S.Q. Eries's Blog, page 11

Manhwa Review: My Gently Raised Beast Vol. 1

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is My Gently Raised Beast. Read on for the review of Volume 1 of the manhwa.

Back Cover Blurb

The orphaned Blondina lives a tough life on the streets, left only with a memento from her late mother—one that proves she is the child of the emperor of Ates. From the streets, Blondina moves into the royal palace where she lives a lonely existence…that is until she befriends a brash and surly cat named Amon. Not only can Amon talk, but he also turns into a cute boy! The truth is, Amon is no mere cat but rather a member of the Divine Leopard Clan, a group of powerful demi-humans often at odds with humanity. Will the two be able to stay friends despite all the conflicts?

The Review

11-year-old Blondina lives the miserable life of an orphan until a memento of her late mother reveals her to be the daughter of the Emperor! But her new life in the palace is lonely and difficult. Because of her commoner background, everyone views her with contempt, especially her royal half-siblings. Then one day, she happens across an injured black cat in the garden. She’s entranced by the cute animal, but it abruptly speaks to her, then transforms into a handsome boy. Thus begins the friendship between the ostracized princess and the divine black leopard Amon.

This manhwa gets off to a somewhat rough start with Blondina’s tragic backstory. Her blue-blooded father is searching for the legendary individual with golden eyes and hair who can subdue the divine beasts that hold humanity in contempt. Blondina’s mother was a commoner with golden eyes and hair but did not possess that special power. Even so, her father fell in love with the woman, fathered Blondina, and left to pursue the crown so that he could protect his lover and their child. But once he became emperor, he conveniently forgot about them, leaving his lover to suffer and eventually die in poverty. It isn’t until Blondina attempts to pawn the ring he left with her mother that her imperial heritage is revealed, and father and daughter are reunited. But having brought her to the palace, the Emperor treats her with an indifference bordering on cruelty. Blondina doesn’t manifest the golden hair and eyes of her mother; nor does she evoke any affection or nostalgia for him. Honestly, there’s no motivation to acknowledge his paternity at all. So it’s a wonder why the Emperor bothers incorporating her into his family when he could have easily denied their relationship. To add to that mess of a character profile, Blondina’s mom was supposedly so in love with the guy that she waited for him faithfully until her dying day eight years later. That might sound romantic to some; it makes me think she was a terrible judge of character.

As a result of this convoluted backstory, we have as our main character a friendless, commoner-turn-princess who is isolated on all fronts. Interestingly, we hear nothing about how the Emperor’s wife feels about her husband’s bastard kid joining the family. However, her son and daughter more than make up for it, becoming the chief antagonists of the story. Prince Lart is a bully of the proud, loud, and stupid variety. Princess Adellai is also haughty, but more sly. Having been told by the Emperor that he’ll name her as heir should she find the blonde, golden-eyed subduer of divine beasts, she’s secretly vying for the throne. Predictably, the half-siblings insult and mock Blondina any chance they get.

Fortunately, Blondina is not completely friendless. Lucy is a count’s daughter assigned to be her lady-in-waiting. Although other nobles snub the half-blood princess, Lucy harbors no such prejudices and embraces her role as Blondina’s companion. However, she has little to offer in terms of power and influence.

Amon, on the other hand, has power and influence in spades. He has an adorable feline form and the kitty cat tendency to play with yarn, but everyone (except Blondina) recognizes him as the most vicious of divine beasts, the black leopard. Yup, Amon is one of those divine beasts the Emperor seeks to eliminate. Like all divine beasts, Amon despises humans, but Blondina’s loneliness resonates with him. So he deigns to allow her to spoil him like the pet he appears to be. He is definitely a tsundere, with a sharp tongue and overweening attitude. However, when Blondina gets picked on, he immediately acts on her behalf.

His relationship with Blondina is kind of odd. Even though all other humans fall in fear when he appears, Blondina only ever views and treats him as her adorable kitty. On the other hand, when he is in human form, his good looks fluster her. Blondina doesn’t seem to have reconciled the two forms. In one scene, human-form Amon reduces her into a blushing, stammering mess by getting too close, but a second later, he reverts to cat form, and Blondina immediately starts petting his body all over as if nothing had happened. At any rate, Blondina is the one human who regards Amon without fear while Amon is protective towards her. Which means their relationship is bound to turn romantic eventually.

Illustrations are rendered in full color. The setting and clothing styles have a western fantasy flavor. Human and animal character designs are average, with a tendency towards cute, and expressions are often distorted to convey impact and emotion.

