We’ve got quite a diverse selection for this, our first Manga Minis installment of 2009. Melinda weighs in with reviews of the short story collection, 11th Cat Special, and the LuvLuv title, Make Love & Peace. Chloe takes a look at The Complete Aranzi Hour, which is actually not a craft book, and Michelle renders her verdict on the final volume of Naoki Urasawa’s seinen suspense series, Monster.
By Kim MiKyung
Yen Press, 176 pp.
Rating: Teen
The 11th Cat Special is named for Kim MiKyung’s fantasy manhwa series, 11th Cat, but it is actually a group of short stories, only one of which is related to the 11th Cat universe. That story, “Pieces From Nomi’s Past,” is a bittersweet tale of friendship, loss, and the callousness of a creator towards his creation, which works surprisingly well as a stand-alone piece, even for those not familiar with the series.
The rest of the stories, each chosen from the author’s early work, are unsophisticated and not particularly well-crafted, but they are also original, whimsical, and generally fun to read. The vast majority of them contain supernatural or fantasy elements, such as ghosts or aliens, in situations you’d expect from the minds of a group of middle-school students making up stories to entertain each other at lunchtime. “The Alien House” for example, features a group of aliens disguised as a human family, the “daughter” of which begins dating a human boy as a research project and who repeatedly mistakes her own body’s symptoms of a crush (pounding heart, blushing, etc.) as signs of life-threatening illness. Another story, “The Reason Why I’m Poorer And More Burdened,” involves a poor, lazy student who gets tricked into accepting an expired lottery ticket as compensation for acting as guardian of a ravenously hungry alien baby who eats him out of house and home. None of the stories last long enough to go anywhere important, but they also avoid becoming tiresome or wearing out their jokes.
MiKyung’s art is attractive and full of energy, and is largely responsible for raising the early stories up above amateur level.
While 11th Cat Special may not provide much fodder for deep thought, it does offer a cheerful dose of light, silly fun.
11th Cat Special is available now.
–Reviewed by Melinda Beasi
By Aranzi Aronzo
Vertical, 256 pp.
Rating: All
It’s another Aranzi Aronzo book, and that can only mean one thing: an overdose of cuteness, albeit this time without the crafty premise that sustained previous installments. Unlike its predecessors, The Complete Aranzi Hour isn’t a craft guide. Instead, the glossy, oversized volume is a compilation of short, two-page comic stories involving characters from the Aranzi line and executed with that distinctive Aranzi dynamic of bright tones, simple lines and offbeat humor. It is, as an acquaintance of mine noted dryly, “very Japanese,” and readers familiar with the 4-koma comic dynamic may sense a similar rhythm to the proceedings.
Sparse, simplistic dialogue ensures that youngsters of all ages can get into the book while a delightfully pointless mood means even lighthearted adults can find The Complete Aranzi Hour an enjoyable read. The art ranges from simple, computer-based creations to photographic compilations accompanied by dialogue, all arranged creatively to make the reading experience as quirky as the original premise. Perhaps the only complaint one can lodge against such a cheery little volume is that the price point—around eighteen bucks—seems quite high when held up against the reading time it takes to polish off the entire book, which lacks re-readability. That said, The Complete Aranzi Hour would make an unusual and vibrant addition to the libraries of the young and the young-at-heart.
The Complete Aranzi Hour is available now.
–Reviewed by Chloe Ferguson
By Takane Yonetani
Luv Luv Press, 224 pp.
Rating: Mature (18+)
College sophomore Ayame is dating Koichi, who is a cop. They have a loving relationship and a very active sex life, which would be even more active if only Kiochi’s work did not constantly interrupt them in bed. Kiochi worries about protecting Ayame, and Ayame worries about Koichi’s safety on the job. Various people come into their lives to keep the story going (criminals, family members, and so on), but the plot is not much more than a vehicle to move from one sex scene to the next. Still, the volume is readable and provides some sweet, if clichéd, moments.
Both of the main characters fulfill the roles set up for them by their gender stereotypes, but with a bit of slack that makes them more likable than they might be otherwise. Koichi is very protective and possessive of Ayame, though warmer and more nuanced than that would suggest. He also appears to be a generous lover, more often than not. Ayame is using college primarily as a time-killer until she is able to get married, but she displays more independence than might be expected. Both are good, kind people who always do the right thing and never stay angry, leaving the other characters who turn up with the job of providing any necessary conflict.
The art is pleasant, though not especially distinctive, and some of the explicit sex scenes become vague in places.
Despite its warm characters and serviceable storytelling, Make Love & Peace never rises above its genre to become anything more than mundane romance.
Make Love & Peace is available now.
–Reviewed by Melinda Beasi
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, Vol. 18
By Naoki Urasawa
Viz, 210 pp.
Rating: Older Teen
After eighteen action-packed volumes of murders, secret organizations, suppressed memories, and the most exciting book donation ceremony known to man, Naoki Urasawa’s Monster has come to a close. With its multitudes of well-developed characters, unique setting, expressive art, and interwoven plot threads, the tale of Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a gifted surgeon who is out to stop a murderer whose life he saved in the operating room, has been a rich and rewarding reading experience. It can be hard to have faith that such an ambitious undertaking will hold together, however, and I wouldn’t blame anyone who had put off reading it until they’d heard whether all of the lingering questions had been satisfactorily answered in the end.
Well, the answer to that question is “mostly.” Throughout the course of the series, various people have played a part in the creation of the monster that is Johan. Unfortunately, anyone expecting the final volume to provide a conclusive explanation for exactly how he turned out the way he did will be disappointed. Some additional insights are revealed, though, which at least will give readers a basis upon which to come to their own conclusions.
On the positive side, several of my other questions were unambiguously addressed. On the whole, I found the conclusion of the series to be a satisfying one. In a volume full of important scenes, my favorite moments were those between Tenma and his pursuer, Inspector Lunge, who’s quite the fascinating character. The penultimate chapter also catches up with a few characters who haven’t been seen in a while; I can’t think of anyone whose fate was left to dangle.
While Monster is not without flaws, they are far outnumbered by its virtues. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this series to anyone.
Volume eighteen of Naoki Urasawa’s Monster is available now.
–Reviewed by Michelle Smith
Recent Comments