#IReadsYou Review: NYANKEES Volume 6

NYANKEES VOL. 6
YEN PRESS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Atsushi Okada
TRANSLATION: Caleb D. Cook
LETTERS: Rochelle Gancio
ISBN: 978-1-9753-1109-4; paperback (May 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
226pp, B&W, $13.00 U.S., $17.00 CAN

Nyankees is a shonen-action manga written and illustrated by Atsuchi Okada.  It was serialized in the manga magazine, Shounen Ace, from July 2016 to August 2019.  Yen Press is publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a six-volume graphic novel series.

Nyankees is the story of stray cats sometimes told as a fable of human street thugs.  The stray cats are mostly male street cats protecting their turf, keeping other guy-cats from pawing at their girl-cats, and showing everyone who is really boss.

Nyankees, Vol. 6 (Chapters 26 to 31) opens with the tale of Madara, a “calico tom” cat, as told to series regular, Ryuusei.  Madara is connected to Ryuusei's former mentor, Gekka, who is also a calico tom.  Humans believe that a calico tom brings good luck, but many cats believe that calico toms bring nothing but bad luck.

Triggered by his tale, Ryuusei strikes out at Madara with a mighty cat punch, but he realizes that there is more to the calico tom than meets the eye.  Now, untold grudges and secrets and lies are laid bare as the strife in Nekonaki draws to a close... hopefully with a happy ending.

[This volume includes bonus art.]

The Nyankees manga is entirely new to me.  I did like how creator Atsushi Okada draws the characters as street cats and then, as human street thugs.  It is a little off-putting, at first, but soon, the allegory kicks in.

Nyankees Graphic Novel Volume 6 is the final volume of the series.  First, I want to say that the English translation by Caleb D. Cook, one of the best translators of Japanese comics, is wonderfully composed.  These final chapters are epic in scope, but intimate in character drama; Vol. 6 is poignant and sad, but also joyous and hopeful.

Okada gives us a closing suite of chapters that is timeless, as the conflicts, plots, and relationships could repeat themselves for an untold amount of time.  Nyankees Vol. 6 does not say that life is what you make of it or even that it is about the choices you make.  Nyankees ends by saying that life is who not what.  With whom do you make your life, now what you do with it.

Vol. 6 is the only volume of this series that I read (thanks to a review copy).  I can say, however, that it makes me interested in the earlier volumes.

7.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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-------------------------------------

#IReadsYou Review: DRAGON BALL SUPER Volume 8

DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 8
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Akira Toriyama
ART: Toyotarou
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0941-0; paperback (March 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Dragon Ball was a long-running Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama.  It was originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995 and was comprised of 519 individual chapters.  The hero of Dragon Ball was Son Goku, and the series began with the story of his childhood.

Dragon Ball Super is written by Toriyama and drawn by Toyotarou, a writer-artist who works on Dragon Ball spin-off manga.  Dragon Ball Super has been published in the Japanese manga magazine, V Jump, since June 2015.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series since May 2017, under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Dragon Ball Super is a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and to the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series.  This sequel is set several months after Goku's victory that brought peace back to Earth.  Goku and his friends must defend Earth, this time from fighters from other universes and timelines.

As Dragon Ball Super, Vol. 8 (Chapters 37 to 40; entitled “Sign of Son Goku's Awakening!!”) opens, the “Tournament of Power” continues.  It will determine the fate of universes!  Each universe that competes must field ten warriors, but these warriors must be mortals, as gods are forbidden.  The universes that lose will face complete destruction at the hands of “the Lords of Everything.”

As the tournament quickly approaches its time limit, Universes 3, 4, and 10 are eliminated.  Kale of Universe 6 summons powers no one knew she had, but as she grows more powerful, she also loses control.  Now, she beating her own teammates!

Meanwhile, Son Goku and his Universe 7 team is down to six warriors, and Goku still has not found a way to defeat Universe 11's mightiest warrior, Jiren.  Can he awaken the power within him, “the ultra instinct,” to the extent that he can beat Jiren?  Can he do it in time to beat Jiren?

THE LOWDOWN:  As I wrote in my previous review of the Dragon Ball Super manga, 2020 is a strange year … for a number of reasons.  Of the many strange things that have filled my 2020 is that this is the year that I have read, by far, the most Dragon Ball manga ever.  This is mostly because of the Dragon Ball Super manga.

Dragon Ball Super Graphic Novel Volume 8 reaches the height of the battle manga segment of this “Tournament of Power” story arc.  Toriyama and Toyotarou are in the midst of eliminating most of the eclectic cast they created for this arc.  They make up for that, however, by having a number of the remaining characters power-up in delightfully entertaining ways.  This is the height of Dragon Ball battle manga euphoria, dear readers, so let's enjoy it.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for more Dragon Ball manga will want to try the “Shonen Jump” title, Dragon Ball Super.

This manga includes the the following bonus material:

• the sketchbook section, “Toriyama Sensei's Corrections,” which features Akira Toriyama's corrections of Toyotarou's character designs and story pages
• bonus illustrations
• a four-page “Dragon Ball Super” story originally published in the “Jump Victory Carnival Official” 2018 Guidebook
• Toyotarous Asks! Tell Us , Toriyama Sensei!! in which Toriyama talks about the process behind character design and story-crafting

A
8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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#IReadsYou Review: DRAGON BALL SUPER Volume 7

DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 7
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Akira Toriyama
ART: Toyotarou
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0777-5; paperback (December 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Dragon Ball was a long-running Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama.  It was originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995 and was comprised of 519 individual chapters.  The hero of Dragon Ball was Son Goku, and the series began with the story of his childhood.

Dragon Ball Super is written by Toriyama and drawn by Toyotarou, a writer-artist who works on Dragon Ball spin-off manga.  Dragon Ball Super has been published in the Japanese manga magazine, V Jump, since June 2015.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series since May 2017, under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Dragon Ball Super is a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and to the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series.  This sequel is set several months after Goku's victory that brought peace back to Earth.  Goku and his friends must defend Earth, this time from fighters from other universes and timelines.

As Dragon Ball Super, Vol. 7 (Chapters 33 to 36; entitled “Universe Survival! The Tournament of Power Begins!!”) opens, the “Tournament of Power” begins.  It will determine the fate of universes!  Each universe that competes must field ten warriors, but they must be mortals, as gods are forbidden.  The universes that lose will face complete destruction at the hands of “the Lords of Everything.”