In Summary

When an impoverished girl discovers she’s the Emperor’s illegitimate daughter, her life goes from one kind of hard to different kind of hard. It’s a convoluted backstory that leads to stereotypical palace bullying. However, Blondina’s very unusual ally against her blue-blooded tormentors is at once an adorable little kitty and a creature that makes the strongest men tremble. This combination feels a bit odd, but if you’ve ever wanted a prickly male lead who’s tough, strong, and can’t resist playing with yarn, you can find him in My Gently Raised Beast.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #23

Spice and Wolf is a wildly popular light novel series that has spawned off an anime, an Internet radio show, and a manga series. While its European medieval setting is typical of high fantasy, this series has a unique bent. Rather than swordfights and magic, the plot focuses on economics, trade, and peddling in a way that skillfully blends adventure and romance.

Yen Press has released the 23rd volume of this novel series, and you can read on for the review. (You can also click here for my reviews of previous Spice and Wolf releases).

Back Cover Blurb

Holo and Lawrence earn themselves another spot in the history books after they save Saronia from being swallowed in debt. In return for their help, the two receive an enviable reward—a noble title. While Lawrence is beyond delighted, Holo and Elsa are wary of the generous gift. Perhaps their fears are warranted, because it seems the title comes with a shady plot of land tied to the legend of a giant serpent!

Between more stories of summer adventure and moments of parting with friends new and old, Holo and Lawrence have at least a few more journeys in them.

The Review

At this point, the “Spring Log” subtitle for these post-marriage installments of Spice and Wolf is a bit of a misnomer. None of Spring Log VI’s four stories are set in the spring, and with the exception of the 10-page “Summer’s Harvest and Wolf,” all of the stories take place in Salonia and could have been structured as a continuous narrative. However, I doubt Spice and Wolf fans will complain about longer arcs detailing the forward progress of Holo and Lawrence’s relationship.

As mentioned above, “Summer’s Harvest and Wolf” is the odd one out in this collection. The slice-of-life interlude is little more than an anecdote as it relates a mushroom hunting excursion back when Col, Miyuri, Holo, and Lawrence still lived at the bathhouse. So far as this volume goes, the episode serves mainly to remind readers that Holo and Lawrence are empty-nesters rather than to convey a particularly noteworthy event.

The three other stories put together read more like a light novel than a short story collection. Having resolved a massive crisis for Salonia, Lawrence and company get dragged into additional local affairs. In “The Gem of the Sea and Wolf,” the inhabitants of a nearby village come to ask Lawrence for advice in elevating a highly regarded local clergyman to bishop status. At first, it seems like political wheelings and dealings of the Wolf and Parchment sort. However, after a few twists and turns, the conflict boils down to a simple matter of miscommunication between the aged clergyman and his flock. While the episode brings up many parallels between Rahden and Holo, its setup is awfully drawn out and seems mainly a convoluted way to incorporate Rahden’s “jewels of the sea” into a story set in the mountains.

Soon thereafter, the Salonia Bishop offers Lawrence a reward for his services: a noble title. Sounds too good to be true, so Elsa, Lawrence, and Holo investigate the associated estate, which, according to legend, used to be the haunt of a giant serpent. This story is interesting for a number of reasons. First, this narrative follows Elsa’s perspective. “An Old Hound’s Sigh and Wolf” actually opens with Elsa and Holo having a private chat, which allows Holo to talk bluntly about her husband, something readers don’t often get to see. Second, there’s the mystery behind the lumber tariffs associated with the estate. Finally, there’s the matter of the serpent legend. For the priestess Elsa, whose home village once worshiped a pagan snake god, tales of such a figure would evoke emotions and a train of thinking more complicated than most. Of the stories in this volume, I enjoyed this one the most.

The book closes with “The Color of Dawn and Wolf,” which is less of a standalone story and more of an extended departure scene. Holo and Lawrence bid farewell to Elsa and Tanya, their costars in Salonia, and the couple continue on their journey toward the sea. The narrative delves a bit into the implications of Holo’s much longer lifespan as they hit the road again, but the topic has been broached in previous Spring Log stories, so it’s not exactly fresh material.

Extras include the first eight pages printed in color, world map, eight black-and-white illustrations, and an afterword.

In Summary

Hasekura-sensei would be better off changing the subtitle of this volume from “Spring Log” to “On the Road Again.” Rather than a collection of stories involving different characters, locations, and eras, the three main stories of this book involve the same cast and take place one after the other in the aftermath of the Salonia Financial Crisis. As the author writes in the afterword, more fantasy-esque things are included than in the original series. So Lawrence and company investigate the origins of a serpent myth rather than delving into medieval economics. However, religion and politics continue to remain strong elements, especially with these stories unfolding parallel to the events of Wolf and Parchment.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Doomsday With My Dog Vol. 1

There are tons of post-apocalyptic works in the market. But how about one where the last human on earth has conversations with her talking dog? That’s the premise of Doomsday With My Dog. Read on for the review of Volume 1 of the manga.

