Amefurashi
Art and Story by Atsushi Suzumi
Translated and adapted by Elina Ishikawa
Published by Del Rey, imprint of Random House, Inc.
ISBN 10: 0-345-51248-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-345-51248-2
Review copy provided by publisher

Review by Linda Yau

The setting of this story is in a desert town, Gimmy is a teenage repair guy, and by mistake he loses his siblings as offerings to the local rain goddess. Sora, the goddess usually receives dolls as offerings, but follies occur. Gimmy messes up, but is determined to get his siblings back and that’s where the adventure begins. » Continue reading “Manga Review: Amefurashi”

Utahime – The Songstress
Story and Art: Aki
Published by Digital Manga Publishing
Copy supplied by Publisher
ISBN-10: 1-56970-044-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-044-0

Review by Kris

There is an uncertain future for a far off land. You see for centuries the land has been protected by the nightly singing of the songstresses. The songstress sings a song of protection toward the capital where the ruler resides. The ruler has always been male while songstresses are always born female. But there is a wind of change. In one of the villages that sprung up around the songstress’ tower the unthinkable has happened. A male songstress has been born. Not only that but when the ruler of the land’s wife gives birth to a daughter, are they doomed?
» Continue reading “Manga Review: Utahime – The Songstress”

Youkai Doctor
Story and Art by Yuki Sato
Translated by Stephan Paul
Published by Del Rey , imprint of Random House, Inc.
ISBN10: 0345512383
ISBN13: 9780345512383

Review by Linda Yau

Kotoko Katsuga is the descendant of a long line of people who exorcises youkai or demons. However by the time she came about, she pretty much lost that power, and can only be aware of spiritual beings that no one else can see. » Continue reading “Manga Review: Youkai Doctor vol 1″

Stolen Hearts: The love of Eros and Psyche
Written by Ryan Foley
Illustrated by Sankha Banerjee
Published by Campfire Press
ISBN: 978-81-907829-9-9

Review by Linda Yau

The story of Eros and Psyche should be well known to Greek mythology enthusiasts. This is the love story of Aprohdie’s son finding his own true love. For those who don’t know the popular name of Eros, he is Cupid – that cute baby always prevalent on Valentine’s Day.
» Continue reading “Graphic Novel Review: Stolen Hearts”

The Magic Touch
Story and Art by Izumi Tsubaki
Published by Shoujo Beat, imprint of Viz Media.
ISBN10: 1421516713
ISBN13: 9781421516714

Review by Linda Yau

The purpose of a massage is to often relax and de-stress a person. So what would it be like to have a massage society in your high school? The purpose of this club is to unite students who are interested in practicing to massage others, and what would happen if there is sparks there? The Magic Touch with a tag line of “Romance is at your fingertips!” is such a shoujo series.
» Continue reading “Manga Review: The Magic Touch vol. 1″

The Walking Man
Story and Art by: Jiro Taniguchi
Published by Fanfare/Ponent Mon
ISBN10: 8493340995
ISBN13: 9788493340995

Review by Linda Yau

In this bustling world of rapid movement, and possibly the normalcy of your life, what would happen if you there is an opportunity to observe the area around you? This is what the protagonist in Jiro Taniguchi’s The Walking Man does. He is a nameless Japanese salary man who for all appearances is a newlywed who has moved with his wife to a new location that reflects Japanese suburbs. » Continue reading “Graphic Novel Review: The Walking Man”

The Dawn of Love
Story and Art by Kazuho Hirokawa
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-583-6
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-583-4

Review by Linda Yau

Masahiro Matsunaga is a confident law student who is openly gay, and one day he is suddenly attracted by his classmate Takane Takekawa. Masahiro vows to sleep with him once, but upon finding out that Takane was a very willing partner, and they sleep together. Masahiro discovers that once was not enough, and becomes obsessed to committing with Takane in a monogamous relationship. The problem with Takane is the fact that he is willing to treat Masahiro as a sex friend, but it would take more to convince him to let go of his five other relationships. Even more importantly Takane’s one older lover, who he is reluctant to end with. Now how will Mashairo deal with his fickle lover?
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: The Dawn of Love”