Universe 7's mightiest warriors are Son Goku (our hero), Kame Sen'nin, Son Gohan, Piccolo, Vegeta, Kuririn, Android #17, Android #18 (a female), and the resurrected Freeza.  But Universe 7's mightiest may not be enough, especially when faced against Universe 11 and its best of the best warrior, Jiren.

And it is not long into the tournament that the first universe is obliterated.  Meanwhile, some teammates plot to betray their teams … or are they?

[This manga includes the sketchbook section, “Toriyama Sensei's Corrections,” which features Akira Toriyama's corrections of Toyotarou's character designs and story pages and also bonus illustrations.]

THE LOWDOWN:  2020 is a strange year … for a number of reasons.  Of the many strange things that have filled my 2020, I have discovered that this is the year that I have read, by far, the most Dragon Ball manga that I have ever read.  This is mostly because of the Dragon Ball Super manga.

Dragon Ball Super Graphic Novel Volume 7 moves into the heart of the battle of this current story arc.  The “Tournament of Power” story is the third threat to its existence that Universe 7 has faced, and it is the most entertaining threat … at least for the readers.  Vol. 7 is pure Dragon Ball shonen battle manga.

Toriyama and Toyotarou offer so many different and inventive ways to present the fights.  I found myself on the edge of my seat because combatants were dropping like flies, often at times and in ways that I didn't expect.

Caleb Cook's translation captures the tartness of the dialogue and the conniving and betrayal.  James Gaubatz's lettering is cool and calm, expect for the sound effects with are fat on the page – suggesting the crazily loud sounds of this battle.  Vol. 7 may be Dragon Ball Super's most fun volume yet.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for more Dragon Ball manga will want to try the “Shonen Jump” title, Dragon Ball Super.

A
8.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: DRAGON BALL SUPER Volume 6

DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 6
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Akira Toriyama
ART: Toyotarou
TRANSLATION: Toshikazu Aizawa, Christine Dashiell, and Caleb Cook
LETTERS: Paolo Gattone and Chiara Antonelli
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0520-7; paperback (September 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Dragon Ball was a long-running Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama.  It was originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995 and was comprised of 519 individual chapters.  The hero of Dragon Ball was Son Goku, and the series began with the story of his childhood.

Dragon Ball Super is written by Toriyama and drawn by Toyotarou, a writer-artist who works on Dragon Ball spin-off manga.  Dragon Ball Super has been published in the Japanese manga magazine, V Jump, since June 2015.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series since May 2017, under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Dragon Ball Super is a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and to the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series.  This sequel is set several months after Goku's victory that brought peace back to Earth.  Goku and his friends must defend Earth, this time from fighters from other universes and timelines.

As Dragon Ball Super, Vol. 6 (Chapters 29 to 32; entitled “The Super Warriors Gather!”) opens, the “Zen Exhibition Match” between the “Gods of Destruction” comes to an end.  And the Lords of Everything are bored, so they change some rules.  Now, the “Tournament of Power” will only feature mortals, and gods are forbidden.

Each universe that competes must field ten warriors, which means that Goku and friends have to recruit Universe 7's mightiest warriors.  But they must win because the universes that lose will face complete destruction.

[This manga includes the sketchbook section, “Toriyama Sensei's Corrections,” which features Akira Toriyama's corrections of Toyotarou's character designs and story pages.]

THE LOWDOWN:  Because of a scattering of review copies I received, I became an occasional reader of the Dragon Ball manga.  I do enjoy reading the manga, and the Dragon Ball Super manga is a nice fresh start for new readers... at least I think so.

Dragon Ball Super Graphic Novel Volume 6 follows the changes that began with Vol. 2.  This saw the series move on from its original premise – the fight between Universes 6 and 7 – to this current battle of the universes.  After several volumes dealing with Goku and company's epic battle against the multi-universal villains, Zamas and Goku Black (which ended in the middle of Vol. 5), Toriyama and Toyotarou move readers deeper into the “Tournament of Power” story line.

Vol. 6 may be the volume that I have enjoyed the most.  It is mostly battle manga and some comedy-drama about the gathering of warriors.  It promises much battle manga fun to come, so I'll keep reading... and recommending this to you, dear readers, who happen to be Dragon Ball fans.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for more Dragon Ball manga will want to try the “Shonen Jump” title, Dragon Ball Super.

A
8.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: HELL'S PARADISE: Jigokuraku Volume 3

HELL'S PARADISE: JIGOKURAKU, VOL. 3
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Juji Kaku
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: Mark McMurray
EDITOR: David Brothers
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1322-6; paperback (July 2020); Rated “M” for “Mature”
216pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN, £9.99 U.K.

Jigokuraku is a manga series written and illustrated by Yuji Kaku.  It has been serialized weekly for free on the Shōnen Jump+ application (app) and website since January 22, 2018.  VIZ Media is publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series, entitled Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, under its “VIZ Signature” imprint.

Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku is set in Japan during the “Edo period” (specifically between 1773 and 1841 for this story).  The ninja, “Gabimaru the Hollow,” is sentenced to death, but no method of execution can kill him due to his superhuman body.  Lord Tokugawa Nariyoshi, the 11th Shogun, offers Gabimaru and other monstrous killers sentenced to death a chance at a pardon.  They will travel to a strange island, known as “Shinsenkyo,” where they must find “the elixir of life,” which will make the shogun immortal.  The executioner, Yamada Asaemon Sagiri, and others of her clan will accompany these criminals to an island where “Heaven” and “Hell” are said to be practically the same thing.

As Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, Vol. 3 (Chapters 17 to 26) opens, Gabimaru and Sagiri are joined by Yuzuriha of Keishu, (a “kunoichi” or female ninja), and her executioner, Yamada Asaemon Senta (a highly-learned swordsman and Sagiri's clansman).  They have just encountered what looks like a small human girl, but they also meet her guardian (of sorts).  He is “Hoko” the tree man, and he names the girl as “Mei.”

From him, Gabimaru and company learn that Shinsenkyo, which he calls “Kotaku,” is divided into three regions.  It is the center region, known as, “Horai,” where they will find the elixir of life, which the island's denizens call “Tan.”  Hoko also warns them of sinister beings roaming the island, the immortal “Lord Tenzen,” that do not allow anyone to leave the island.

