science fiction

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Levius/est” Vol. 10, by Haruhisa Nakata

(Image Source)

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

It’s Levius versus Arthur battle in an underground arena where the secrets behind MMA are exposed.

While the action is cool, I got confused when it came to the MMA and the heart and what the steam is. I was just coasting through the volume without much investment. When I have time, I may go back and start the series from the beginning and see if I change my mind but the ending left me feeling neutral about the whole thing. My lasting impression wasn’t deep enough for me to say much about it when it came to writing down my thoughts for a review. Not a bad series overall, though, 3 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Gigant” Vol 6, by Hiroya Oku

55012119._SX318_

(Image Source)

Now that Chiho is famous worldwide, her relationship with Rei has added stress; especially since he still a high school student years younger than her. They try and go on vacation to get away from it all but the world is still in danger.

Still waiting to get filled in on these randoms running around in their underwear who can turn into giants and have powers. This volume is all filler. I bet you could skip it since the main takeaways from this are the weirdo team likes instant ramen and Chiho shouldn’t be dating a high schooler. I just saved you a bunch of time. I really want this series to get back on track with Chiho beating down monsters. 2 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Gigant” Vol. 5, by Hiroya Oku

56082444

(Image Source)

The three “Gods of Destruction” have descended on Tokyo and Chiho is released from government detention to help battle them.

The cat is fully out of the bag now. Chiho is famous worldwide but she keeps her relationship with Rei a secret. The fame completely changes her life and attracts people who want to take advantage of her. Meanwhile, a similar group of heroes in America are in trouble with a demon on the loose despite the ETE website supposedly shut down.

I’m not surprised at the dramatic turn in Chiho’s life and it’s good to see her (mostly) happy. This is clearly moving in the direction of other super beings teaming up with Chiho to beat the demons and I look forward to the reveal of how that all happens. Fanservice and sex scenes aside, this is an interesting adventure. 3.7 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Fist of the North Star” Vol 6, by Buronson & Tetsuo Hara

52528373

(Image Source)

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

This volume’s main focus is the showdown between Ken and Kenoh/Raoh, the most powerful of the brothers who trained together. After it ends, (spoilers, kinda?) Ken goes back to beating down various baddies across the dusty landscape. We do get to know Mamiya, who finally does something for a bit before getting sidelined again. I’m glad to see her around more and being involved in the plot in ways that aren’t cheerleader or hostage (although that still happens) and the volume ends at a point where I wonder if she will be more integral to the plot in the future.

Aside for that little nitpick, the battle between Ken and Roah is amazing; great art and action even though the dialog is very bombastic. But, it all fits together well. 4 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Gigant” Vol. 4, by Hiroya Oku

53426734._SX318_

(Image Source)

With Chiho in prison, more monsters rage through the city, killing thousands. Rei and his family are almost inured to it, waiting to go about their lives once the Self Defense Forces to mop up after they release Chiho to kill the creatures. But the threat escalates, leaving Chiho struggling in her efforts to defeat them.

First off, as a well endowed woman myself, seeing Chiho run around without a bra makes my chest hurt in sympathy.

There’s a good bit of action in this volume and we’re moving towards Chiho becoming a hero that works for the government. We don’t learn much more about anyone, least of all Chiho but fanservice aside, she’s brave and strong. I like following her through this madness. 3.5 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Gigant” Vol. 3, by Hiroya Oku

55961800._SX318_

(Image Source)

With Rei in danger, Chiho decides to come out of hiding and defeat the creature attacking Tokyo. Now the connection between the E.T.E. website and these insane events are public knowledge as well as Chiho’s identity and abilities.

This series is bananas. It’s madness and I’m somehow completely okay with that. I’m invested in Chiho and how she’s going to factor into these weird requests to the E.T.E. and we see there are other giants like her in other countries. So, there’s some moves happening that we don’t know about and I am here for the ride! 3.7 out of 5 because we’re getting more sex scenes than I’d like. I kept skipping them to get back to the story.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Gigant” Vol. 2, by Hiroya Oku

53887234._SX318_

(Image Source)

This manga is recommended for mature readers.

While Chiho gets used to her powers, Rei finally gets up the nerve to ask her to be his girlfriend. Meanwhile, the E.T.E. (Enjoy The End) website continues to send strange and horrific events to Tokyo; including a giant that arrives the same day Rei is in the city with his parents.

Most of this volume is Rei and Chiho dating and the action is a cliffhanger at the end. While mundane, it is a chance to get to know Chiho, which I think is important because both in and out of this universe, people sex workers are human beings deserving of respect. However, this could have been done with less downtime and less sex scenes. I get that Rei is a horny young man but I don’t need to see every time he gets laid. I’m here for the giant woman punching giant monsters. 3 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Gigant” Vol. 1, by Hiroya Oku

49882187

(Image Source)

Rei Yokoyamada is a student who wants to make short films of his own but is more likely to watch porn, specifically from the adult film star known as “Papico.” “Papico” is the stage name for Chiho who happens to help a very odd man after he is hit by a car but ends up with a strange device attached to her wrist that can make her change her size.

This is… Strange. And kinda all over the place, which makes sense since this is the same author as GANTZ. It’s hard to judge as this volume throws a ton of information and I do wonder where all this is gonna go. I am tentatively intrigued by the premise and Chiho and Rei are ok characters so far but I haven’t connected with them enough to say whether I like them or not. 3 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Made in Korea” by Jeremy Holt & George Schall

58492856._SY475_

(Image Source)

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

In a future where there’s some cause to less children being born, Proxys have been invented to fill the void. When an American couple adopts Jessie, a 9 year old Proxy, they have no idea a Korean man named Chul who works with AI has snuck something unique in Jessie’s code.

This graphic novel starts off strong but then it tries to do too many things at once. This covers the ‘what does it mean to be human’ question that most AI plots go for but that part needed more development. Everything felt like it smashed together in the end. Even though I did enjoy reading it and I think if you like AI future stories, it won’t be something you regret reading. It’s pretty ok. 3.6 out of 5. 

Follow me on BlogLovin.

atthequillsmercy

Lenni Reviews: “Fist of the North Star” Vol. 2, by Buronson & Tetsuo Hara

56898013

(Image Source)

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

As Ken continues his journey through the wastelands, he faces evil wherever he sees it; including a man named Rei: The South Star on a mission to kill Ken.

Now, while I like this series, volume 2 is heading into repetition. Bad guy comes, does bad things, Ken kicks his ass, yay for good guys. The types of villains change but the end results are the same: Ken wins. It’s only a matter of how and how much collateral death happens around him. It’s alright but I’m hoping for some new things. 3.7 out of 5.

Follow me on BlogLovin.