Oh My God! Volume 2
Story and art by Natsuho Shino
Published by Deux Press
ISBN-10:  1934496448
ISBN-13:  9781934496442

Review by Jilly Gee

I’m beginning to have doubts that any couple at all will come out of this series in the end, let alone Jade and Yuto.  Nothing has changed between them from the first volume to the end of this one, no closer to each other than they were before.  Individually, however, they have come to realize some things.  More than just the clingy puppy from the previous volume, Jade purposely tries to get Yuto to handle some things on his own, to test his theory that the boy does indeed have powers himself and maybe even to boost Yuto’s defenses.  Yuto, however, is a bit slower to catch on; while he did realize rather quickly how to purify the ball, he still wonders why it is that he is able to do so.  They had both better speed up their grand revelations a bit, seeing as how the mysterious enemy has realized that something is out there disrupting their plans and the minions have started menacingly throwing their muscle around.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Oh My God! vol. 2″

Mister Mistress, vol. 2
Story and art by Rize Shinba
Published by Deux Press
ISBN-10:  193449643x
ISBN-13:  9781934496435

Review by Jilly Gee

While the first book in the series had Rei simultaneously torturing and pleasuring Fujimaru for the seemingly selfish reason of feeding himself the sexual energy he needs as an incubus and Fujimaru loudly proclaiming the injustice of having to do these things with another man, the second book has Fujimaru saddened that he is seemingly just food and nothing more to the incubus, and Rei actually looking at Fujimaru with concern and trying to find out what the boy is feeling.  More is revealed about Rei’s relationship with Fujimaru’s grandfather when Fujimarau, a little jealously, questions Rei about it.  Not only is their relationship getting delved into, so is the fantastical side of the plot as a succubus comes into the picture and reveals more of Rei’s past and threatens his future.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Mister Mistress vol. 2″

Hanky Panky
Story and Art: Koreaki Kamuro
Published by the Deux Press Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1934496251
ISBN-13: 978-1934496251

Review by Linda Yau

Hanky Panky is a collection of one-shots, where each of the stories features characters that develop a crush or act on a pre-existing crush. The cover is pretty attractive, and I heartily recommend picking up this steamy book. In the title story of Hanky Panky, Manaka has a double life by daytime he is a geeky college student, but at night he is Itsuki the sexy hot host club owner. Now what is he to do after his classmate Doi seeks a job at his club, and shows sexual interest in him as Itsuki, but not as Manaka?
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Hanky Panky”

Wanted
Story and Art by Matsuri Hino
Published by the Shojo Beat imprint of Viz Media.
ISBN10: 1421519348
ISBN13: 9781421519340

Review by Linda Yau

All songstress Armeria ever wanted was to find Luce her first love, after he got kidnapped by the infamous pirate captain Skulls. Fast forward eight years later, she has disguised herself as a boy, and joined up with the crew. Unfortunately her plans of finding Luce is dashed when the crew realizes that she is a women. Now what is she to do after Skulls tether her at her feet binding her to his side?
» Continue reading “Manga Review: Wanted”

Mao-Chan
Story by Ken Akamatsu
Art by Ran
Published by Del Rey Manga imprint of Ballantine
ISBN10: 0345501810
ISBN13: 9780345501813

Review by Linda Yau

Japan is under attack from aliens from the outer space, and only the force that could defend the earth is a team of three elementary graders. They are Mao, Misora, and Sylvia respectively representing the Ground, Air and Navy Army forces, following their grandfathers who are the general for each force. However their three grandfathers don’t often see eye to eye, so how will the three girls face approval to be united against the common evil? The common evils are aliens that are really cute critters, with the objective of stealing famous landmarks. Why through cuteness, friendship and when the situation seems very bleak of course.
» Continue reading “Manga Review: Mao-chan Vol 1″

Owly: Tiny Tales
Story and Art: Andy Runton
Published by Top Shelf Productions
ISBN-10: 1-60309-019-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-60309-019-3

