Deadman Wonderland

Deadman Wonderland Volume 1 by Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou

This title wasn’t on my radar before, but when I got it the cover design immediately caught my attention. Who was this disturbed boy with his hands on his head wearing a collar with a bar code? I was drawn into the story [...]

Alice in the Country of Hearts

Alice in the Country of Hearts Volume 1 by QuinRose and Soumei Hoshino

As I was reading Alice in the Country of Hearts I started wondering if it was an adaptation of a dating simulation game. Alice Liddell is transported to a Wonderland filled with beautiful boys who all seem to want to fall [...]

Karikuri Odette Volume 2

Karakuri Odette Volume 2 by Julietta Suzuki

I tend to follow a two volume rule when evaluating a manga series. I’ve often found that I ended up enjoying a series after reading the second volume even if I had vaguely lukewarm feelings about the first. I think that sometimes due to the way manga [...]

Portrait of M and N

Portrait of M and N Volume 1 by Higuchi Tachibana

This is a series I was intrigued by when I read the solicitation in Previews. The relationship between a masochist and a narcissist seemed like it would be a little different than most shoujo series. While the premise might seem engagingly weird the execution [...]

Love Hurts Manga Giveaway

I won a copy of Love Hurts: Aishiatteru Futari on twitter from Tokyopop, but since I have my own copy already I have decided to share the extra one with you, my readers! Tokyopop also sent along a bunch of Junjou Romantica mini-posters, so the winner of the giveaway will receive Love Hurts and a [...]

Love Hurts: Aishiatteru Futari

Love Hurts: Aishiatteru Futari by Suzuki Tanaka

This anthology volume is a lot better than the title and cover art would suggest. While the stories included don’t always seem to mesh in tone, I enjoyed the variety of characters and situations portrayed. Love Hurts starts off on a grim note in the story “Unforgivable”. [...]

Tokyopop Ongoing Series – Maid Sama, V.B Rose, and INVU

Maid Sama Volume 3 by Hiro Fujiwara

While Maid Sama might not reach the heights of other new shoujo series from Tokyopop like Shinobi Life or Karakuri Odette, it continues to be a fun if very lightweight read. School President Misaki’s secret job at a maid cafe is almost revealed during a cosplay race [...]

Happy Cafe Volume 1

Happy Cafe Volume 1 by Kou Matsuzuki

I was curious about this title when I saw the cover. A short perky girl is waving hello while a cranky guy holds up a plate of cake and another boy stuffs his face. The cover is also decorated with coffee stains as befits the setting of [...]

V.B. Rose Volumes 1 and 2

I disliked the other Banri Hidaka title I’ve read, I Hate You More Than Anyone. I was willing to give Hidaka another shot when I read the first chapter of V.B. Rose in the preview mini-book that was included in the final volume of Fruits Basket. I’m glad I picked up the first two volumes [...]

.hack//Legend of the Twilight Complete Collection

.hack//Legend of the Twilight 1-3: The Complete Collection by Tatsuya Hamazaki

I had fairly low expectations of this manga before picking it up. I’ve been vaguely aware of the .hack franchise which is centered around a Japanese role-playing game, and I knew it was fairly popular. I think I attempted to watch an [...]