#IReadsYou Review: BORUTO: Naruto Next Generations: Volume 8

BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS, VOL. 8
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CREATOR/SUPERVISOR: Masashi Kishimoto
ART: Mikio Ikemoto
SCRIPT: Ukyo Kodachi
TRANSLATION: Mari Morimoto
LETTERS: Snir Aharon
EDITOR: Alexis Kirsch
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0879-6; paperback (April 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
176pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is a Japanese manga series written by Ukyo Kodachi and illustrated by Mikio Ikemoto.  Boruto is a spin-off and a sequel to the shonen manga, Naruto, which was written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto.  Boruto was first serialized in Shueisha's shonen manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, beginning in May 2016, and then serialized in Shueisha's monthly magazine, V Jump, in July 2019.  VIZ Media began publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint beginning in April 2017.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations follows the exploits of Naruto Uzumaki's son, Boruto Uzumaki.  Naruto was once a young shinobi (ninja) who lived in the shinobi Village of Konohagakure.  Naruto went on to become the world’s greatest ninja and the Hokage, leader of his village.  But this is not Naruto's story.  This is the story of Boruto and his ninja team:  leader, Konohamaru Sarutobi (Naruto's protégé ); and teammates Sarada Uchiha (the daughter of Sasuke and Sakura Uchiha) and and Mitsuki (Orochimaru's artificial son).

As Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Vol. 8 (Chapters 28 to 31; “Flowers”) opens, the mysterious boy, Kawaki, slowly begins to open up to both Naruto and Boruto.  He joins the Hokage and Sarada for a visit to Yamanaka Flower Shop, but on the way, Kawaki, reveals a little of his dark side.  Kawaki is burdened by a traumatic past, and it is about to return to him.   Kashin Koji and “Delta,” two leaders in the the mysterious Ohtsutuski-connected organization, Kara, attempt to retrieve what was once their cargo, Kawaki.

[This volume includes bonus manga, “The X Cards' Dark Side” and “The X Cards' Dark Side 2.”]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga has turned out to be a great replacement for and sequel to the classic shonen manga, Naruto, which is one of my all-time favorite comics.  Boruto's creative team of artist Mikio Ikemoto and script writer Ukyo Kodachi are making their own way with this manga, although Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto supervises this series.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Graphic Novel Volume 8 focuses on Kawaki.  The creators use a drip-drip approach to revealing his past, but in revealing his personality, they move quickly – sometimes in spurts.  Vol. 8 also gives readers some Boruto vs. Kawaki sparring and training, and if that were not enough, readers see Naruto the Seventh Hokage in a really intense and violent battle against a most formidable opponent.  That alone is worth the cover price of Vol. 8.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Naruto will want the Shonen Jump title, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

A
9.5 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 reprint and syndication rights and fees.



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#IReadsYou Review: JUJUTSU KAISEN: Volume 2

JUJUTSU KAISEN, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Gege Akutami
TRANSLATION: Stefan Koza
LETTERS: Snir Aharon
EDITORS: John Bae
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1003-4; paperback (February 2020); Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Jujutsu Kaisen is a horror-action manga written and illustrated by Gege Akutami.  It has been serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, since March 2018.  VIZ Media is publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a series of graphic novels under its “Shonen Jump” imprint, beginning in December 2019.

Yuji Itadori is a first year high school student in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.  Especially fast and strong, Itadori is athletically gifted, but does not care about school.  One day, to protect his school from a Curse, Itadori swallows the severed finger of the legendary and feared demon, “Ryomen Sukuna.”  Now, Itadori houses the soul of Sukuna, and his fate is sealed with a death sentence.  The only way he can save himself is to enter the world of the Jujutsu Sorcerers and also to collect and consume the remaining pieces of Sukuna.

As Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 2 (Chapter 8 to 16; “Fearsome Womb”) opens, Itadori and a few other first year students from Jutusu High were dispatched by their teachers to handle a situation involving a “cursed womb.”  However, the curse they encounter is far more powerful than they expected, and now, Itadori is the only one who can save his classmates.  But it might cost him his life.

Meanwhile, a group of powerful Curses plot against special-grade Jujutsu Sorcerer, Gojo Satoru.  Satoru himself sees this plot against him as a chance to give Itadori some extra-special training.

