RIGHT TURN ONLY!!
[Insert Witty Column Title Here]
by Liann Cooper,
Buy It Now!  Daisuke Moriyama Released by ADV Manga October 2004 $9.99 US A unique story about a nun named Rosette and her "pet" demon, Chrono. She loves to play with guns and he gets his power from her via a pocket watch that hangs around her neck. They're on the hunt for her brother who was abducted by an evil demon. Had someone described the bare bones of Chrono Crusade's plot to me, I probably would've given them a funny look and never looked back... and would've missed out on something really great. Usually series heavily based on religious or mythological aspects make me slightly wary, mainly because I worry that I won't have enough knowledge on the subject to enjoy the story. Rather than bombard you with facts or lose you with a confusing story, Chrono Crusade manages to divulge a manageable balance of story and information. It's only volume two and the series has wasted no time in getting right to the crux of its story. After a nice little filler chapter about Rosette's “floating spirit”, we learn about Aion and the tragedy of the Seventh Bell Orphanage – where Rosette and Joshua grew up. Also revealed are the details of Chrono and the siblings' friendship as well as how he and Rosette's contract came about. The background paints a pretty grim picture and you'll really begin to sympathize with the characters. A cute nun for the guys and a hot demon for the ladies – being part of the clergy was never cooler. Make sure this one doesn't elude your shelves.  Hakase Mizuki Released by Tokyopop October 2004 $9.99 US Well, if you've made it to volume four of this series, I know you must love it as much as I do. For those who were initially turned off by the artwork and its androgynous characters with their exaggerated limbs and disproportionate bodies, I heartily encourage you to embrace the art because the illustrations only serve to emphasize the purgatorial situation. No one is particularly beautiful and no one is incredibly ugly; all contain a mysterious, almost alien-like quality. Let's do a run-down, shall we? Ororon is mortally wounded (even though he can't be killed), Oscar is on a power-hungry rampage for the throne of Hell, Chiaki desperately loves her dying Ororon, and who knows what is up with Othello. The situation has total and complete tragedy written all over it – and in the end, that's what we're left with. Even though we're not given a fairy tale happy ending, we are given a satisfyingly resolute conclusion. All loose ends are tied up and every character gets their little moment in the spotlight. A story that even Shakespeare would be proud of, for $40 to get the entire series... this one's well worth the investment.  IWGP: Sena Aritou Released by Digital Manga Publishing August 2004 $12.95 US After reading things like Kaori Ozaki Released by Tokyopop August 2004 $9.99 US While I wasn't impressed with the first volume of Immortal Rain, I'm now hooked after reading volume two. Machika and Rain exist in a time and place where a 15-year-old girl can fall in love with a 624-year old immortal sporting a mullet of unimaginable length. Things only get crazier from there. After an army of crazy siblings attack the pair's train, Machika and Rain find refuge on a prison ship. Turns out the wacko kids were drafted by a woman named Sharem who works for a secret organization experimenting to create the ultimate bio-weapon. It seems that one of those experiments may have escaped and Rain is at the top of their “Most Wanted” list. On one hand Immortal Rain is a love story and on the other hand it's some weird, X-files chronicle. Kaori Ozaki has successfully melded these two elements together to give you a romantic series spiced with just enough freaky sci-fi to keep you from drowning in “I love you... but, am torn between my heart and my miiiiiind” mumbo-jumbo. Artistically the series is pretty sparse which make it heavily reliant on story and characters. Thankfully the characters' personalities are so endearing that you don't even notice their lack of detail. I have a feeling this one may be an up/down read for me, but as of now (especially since this volume ended with a cliffhanger) I'm definitely going to be rushing out to the store to buy the third!  