#IReadsYou Review: Blue Exorcist Volume 23

BLUE EXORCIST, VOL. 23
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Kazue Kato
TRANSLATION & ENGLISH ADAPTATION: John Werry
LETTERS: John Hunt, Primary Graphix
EDITOR: Mike Montesa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1172-4; paperback (February 2020); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
202pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Blue Exorcist is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazue Kato.  The manga has been serialized in Shueisha's Jump Square magazine since April 2009.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump Advanced” and “Shonen Jump” imprints since April 2011

Blue Exorcist focuses on Rin Okumura.  He has an argument with his foster father, the famous exorcist, Father Shiro Fujimoto.  That is how he learns that the Demon Lord Satan is his father!  Even after Satan suddenly appears and tries to drag him to hell, Rin is still determined to reject his demonic blood line.  He enrolls at True Cross Academy Private High School in order to train to become an exorcist.  Rin’s twin brother, Yukio Okumura, already an exorcist, is one of his instructors.

As Blue Exorcist, Vol. 23 (Chapters 104 to 108) opens, Lord Mephisto Pheles continues to take Rin on a journey into his and his brother's past.  Mephisto is more than delighted to use his time-traveling powers to show Rin what happened all those years ago.  Rin sees his mother, Yuri Egin, as a girl and watches her grow into a young woman.  He also sees his foster father, Shiro Fujimoto, who has a dark and troubled past.

Yuri has revealed her feelings about Shuri to him, but she is soon reunited with her “friend,” Rinka.  Rinka moves to the secret “Section 13.”  There, the exorcists are involved in the research of elixirs for immortality and in developing clones to house the spirits of demons.  Now, the most powerful demon of all is moving into a clone body.  Mephisto warns Rin, this story can only end in tragedy, and the tragic part may be about to begin.

[This volume contains bonus comics, art, text, etc.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Blue Exorcist manga has been one of the manga that I have read the most in 2020.  This calendar year, I have read six volume volumes.

Blue Exorcist Graphic Novel Volume 23 continues what has been an excellent run of volumes in this series, beginning with Vol. 20.  In Vol. 23, creator Kazue Kato balances a love story of sorts with the depiction of the conniving and abominations committed by the Knights of the True Cross.  For long time readers, it will all pay off in a tragic origin story that is about to reach its climax.

John Werry's usually excellent translation continues to reveal the story in delicate strokes with occasional intimate details.  John Hunt's lettering continues to convey the constant shifts in tone, especially in regards to Shiro Fujimoto's anger and bitterness.  These two contributors are preparing us for big things ahead in this series.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for dark magic and action comics will want to try the “Shonen Jump Advanced” title, Blue Exorcist.

A
9 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: BLUE EXORCIST Volume 22

BLUE EXORCIST, VOL. 22
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Kazue Kato
TRANSLATION & ENGLISH ADAPTATION: John Werry
LETTERS: John Hunt, Primary Graphix
EDITOR: Mike Montesa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0873-4; paperback (September 2019); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
210pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Blue Exorcist is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazue Kato.  The manga has been serialized in Shueisha's Jump Square magazine since April 2009.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump Advanced” and “Shonen Jump” imprints since April 2011

Blue Exorcist focuses on Rin Okumura.  He has an argument with his foster father, the famous exorcist, Father Shiro Fujimoto.  That is how he learns that the Demon Lord Satan is his father!  Even after Satan suddenly appears and tries to drag him to hell, Rin is still determined to reject his demonic blood line.  He enrolls at True Cross Academy Private High School in order to train to become an exorcist.  Rin’s twin brother, Yukio Okumura, already an exorcist, is one of his instructors.

As Blue Exorcist, Vol. 22 (Chapters 99 to 103) opens, the seals binding the artificial “Gehenna Gate” are broken, and the world is beset by an invasion of demons.  The “Exwires” must fight without brothers, Rin and Yukio Okumara, the latter being under arrest.  Rin, meanwhile, has demanded that Mephisto Pheles, his and his brother's guardian, reveal the Okumara family's past to him.

Mephisto is more than delighted to use his time-traveling powers to show Rin what happened all those years ago.  Rin will meet his mother, Yuri Egin, as a girl and watch her grow, and he will meet his foster father, Shiro Fujimoto, who has a dark and troubled past.  But, Mephisto warns Rin, this story can only end in tragedy.

[This volume contains bonus comics, art, text, etc.]

THE LOWDOWN:  Once a year, I get around to reading the Blue Exorcist manga.  This calendar year, I have read five volumes.

Blue Exorcist Graphic Novel Volume 22 can be joined with Vols. 20 and 21 to form what is one of the series best three-volume runs that I have read.  At this point, creator Kazue Kato brings a turning point to the narrative, but Vol. 22 has a laser focus and is almost intimate in the way Kato unveils the past of the Okumara brothers.

