manga review

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Lenni Reviews: “Wolf Girl and Black Prince” Vol. 6, by Ayuko Hatta

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

Erika is excited to spend summer break with Kyoya and makes a bunch of plans only to end up spending time with Kyoya’s family; his mother and sister, and working at a cafe to help drum up some business.

I wouldn’t call Kyoya a green flag just yet. He’s coming around from the issues he clearly needs to work through but he’s not as mean and aggressive as he has been. I can actually enjoy them interacting, the little misadventures, and their relationship in general without that ick making me want to scream at Erika to run in the opposite direction as fast as she can. She still needs to come down out of the clouds a bit and, in my opinion, the maid cafe thing was dumb and forced. It can be funny but here, it was silly. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reivews: “Is Love the Answer?” by Uta Isaki

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High schooler Chika believes something is wrong with her because she’s never fallen in love and has no desire for intimacy; unlike her peers who incessantly talk about it. In college, she finally realizes there is nothing wrong with her at all.

While I get the goal of this manga is to teach the reader about how sexuality is a spectrum and you don’t have to claim a label and live in it forever, it doesn’t do it quite as well as Love’s in Sight or Perfect World. It has a lot of exposition and I got the feeling of being talked at rather than going on the same journey as Chika. It’s not bad but I think it could have been smoother in that respect. It’s probably not really fair to compare a series that has a bunch of time to grow rather than this small collection, though. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “The Summer Hikaru Died” Vol. 2, by Mokumokuren

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

After warnings from a local woman, Rie, Yoshiki struggled to resist keeping Hikaru in his life. Meanwhile, there are adults in the village are aware of some unknown entity living in the mountains.

While there is still that feeling of overall sadness, this volume is more of Yoshiki getting to know this new Hikaru while also letting us know what happened to the real Hikaru. There’s also whatever is goign on with Yoshiki’s little sister, Koaru. She can see spirits and isn’t going to school for some reason the small town is gossiping around to figure out. I like this series. It’s building up well. Like “Erased” but with less murder (so far). 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Yakuza Lover” Vol. 12, by Nozomi Mino

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

Things with Yuri’s family didn’t go well and now, Oya’s mother summons Yuri to give her the truth about what it’s like being a woman of the yakuza.

The final volume brushes aside it’s premise so fast and throws in this random thing with Oya losing his eyesight? That’s never resolved? Then they get married and she’s pregnant: the end. There, I just saved you the time reading this. Watching Yuri prove herself to Oya’s mother would have been awesome to see. Maybe even, oh, I dunno, show the dark side of being a yakuza wife? Any danger it might put her in? Put her family in even though they’re not involved with a dangerous crime organization? Nope. That’s a criticism I’ve had for this whole series. Where there were chances to really go somewhere, it turned into just fluff. 2 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “The Summer Hikaru Died” Vol. 1, by Mokumokuren

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Hikaru went missing in the mountains for a week and while his friend, Yoshiki, is glad he was found, Yoshiki knows whatever came back is not Hikaru despite wearing his body.

While the mystery of the thing currently living inside Hikaru is intriguing and the main reason why I hadda grab this series, most of this is really sad since we’re watching Yoshiki deal simultaneously deal with his grief and the threat this new entity may pose. Sadness just permeates every inch of this volume; even the thing inside Hikaru laments the fact that Hikaru is really dead and has taken his place. And when I say “sad” I don’t mean like Boy’s Abyss where it’s sad and dark. Unless some darkness is on the way in future volumes but this is an interesting start. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead” Vol. 13, by Haro Aso & Kōtarō Takata 

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

Shizuka has been bitten and the race is on to treat her before she turns. The facility with the means to treat her turns out to be full of hidden secrets and dangers.

Calling the sinister organization The Umbriel Corporation gave me a giggle. I’ll admit it. Other than that, this volume feels more like a typical zombie story: finding the cure, maybe a vaccine, secret evil corporation, battling manufactured giant mutated creatures made from the zombie virus, all that good stuff. The run part is really the characters that bring some originality and keep this series fun. I won’t spoil things but even the new additions have their unique charms despite falling back into the traditional zombie story tropes. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Love Nest 2nd” Vol. 2, by Yuu Minaduki

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

While still keeping their relationship a secret, Masato and Asahi take a trip during the holidays to see Masato’s mother; who introduces Asahi as his friend. While he believes that one day his mother will take the news well, Asahi’s past comes back to haunt him.

It’s understandable for Masato not to come out right away but yeah, his mom doesn’t seem the type to want anything more than for her son to be happy. There are a few bumps in the relationship; like Asahi’s concerns about having too many feels but it’s not heavy on the angst. It’s all things that are worked out with earnest conversations and a healthy sprinkling of smut to make a sweet story about two people slowly opening up more to each other. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “The Way of the Househusband” Vol. 11, by Kousuke Oono

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

In this volume, the hijinks include a visit to a theme park, a family cafe that becomes a bar at night, a new camera, a rare drink that has Tatsu hooked, and they acquire some high quality steaks.

It’s still so amusing to have these tough looking characters try and interact with normal people and situations. The way that juxtaposition is written has great comedic timing so even 11 volumes in, it’s still gives me a chuckle and is a lot of fun to read. Especially getting your hands on some good quality steaks. I know that feeling of getting something special to eat and wanting it to be savored as well as possible. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “My Special One” Vol. 5, by Momoko Koda

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

While Kouta is temporarily teaching at Sahoko’s school, Akutagawa toys with them with threats to out their relationship and tries to turn Sahoko’s attention away from Kouta.

Once whatever Akutagawa stopped with whatever he thought he was doing (I don’t quite get giving this much of a fuck about someone else’s relationship like he does), the rest of the volume is just Sahoko and Kouta just enjoying being together; even Kouta formally telling Sahoko’s mother they’re officially dating. He’s come a long way from the closed off person he was at the start of this series. His turn from swearing off any relationships at all to being so earnest and caring is really sweet. 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Choujin X” Vol. 5, by Sui Ishida

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

Tokio, Ely, and Azuma go to Beast Isles to train, a place owned by the Yamato Mori. They get attacked and taken to see the founder of the Yamato Mori, Sora Siruha.

This volume was really interesting. There’s plenty of action and some funny moments but I don’t know how I feel about this big chosen one prophesy thing. I like the little twist on it but the previous volumes had the theme of maybe the chosen one thing isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Tokio is trying hard to find his way  because he always saw Asuma as a sort of chosen one but he got powers and has to work very hard to be competent; much less a golden child. I dunno, we’ll see. 4 out of 5.

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