Why You Should Read Boyfriends. by Refrainbow

Webcomics aren’t exactly a new medium. These web-based comics are very popular with both artists and readers, and they have some of the absolute best artists and writers working on them. Sites like WEBTOON have become enormous powerhouses with award-winning webcomics and huge industry names on their platform. But this isn’t about the webcomics industry as a whole. Today I want to talk about the webcomic Boyfriends.

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#MangaMonday – How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? by Yabico Sandrovich and MAAM

How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? Vol. 1
By: Yabico Sandrovich
Illustrator: MAAM (Illustrator); Courtney Williams (Lettering)
Translator: Wesley O'Donnell (Translator); Samn Mitchell (Adaptation)
Release Date: November 19, 2019
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


With an anime adaptation released at nearly the same time, How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? Vol. 1 by Yabako Sandrovich and MAAM was a contemporary manga that certainly didn’t escape notice. Sakura is a teenager who loves food but doesn’t love her waistline. When she begins going to the gym, she finds student council president Akemi there as well. The duo quickly go from awkward and unsure to gym buddies under the tutelage of their trainer, Machio.

Review – The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss

The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss
By: Amy Noelle Parks
Website: https://amynoelleparks.com/
Release Date: January 5th, 2021
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Rating:


When I saw this book cover on NetGalley I found it cute and simple, a clean cover that drew my eye. A cute story about the chaos around teenage romance made me feel like it was a good idea to jump into a less serious story.

Caleb and Evie have been friends for years, best friends, but everyone around them feels that they have to be more than friends. Evie has never really been interested in dating, instead focusing on her love of math (I can’t relate) and her struggles with anxiety (100% can relate).

When a new guy shows up suddenly Caleb is in a panic, realizing that maybe is finally interested in dating but not dating him. The truth comes out – Caleb is in love. Here comes the love triangle.

#MangaMonday Review – Given, Vol. 2 by Natuski Kizu

Given Vol. 2 by Natsuki Kizu Given Vol. 2
By: Natsuki Kizu
Illustrator: Natsuki Kizu (illustrations); Sabrina Heep (Touch-up Art & Lettering)
Translator: Sheldon Drzka
Release Date: May 12, 2020
Publisher: SuBLime
Series: Given
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Published for the first time in English in February 2020, Given is a series that has quickly climbed to the top of my ‘I need to read every volume right now’ list. Given, Vol. 2 by Natsuki Kizu is a fantastic second volume of an un-put-down-able series that received an anime adaptation in 2019 and is available to watch on Crunchyroll and VRV.

#MangaMonday – Given, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Kizu

Given, Vol. 1
By: Natsuki Kisu
Illustrator: Natsuki Kisu (illustrations); Sabrina Heep (Touch up art & lettering)
Translator: Sheldon Drzka
Release Date: February 11, 2020
Publisher: VIZMedia: SuBLime
Series: Given
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Given, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Kizu is a phenomenal new series manga fans will absolutely want to pick up. This is a BL slice of life story about Ritsuka Uenoyama and Mafuyu Sato, an un-put-down-able series that received an anime adaptation in 2019 and is available to watch on Crunchyroll and VRV.

#MangaMonday Review – Downfall by Inio Asano

Downfall Inio Asano Downfall
By: Inio Asano
Illustrator: Inio Asano
Translator: Jocelyn Allen
Release Date: February 18, 2020`
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Where do you go after you finish the greatest work of your life? What lies past the completion of your life’s work? How do you find it? How do you live up to the world’s expectations, let alone your own? These are the questions poised within Downfall by Inio Asano, the Eisner nominated author of the series Solanin and Goodnight Punpun. This is a single-volume manga as opposed to the much more common series length manga works.

#MangaMonday Review – Wave, Listen to Me! by Hiroaki Samura

Wave, Listen to Me! Vol. 1
By: Hiroaki Samura
Illustrator: Hiroaki Samura (Illustrations); Darren Smith (Lettering)
Translator: Adam Hirsch
Release Date: May 26, 2020
Publisher: Kodansha
Series: Wave, Listen to Me!
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


If you have been enjoying anime’s Spring 2020 season, you might be interested in the first volume of manga series Wave Listen to Me! by Hiroaki Samura, whose previous series include Blade of the Immortal and Die Wegelder.

#MangaMonday Review – A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Vol. 2 by Makoto Hagino

A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Vol. 2 A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Vol. 2
By: Makoto Hagino
Illustrator: Makoto Hagino (Illustrations); Eve Grandt (touch-up & lettering)
Translator: John Werry
Release Date: February 11, 2020
Publisher: Viz Media
Series: A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow #2
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


A lovely yuri manga by Makoto Hagino, A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Vol. 2 is a slow-burn contemporary romance that’s sure to give you the warm fuzzies. This volume follows the 2019 English release of volume 1, and the original Japanese release in 2017 by Kadokawa.

#MangaMonday – Kakushigoto: My Dad’s Secret Ambition, Vol. 1 by Koji Kumeta

Kakushigoto: My Dad's Secret Ambition Vol. 1 Kakushigoto: My Dad's Secret Ambition, Vol. 1
By: Koji Kumeta
Illustrator: Koji Kumeta (illustrations); Kyle Ziolko (lettering)
Translator: Kevin Gifford
Release Date: March 17, 2020
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Series: Kakushigoto: My Dad's Secret Ambition
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


A wonderful story filled with funny happenstances and heartwarming moments, Kakushigoto by Koji Kumeta, is sure to bring some joy to your bookshelves. Koji Kumeta is also the talent behind two other series, Katteni Kaizo and Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei. Kakushigoto is set for an anime adaptation airing this spring, April 2020 from Funimation.

#MangaMonday Review – The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 2 by Kousuke Oono

The Way of the Househusband Vol. 2 by Kousuke Oono The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 2
By: Kousuke Oono
Release Date: January 1, 2020
Publisher: Viz Media LLC
Series: The Way of the Househusband #2
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


The second volume of Kousuke Oono’s The Way of the Househusband is a fantastic follow-up to last year’s English release of volume 1. This humorous, contemporary manga was originally published in Japan beginning in 2018. The series focuses on Tatsu, the Immortal Dragon, a legendary, well-known Yakuza who’s turned over a new leaf. Reformed and married to a working woman, Tatsu is now a househusband, attacking everyday chores and errands with all of the fervor and gusto befitting a former Yakuza.