comic

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Hirayasumi” Vol. 3, by Keigo Shinzō

(Image Source)

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

After Natsumi’s manga wins an award, she goes to meet with an editor for a publishing company. Yomogi has a particularly picky client looking for an apartment who she runs into outside of work and Hideki comes to visit with his wife, Saki, and their baby.

As the cast grows a bit more, we have some delightful introspection that doesn’t come off as pretentious. These are real thoughts a person may have about life, love, their job, their future… All very natural and relatable. And there’s a series of fart jokes that are funnier than they have any right to be. What worries me about this series is if Hiroto will eventually be forced to lose his chill or become a “regular” person and lose that go with the flow lightness he exudes. I don’t want him to get a reality check. I want him to enjoy his life. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “The Way of the Househusband” Vol. 13, by Kousuke Oono

(Image Source)

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

In this volume, our favorite househusband:

  • Deals with a wild boar in town
  • Has a nice late-night snack with his wife
  • Goes ice skating
  • Plays shogi with a kid named An
  • Deals with seasonal allergies
  • Helps search for a lost person
  • Has an encounter with a recently released gang member
  • Wife goes through his books to see what he reads
  • Goes camping
  • Makes pancakes

All the typical humor I’ve come to expect from this series is here and it’s so much fun. I’m also loving the side plot of crafty yakuza wanting to defeat Tatsu using their woodworking, sewing, and pottery skills. I can’t get enough of all this intensity put towards mundane tasks which I thought might get old 13 volumes in but it still gets a chuckle out of me. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovn.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “After God” Vol. 3, by Sumi Eno

(Image Source)

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

Just as Waka learns what god is inside her (Alura), things change when a mission ends in the deaths of several Institute members. In the chaos, a traitor is revealed.

This is a very twisty volume and by that I mean it has a bunch of twists in it. Not to spoil anything but there’s a lot of “this guy is really working for THIS guy” and “this guy is disguised as THIS guy” or this guy is dead, NOPE he’s not!” It’s not bad; it feels fast-paced and dripping with dramatic intrigue. If you’ve been waiting for a bunch of lore about Waka and Alura, that takes a back seat for a bit but it’s still action-packed. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “My Special One” Vol. 9, by Momoko Koda

(Image Source)

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

Sahoko and Kata go on a trip with Emiko tagging along, wishing Kanato could be there with her.

It starts off with the trip but the standout here is Emiko freaking out about being intimate with Kanato but she’s a virgin. These two are gonna rot my teeth they’re so sweet. They still have a few misunderstandings but it’s nowhere near as bad as when they first were trying to get together. It’s an entire volume about how lovey-dovey they are and while sweet, it’s very slice of life. 3 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Fist of the North Star” Vol. 16, by Buronson & Tetsuo Hara 

(Image Source)

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

Ken and Kaioh face off for the final time and we learn more backstory about how the successor to the Hokuto Shinken was ultimately chosen.

Yeah, we know Ken wins and now he’s the last of the bloodline. He takes in Ryu, Lord Raoh’s son, and the story goes back to defeating shitty bandits that take advantage of desperate people. Now, when I say “shitty” I don’t mean the narrative, I mean the characters themselves as they kill innocents on a whim and enslave children. And it’s always good to see jerks like that get their comeuppance. 3.9 out of 5 for the fantastic fight scenes in this volume.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Face Meat” by Bonten Taro & Ryan Holmberg

(Image Source)

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

This book is an anthology of horror stories that give a very pulp magazine, “Tales from the Crypt” vibe. While the stories are short, they pack a punch. Some of the art is colorized and some is black and white but there is plenty of blood and gore typical of the genre. There is a bit of nudity thrown in there but it’s not overdone. It’s fits the exploitation sort of feeling these usually give off. There’s ghosts, yokai, and all sorts of supernatural creatures told in a rapid fire fashion so for me, this read really fast. If you’re in to pulp fiction, this is an awesome collection and totally worth the read. 4.9 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Kinky Karrot Presents: Off The Beaten Path” by Marie Sann & Yann Krehl

(Image Source)

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

Lizzy moves to the city for school, getting busy with studying, job hunting, and getting to know her roommate, Elva. Still reeling from a breakup, she visits a sex shop which opens her up to exploring her sexuality.

When this synopsis says “explores her sexuality” it fucking means it. Dildos of all kinds, threesomes, S&M, shibari, men, women, dress up; anything and everything she’s comfortable doing. If you’re a prude, don’t bother with this book. The art style and soft colors are in stark contrast to the subject matter which, I gotta say, is all consensual and safe. Protection is used and safe words are respected. It’s not bad but since it’s so short (136 pages) not much time is spent on each thing she tries and the entire plot around work and school gets tossed aside. Lizzy flies through all these so fast but the candor surrounding everything was appreciated. 3.5 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Roihu” by Kutikuti

(Image Source)

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

This graphic novel is a collection of Finnish comics; 12 different stories spanning a wide variety of genres and I’m just gonna say it up front: Fuck this book for inflicting the image of what has to be a very young girl masturbating on me. Ew, why, and NO. Overall this book gave me whiplash. One second you’re reading about a woman trying to calm her thoughts with yoga and the next is the graphic birth of a demon baby. I will give this collection an ounce of credit for the varying art styles which are creative but the stories are too short to amount to much and again, fuck you for that scene that’s now in my brain. 1 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Everything Is Fine, I’ll Just Work Harder: Confessions of a Former Badass” by Cara Gormally

(Image Source)

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. Trigger warning for sexual assault.

Cara is a hard worker. She never skips a run, has plenty of projects and papers to work on, and a solid relationship with her partner. Things are going great until her rapist sends her a friend request. As she spirals, Cara returns to therapy to work through her trauma.

I love how emotions pour through the pages even with the simple art style. In fact, I think keeping the art simple works perfectly. This is one person’s deeply personal journey dealing with her rape and tells you what she wants you to know candidly and at her own comfort. Not to even attempt to judge but I get a strong feeling just from the book that this was cathartic to create and while not an easy read (I can see this triggering some for obvious reasons) I respect this book. 4.9 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “I Wanna Do Bad Things with You” Vol. 4, by Yutaka

(Image Source)

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

When Soshi falls ill during their study session, Kei goads Mamori into taking care of him. Unsure of herself, Mamori asks Ichika – Soshi’s intended fiancee – to assist her and they all end up staying over to study for the upcoming exams.

In addition to the study session and sleep-over shenanigans, we get some back story on Mamori’s mother and more of Soshi and Koichi’s father; who both suck. The dad just needs a mustache to twirl and the mom is a dismissive, unsupportive, absentee parent. This makes Mamori and Soushi’s friendship a breath of fresh air. They’re just the right amount of clueless and innocent to keep me entertained and empathize with them. I’m attached enough to them to be so glad they have each other since their parents are so terrible. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.