Manga & Light Novels

Sep 03, 2018

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – Kase-san and Morning Glories by Hiromi Takashimi

Kase-san and Morning Glories
By: Hiromi Takashimi
Illustrator: Hiromi Takashimi
Translator: Jocelyne Allen (translator); Jenn Grunigen (adaptor)
Release Date: February 28, 2017 (English); July 28, 2012 (Japanese)
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: Kase-san Series
Rating:

I’m not going to lie. I was completely drawn in by the cute characters on the cover and the pretty pastel colors. I picked up this manga during a BookOutlet binge. I’d never heard of it before, and am very happy I managed to stumble across a copy. Kase-san and Morning Glories is a one shot manga volume that was extremely sweet with endearing characters.

Aug 28, 2018

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

Review – Ping Pong Dash! Vol 1 by Shingo Honda

Ping Pong Dash! Vol 1
By: Shingo Honda
Illustrator: Shingo Honda
Release Date: December 12, 2017
Publisher: Akita Publishing Co., Ltd
Series: Ping Pong Dash! #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

So. Sports manga. It’s a genre I’ve only recently began reading in earnest, and I have to say that I’m now a fan. Ping Pong Dash! Vol 1 by Shingo Honda is part sports manga and part contemporary school manga. It’s the story of a Yankee who winds up joining the tennis club and includes great ping pong matches, memorable main characters, and fight scenes. There’s a lot packed into this volume, and a lot to enjoy, so lets take a look at the first volume in this manga series. The story is about Haruku Tendo, a Yankee who winds up joining the ping pong club.

Aug 13, 2018

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

#MangaMonday Review – Hanger Vol 1 by Hirotaka Kisaragi

Hanger Vol 1
By: Hirotaka Kisaragi
Illustrator: Hirotaka Kisaragi; Philip Hong (Graphic Designer); Vibrraant Publishing Studio (Retouching & Lettering)
Translator: Christine Dashiell
Release Date: July 17, 2018
Publisher: TokyoPop
Series: Hanger
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

I was intrigued when I saw TokyoPop licensed a new manga, so I made sure I grabbed a copy as soon as I could. Hanger Vol 1 by Hirotaka Kisaragi is a yaoi near-future manga with just a hint of a buddy cop story feel at certain points.[/drocap]

Aug 06, 2018

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

#MangaMonday Review – My Hero Academia Vol 14 by Kohei Horikoshi

My Hero Academia Vol 14
By: Kohei Horikoshi
Illustrator: Kohei Horikoshi
Translator: Caleb Cook
Release Date: October 7, 2018
Publisher: VIZ Media
Series: My Hero Academia
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

Here we are. August has just begun which means another volume of My Hero Academia has just been released. Here we have the conclusion to the Licensing Exam Arc and the beginning of a new one. So settle in, grab some popcorn, and let’s delve into My Hero Academia Volume 14 by Kohei Horikoshi.

As with any long series, I can’t guarantee that this review will be completely devoid of spoilers. So do be warned before reading on.

Aug 05, 2018

Manga & Light Novels Throwback Thursday

Review – Vampire Hunter D: Demon Deathchase by Hideyuki Kikuchi

Vampire Hunter D Vol 3: Demon Deathchase
By: Hideyuki Kikuchi
Illustrator: Yoshitaka Amano
Translator: Kevin Leahy
Release Date: January 18, 2006 (English)
Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing/Dark Horse
Series: Vampire Hunter D
Rating:

These last few weeks I’ve been reading through the Vampire Hunter D series. This week I’ve read Vampire Hunter D Vol 3: Demon Deathchase by Hidekyuki Kikuchi.

Jul 30, 2018

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

#MangaMonday Review – Sota’s Knife Vol 1 by Yuichiro Sueda

Sota's Knife Vol 1
By: Yuichiro Sueda
Illustrator: Kei Honjo
Release Date: July 4, 2018
Publisher: Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha, Ltd.
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

After reading Food Wars! and Space Battle Lunch Time, two extremely different food based stories, I’ve made it a point to seek out more food based manga and graphic novels. When I had a chance to read Sota’s Knife Vol. 1 by Yuichiro Sueda and Kei Honjo I jumped on it. Sota’s Knife is a wonderful manga about hard work, following your dreams, and food. Sota is a dishwasher at a restaurant run by a prominent chef. One day, Sota hopes to be just as good a cook as him, but for now he’s at the bottom of the ladder trying to gain the skills he’ll need to climb upward.

Jul 23, 2018

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

#MangaMonday Review – Tokyo Tarareba Girls, Vol 1 by Akiko Higashimura

Tokyo Tarareba Girls Vol 1
By: Akiko Higashimura
Illustrator: Akiko Higashimura; Rina Mapa (Lettering)
Translator: Steven LeCroy
Release Date: June 12, 2018; (original) September 12, 2014
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Series: Tokyo Tarareba Girls
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

You’ve probably read (or watched) Princess Jellyfish. But have you read Tokyo Taraeba Girls by Akiko Higashimura?

Jul 16, 2018

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

Review – Karate Heat Vol 1 by Eiichi Kitano

Karate Heat
By: Eiichi Kitano
Illustrator: Eiichi Kitano
Release Date: June 19, 2018
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Series: Karate Heat
Rating:

I like shonen. I also like sports manga. Although, to be honest, I like just about all manga. This week I started a new series titled Karate Heat by Eiichi Kitano, a title I was previously unfamiliar with. This is a shonen manga about karate, hard work, and friendship.

Jul 09, 2018

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

Review – Go For It, Nakamura! by Syundei

Go For It, Nakamura!
By: Syundei
Illustrator: Syundei; Kaitlyn Wiley (lettering and layout)
Translator: Amber Tamosaitis (translator); Shannon Fay (adaptation)
Release Date: July 3, 2018
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: Go For It, Nakamura
Rating:

Go For It, Nakamura! was a very adorable manga. It’s a cute slice-of-life boy’s love comedy story. The main character is Nakamura, a high schooler who fell instantly in love with the cute, outgoing boy in his class on the first day of school. Unfortunately, Nakamura doesn’t know Hirose, not really. His goal? Overcome his shyness and klutzy habits, introduce himself, and become Hirose’s friend. After that, well, maybe then he can confess his true feelings.

Jun 11, 2018

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

Review – Devilman: The Classic Collection Vol. 1 by Go Nagai

Devilman: The Classic Collection Vol 1
By: Go Nagai
Translator: Zack Davisson; Adrienne Beck
Release Date: May 22, 2018
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: Devilman: The Classic Collection
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

I love reading classic manga. Too often these are the manga that have shaped the industry we know today, but haven’t been published in English for decades, or sometimes never at all. Now, all that seems to be changing, and I am making sure to read as many as these fantastic manga as possible. Devilman: The Classic Collection Vol 1 by Go Nagai is a fantastic horror manga that has truly stood the test of time.