[This volume includes bonus manga, “Extra.”]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Jujutsu Kaisen manga seems like it would be perfect for me, dear readers.  I enjoy manga that pit a secret society of warriors and demon fighters against man-eating demons, curses, and cursed objects.

Jujutsu Kaisen Graphic Novel Volume 2 begins to peel away the layers of the series' internal mythology.  Vol. 1 rushed readers into its world of Jujutsu Sorcerers and “special-grade cursed objects.”  Now, creator Gege Akutami focuses on introducing a band of adversarial monsters and demons (Curses) and reveals the internal politics in the world of Jujutsu Sorcerers.  Akutami is also showcasing the characters he thinks will be stars or at least the ones he wants to be stars.

With his English translation, Stefan Koza captures Jujutsu Kaisen's odd mixture of teen comedy and gruesome horror.  Letterer Snir Aharon captures the series' loudness; this series seems awfully noisy.  I am still not sure how exceptional Jujutsu Kaisen will be, if for no other reason than that Gege Akutami seems to be holding something back.  Still, I would like to read another volume.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Fans of demon-fighting shonen manga will want to try the Shonen Jump title, Jujutsu Kaisen.

B+
7 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 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: PLATINUM END: Volume 10

PLATINUM END, VOL. 10
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Tsugumi Ohba
ARTIST: Takeshi Obata
TRANSLATION: Stephen Paul
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
EDITOR: Alexis Kirsch
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1054-6; paperback (December 2019); Rated “M” for “Mature”
208pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Platinum End is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata.  It has been serialized in the manga magazine, Jump SQ, since November 2015.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint since late 2016.

Platinum End focuses on Mirai Kakehashi.  He attempts suicide by jumping from the roof of a building simply because he is tired of living.  Instead of dying, however, Mirai is saved by an angel named “Nasse.”  Through her, Mirai learns that 13 humans have been chosen as candidates to replace God, who plans to retire in 999 days.  Each candidate has a guardian angel, and Nasse is Mirai's, and the two have befriend another candidate/angel duo, Saki Hanakago and “Revel.”

As Platinum End, Vol. 10 (Chapters 32 to 36) opens, Kakehashi, Saki, and Minamikawa continue to search for other god candidates.  In a suburban house, they meet Shuji Nakaumi and Ogaro, the Angel of Darkness.  All Shuji wants to talk about, however, is committing suicide!  Plus, Minamikawa has a big announcement!

Meanwhile, police agent, Mr. Hoshi, and his subordinate, Ms. Yumiki, who are both secretly working with the god candidates, are at the center of a plan to gather all the remaining living candidates.  But no one knows who the sixth remaining candidate is.

THE LOWDOWN:  The Platinum End manga is another odd and alluring and oddly alluring manga from the mangaka super duo of writer Tsugumi Ohba and artist Takeshi Obata.  Their previous work includes the controversial Death Note and the illuminating industry insider manga, Bakuman。.

Platinum End Graphic Novel Volume 10, like Vol. 9, somewhat eschews the darkness and edginess of Vols. 7 and 8.  Ohba and Obata move the series away from the homicidal machinations of the murderous mastermind, Metropoliman.  They also offer a shocker when one of the angels reveals some information to the candidates that they need to know, but perhaps, should not know.  The creators also tease the sixth candidate, which is an example of why the more I read, the more I feel I have to keep reading

As usual, readers get another excellent translation by Stephen Paul that is filled with engaging dialogue that clearly conveys the new secrets revealed.  Also, the lettering by James Gaubatz deftly establishes conversational tone, and tone, as usual, turns out to be quite important here.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for good comic books will want to read Ohba and Obata's latest “Shonen Jump” title, Platinum End.

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 reprint and  syndication rights and fees.



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#IReadsYou Review: TWIN STAR EXORCISTS Volume 14

TWIN STAR EXORCISTS, VOL. 14
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Yoshiaki Sukeno
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Bryant Turnage
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
EDITOR: Annette Roman
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0394-4; paperback (January 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
208pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Sōsei no Onmyōji is a shonen manga series written and illustrated by Yoshiaki Sukeno.  The manga has been serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Jump Square (Shueisha, Inc.), since October 2013. VIZ Media is publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a series of graphic novels, entitled Twin Star Exorcists.  VIZ has released the series first under its “Shonen Jump Advanced” imprint, and then, under its “Shonen Jump” imprint twice a year since July 2015.

