Kimi Ni Todoke: Happy Moment

I read Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 18

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

Review: TIGER AND BUNNY Comic Anthology 2-in-1, Volume 2

TIGER & BUNNY COMIC ANTHOLOGY 2-IN-1, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONISTS: Various
PLANNING/STORY: Sunrise
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Labaamen and John Werry, HC Language Solutions
LETTERS: Evan Waldinger
COVER:  Chinatsu Kurahana with Masami Suzuki
EDITOR: Asuka Henshubu
ISBN: 978-1-4215-5560-7; paperback (December 2013); Rated “T” for “Teen”
372pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 U.K.

Some of Japan’s top amateur manga creators enter the world of Tiger & Bunny in Tiger & Bunny Comic Anthology.  A science fiction and superhero anime series, Tiger & Bunny ran for 25 episodes in 2011.  The series was also adapted into manga, produced by manga and comic book artist Mizuki Sakakibara.  Tiger & Bunny takes place in a world where 45 years earlier, super-powered humans, known as NEXT, started appearing in the world.

The setting is Sternbild City (a re-imagined version of New York City).  There, superheroes promote their corporate sponsors while appearing on the hit television show, Hero TV (or HERO TV).  Each season, the superheroes compete to be named the “King of Heroes.” Tiger & Bunny focuses on two superheroes, Wild Tiger and Barnaby Brooks, Jr.  Kotetsu T. Kaburagi (Wild Tiger) is a veteran superhero whose his ratings keep declining.  His new employer, Apollon Media, forces him to team-up with the newest NEXT sensation, Barnaby Brooks, Jr., the “Super Rookie,” whom Tiger calls “Bunny.”

The latest Tiger & Bunny manga for English readers is the two-volume Tiger & Bunny Comic Anthology.  Back in 2011 and 2012, Kadokawa Shoten Co. Ltd. published the four-volume series, Tiger & Bunny Official Comic Anthology.  VIZ Media published the four Japanese volumes in its 2-in-1 edition format, which collects two graphic novels in one double-sized graphic novel.  VIZ Media gave me a copy of Tiger & Bunny Comic Anthology, Vol. 2 for review.

Inspired by the Tiger & Bunny anime, Tiger & Bunny Official Comic Anthology is a collection of humorous manga shorts created by an all-star manga artist line-up and by Japan’s top doujinshi, self-published, and amateur manga artists.  The stories extend the world of Tiger & Bunny with new adventures, featuring Wild Tiger, Barnaby Brooks Jr. and other memorable characters from the anime.  Some of the stories reveal a whole new “off-duty” side of the characters, in particularly depicting stories set in the rural hometown where Wild Tiger grew up.

First, I have to admit to being a new, but huge fan of Tiger & Bunny, although I have yet to see the original anime series.  I have enjoyed the manga that I have thus far read, and I was happy to hear about the publication of Tiger & Bunny Comic Anthology when it was announced a few months ago.  Tiger & Bunny Comic Anthology Volume 2 reprints Tiger & Bunny Official Comic Anthology #3: Hitch Your Wagon to a Star and Tiger & Bunny Official Comic Anthology #4: The Age of Miracles is Past…!?

The stories featured in this volume are mostly humorous and nearly all are built on a various comic situations and scenarios.  In “Hero Freak” (by Ryoji Hido), Tiger and Barnaby try to come up with a dramatic entry they can use whenever they spring into action.  In “My Story” (by Sana Kirioka), Fire Emblem and Dragon Kid help Blue Rose do her homework, which is to write a short story, with hilarious results, of course.  There is actually a story built around Wild Tiger’s popular recipe for friend rice (“Fried Rice!!!!” by Majiko!).  Origami, whose power is similar to Mystique of the X-Men, pretends to be Tiger for a parent-teacher conference at his daughter’s school in “Mimic Panic! (by Ryo Nakajo).  Blue Rose dreams of teachers in “If Heroes Were Teachers” (by Waka Sagami).

For the most part, the mangaka and cartoonists capture the humor of Tiger & Bunny, offering new spins on the characters, while mostly staying true to what they are.  Many of the stories emphasize Blue Rose’s unrequited love for Wild Tiger in humorous, even occasionally poignant ways.  The glimpses into Wild Tiger’s personal life make this volume worth having for Tiger & Bunny fans.

In fact, these amateur and self-published artists show themselves quite well with their work here.  They prove that Tiger & Bunny is a concept that is strong enough to be interpreted by many different kinds of manga and comics creators.


A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Review: TIGER AND BUNNY: The Beginning Side B

TIGER & BUNNY: THE BEGINNING SIDE B
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Tsutomu Oono
PLANNING/STORY: Sunrise
ORIGINAL SCRIPT: Masafumi Nishida
ORIGINAL CHARACTER DESIGN: Masakazu Katsura
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Labaamen and John Werry, HC Language Solutions
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6076-2; paperback (October 2013); Rated “T” for “Teen”
160pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Gekijō-ban Tiger & Bunny – The Beginning (or simply Tiger & Bunny – The Beginning) is a 2012 anime film based on Tiger & Bunny, the science fiction and superhero anime television series.  Produced by Japanese animation studio, Sunrise (Accel World, Cowboy Bebob), Tiger & Bunny ran for 25 episodes in 2011.

