Sunday 27 December 2015

Comic Corral #2

Comic Corral #2: Black Butler’s Big Day(s)
by Geordi Demorest
Black Butler Chapters 1-111: I’ve never been one for long running series comic or otherwise so Black Butler took years to catch-up on inevitably ending in a marathon that was both fascinating and depressing. Once I truly sunk my teeth into the manga there was no stopping. I think the biggest hurdle for those who have seen the anime in part or entirely will be separating it from the source material which has an entirely different take on the world and characters after the booking arc. The manga tries its hand at everything from mysteries to sports manga.

Sweetness and Lightning chapters 1-29: I haven’t talked about Sweetness and Lightning much, if at all, but it truly is an adorable manga. There isn’t a whole lot to it beyond its premise. The characters have layers and goals though which I think is what establishes it apart from many other slice-of-life manga well that and its incredible artwork.

Today’s Cerberus chapters 1-28: This is not a comic with an ounce a class yet I adore it all the same. It takes Nisekoi’s tropes and characters and does them many, many times better. It isn’t afraid to continue its story and doesn’t go off on tangents. It’s still shameless fan service (which is perfectly fine) it just has more too it.

Dark Horse Presents volume 3 issues 1-16: Currently I’m working my way through the seventeenth issue of this comic anthology magazine. Not all the series are winners but the ones that are really hit it out of the park. It’s a breath of fresh air for one such as I who spends much of my time with Japanese comics.


Relife volume 1: This manga caught me particularly by surprise from the outset I thought it would be fan service pandering to the lowest common denominator. However it’s a surprisingly thoughtful and addictive series.  I cannot wait for more of it to be up on Crunchyroll!

Saturday 19 December 2015

Comic Corral #1

Comic Corral #1
by Geordi Demorest
So I’m trying something a little different again. This is column is more of a roundup of some of the books and shows I’ve been watching and a more blog style reaction to them instead of reviews with structure to them. So basically what I’ve been doing.

Island issues 1-4: This one caught me off guard. I hadn’t expected to enjoy this as much as I do. Not all of the stories were winners one of the stories in particular in which people have devices that do everything for them seemed to clash with the more surrealist at times almost dada.
Lettera volume 1: This one can be found on the sparkler monthly site where it is currently being serialized. It does this weird thing where it goes into super deformed mode at odd times, as in, most of the time. I really like series with strong female protagonists and this is a prime example of that. The heroine, who doesn’t have much depth so far honestly, can hold her own in a fight and has a compelling personality.
Orange Junk Chapters 1-14: This comic is kind of a guilty pleasure with not too much substance to it. It’s a fun read and also can be found on the sparkler monthly website. The modeling arc is by far my favorite as it actually has some stakes and greatly expands the cast.
Natsume’s Book of Friends volume 10: I have always been a fan of Natsume, though admittedly I still have the fourth/final season sitting unfinished on my CR queue. It’s a quiet series though my favorite moments are the more suspenseful ones. This volume pretty much continued to stick to the series’ status quo for better and for not so well.
Big Punch Magazine issue 1: I’d been vaguely aware of this magazine for some time but never had gotten around to reading it mostly because I wasn’t sure it would stay afloat for long. The end of the year though and it’s still around. The stories are compelling and too my liking in art style Though don’t really care for the first story in the issue.

There was a lot more that I read recently, and continue to read, and I might get around to writing up about those series at some point too. Anywho, have a good day!

Saturday 12 December 2015

Top 5 Best and Worst Comics of 2015

Top 5 Best and Worst Comics of 2015
by Geordi Demorest
2015 was a huge year for comics. Highly requested series have been licensed in droves, French comics made a splash onto the North American market, new services sprung up like Spottoon, Yen Press simulpubs, Silent Manga Audition, webtoons (a new format for comics designed for the digital age) seem to be taking off globally, and so on and so forth. With the year drawing to a close I thought I’d make a best and worst list for comics that came out in 2015. To clarify the worst list was really subjective while the best list is made up, what I feel to be, the best comics of 2015.