However, Gabimaru believes that he does not have time to waste, and sets off on his own to the center of the island.  He is unaware of the fate of the other convicts and their executioners who have already met the Lord Tenzen with disastrous results.

[This volume includes miscellaneous art, bonus comics, and “Translation Notes.”]

THE LOWDOWN:  I have described the Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku manga as an Edo-period, samurai drama that is also firmly entrenched in the horror genre.  I think its English title, “Hell's Paradise,” aptly fits the series' repugnant-attractive elements, a mix of beautiful and imaginative beings and creatures that are really monsters.

Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku Graphic Novel Volume 3 is the first volume in which the lead characters get answers to their questions.  I thought that Vol. 2 was one best second volumes of a manga tankobon/graphic novel that I had ever read, just as Vol. 1 was one of the best first volumes.  Creator Yuji Kaku does not miss a beat as he reveals more of about the island and about its mysterious inhabitants.  If you have already started reading Hell's Paradise, don't stop now, dear readers.  If you have not started reading, you don't have far to go back to get in on the ground floor of this utterly fantastic dark fantasy manga.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:   Fans of “VIZ Signature” titles will want Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku.

A
9.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: MY HERO ACADEMIA Volume 21

 

MY HERO ACADEMIA, VOL. 21
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Kohei Horikoshi
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITORS: Mike Montesa; Jon Bae
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0950-2; paperback (October 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

My Hero Academia is a Japanese superhero manga series written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi.  It has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since July 2014.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of My Hero Academia as a paperback graphic novel series since 2015 under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

In My Hero Academia, there comes a day when people start manifesting superpowers called “Quirks.”  Some use their powers to commit crime, which creates the need for heroes.  If someone wants to be a superhero, he or she enrolls in the Hero Academy.  What would a person do, however, if he were one of the 20 percent born Quirkless?  Middle school student Izuku Midoriya has no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes.  Then, Midoriya meets the greatest hero of them all, All Might, who gives him a chance to change his destiny…

As My Hero Academia, Vol. 21 (Chapters 189 to 200; entitled “Why He Gets Back Up”) opens, Endeavor, the new “No. 1” hero since All-Might retired, is in the fight of his life against the just-returned “Nomu.”  The battle rages across the city as Endeavor fights to solidify his new position as the number one hero.  Hawks fights by his side, but where do his loyalties really lie?  And even if Endeavor wins, he will have to face Dabi!

Next, Midoriya has a surreal experience concerning the previous wielders of the “One for All” powers.  Plus, Class 1-A battles Class B in joint battle training.

[This volume includes characters files and bonus and miscellaneous art – sketches and chapter headings.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The My Hero Academia manga is a superhero comic book – shonen manga style.  Being quite similar to American comics in the way that it depicts superheroes and super-powers, the series is popular on both sides of the Pacific.

My Hero Academia Graphic Novel Volume 21 delves into the current “League of Villains” conspiracy with a surprising twist or two.  However, creator Kohei Horikoshi doesn't forget his star, Izuke Midoriya, and we get to see some mystery build around this wonderful character.  While we have to wait for Midoriya's turn in the battle of the classes, Vol. 21 is the kind of volume that exemplifies this series' ability to keep readers coming back.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of superhero comics and of shonen battle manga will want to enroll at the “Shonen Jump” school, My Hero Academia.

A
9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
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The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

----------------------------------

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#IReadsYou Review: HELL'S PARADISE: Jigokuraku Volume 2

 

HELL'S PARADISE: JIGOKURAKU, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Juji Kaku
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: Mark McMurray
EDITOR: David Brothers
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1321-9; paperback (May 2020); Rated “M” for “Mature”
216pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN, £8.99 U.K.

Jigokuraku is a manga series written and illustrated by Yuji Kaku.  It has been serialized weekly for free on the Shōnen Jump+ application (app) and website since January 22, 2018.  VIZ Media is publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series, entitled Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, under its “VIZ Signature” imprint.

Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku is set in Japan during the “Edo period” (specifically between 1773 and 1841 for this story).  The ninja, “Gabimaru the Hollow,” is sentenced to death, but no method of execution can kill him due to his superhuman body.  Lord Tokugawa Nariyoshi, the 11th Shogun, offers Gabimaru and other monstrous killers sentenced to death a chance at a pardon.  They must travel to a strange island, known as “Shinsenkyo,” where they must find “the elixir of life,” which will make the shogun immortal.  The executioner, Yamada Asaemon Sagiri, and others of her clan will accompany these criminals to an island where “Heaven” and “Hell” are said to be practically the same thing.

As Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, Vol. 2 (Chapters 7 to 16) opens, Gabimaru, his fellow convicts, and their escorts face murderous creatures that are either gods or monsters.  Stone, animal, insect, and human, these creatures seem to be an impossible blend of all or some of those things.  Meanwhile, we learn the back stories of a number of characters, including Yuzuriha of Keishu, a kunoichi (female ninja); the Aza Brother Bandits, Chobe and Toma; and the mountain tribeswoman, Nurugai, who joins Lord Tenza in a bid to escape the island.

Plus, Gabimaru and Sagiri start to understand each another, just as Sagiri's fellow clansman, Genji, insists she leave the island because she is a woman.  This debates occurs as the convict, Rokurota the Giant of Bizen, approaches them with murder on his mind.

[This volume includes miscellaneous art and “Translation Notes.”]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku manga is an Edo-period, samurai drama that is also firmly entrenched in the horror genre.  It's English title, “Hell's Paradise,” aptly fits the series' repugnant-attractive elements, as this story is like a dark fairy tale turning darker with each page.

Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku Graphic Novel Volume 2 is one of the best second volumes of a manga tankobon/graphic novel that I have ever read, just as Vol. 1 was one of the best first volumes.  Creator Yuji Kaku's ethereal, illustrative style perfectly visualizes this series' gruesome, nightmarish tableau and tapestries.  From the start, Kaku enthralls the readers with the mysteries of the island of Shinsenkyo; now, he multiplies the mysteries in this second volume.

Caleb Cook's translation conveys Kaku's move to focus on the characters' personalities, desires, and back stories with the same focus in which Cook's work conveyed the demented nature of many of the characters in the first volume.  Letterer Mark McMurray slashes and smashes us with the gory glory of Hell's Paradise using pitch perfect lettering.  Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku is a paradise for fans of manga that blend samurai, ninja, and horror.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:   Fans of “VIZ Signature” titles will want Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku.

