Manga Review: Case Closed Volume 33

Manga Review: Case Closed Volume 33 by Gosho Aoyama Quick recap: Teen genius detective Shinichi Kudo (Jimmy Kudo in the American version) witnesses a murder by mysterious men in black. They try to kill him with an experimental poison, but it instead shrinks Shinichi to look like a small child. To conceal the fact that… Continue reading Manga Review: Case Closed Volume 33

Manga Review: Rin-ne Volumes 7,8 & 9

Manga Review: Rin-ne Volumes 7, 8 & 9 by Rumiko Takahashi Quick recap: Rinne Rokudo is a shinigami, a psychopomp who helps ghosts and wandering spirits move on to the next life. Because he’s part human, Rinne’s powers are relatively weak and he must use gadgets, often expensive, to bolster his attempts. Moreover, due to… Continue reading Manga Review: Rin-ne Volumes 7,8 & 9

Manga Review: Frankenstein

Manga Review: Frankenstein by Junji Ito High atop the world in the Arctic Circle, Captain Walton never dreamed he’d see one mysterious figure driving a sledge, let alone two. The latter figure is exhausted, and stays a while aboard the ship, and in return for the captain’s kindness, tells him a tale to chill the… Continue reading Manga Review: Frankenstein

Manga Review: Deka Kyoshi Vol. 2

Manga Review: Deka Kyoshi Vol. 2 by Tamio Baba When fourth-grade teacher Ms. Shimizu is found fallen from the roof of her condo, it’s ruled a suicide. But when the police receive a message claiming that someone in her homeroom class was responsible, and that more incidents are to follow, they decide to take action.… Continue reading Manga Review: Deka Kyoshi Vol. 2

Manga Review: Kitaro the Vampire Slayer

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

Manga Review: Vinland Saga Volume Ten

Manga Review: Vinland Saga Volume Ten by Makoto Yukimura Warning: This review will contain spoilers for previous volumes, so you may want to read the reviews for those first. It is still the age of Vikings. Thorfinn’s voyage to Greece to sell narwhal tusks so he can finance an expedition to Vinland has been interrupted… Continue reading Manga Review: Vinland Saga Volume Ten

Manga Review: Bungo Stray Dogs 01

Manga Review: Bungo Stray Dogs 01 Story by Kafka Asagiri, Art by Sango Harukawa Atsushi Nakajima has had a rough life growing up in an abusive orphanage. When the orphanage was attacked by a tiger that wrecked the place, the people who ran the home decided that Atsushi was somehow responsible and kicked him out.… Continue reading Manga Review: Bungo Stray Dogs 01

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

Another busy day at the bookstore!

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