Let’s get the worst out of the way:
5) Idol Dreams: I couldn’t get past the first chapter of this one. Tanemura really isn’t that great at writing adults who feel and act like adults. There was also a suicide joke thrown in and well let’s say it isn’t one of her better works.
4) Takahashi-san is Listening: This series relies completely around a really awkward joke: the protagonist is a stalker. There really isn’t much to say about it beyond that. It never really goes beyond the joke nor does the heroine face any consequences for her actions.
3) Samon the Summoner: This one was particularly insufferable. The biggest problem lies in the fact that the heroine is actually a great person, and yet Samon tries to convince the audience that secretly she is evil at heart and that she should, thus, be miserable. It never gave a reason in the pilot chapter and it was another one I couldn’t read much of beyond it admittedly. Like most of the Jump Starts this year this one was cancelled quickly.  
2) Yuuki and Nao: This one goes higher because, when I started reading it, I was cautiously optimistic, that it might be decent, but it turned out to be yet another of Renta’s many hard-core smut series.
1) Marie of the Dragons: It now occurs to me that this list is comprised mostly of smut and tasteless humor series. Marie of the Dragons falls into the former category. It took me many months to finish the one issue I have bought. While I enjoy some bande desinee this is not one of them. The art is hideous and it prefers to concentrate on the smut far too much for my tastes.

Now for the “best of” list:
5) Bloody Mary: Admittedly this one is more of a personal favorite but the way it goes about its subject matter is well written and refreshing. It’s far more intelligent than I thought it would have been from the outset and it was a genuinely pleasant surprise for me.
4) Scarlet Empire: Another personal favorite. The artwork is distinct and eye-catching, the story flows fluidly, and the characters have layers to their personalities. It’s probably the lowest profile series on this best list but I think it deserves a spot.
3) So Cute It Hurts: This series was even more of a pleasant surprise. Despite how plain it looks it has a lot of personality. Gender benders are difficult to do well and I think So Cute it Hurts is certainly up to the task.
2) Princess Jellyfish: I really struggled with the top two.  Princess Jellyfish is only in second because I was well aware from the outset how great it would be. It’s charming and has many, many likeable, colorful characters. The common is perfectly tuned and it just does very well at what it sets out to be: a romantic comedy.

1) Tokyo Ghoul: I really could not NOT put this one at number 1. Tokyo Ghoul is by far the most compelling comic of 2015. It spends lots of time and effort establishing the decay of its protagonist’s morality and sanity and its multi-layered world. The artwork is no slouch either the series comic consistently looks good too. Tokyo Ghoul is nigh impossible to put down and it truly deserves its place.

Saturday 7 November 2015

xxxHolic Rei volume 1 review

xxxHolic Rei volume 1 Review
by Geordi Demorest

Review:                                Yuko has never really been one of my favorite leads in a manga and this volume spotlights one of her biggest flaws as a protagonist: she takes this whatever will be will be attitude which makes her difficult to root for. Instead she chooses to spend her time talking in circles and indulging in alcohol and smoking to pass the time while her clients fall metaphorically apart. That said, xxxHolic rei’s first volume has an almost hypnotic grasp over its readers and is the perfect book to read before going to sleep.
This new series returns Yuko to being the owner of the wish granting shop while Watanuki resumes being her flunky. While it’s clear something is amiss throughout the entire volume no one cares to explain it to the audience. Plot has never been one of xxxHolic strong suits. The aspect that ultimately compels the reader to continue is the strange relationship between Watanuki and Domeki. Watanuki spends the entire book asking for answers while Yuko would rather be vague and give non-answers that confuse both Watanuki and the reader.
I preferred when Watanuki was the shopkeeper because he was a lot more clear on what his goal was and was much more proactive in helping his clients that Yuko continues to be. In conclusion, I would say, that this would be a good jumping on point for new readers to the series. For those of us who have continued the series until now, well, there’s really no escaping for us at this point.

Grade: B-


xxxHolic Rei is available in print and digitally from Kodansha Comics.