A
9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
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The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

----------------------------------

#IReadsYou Review: MY HERO ACADEMIA Volume 20

MY HERO ACADEMIA, VOL. 20
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Kohei Horikoshi
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITORS: Mike Montesa; Jon Bae
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0773-7; paperback (August 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

My Hero Academia is a Japanese superhero manga series written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi.  It has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since July 2014.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of My Hero Academia as a paperback graphic novels since 2015 under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

In My Hero Academia, there comes a day when people start manifesting superpowers called “Quirks.”  Some use their powers to commit crime, which creates the need for heroes.  If someone wants to be a superhero, he or she enrolls in the Hero Academy.  What would a person do, however, if he were one of the 20 percent born Quirkless?  Middle school student Izuku Midoriya has no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes.  Then, Midoriya meets the greatest hero of them all, All Might, who gives him a chance to change his destiny…

As My Hero Academia, Vol. 20 (Chapters 178 to 188; entitled “School Festival Start!!”) opens, Midoriya struggles mightily to stop the “Gentle Criminal” and his partner, “La Brava,” from ruining the U.A. school festival.  No matter how hard he fights, Midoriya can't seem to crack an attack against him that is based on his adversaries' peculiar relationship.  But is it really peculiar, or is it just strong?  And what is the nature of that relationship?  Plus, the origin stories of both “Gentle Criminal” and “La Brava” reveal two humans searching...

After the surprising conclusion of the school festival, it's time for the twice-yearly “Japanese Billboard Hero Chart.”  Everyone knows that Endeavor (Shoto Todoroki's dad) is the new “No. 1” hero since All-Might retired.  But is Endeavor, who has long coveted this spot, up to taking on its responsibilities?  He will soon get the chance to prove his worth when a fellow top ten member, Hawks, tells him about the return of the “Nomu.”

[This volume includes bonus art – sketches and chapter headings.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The My Hero Academia manga is Japan's answer to superhero comic books.  Being quite similar to American comics in the way that it depicts superheroes and super-powers, the series is popular on both sides of the Pacific.

My Hero Academia Graphic Novel Volume 20 finds creator Kohei Horikoshi offering a grand battle featuring the series star, Midoriya.  Horikoshi presents dastardly villains with poignant stories, and then, he moves us to the uproarious fun of the school festival and the fantastic show Class 1-A's puts on.  Then, readers are right back into the next big conspiracy, and the the ending to Vol. 20 is another of the most excellent cliffhangers readers have come to expect from this series.

Caleb Cook's translation and English adaptation deftly captures the many shifting moods of Vol. 20, and John Hunt's lettering is up to the task of setting one tone after another.  I always wonder if I will grow tired of My Hero Academia, but an entry like Vol. 20 comes along and keeps me and you, dear readers, coming back.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of superhero comics and of shonen battle manga will want to enroll at the “Shonen Jump” school, My Hero Academia.

A
9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.



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#IReadsYou Review: DRAGON BALL SUPER: Volume 5

DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 5
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Akira Toriyama
ART: Toyotarou
TRANSLATION: Toshikazu Aizawa, Christine Dashiell, and Caleb Cook
LETTERS: Paolo Gattone and Chiara Antonelli
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0458-3; paperback (May 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Dragon Ball was a long-running Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama.  It was originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995 and was comprised of 519 individual chapters.  The hero of Dragon Ball was Son Goku, and the series began with the story of his childhood.

Dragon Ball Super is written by Toriyama and drawn by Toyotarou, a writer-artist who has produced Dragon Ball spin-off manga.  Dragon Ball Super has been published in the Japanese manga magazine, V Jump, since June 2015.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series since May 2017, under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Dragon Ball Super is a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and to the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series.  This sequel is set several months after Goku's victory that brought peace back to Earth.  Goku and his friends must defend Earth, this time from fighters from other universes and timelines.

As Dragon Ball Super, Vol. 5 (Chapters 25 to 28; entitled “The Decisive Battle! Farewell, Trunks!”) opens, Goku, Vegeta, and Future Trunks continue their battle on the “Future Parallel World” of Universe 7.  Their adversaries are “Goku Black” and Zamas, who have now fused into “God Zamas,” a being even harder to beat than its formidable progenitors.  And just when Goku and Vegeta think that they have beaten God Zamas, their problems multiple...

Next, Goku has been itching for an “interuniverse tournament” that would pit the greatest fighters of 12 universes against one another.  It turns out that two “Lords of Everything” want the same thing.  Thus, begins the “Tournament of Power,” in a way most unexpected by many beings, including Goku!

[This manga includes a bonus story that was originally published in the Jump Victory Carnival Official 2017 Guidebook.]

THE LOWDOWN:  I began as an occasional reader of the Dragon Ball manga, and I do enjoy the franchise.  The Dragon Ball Super manga, which is a nice fresh start for new readers, has made me a semi-regular Dragon Ball reader.

Dragon Ball Super Graphic Novel Volume 5 follows Vols. 2 to 4, which moved the series beyond its original premise – the fight between Universes 6 and 7, and introduced the villains Zamas and Goku Black, as well as a future parallel world.  I will play spoiler and say that by the middle of Vol. 5, that Zamas-Goku Black story arc is resolved... with finality.  I'm glad, as I was tired of this story line.

This “Tournament of Power” feels like a return to classic Dragon Ball battle manga.  In between the end of the previous story line and the beginning of the next, Toyotarou draws a fantastic, fifteen-page battle between Vegeta and Beerus, which makes this one of the better recent volumes.  He also draws a large group of new characters, which makes this volume sound like a must-have for Dragon Ball manga fans.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for more Dragon Ball will want to try the “Shonen Jump” title, Dragon Ball Super.

