Manga & Light Novels

Nov 29, 2018

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

Review – Cutie Honey: The Classic Collection by Go Nagai

Cutie Honey: The Classic Collection
By: Go Nagai
Illustrator: Go Nagai (Illustrator); Bambi Eloriaga-Amago & Roland Amago (Lettering and Retouch)
Translator: Zack Davisson
Release Date: August 28, 2018 (English)
Publisher: Seven Seas
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

I have long loved classic manga and anime. When a new edition of an older manga comes out you can bet that I am first in line for a copy. Obviously, I jumped on the chance to read Cutie Honey: The Classic Collection by Go Nagai. Cutie Honey is a lot of things. In one sense it’s a magical girl manga. In another it’s a sci-fi manga. It’s a mystery story. There’s violence, nudity, and sexual themes. And I loved every second of it.

Nov 12, 2018

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday – The Manga Cookbook Vol. 3: Fusion Food With Character!

The Manga Cookbook Vol 3: Fusion Food With Character
By: The Manga University Culinary Institute; Ryo KATAGIRI
Release Date: September 7, 2018
Publisher: Japanime Co. Ltd.
Series: The Manga Cookbook
Rating:

This is a bit of a different review than most Mondays, though it is still manga related. I had my eye on this series of books for quite some time, but I hadn’t stumbled across any in my bookshop travels. Well, one of my friends came across a copy of The Manga Cookbook Vol 3: Fusion Food With Character! at Comic-Con and got me a copy!

Oct 25, 2018

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

Review – My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Vol. 2 by Hideyuki Furuhashi & Betten Court

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Vol. 2
By: Hideyuki Furuhashi
Illustrator: Betten Court (artist); John Hunt (touch-up art and lettering); Julian Robinson (designer)
Translator: Caleb Cook
Release Date: October 2, 2018
Publisher: VIZ Media
Series: My Hero Academia: Vigilantes
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

October 2nd saw the release of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Vol. 2 by Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court. This volume explores the quirk based society from the eyes of a vigilante hero while continuing with themes and questions presented both in the first volume and the series proper.

Oct 15, 2018

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

#MangaMonday Review – Frankenstein: Junji Ito Story Collection by Junji Ito

Frankenstein: Junji Into Story Collection
By: Junji Ito
Release Date: October 16, 2018
Publisher: VIZ Media
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

If a manga bears Junji Ito’s name you can be certain I’ll be reading it. Recently, I received an early copy of Frankenstein: Junji Ito Short Story Collection by Junji Ito.

A caveat I want to note – the e-arc I received only had Frankenstein. There are two other short stories included in the collection. One of these is the Oshikiri story cycle, and I believe there is something featuring Ito’s dog as well. Once I get a copy of the final copy this review will be updated to include my thoughts on this as well.

Oct 01, 2018

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

#MangaMonday Review – My Hero Academia Vol. 15 by Kohei Horikoshi

My Hero Academia Vol. 15
By: Kohei Horikoshi
Illustrator: Kohei Horikoshi
Translator: Caleb Cook
Release Date: October 2, 2018
Publisher: VIZ Media
Series: My Hero Academia
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

The third season of My Hero Academia might be winding down, but there’s still plenty of manga volumes to go. Tomorrow, October 2, 2018, marks the release of My Hero Academia Vol 15 by Kohei Horikoshi. This volume explores heroism in a post All Might world, precaution and careful planning versus immediately jumping into a probably dangerous situation, among other things.

Sep 24, 2018

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

#MangaMonday Review – Dragon Goes House-Hunting by Kawo Tanuki and Choco Aya

Dragon Goes House-Hunting Vol 1
By: Kawo Tanuki
Illustrator: Choco Aya (Illustrations); Alexandra Gunawan (Lettering)
Translator: Nan Rymer (Translator); T Campbell (adaptation)
Release Date: September 11, 2018
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: Dragon Goes House-Hunting
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

I found it. I found the manga I always needed. I’ve always loved humorous fantasy. The Slayers light novels are a favorite, and I’ve been looking for something else to add to my ‘reread constantly’ list. And you know what? Dragon Goes House-Hunting by Kawo Tanuki and Choco Aya has absolutely made that list.

Sep 17, 2018

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

My Brother’s Husband Vol 2 by Gengoroh Tagame

My Brother's Husband Vol 2
By: Gengoroh Tagame
Illustrator: Gengoroh Togame
Translator: Anne Iishi
Release Date: September 18, 2018
Publisher: Pantheon
Series: My Brother's Husband
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

If there is any manga whose release date I’ve been looking forward to it would be My Brother’s Husband Vol 2 by Gengoroh Tagame. I was so ecstatic when a review copy was sent that I read the whole thing cover to cover as soon as I pulled it out of the packaging. My Brother’s Husband is a story about family, loss, grief, guilt, and acceptance. It is a story we can all relate to in our own ways, and it is a story that demands to be read.

My Brother’s Husband Vol 2 continues the story of Mike, Yaichi, and Kana. Plot in a nutshell – Yaichi’s divorced and his somewhat estranged brother recently deceased. One day Mike, a Canadian man and his brother’s widow, shows up on his doorstep looking to connect with the family he never knew.

Sep 10, 2018

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – Again!! Vol 2 by Mitsurou Kubo

Again!! Vol 2
By: Mitsurou Kubo
Release Date: April 10, 2018 (English); November 17, 2011 (Original Japanese)
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Series: Again!!
Rating:

Earlier this year I read Again!! Vol 1. I enjoyed it, and said I was going to continue on with the series. So here I am having just finished the second volume, making good on my promise to report back you all on what I thought about Again!! Vol 2 by Mitsurou Kubo.

The story continues with Kinichirou trying to thwart the cheerleading club’s efforts to get rid of the ouendan club once and for all. The overall pacing of this volume was extremely fluid. Sections from Kinichirou and Akira’s points of view flowed together very naturally, more so than the previous volume. Several new characters are introduced with extremely varied personalities.

Sep 03, 2018

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – Kase-san and Morning Glories by Hiromi Takashimi

Kase-san and Morning Glories
By: Hiromi Takashimi
Illustrator: Hiromi Takashimi
Translator: Jocelyne Allen (translator); Jenn Grunigen (adaptor)
Release Date: February 28, 2017 (English); July 28, 2012 (Japanese)
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: Kase-san Series
Rating:

I’m not going to lie. I was completely drawn in by the cute characters on the cover and the pretty pastel colors. I picked up this manga during a BookOutlet binge. I’d never heard of it before, and am very happy I managed to stumble across a copy. Kase-san and Morning Glories is a one shot manga volume that was extremely sweet with endearing characters.

Aug 28, 2018

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

Review – Ping Pong Dash! Vol 1 by Shingo Honda

Ping Pong Dash! Vol 1
By: Shingo Honda
Illustrator: Shingo Honda
Release Date: December 12, 2017
Publisher: Akita Publishing Co., Ltd
Series: Ping Pong Dash! #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

So. Sports manga. It’s a genre I’ve only recently began reading in earnest, and I have to say that I’m now a fan. Ping Pong Dash! Vol 1 by Shingo Honda is part sports manga and part contemporary school manga. It’s the story of a Yankee who winds up joining the tennis club and includes great ping pong matches, memorable main characters, and fight scenes. There’s a lot packed into this volume, and a lot to enjoy, so lets take a look at the first volume in this manga series. The story is about Haruku Tendo, a Yankee who winds up joining the ping pong club.