Twin Star Exorcists focuses on Rokuro Enmado.  He did not want to be an exorcist, but he met a mysterious girl named Benio Adashino.  This 14-year-old was serious about being an exorcist, and she wanted to fight the monstrous creatures called Kegare.  Because their destinies are intertwined, Rokuro and Benio are called the “Twin Star Exorcists.”  They are fated to marry... and to conceive the “Prophesied Child.”

As Twin Star Exorcists, Vol. 14 (Chapters 49 to 52) opens, “the Hadare Castle Imperial Tournament” continues.  The match between Shimon Ikuraga, “the Twelve Guardian Vermillion Bird,” and Unomiya Family head, Tenma Unomiya, takes a sudden, shocking, and ugly turn, so the tournament ends.  Later, Rokuro's performance in the tournament impresses many, and more people, including entire families, request to join his recently formed “Enmado Family.”

Meanwhile, Benio continues her quest to regain her spiritual power, and it seems the only one who can help her make real headway is Kamui... the kegare that killed her parents!  Kamui will lead Benio to Chinu, reputed to be the oldest and most powerful kegare, the one who can tell Benio how to restore her spiritual powers.  However, collaborating with kegare could not only get her expelled as an exorcist, but it could also get her executed as a traitor.  Plus, Chinu, of course, has so many shocking and unbelievable things to tell the young exorcist.

[This volume includes bonus comics, text, and concept art (on exorcist “hunting gear”).]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Twin Star Exorcists manga is usually in a constant state of flux, as creator Yoshiaki Sukeno introduces new characters and new subplots at a steady rate.  Then, there are times when the constant state of change is one big change.

Twin Star Exorcists Graphic Novel Volume 14, if what we learn within these chapters is true, will be one of the series' game-changing entries.  Yoshiaki Sukeno never lets readers feel comfortable with this series.  True, it is a battle manga, but it is also a dark fantasy story replete with elements of gruesome horror and gory monster fiction, and Vol. 14 gives us an origin of that gruesome and gore.  Sukeno also offers a pivotal moment in Benio Adashino's development.  What does she really want?, this volume seems to ask.

Once again, Tetsuichiro Miyaki (translation) and Bryant Turnage (English adaptation) deliver a strong English adaptation with an ending that will force readers to come back for more.  And Stephen Dutro's lettering is perfect for this volume of utter surprises.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of action-fantasy, shonen manga will want to try the “Shonen Jump” manga, Twin Star Exorcists.

A
9.5 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 reprint and  syndication rights and fees.


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#IReadsYou Review: DRAGON BALL SUPER Volume 4

DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 4
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Akira Toriyama
ART: Toyotarou
TRANSLATION: Toshikazu Aizawa
LETTERS: Paolo Gattone and Chiara Antonelli
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0144-5; paperback (January 2019); 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 a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and to the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series.  Dragon Ball Super is written by Toriyama and drawn by Toyotarou, a writer-artist who has already produced Dragon Ball spin-off manga.  This new series 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. 4 (Chapters 21 to 24; entitled “Last Chance for Hope”) opens, Goku and Vegeta return from the world of “Future Trunks.”  It was there that they got their butts handed to them by “Goku Black,” a mysterious warrior who looks exactly like Goku.

It turns out the Goku Black is really Zamas, the Lord of Lords from Universe 10, teamed-up with another Zamas.  Now, Goku trains with Master Roshi to perfect the technique, “Matū-ba,” which he can use to seal Goku Black.  When Goku and Vegeta return to the Future Trunks future parallel universe – with more allies – they find the two Zamas have come up with a way to make themselves seemingly unbeatable.

[This manga includes a bonus story.]

THE LOWDOWN:  While I am an occasional reader of Dragon Ball manga, I do enjoy the series.  The Dragon Ball Super manga is a nice fresh start for new readers.

Dragon Ball Super Graphic Novel Volume 4 follows Vols. 2 and 3, which moved the series beyond its original premise – the fight between Universes 6 and 7.  It is true that the new direction can be a little confusing because the reader has to keep up with characters from multiple universes and timelines and also with a few duplicate characters from other timelines and universes.