Back Cover Blurb

A single teenage girl journeys through the crumbling ruins of civilization—the last human on Earth, exploring the concrete jungle that has outlived mankind. Keeping her company is woman’s best friend—the ever-adorable and quick-witted Shiba Inu Haru, who is ready to stick with her through thick and thin! With such a pleasant conversation partner to keep the postapocalyptic doldrums at bay, the end of the world might not be so bad after all!

The Review

All mankind has been wiped out, except for one 17-year-old Japanese girl. But that’s okay! Her Shiba Inu Haru remains as her loyal companion. Together, they traverse the ruins of civilization, encountering aliens, fox spirits, and other fantastic creatures along the way!

The thing to keep in mind about Doomsday with My Dog is that it’s not trying to be realistic. Conversations include quotes from real people and actual facts, but the destruction of humankind is never explained. Haru’s master survives just fine among the ruins of civilization despite not having any particular skills and effortlessly communicates with aliens, mythological creatures, and all animals, except for the gorilla who only speaks French.

The series is drawn in a four-panel format, with the majority of the manga strips presented in pairs. There’s no real arc to the series; comics are grouped into sections, but the section breaks serve mainly as places for the publisher to insert cultural notes. And because of the many references to Japanese products and folklore, there are a lot of notes.

According to the afterword, the creator started this manga on Twitter for the sole purpose of drawing whatever he wanted. And it does go all over the place. Our lone human mooches off a retired alien couple, catches all manner of creatures on her fishing line, and binges on alcohol. The content is predominantly philosophizing mixed with various types of comedy and reminds me a lot of the American comic series “Calvin and Hobbes.” Like Hobbes, Haru shouldn’t be able to talk, but he serves as his master’s chatty best friend, and the narrative swings from highly intellectual discourse to silly childish pranks in the blink of an eye.

Doomsday with My Dog, however, has an edgier tone than “Calvin and Hobbes.” It’s probably due to the apocalyptic landscape, but more because of Haru’s master. The 17-year-old is a former shut in. She’s impulsive and frequently thoughtless, which gives her a bit of a mean streak. Despite owning a dog, she’s more of a cat lover and doesn’t bother to hide that preference from Haru. She’s also quick to pinch Haru’s face when she’s annoyed by his remarks.

Haru, the other half of this comedy duo, is the quintessential loyal canine. Despite his master’s many faults, he’s utterly devoted to her. Most of the series’ philosophizing stems from Haru, so he comes off as the smarter of the two. Even so, he definitely retains canine impulses, such as the urge to flee from baths.

Illustrations are rendered in full color. The quality of the drawings are top-notch all around. The dogs especially are adorable, and Ishihara-sensei does an excellent job conveying their emotions. If you are a dog person, and especially if you like the Shiba Inu breed, you’ll probably fall in love with Haru.

Extras include the bonus story “Ten Years Later with You,” translation notes, afterword, and illustrations printed on the inside cover.

In Summary

A post-apocalyptic four-panel comic series that’s at times philosophical, at times crude, and at times childishly silly, but consistently wonderfully drawn. There’s no overarching story arc, just a series of interactions with creatures – many of whom are fantastical – amid the ruins of civilization. Our main characters may look like a teenager and her dog, but they interact more like a comedy duo than a master and her pet.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: The Remarried Empress Vol. 1

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is The Remarried Empress. Read on for the review of Volume 1 of the manhwa.

Back Cover Blurb

Navier Ellie Trovi was the lifelong companion of Sovieshu, the emperor of the Eastern Empire, with whom she spent her youth discussing the empire they would build together. She was intelligent, compassionate, and courageous. She was the perfect empress of the Eastern Empire, until the day Sovieshu fell for another woman, demanding a divorce. However, it was Navier who shocked Sovieshu, his beloved mistress, and a speechless court as she coldly declared: “I accept this divorce…and request an approval of my remarriage!”

The Review

Empress Navier and Emperor Sovieshu looked like the perfect couple – until a beautiful girl steals the Emperor’s heart. Not content merely to make the girl his mistress, Sovieshu petitions for divorce. To everyone’s astonishment, Navier agrees – on the condition she’s permitted to marry Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom. But how did the Prince and Empress get so close? It all began with a bird…

The Remarried Empress began as a Korean web fiction and has since expanded to various media including this full-color manhwa. As you might guess from the title, it is a palace drama. Specifically, it has a European flavor, so if you enjoy your characters with extensive wardrobes featuring ruffles, cravats, flounces, frock coats, cloaks, gold braid, sweeping skirts, puffed sleeves, bows, and epaulets, you’ll have a lot to feast your eyes on. Even if you’re not particularly inclined toward European styles, SUMPUL’s illustrations are a visual treat, whether depicting Queen the bird’s natural beauty or the elegance of a royal tea party. Prince Heinrey’s almost entirely naked body in Episode 8 is nothing short of gorgeous.