Review by Kris

Owly is a kind-hearted owl who cares for all those around him. His best friend is a worm and he associates with many fun characters in the place where he lives. He has many adventures like entering the ultimate birdbath contest, to helping his many friends out of all kinds of trouble. This is a collection of comics that Andy Runton published for free comic book day at conventions and out of print collections of tales.
» Continue reading “Comic Review: Owly: Tiny Tales”

Too Cool to be Forgotten
Story and Art: Alex Robinson
Published by Top Shelf Productions
ISBN-10: 1-891830-98-8
ISBN-13: 978-1-891830-98-3

Review by Kris

I’m pretty sure high school was a pretty traumatic time in most peoples lives. I know it played a huge part, in both good and bad, in my life and changed me forever. I think the only people who weren’t traumatized by their high school experience were the jocks, cheerleaders, etc. In Alex Robinson’s Too Cool to be Forgotten Andy Wicks has to relive his high school days.
» Continue reading “Graphic Novel Review: Too Cool to be Forgotten”

breath vol. 1
Story and Art: Chifumi Ochi
Published by Yaoi Generation
ISBN-13: 978-0-9821880-0-2

Review by Kris

Review originally appeared at Manic About Manga at http://www.manicaboutmanga.com. Check it out!

One evening while hanging out in his favorite gay bar Yanagi meets the man of his dreams. The man is simply gorgeous and is totally wasted so he doesn’t resist any of Yanagi’s come ons. The two hit a love hotel for a night of hot, sweaty, fluid-filled, passionate sex. It turns out that the mystery man is ultra sensitive and is still a virgin, which turns Yanagi on even more. When morning comes and sobriety has set in the sexy mystery man seems to be someone completely different than the sexy man from the night before. This man is disgusted with what happened and books out of the room before Yanagi was even dressed, leaving behind his jacket.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: breath vol. 1″

Time Stranger Kyoko vol. 1
Story and Art: Arina Tanemura
Published by VIZ Media
ISBN-10: 1-4215-1797-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-1797-1

Review by Kris

In the 30th century Earth has become one harmonious place to live. Kyoko Suomi is the princess of Earth, but she craves anonymity. She attends a normal high school and has normal friends who all think that she’s a normal high school student. Kyoko is supposed to be presented to the people of Earth as the princess on her 16th birthday. Of course Kyoko has no desire to be princess. She has a twin sister who is just as capable but there is one slight problem holding back Ui (Kyoko’s twin). It seems that Ui is trapped in time and the only way she can be saved is with the help of Kyoko. The king offers Kyoko her freedom if she can find twelve sacred stones and twelve telepaths. Once the task is done Ui can wake and take her place on the throne.
» Continue reading “Manga Review: Time Stranger Kyoko vol. 1″

The Dawn of Love
Story and Art: Kazuho Hirokawa
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-583-6
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-583-4

Review by Kris

Masahiro Matsunaga is quite the man. He’s confident in his homosexuality, has many friends, and doesn’t hurt for partners. He’s currently a student in law school. In one of his classes a guy by the name of Takane Takekawa seems to have captured his attention. Masahiro makes up his mind to try and convince Takane to sleep with him, just once. Takane agrees to it immediately, he enjoys sex after all. After their heated night of sweaty passion Masahiro discovers that he can’t let Takane go. Takane offers himself as a sex friend to Masahiro but nothing more. They continue sleeping with one another but Masahiro wants more. He tries to convince Takane to focus on him solely. It seems that Masahiro has fallen in love with Takane.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: The Dawn of Love”

Kiss all the Boys, vol. 3
Story and art by Shiuko Kano
Published by Deux Press
ISBN-10:  1934496456
ISBN-13:  9781934496459

Review by Jilly Gee

The good news is that Tetsuo is no longer impotent.  The bad news is that it’s thanks to his feelings for Tamaki, the same guy his son, Haruka, likes.
 Some more good news is that Tamaki returns Tetsuo’s feelings.  Some more bad news is that Haruka finds all this out in the worst way, by interrupting their spontaneous groping and fondling session in the middle of the living room. » Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Kiss All The Boys vol. 3″