Still, Vol. 4 is an example of a quintessential battle manga, and I have to admit that it is a fun read, and Toshikazu Aizawa's translation is quite useful  Letterers Paolo Gattone and Chiara Antonelli continue to pack the chapters in each volume with explosive sound effects that go just right with the kinetic battles.  And thanks to that cliffhanger, I want to come back for more.

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

A-
7.5 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 reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: SAMURAI 8: The Tale of Hachimaru Volume 1

SAMURAI 8: THE TALE OF HACHIMARU, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CREATOR/STORY: Masashi Kishimoto
ART: Akira Okubo
TRANSLATION: Stephen Paul
LETTERS: Snir Aharon
EDITOR: Alexis Kirsch
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1502-2; paperback (March 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru is a shonen manga series created and written by Masashi Kishimoto (of Naruto fame) and illustrated by Akira Okubo.  Samurai 8 has been serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, since May 2019.  VIZ Media is publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a graphic novel series, released under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru, Vol. 1 (entitled “The First Key” – Chapters 1 to 6) introduces Hachimaru.  He has always dreamed of becoming a samurai.  Samurai carry special souls within themselves and can travel through space as easily as they walk the earth.  Only the most powerful warriors are able to transcend their human bodies and become something even greater – samurai!

Hachimaru, however, is as weak as they come, and he is so sickly that he can’t even eat solid foods.  Being too weak to leave his house has turned Hachimaru into an expert at video games, so at least he gets to play samurai video games, at which he is very good.  But one day, his father's secrets and the arrival of a samurai cat named “Daruma” combine to give Hachimaru a chance to live his dream.  With enough heart, could Hachimaru become a true samurai?

The Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru manga is creator Masashi Kishimoto's follow-up to his legendary, smash hit manga, Naruto.  [The Naruto sequel, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, is written and drawn by a new writer-artist team.]  Kishimoto created Samurai 8 and writes the story and produces the storyboards.  Newcomer artist Akira Okubo draws Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru.

Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru Graphic Novel Volume 1 is quite a read.  Kishimoto packs the six chapters that comprise Vol. 1 with internal mythology, although the cast, as yet, is not large.  The lead character, Hachimaru, seems like a blank slate.  What he does share with Naruto is a sense of determination, but Naruto was a more fully formed character in his first volume than Hachimaru is in his first volume.  However, Hachimaru's innocence is endearing, and that is the thing that draws me (at least) to him.

I don't know how much of Akira Okubo's work in these first six chapters is drawn with the aid of assistants, but Okubo's graphical style is gorgeous.  Okubo draws like the late Moebius, but the younger artist's compositions are not as streamlined as Moebius'.  In this first volume, the illustrations are so cluttered that they sometimes fill the graphical storytelling with the kind of static that comes between the artist/storyteller and his audience.

I don't want to make it sound like I have reservations about Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru.  I am excited about this series, and like Naruto and Boruto, I am eager for more.

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 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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#IReadsYou Review: JUJUTSU KAISEN: Volume 1

JUJUTSU KAISEN, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Gege Akutami
TRANSLATION: Stefan Koza
LETTERS: Snir Aharon
EDITOR: John Bae
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1002-7; paperback (December 2019); Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Jujutsu Kaisen is the debut ongoing manga series from Gege Akutami.  It has been serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, since March 2018.  VIZ Media is publishing the series in English as a series of graphic novels under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 1 (“Ryomen Sukuna”; Chapter 1 to 7) introduces Yuji Itadori, a first year student at Sugisawa Municipal High School in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.  Especially fast and strong, Yuji should be an athlete, perhaps a member of  the school's track-and-field team.  However, Yuji chooses to be a member of the Occult Research Club.

He and the other two members, Sasaki and Iguchi, have gotten their hands on a “sealed cursed object.”  They don't know it, but their lives are in danger.  And Yuji is about to be introduced into the world of “Jujutsu Sorcerers” and a conspiracy involving a legendary and feared demon, “Ryomen Sukura.”

[This volume includes bonus manga.]

