the story, but for at least the first volume, it seems to start off like many other romantic comedies. Maybe I'm strange, but this stuff never gets old for me.
Bonus comes with some 4 panel comics.
1. イケないご指南役 (An Unfit Instructor)
2. 恋 仇 (Love, Enemy)
3. 夏! 一番眩しいのは!? (Summer! The Brightest Is!?)
4. 桃色に染まったお姫様 (The Princess in Pink)
5. 狼がやってきた! (The Wolf Comes)
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Title: まほらば (Mahoraba) ED Single
Original Creator: 小島あきら (Akira Kojima)
Vocals: 米倉千尋 (Chihiro Yonekura)
Release Date: 2/23/05
Catalog No.: KICM-3101
Rating: 3/4
It's been quite a while since I've heard Chihiro, not since the Love Hina Winter Special. This single is unique in that it contains 3 songs and one karaoke track. The ending theme seems to fit the series a little better than the intro. I think it's the mood that the song evokes.
The second song she has is rather upbeat followed by a very mellow third song. Rather, the third song is too mellow. I'm not used to listening to her sing such a slow slow song.
First edition apparently comes with an obi that has a peel off sticker. However, the packaging doesn't have a sticker noting that it's a first edition (but I also have the sticker).
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Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 15
Issue Date: 3/23/05
Publisher: Kodansha
Pages: 462
Featured girl is 16 year old Asuka Hoshino posing for Coca-Cola. There's a one-shot comic of Hime Cop, a series that's running Monthly Magazine Special. Anime Research comic has an interview with Ho-chan (Yui Horie)!
Negima: 87時間目 隠しきれない恋心 (Love that Can't Be Hidden): Yue sees two Negis and thinks that there are he has fakes running around again. Negi explains to her about Chao's time traveling device. Since he has some time free, he asks Yue to accompany him. He tries to consult with her about what he should do with Nodoka. Yue responds that he should wait until they're no longer in a teacher/student relationship to respond. But soon after, she realizes that she may have betrayed her friend for her own selfish needs. Kamo makes sure she knows it. In the end though, she apologizes for what she may have done to Nodoka's relationship, but only to herself.
Toto: 13「機関車の街5」 (Locomotive City, Part 5): Kakashi and Dorothy come charging in to save Mirika and Noiru. Using Toto, Kakashi beats the army, but Dorothy gets captured by the sergeant. Meanwhile, Noiru takes Mirika to his secret garage where he's been working on a locamotive. He starts it up and drives it out, much to the surprise of everyone.
Tsubasa: 70もう一人の自分 (Another Self): Shaoran has nightmares of someone calling to him. When he wakes, he finds himself in Pickle World and learns that Kuro, Fye, and Sakura are preparing to enter a racing contest where the winner will get Sakura's feather as a prize. As Sakura and Fye are getting parts, they almost have an accident with another car. Tomoyo steps out of the vehicle that almost hit them.
Suzuka: #52別離 (Separation): Yamato is determined to give the present to Honoka and goes over to her house. They have an argument where Honoka accuses him of liking Suzuka. Yamato rebuffs saying that he loved Honoka. Honoka finally accepts the present and the two agree to split up.
Hamanaka Ai: 074偉大な先生 (The Great Teacher): The students have to write about who they respect. Masahiko finally chooses Ai (I don't get the joke...).
Student Council: #15扉よりの使者 (The Messenger at the Door): Mami and Musashi prepare for the fight with Valkyrie, the guy who brought chaos to the world before Mami's brother sealed him (and himself) away. Musashi fights and finds out that he doesn't get hurt. Instead, he notices that all his injuries get inflicted on Mami. Valkyrie prepares to shoot a blast at Musashi but then Kaoru jumps in to protect him.
King's Sword: 27孫堅対華雄 (Sonken vs. Kayuu): Sonken (good guy) fights Kayuu (bad guy) and kills him, taking his head as a token. On towards the capital.
Changing Now: #42最強!!スター仮面 (Strongest!! Star Mask): Star Mask beats up Dog Fighter, but then Machina joins the fight.
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Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 16
Issue Date: 3/30/05
Publisher: Kodansha
Pages: 458
It's Waka "I'm probably blind from all that eye sparkle liquid" Inoue. This week features a series of gag comics, including a one-shot from Minamike's author, Koharu Sakuraba. AMR features Mamiko Noto and Ami Koshimizu for doing voices in School Rumble.
Student Council is off this week.