Artist Tsutomu Oono produced a manga adaptation of Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning.  VIZ Media is publishing that manga in two volumes as Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning Side A and Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning Side B.

Tiger & Bunny takes place in a world where 45 years earlier, super-powered humans, known as NEXT, started appearing.  Some of them fight crime as superheroes in Stern Bild City (a re-imagined version of New York City).  They promote their corporate sponsors while appearing on the hit television show, HERO TV.  Each season, the superheroes compete to be named the “King of Heroes.”  The series focuses on the mismatched duo of Barnaby Brooks, Jr., a new superhero, and Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, the veteran superhero, Wild Tiger.

As Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning Side B opens, Kotetsu’s employer, Apollon Media, gives him new instructions.  In light of the recent near disaster (as depicted in Side A), Kotetsu is expected to act as Barnaby’s foil, as well as to offer him encouragement.  Kotetsu tricks his fellow superheroes into throwing a welcoming party for Bunny, his pet name for Barnaby.  The party ends, however, when the speedy Robin Baxter gets his hands on the Statue of Justice.

The Tiger & Bunny manga is quite similar to American superhero comic books – closer than most manga I have ever read.  It resembles DC Comics’ 1980s Justice League comic book series, which was put a humorous bent on the venerable Justice League franchise.

Virtually the entirety of Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning Side B is one long, extended chase/action sequence with comedy, lite death-defying moments, and some cleverness on the part of both heroes and villain.  I enjoyed reading it; in fact, by the time I got to the end, I really wanted more.  Maybe, it is a superhero thing with me, but I like this.  I am curious to know if other superhero fans will like it.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Review: TIGER AND BUNNY: The Beginning Side A

TIGER & BUNNY: THE BEGINNING SIDE A
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Tsutomu Oono
PLANNING/STORY: Sunrise
ORIGINAL SCRIPT: Masafumi Nishida
ORIGINAL CHARACTER DESIGN: Masakazu Katsura
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Labaamen and John Werry, HC Language Solutions
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6075-5; paperback (October 2013); Rated “T” for “Teen”
160pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Gekijō-ban Tiger & Bunny – The Beginning is a 2012 film based on Tiger & Bunny, the science fiction and superhero anime television series.  Produced by Japanese animation studio, Sunrise, Tiger & Bunny ran for 25 episodes in 2011.

A year after the end of the TV series, Sunrise released the film, Gekijō-ban Tiger & Bunny – The Beginning, or simply Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning.  Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning apparently recaps the first few episodes of the series and then begins a new story.  Artist Tsutomu Oono produced a manga adaptation of Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning, which VIZ Media is publishing in two volumes as Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning Side A and Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning Side B.

Tiger & Bunny takes place in a world where 45 years earlier, super-powered humans, known as NEXT, started appearing.  Some of them fight crime as superheroes in Stern Bild City (a re-imagined version of New York City).  They promote their corporate sponsors while appearing on the hit television show, HERO TV.  Each season, the superheroes compete to be named the “King of Heroes.”

Early in Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning Side A, the Justice Bureau approves Barnaby Brooks, Jr. as a new superhero.  Meanwhile, Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, who is the veteran superhero, Wild Tiger, begins his day.  Kotetsu makes a promise to his daughter, Kaede, but will he be able to keep it when a menace attacks the city.

That attack will change Kotetsu’s life, because it leads him to a new employer.  The new employer, Apollon Media, is about to introduce Kotetsu to Barnaby Brooks, Jr. whether he wants to meet him or not.

I am a fan of the Tiger & Bunny manga, and I became one after reading only one volume.  I have yet to see the movie, Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning.  Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning Side A is simply a retelling of the original series with a new angle or two.  I also find it easier to read than the Tiger & Bunny manga, which is also an easy read.

Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning Side A is to the Tiger & Bunny manga what the comic books, X-Men: First Class and Wolverine: First Class, were to the main X-Men and Wolverine comic book series:  less complicated retellings of familiar stories.  Like the “First Class” line, Side A eschews many subplots in favor of one storyline at a time, for the most part.  Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning Side A is not inferior to the original; it is a simpler way to enjoy the excellent concept that Tiger & Bunny is.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Tiger and Bunny: Fire Is a Good Servant but a Bad Master

I read Tiger & Bunny, Vol. 3

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics - which you can buy).

Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal: The Second Assassin!!

I read Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, Vol. 3

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Synchro vs. Synchro!!

I read Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, Vol. 4 (Yu-Gi-Oh! (Graphic Novels))

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

Review: TIGER AND BUNNY Volume 1

TIGER & BUNNY, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Mizuki Sakakibara
PLANNING/STORY: Sunrise
ORIGINAL SCRIPT: Masafumi Nishida
ORIGINAL CHARACTER DESIGN: Masakazu Katsura
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Labaamen and John Werry, HC Language Solutions
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
ISBN: 978-1-4215-5561-4; paperback (April 2013); Rated “T” for “Teen”
172pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Produced by Sunrise, the Japanese animation studio and production company, Tiger & Bunny is a 2011 science fiction and superhero anime series. It ran for 25 episodes in 2011 and yielded a one-shot manga during its original television run in Japan. Shortly afterwards, manga and comic book artist Mizuki Sakakibara began producing a regular manga series based on anime, also entitled Tiger & Bunny.