A
8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: MY HERO ACADEMIA Volume 19

MY HERO ACADEMIA, VOL. 19
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Kohei Horikoshi
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITORS: Mike Montesa; Jon Bae
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0460-6; paperback (June 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

My Hero Academia is a Japanese superhero manga series written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi.  It has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since July 2014.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of My Hero Academia as a series of graphic novels since 2015 under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

In My Hero Academia, there comes a day when people start manifesting superpowers called “Quirks.”  Some use their powers to commit crime, which creates the need for heroes.  If someone wants to be a superhero, he or she enrolls in the Hero Academy.  What would a person do, however, if he were one of the 20 percent born Quirkless?  Middle school student Izuku Midoriya has no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes.  Then, Midoriya meets the greatest hero of them all, All Might, who gives him a chance to change his destiny…

As My Hero Academia, Vol. 19 (Chapters 168 to 177; entitled “School Festival”) opens, Midoriya wonders what is up with his classmate, Yuga Aoyama.  He is acting suspiciously; one might even call it creepy.  Then, it's school festival time, and Class 1-A struggles with what to present to the rest of the school, and what they choose will be surprising.  However, in the aftermath of the recent battles, if just one more terrible thing occurs, Class 1-A's presentation won't matter because the festival will immediately by canceled!

Meanwhile, Midoriya continues to practice with All Might.  At the same time, the failed villain, “Gentle Criminal,” and his partner, “La Brava,” plot something that will put them in the big time.

THE LOWDOWN:  The My Hero Academia manga is Japan's answer to superhero comic books.  Indeed, it is quite similar to American comics in the way that it depicts superheroes and super-powers (called “Quirks” here, of course).

My Hero Academia Graphic Novel Volume 19 finds creator Kohei Horikoshi focusing on each student's personality and goals, and perhaps, on this early leg of the journey that is life.  Midoriya continues to learn about his powers as All-Might encourages him to explore more on his own.  The villains in this volume are wacky, but interesting, so Vol. 19 feels like the volume that prepares readers for the next big fight.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of superhero comics and of shonen battle manga will want to enroll at the “Shonen Jump” school, My Hero Academia.

A
8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.



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#IReadsYou Review: MY HERO ACADEMIA: Volume 18

MY HERO ACADEMIA, VOL. 18
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Kohei Horikoshi
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITORS: Mike Montesa; Jon Bae
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0437-8; paperback (April 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
184pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

My Hero Academia is a Japanese superhero manga series written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi.  It has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since July 2014.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of My Hero Academia as a series of graphic novels since 2015 under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

The series is set in a world where, one day, people start manifesting superpowers called “Quirks.”  Some use their powers to commit crime, which creates the need for heroes.  If someone wants to be a superhero, he or she enrolls in the Hero Academy.  What would a person do, however, if he were one of the 20 percent born Quirkless?  Middle school student Izuku Midoriya has no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes.  Then, Midoriya meets the greatest hero of them all, All Might, who gives him a chance to change his destiny…

As My Hero Academia, Vol. 18 (Chapters 158 to 167; entitled “Bright Future”) opens, the battle of the heroes against Chisaki Kai, a.k.a. “Overhaul, the leader of the secretive yakuza organization known as “Shie Hassaikai,” comes to a conclusion.  As Overhaul unleashes his terrible power, Midoriya is forced to push his power, “One for All,” to 100 percent.  No matter who wins, the League of Villains plots to capture samples of Overhaul's Quirk-killing drug.

Then, Katsuki Bakugo and Shoto Todoroki join Inasa Yoarashi and Seiji “Camie” Shishikura, two students from rival hero academy, Shiketsu High, for make-up licensing course training.  What will this quartet face in order to get closer to gaining their provisional hero licenses?  They will be shocked at the size of their challenge.

THE LOWDOWN:  The My Hero Academia manga is a Japanese superhero manga series that is quite similar to American comics in the way that it depicts superheroes and super-powers (called “Quirks” here, of course).  My Hero Academia is as powerful as the most powerful American superhero comic books.  And I am a huge fan.

My Hero Academia Graphic Novel Volume 18 is almost all battle manga, but not in the way that Vol. 17 was.  Like Vol. 16, Vol. 18 offers some character drama and some humor, and the battle, especially the fight that dominates the last four chapters of the volume, is a nice change of pace.  Vol. 17 was an ultimate superhero fight comic and also a shonen battle manga on steroids, and it washed over me like a tsunami, but Vol. 18 is a change of pace... for the most part.

Vol. 18 is a transitional volume, as most of the chapters that comprise it are about leading to what is the next big story arc.  Thus, Caleb Cook's translation and English adaptation are important in conveying the shifts in narration and the change of pace.  There is a good meeting of the minds between All Might and Endeavor (who is Shoto Todoroki's father), as Endeavor becomes the new #1 hero as All Might retires.  Cook captures the important moment in a way that is as intriguing as My Hero Academia's usual intrigue and conflict.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of superhero comics and of shonen battle manga will want to enroll at the “Shonen Jump” school, My Hero Academia.

A
8.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Read You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.



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#IReadsYou Review: GABRIEL DROPOUT: Volume 8

GABRIEL DROPOUT, VOL. 8
YEN PRESS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Ukami
TRANSLATION: Caleb D. Cook
LETTERS: Rochelle Gancio
ISBN: 978-1-9753-0847-6; paperback (April 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
130pp, B&W, $13.00 U.S., $17.00 CAN

Gabriel DropOut is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ukami.  The series began serialization in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Daioh G magazine in December 2013.  Yen Press is publishing an English-language edition of the manga in North America as a series of graphic novels under the title, Gabriel Dropout.

Gabriel Dropout focuses on Gabriel White Tenma, the top angel in her class.  She has descended from Heaven in order to attend high school and to guide humans to the correct path.  However, Gabriel has developed a video game addiction, slacks off, and hangs out with other angels and demons that have come to Earth.

As Gabriel Dropout, Vol. 8 (Chapters 58 to 63) opens, Gabriel learns that her worst nightmare is about to become a reality.  Her older sister, the powerful angel, Zeruel, is coming for a visit.  She is Angel Academy's most illustrious graduate ever.  Also known as “The Arm of God,” Zeruel is one of Heaven's mightiest weapons.  Zeruel has a brilliant mind, has looks beyond compare, is a force to be reckoned with... and she is coming to check up on her little sister, Gabriel.

Determined to hide that she is a slacker and video game addict, Gabriel has got a foolproof plan to deceive her older sister.  At least, Gabriel thinks she has a foolproof plan to deceive Zeruel...

[This volume includes bonus manga.]

The Gabriel Dropout manga is another new title to me.  My Yen Press rep included it in a batch of titles for review.

