Manga Review: Kitaro the Vampire Slayer by Shigeru Mizuki It’s time for another volume of stories about the yokai boy named Kitaro! As you might guess, there are vampires this time. “The Vampire Eryt” is a long tale involving a mop-topped bloodsucker with a guitar, visually inspired by the Beatles. Even though his playing can… Continue reading Manga Review: Kitaro the Vampire Slayer
Tag: Japan
Manga Review: Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun 1
Manga Review: Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun 1 by Izumi Tsubaki Confessing your love to your high-school crush is always a nerve-wracking experience. It’s possible that your beloved returns your affections, but more likely you will receive a flat “not interested”, or “buzz off” or perhaps she will laugh in your face and tell you you are… Continue reading Manga Review: Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun 1
Manga Review: Ran and the Gray World 1
Manga Review: Ran and the Gray World 1 by Aki Irie Ran Uruma misses her mother Shizuka. It’s not that she doesn’t love her calligrapher father Zen and her big brother Jin (though they often quarrel,) but Mom is so often away at her job in her home village. Shizuka’s visits are rare and much appreciated, even if they’re a hassle to explain… Continue reading Manga Review: Ran and the Gray World 1
Anime Review: Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-san
Anime Review: Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-san What sort of person do you think makes a good bookstore employee? If you’re thinking, “a kind-hearted, busty young woman who is really good-looking when she takes off her glasses and lets her hair down,” this probably isn’t the show for you. Honda is a mild-mannered fellow who’s hard-working, knowledgeable about the selection, is… Continue reading Anime Review: Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-san
Manga Review: Descending Stories Volume 1
Manga Review: Descending Stories Volume 1 by Haruko Kumota Rakugo is a traditional Japanese form of storytelling in which a single performer sits on a stage and tells a comedic or sentimental story with only a fan and small cloth for props and never moving from the seiza position. It has its roots in sermons preached… Continue reading Manga Review: Descending Stories Volume 1
Manga Review: Weekly Shonen Jump (2018)
Manga Review: Weekly Shonen Jump (2018) by various Here we are at another anniversary for SKJAM! Reviews, and thus my annual review of the state of Shonen Jump. This may, however, be the last in this format–more on that anon. A quick recap for those who haven’t been here before: Shounen Jump Weekly is the top-selling manga anthology in… Continue reading Manga Review: Weekly Shonen Jump (2018)
Book Review: The World of HIstory
Book Review: The World of History edited by Courtlandt Canby & Nancy E. Gross History is a very wide and deep subject. It extends from the beginning of the universe (though much before written records is speculative at best) to just this last minute, and from the movements of great nations to what precisely people… Continue reading Book Review: The World of HIstory
Manga Review: Bakuman. Volume 11
Manga Review: Bakuman. Volume 11 story by Tsugumi Ohba, art by Takeshi Obata Moritaka Mashiro’s uncle was a one-hit manga creator whose work appeared in Weekly Shounen Jump back in the day. After the end of that series, he worked himself to death trying to come up with a new hit. Warned by this example,… Continue reading Manga Review: Bakuman. Volume 11
Manga Review: Kenka Bancho Otome #1
Manga Review: Kenka Bancho Otome #1 by Chie Shimada Hinako is looking forward to high school. She grew up in an orphanage, constantly harassed by bullies until she learned to fight back, only to get a reputation as a violent tomboy. Ever since, the rumors about her fighting skills have kept her from having any… Continue reading Manga Review: Kenka Bancho Otome #1
Magazine Review: High Adventure #73: Secret Agent “X”
Magazine Review: High Adventure #73: Secret Agent “X” Edited by John P. Gunnison Let’s take another look at this pulp reprint magazine, this time reprinting stories from Secret Agent “X” May 1934. “Ambassador of Doom” by Brent House: A secret meeting takes place in Washington, D.C. The matter at hand–whether to preserve or destroy the prototype and… Continue reading Magazine Review: High Adventure #73: Secret Agent “X”