The book opens with the Imperial couple on the verge of breakup; then on page 13, it backtracks a few months in time to show how they got there. The story’s told primarily from the perspective of Empress Navier. Betrothed as a child to Sovieshu, Navier’s dedicated herself to becoming the perfect Empress. While the marriage is not based on love, they grew up as friends. So when Rashta, a girl of unknown origins, catches Sovieshu’s eye, Navier’s hurt but resigned to the situation. That is, until Sovieshu and Rashta’s love affair undermines her position. While Navier can do without her husband’s love, she won’t be disrespected.

This is definitely an old theme, and this variation has Navier as the absolutely wronged party. Rashta is portrayed as conniving. She’s quick to act like the victim and manipulates situations to have her breaches of etiquette, no matter how insulting, brushed off as innocent mistakes. While Navier is likable and Rashta lives up to the part of the deceiving rival, Sovieshu, the man at the center of the conflict, is flat. The intro indicates that he and Navier had mutual dreams for their empire. However, in his scenes, he is a brainless pretty face who simply agrees to whatever Rashta wants, regardless of how it impacts his or his nation’s standing.

Fortunately, there’s another man in the cast, the mysterious Prince Heinrey. He has a colorful reputation that includes playboy and associate of pirates. Outwardly, he’s a frivolous charmer, but he’s surprisingly astute and adept in social situations. And like all good romantic leads, he’s highly attuned to his love interest’s situation and emotions. Heinrey’s intercessions on Navier’s behalf as well as his alternate feathered identity keep this palace drama interesting, and I look forward to the next volume.

In Summary

If you like the kind of palace drama where a royal’s wandering eye leads to a clash of love, rank, duty, and reputation, give The Remarried Empress a try. While it includes a touch of magic, the focus is primarily on the relationship the Empress turns to when her husband’s upstart lover tramples on her identity and position. Although the opening shows readers how things end up, the unlikely combination of punctilious Navier and rash Heinrey makes me eager to learn the details of their story.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Graphic Novel Review: The Journey of Marcel Grob

I never had much interest in war narratives until I came across Tanya the Evil. It’s a completely fictional isekai, but its war nerd creator did such a wonderful job dramatizing the varied aspects of military conflict that it completely hooked me. Since then, I’ve checked off titles such as Tom Hanks’ Greyhound and the Ken Burns documentary The War from my viewing list. On the graphic novel front, I recently reviewed The Journey of Marcel Grob. Read on for the review!

Back Cover Blurb

In the dead of night, eighty-three-year-old Marcel Grob is sequestered by an investigating judge who questions him about his past. Particularly beginning on June 28, 1944, the day when “Marzell,” like ten thousand of his German-speaking peers from the French borderland province of Alsace, became a member of the Nazis’ infamous Waffen SS. But did the teenager volunteer, or was he conscripted by the Nazis? Was he a “Malgré-nous,” one of those forced to comply, or was he a war criminal? To establish the truth of his troubled past, Marcel Grob will have to revisit painful memories as an adolescent forced to fight in Italy with the sinister Reichsführer division. Determined to prove his innocence, Marcel begins the story of a long journey into night.

The Review

In the dead of night, 83-year-old Marcel Grob is taken from his wife and home and brought before a mysterious war crimes tribunal. At first, he vehemently denies the allegations, contending he never took part in the war. However, when the judge presents irrefutable proof that Marcel was a member of the Nazis’ Waffen SS, the old Frenchman must delve into his painful past as a forced conscript in order to prove his innocence.

This graphic novel is written from the perspective of an old man recollecting his experiences as a teenager on the battlefield. As such, the scope is limited to the places and events he lived through during his nine months as a conscript before the war ended. Moreover, the authors are French and presumably crafted the story for a French audience. So rather than a sweeping narrative of the world at war, the creators present an ordeal unique to a very specific group of people, namely the German-speaking inhabitants of the French borderland province of Alsace.

