Manga & Light Novels

Feb 01, 2021

#MangaMonday – How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? by Yabico Sandrovich and MAAM

How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? Vol. 1
By: Yabico Sandrovich
Illustrator: MAAM (Illustrator); Courtney Williams (Lettering)
Translator: Wesley O'Donnell (Translator); Samn Mitchell (Adaptation)
Release Date: November 19, 2019
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

With an anime adaptation released at nearly the same time, How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? Vol. 1 by Yabako Sandrovich and MAAM was a contemporary manga that certainly didn’t escape notice. Sakura is a teenager who loves food but doesn’t love her waistline. When she begins going to the gym, she finds student council president Akemi there as well. The duo quickly go from awkward and unsure to gym buddies under the tutelage of their trainer, Machio.

Jun 30, 2020

Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – Given, Vol. 2 by Natuski Kizu

Given Vol. 2
By: Natsuki Kizu
Illustrator: Natsuki Kizu (illustrations); Sabrina Heep (Touch-up Art & Lettering)
Translator: Sheldon Drzka
Release Date: May 12, 2020
Publisher: SuBLime
Series: Given
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

Published for the first time in English in February 2020, Given is a series that has quickly climbed to the top of my ‘I need to read every volume right now’ list. Given, Vol. 2 by Natsuki Kizu is a fantastic second volume of an un-put-down-able series that received an anime adaptation in 2019 and is available to watch on Crunchyroll and VRV.

Jun 15, 2020

Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday – Given, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Kizu

Given, Vol. 1
By: Natsuki Kisu
Illustrator: Natsuki Kisu (illustrations); Sabrina Heep (Touch up art & lettering)
Translator: Sheldon Drzka
Release Date: February 11, 2020
Publisher: VIZMedia: SuBLime
Series: Given
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

Given, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Kizu is a phenomenal new series manga fans will absolutely want to pick up. This is a BL slice of life story about Ritsuka Uenoyama and Mafuyu Sato, an un-put-down-able series that received an anime adaptation in 2019 and is available to watch on Crunchyroll and VRV.

May 31, 2020

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – Downfall by Inio Asano

Downfall
By: Inio Asano
Illustrator: Inio Asano
Translator: Jocelyn Allen
Release Date: February 18, 2020`
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

Where do you go after you finish the greatest work of your life? What lies past the completion of your life’s work? How do you find it? How do you live up to the world’s expectations, let alone your own? These are the questions poised within Downfall by Inio Asano, the Eisner nominated author of the series Solanin and Goodnight Punpun. This is a single-volume manga as opposed to the much more common series length manga works.

May 26, 2020

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

#MangaMonday Review – Wave, Listen to Me! by Hiroaki Samura

Wave, Listen to Me! Vol. 1
By: Hiroaki Samura
Illustrator: Hiroaki Samura (Illustrations); Darren Smith (Lettering)
Translator: Adam Hirsch
Release Date: May 26, 2020
Publisher: Kodansha
Series: Wave, Listen to Me!
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

If you have been enjoying anime’s Spring 2020 season, you might be interested in the first volume of manga series Wave Listen to Me! by Hiroaki Samura, whose previous series include Blade of the Immortal and Die Wegelder.

May 11, 2020

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – Levius/est Vol 1

Levius/est Vol 1
By: Haruhisa Nakata
Illustrator: Haruhisa Nataka
Release Date: November 19, 2019
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Series: Levius/est #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

Direct sequel to the manga Levius, Haruhisa Nakata’s Levius/est Vol. 1 is a science fiction manga. It opens after a devastating war. But now, things are different. Mechanical Martial Arts has brought the people together. Unlike normal martial arts, these are fought with cybernetically altered fighters whose blood turns into steam.

May 04, 2020

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

MangaMonday Review – How to Train Your Devil, Vol. 1 by Tonchi Kataoka

How to Train Your Devil, Vol. 1
By: Tonchi Kataoka
Illustrator: Tonchi Kataoka (Illustrator); Ochie Caraan (Lettering)
Translator: Ben Trtheney
Release Date: October 8, 2019
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: How to Train Your Devil
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

Fan service is brought to truly yikes levels in How to Train Your Devil, Vol. 1 by Tonchi Kataoka. This 2019 release is set in a standard fantasy world but bears a twist—its set after the hero has defeated the Demon King. In this case, the current demon king is barely a toddler and the forces of good can’t justify dooming the infant to death. Instead, the hero, Zeno Zebia, is tasked with caring for the 114^th Devil King.

Apr 27, 2020

Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Vol. 2 by Makoto Hagino

A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Vol. 2
By: Makoto Hagino
Illustrator: Makoto Hagino (Illustrations); Eve Grandt (touch-up & lettering)
Translator: John Werry
Release Date: February 11, 2020
Publisher: Viz Media
Series: A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow #2
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

A lovely yuri manga by Makoto Hagino, A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Vol. 2 is a slow-burn contemporary romance that’s sure to give you the warm fuzzies. This volume follows the 2019 English release of volume 1, and the original Japanese release in 2017 by Kadokawa.

Apr 20, 2020

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

#MangaMonday – Kakushigoto: My Dad’s Secret Ambition, Vol. 1 by Koji Kumeta

Kakushigoto: My Dad's Secret Ambition, Vol. 1
By: Koji Kumeta
Illustrator: Koji Kumeta (illustrations); Kyle Ziolko (lettering)
Translator: Kevin Gifford
Release Date: March 17, 2020
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Series: Kakushigoto: My Dad's Secret Ambition
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

A wonderful story filled with funny happenstances and heartwarming moments, Kakushigoto by Koji Kumeta, is sure to bring some joy to your bookshelves. Koji Kumeta is also the talent behind two other series, Katteni Kaizo and Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei. Kakushigoto is set for an anime adaptation airing this spring, April 2020 from Funimation.

Apr 07, 2020

Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 2 by Kousuke Oono

The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 2
By: Kousuke Oono
Release Date: January 1, 2020
Publisher: Viz Media LLC
Series: The Way of the Househusband #2
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

The second volume of Kousuke Oono’s The Way of the Househusband is a fantastic follow-up to last year’s English release of volume 1. This humorous, contemporary manga was originally published in Japan beginning in 2018. The series focuses on Tatsu, the Immortal Dragon, a legendary, well-known Yakuza who’s turned over a new leaf. Reformed and married to a working woman, Tatsu is now a househusband, attacking everyday chores and errands with all of the fervor and gusto befitting a former Yakuza.