Gabriel Dropout Graphic Novel Volume 8 focuses mainly on the comic conflict between Gabriel and her older sister, Zeruel.  Ukami's art is a super-cute confection of super-deformed, chibi, and sparkles.  It could arouse feelings of “moe” in readers.  I found it pleasantly amusing, but it is not something that I would read on a regular basis.  As much as I like supernatural comedy manga, I think Gabriel Dropout is for a specific readership that likely does not include me.

But I think some readers' moe-dars are already onto it.

5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.


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#IReadsYou Review: HELL'S PARADISE: Jigokuraku Volume 1

HELL'S PARADISE: JIGOKURAKU, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Juji Kaku
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: Mark McMurray
EDITOR: David Brothers
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1320-2; paperback (March 2020); Rated “M” for “Mature”
216pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN, £8.99 U.K.

Jigokuraku is a manga series written and illustrated by Yuji Kaku.  It has been serialized weekly for free on the Shōnen Jump+ application (app) and website since January 22, 2018.  As of December 2019, Japanese publisher, Shueisha, has collected the series in eight tankobon (graphic novel) volumes.  VIZ Media is publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a graphic novel series, entitled Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, under its “VIZ Signature” imprint.

Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 6) opens in Japan during the “Edo period” (1603 to 1868, specifically between 1773 and 1841 for this story).  The ninja, “Gabimaru the Hollow,” is one of the most vicious assassins to come out of the ninja village of Iwagakure.  However, an act of betrayal results in Gabimaru being captured during a mission and handed a death sentence, but no method of execution can kill him due to his superhuman body.

Besides, Gabimaru claims that he does not care if he is facing death because he no longer cares to live.  The executioner, Yamada Asaemon Sagiri, believes that she has discovered that Gabimaru actually feels otherwise.  Lord Tokugawa Nariyoshi, the 11th Shogun, offers Gabimaru and other monstrous killers sentenced to death a chance at a pardon.  They must travel to a strange island, known as “Shinsenkyo,” where they must find “the elixir of life,” which will make the shogun immortal.  Sagiri and others of her clan will accompany these criminals, but on this island, “Heaven” and “Hell” are said to be practically the same thing!

[This volume includes bonus art and “Translation Notes.”]

The Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku manga is an Edo-period, samurai horror-drama.  It's English title, “Hell's Paradise,” aptly fits the series' horror elements.

Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku Graphic Novel Volume 1 is one of the best first volumes of a manga tankobon/graphic novel that I have ever read.  The ethereal, illustrative manner in which Yuji Kaku depicts Gabimaru and Sagiri's internal struggles with the relentless killing in which they engage is a series of gruesome, nightmarish tapestries.  It is like taking some of the most shocking art from the legendary EC Comics' horror titles and multiplying it by the power of 10.  Kaku also enthralls the readers with the mysteries of the island of Shinsenkyo, of which he does give us a nasty taste in Vol. 1.

Caleb Cook's translation captures the demented nature of many of the characters that this volume introduces.  At the same time, Cook feeds us tendrils of story to capture our imagination and to draw us ever deeper into the world of Jigokuraku.  Meanwhile, rather than do the tendril-thing, letterer Mark McMurray slashes and smashes us with the glory of bloodletting that Hell's Paradise offers its unwary visitors... And that is a very good thing.

9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.


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#IReadsYou Review: MY HERO ACADEMIA Volume 15

MY HERO ACADEMIA, VOL. 15
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Kohei Horikoshi
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITORS: Mike Montesa; Jon Bae
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0100-1; paperback (October 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

My Hero Academia is a Japanese superhero manga series written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi.  It has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since July 2014.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of My Hero Academia as a series of graphic novels since 2015 under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

The series is set in a world where, one day, people start manifesting superpowers called “Quirks.”  Some use their powers to commit crime, which creates the need for heroes.  If someone wants to be a superhero, he or she enrolls in the Hero Academy.  What would a person do, however, if he were one of the 20 percent born Quirkless?  Middle school student Izuku Midoriya has no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes.  Then, Midoriya meets the greatest hero of them all, All Might, who gives him a chance to change his destiny…

As My Hero Academia, Vol. 15 (Chapters 129 to 137; entitled “Fighting Fate”) opens, Midoriya is on his work study, patrolling the streets with his new mentor, the “permeation” phasing-warping hero, “Mirio Togata.”  Mirio is also the sidekick of “Sir Nighteye,” who is now in charge of Midoriya's work study.  Now, the young hero and Mirio encounter Eri, a young girl in need of help.  Suddenly, a man claiming to be her father appears.  Is he Chisaki Kai, the notorious leader of the secretive yakuza organization known as “Shie Hassaikai,” and if he is, whatcha gonna do, heroes...?

Next, the U.A. High third year “Big Three”:  “Fat Gum,” “Tamaki Amajiki,” and “Red Riot” encounter a territorial dispute among criminals.  One of them is a troubled young man who is more dangerous than he looks – much more dangerous...

[This volume includes bonus art and bonus illustrated character profiles.]

THE LOWDOWN:  People who have read my reviews of previous volumes of the My Hero Academia manga know that I really like this series.  It is one of the best (if not the best) superhero comic books in the entire world.

My Hero Academia Graphic Novel Volume 15 is a pivotal volume, as was Vol. 14.  Vols. 12 and 13 were turning point volumes.  Vols. 14 and 15 find creator Kohei Horikoshi working on the next big confrontation between the good guys and the really bad guys.  Yeah, “the League of Villains” is still at it, but with a bad-to-the-bone and bad-ass new ally.

Caleb Cook's translation captures the fun that is at the heart of My Hero Academia.  Cook's translation reads the way a superhero comic book should; there is a sense of mystery, a conspiracy, and a riveting, fast-paced narrative that forces the readers to follow along.  John Hunt powers through with lettering that conveys the pot boiling and the slam-bang action.  He helps to make Vol. 15 one of My Hero Academia's best volumes.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of superhero comics and of shonen battle manga will want to enroll at the “Shonen Jump” school, My Hero Academia.

A+
10 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.