So if you are an American and not well-versed in World War II, this is not a good title to start with. In addition to assuming readers are acquainted with the situation in Europe in 1944-1945, the graphic novel presumes an awareness of the distinction between the Waffen SS and the Wehrmacht. (I was unfamiliar with both terms prior to reading this book). English translations are not provided for German military ranks and terms. While a historical account of the Malgre-Nous is provided at the end of the book, the expert who wrote it goes much deeper into the weeds than the casual reader can follow. In other words, it is not an easy read. The account feels more like an academic paper rather than a text for laypeople.

However, if you are a World War II nerd and particularly interested in Nazism or the French occupation, there’s a lot to sink your teeth into. Through the experience of Marcel and his compatriots, we learn the various motives that brought the youth of Alsace to join the ranks of the Waffen SS and the consequences of avoiding conscription, deserting, and faking following orders. The narrative particularly emphasizes the tenuous situation Marcel and his peers are forced into. On one hand, they are despised because they take on the SS’s brutal reputation. On the other hand, they are despised and never fully trusted by the German SS members, most of whom, unlike the Alsatians, volunteered for the organization.

This is a war narrative, and it evolves Nazis. It goes without saying that the account includes battlefield violence and atrocities against civilians. It also depicts the inglorious parts of warfare–starvation, exposure, injury–as well as fleeting lighthearted moments, such as a soccer match. Illustrations can be disturbing, so be warned.

The scenes depicting Marcel’s past are rendered in black-and-white with monochrome shading. The tint of the shading changes with each scene change. Goethals’ artwork effectively conveys the chaos and brutality of the battlefield, but the expressions of the cast are invariably stiff and their facial features indistinguishable. Especially when the characters are in identical uniforms, it’s impossible to tell Marcel and his compatriots Muller and Antoine apart.

In Summary

The Journey of Marcel Grob explores a lesser-known contingent of the Nazi war machine: the German-speaking conscripts of the French borderlands. Framed as a tribunal against an Alsatian conscript decades after the war’s end, this graphic novel offers a sympathetic look at the circumstances that brought these men into the Waffen SS and their experiences within their ranks. However, the book presumes readers have familiarity with German terminology and an overall grasp of the War in Europe. Moreover, the historical account provided at the graphic novel’s conclusion feels like it was written more for an academic audience than a casual reader.

First published in The Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Sasaki and Peeps Vol. 2

Isekai, sci-fi, and fantasy are huge light novel genres. But how about a mash-up of all three? That’s what you’ll find in Sasaki and Peeps! Read on for the review of Volume 2. (For other Sasaki and Peeps reviews, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Sasaki’s pet bird (and otherworld sage) Peeps has gifted him with powerful magic and the ability to cross between worlds, all to game the multidimensional system and live the good life. Due to unforeseen circumstances on both sides, though, things aren’t going as planned. Sasaki’s job as a government psychic isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and with a magical girl out for blood, a neighbor giving in to dark temptations, and a former enemy changing sides, Sasaki and Peeps are looking at a big traffic jam on their road to success!

The Review

This second installment of Sasaki and Peeps is bookended by chapters told by Sasaki’s underage neighbor Kurosu. The opening chapter paints a picture of her miserable life under her mother’s abuse. The closing chapter has her making a life-altering encounter and contract with a demon. Both chapters make clear her unhealthy obsession with Sasaki. As mentioned in my review of Volume 1, the sexualization of this middle school girl (and the female cast in general) leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It’s the one disgusting (and unnecessary) element in an otherwise clever and entertaining spec fic adventure.

And that adventure just keeps going. Things get off to a slow start with Sasaki’s first recruitment assignment of an E-rank psychic. But that mundane task quickly blows up (literally) with the arrival of the killer magical girl, followed by the appearance of Futarishizuka, their deadly opponent from Sasaki’s first psychic battle.

We didn’t see much of Futarishizuka in person in Volume 1, but she dominates the modern world sections in Volume 2. As a lethal Rank A psychic claiming to want to switch sides, she keeps Sasaki guessing as to her true intentions even as he works with her to accomplish mutual goals. I could do without all the sexual innuendos in her dialogue, but she is a fascinating character, much more interesting than Sasaki’s current partner Hoshizaki.

With so much chaos in the modern world, man and bird just want to kick back and relax in the fantasy otherworld. Unfortunately, that plan gets ruined when they discover that their valued trading colleague Mr. Marc has been arrested under false charges. A prison break can easily be arranged via Peeps’s powers, but to protect their leisurely otherworld lifestyle, Sasaki proposes resolving the issue through political and business channels. Unfortunately, his plan hits a major snag when the Count’s daughter stows away in Sasaki’s inter-world cargo!

