manga
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Review of Maison Ikkoku Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1 by Rumiko Takahashi
This adorable sitcomic comedy by the inimitable Rumiko made for diverting reading. I will be continuing with the series. While lacking in supernatural elements, I was at once taken by the cozy atmosphere. Most of the scenes take place in the eccentrically populated titular rooming house, where the quintessential collegial…
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Review of Sunny, Vol. 5 (Sunny, #5) by Taiyo Matsumoto
A relaxing and contemplative series from a creator I now look forward to reading. The abandoned kids home, or orphanage, if you prefer that designation, which comprises the setting, provides a dense interplay of childish communications. The way the characters talk over one another reminds me of Robert Altman’s films.…
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Review of Tekkon Kinkreet: Black and White by Taiyo Matsumoto
One of the few masterpieces of ‘realistic’ manga. By which I mean it contains whimsical touches, flights of fancy, imagination, heart, and friendship without succumbing to any of the cheap thrills so often associated with this medium like giant robots. ghost hunters, or revealing costumes. A genuinely admirable and affecting…
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Review of Eyeshield 21 Vol. 37: Ready Set Hut by Riichiro Inagaki, Yusuke Murata
“Eyeshield 21” is a sports manga with wide appeal. Like most great sports stories it understands that the true heart of the game is the people playing it. “Eyeshield” verges on being on a shonen manga due to its clever take on football. Every game is a battle between warriors.…
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Review of Azumanga Daioh: The Omnibus by Kiyohiko Azuma
“Azumanga Daioh” is not deep, thought provoking, or complex. However it challenges the reader in the best way possible. It challenges them not to laugh till they cry. “Azumanga Daioh” is about friendship, growing up, and living with a “all cats bite me” disability. The jokes come fast, loud, and…
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Review of Buddha, Vol. 1: Kapilavastu (Buddha #1) by Osamu Tezuka
Tezuka manages to sustain a gripping pace while inserting subtle philosophy and universal themes. If the other 7 volumes are as good as this one it might be his greatest series. I like this first volume more than most of the volumes of Phoenix. While the narrative is not bound…
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Review of Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror, Vol. 1 by Junji Ito
Many of Junji Ito’s themes and motifs are simple and even nonsensical, but they tend to stick in the mind. They have the ineluctable quality of nightmares, of good horror films. His concepts have the same staying power as a cheesy slasher flick, with the advantage of impressive artwork. No…
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Review of The Book of Human Insects by Osamu Tezuka
With the Book of Human Insects, Tezuka’s appeal is reaches new heights. He compressed an incredibly fascinating character study into a short space. It is what he did with MW, but you’ll see even more compression here. One eternally gets the sense that Tezuka suffered from too many ideas. He…
L. S. Popovich 