John Werry's usually excellent translation reveals the story in delicate strokes with occasional intimate details.  John Hunt's lettering conveys the constant shifts in tone, especially in regards to Shiro Fujimoto's anger and bitterness.  If you are a manga reader not reading Blue Exorcist, dear readers, you are missing a tremendous read.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for dark magic and action comics will want to try the “Shonen Jump Advanced” title, Blue Exorcist.

A+
10 out of 10

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


https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
https://www.instagram.com/vizmedia/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialVIZMedia
https://www.snapchat.com/add/vizmedia


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

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

Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).

 

Blue Exorcist: Dream Town

I read Blue Exorcist, Vol. 13

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.  Support me on Patreon.

Blue Exorcist: Izumo Kamiki's Mother

I read Blue Exorcist, Vol. 12

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.

Review: TIME KILLERS - Short Story Collection

TIME KILLERS
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Kazue Kato
TRANSLATION & ENGLISH ADAPTATION: John Werry
LETTERS: John Hunt, Primary Graphix
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7167-6; paperback (September 2014); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
244pp, B&W, $14.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN, £9.99 U.K.

Born in Tokyo in 1980, Kazue Kato is a female manga creator, writer, and illustrator.  Time Killers is a single-volume, standalone, paperback collection of manga short stories that Kato produced in the first decade of her career.  Time Killers is published under VIZ Media's Shonen Jump Advanced imprint.  Time Killers contains 11 manga short stories, mostly in black and white, but there are 13 pages of color manga and art, as well as a fold-out, full-color gate-fold poster.

The stories are whimsical, fantastic, realistic, and genre-bending.  Some are like fairy tales, while others can best be described as “shonen manga.”  “The Rabbit and Me” (a shonen-type tale) introduces Shuri Todo, a teen hit man and assassin who wears a rabbit-eared cowl/mask.  He meets high school student Taira Futamura, a boy who becomes attached to Shuri.  Before long, that connection strengthens in the worst way.

“Tomato” features anthropomorphic animals.  Usakihii Usa, a rabbit guard, and his human partner, Sasuke Futamura, are hired on by Mrs. Oka-no-an, a stout, older female rabbit, to protect her precious tomato farm.  The arrival of thieves reveals connections between the guards and their employer in surprising ways.  In “Astronerd,” 16-year-old Yoshio Fujiko is an “astronerd,” a nerd who loves astronomy.  Now in high school, he has abandoned that in order to fit in with the other kids, but the new girl in school and also an alien invasion will force Yoshio to face the truth.

The story that closes out Time Killers is “The Miyama-Uguisu Mansion Incident.”  Knight No. 387, a demon hunter of the Knights of the Blue Cross, arrives at Miyama-Uguisu mansion to save Monaka Miyama-Uguisu, a young girl who has “the spittle of a demon on her.”  No. 387 is drawn to Monaka, so he tells her the story of a demon who became a demon hunter so that he could protect a young girl who helped and then, befriended him.

I have read a few manga short story collections from a variety of genres (including adult yaoi manga).  The Time Killers manga short story collection is one of the best that I have read, and it is not just because of the variety of genres this collection offers.

The most attractive thing about these stories is that they have heart.  Kazue Kato makes them mean something beyond mere escapism, fantasy, and fantasy-hues.  “Tomato” starts as if it is just going to be a “yojimbo” tale, but Kato takes the characters on a surprising journey of spiritual growth and healing.  There is enough material to turn it into a graphic novel.

“A Maiden's Prayer” is like a beautiful poem that is also a fairy tale.  “A Warrior Born of the Red Earth” could pass for American-produced Western fiction.  “Master and I” is a convincing and effective cautionary tale.

Some may mistake “The Miyama-Uguisu Mansion Incident” as a precursor to Kato's hit shonen manga, Blue Exorcist, but according to the “Author's Note” section at the end of the book, it was produced from unused material for the hit manga series.  In fact, Kato fills her author's note/afterword section with lots of interesting back story about these short stories.  She makes Time Killers a worthwhile, complete collection that has both excellent manga shorts and rewarding extra material.  By the way, the title is a reference to “killing time,” as these stories could be read as pass-times – enjoyable past-times


A-

www.VIZ.com.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Blue Exorcist: Mephisto's Ramblings

I read Blue Exorcist, Vol. 11

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

Blue Exorcist: Dinner with Mephisto

I read Blue Exorcist, Vol. 10 I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Blue Exorcist: Fight Hellfire with Hellfire!

I read Blue Exorcist, Vol. 7

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

Blue Exorcist: Fight Hellfire with Hellfire

I read Blue Exorcist, Vol. 6

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

Blue Exorcist, Kekkaishi Among New VIZ App Titles

VIZ MEDIA EXPANDS iPad DIGITAL LIBRARY WITH A NEW ROUND OF MANGA UPDATES FOR FIRST HALF OF APRIL

ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND, BLACK BIRD, BLUE EXORCIST And KEKKAISHI Join The Latest Additions To 12 Other Popular VIZ Media Manga Titles

VIZ Media continues the expansion of its digital manga manga (graphic novel) library available exclusively for the VIZ MANGA APP for the Apple® iPad™ mobile device with several new series that will premiere during the first half of April.