Midway through the volume, Sasaki winds up with individuals on both sides of the inter-world divide who discover that he is crossing worlds. So on top of dealing with psychic battles and conniving nobles, he’s having to construct various alibis for those who know different aspects of his secret. It certainly keeps things interesting, but now there’s a ton of details to keep track of. Plus, the cast keeps getting bigger. Currently, it’s still manageable, but if the story continues in this vein, I’ll need a recap every time Sasaki crosses worlds.

The first eight pages, which contain illustrations and a thread from Sasaki’s social media, are printed in full color. Extras also include ten black-and-white insert illustrations, afterword, and original cover material.

In Summary

Things get exponentially more complicated for Sasaki as his modern world job pairs him with a former enemy and an important otherworld trading partner gets wrongfully imprisoned. On top of that, a couple of individuals discover that Peeps is not an ordinary bird. Volume 2 is definitely a page turner with crises and supernatural battles piling up one after the other on poor Sasaki.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: The Geek Ex-Hitman Vol. #2

There’s no shortage of gangster-centric manga, and it includes a subset of comedies like The Way of the Househusband, where the toughest denizens of the underworld embrace an entirely new lifestyle. The Geek Ex-Hitman falls into this category, with otaku culture as the new lifestyle and the slight variation that Marco is Italian, not yakuza. Read on for my review of Volume 2. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Marco, a former hitman turned anime aficionado, is going to Comisa, Japan’s largest fan fiction convention, and intelligence officer Viviana and her colleague Andre are tagging along too! However, Marco may not get to enjoy the festivities for long, as an uninvited guest emerges from the shadows…

The Review

Volume 1 ended with our Italian trio headed for Comic Summit to sell their very own doujinshi. Despite having poured blood, sweat, and tears into the pages, it is a newbie work and sells accordingly. (For those curious about their creation, a hilarious excerpt of the doujinshi is included in the bonus material.) However, even though their doujinshi doesn’t draw fans, the trio enthralls the conventiongoers by defending the pride of otaku everywhere.

Then yet another Italian comes to Japan: Marco’s former partner Gregorio. The huge, hairy hitman is not at all into anime, but he is obsessed with Marco. So when he fails to compel Marco to return to Florence, he stays in Japan, inviting himself into Marco’s home and keeping an eye for different ways to ingratiate himself to his idol.

Thus the recurring cast goes up to four. Unlike the other three, Gregorio’s neutral about otaku. Or, more accurately, he’s completely ignorant about them. However, he worships Marco, so that adds another flavor of fanaticism into the Italian mix. Plus, his unique characteristic is that he has stupidly good luck. His arrival and familiarity with Marco of course puts Viviana’s fujoshi imagination into overdrive, though interestingly, his presence also backfires on her BL fantasy enactments.

As in Volume 1, the interaction of the Italian characters are energetic and entertaining, and the illustrations are excellent throughout, whether conveying the hard-hitting impact of a brawl, Viviana’s BL delusions, or the giddy delight when people discover they are members of the same fandom. However, as mentioned in my previous review, the series is best enjoyed by those well-versed in anime and manga. The translation notes will allow those unfamiliar with otaku culture to get the gist of what’s going on, but it’s a lot funnier when you recognize all the different series references.

The final chapter in Volume 2 takes a very dark turn. We’ve known from the beginning that Marco’s a former hitman and seen evidence of his strength and skill, but it’s not like he’s offed anyone in Japan. However, Chapter 20 delves into his past, and those pages get really graphic and bloody fast. Although this arc will likely lead to a better understanding of Marco, it’s a sharp change in tone from the goofy lives our Italian hitmen and special agents currently live.

Extras include first page in color, artwork on the inside covers, three pages of bonus comics, bonus chapter, and translation notes. Oddly, the honorifics list of the translation notes does not include the -shi honorific used by Marco and his otaku compatriots.

In Summary

Another Italian arrives in Japan! This time it’s Marco’s old partner, the hitman Gregorio. He comes to drag Marco back to Florence and instead winds up as part of Marco’s new otaku life. No, he knows nothing about anime, but that doesn’t stop Viviana from including him into her Marco-centric BL fantasies. As in Volume 1, Volume 2 is wonderfully illustrated and a ton of laughs for otaku types.

First published at The Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Sasaki and Peeps Vol. 1

Isekai, sci-fi, and fantasy are huge light novel genres. But how about a mash-up of all three? That’s what you’ll find in Sasaki and Peeps! Read on for the review of Volume 1 of the manga. (For more reviews of Sasaki and Peeps works, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

When Sasaki brightens up his tired corporate life by buying a pet sparrow, he never imagined the bird would actually be a reincarnated sage from another world! With his new avian roommate teaching him all sorts of magic tricks, could this be Sasaki’s chance to escape his droll office job?

