Encyclopedia

'J' Releases

Hey, Answerman!
Brian has lots to answer for and plenty to question himself in this week's Hey, Answerman! Like Japanese iTunes accounts, experimental manga, and a truly absurd follow-up to last week's Flake of the Week! 2009-04-24

Buried Treasure - Fairy Florence
For the adult who has learned patience, and the child in us who might still be able to experience wonder, however, Fairy Florence is indeed a rare treat. 2009-04-23

Chibi Vampire GN 12 and 13
The truth about Karin's nature as an apparent defective vampire is finally revealed, and major plot developments roll out, as the series nears its conclusion. These volumes have some flaws, but the developments are sure to leave fans too engrossed to care.

Naruto GN 42-44
Naruto continues to be great mainstream entertainment. And with plenty of action, mystery, character development, bishounen angst, comedy, and tragedy there is something for virtually everyone. No wonder everyone seems to be reading Naruto these days!

20th Century Boys GN 2
The main storyline needs to hurry up and pick up the momentum. How much longer until it crosses the line from good to great?

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya novel 1
A girl dedicated to meeting “aliens, time travelers, or espers” unknowingly surrounds herself with exactly that in this popular source novel for the anime sensation. It is a brisk and smoothly-paced tale which may not be especially deep but certainly is a lot of fun.

Shigurui: Death Frenzy DVD
If, like Luke seeking refuge inside a tauntaun's abdominal cavity, you're looking for a gory, smelly haven from the cold wastes of namby-pamby peacenik action, then perhaps Shigurui is the title for you.

Night Head Genesis DVD 3
Night Head Genesis is a show at war with itself—a fierce war between its solid writing and its shoddy execution.

NANA GN 15
NANA is first and foremost a love story—a bittersweet story of profound, abiding love between two very special women—and even after Ai Yazawa finally sees fit to end it, rest assured that it will not soon be forgotten.

Otomen GN 2
The palatable effort creator Aya Kanno is putting into being nonstop witty and silly does not fully conceal Otomen's significant flaws.

Genshiken Official Book
If Genshiken is a love letter to the otaku lifestyle, then this book is the postscript.

Lovely Complex GN 10
Against all odds, this series still manages to pull out moments of bouncy comedy and deliciously heartwarming romance—even when everything starts to look despairingly familiar.

Chrono Crusade DVD 1
The world of Chrono Crusade may be far-fetched, but it's also so concrete that you can't help but believe in it. For creating this unusual flavor of Christian mysticism and choosing 1920's New York as his setting, creator Daisuke Moriyama wins first prize.