Kaho Miyasaka Released by Viz August 2004 $9.95 US Those of you waiting for the typical “girl” manga to rear its fluffy head in this column... wait no longer, for it is here. Kare First Love is girly enough to satisfy even the most ravenous of angsty hearts. Karin Karino is a geeky, brainy girl who hides behind her glasses. By some weird twist of fate, Karin catches the eye of a hunky guy named Kiriya who looks past her four-eyed face to see a beautiful, desirable girl—friend. But, being a teenager means that there is sure to be vicious drama afoot and that vicious drama comes in the form of Karin's “best” friend, Yuka. Does Kiriya really like Karin? Will Yuka steal Kiriya? Is it all just an elaborate set up!? OMG, THE DRAMA! There will forever be various incarnations of the “Ugly Duckling,” but the key is telling it right. Kare First Love does it right. With a line like, “I threw up and he saw me in my underwear;” you just can't ask for anything more Sakura Kinoshita Released by ADV Manga October 2004 $9.99 US Sakura, Usagi, the Mew Mews – we're all familiar with the magical girl. Prepare to be introduced to the magical boy... complete with crescent-shaped staff. His name is Loki, Norse God of Trickery and he's the father of a dog, a serpent, and the Mistress of the Underworld. Oh yeah, he also roams the Earth solving mysteries in the form of a child. Sadly Hotaru Odagiri Released by Digital Manga Publishing August 2004 $12.95 Nanae Chrono Released by ADV Manga October 2004 $9.99 US Even though this is the second part of the series (Kazuko Higashiyama and Sakura Kinoshita Released by ADV Manga October 2004 $9.99 US I hear the word “goblin” and horrible visions of the movie Hiroshi Takahashi Released by Digital Manga Publishing August 2004 $12.95 US Contrary to the title, Worst is not the worst at all. In fact, Worst is really quite good. Its premise is simple: take a bunch of rough-and-tumble guys, make them have a “brotherly love” relationship, and have the clueless country newbie of the group attend the worst school in town. Get it? The school is the “worst” in town and the title of the series is “Worst.” Anyway, Hana is the sweetest character you'll ever meet; he has a heart of gold as well as being exceptionally polite. He lives with his ruffian roommates in a boardinghouse run by a Yazuka landloard and a transvestite housekeeper. Sure Hana's cluelessly sweet on the outside, but inside he's filled with animalistic blood that boils with excitement at the prospect of going to a school filled with notorious fighters. So far none of the characters really stand out enough for me to care if one beats the crap out of the other. Fight, fight, and fight some more, Worst is a touching story about a bald-headed bumpkin and his desire to kick the daylights out of anyone who challenges him. Looking for gritty, pound-you-in-the-ass reading? This one has your name written all over it.  Meimu Released by ADV Manga October 2004 $9.99 US Dark Water consists of four short, creepy stories all having to do with water. Dealing with kidnapping, abuse, murder, and just downright desperation, the vignettes aptly create an aura of unsettling thought. It's as though in the back of your mind you're wondering if stuff like this really does happen. After reading the first story, since I felt it was the most disturbing, I was a bit disappointed that the remaining three weren't as good. Still, for ten bucks and with pumpkin day just around the corner, this is a cheap way to prep oneself for the eve of spooks and spirits.  Yuriko Nishiyama Released by Tokyopop October 2004 $9.99 US Simon Cowell would die if a contestant like this ever showed up on American Idol. Rin Anami can dance like Hiroyuki Sanadura Released by ADV Manga October 2004 $9.99 US Once again, the fate of the world is precariously perched on the shoulders of teenagers. I tell you what, if I knew that the world was fated to be rescued by teens, I'd jump on the escape boat now. In 1945 the world is invaded by “Phantom Beasts," determined to take over Earth. At the time, the world's forces were strong enough to drive the Phantom Beasts back and save the planet from invasion. However, fifty years later the Phantoms are back and the world has no one to turn to except, you guessed it, the teenage sons and daughters of those who first defeated the beasts. Right off the bat we're introduced to your typical spineless boy pilot and your snotty pig-headed girl pilot. Obviously, they're going to fall in love with one another thus causing serious turmoil and mechanical angst. The kids are part of a small group called the Humanoid Walking Tank Unit 5121 and their job is to fight the Phantom Beasts. Never having any actual field experience, Unit 5121 is suddenly deployed into an all out battle where they're forced to work as a team for leaders who could care less about their outcome. Gunparade March is like any other big fighting robot series. The characters are generic, the mecha designs are boring, and the overall situation of EXTREME PERIL is almost downright lame. I hope this one picks up because the cover made the series look like it was going to be pretty cool... if only the content had matched. |
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