The Review

Sasaki is a middle-aged office drone scraping by in Tokyo. Longing for animal companionship, he buys a Java sparrow at the local pet shop and gets more than he bargained for when his new pet Peeps declares himself to be a reincarnated wizard from another world. On top of that, he wants to eat Kobe beef Châteaubriand. Sounds like an impossible order, but Peeps has a solution: he’ll share his powers with Sasaki, and they’ll raise the funds via inter-world trading!

Sasaki and Peeps is the manga adaption of the light novel by the same name. Between the two, I would say the manga is the easier for readers to digest as the light novel tends to be long-winded. Not to mention, a lot of the novel’s pages are devoted to its various setting descriptions, whereas the manga’s setting illustrations are, as the saying goes, worth a thousand words. Plus the novel narrative was TMI with aspects of Sasaki’s personal life.

In terms of story, the manga covers the same territory as the light novel. In other words, it’s a real mishmash. Although it includes the isekaied wizard Peeps, it isn’t exactly an isekai because main character Sasaki still has his ordinary life. He’s just overlaying excursions to another world on top of his previous routine. And as hinted by the lengthy subtitle, “That Time I Got Dragged into a Psychic Battle in Modern Times While Trying to Enjoy a Relaxing Life in Another World ~Looks like Magical Girls Are on Deck ~,” the plot involves psychics and magical girls (though Volume 1 only gives a hint of that in the last three pages).

The thing holding these disparate elements together is the relationship between Sasaki and Peeps. The fact that Sasaki views Peeps primarily as his adorable pet keeps the relationship very pure, and they’re bound by the mutual desire for a relaxing lifestyle with good food.

No, these are not fate-of-the-world-depends-on-it stakes. But the main character is a middle-aged bachelor who’s working towards his goal by trading printer paper for gold coins and whose main concern is not tipping off Japanese tax authorities to his new source of income. Probably not the sort of story that would appeal to younger readers. But as an older adult, I found this twist on the fantasy genre entertaining.

However, one thing that makes this title less appealing is the way it handles female characters. With one exception, the characters in Volume 1 are adult males. Most of the men are middle-aged; the youngest is in his 20s. The lone female character is a middle schooler who lives next door to Sasaki. The illustrations give her a Lolita aura, and her unhealthy preoccupation with Sasaki is very evident in the bonus short story when she offers to give him a massage. Although Sasaki’s interactions and attitude toward her are on the up and up, I find the sexual overtones surrounding this girl offputting (and unnecessary) in an otherwise entertaining story.

As for Osho-sensei’s other illustrations, they do a good job of conveying the magical aspects of the story, and otherworldly and ordinary objects are well detailed. Animals are cute and drawn with a realistic bent, so Peeps’ emotions and powers are conveyed via text and background effects. Sasaki’s expressions, however, are sometimes distorted to convey emotion or comic effect.

Extras include the first four pages printed in color, creator afterword, and a bonus short story by Buncololi. I should note that the book does not include translation notes, so it is up to readers to do the yen conversions for the money discussions.

In Summary

Sasaki and Peeps’ protagonist is a meek 39-year-old office worker whose primary goal is obtaining expensive beef for his adorable pet bird/reincarnated wizard. Not the most charismatic character, nor the most dramatic storyline. However, Peeps’ proposal to attain a cushy lifestyle via inter-world trade is an intriguing premise, and from the last few pages, magical action is swiftly coming up on the horizon.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady Vol. #2

Isekai has really overtaken the anime/manga scene the last several years. The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady is one such title. Read on for my review of Volume 2. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Some time off at the royal villa has helped Euphyllia get her thoughts together following the shock of her engagement being broken off, but that clarity has only made her aware of how empty her heart now is. She looks to Anisphia for answers, but the princess is too busy getting hyped for an impending monster stampede! All high-ranked adventurers have been summoned to stop it, including the one known as… the Marauder Princess!

The Review

Volume 1 focused mainly on Princess Anis’ unconventional outlook and the rules of magic. Euphyllia served primarily to provide Anis with a damsel to rescue and to provide readers with a model for how conventional magic works in this fantasy world. However, the opening pages of Volume 2 slows down to provide more of Euphyllia’s perspective on the events thus far. Her sudden fever and subsequent sickroom scene feel forced, but they do the trick of allowing her to reflect on the abrupt changes in her life and position. Unlike Anis, Euphyllia is extremely sensitive to how others perceive her, and her conversation with the maid Ilia gives a sense of where she is emotionally right before the action revs up again.

