All Consuming : tomadou

Predictable. (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:43:50 GMT

by Ao Mimori

Sakura a typical highschool girl has her ideal boy in mind (and in sight); the silent serious studious and cute Fuji. But when she discovers he’s anything but her ideal, what will become of their relationship?

A typical highschool romance shoujo manga. The art is a bit generic and I find the story a bit tired. Not to say it isn’t a fun read, but I would suggest there are more interesting titles out there. But if you’re new to the genre or you can’t get enough of ‘Shojo Beat’ stories, then this won’t disappoint.

Scandalous! (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:42:27 GMT

Scandalous Seiryo University

by Kazuto Tatsukawa

A compilation manga with three separate stories: The first about the notorious student body president and the naive new student; The Second about two second-cousins—one of which is cute and frequently mistaken for a girl; and The last story is about an art student and his teacher.

It is more sexually explicit than other yaoi titles I’ve read, and the art style is unusual for this genre (one would normally find it in an action adventure story). However, I did find that the relationships between the characters had a bit more depth than is typical for a yaoi compilation.

Due to the nature of the content, I wouldn’t recommend this title to…anyone. But, If you like reading yaoi manga and aren’t offended by the sexual content, you’ll probably enjoy this series.

Ole! (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:04:10 GMT

YOTSUBA&! Volume 1 (Yotsubato (Graphic Novels))

by Azuma Kiyohiko

An absolutely adorable story about a preschooler named Yotsuba who approaches life with joy and wonder. I have read this series more than a dozen times and laugh just as heartily each time. I unabashedly recommend this series to anyone who will give manga a chance. Sensitive, Charming, Innocent, Adorable and absolutely Hilarious!

High Energy. (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:03:02 GMT

Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Adventure!, Volume 1 (Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!)

No previous knowledge of pokemon or the pokemon world is needed to enjoy this energetic new epic in the growing pokemon dynasty. A story about a naive new pokemon trainer and his companion on a quest to meet the god-like pokemon Dialga.

How Shigekatsu Ihara has created a new pokemon adventure and kept it fresh and interesting is a mystery. The pokemon are cute, the bad guys are hopeless, the hero is energetic; and there is some interesting back history on an unusual candidate. Geared for a younger audience, I applaud this comic

Completely Charming! (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:01:50 GMT

Love Com, Vol. 8

One of the best new shoujo mangas I’ve read in months. Koizumi has finally been rewarded for all of her hard work—she and Otani are finally dating! Yatta! In this volume Koizumi is struck with insecurities in her new relationship and to make matters worse a rival appears…

Nakahara has taken a simple concept and created wonderful believable characters. The lovely line art is drawn with humour and sensitivity. And in this volume, she has dealt with female rivallry in a fresh and innocent manner. All in all, completely charming!

A story about "Wild ACT: Volume 8 (Wild Act)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:32:14 GMT

Wild ACT: Volume 8 (Wild Act)

by Rie Takada

It took me a year to find this volume… completing my set. I’m so glad to finally be done. I’m a big fan of Takada-san’s lively female characters. She has such a cute sense of comedic timing—almost like she’s poking fun at herself.

A story about "Real, Vol. 1"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:23:34 GMT

Real, Vol. 1

I was just reading my Japanese copy of this the day before and WISHING there was an english version of it. I had no idea this was being published… and it’s even in large format. The printing isn’t as good as my original copy; but still I’m SO HAPPY!!

A story about "Tail of the Moon, Vol. 12 (Tail of the Moon (Graphic Novels))"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:21:10 GMT

Tail of the Moon, Vol. 12 (Tail of the Moon (Graphic Novels))

that’s mean! this series isn’t supposed to make me cry!!!

Slow down... (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:58:04 GMT

Haruka , Vol. 1 (Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time)

by Tohko Mizuno

The pace is so quick that it’s quite confusing. Not the best retelling of this familiar story.

A story about "Wild Ones, Vol. 3"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:44:12 GMT

Wild Ones, Vol. 3

The story is good, but I think that Fujiwara-san might have found a new art assistant or something by this volume. The art for Rakuto changed slightly—not as consistently pretty. A little disappointing actually.

A story about "MeruPuri, Volume 2 (MeruPuri)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:41:28 GMT

MeruPuri, Volume 2 (MeruPuri)

I bought a defective copy… It’s missing the climactic chapter when Airi arrives in the magical world and is saved by Aram. I don’t want to spoil this for anyone; but if you’ve read this manga you’ll know how much I was missing…

The chapter was actually replaced with a chapter from Hana Kimi 132 and half of 133. I really enjoy reading Hana Kimi; but this made the rest of MeruPuri really confusing.

Ah, I want to read Volume 2 over again!