The Jujutsu Kaisen manga is perfect for me.  Demons, man-eating demons, demon fighters, curses, cursed objects, and secret societies of warriors:  it is all right up my reading alley.  Plus, I recently had to say goodbye to the excellent but short (five-volume) series, Black Torch, from creator Tsuyoshi Takaki.  So I need a new source of hot demon action.

Jujutsu Kaisen Graphic Novel Volume 1 rushes the reader into it world of Jujutsu Sorcerers and “special-grade cursed objects.”  Vol. 1 seems to offer two volumes worth of characters, plots, settings, and internal mythology, and creator Gege Akutami makes it all of it so exciting.  Jujutsu Kaisen is like a combination battle manga and horror comic book.  The comic book offers gruesome monsters and plucky monster-fighters, featuring a goofy, but charming young hero.

Stefan Koza captures the battles and the horror and transforms them into a seamless whole with his English translation.  Letterer Snir Aharon highlights the series' surprising sense of humor without denying the edgy action and drama.  I have to recommend Jujutsu Kaisen; I think the series has only scratched the surface of what it can offer, so it should be a fun reading journey.

8.5 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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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.

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

Review: BLACK TORCH Volume 5

BLACK TORCH, VOL. 5
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Tsuyoshi Takaki
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
LETTERS: Annaliese Christman
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0744-7; paperback (August 2019); Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”
208pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Black Torch is the first manga series from creator Tsuyoshi Takaki, previously known for his one-shot, Freaks.  Originally published in the Japanese manga magazines, Jump SQ, Black Torch follows the adventures of a young ninja caught in the middle of a war between ninjas and demons.  VIZ Media has published the manga in English as the five-volume graphic novel series, entitled Black Torch.

Black Torch follows Jiro Azuma, a young man descended from a long line of ninja.  He can also talk to animals, and his rough and tumble appearance belies his compassionate nature.  He meets Rago, a mysterious, unique, and suspicious, stray black cat.  Jiro's compassion for animals will get him into trouble, when his encounter with Rago rudely introduces him to the world of the mononoke and changes his life forever.

As Black Torch, Vol. 5 (Chapter 16 to 19) opens, the great mononoke, Amagi, meets with his allies.  As his history is revealed, so are his true plans.  He wants Rago's powers, which now reside inside Jiro, and he will do anything to get them.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Espionage, the government organization that combats mononoke, prepare to fend of Amagi's next assault.  Jiro returns from the spirit world, specifically Avidya Forest, where he trained to fully awaken Rago's power within him and also to use them.  Has Jiro mastered those powers enough to battle Amagi?

[This volume includes a bonus art, a character glossary, and an afterword by the author.]

As I've written before, I knew that I would enjoy the Black Torch manga.  I am a fan of ninja movies and comics, and, in recent years, manga.  I am also a fan of the various types of creatures of Japanese myth and folklore, like the “mononoke” (a group of different spirits said to possesses humans in order to make them do bad things).

Black Torch Graphic Novel Volume 5, however, is the final volume of this series.  Creator Tsuyoshi Takaki suggests that these characters will return, and I hope so.  This final volume ties up the stories and plot lines, but Black Torch seems as if it is ending much too soon.  Well, Takaki gives us an exciting final battle, but Amagi is the kind of great villain that deserves better than his type normally gets in final chapters.  Amagi makes Vol. 5 a memorable graphic novel in a fun graphic novel series.

A
8 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.

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

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.

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

Review: JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: Part 4 - Diamond is Unbreakable Volume 1

JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: PART 4 – DIAMOND IS UNBREAKABLE, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Hirohiko Araki
TRANSLATION: Nathan A. Collins
LETTERS: Mark McMurray
EDITOR: David Brothers
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0652-5; hardcover (May 2019); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
378pp, B&W with some color, $19.99 U.S., $26.99 CAN, £12.99 U.K.

VIZ Media has been publishing the legendary Shonen Jump manga, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, in English since 2015.  VIZ's edition, the first in English, is comprised of deluxe edition, hardcover, graphic novels with color pages and new cover art and is released under the “Shonen Jump” imprint.  Created by Hirohiko Araki, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a multi-generational tale that centers on the heroic Joestar family and their never-ending battle against evil.

