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Tag Archives: manga reviews

Lenni Reviews: “Junji Ito’s Dissolving Classroom” by Junji Ito

15 Tuesday Aug 2017

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New kid in town Yuuma Azawa introduces himself to his new class then immediately apologizes. And keeps apologizing… All the time. Keiko Arisu feels bad for him and befriends him but she didn’t realize Yuuma has an evil little sister, Chizumi. She tells Keiko Yuuma apologizes because he has summoned the devil and feels power when he says sorry to the demon. Oh, it also melts your brain so Chisumi can eat it.

When will I learn? Junji Ito = brain searing terror. From the mind that gave the world Uzumaki and Museum of Terror comes this equally horrid tale of two evil siblings who destroy everything around them. This surreal collection of stories about them is supposed to be “a literal interpretation of the ills that plague modern society” but I’m not seeing it. Is it apologizing too much? There is something to be said for apologizing for no reason or for the same thing over and over because in time the act and the words lose all meaning. But even without digging for interpretation, it’s a gloomy, creepy, SUPER GROSS bit of horror and is a classic example of Ito’s work. I give this book a 4 out of 5; taking a point away to punish it for my nightmares.

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Lenni Reviews: “Jackass” vol 1 by Scarlet Beriko

11 Friday Aug 2017

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

*This review is cross-posted to Otakus and Geeks.

Keisuke lives with his sister boisterous sister, Akiko, and walks to school with his best friend Katsumi. Katsumi is openly gay and scandalously dating the school nurse and Keisuke finds this out when he accidentally stumbles upon them kissing in the nurses’ office. Akiko’s pantyhose had gotten tangled up in Keisuke’s school uniform so Shinoda, Keisuke’s best friend, offers to cover for him by taking him to the nurses’ office but when Shinoda sees Keisuke’s runner’s legs in the pantyhose, he can’t help but touch them. But what starts off as simple touching turns to more for Keisuke.

This is a very sexy friends to lovers story with asides to some other relationships; including a boy who bullies Katsumi for being gay who of course is doing so because he has a crush. All the conflicts are handled logically and nothing ever blows up into horrid dramatics; like the whole school turning on Katsumi because he’s in a relationship with a staff member. And for an uke, Katsumi is a strong, assertive character. He may be young and sweet but when backed into a corner, Katsumi doesn’t wait for a savior. Things play out in ways where you can see real people making these decisions.

The art is well done and all the sex scenes are so detailed you will blush while reading. And all the encounters are CONSENSUAL! So, you actually can connect with these pairings and want to see them happy. Great manga, despite being a little confusing when it starts out. 3.7 out of 5 and keep em coming!

This title is scheduled for release on October 10th, 2017 from SuBLime.

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Lenni Reviews: “Devils’ Line” vol 6 by Ryo Hanada

10 Thursday Aug 2017

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The new guy, Ishimaru, is working on getting Zero Seven and Zero Nine to join up with Anzai and his group in exchange for information on Kikuhara. Zero Seven only agrees if he will exchange for details about the devil who killed her mother. But with the existence of devils now public knowledge, tensions are high and man known for advocating devil rights has a ‘mysterious’ house fire. When Anzai arrives at the scene, Kikuhara needles Anzai about his lost memories.

Zero Seven’s backstory is messed up and I still get this feeling that anyone who tells her about the devil that murdered her mother won’t be telling the whole truth; much like how everyone keeps dancing around what Anzai can’t remember about his childhood. I hope these reveals turn out to be worth is in the long run since there’s so much build up. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Smokin’ Parade” vol 1 by Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou

04 Friday Aug 2017

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Youkou lives in a world where if a person gets cybernetic limb transplants, they run a risk of turning into a mindless killer called a Spider as a possible side effect. He has spent most of his time caring for his sister, who lost both her legs, and he learns the hard way how bad such a transformation can be. When his sister goes insane, a group calling themselves the Jackalopes come to save him.

I learned after reading this that Kataoka is the creator of Deadman Wonderland, which explains the creepy-cute and gory style. Our main villain, Kurama, seems over the top for me right now. GIANT breasts, bathing in human viscera… She might as well have “I’m Evil” tattooed on her massive chest. If gore isn’t your thing, you will not like this manga but so far I do like the characters and I want to know more about how the limbs are making people insane. 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Happiness” vol 5 by Shuzo Oshimi

02 Wednesday Aug 2017

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Yuuki has left a trail of bodies in his wake and despite Nora’s best efforts, both she and Makoto are captured. Yukiko is still desperately searching for answers with Sakurane.

By the end of this volume, ten years have gone by and the only character we are certain is still alive is Yukiko; which is fine by me since she is my favorite.