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Book Review: MY HERO ACADEMIA: School Briefs Volume 2

MY HERO ACADEMIA: SCHOOL BRIEFS, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

AUTHOR: Anri Yoshi
ORIGINAL STORY: Kohei Horikoshi
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
COVER: Kohei Horikoshi with Shawn Carrico
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8271-9; paperback (July 2, 2019)
238pp, B&W, $10.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Created by Kohei Horikoshi, My Hero Academia is a shonen manga.  It is set on an Earth where 80% of the human population has manifested superpowers called “Quirks.”  If someone wants to be a superhero, he or she enrolls in the Hero Academy.  What would a person do, however, if he were one of the 20% born Quirkless?  Middle school student Izuku Midoriya has no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes.  Then, Midoriya meets the greatest hero of them all, All Might, who gives him a chance to change his destiny…

My Hero Academia: School Briefs is a new series of light novels (Japan's version of a “young adult” or “YA” novel) set in the world of My Hero Academia.  The novels are written by Anri Yoshi, based on a stories by Kohei Horikoshi.  The first novel in the series debuted in Japan in 2016, and the series currently stands at four volumes (as of this writing).

VIZ Media, which publishes the My Hero Academia manga as a graphic novel series in North America, also publishes the light novel series.  VIZ recently released the second School Briefs novel in North America in early July 2019 under the title, My Hero Academia: School Briefs, Vol. 2 (subtitled Training Camp: The Inside Story).

My Hero Academia: School Briefs Volume 2– Training Camp: The Inside Story opens at the home of Izuku Midoriya.  All-Might's young protege is in a state of distress.  He is struggling with his math lessons ahead of final exams, and he has to pass.  Qualifying to attend the upcoming training camp is contingent on passing these final exams.  Midoriya isn't the only student stressed out by studies, so study groups abound.

Even if they make it to training camp, the students of U.A. High, “Class 1-A,” will have to share their training camp experiences with the students of “Class 1-B.”  If these aspiring heroes are lucky, they may have an opportunity to get to know each other and to cut loose.

Before I read the first volume of School Briefs this past May, it had been some time since I had last read a light novel.  I have had mixed results with light novels – some good, some mediocre.  Since my VIZ Media press representative started sending me copies of the My Hero Academia light novels, I have had a chance to enjoy even more of this franchise.

My Hero Academia: School Briefs Volume 2 offers a nice surprise.  I almost feel like I am spoiling it for you, dear readers, but, simply put, Vol. 2 is like a summer camp novel, in which readers get to know the students in a new setting.  Yes, this camp is about training and not about summer fun, but the setting allows for some of the youthful indiscretions that can occur at a summer camp.

Training Camp: The Inside Story gives readers the inside story on their favorite young superheroes-in-training.  Although this novel does tease about the trouble ahead, it treats readers to a look at the personalities of numerous characters from the My Hero Academia series, with the exception of Izuku Midoriya.  After all, we already know so much about him, as he is the franchise's star.

So as entries go, My Hero Academia: School Briefs, Vol. 2 is not just another entry.  It is a chance to expand readers' knowledge of the young characters that make up the world of My Hero Academia.  You, dear readers, will even get a chance to enter the home of a wealthy student (Momo Yaoyorozu) and to see a horn-dog boy (Minoru Mineta) in action.

7.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Review: SNOW WHITE WITH THE RED HAIR Volume 2

SNOW WHITE WITH THE RED HAIR, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Sorata Akiduki
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: Brandon Bovia
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0721-8; paperback (July 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
208pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Snow White with the Red Hair is a shojo manga from creator Sorata Akiduki.  It focuses on a feisty herbalist who saves a prince from a poisoned apple, and, in turn, is saved by him.

In Tanbarun Kingdom, there is born a girl with beautiful hair that is as red as apples.  When she grows into young womanhood, Shirayuki's red hair earns her the unwanted attention of Prince Raj of Tanbarun.  Prince Zen, the second prince of the neighboring Clarines Kingdom, rescues Shirayuki and brings her to Wistal, Clarines' capital.  Zen moves her into Wistal Palace, where Shirayuki hones her skills as an herbalist, and thus, a love story begins.

As Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 2 (Chapters 5 to 8) opens, Shirayuki begins her apprenticeship as a “court herbalist.”  She also meets her mentor, Ryu, who is a prodigy as an herbalist.  But he is 12-years-old!  Later, Shirayuki joins Zen and a small military contingent as they travel to Fort Laxdo.  There, Shirayuki earns her first official duty – quell an illness that has struck down the men of the fort.

[This volume includes the manga short story, “Connect Us,” and bonus manga pages.]

I did not read the first volume of the Snow White with the Red Hair manga.  My VIZ Media rep sent me the second volume, and I found that I did not have a difficult time figuring out the story dynamics of the series.

Snow White with the Red Hair Graphic Novel Volume 2, if this is your first volume, will introduce a cast of likable characters.  I find myself intrigued by the fact that Shirayuki is an herbalist, and I like the offbeat manner in which creator Sorata Akiduki is developing the relationship between herbalist and prince.  Akiduki adds more than a touch of darkness by introducing an important character late in this volume.  Snow White with the Red Hair is not great, but fans of The Water Dragon God may find that this is their kind of shojo manga.

B+
7 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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Book Review: MY HERO ACADEMIA: School Briefs Volume 1

MY HERO ACADEMIA: SCHOOL BRIEFS, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

AUTHOR: Anri Yoshi; Kohei Horikoshi (original story)
ART: Kohei Horikoshi
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
COVER: Kohei Horikoshi and Shawn Carrico
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0486-6; paperback (April 2, 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
248pp, B&W, $10.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

My Hero Academia is a shonen manga created by Kohei Horikoshi.  It is set on an Earth where 80% of the human population have manifested superpowers called “Quirks.”  If someone wants to be a superhero, he or she enrolls in the Hero Academy.  What would a person do, however, if he were one of the 20% born Quirkless?  Middle school student Izuku Midoriya has no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes.  Then, Midoriya meets the greatest hero of them all, All Might, who gives him a chance to change his destiny…

My Hero Academia: School Briefs is a new series of light novels (Japan's version of a “young adult” or “YA” novel) set in the world of My Hero Academia.  The first novel in the series debuted in Japan in 2016 and, and the series currently stands at four volumes (as of this writing).  VIZ Media publishes the My Hero Academia manga as a graphic novel series in North America.  VIZ published the first School Briefs novel in North America in early April 2019 under the title, My Hero Academia: School Briefs, Vol. 1 (subtitled Parents' Day).

