comic review

atthequillsmercy

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

(Image Source)

*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.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

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

(Image Source)

*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.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “My New Wife’s Fake Smile” Vol. 1, by Kengo Matsumoto

(Image Source)

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

After a month of marriage, Sojiro’s wife, Chiyo, always sports a fake smile. As it’s an arranged marriage and he’s the second son, Sojiro vows to do his best to become the husband she deserves and make that smile real. However, he is totally unaware that Chiyo is desperately holding her intense feelings for him inside.

These two are a couple of goofballs who misunderstand each other but are still funny and nice to one another. It’s a light-hearted comedy that has potential in both good and bad ways. I can see these consistent misunderstandings getting repetitive in the long term if they don’t progress as a couple as more volumes pass. There are some serious moments as Sojiro is a samurai and gets into some sword fights, but this just means the art handles the sweet, the silly, and the fight scenes with no problem. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Colette Decides to Die” Vol. 4, by Alto Yukimura

(Image Source)

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

As Colette’s journey to her hometown continues, she encounters Hercules and spends time with her siblings. We learn more about all of them and their journey as healers.

Kotume is an adorable addition, and screw Posidon for being cruel to that precious little bean.

How can you be mean to that little face!!??

Other than that, this volume is mostly about Colette and Hades getting closer. There was the chance of a typical ‘beach episode,’ but she is such a hard worker that we skip that trope, and she spends the time learning unique skills from the healers near the sea. She adds these to her skill set before heading back to the underworld. This is the volume with the most negativity as some apprentices are nasty to Marie (Colette’s older sister) and the harsh treatment of Kotsume (an otter). It was a downer in the series for sure. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Colette Decides to Die” Vol. 3, by Alto Yukimura

(Image Source)

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

Dionysus makes an appearance as he’s one of many afflicted with a cold that’s going around. As thanks for treatment, he invites Hades and Colette to a banquet to get closer.

In addition to the banquet, we see more of Colette being an amazing apocathary and how deep her connection to the vilage goes. Again, this is one of those series where the romance and fantasy are great but Colette’s pure hearted and earnest dedication drives this story and is a pleasure to read. Seriously, the budding romance between Hades and Colette is such an afterthought in my mind. I could have the whole series just be about her and be totally fine with it. 4.5 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “I’m the Grim Reaper” Vol. 3, by Graveweaver

(Image Source)

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

As a result of interrupting an attempted robbery, Scarlet is revealed to be a reaper in order to save Chase’s life. They cut a deal, but Satan – as he says – always gets what he wants.

This volume dives heavily into the morals of what makes a sinner worthy of reaping, which kinda shows why Chase is marked. Even with his backstory, he’s a bit too keen on knocking people off. No wonder his ass got fired. This brought to mind The Good Place and what standards send souls where they need to go. Yeah, Scarlet has to kill at least one sinner to save herself from being sent to hell, but Chase’s “we’re gonna cleanse the world of evil” spiel is dangerous. They still make a great team and the battles are well done. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite” Vol. 4, by Julietta Suzuki

(Image Source)

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

After the cosplay shoot, Amanatsu gains a bit of fame when the photos are posted online, resulting in a forced date that triggers Viktor to trick Hina and Amanatstu to go back to Hina’s father.

This volume balances the silly and the serious better than the previous ones. It also builds up another person lurking in the background and shows that Hina is a force to be reckoned with, despite her adorable otaku nature. It’s nice to see them getting closer and having fun. I would like to see Hina come into her own while still being her goofy self, but it feels like we’re still getting the cast together for whatever plot points are coming up. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite” Vol. 3, by Julietta Suzuki

(Image Source)

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

Kyuta is still hiding his vampire status from his friends and when he and Hoshino luck into tickets for a hot spring, he sees it as a chance to come out.

Again, the super serious and super silly in this volume is jarring. Spoilers for this volume, but Hina and Amanatsu get hit by a fucking truck. But like the stalker, it was just kinda handwaved away, and we’re off to a cosplay photoshoot. Yes, it’s adorable and fun, watching Hina and Amanatsu do their little crush thing is cute, but excuse me? They were hit by a TRUCK. How can I take threats seriously in this series if that’s just not a bother? Hina I get is a vampire, but the volume has a time jump to when Amanatsu is just all better now! There could have been some interesting things to explore while he healed up with all these other supernatural people around him, but nope. It’s odd. 3 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite” Vol. 2, by Julietta Suzuki

(Image Source)

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

Victor is sent by Hina’s father as a new bodyguard, and he inserts himself into her life and invades Amanatsu’s space. Meanwhile, Hina helps with a school club at the school festival, where a creepy guy shows up who can resist Hina’s commands.

It’s interesting that this series keeps this weird levity along with some danger. But, you don’t need vampires to make some creep putting his hands on Hina and becoming obsessed with her, and I don’t think the levity offsets just how off-putting that was for me. The guy is a powerful stalker who doesn’t like the word no, the type of person that features in a lot of true crime stories too often to carry the fun parts of the comic with me when I finished it. 3 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Vagabond” Definitive Edition, Vol. 4, by Takehiko Inoue

(Image Source)

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

Musashi challenges the Yagyu school, not realizing that the wealthy patron who took in Otsu is the master of that school he wants to defeat.

It’s nice to see Otsu doing more than sitting and pining for Musasgu. She’s traveling with Jotaro after Musashi once again sets off on his own. Since she was staying with the Yagyu, she’s picked up a few things, so she’s not a complete damsel. She’s nowhere near the swordsmen like Musashi, which figures since she’s not on a mission to become the best like he is. 3.9 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.