RIGHT TURN ONLY!!
Sugar Rush
by Liann Cooper,
Buy It Now!  Tomoko Hayakawa Released by Del Rey October 2004 $10.95 US Most girls would consider it a blessing to have four totally gorgeous guys as their housemates. It'd be even better if the sole purpose of those guys was to shower you with endless affection and turn you into a beautiful fashionista. Unfortunately, horror movie-addict and ragamuffin Sunako Nakahara doesn't see it this way. She sees the four “creatures of the light” as, quite possibly, one of the worst things to ever have happen to her. Worse is that her aunt cut the boys a deal – make Sunako beautiful and they can live in her mansion for free! Like it or not, Sunako's life is about to be tossed from reclusive to exclusive and readers will find themselves strangely addicted to the nosebleed hijinks that occur between the characters. In fact, if it weren't for the characters (mainly Sunako and lead guy Kyohei), The Wallflower would be just that—a wallflower; because you know plot is hardly ever the driving force behind an “ugly duckling” series. For being the first volume, this moves quickly having Sunako transform from she-monster to babe-a-licious, allowing readers to direct their attention towards the developing relationship between Sunako and Kyohei. Artistically, I've seen prettier, but the way in which each situation is approached is so amusingly priceless that you won't mind the mediocre art. This is especially helpful in distracting you from the fact that the guys are supposed to be fifteen-year-olds. Yes... they're only fifteen. Regardless, whether it's Sunako's heavenly boy descriptions or the characters' over- exaggerated emotional responses, The Wallflower will undoubtedly sprinkle its goofy charm over even the toughest critic.  Kyouko Hikawa Released by Viz October 2004 $9.99 US Let me just say that for a series that's over ten years old, From Far Away looks pretty darn good. Sure, the character designs are typical for its day and age, and at times scenes are sparsely illustrated, but find me a series that doesn't have a problem from time to time! Cookie cutter only in design, From Far Away drops all generics within the first couple of pages by having the heroine, Noriko, teleport to a strange land via an exploding paper bag. As with any good fantasy shoujo series, our leading lady wakes up to find herself on the menu of giant, drooling, carnivorous worms. Not to worry, because she's soon rescued by a long-haired Takahiro Seguchi Released by ADV Manga November 2004 $9.99 US I don't know about anyone else, but Shoko Takaku Released by Digital Manga Publishing September 2004 $12.95 US I know you were all wondering when this week's Tamayo Akiyama Released by Tokyopop November 2004 $9.99 US If you stared at this book and wondered why the heck Subaru and Miyuki are fighting aliens, be confused no longer. Hyper Rune is by ex-CLAMPer Tamayo Akiyama, clearly explaining why every character looks like they're straight out of any Tatsuro Nakanishi Released by ADV Manga November 2004 $9.99 US Anything that requires multiple readings but still doesn't make itself any less confusing afterwards automatically loses brownie points with me. Fortunately, Dream Gold has enough pros that outweigh its “Wha... ?” factor to keep it from falling completely into the red. At first glance, the book's “Wha... ?” factor is readily apparent due to the funky character designs and futuristic setting. We're first introduced to genius-boy Kurorot Jio Clocks, who looks rather like an emaciated version of Ban from Mizuo Shinonome Released by ADV Manga November 2004 $9.99 US The title, “Princess Tutu” practically screams pink sugary goodness out to readers. Are you all ready to hear a secret? *whispers* Princess Tutu really is “pink, sugary goodness!” (Though, I have to it that it's more “pink sugar” than “goodness.”) The saccharin drip begins with the klutzy introduction of wannabe ballerina Ahiru Arima. She wants nothing more than to be a graceful dancer, and dreams of someday dancing in the spotlight with her “prince.” Unfortunately, since Ahiru doesn't possess a drop of grace, the idea of becoming a professional dancer is destined to remain a dream. Naturally, some sort of miracle has to befall our heroine because she can't trip through the entire series as a clumsy fool. Following the mahou shoujo checklist to the tee, Princess Tutu fulfills the requisite “acquire magical item via miracle encounter” by page 13. After receiving an egg-shaped pendant, Ahiru attains the ability to transform into the graceful Princess Tutu. The saccharin drip completes its course by revealing that Ahiru's mission as Princess Tutu is to collect all the pieces of her “Prince's” memories through use of powerful spins and leaps. Someone's going to have to collect my memories because my brain did a defensive memory dump after this sugar rush to the head. Butt-kicking ballerinas and clueless princes – I just don't think the world is ready for this. Rumor has it that Princess Tutu shapes up to be an unconventionally good series, but right now it's just your typical magical girl drivel. Don't take this one straight up. Use it as a chaser to your favorite series instead.  Shinsuke Kurihashi Released by ComicsOne October 2004 $9.95 US Time and time again, it's been proven that manga adaptations never turn out as well as the anime on which they're based. It's even more difficult to create a successful adaptation from a series that's only mediocre to begin with. Enter the latest manga adaptation victim, Infinite Ryvius. Taking place in the year 2225 A.D., Infinite Ryvius is about a group of kids who, due to the sudden death of ALL of the adults on board, have just been placed in the position of piloting a highly advanced spaceship called the Ryvius. Floating aimlessly through space, the eldest (teenagers, of course) take charge and organize a rescue plan. Actually, the “rescue” is never really addressed in the manga. In fact, nothing concerning the plot is ever explained. Readers are forced to operate solely under assumption, probably due much to the fact that half of the series is crammed into this one volume. Characters, while nicely drawn, randomly appear and you're just expected to know who they are and what they do. This makes it virtually impossible for the reader to connect with the characters or sympathize with their plight... because you don't even know what the plight is! Plowing forward at breakneck speed, unless you've already seen Infinite Ryvius, you're going to have a difficult time understanding the manga. If you decide to pick this one up, prepare yourself for one heck of a hasty and jumbled ride.  Yuki Kiriga Released by Broccoli Books Sepetember 2004 $9.99 US Heads up, because the most notorious of catgirls is on the prowl yet again! After destroying the shop Gamerz (which is her place of employment) with her laser eye beams, Dejiko is ordered by her manager to find the “secret treasure of prosperity.” Accompanied by her rival, bunny gal Takehito Mizuki Released by ComicsOne November 2004 $9.95 US Cosplay... maids... .wacky hijinks. NEED I SAY MORE?! These are the things that make up one of two things: 1. An otaku's messed-up, fetish-filled dream. 2. A sane person's worst nightmare. For my purposes, we're going to go with choice #2. The nightmare begins in Chobits-like fashion by having a young man named Takaya Murase purchase a robot companion. He desires a “companion” so that he can have a life-size, walking, talking, dress-up doll parade around in cute costumes for his brainless enjoyment. For some reason he ends up purchasing a maid robot, designed for servitude rather than for entertainment and companionship. Much to Murase's disappointment, all maid robot Yui wants to do is “serve” him and much to his chagrin, she doesn't feel that includes modeling stupid outfits. So, what's the plot you ask? Here's what's neat about Indian Summer... .there is no plot! All 170 pages consist of Murase trying to get Yui to cosplay and then Yui vehemently protesting. Wait, I did forget to mention something. Towards the end of the book, two new maids the Murase's household adding in the super exciting twist of... wait for it... jealousy! Not even the artwork can save Indian Summer. Except for the cover, a majority of the book's illustrations look like sloppy sketches. Someone please hand me a spoon because I need to scoop my brain back into my head. Ouch. |
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