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School Rumble Season 2 DVD Part 1
The shift from hectic, secretly muscular romantic comedy to formulaic time-killing schoolyard farce over the course of this box set is remarkable, if only for its abruptness—like the flipping of a switch after episode six.

Ghost Hunt Season One Part One
Despite some weak points, the first season of this supernatural mystery series succeeds because it spins good enough, and elaborate enough, stories while also offering a sharp look and a highly likeable female lead.

Ghost Talker's Daydream GN 2
If it had stuck just to the supernatural side, it would have ended up as Yet Another Ghost-Hunting Manga, but are wanton acts of sex, violence and depravity really a legitimate creative solution?

Lucky Star DVD 3
Even Lucky Star, that most off-kilter and unpredictable of comedy shows, must trawl the dangerous, cliché-infested waters known as Christmas and New Years. As the events of Volume 3 prove, not only does the series survive, but it manages to thrive.

The Good Witch of the West GN 3-4
It is a general rule of thumb among those with experience with various forms of Japanese media that adaptations are not as good as the original material. The Good Witch of the West proves to be an unforgettable—not to mention not to be missed—exception to this rule.

Kanon DVD 6
Although the writing may initially seem to be getting carried away with its moe-centric approach and starting to flounder, a series of surprise twists and revelations carry Key's winter story to its satisfying (if sappy) resolution. It is one of the best moe-centric titles to date.

Tsubasa DVD 7-9
Other than a slight lightening of tone and a rash of increasingly formulaic throwaway stories, the series' second season continues just as the first season did.

Ouran High School Host Club DVD Part 01
Although Bisco Hatori's breakout hit does surprisingly well in its animated adaptation, it spends far too much time on slickly styled, postmodern play and not nearly enough on the human side of the story.

Darker than BLACK DVD 1
Despite a shaky foundation and suspect structure, this Bones series about super-powered agents called Contractors finds enough substance in its initial story arcs, and enough support from its musical score, to weather its first storms.

Dragon Ball Z DVD Season 6
The composite android Cell achieves his perfect form and challenges the Z fighters to a tournament to determine the fate of the world in a fantastically-remastered run of 29 episodes. Though the action takes a while to get started, the content ultimately does not disappoint.

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order GN 9
How can a manga-ka get away with never showing his title character in a 208-page volume? Find out as masterfully-staged fight scenes highlight this continuation of the vampire Caerula's critical backstory.