horror

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Lenni Reviews: “Witching Hour” Vol. 1, by Paru Itagaki

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

Trapped in a marriage where they are only intimate to get pregnant, Megumi longs for a more fulfilling sex life. When a spirit manifests to satisfy her, her husband, Yuji, grows suspicious.

This is weird. At first I thought this would be kinda goofy, but it’s actually dark. Megumi is essentially cheating on her husband with a ghost; the consent is iffy, and while I understand this is just the first volume, it’s paced like it’s a one-shot. It’s rushed, and overall, this is a bit off-putting, and I don’t think it is in the way the author is intending. There’s gotta be a way for this premise to be done and work without giving me the ick. 2 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Mieruko-chan” Vol. 12, by Tomoki Izumi

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

As the new year starts, Miko runs into all sorts of spirits. Godmother Mitsue, Rom, and Seto make plans for the calamity that is to come.

When Seto says he’s “on the side of humanity” I am sure that’s gonna go to a dark place. This feels like a setup as we move toward the big baddie they’ll have to team up to defeat. As the series has gone on, harmless or good spirits have been peppered in with the horrific ones and I bet their mere existence is going to clash with Seto’s philosophy. I can see him trying to banish Miko’s dad’s spirit and she would NOT be happy about that. Also, Snowy is the epitome of creepy-cute and I want a plushie. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Mieruko-chan” Vol. 11, by Tomoki Izumi

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

Rom calls an old acquaintance for help, Seto, who is able to do so but his primary interest is Miko. Meanwhile, the girls go to a festival where someone from Yuria’s past is working.

I’ve probably said this before when reviewing this series but it’s really sad that Miko doesn’t get a break. Poor girl can’t even walk her brother home from school. Other than that, we seem to have (thankfully) left behind the generic fanservice and (not so thankfully) replaced it with yuri baiting between Michiru and Miko. Which is so weird, even as a running gag. I am intrigued by Seto and whatever his deal is, which I am totally okay with having more time than Miko tripping into Michiru over and over. 3.7 out of 5.

 

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Lenni Reviews: “Mieruko-chan” Vol. 10, by Tomoki Izumi

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

During a sleepover at Mieruko’s house, a power outage plunges the girls into darkness. Their visit ends when Yoh comes to claim her sister and bring her home.

This volume goes into Yoh and Michiru’s backstory to show why Yoh has her sister on such a short leash. It’s some nice development that ties right into Mieruko meeting with Rom about a new entity to be concerned about. I’m guessing, based on the ending, Mieruko’s group of spiritually gifted people is about to expand. It’s giving the same vibes as Dark Gathering, which would be an EPIC crossover. Since this volume is set around Christmas, there’s a touching side story to enjoy as well. 4.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Mieruko-chan” Vol. 9, by Tomoki Izumi

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

Despite her obsession with Mieruko, Michiru still only seems like a demon to her and Michiru’s sister, Yoh, watches over Michiru in a smothering way that gives Michiru no freedom.

Dear gods this art excels at being so very unsettling. The creature design has always been fantastic but showing how demented Yoh is and Michiru’s otherworldly air even when you can see her normal face is on a different level.  I love where this is going, too. Seeing Mieruko’s friend group grow (even if Michiru is a LOT) it’s nice to see. She doesn’t have many people who know about her abilities and I’m happy to see her with more support. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “After God” Vol. 10, by Sumi Eno

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

Tokinaga spills all his secrets behind his connection to Waka and how the world is how it is.

So, this is treading into Higurashi territory. Only I’m less confused this time around. I have to say, I don’t kn0w if I like this revelation that I’m going to do my best not to spoil. I am going to hold out and see what happens in the next volume to really see how it fits in with the previous volumes before I make a definitive judgement on it. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Heroes” by Inio Asano

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

After defeating the Great Darkness, our group of heroes begin their journey home only to face the fact that the darkness is not something to be contained.

This reminds me of the Big City Greens episode: Montaged, only this is DEEPLY disturbing and sad. Trigger warning for SA of a child – implied, not graphic. It starts off silly:

Since those character names did get a chuckle out of me. But then it descends into death and pain. I felt unsettled by the end, which is likely the point given the quote in this book:

Have something upbeat to read after this. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Bug Ego” Vol. 3, by ONE & Kiyoto Shitara

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

Yuki joins Kokudo and Hitsujiya in utilizing these hacks but hers discharges electric shocks. She uses is to capture a strange attacker that appears to be a puppet.

Now we really get to see these hacks in combat and some consequences for not quite doing a hack correctly. It’s trippy and fun; you never quite know what’s going to happen next. I can see how random things can be in this book get annoying or distracting but I had fun with this. The art really shines when things get trippy and otherworldly. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Mad Dog Morgan” by Adam Lawson, Brian Christgau & Maxi Dall’o

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

Mitchell “Mad Dog” Morgan is an indie wrestler hoping to make it big, but ends up at rock bottom. Drowning his sorrows in alcohol, he ends up squatting in a creepy house across the street from Hilda, a paraplegic who’s wrestling dreams were shattered by her mother’s addiction and is aware of the entities in that house.

The idea of a down-on-his-luck drunken wrestler punching demons in a haunted house sounds like old-school Sam Raimi, and I am so on board. I love the art; it’s very good at the squelching, gross parts. While this is gory good fun, the story feels unfocused and doesn’t smoothly merge in a way that felt satisfying to me. I thought Hilda would play a bigger role given we spend so much time on her backstory. I wouldn’t mind a follow-up to flesh things out a bit more. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Horror Picture Book: A Bad Book” by Miyuki Miyabe & Hisanori Yoshida

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

A Book of Bad Things tempts a young girl to open its pages.

Out of the three, this one is the least scary. They all have fantastic art:

But this book leans more into “creepy cute” than scary. Also, I can’t really see these as more than a seasonal coffee table set rather than something I’d return to and read over and over. They all would make for gorgeous displays or collectables. 3 out of 5.

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