The latest update features the launch of the shojo series ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND and the fantasy-action of KEKKAISHI on April 4th. Another popular shojo manga series, BLACK BIRD, and the supernatural adventure BLUE EXORCIST will premiere on April 11th. The VIZ MANGA APP is available for free through the iTunes Store and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume. More than 100 manga volumes are now available for download.

ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) is the romantic shojo drama created by Yuu Watase (ARATA: THE LEGEND, FUSHIGI YUGI, CERES: CELESTIAL LEGEND). Rejected way too many times by good-looking (and unattainable) guys, shy Riiko Izawa goes online to sign up for a free trial of a mysterious Nightly Lover "figure." The very next day a cute naked guy is delivered to her door, and he wants to be her boyfriend! Has Riiko died and gone to heaven? The cute guy turns out to be sweet, smart, a great cook, and lots more. And he looks like a million bucks, which is what he's going to cost Riiko if she doesn't return him in time...

KEKKAISHI (rated ‘T’ for Teens) is an action series created by Yellow Tanabe. By night, junior high student Yoshimori Sumimura is a “kekkaishi” – a demon-hunter who specializes in creating magical barriers around his prey. By day, Yoshimori’s got some other demons to battle: an addiction to sweets and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori’s pretty 16-year-old neighbor and childhood friend, Tokine Yukimura, is also a kekkaishi, but their families are feuding over who is the “true practitioner” of the art. In the opening volume, Yoshimori couldn’t care less about catching demons… until he realizes that his apathetic attitude is taking a toll on his friendship with Tokine. Just as he decides to take matters into his own hands, a couple of amphibious demons and the pesky ghost of a pastry-chef show up to complicate matters!

BLACK BIRD (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) is the award-winning shojo manga series by Kanoko Sakurakoji. There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand...or her life!

BLUE EXORCIST (Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) was created by Kazue Kato and introduces Rin Okumura, a boy who is the son of a famous exorcist but never knew his real father. One day a fateful argument with Father Fujimoto, the priest who raised Rin, forces the boy to face a terrible truth – the blood of the demon lord Satan runs in Rin’s veins! Rin swears to defeat Satan, but doing that means entering the mysterious True Cross Academy and becoming an exorcist himself. Can Rin fight the demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won't be easy, especially when drawing his father’s sword releases the demonic power within him!

April updates also include new additions to 12 other popular VIZ Media series currently available. Readers should check the app regularly, as new additions and free Chapter 1 previews of forthcoming manga series for the iPad are also featured.

Twenty-four series will be available on the VIZ Manga App; additional new manga volumes available the weeks of April 4th and April 11th include:

April 4th:
DEATH NOTE Vol. 10
DRAGON BALL Z Vol. 3
NARUTO Vol. 20
ONE PIECE Vol. 20
OTOMEN Vol. 5
OURON HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB Vol. 5
ROSARIO + VAMPIRE Vol. 3
RUROUNI KENSHIN Vol. 10

April 11th:
BLEACH Vol. 12
CAPTIVE HEARTS Vol. 4
CLAYMORE Vol. 7
D. GRAY MAN Vol. 8
DRAGON BALL Z Vols 4
NARUTO Vol. 21
ONE PIECE Vol. 21

For more information on the VIZ MANGA APP, please visit www.VIZ.com/apps/.

Review: BLUE EXORCIST: Volume 1

BLUE EXORCIST, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA

CARTOONIST: Kazue Kato
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: John Werry
LETTERS: John Hunt, Primary Graphix
ISBN: 978-1-4215-4032-0; paperback; Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
202pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Rin Okumura was raised by Father Fujimoto, a famous exorcist, but a fateful argument with the Father reveals the terrible secret of Rin’s origin.  The Demon Lord Satan is Rin’s father.  Now, Rin is determined to reject his demonic blood line and enrolls in True Cross Academy Private High School, where he will train to be an exorcist!

In Blue Exorcist, Vol. 1, daddy comes a calling.  Satan arrives to claim his son, Rin, but Rin has other plans.  Plus, Rin learns a shocking secret about his younger, fraternal twin brother, Yukio, who hasn’t inherited the demonic bloodline.

THE LOWDOWN:  Sometimes, I read the first volume of a manga series, and it so impresses me that I am ready to give it a high grade right from the beginning.  Or it does not impress me, and I give it a low mark.  A Shonen Jump manga, Blue Exorcist has potential, but I’m not ready to grade it, yet.

Created by Kazue Kato, Blue Exorcist is an action/fantasy with comedic elements.  Thus far, the stories are told in episodes that are built around the larger story arc and internal mythology.  I like the comedy and the bickering between characters.  I think that regardless of the imaginatively designed characters and inventive fantasy, Blue Exorcist’s strength will be in the characters, and right now, the series seems strong.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Teen readers will like the action and comedy of the “Shonen Jump Advanced” title, Blue Exorcist.

Revised and Posted on I Reads You blog:  Thursday, October 29, 2020

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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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