Metamo Kiss vol. 1-3 review

Metamo Kiss volumes 1-3 Review
By Geordi Demorest

Review:                                I think the word “meh” is what best describes Mteamo Kiss ultimately. That isn’t to say the entire series is subpar but in the final book when you  would think the plot would really be ramped up the protagonist just kind stands around absent mindedly happy and the entire series ends with most of its subplots unresolved. In the afterward to the series one the characters are chatting with the “author” of the book and one of them calls the author a hack and, in all honesty, that probably wasn’t too far off.
The first two books have an actual tension but the third (which is also the final) book just goes “oh yeah, right, this a romance” and so in the last two pages the leads are a couple, inexplicably, despite having shared no actual moments or chemistry. And then the audience just walks away without having gained or lost anything. To the credit of the series, the first two volumes feature compelling, colorful characters and interactions and feels like it takes the tired bodyswap premise and uses it creatively. Ultimately Metamo Kiss is bland and forgettable. It starts off well but in the end just kind of fizzles out.

Grade: C


Metamo Kiss is available digitally from Viz Media.

Sunday 13 September 2015

Shonen Jump

Shonen Jump
                In the past I’ve looked at comics from Shonen Jump on here. Today I’m just going to look at the magazine and how it has evolved. This isn’t so much a review of Shonen Jump, as much as a brief, and probably ill-informed, examination of the magazine that brought about a fascination with Japanese comics for me. Jump has been around a long time, for a majority of my life anyhow, but started as a monthly print magazine. It enjoyed considerable popularity for a manga magazine introducing such hits as Naruto and One Piece. Bleach, what is often considered the other member of the “Big 3”, curiously wasn’t added to the magazine for quite some time.
                As a print magazine, Shonen Jump had a considerably pool of popular series to draw from many of which would be notoriously censored especially in the early years. This would not be entirely remedied until the magazine made the switch to digital which will be covered in a bit. The other frustrating aspect of the print magazine was that many of these series would never be fully serialized in the magazine instead being finished In graphic novel form if they were lucky. These problems would be remedied once the move to digital occurred but this too came with flaws.
                The move to digital brought with it changes, most of which for the better, chapters for the first year were near simultaneous with Japan (well nearer than before anyway 2 weeks behind) for the first year, Viz had to prove to Shueisha in Japan that they could put out a quality product. As odd as I find  Weekly Shonen Jump today, at the time, it was standard-ish for manga serializing in English. Most serialized digital manga in the early years was as magazines as it had been in print. Even now, manga publishers cannot seem to settle on a particular model that works for everyone.
Back on topic, many of the digital serialized Japanese comic’s pioneers: Comicloud, Gen Manga, Manga Boshi, to name a few have either faded or changed drastically over time with the rapidly changing media landscape. Weekly Shonen Jump, now jaded from years of the rapidly morphing manga scene, seems to stick firmly to the formula that brought them success in the first place. They have always had a very particular type of story they would run in their magazine, more so than the magazine’s Japanese counterpart, which itself has at least some variation on its formula.

                English Shonen Jump’s formula is as follows: the protagonist must overcome the odds and achieve their dream. The lower their situation is, and the greater the odds, the more it seems to resonate with readers. In some ways it feels similar to Disney’s formula which may be why it resonates with so many people. Viz is particularly formulaic at present as they tend to stick to certain genres (namely science fiction and fantasy).Will this formula ever grow tiresome for audiences or will we finally see some new ideas flow forth and gain traction from the beloved magazine we have come to know and love? Or is the answer already apparent? As a simple reviewer on the internet, I really cannot say. I suppose I will find out at some point in life anyhow.

Wednesday 26 August 2015

VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES THE SWEET SHOJO MANGA CONFECTION KOMOMO CONFISERIE

New Manga Series About An Ex-Rich Girl Who Starts Working At A Pastry Shop And Finds Love For The First Time From The Creator Of S•A And VOICE OVER! SEIYU ACADEMY

San Francisco, CA, August 26, 2015 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, announces the release of its latest shojo manga (graphic novel) series with the launch of KOMOMO CONFISERIE on September 1st.

The romantic comedy, created by Maki Minami, about a sheltered but determined girl finding her way in the world after her family goes bankrupt is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will carry a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. KOMOMO CONFISERIE also launches digitally on September 1st via VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and GooglePlay stores. The series will be published under the company’s Shojo Beat imprint with new volumes scheduled for release in print and digitally on a quarterly basis.