Suzuka: #53最低 (The Worst): Yamato comes home to find that Saotome and Megumi have come into his room to have a little drinking party. He tells them that he's single now, but they don't really help console him, especially with Megumi becoming drunk. After they leave, Suzuka comes crawling from the hole in the wall that splits their room to find out to make sure.
Negima: 88時間目 復活!!伝説の♥あぶな〜い格闘大会 (Revival!! The Legendary Battle Event): Negi finds out that there's a popular event happening that night, a fighting contest to find the strongest at Mahora. With the purse at 10 million Yen, almost everyone participates including Asuna and even Takahata-sensei. At first, Negi doesn't want to participate, but then he hears from Chao that year ago, his father was a champion in the contest. With that, he decides to join in.
Hamanaka Ai: 075桜花嬌笑 (Sakura Petal Smile): The group is out enjoying the Sakura flowers and for a snapshot, Masahiko asks the girls to line up from smallest to biggest...and apparently it's not according to their height.
Tsubasa: 71今成すべき事 (The Thing That Must Be Done Now): Kuro is surprised to see Tomoyo, but Tomoyo is more surprised to Sakura. Fye and Shaoran talk about how different his current country is. Meanwhile, Tomoyo encourages Sakura to be a race queen for the competition, even though she doesn't know how to fly a vehicle.
Toto: 13「機関車の街6」 (Locomotive City, Part 6): Noiru tries to make an escape. Mirika rescues Dorothy from the sergeant and Kakishi fends him off. The army then call in the tanks to destroy the train, but Noiru had put confetti in the chamber and it shoots out streamers and flowers. Mirika is left behind in the town while the other three head towards Emerald City.
King's Sword: 28張飛対呂布 (Chohi vs. Ryofu): Chohi tries to take on the man who feels no pain. As he's about to put the sleeper on him, Ryofu whips out a dagger and almost stabs Chohi in the face. Ryubi, Sousou, and Kanu plan to surround Ryofu in order to defeat him.
Changing Now: #43激突!!戦いの理由 (Crash! The Reason for Fighting): Machina defeats Star Mask and cuts off his left hand.
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Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 17
Issue Date: 4/6/05
Publisher: Kodansha
Pages: 462
It's like the planets lining up, I suppose. This week's magazine boasts their entire line-up without a single artist taking a week off (even CLAMP!). Cover girl is Aya Matsuura.
There's a one-shot comic about a middle-aged guy and his life-sized marionette doll that he controls. Very strange. This week's Anime Research comic has an interview with the director of Tsubasa anime.
Student Council: #16絆の息吹 (Brace of Unity): Just as Musashi is about to be blasted by a beam coming from Valkyrie, Kaoru steps in to protect him. Nagare also jumps in later and gives Musashi a sword, the sword Mami's brother used 10 years ago. However, as Musashi handles it, roots grow around the sword and force him to pull it out to use it. Nagare says it's a test. The other student council members jump in the fight and Musashi, along with Nagare and Kaoru, help pull the sword out.
Suzuka: #53決心 (Determination): At school, Yamato and Honoka see each other but don't know what to say. During track practice, Honoka doesn't show up causing the team members to ask and find out that she and Yamato broke up. Honoka spends the time talking with Nana and decides that she should be more self confident, and thinking that maybe if she was, they would still be together. The next day, she goes to practice and is determined to tell Yamato how she really feels.
Negima: 89時間目 強者だらけのドキドキ♡バトルロイヤル (Nervousness With the Strong, Battle Royale): Fight, fight, fight! Using the skills he learned from Ku-fei and Eva, Negi manages to enter the round of 16. His next opponent is Takahata-sensei.
Tsubasa: 72忘れ得ぬ人 (Someone I Can't Forget): Sakura still can't fly her craft, but doesn't give up on being a race queen. Fye makes a comment to Kuro about how Tomoyo looks similar to the one Kuro knew in his home country. As the race is about to start, they noticed that many of the other contestants are people they've met elsewhere before.
Hamanaka Ai: 076禁欲の部屋 (The Room of Celibacy): Nakamura is try to stop smoking and she tries to get Ai, Masahiko, and Rinko to be ascetic too. Ai has to refrain from eating between meals so when Masahiko's mother brings in cake, they tie up Ai. The mom comes back to see the tutor in bondage.
Toto: 15: Noiru, Dorothy, and Kakashi are on the train to Emerald City. Along the way, Noiru points out that they'll have to pass the North Witch Forest. Right then, a mysterious lady with a hat and broomstick flies into view and jumps aboard their train. She introduces herself as repo-woman for accessories and has come for Kakashi's bracelet. She explains that it was used during a war 50 years ago and should have been sealed away. Kakashi now holds the power to change the destiny of the world. Kakashi refuses to give it up though because it still embodies Toto's spirit. They then see that they're on a crash course with another train.
