Shelf Life - Beast War This week, one man learns that in order to survive in the wilderness, he needs to out-beast even Bear Grylls.
- Black Lagoon: Second Barrage v.3
- Jyu-Oh-Sei boxset
- Karin v.5
- Kujibiki Unbalance v.2, 3
2008-10-27
Zig·Zag GN 1-2 Zig·Zag is as fluffy as a spray of baby's breath and as lightweight as a daisy petal. It is hard, in short, to take seriously. However, it was not meant to be taken seriously, and the fact that this manga series makes no pretense about its humble ambitions is the sole thing that truly recommends it. 2008-10-27
The Gallery - Grace Chen We dive into a world of cuteness, bright hues and fashion this week as we profile the work of graphic designer and illustrator Grace Chen. 2008-10-25
Hey, Answerman! This week: is there a growing trend toward non-moe female anime characters? Not bloody likely. Also: anime that's better than the manga it's based on, intensely creepy female fans and your answers to last week's Hey, Answerfans! 2008-10-24
Zig·Zag GN 1-2 Zig·Zag is as fluffy as a spray of baby's breath and as lightweight as a daisy petal. It is hard, in short, to take seriously. However, it was not meant to be taken seriously, and the fact that this manga series makes no pretense about its humble ambitions is the sole thing that truly recommends it.
Psycho Busters Novel 1 Just as its author intended, this novel is easy to read, light in tone, and rich in adventure. Younger readers not cowed by discussions of prescience and psychokinesis should be diverted, if not enthralled.
Aria The Animation Sub.DVD A soft but magnetic invitation to submerge oneself in a world where kindness reigns supreme and life is overflowing with subtle beauty. Warning: may be lethal to cynics.
Love*Com GN 7-8 This series is still the standard by which all other modern romantic comedies should be measured.
Kyo Kara Maoh! DVD 2.7 Without any silliness to break up the gently failed drama, this volume is worse than just flawed: it's boring—something that, for all of their flaws, the previous volumes never were.
Faust Vol. 1 CLAMP. NISIOISIN. Kouhei Kadono. Takeshi Obata. If there isn't something that makes you want to read Faust, maybe you don't like Japanese pop culture as much as you thought you did.
Chibi Vampire GN 10 Elda returns and is not happy when she learns the state of affairs concerning Karin in this print continuation of an odd twist on both vampire tales and teen romantic comedies. It shouldn't disappoint fans of the franchise.
Genius Party Genius Party is interesting, pretty and at times thought provoking. It's also maddeningly uneven, devoting an almost unbearable amount of time to self-indulgence and half-formed ideas.
Claymore + Artbox DVD 1 In a variation on “girls with guns,” Madhouse offers us “sisters with swords” in this impressive adaptation of the popular fantasy manga about hybrid female warriors using massive swords to combat monsters. It is sharp-looking and action-packed, yet also has a surprisingly human feel.
Death Note II: The Last Name The story of Death Note continues and concludes as both the second and third Kiras appear and everything moves towards a definitive confrontation. If you liked the anime or manga versions, you will probably be quite satisfied with how this one goes.
Yozakura Quartet GN 1 It has all the ingredients of greatness: distinctive characters ... action-adventure potential ... But processing those ingredients into something successful is obviously going to take more work.