As a little girl, Komomo Ninomiya delighted in picking on Natsu Azumi, the son of her family’s pastry chef. Ten years later, when the family fortune is lost and she has no place to live, Komomo encounters Natsu again in her hour of need. Now that Natsu is a master pastry chef in his own right, he’ll help Komomo – but only if she works for him at his new confiserie!

“In KOMOMO CONFISERIE, Maki Minami has created a strong, unique heroine who tackles challenges in her own way including working hard for the first time in her life,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Senior Editor. “Be prepared for a lot of laughs as Komomo and Natsu learn to get along in this sweet new series!”

Manga creator Maki Minami is from Saitama Prefecture in Japan and debuted in 2001 with Kanata no Ao (Faraway Blue). Her other works include Kimi wa Girlfriend (You're My Girlfriend), Mainichi ga Takaramono (Every Day Is a Treasure) and Yuki Atataka (Warm Winter). Her series, S•A, (published in English by VIZ Media; rated ‘T’ for Teens), was serialized in Japan's Hana to Yume magazine and was also adapted into a popular anime series. Maki Minami also is the creator of VOICE OVER! SEIYU ACADEMY, which is published in English by VIZ Media.

For more information on KOMOMO CONFISERIE or other shojo manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit: www.viz.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com

Tuesday 18 August 2015

VIZ MEDIA’S HAIKASORU LITERARY IMPRINT PARTICIPATES AT 73rd WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION AND WELCOMES AUTHOR TAIYO FUJII

VIZ MEDIA’S HAIKASORU LITERARY IMPRINT PARTICIPATES AT 73rd WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION AND WELCOMES AUTHOR
TAIYO FUJII

Award Winning Japanese Author Of GENE MAPPER Comes To One Of The Longest Running Science Fiction Conventions

San Francisco, CA, August 18, 2015 – VIZ Media’s Haikasoru literary imprint has announced its participation at Sasquan, the 73rd World Science Fiction Convention. Haikasoru will welcome the acclaimed Japanese author Taiyo Fujii as a panel participant, and will host a retail booth (E4) in the main Dealer’s Room that will offer a wide variety of the imprint’s acclaimed titles at specially discounted prices.

Happening August 19th-23rd in Spokane, WA, Sasquan 2015
is the site of the 2015 World Science Fiction Convention, also known as “Worldcon,” an annual gathering of science fiction and fantasy fans. Additional details are available at: www.worldcon.org and http://sasquan.org.

Taiyo Fujii will be featured in several events throughout the convention and participating in several panel discussions:

Thursday, August 20th

11:30am – 12:00pm    Taiyo Fujii Reading (Room 303B)
Join the author as he offers a personal reading of select passages from his works.

Friday, August 21st

11:00am – 11:45am    Self-Publishing – When To Do It, When To Publish
                                      Traditionally (Room 401C)
Taiyo Fujii will be among the authors featured for a discussion of the whys and whens of self-publishing versus traditional publishing.

Saturday, August 22nd

11:00am – 11:45am    The Future of Publishing (Room Bays 111C)
The publishing industry has changed dramatically, moving away from traditional models to online sales, self-publishing and ebooks.  What could the next 20 years bring?

2:00pm – 2:45pm        Kaffe Klatche – Taiyo Fujii (Room 202B)
A special insightful discussion with the author on his work and creative process.

4:00pm – 4:45pm        SpoCon Presents – SubGenre Games
                                      (Grand Ballroom: Salon III)
Are you deep for dystopia? Crazy for cyberpunk? Soft on steampunk? We're pitting ten sub-genres against each-other to see which should shed its "sub" prefix and become a fully-fledged genre alongside the towers of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Join author Taiyo Fujii and Haikasoru Editor Nick Mamatas for this unique forum.

5:00pm – 5:45pm        Seiun Awards & Publishing SF in Japan
                                      (Grand Ballroom: Salon III)
Taiyo Fujii will join two other prominent Japanese authors for a discussion of the famous annual literary award and the process by which science fiction literature is published in Japan.