King's Sword: 29呂布対劉備三兄弟 (Ryofu and The Three Brothers): Ryubi, Chohi, and Kanu surround Ryofu and try to team up on Ryofu. Ryofu parries all their attacks, but then his sword breaks and he retreats. One less obstacle on the way to Rakuyou.
Changing Now: #44限界!!正義の代償 (Limit!! The Price of Justice): After being defeated by Machina, Star Mask shows that his left arm is a prosthetic and he tells Dog Fighter that he paid the price for justice. They call it a night. The next morning, but baddies have all left and Dog Fighter realizes that it wasn't a dream.
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Title: 電撃大王 (Dengeki Daioh) March '05
Issue Date: 3/1/2004
Publisher: メディアワックス (Media Works)
Pages: 518
I've been holding off until I was finished with Hayate Cross Blade and Tsukihime to start reading this month's issue as they were series I've wanted to catch up on.
A couple of series ending this month, namely Comic Party, Please Twins, and Kanna. Uta~Kata is going to end in next month's volume. They're probably clearing out these titles for the new batch of comics coming in the next few months, including FUTAKOI and Muv-luv (I think) Alternative!
No Ichigo Marshmallow this month.
Bonus comes with just a pullout illustration.
Yotsuba to: 23よつばと釣り (Yotsuba and Fishing): Jumbo takes Yotsuba, Dad, Ena, and Miuchi to a fishing site where they buy the fish and catch (easier for the kids). Miuchi has issues with the bait and gutting of live fish.
To Heart R: 5: Still quite bummed from Hiroyuki decision to choose his course of study, Akari tries her hardest to avoid him. They later meet on two sides of the outdoor bath where she explains that he wants to support him in his pursuits, but that means he'll spend more time with Maruchi. She storms out of the bath and walks by Maruchi without saying a word.
Tsukihime: 16: After the battle, Shiki thinks that everything should be back to normal and that Alcuid has no reason to be in town anymore. On his way to school, he sees the damage he caused and meets Shieru fixing a fence. He goes to class, but faints in homeroom while talking to his friends. During lunch, Shieru has a talk with Satsuki. Shiki wakes in the nurses office late afternoon. Shieru then asks him to accompany her.
HayatexBlade: 15あの鐘を鳴らすのはおばか (The Baka is the One Who Rings the Bell): During lunch, Hayate can't find Moka and Ayana is getting pastries, so she finds Sou/Aoi to hang out with. But before she starts eating, Mizuchi comes and takes Sou away. While she's alone, a mysterious girl comes and has lunch with Hayate. Meanwhile, the results from the last battles are in and Hayate/Ayana have been promoted to rank B. Later in the day, Shizuku accidentally rings the battle bell, but immediately cancels. Hitsugi tells her to rest as she sees that Shizuku has a cold. Shizuku promises to be cured the next day and after some intense training of running and eating (which she thinks will make her better), she ends up worse.
KuraKURA: 7: Runa (the child) returns to school after taking two days off and wonders how she'll face her crush, Hayakawa. She finds that her mother is also participating at the event. After Runa changes clothes, she bumps into Hayakawa.
Muv-luv: 7: Takeru wakes up to find out that he was bitten by a snake and that Mikoto had sucked out the venom. However, he still can't move his legs. Night falls and Mikoto gets him a sheet and undresses and snuggles by him to provide warmth.
Kashimashi: 9: Hazumu's class goes to the beach. Asuta seems to have fallen in love with Hazumu but keeps holding himself back because he remembers that Hazumu used to be a guy. While Hazumu's away, Tomari uses the opportunity to tell Yasuna that she loves Hazumu also.
Psi-ren: 8: Both Souichiro and Meruna have to deal damages from their last fight. Souichiro is out another robot and Meruna's Psi-suit will take some time to fix. Meanwhile, word has leaked out on the Internet about these fighters of justice and various news outlets are calling headquarters and inquiring. As Meruna leaves one night, she's followed by a stalker. Luckily, she bumps into Souichiro and he scares the guy off. The two then decide to go to dinner.
Uta~Kata: 6: The group goes to Enoshima. Keiko, Satsuki, and Nozomu have a little scuffle. Ichika transformed despite leaving her jewel at home and Manatsu violates the rules by saving her. Soon after Saya appears and makes Manatsu disappear for the transgression.
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