We’ve got a nice representation of publishers in this week’s column! First, Isaac starts us off with a look at volume sixteen of Kekkaishi (Viz); Melinda is not impressed with the debut volume of KimiKiss (Tokyopop); Michelle looks at volume one of The Lapis Lazuli Crown (CMX) as well as volume three of Papillon (Del Rey); and Connie is beginning to be won over by the Junior Escort series, specifically its fourth volume, Shining Moon (DMP).
By Yellow Tanabe
Published by Viz, 192 pp.
Rating: Teen (13+)
You know a series is doing something right when a volume transitioning between major story arcs is one of the most satisfying and enjoyable to date. Volume sixteen of Kekkaishi begins with the conclusion of the “boxes” story arc, but the rest of the volume focuses on side stories. If there’s one thing we’ve all been taught as anime and manga fans it’s that filler of any kind sucks. Incomprehensible side stories, irritating training arcs and bouts of self-pity seem to be standard fare in shonen filler stories.
The good news is that if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Kekkaishi it’s that it consistently breaks my expectations. Rather than lazily rehash the irritating fluff that plagues Kekkaishi’s shonen counterparts, volume sixteen delivers two mini-arcs that dramatically flesh out the main characters. In the first, Yoshimori inadvertently causes a girl to have a massive crush on him. Hijinks and developments in Yoshimori and Yukine’s relationship ensue. In the second, a powerful new foe that unexpectedly arrives in Karasumori is connected to an important and previously unrevealed person in Yoshimori’s past. Badassery and satisfying character development simultaneously ensue. Who would have thought?
Unlike many shonen series that suffer from poor pacing during lulls in the action and absurdly slow, drawn-out, or flat-out poor character development, Kekkaishi seems to excel at everything it does. As Shaenon Garrity mentions in her excellent Overlooked Manga Festival review of Kekkaishi, the series possesses a quieter and more contemplative mood that makes the characters fuller, funnier, and ultimately much more interesting than its peers.
This series is an unmissable masterpiece, a glowing gem among shonen series. In fact it’s the best shonen manga I’ve ever read. Go forth. Purchase. You won’t be sorry.
Volume sixteen of Kekkaishi is available now.
–Reviewed by Isaac Hale
By Taro Shinonome & Enterbrain, Inc.
Tokyopop, 224 pp.
Rating: 16+
Kouchi and Mao have been friends since childhood, but now that they are in high school, Kouchi is depressed that he hasn’t managed to attract a girlfriend. Mao offers to help him become a “real stud” by teaching him how to be attractive to girls, beginning with lessons in kissing. The lessons start to get a bit steamy, especially after Mao is invited to sleep over with Kouchi’s little sister, resulting in a late-night tryst in Kouchi’s bed. On a later trip to the local pool, Mao really turns up the heat, but when she notices Kouchi talking to another girl, she realizes that her time with him may be over. Fortunately, Kouchi realizes that the girl he really likes is, in fact, Mao, something he finds the courage to tell her just in time.
Based on a PS2 dating sim, it comes as no surprise that the story’s plot is unoriginal and generally predictable. Unfortunately, KimiKiss is even more disappointing than might be expected. The humor is embarrassing (“Heh, heh, your balls are huge!,” Mao says, referring to Kouchi’s riceballs as they picnic by the pool), the art is dull, and even the plentiful fanservice—the series’ one potential draw—is nothing that hasn’t already been thoroughly explored by a thousand 1980s teen films. Following its cardboard characters through pages of generic dialogue and lifeless plot is honestly excruciating, and even the hero’s sweet sincerity is unable to save the day. Overall, KimiKiss is a series best missed.
Volume one of KimiKiss will be available on July 6, 2009.
–Reviewed by Melinda Beasi
The Lapis Lazuli Crown, Vol. 1
By Natsuna Kawase
CMX, 192 pp.