Thus far, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has been published in four arcs/series:  “Phantom Blood” (Part 1), “Battle Tendency” (Part 2), and “Stardust Crusaders” (Part 3).  The new arc, “Diamond is Unbreakable” (Part 4) is set in 1999.  It continues the focus on members and descendants of the Joestar family and their battle against the “Stand users,” and the power known as “Stand,” which is an entity that is psychically generated by its creator.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 4 – Diamond is Unbreakable, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 18) opens in the small Japanese city of Morioh, where there are a surprisingly large number of killings and disappearances.  In April 1999, 28-year-old Jotaro Kujo arrives in town, searching for a young man named Josuke Higashikata, who is the secret love child of his grandfather, Joseph Joestar.

Jotaro meets 16-year-old Josuke and his schoolmate, 15-year-old Koichi Hirose.  During a confrontation, Jotaro is shocked to discover that Josuke possesses a Stand.  Now, the sons of the Joestar family must team-up to investigate the town's proliferation of unusual Stands, including a serial killer and a pair of brothers.

[This volume includes “Author's Comments.”]

It has been a year since I last read a volume of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga.  VIZ Media recently sent me a review copy of the first graphic novel in the “Diamond is Unbreakable” series.  Now, I am reminded of how much I like this manga that is a mixture of period action-adventure, horror, and occult-history.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 4 – Diamond is Unbreakable Graphic Novel Volume 1 mixes horror and action, frequent elements in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series.  So far, however, there is none of the period drama and occult-history that also marks this series.  Diamond is Unbreakable offers a lot of battle manga via the Stands, but creator Hirohiko Araki also delves into the characters.  He makes you care what happens to them, even to some of the bad guys.

I think the draw of Diamond is Unbreakable may be the weirdo Stands, but I think that this arc may prove to offer some unique character drama and some delightfully oddball characters.  Vol. 1 makes sure the new series is off to a good start.

A
9 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 and syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: WE NEVER LEARN Volume 1

WE NEVER LEARN, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Taishi Tsutsui
TRANSLATION: Camellia Nieh
LETTERS: Erika Terriquez
EDITORS: John Bae; David Brothers
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0302-9; paperback (December 2018); Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

We Never Learn is a manga from creator Taishi Tsutsui.  The series focuses on a group of high school students struggling to overcome their worst subjects on top of managing crushes and burgeoning romance.  VIZ Media is publishing an English language edition of the manga in a series of graphic novels.  The series will be published bimonthly under VIZ's “Shonen Jump” imprint.

We Never Learn, Vol. 1 (Genius and [ x ] Are Two Sides of the Same Coin; Chapter 1 to 7) introduces Nariyuki Yuiga, a high school senior from an impoverished family.  He is eager to secure a full scholarship, known as “the Special VIP Recommendation,” to college before he graduates high school. His principal agrees to give it to him, but there is one stipulation.

Nariyuki must tutor the two smartest girls in school, Rizu Ogata and Fumino Furuhashi, and make sure they get into their target colleges.  However, each girl wants to focus on a subject area in which she is not at all good!

The We Never Learn manga is a high school romantic comedy.  Because most of the lead characters are female, one might assume that this is a shojo manga – comics for teen girls, but it can appeal to both male and female readers – teen and older.

We Never Learn Graphic Novel Volume 1 will remind readers of such shonen romantic comedies as the recent Nisekoi: False Love and the classic Strawberry 100%.  Like such manga, We Never Learn has at its center, a male character, who gets caught in a relationship circle that includes two girls, at least in the beginning.  We Never Learn has, to start, an attractive love triangle.

We Never Learn, like Nisekoi, has three nice characters to start the love triangle.  Both girls are really smart, and are also pretty (of course).  At first, Taishi Tsutsui focuses on the two girls' area of expertise, but with each chapter, we start to see more of their personalities.  There is some fanservice in the form of a bikini shots and boob grabbing, but this series will thrive the more we like these characters.  Well, this is a good start, and I think we will be looking forward to each new volume of We Never Learn.

8.5 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 syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: DRAGON BALL: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha

DRAGON BALL: THAT TIME I GOT REINCARNATED AS YAMCHA
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: dragongarow LEE
TRANSLATION: Stefan Koza
LETTERS: Annaliese Christman
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0371-5; paperback (November 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
144pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Based on Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama

Dragon Ball was a long-running Japanese manga 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.

