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: 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)

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: Hayate the Combat Butler Vol. 2

Manga Review: Hayate the Combat Butler Vol. 2 by Kenjiro Hata Nagi Sanzenin, for all her wealth, is a lonely 13-year-old girl who must constantly be on guard against those who would harm her to gain some of her money, even her own relatives.   On Christmas Eve, Nagi is saved from kidnappers by an outstandingly athletic… Continue reading Manga Review: Hayate the Combat Butler Vol. 2

Manga Review: Yowamushi Pedal 1

Manga Review: Yowamushi Pedal 1 by Wataru Watanabe The Sohoku High School Bicycle Racing Club has several interesting freshman members this year.  There’s Imaizumi, a serious competitor whose family is wealthy, so he can afford the finest bicycle racing equipment and training.  There’s the fiery Naruko from Osaka, who’s a fine sprinter despite his flashy… Continue reading Manga Review: Yowamushi Pedal 1

Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volumes 21, 24 & 26

Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volumes 21, 24 & 26by Rumiko Takahashi Quick recap:  Rinne Rokudo is a shinigami, a psychopomp who helps lost spirits find their way to the afterlife.  He’s part-human, and must use expensive tools to make up for his weak powers.  Between these expenses and debts saddled on Rinne by his deadbeat father Sabato,… Continue reading Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volumes 21, 24 & 26

Manga Review: D. Gray-Man Volumes 9-10

Manga Review: D. Gray-Man Volumes 9-10 by Katsura Hoshino In an alternate late 19th Century, European and Asian civilization is under attack by beings called “akuma.”  These monsters (made by tricking/bargaining humans into wearing mechanical bodies that then wear the skin of the original human) are under the loose control of the Millennium Earl.  He… Continue reading Manga Review: D. Gray-Man Volumes 9-10

Manga Review: Death Note Tome 10

Manga Review: Death Note Tome 10 Story by Tsugumi Ohba, Art by Takeshi Obata Warning:  This review spoils earlier events in the series, including major plot twists.  I’ll let you know when that starts happening with a SPOILERS announcement. The life of a shinigami (death spirit) is pretty boring.  You sit around the shinigami realm all… Continue reading Manga Review: Death Note Tome 10

Manga Review: Hunter X Hunter Volume 1

Manga Review: Hunter X Hunter Volume 1 by Yoshihiro Togashi On a world a little bit like Earth, Gon Freecs has been raised on an isolated island by his Aunt Mito.  Although she told him his parents were both dead, Gon learned a while back that his father Ging Freecs was in fact still alive,… Continue reading Manga Review: Hunter X Hunter Volume 1

Manga Review: Black Jack 2

Manga Review: Black Jack 2 by Osamu Tezuka Before Osamu Tezuka became a full-time manga creator, he was  a medical doctor.  He drew upon this training and experiences with Japan’s medical establishment for his work on Black Jack starting in the 1970s. Black Jack (birth name Kuro’o Hazama) is a brilliant physician and surgeon who is… Continue reading Manga Review: Black Jack 2