Taiyo Fujii is the author of the mystery thriller, GENE MAPPER, and won a 2014 Nihon SF Taisho Award by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan. GENE MAPPER was Fujii’s first novel and became Amazon Japan’s Number One Kindle bestseller of for 2012 when it was originally published. The novel was later revised and republished in both print and digitally in Japan as Gene Mapper – full build – by Hayakawa Publishing in 2013 and also was nominated for the Nihon SF Taisho Award and the Seiun Award. Fujii’s second novel, Orbital Cloud, won the 2014 Nihon SF Taisho Award and also took first prize in the “Best SF of 2014” in SF Magazine. Fujii’s English-language short fiction debut, the novelette “Violation of the TrueNet Security Act” appeared in Lightspeed Magazine in July 2015.

During Sasquan 2015, Haikasoru will offer GENE MAPPER along with a wide variety of its other titles for purchase with special convention pricing. Titles to be offered will include: ALL YOU NEED IS KILL (the novel which inspired the 2014 blockbuster Edge of Tomorrow); BATTLE ROYALE REMASTERED and the BATTLE ROYALE SLAM BOOK; GENE MAPPER; anthologies PHANTASM JAPAN and THE FUTURE IS JAPANESE (includes the Hugo Award-winning Ken Liu story, “Mono no Aware”); RED GIRLS and DENDERA.

For more information on GENE MAPPER and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit the dedicated website at www.haikasoru.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

Mahou Josei Chimaka Chapters 2 & 3 Review

Mahou Josei Chimaka Chapters 2 & 3 Review
by Geordi Demorest

So what feels like a thousand years ago I wrote a review of the first chapter of Mahou Josei Chimaka as well as many, many other titles that I have not come back to reviewing. I put my Cartoon Geek Corner writing on hold mostly because of things beyond my control but also because of work I found elsewhere.  Before I go back and begin reviewing new things I’d like to go back and finish up what I can, things such as manga box where there is no legal way to go back and review the earlier chapter any longer as well as titles from sites like JManga that are long gone obviously not but titles still legally available I’d like to get back to. Boring tangent done let’s get back into the actual content.
               

It’s become clearer over time that Mahou Josei Chimaka pulls heavily from other series in particular Sailor Moon. This becomes very evident in its climax in chapter 3 but that is not to say that Chimaka is not its own thing. It has its own colorful cast of characters and story as well as great pacing. In fact, despite the title, this seems to pull from other cultures mythology for its climax (sadly I don’t feel equipped enough to say which cultures specifically) and despite being self-described as a parody it still feels like its own thing to some degree complete with its own themes such as a more modern view of feminist fiction something Sailor Moon I feel was lacking in from my recollections of it.
                Chimaka is a light and fun read that, once started, you cannot put down. The final chapters in particular are gripping while to a degree staying true to the original spirit of the comic’s first chapter. Despite being a “parody” Chimaka still has its deeper moments which are, naturally, character development and the budding LGBT romance with her co-worker who was introduced in the first chapter but finally has time to develop and breathe as a person instead of just being someone meant to forward the plot. I would say give Chimaka a read if you are looking for a more playful magical girl series with a more feminist as well as LGBT slant.

Grade: B+


Available on Sparkler Monthly’s website.

Monday 18 May 2015

VIZ MEDIA NAMES BRAD WOODS AS CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

VIZ MEDIA NAMES BRAD WOODS AS
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

Entertainment Executive To Lead Global Multimedia Initiatives And Drive Omni-Channel Marketing For The Industry’s Leading Catalog Of Anime And Manga Content

San Francisco, CA, May 18, 2015 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, has announced that Brad Woods has been named as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

“Brad Woods is a seasoned entertainment executive with a proven success record of enhancing brand equity, increasing revenue, and achieving results with innovative strategies and visionary leadership,” says Ken Sasaki, CEO of VIZ Media. “His multi-disciplinary experience will play a vital role in expanding VIZ Media’s market share across the publishing, digital content, licensing, home media, and consumer product landscapes.”  

Woods will be responsible for developing a range of marketing and product strategies to expand the VIZ Media brand and omni-channel marketing for titles across all company imprints.

“I am very excited to build upon VIZ Media’s mission to offer exciting and unique multimedia content to a diverse global audience,” Woods says. “Our dynamic catalog of titles across the print, digital, broadcast, and mobile arenas will allow us to reinvent how consumers discover, enjoy, and interact with our properties on a truly global level.”

