comic review

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Lenni Reviews: “Tsumiki Ogami’s Not-So-Ordinary Life” Vol. 3, by Miyu Morishita

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

After the Sports Festival, it’s time for midterms, and Tsumiki needs to buckle down and study. Yutaka offers to help her, but after the exams are over, he sees less of her and the rest of his friends. He fears they will forget him if they can’t hang out.

Most of this is the kids enjoying their summer, and it’s a genuinely fun slice of life read. The background details of the other students and their unique traits – the invisible boy has some great scenes – are used to create some fun visual gags and touching moments. I’m glad it didn’t linger too long on Yutaka’s dilemma because it fits Tsumiki’s character to intervene, so he can’t brood about this. She solves shit like that ASAP. Similar to Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible or Komi Can’t Communicate, it’s nice to see the male lead come out of his shell. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Minky Woodcock: The Girl Called Cthulhu” by Cynthia von Buhler

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is suggested for mature readers. It has also been cross-posted to Otakus and Geeks.

Private detective Minky is hired by Aleister Crowley to help him dispel murder accusations. Her investigation spirals into not just murder but family secrets, conspiracy, dark mysticism, and covert military operations.

While I love me some pulp crime goodness with sex and murder, this felt like there were parts missing as if things had to be cut to stay within the page count. Understandable, plenty of good comics I read feel like that but the pace left me with the feeling of too many ideas and plot threads were thrown at me and breezed through before I could really enjoy them. I love Minky, a classic, clever femme fatale who knows what she wants and gets things done. If the overall story was smoother, I’d rate it higher, but I had fun reading this despite its flaws. It’s exciting, trippy, and quick-witted! 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Jungle Juice” Vol. 6, by Hyeong & Eun Juder

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

NEST is crippled, their supply of Cinderella is gone, but with some intel from Junhyeong, Suchan and the other students plot to take the fight to Breeder’s location.

While another action-packed volume, this one does take the time to slow down for a moment to take in the big changes that happen as a result of them going up against Breeder. No spoilers, but Suchan is altered by the end of it, and it’s something that I can see either being a huge threat later or a chance to see him cleverly turn things to his advantage. He seems to be the type of protagonist to do the latter. I’d rather see that than the ole ‘power of friendship’ angle. The threat is ramping up, and I am really intrigued to see where this goes. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Jungle Juice” Vol. 5, by Juder & Hyeong Eun

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

The Pet Shop attacks Nest, spreading their forces to distract the students long enough to target Professor J.

These kids are powerful, and the action is top-notch, but this was a brutal volume. Each time it looks like one side has the advantage, something turns the tide. It bordered on tedious, I just wanted some kind of resolution at some points but in the end it was worth it. It barely slows down before we’re launching into the next plot point. I was turning the pages so fast and I’m so glad I had the next volume ready next to me because I wasn’t ready to stop. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Ask and You Will Receive” Vol. 3, by Niyama

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

Shinobu and Hikaru have moved from one night stand to a more exclusive relationship. When Hikaru’s mentor – Osuke Ikurumi –  shows up, Shinobu is scared that Hikaru’s new interest in men will lead him to fall for the mentor Hikaru still idolises.

Okay, I’m spoiling it! This volume keeps up with the light tone, and Osuke is genuinely looking out for Hikaru and cares about him as a mentor. He wants Hikaru to be happy like a father figure coming in to make sure Shinobu is a guy good enough for his son. This gives Shinobu the push to make things more official. I hope there’s more of this series so we get more of them as an official couple. There is a tiny bit of angst, some cute and funny bits, and of course, plenty of smut. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Pink Candy Kiss” Vol. 3, by Ami Uozumi

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Takara decides to love Ema in her own way, believing that as long as Ema is happy, it doesn’t matter if there is no happy ending.

This volume shows that while Takara is smitten, she doesn’t know Ema like she used to. They do need to get to know each other again, and who knows where that will lead. Maybe she’ll realize Ema is better as just a friend more maybe she’ll fall even harder. That bittersweet tone is still present, especially since Ema’s husband is still just this decent dude who’s not only supportive of his wife but of Takara being back in her life to support Ema as well. Still not sure where this will go but there are clues.

3.5 out of 5

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Lenni Reviews: “Boy’s Abyss” Vol. 11, by Ryo Minenami

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is suggested for mature readers.

Akira recounts his time with Reiji’s mom, Yuko, and Yuri plots to get Reiji to come back to town.

Yuko is so twisted. I should have known she had some dark plan for keeping Yuri around because that’s just the horrid, manipulative person she is. I do have to admire this story for making me feel like the guy dying of cancer is the lucky one because he’s the most likely to be quit of all this toxic drama soon. I hope whatever Yuko has planned fails, and Reiji can be free too, only without having to die. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite” Vol. 5, by Julietta Suzuki

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

After the attack in the vampire bar, Amanatsu has been having nightmares, and Hina wants to cheer him up by taking him out for animal therapy. They run into Rinya, the voice actor for Hina’s favorite character, who is also long-lived and doesn’t understand why Hina is so enthusiastic after so much time.

This volume balances the silly and serious better and advances the relationship between our two main romantic leads. There are some new characters, and it was interesting for a second to see Hina wanting to protect Amanatsu, some actual lasting effects of the risks he’s taken, but still, it’s resolved too quickly for me. It seems like there should be more attention on that than the romantic drama. 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Red and the Wolves: A Graphic Novel” by Cherry Zong

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Red is a talented hunter tasked with protecting her Grandmother and helping to exorcize the Nawa in the dying forest around them. On a hunt, she meets Sil, a wolf girl who got caught in a trap. They become friends, but the threat of the rot spreading through the land still looms, and Red is plunged into a more serious threat than she could have imagined.

Far be it from me to turn town a witch fantasy comic. This one is beautiful and fun with some exciting moments, but as an avid reader, the twist wasn’t as shocking to me as it would be to someone less experienced in the genre. The lore and characters are so well done, and I am SO happy this was towards 400 pages. The story had plenty of time to breathe and is so well paced. The art style handles action, sprawling fantasy settings, and quiet moments with ease, and I highly recommend it. 4.8 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Monster and Ghost” Vol. 1, by Himemiko

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Koton Tsubaki is ostracized at school due to his violent past but there’s one being that doesn’t care: Yuuki Kabuto, a ghost that decides to follow him around.

I guess that’s as good a reason as any to refuse to move on. 

The pace of this feels off somehow, but for a boys’ love comic, it’s SO sad. It gets dark and violent. Tsubaki is just chronically misunderstood and since Kabuto is dead, he can see beyond the tough exterior and eases Tsubaki’s loneliness. The art is fantastic and there’s no smut. The story does suck you in so I do want to read volume 2. 3.7 out of 5.

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