I do have to take a moment to talk about the art in this volume. I’m also in the midst of reading Ajin and Tokyo Ghoul so when we get to the obligatory ‘experiment on the creature’ scene in Happiness, I love the different route of making the images trippy, twisted, and distorted. It’s exactly the sort of art I’ve come to adore from Oshimi. It’s very creative and creepy because we know that distortion is Makoto’s pain. Excellent. 4.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Higurashi: When They Cry” vol 26 by Ryukishi07 and Karin Suzuragi

27 Thursday Jul 2017

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Oh, you thought this story was over? Apparently not…

Rika has an accident and wakes up in an alternate timeline where there is no Hinamizawa Syndrome and the dam project was approved so the town will become a lake. Her friends are now virtual strangers and her parents are still alive. Rika must find the secret in this world and destroy it so she can get back to her preferred fragment.

This feels like a What If story rather than something that fits in with the overall story. It is an interesting way to see how the characters would have been different if they didn’t have to go through all the terrible things they did in the main story. Rika’s choice boils down to who’s happiness is more important; her own or her friends in that alternate world. This volume got a little preachy but not enough to put me off or derail the story. For what it is, it’s a decent diversion. But can this series be done now, please? 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Don’t Be Cruel” vol 5 by Yonezou Nekota

24 Monday Jul 2017

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

*This review is cross-posted to Otakus and Geeks.

Maya and Nemugasa have grown since the first volume and now are at the point in their relationship where they even wear couples rings. But Maya is getting some interesting networking contacts and Nemugasa finds himself getting jealous. At the same time, Shimakawa, who knew Maya as a child, sees an opportunity to make a move on Nemugasa behind Maya’s back.

Our main pair is a cute couple trying to figure out how their relationship is going now that they’re in college and if you forget how they started out, they are a couple you root for and want to see happy. The art is soft and flowy and I have to admit they toned down the sex scenes as compared to the first volume. It’s still explicit but more time is spent about their thoughts and search for jobs than boning. It’s still an ok series, though! 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Tokyo Ghoul” vol 12 by Sui Ishida

20 Thursday Jul 2017

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With cafe Anteiku in the Investigator’s cross-hairs, it’s all out war as Ken and his friends fight for their lives. Added in is some backstory on Investigator Juzo; a kid treated like a toy and a lab rat before being picked up by the Investigator organization.

A good chunk of this volume is the calm before the storm set up to show how much the players have to lose and tug at your heartstrings since a lot of them will likely die. With that kind of set up, I expected a lot more casualties in this installment. But the battle is left on a cliffhanger. Of course it’s no shock Ken is down to protect Anteiku and his friends.

Somehow, I bet Rize will get involved in this before the dust settles. A lot of time has been spent establishing her existence so it would be foolish to have that plot thread dangle with nothing to show for it. What we see here is awesome and what’s next is sure to be great. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Ajin: Demi Human” vol 9 by Gamon Sakurai

19 Wednesday Jul 2017

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Sato’s killing spree continues as the assault on this supposedly high security building and Kei’s plan falter. It seems Sato will follow through with eliminating everyone on his kill list despite all opposition.

I gotta hand it to this series. All the powers these demi-humans possess are explored to every potential use, in a lot of ways I never would have thought of. This makes Sato really terrifying. He just has no fucks to give but his endgame seems a little sloppy. I mean, starting a war where it would just end up giving more demi-humans a chance to use their powers against him and for humans to eventually neutralize them? I think he’s just out to cause chaos at this point and I say this because (spoilers a bit here) when his ally, Tanaka, saves a woman on Sato’s kill list and tells him “It’s wrong to kill her. Don’t do it.” Sato just goes “Okay!” and moves on. Why would he do that? Why all of a sudden just capitulate to some random change of heart from a person who he could – and would –  turn on at any moment?

At any rate, epic battle with a good conclusion. I’m looking forward to the next one. 4.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Happiness” vol 4 by Shuzo Oshimi

17 Monday Jul 2017

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Makoto and Yuuki meet up with Nora but Nora is only interested in helping Makoto. Newly turned and unstable, Yuuki hides with his girlfriend, Nao. Yukiko is determined to find and help them but Makoto remains with Nora to try and help her regain her humanity.

Nora and Yukiko are my favorites so far. Nora isn’t totally brooding as there is this innocence about her that’s really genuine. At the same time, she’s tough and brutally decisive. Yukiko just wants to do the right thing and cure Makoto so she can get her friend back. I’m concerned about her fate as Yuuki is destroying everything around him so it’s only a matter of time before he gets to her.

I am glad I picked up this series. Oshimi is the main reason I bought this because I loved the Flowers of Evil series and this series keeps to that trippy, otherworldliness from its predecessor. I am really enjoying this. 4 out of 5.

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