Woods joins VIZ Media from DreamWorks Animation, where he served as Senior Vice President leading the domestic consumer products and retail business development divisions. During his tenure at DreamWorks, he restructured and substantially expanded the studio’s consumer products business, led the U.S. licensing and retail teams, and also provided strategic leadership for breakthrough marketing programs on properties including Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and How To Train Your Dragon

Over his 20-year career, Woods has held senior positions in the entertainment and multi-media industries with companies including Mattel and Warner Bros. Entertainment. His experience spans a wide variety of marketing and licensing operations such as product marketing, brand development, corporate marketing and communications, lead generation, channel relations, and digital and social media marketing. He holds an MBA from the University of Southern California, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, and a BS from the University of Arizona.

For more information on VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com

Monday 2 February 2015

Mahou Josei Chimaka Chapter 1 review

Mahou Josei Chimaka Chapter 1 Story & Art by Kaiju Review

From the Publisher: “Fifteen years ago, magical girl Shimmer Shimmer Sky Patcher Chimaka lost her final battle against her greatest foe, broke up with her "destined" boyfriend, and practically flunked out of school. Now a chemical engineer at Squid Petroleum, Chimaka is older, wiser, and a whole lot more bitter. But when a surprise phone call alerts Chimaka to the fact that her ancient enemy is getting restless again, it's going to be up to Chimaka and her best friend Pippa to try to reignite Chimaka's old magic...and save the world!

For all you readers who wanted to know what happens after your favorite magical girl series left off...KaiJu brings you "Mahou Josei Chimaka"!”


Serialized in Sparkler Monthly, Mahou Josei Chimaka has surprisingly good artwork and a more or less compelling plot. The way it stealthily pokes fun at magical girl tropes was amusing to say the least. And yet, it still believes in itself whole-heartedly and is compelling enough to not be a mindless parody. The first chapter has me really excited for future chapters and I am legitimately curious where it will go from here. In conclusion I would say read this premiere chapter as it is maddeningly addictive.

Sunday 1 February 2015

Hi-Fi Cluster Chapters 11-18 review

Hi-Fi Cluster Chapters 11-18 story & art by Ippei  Goto  Review

                In this final stretch of chapters, Cluster is charging forward at full force (until the last chapter where it gives some sort of vaguely optimistic, tonally jarring epilogue). As of this writing it is unclear if Cluster will leave any sort of impact on manga readers in the west let alone be remembered. I’m going to lean towards no for both. Although there seems to be forthcoming series replicating the failed formula. There really is little to say about the manga itself beyond that. It had a neat concept and had some compelling moments but, ultimately, wasn’t long for the world. It is a short read, though, and while flawed  it is also entertaining so if you have a means of reading it in its entirety and have yet to do so I recommend  giving it a read.

Thursday 22 January 2015

Mushishi Next Chapter Season 2 Episodes 2-10 review

Mushishi Next Chapter Season 2 Episodes 2-10 Review


                It really is disappointing the television series could not tie up the franchise. That was my only expectation going into this season. The quality is standard for the show. The visuals and music are as soothing as ever. If one is in search of shows well off the worn path Mushishi is most likely the franchise for them. While it will more likely put the world to sleep and not so much revolutionize anything it remains among my favorite anime. Fare well Mushishi: your contribution to the world will not be forgotten.

Hi-sCool! Seha Girls Episodes 3-13 review

Hi-sCool! Seha Girls Episodes 3-13 Review


                Sega Hard Girls will always have a fond place in my heart. Yes, it was a cheap hours long advertisement for games well over a decade old and it most likely will not reach a greater than it already has but it was campy fun. If you are a fan of classic video games and enjoy bad in a good way shows I recommend giving Sega Hard Girls a test drive. It isn’t a huge commitment and who knows? You might find a hidden gem.

Orenchi no Furo Jijo Episodes 3-13 review

Orenchi no Furo Jijo Episodes 3-13 Review
               

Orenchi concludes on a positive, if standard, note and will most likely be among the many anime lost in the annals of history. It is cute and has its moments but nothing really stands out much. Nevertheless it was a pleasant diversion and served its function as fan service for fujoshi and fudanshi well. There really is little substance to this series and thus makes discussion of it difficult. It will be a fond memory for me for a while to come at least.