A story about "Absolute Boyfriend, Vol. 6 (Absolute Boyfriend (Graphic Novels))"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:04:57 GMT

Absolute Boyfriend, Vol. 6 (Absolute Boyfriend (Graphic Novels))

by Yuu Watase

The short stories at the end of this volume make it really worthwhile! Watase-sensei ga suki desu ne!

A story about "Sand Chronicles, Vol. 2 (Sand Chronicles)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:02:00 GMT

Sand Chronicles, Vol. 2 (Sand Chronicles)

by Hinako Ashihara

Man, the cover art on this volume irritates me. She looks like a badly sewn muppet.

A story about "Karma"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:58:20 GMT

Karma

by King-Hope, Melissa

I don’t have anything nice to say about this… sorry.

A review of "House of Clay"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:11:32 GMT

House of Clay

by Naomi Nowak

The art is lovely and has a nice fine-art/independent comics feel to it… but, that’s not enough to save this comic. If the story was strong even the worst art would be fine; however this is not the case. The plot is choppy and undeveloped, it is inconsistent, and has the most mediocre dialogue I have ever read in a comic. Don’t bother; unless you can’t read!

Why I recommend "Manga Pro Superstar Workshop: How to Create and Sell Comics and Graphic Novels (Manga Pro)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:16:13 GMT

Manga Pro Superstar Workshop: How to Create and Sell Comics and Graphic Novels (Manga Pro)

by Colleen Doran

Don’t let the juvenile cover design fool you. One of the better ‘how to draw comics’ books of recent years. Rivalled only by Nagatomo’s ‘Draw your own manga’ and Eisner’s books on sequential art. But more than these, I’m impressed with the magically merging of information relative to both Japanese and American comic book styles.

kudos!

She's such a trouble maker...

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:21:13 GMT

Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 6 (Fushigi Yugi (Graphic Novels))

The story is practically the same (I mean its the same legend) just with slightly different characters (i.e. Miaka with long hair and Tamahome with…boobs)... but, I love the way Watase has made slight changes in their situation to cause new trouble.

A review of "High School Girls Volume 9"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:18:39 GMT

High School Girls Volume 9

by Towa Oshima

This is better than the last two volumes I’d read. I felt like somehow Ohshima was being pressured by her editors to really focus the manga on her male audience and punch up the fan service. In this volume she has toned it down and is working with much fresher material.

She really focusses on the ‘school trip’ here which generally gets small recognition in most shoujo style comics; its a device usually used as a break in a longer story arc or for the two main characters to discuss ‘their feelings’. I think she successfully works with the material she has here and is her crazy, rediculous self.

I’ve heard talk that Ohshima only claims that this manga is inspired by her life experience; and to those people I would like to say that I have never read a manga that was more nostalgic…the characters…the situations…Oh, wait! I was trying to forget all that.

Anyways, most people won’t understand the comedy… but if you’re kinda warped and idiotic; this is the series for you. heh.

Expecting more...

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:11:18 GMT

Honey and Clover, Vol. 1

by Chica Umino

In this volume Umino is only barely scratching the surface of what these characters can be. It will be difficult to pull this chaotic ‘gags’ together into a neatly drawn ‘romantic’comedy which I believe she is headed toward. I get the feeling that she’s just testing her material before she makes a gigantic decision about her plot (which could really go anywhere at this point).

As for her art, its functional at best; it is a shame that she doesn’t render all of her panels in color (definitely where her skills lie)—even if they were scanned in b/w the quality of the manga would increase incrementally; and greatly affect the currently dimensionless characters.

...even so, I would recommend this manga; it is my experience that leads me to believe that many of these problems will disappear by the third volume. I have high hopes for this manga—and I’m really looking forward to see how Umino is going to pull it all off.

A story about "Naruto, Volume 28"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:53:45 GMT

Naruto, Volume 28

by Masashi Kishimoto

Viz changed the spine colour… Why?!

So much disorder…it’s unerving!

A story about "Manga: The Complete Guide"

nobody@allconsuming.net (tomadou) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:42:41 GMT

Manga: The Complete Guide

by Jason Thompson

This was a fun read. I have a few disagreements on their ratings of particular manga—some seemed to be more based on personal tastes than actual merit; but I agreed for the most part. I guess it was interesting to read in the sense that it was complete…and if you discount the ‘Adult’ series; I own 95% of the manga they reviewed. Heh. There are actually a few series that I REALLY didn’t want to read (like sugar sugar rune); but thanks to the reviews in this book, I’ll be checking them out in the near future.

And, for those of you new to manga or those attempting to expand your manga reading repertoire…this is a worthy companion.

Why, Oh why, didn’t “I” write this book??