Since its ending, there have been spin-offs and crossovers of the Dragon Ball manga.  Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha was originally published in the digital manga magazine, Shonen Jump+, beginning in 2016.  VIZ Media is releasing an English language edition as a stand-alone graphic novel.

Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha (Chapters 1 to 3) introduces an unnamed young man who is a fan of all things Dragon Ball.  He and a friend are heading for a Dragon Ball event when he is seemingly killed in an accident.  The high school student wakes up in the body of Yamcha, an ally of Dragon Ball hero, Son Goku, and Dragon Ball heroine, Bulma.

As a fan who is familiar with the Dragon Ball's continuity, the fanboy knows that Yamcha was eventually killed.  So the reincarnated Yamcha sets about making himself strong enough to survive, but will the Dragon Ball characters eventually catch on to the fact that there is something odd about Yamcha?

[This manga includes bonus content, “Extra Story” and “The Reincarnated One's Secret Plan!”]

I am only an occasional reader of the Dragon Ball manga, mainly because of copies-for-review that I get from my VIZ Media rep.  I have found some of these titles to be quite entertaining and worth the read.

Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha is one of those good reads.  There is something oddly alluring about this single-volume manga.  I read most of it in one sitting, and I can't quite say why I found it amusing, even fun to read.  The truth is that I would like to see more of this story line, and I think Dragon Ball manga fans will agree.  Readers looking for more Dragon Ball manga will want to try the Shonen Jump title, Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha.

B+
7 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: JUNI TAISEN: Zodiac War Volume 1

JUNI TAISEN: ZODIAC WAR, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Akira Akatsuki
ORIGINAL STORY: Nisiosin (novel)
CHARACTER DESIGNS: Hikaru Nakamura
TRANSLATION: Nathan A. Collins
LETTERS: Mark McMurray
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0250-3; paperback (October 2018); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
188pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Juni Taisen is a Japanese illustrated light novel written by Nisio Isin (or NisiOisiN) and illustrated by Hikaru Nakamura.  Published in 2015 by Shueisha, Juni Taisen (which translates to “12 Wars”) depicts a war fought by twelve deadly mercenaries, each one with a name and power that corresponds to an animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Akira Akatsuki, who has collaborated on manga with Nisioisin, produced a manga adaptation of Juni Taisen in 2017.  VIZ Media is publishing that manga as a four-volume graphic novel series, entitled Juni Taisen: Zodiac War.  It will be released on a quarterly schedule in both print and digital (including for the VIZ Manga App).

Juni Taisen: Zodiac War, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 4) opens in a city of half a million people, a city gone dark for a coming epic tournament.  Every 12 years, 12 fighters take the form of the Chinese zodiac animals and engage in a battle royale.  Using their strength and mysterious super-powers, these mercenaries fight to the death, and the sole survivor is granted the ultimate prize – any wish he or she wants.  This is the twelfth Zodiac War, and one of the combatants has been killed by a competitor before the tournament even begins!

[This volume includes a sketchbook section.]

VIZ Media sent me a review copy of the Juni Taisen: Zodiac War manga.  Prior to this manga, I was not familiar with any of the creators.  I am familiar with the term, “light novel,” a kind of Japanese version of the young adult novel, and I have read a few.  My experience with manga adapted from light novels has been good, an example being Library Wars, a VIZ Media published manga adapted from a light novel.

Juni Taisen: Zodiac War Graphic Novel Volume 1 features some absolutely gorgeous art.  It is heavily layered and textured with rich toning and lushly detailed inking.  The story seems a little weird at first, but that are so many shocking turns of events that the narrative is hard to ignore.  After the first shocker, I could not stop reading this first volume of Juni Taisen: Zodiac War.  I think readers who enjoy “battle royale” manga and also fight comics will want Juni Taisen: Zodiac War.  I cannot say that this will be an exceptional character drama, but the death and bloody mayhem look to make Juni Taisen a quite invigorating read.

7.5 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.

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

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.