Rating: Everyone
In the country of Savarin, about 20% of the population can perform magic. Seventeen-year-old Miel comes from a long line of sorcerers, and though the family has fallen a bit since the days when their services were sought after at the palace, they’re still very respectable. Miel doesn’t have much interest in improving her own skills, though, until she meets Prince Radian (also known as Radi), whose positive encouragement inspires her to develop her magic so that she might be hired by the palace and be of use to him.
Though part of me takes umbrage with the idea that Miel doesn’t get serious about magic until a boy comes along, I can’t deny that The Lapis Lazuli Crown is a cute story, particularly for a younger audience. The episodic adventures, the art, and Miel’s plight—she’s good at written exams but not so hot at practical magic—all remind me of another CMX series, The Palette of 12 Secret Colors, which is a compliment.
The one genuine complaint I have is in regards to the bonus story, “Daisy Romance.” The lead character, Hanagiku, looks exactly like Miel, and the two male characters bear more than a passing resemblance to Radi and his retainer, Sieg. This makes for some disconcerting reading at first.
Volume one of The Lapis Lazuli Crown is available now.
–Reviewed by Michelle Smith
By Miwa Ueda
Del Rey, 186 pp.
Rating: Teen (13+)
Ageha grew up in the shadow of her beautiful twin sister, Hana, but lately, with the help of her school counselor, Ichijiku-sensei, she’s been gaining confidence. As volume three begins, Ichijiku and Ageha have begun dating, but it doesn’t last long, as devious Hana dupes Ichijiku into believing she’s Ageha and behaves obnoxiously on a date, causing him to call off the relationship. He eventually figures things out, but getting dumped (even mistakenly) is fuel for Ageha’s insecurities, and more drama ensues. Hana, meanwhile, continues to impersonate her sister, using that guise to test her boyfriend’s fidelity.
Papillon has some pretty significant problems. In this volume, for example, it’s completely ridiculous that Ichijiku does not recognize Hana for who she is. She dresses differently, addresses him informally, doesn’t respond to the nickname he’s given Ageha, and behaves like a selfish wench. Ageha and Hana’s boyfriend also fall victim to her tricks without hesitation. With everyone being so incredibly easy to manipulate, I find myself actually rooting for Hana!
The main problem, though, is that I just can’t cheer on the budding relationship between Ageha and Ichijiku because he is a school counselor and she is a student. When Hana’s ruse prompts him to suddenly become a stickler for the rules and declare that a relationship between them is impossible, I think he’s actually making the right call.
Despite these complaints, though, Papillon still somehow manages to be an entertaining read. Part of it is the art, which is quite attractive, and part of it is Hana. I simply must see what deceitful plan she’ll come up with next.
Volume three of Papillon is available now.
–Reviewed by Michelle Smith
By Sakurako Hanafubuki
Digital Manga Publishing, 176 pp.
Rating: 18+
In this volume, a continuation of the Junior Escort series, focus shifts towards Ayu’s bandmate Pomeh for a bit as he finds his own true love. Later, in a two-part story, we also find out Koji’s dark past with Uno, son of the president of Koji’s talent agency and the one responsible for the “Crazy Star” video. The end of the volume also features a trio of lighter stories unrelated to the Junior Escort characters.
Continuity between the Junior Escort volumes is a strange thing, and I can understand why they aren’t labeled directly as a series. The story left off in a strange and dark place at the end of Crazy Star, and the story once again doesn’t relate back to past developments very clearly until later. It wasn’t as jarring this time, however, perhaps because I was expecting it, and perhaps because I was distracted by the format, which focused on several short stories about different couples rather than the main plot of the series. Even in the parts that dealt with the Junior Escort characters, we got to see a few different characters in both very positive and very dark relationships. The short story format seems to suit the storytelling technique much better, and most of my problems with the other volumes (the narratives that jumped around and didn’t make much sense) don’t apply to the short stories. Strangely, even though the Junior Escort plot wasn’t the focus, several of the stray story threads receive a more thorough explanation and are coming together in interesting ways. By the end of the volume, I found myself looking forward to the continuation/conclusion of the story, something I would have never thought possible for the Junior Escort series.
Shining Moon will be available July 8th, 2009.
–Reviewed by Connie C.
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