Fred MAIRE

Anime News Nina! - 2009-04-29
Kevin's search for true love continues, and this time there are squid involved. 2009-04-29

The X Button - Hyper Bullet Nostalgia
Todd takes on Last Bullet, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Rhythm de Run Run Run, Tecmo's Nostalgia, and Hyper Iria, all while finding time to hate games other people like. 2009-04-29

RIGHT TURN ONLY!! - MmmBobobop
Manga is SERIOUS BUSINESS! That's why we're always serious about reviewing titles like Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, Dogs, and Orange Planet! Plus, a Reader's Choice of intensely pleasurable guilt. 2009-04-28

Shelf Life - SOS Brigade
Vengeful socialites, aliens, and schoolgirls! That sounds like the set-up for a bad joke.
- Gankutsuou boxset
- Genghis Khan BD
- Negima!? Pt.1
- Project Blue Earth SOS boxset
- Shigurui BD
2009-04-27

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Novel
The novel on which the anime series of the same name is based is now available in paperback. The story of spear-wielding bodyguard Balsa's efforts to protect a young prince from dangers both natural and supernatural has some technical flaws, but its storytelling strength is more than enough to outweigh its weaknesses.

Str.A.In.: Strategic Armored Infantry DVD
Strain for once finds Studio Fantasia more concerned with big emotions and mecha action than with jamming in the panty shots until they shoot from the screen like undergarment shrapnel. Big mistake.

Battle Royale -Ultimate Edition- GN 1
The Battle Royale manga does the original novel that inspired it proud, and it is easy to see why readers on both sides of the Pacific love returning to its lyrical yet terrible dance of adolescent death.

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.

Heaven's Will GN
... filled with the kind of pseudo-Victorian fluff that's grim enough to earn the "horror" label but not enough to earn the label of actually being "good."