My Hero Academia: School Briefs Volume 1– Parents' Day opens at U.A. High in “Class 1-A,” the homeroom of taciturn teacher, Shota Aizawa.  He informs Izuku Midoriya and the other students that the school is holding a “Parents' Day.”  Not only are the students' parents invited to visit the school, but they will also get to hear their children read the letters of appreciation that they have written for their parents.  It is enough to make the students of Class 1-A cringe, but little do they know that Parents' Day will be a lot more tense than they could ever imagine.

I cannot remember the last light novel published by VIZ Media that I read.  It has been a few years since my VIZ Media rep has sent me one to review.  The My Hero Academia manga is one of the best comics about youngsters dealing with superpowers that I have ever read, so I was looking forward to reading a novel set in that world.

In a note at the end of My Hero Academia: School Briefs Volume 1, Kohei Horikoshi, creator of My Hero Academia, says that this novel gives readers a chance to read about the series' characters going about their everyday lives.  I have to admit that I enjoyed reading about these characters as ordinary teens, although, early in this novel, I wanted more action.

Writer Anri Yoshi is quite good at presenting the U.A. High kids as kids and teens, and Caleb Cook, who translates and adapts the My Hero Academia manga into English for VIZ Media, makes this dialogue-centric prose convey personality.  This book is aimed at an audience that is far younger than I am, but, by my reading, I think My Hero Academia: School Briefs, Vol. 1 is a good start to a book series that will hopefully show more of the civilian side of life in the world of My Hero Academia.

7 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: DR. STONE Volume 1

DR. STONE, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted at Patreon.]

STORY: Riichiro Inagaki
ART: Boichi
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
EDITOR: Jon Bae
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0261-9; paperback (September 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Dr. Stone is a shonen manga from writer Riichiro Inagaki and artist Boichi.  Inagaki is a manga writer known for his work on the series, Eyeshield 21.  “Boichi” is the pen name of manhwa artist, Mujik Park, a Korean-born artist living and working in Japan.  Set thousands of years in the future, Dr. Stone focuses on the efforts of two friends to revive human civilization.  The manga began serialization in a March 2017 issue of Japan's manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump.  VIZ Media is publishing the manga as a paperback graphic novel series, entitled Dr. Stone.

Dr. Stone, Vol. 1 (Stone World; Chapters 1 to 7) introduces Taiju Oki and Senku.  Taiju is petrified of admitting to fellow high school student, Yuzuriha, that he loves her.  His friend, Senku, is a high school science prodigy who watches Taiju's pitiful efforts with disdain.

Suddenly, one fateful day, a blinding flash petrifies everyone, turning every human into a statue, and civilization gradually falls apart.  Then, one day Taiju reawakens, bursting from his stone shell, but he is shocked to discover that it is 3700 years later!  And he is not alone, as Senku has been up and running for over half a year.  Now, the two must kick-start civilization, which will not be easy, even with the power of science.

The Dr. Stone manga is an odd shonen manga.  For some reason, I keep thinking of Hanna-Barbera's long-running animated television franchise, “The Flintstones.”

Dr. Stone Graphic Novel Volume 1 reveals this manga as a something quite unique.  Writer Riichiro Inagaki offers a compelling story, a far-flung future that is the setting for the rebirth of humanity.  He presents engaging characters – two teen friends who form one of the most delightful opposites-attract duos that you will find in comics.

Boichi's richly detailed artwork is pretty and also makes for some attractive graphical storytelling.  Boichi also manages to make the real world scientific principles Inagaki's presents in this story something like eye-candy storytelling.  I am surprised.  I did not think what to make of this series, but there is potential here, especially because it has an interesting take on the villain...

8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint syndication rights and fees.

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Review: MY HERO ACADEMIA: Vigilantes Volume 1

MY HERO ACADEMIA: VIGILANTES, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY:  Hideyuki Furuhashi
ART: Betten Court
ORIGINAL STORY: Kohei Horikoshi
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITOR: Mike Montesa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0159-9; paperback (July 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
208pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

In the world of My Hero Academia, 80 percent of the population has superpowers.  These powers are called “Quirks.”  If you want to be a superhero, you enroll in the Hero Academy, so that you can be trained and licensed.  There are those, however, who have minor Quirks or who do not have powers, so not everyone can be a hero.  Still, there are people who want to be heroes and do so without legal sanction.  Whatever they fight for, they are called “Vigilantes.”

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 5) introduces 19-year-old Koichi Haimawari.  He has a minor Quirk; he can “slide and glide” when he connects three of his two hands and two feet to the ground.  People call him “Mr. Nice Guy,” because he uses his powers to help pedestrians and civilians, and he even cleans litter.  Regardless of his intentions, he has no license to use his powers in public, so the police consider him a Vigilante.

Then, Koichi meets two other would-be heroes.  First, there is “Knuckleduster – Janitor of the Fist,” who beats up criminals, but who does not have a Quirk.  Kazuho Haneyama can leap great heights, so she uses her Quirk to perform impromptu events as the pop idol, “Pop☆Step.”  Together, sometimes reluctantly, Koichi, Knuckleduster, and Pop☆Step fight Quirk-powered villains, especially those empowered by a new mystery performance enhancement substance.

As a longtime fan of superhero comic books, I was delighted when my VIZ Media rep started sending me copies the My Hero Academia manga.  Like Tiger & Bunny and One-Punch Man, My Hero Academia proves that manga can do superhero comic books that are every bit as imaginative as American superhero comics (if not more).  Now, comes the spin-off, the My Hero Academia: Vigilantes manga.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Graphic Novel Volume 1 is indeed a spin-off and not merely a byproduct of an already successful manga.  The narrative and universe of My Hero Academia gets more complicated with each volume; however, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes focuses on a trio of characters, with Koichi Haimawari at the center.  There is something refreshing about not having to remember all the cliques, clubs, teams, team-ups, culture, and politics of the original series.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is simple and straight-forward.  This is the story of lovable losers, three characters who are really “characters,” who deal with the fact that fate and circumstance want them to be Vigilante heroes.  The focus is both their quirky Quirks and their quirky personalities, and I must say that I am in love with Koichi's “slide and glide” Quirk.  This is definitely now in my “Top 5” powers that I want to have list.

Writer Hideyuki Furuhashi and artist Betten Court do right by My Hero Academia creator, Kohei Horikoshi.  Caleb Cook's translation and English language adaptation of this exciting manga makes this a fun read.  I highly recommend this to superhero comic book and superhero manga readers.

9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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