Library Wars: LFT vs. MBC

I read Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 11

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

Library Wars: Mom, Stop!

I read Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 10

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

Library Wars: Between Two Brothers

I read Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 8

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

Library Wars: The Accomplice Kasahara

I read Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 7

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

Library Wars: Weekly New World

I read Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 6

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.

Rasetsu the Final Volume

I read Rasetsu, Vol. 9

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

I Reads You Review: RASETSU, VOL. 5

Creator: Chika Shiomi; Kinami Watabe (translation and adaptation)

Publishing Information: VIZ MEDIA, paperback, 192 pages, $9.99 (US), $12.99 CAN

Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4215-2754-3 (ISBN-13)

Rating “T+” for “Older Teen”

Rasetsu is a shojo manga (comic for teen girls) from creator, Chika Shiomi. Rasetsu is essentially a spin-off of an earlier Shiomi manga entitled Yurara, mainly because a character from Yurara appears in Rasetsu.

Rasetsu focuses on its title character, 19-year-old Rasetsu Hyuga. When she was 15-years-old, an evil spirit attacked Rasetsu. Although she survived the attack, the spirit vowed to return to claim Rasetsu on her 20th birthday… unless she has found true love. As a memento of their encounter, the spirit left a bright red flower mark on her chest. Now, Rasetsu works for Hiichiro Amakawa Agency, an exorcist agency, and she uses her special powers to banish evil spirits. She also searches for true love which may have come in the form of her two coworkers, Iwatsuki Kuryu and Yako Hoshino (the holdover from Yurara).

As Rasetsu, Vol. 5 begins, Rasetsu is dealing with the aftermath of Kuryu’s kiss. What should she make of it when her heart really longs for Yako? Yako teases, but how does he really feel about her, especially considering that he is still hung up on that spirit he loved in high school? Meanwhile, their boss, Hiichiro Amakawa, drops their strangest case on them. Nanami Nishikawa is a young woman who is about to give birth to her child, but a dark spirit that kills babies is after her unborn child.

Rasetsu, like Yurara, is a supernatural-themed romance. Rasetsu is also a shojo love triangle with a hook – the young lovers are also ghost busters. Separately, neither the romance nor the ghost busting is original in its execution, but when combined, they make Rasetsu seem special. Each – the love triangle and the supernatural – gives the other a sense of urgency. The conflict is not just about fighting ghosts, but it is also about combating the sense of confusion that young love time three creates.

I like Rasetsu quite a bit, almost as much as I liked Yurara. I tear through a volume of Rasetsu like there was a box off of Popeye’s fried chicken waiting for me at the end. Rasetsu is not a great manga, but it does supernatural romance better than most. It is a personal favorite, and I would recommend it to people familiar with Shiomi’s work.

B+

Manga Review: RASETSU! Volume 2

RASETSU, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA

CARTOONIST: Chika Shiomi
TRANSLATION & ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Kinami Watabe
LETTERS: Freeman Wong
ISBN: 978-1-4215-2751-2; paperback; Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
200pp, B&W, $8.99 US, $10.50 CAN

Rasetsu no Hana was a supernatural mystery shojo manga written and illustrated by Chika Shiomi.  The series was serialized in the manga magazine, Bessatsu Hana to Yume, from 2005 to 2010.  VIZ Media published an English-language edition of the manga as a nine-volume graphic novel series, entitled Rasetsu, from 2009 to 2011 under its “Shojo Beat” imprint.

Rasetsu Hyuga was attacked by an evil spirit when she was 15-years-old.  Although she survived the attack, the spirit vowed to return to claim Rasetsu on her 20th birthday… unless she found true love.  As a memento of their encounter, the spirit left the mark of a bright red flower on her chest.  Now, the 18-year-old Rasetsu works for an exorcist agency, using her special powers to banish evil spirits, while she awaits her fate.

As Rasetsu, Vol. 2, opens, Rasetsu has a year-and-a-half remaining before her demonic attacker returns to take her.  Not knowing the circumstances, her coworker, Yako Hoshino, thinks that Rasetsu’s quest for a boyfriend is frivolous, but what are those strange feelings that Yako is having for Rasetsu?  Meanwhile, the rivalry between Yako and fellow employee, the dark, handsome, and very tall, Kuryu Iwatsuki, simmers; is the source of their banter Rasetsu?  Then, the entire Hiichiro Amakawa Agency, including boss Hiichiro Amakawa and receptionist Aoi, head to the amusement park for a day of fun, but it’s really a work holiday.  The park is haunted!

THE LOWDOWN:  Fans of manga-ka Chika Shiomi probably already know that Rasetsu is a spin-off of the shojo manga series, Yurara.  Yako Hoshino was the odd-man-out in Yurara’s love triangle.  Shiomi seems to be creating another supernatural love triangle with Rasetsu at the center and Yako and Kuryu vying for her affections – maybe.

Rasetsu Graphic Novel 2 mixes elements of the workplace romance with aspects of the supernatural thriller (hauntings, angry spirits, aggressive entities, etc.).  Although Rasetsu is like Yurara, Rasetsu isn’t a carbon copy, but it sure comes close.  Perhaps, that’s why I like Rasetsu as much as I do.  The character development is not strong, and the drama is soft; even the romance comes across as gooey, junior high puppy love.  On nearly every page, flower patterns and effects encircle the characters during moments when love is in the air.  But like the troubled spirits that often appear in these stories, Rasetsu possess the reader when simple enchantment isn’t enough.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Fans of the manga of Chika Shiomi will like the “Shojo Beat” title, Rasetsu.

B+
7 out of 10

Revised:  Tuesday, July 21, 2020

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


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

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