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

Review: BLEACH Volume 74

BLEACH, VOL. 74
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Tite Kubo
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamazaki
LETTERS: Mark McMurray
EDITOR: Alexis Kirsch
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9602-0; paperback (October 2018); Rated “T” for “Teen”
208pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Bleach is a shonen manga (comics for teen boys) series written and illustrated by Tite Kubo.  Bleach was serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shōnen Jump, from August 2001 to August 2016 over 686 chapters.  The series became a media franchise, spawning a long running anime television series, four feature films, OVA (original video anime) episodes, video games, stage musicals, light novels, and merchandise.

In Japan, the 686 chapters of the Bleach manga were collected in 74 tankobon (book) volumes.  VIZ Media has been publishing the Bleach manga in English in a series of graphic novels since 2004.  The first week of of October 2018, VIZ will publish the 74th and final graphic novel volume of their publication of Bleach.

Bleach focuses on Ichigo “Strawberry” Kurosaki.  He is born with the gift that is the ability to see ghosts, a gift he does not want.  However, this ability introduces Ichigo to the world of the Soul Society.  After his family is attacked by a Hollow, a malevolent lost soul, Ichigo became a Soul Reaper.  He dedicates himself to protecting the innocent from tortured spirits and to helping those spirits find peace.

Bleach, Vol. 74 (entitled The Death and the Strawberry – Chapters 675 to 686) is the conclusion of the final story arc.  Yhwach, the leader of the Quincies, is the most powerful adversary in the series.  Also known as “The Almighty,” Yhwach wants to unite the Soul Society and the living world into one entity, which apparently will cause the end of death.  Now, it is up to Ichigo to engage and to defeat Yhwach in a final battle, but he will need the help of some surprising allies, which includes the unexpected return of a number of infamous figures.

The Bleach manga is a visually striking graphic narrative.  Although it can seem repetitive, both visually and graphically, at times, Bleach was and is a fantastic and invigorating read.

I don't know what to make of Bleach Graphic Novel Volume 74.  The graphical storytelling is not as explosive and as kinetic as it was during peak periods of the series.  The storytelling is almost impressionistic, whereas creator Tite Kubo, in the past, drew as if he were trying to capture lightning in a bottle.

The last two chapters of this volume are about cleaning up and about the next generations, and in some ways, Kubo is sweeping up the last swaths of energy.  A few classic characters even make a cameo to do their last things and to say their goodbyes.  Kubo gives us a happy ending, but the truth is that Bleach was at its best when it was in battle royale mode.  And that will always be its best.  We had to say goodbye sometime, but we can go back and revisit the good, the bad and the peak strawberry of Bleach.

A
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.

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

Review: BLACK TORCH Volume 1

BLACK TORCH, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Tsuyoshi Takaki
TRANSLATION: Toshikazu Aizawa and Colin Leigh
LETTERS: Annaliese Christman
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0046-2; paperback (August 2018); Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Black Torch is the first long-form manga from creator Tsuyoshi Takaki, previously known for his one-shot, Freaks.  Originally published in the Japanese manga magazines, Jump SQ, Black Torch follows the adventures of a young ninja caught in the middle of a war between ninjas and demons.  VIZ Media is publishing the manga in English as the graphic novel series, Black Torch.

Black Torch, Vol. 1 (Chapter 1 to 3) introduces Jiro Azuma, who is descended from a long line of ninja.  He can also talk to animals, and his rough and tumble appearance belies his compassionate nature.  He meets Rago, a mysterious, unique, and suspicious, stray black cat.  Jiro's compassion for animals will get him into trouble, when his encounter with Rago rudely introduces him to the world of the mononoke and changes his life forever.

The Black Torch manga is the kind of manga seemingly made for me.  It features both ninja and also supernatural creatures from Japanese myth, folklore, and fairy tales.

Black Torch Graphic Novel Volume 1 offers a lot of surprises, and although the text on the back cover spills some of it, I am determined to spoil as little as possible.  I loved reading this first volume, but it is far from perfect.  The narrative drags a little in the middle; in fact, I can accurately use the euphemism, “treading water,” to describe some portions of these first three chapters.

However, there are so many fantastic twists and turns, and when Tsuyoshi Takaki introduces a new character or concept, it serves to make the story richer and more attractive.  The battles are nice, and some of the creatures are chilling to behold, even straight scary.  I highly recommend Black Torch to fans of supernatural ninja fiction.

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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