Manga Maniac Cafe For the Geek in all of us

Continuing from the previous post, here are my thoughts on the Japanese titles currently running in Yen Plus -

Soul Eater – Atsushi Ohkubo – Death the Kid and the Thompson sisters take on the Flying Dutchman!  I was very confused while trying to muddle through this chapter, and realize that this is a series that I really have to pick up from the beginning.  I usually enjoy stories with shinigamis, and this one looks like it has plenty of action and humor to keep the momentum up.  I like the art and the lanky character designs, though everyone has the unrealistic flexibility of Gumby. 

Nabari No Ou – Yuhki Kamatani – I’ve only read bits and pieces of this series, and I have enjoyed what I’ve read so far.  I have a weakness for ninjas, so I really need to make the time to read the first volume so I can figure out what is going on.  Oda is out to assassinate Mr. Frosty, and nobody’s going to stand in her way.  With her ability to read minds, she can find out anybody’s weaknesses.  There’s a lot of tension between the characters as they go after their goals, and the ending left me wanting more.  Now I wonder where that first volume is hiding so I can see what I missed.

Black Butler – Yana Toboso – Wow, this was a fun chapter.  First off, there’s a Doberman on the title page, and if that isn’t an indication of awesome, I don’t know what is.  When Ciel Phantomhive is kidnapped, it’s his butler, Sebastian, to the rescue.  This guy is cool!  He battles hordes of enemies with lamps and utensils.  I want to see what he can do with a vacuum cleaner!  The art is just as energetic as the action.  I will be reading more of this one.

Pandora Hearts – Jun Mochizuki – This chapter has me intrigued.  What could Oz possibly have done to warrant being locked up in the Abyss?  The “sin of his existence” seems a little too broad.  Besides, considering his young age, he couldn’t have committed that many despicable acts.  The illustrations are attractive, and the mystery behind both Oz’s incarceration and Alice’s past have me hooked.  So far I’m really digging the Japanese side of this magazine.

Hero Tales – Jin Zhou Huang & Hiromu Arakawa – This is a total cop out, but because Hiromu Arakawa is one of the creators, I’m very interested in this series.  I love her art, and the fact that it’s a coming of age adventure tale with sword fighting doesn’t hurt it, either.  So, what did I think of this chapter?  Sorry, I’m waiting for the graphic novel.  Some things need to be savored, and I am looking forward to a bigger dose of the story.  This is also the biggest problem I have with anthology magazines – I am anal and the thought of reading a title from anywhere but the beginning drives me nuts.  Does anybody else feel that way?

Review copy provided by Yen Press