Tiger & Bunny takes place in a world where 45 years earlier, super-powered humans, known as NEXT, started appearing in the world. Some of them fight crime as superheroes in Sternbild City (a re-imagined version of New York City). They promote their corporate sponsors while appearing on the hit television show, Hero TV (or HERO TV). Each season, the superheroes compete to be named the “King of Heroes.”

Tiger & Bunny, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 4) introduces two of these superheroes, Wild Tiger and Barnaby Brooks, Jr. Kotetsu T. Kaburagi AKA Wild Tiger is a veteran superhero, but his ratings have been declining. Under orders from his new employer, Apollon Media, Wild Tiger teams up with the newest NEXT sensation, Barnaby Brooks, Jr., the “Super Rookie.” The two heroes don’t want to work together, but they will have to do just that if they are to stop a new NEXT from destroying the city.

I’ll be upfront about Tiger & Bunny. I really enjoyed reading this manga, even after one volume. I’ll be shocked (Shocked!) if I don’t really like the second volume. Why do I feel the love for Tiger & Bunny? I think it appeals to me so much because it is a manga that is a genuine superhero comic book.

I also think that Tiger & Bunny is the kind of quality, honestly kid-friendly, superhero comic book of which the North American market needs more. This manga is more about superhero action than it is about action violence. It is snarky and humorous, but does not parody or make fun of superheroes or the superhero genre. The story also digs deep into what it means to be a hero, to overcome adversity and scorn, to make amends for transgressions and such. Over the course of the series, it seems as if the dominant theme will be about comprise and partnership. Tiger & Bunny looks like it is going to offer a good time for a long time.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Review: YU-GI-OH! ZEXAL Volume 2

YU-GI-OH! ZEXAL, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CREATOR: Kazuki Takahashi
WRITER: Shin Yoshida
CARTOONIST: Naohito Miyoshi
TRANSLATION & ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Taylor Engel & Ian Reid, HC Language Solutions
LETTERS: John Hunt
ISBN: 978-1-4215-4980-4; paperback; Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

In the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal follows Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s. The manga made its debut in the Japanese manga magazine, V Jump (February 2011). Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal the anime debuted in April 2011 in Japan and in North American half-a-year later.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal is set in futuristic Heartland City. The series focuses on Yuma Tsukumo, a hot-bloodied young fellow who wants to become Duel Champion. He is accompanied by Astral, a mysterious spirit that only Yuma can see. Together they search for Numbers, special cards that hold Astral’s memories and are also highly sought after.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, Vol. 2 (The Numbers Hunter!!) welcomes the Numbers Hunters, duelists looking for the 100 Numbers cards. Welcome Kaita! In order to return his brother, Haruto, to normal, Kaita must find all 100 cards in order to appease Dr. Faker. Faker uses Haruto’s powers to assault Astral World, in addition to his other plots and machinations with partner, Mr. Heartland.

Meanwhile, Yuma’s pals: Kotori Mizuki, Tetsuo Takeda, Cathy, Takashi Todoraki, and Tokunosuke Hyori, form the Numbers Club to help Yuma find Numbers. Their first mission takes them to the amusement park, Heartland, where Yuma has a date with the duelist, Captain Corn.

[This volume includes a Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card.]

Of the few Yu-Gi-Oh! manga that I’ve read, this is most kid-oriented. The Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal manga is about a kid with questionable talents who struggles to learn to get better. The manga is like that – a youngster struggling to get better. It has the elements of being a high-quality manga, but right now, it has a lot of characters and too many dangling plotlines. Perhaps things will come together over the course of the series, but right now, young Yu-Gi-Oh! readers will like it.

B-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari - A Boy's Life

I read Neon Genesis Evangelion, Vol. 13

I posted a review at ComicBookBin.

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: The Duel Dragons

I read Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, Vol. 3 (Yu-Gi-Oh! (Graphic Novels))

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

One Piece: 100,000 vs. 10

I read One Piece, Vol. 64

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

One Piece: Otohime and Tiger

I read One Piece, Vol. 63

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

One Piece: Adventure on Fish-Man Island

I read One Piece, Vol. 62

I posted a review at ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

One Piece: Romance Dawn for the New World

I read One Piece, Vol. 61

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps and comics).

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: The D1 Grand Prix Begins!!

I read Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, Vol. 2 (Yu-Gi-Oh! (Graphic Novels))


I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has free comics).

Hyde & Closer: Window

I read Hyde & Closer, Vol. 7


I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps and comics).

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: Masked Hero vs. Vision Hero

I read Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Vol. 8


I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has free comics).

Kimi Ni Todoke: Dad Meets the Lad

I read Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 12

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps and comics).

One Piece: The Death of Portgaz D. Ace

I read One Piece, Vol. 59

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps and comics).