And that action comes in the form of a massive monster stampede triggered by a dragon! The tone suddenly shifts from otome-sim to fantasy adventure, and Anis reveals herself to be a gold-rank adventurer registered with the adventurers’ guild. Thus the politics of royal engagements take a backseat to knights and adventurers on the front lines of a monster attack. Of course, this provides Anis with the perfect opportunity to try the results of her research as well as an excuse for the narrative to expand on more magical theory–this time about the magicite found in monsters. If you’re not interested in those technical aspects of the story, you can simply watch as Anis “The Marauder Princess” goes berserk on the battlefield, which is apparently par for the course for this reckless royal.

Meanwhile, back at the palace, we get some insight into Anis’ brother Algard. When he publicly dumped Euphyllia, he came off as a royal jerk or possibly a royal dope. However, his conversation with his father about the approaching dragon insinuates that the prince has an inferiority complex and that his behavior is driven less by animosity toward Euphyllia and more by resentment toward his sister.

Extras include bonus art on the inside of the cover and the first page printed in color.

In Summary

The story takes a sharp turn from breakup drama at the Aristocratic Academy to a monster stampede triggered by a dragon! The thread holding these seemingly disparate elements together is Anis’ personal quest to harness magic, though it is jarring to see her persona shift from single-minded magicology researcher to kills-obsessed gold-level adventurer. Yes, it’s still interesting, but the plot feels like it’s all over the place.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Kaiu Shirai x Posuka Demizu: Beyond The Promised Neverland

The creators of The Promised Neverland captivated audiences with their gripping blend of mystery, action, and heart.  For those curious about other works from the team of Shirai and Demizu, Viz presents the short story collection Beyond the Promised Neverland!  (For my reviews of The Promised Neverland manga, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

From the creators of The Promised Neverland comes a collection of their best short stories, including a special one-shot with the key elements that would later go into their biggest hit and an epilogue that shows what the main characters are up to after the end of the manga series

The Review

The four main stories of Beyond the Promised Neverland would be better described BEFORE The Promised Neverland. For various reasons which writer Shirai-sensei explains in the Behind-the-Scenes notes, these standalone stories were storyboarded before the release of The Promised Neverland. As Shirai-sensei states in the foreword, “the stories could be called ‘the road to The Promised Neverland.’”

The first is “Poppy’s Wish,” a sci-fi version of Pinocchio with an AI toaster who wants to become human and a shut-in inventor as his creator. Overall, it’s lighthearted and cute, mainly because of Poppy’s bright, innocent personality. However, just as in The Promised Neverland, his perspective on the world gets thrown on its head when he discovers the true reason his creator avoids other humans.

“Spirit Photographer Saburo Kono” has a completely different tone. If you need suggestions for a Halloween reading list, I’d recommend this one. In this tale, a boy lives next to a haunted apartment, whose latest tenant is plenty creepy himself. Ultimately, the story has an uplifting, if bittersweet, ending, but until you get there, Demizu-sensei does an excellent job spooking readers with her scary illustrations and unnerving expressions.

The third story, “We Were Born,” is the most similar in content to The Promised Neverland. The setting’s a corrupt, war-ravaged Earth, not another world, but it has the super-optimistic orphan whose seemingly beneficent caretaker has a dark agenda. There’s also a ton of violence. Despite that, it, like The Promised Neverland, has a happy ending.

The fourth story “DC3” is about the lone-wolf daughter of an AI manufacturer and her latest android bodyguard. The twist in this story is less startling than the previous three, but if you like action, it has it in spades. Whether it’s a rescue from a mob or hand-to-hand combat between military-type androids, Demizu-sensei’s illustrations really suck you in.

At the end of the book are two short manga. The bonus manga “Takashi and Poppy” is a crossover where Poppy and his inventor travel back in time and share toast with characters from the other three stories of the collection. Then there is the book’s one The Promised Neverland side-story, “Dreams Come True.”

According to the notes, “[‘Dreams Come True’] is a special manga that was displayed at The Promised Neverland Exhibit” (presumably in Japan). It picks up where the series ends, shortly after Emma’s reunion with her family. Though Emma recalls nothing of their previous life together, they are creating new memories together. For those who want to see the orphans’ happily ever after, this delivers. Even Ray, the most cynical and stoic of the bunch, has a moment of blissful awe.

Extras include illustrations and sample drawings printed on the inside covers, foreword, story notes, and a few footnotes placed in gutters.

In Summary

The cover and title of Beyond the Promised Neverland might lead you to believe this is a collection of The Promised Neverland side-stories, but only one out of the six short stories has anything to do with the series. The other standalone works range from sci-fi to supernatural to dystopian future. However, they all feature child (or childlike) characters drawn in Demizu-sensei’s signature style, and Shirai-sensei incorporates some unexpected twists into each plot.

First published at The Fandom Post.