31 Aug, 2009
Manga Minis, 8/31/09
By: Michelle Smith, Connie C., Grant Goodman, Melinda Beasi and Phil Guie
This week’s column features another diverse batch of minis from four publishers and five reviewers. Let’s dive right in! Connie starts things off with a look at volume twelve of D.N.Angel (TOKYOPOP), the first new volume in that series in nearly three years; next, Grant sees signs of improvement in volume two of Gestalt (VIZ) but none of the same in volume six of Zombie-Loan (Yen Press); Melinda sings the praises of volume sixteen of Nodame Cantabile (Del Rey), and yes that was a bad pun; Michelle revises her opinion of Phantom Dream (TOKYOPOP) after reading its third volume; and Phil makes the case (groan) for the second volume in the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Official Casebook series from Del Rey.
By Yukiru Sugisaki
Tokyopop, 192 pp.
Rating: Teen (13+)
The story picks up where it left off three years ago, with Risa kidnapped by a mysterious assailant and Daisuke and Satoshi in pursuit. Everyone from Dark to Daisuke’s parents warns him to be careful around Satoshi, who would love nothing more than to capture Dark, but Daisuke can’t help but trust the boy when offered the assistance. The story begins to explain exactly what the Niwa family’s role is concerning “artwork” and how his family’s history may be tied to the kidnapping.
I was never the biggest fan of D.N.Angel, and the three-year gap did nothing to improve my opinion of the series. This volume was primarily focused on character development, but the weak-willed, vanilla characters are the least interesting thing about this series. D.N.Angel is interesting because of the plot, but the exposition in this storyline continues and nothing really happens while Daisuke and Satoshi get to know each other and Risa explains the mechanics of love to her kidnapper. Daisuke and Satoshi break into the tower where Risa is held and there are some action scenes, but nothing like the escapades that Dark has worked his way out of in the past. Dark, the most interesting character, only has a few pages in this volume, as does Satoshi’s alter-ego (and Dark’s nemesis), Krad.
I’m happy it resumed, and I am looking forward to the full explanation about the Niwa family next volume, but I was pretty disappointed by the focus on the characters in this volume.
Volume twelve of D.N.Angel is available now.
–Reviewed by Connie C.
By Yun Kouga
VIZ, 200 pp.
Rating: Older Teen
The second volume of Gestalt features a heavier focus on backstories than on Olivier’s quest to reach the island of G. It’s a good thing until you realize it’s backstory after backstory after backstory.
Ouri’s character carries this volume. Shazan and Suzu are very similar in their stoicism and Olivier fades into the background after the first chapter. Ouri is the only truly light-hearted one of the group, despite a sneaking suspicion that s/he should be the most troubled of the bunch.
The way the backstories are revealed is at least varied, instead of simply occurring through casual conversation. When the group finds out they need a special coin to gain passage to G, Shazan enters a fighting tournament, casting doubt on his claim to be a low-level fortune teller. The battle scenes are treated as an afterthought, often ending after two or three panels. This works because the focus is on Shazan’s identity (quite a cool revelation when it comes!) and not on his swordsmanship. Afterward, the group takes a stop at a hot spring, where Ouri bumps into one of her siblings. Meanwhile, Suzu is forced to confront the past conflicts she fled from.
Although it abandons any exploration of Olivier’s strange behavior and the cast-out god, Gestalt, it is a solid volume. It gives many of the seemingly useless characters from the first volume actual motivations and compared to volume one, this outing of Gestalt has clearly leveled up.
Volume two of Gestalt is available now.
–Reviewed by Grant Goodman
By Tomoko Ninomiya
Del Rey, 184 pp.
Rating: OT (11+)
Auditions for open positions in the Roux-Marlet Orchestra continue in this volume, leading up to rehearsals for Chiaki’s first official concert as resident conductor. Under pressure to restore the orchestra to its former glory (and halt the alarming flood of subscribers leaving the Roux-Marlet for rival orchestra Deschamps), Chiaki drastically increases rehearsal hours and unleashes his unforgiving perfectionism on the ensemble, earning some heavy grumbling from its members. Meanwhile, pianist Rui returns to Paris seemingly at loose ends, oboist Kuroki struggles to balance school with his new professional position, piano student Tanya proudly displays the fruits of her post-illness diet, and Nodame tries hard to play the perfect conductor’s “wife” while keeping up with her own studies.
While this series’ classical music setting is always enjoyable and informative (this volume, for instance, contains discussion on the differences between the French bassoon and German fagott), its true charm is in its wonderfully quirky characters, particularly obsessively correct Chiaki and uniquely whimsical Nodame. It makes sense somehow that Nodame is addicted to natto (after eating which, Chiaki will not kiss her), believes that putting on a hairband successfully disguises her as a manga character (“I thought I was in disguise. I was trying to be Yawara-chan.”), and feels that free tissue boxes displaying Chiaki’s photo are the key to his orchestra’s marketing success. Some of the series’ supporting characters have great moments in this volume too, including bassoonist Paul who is determined to revive the bassoon in France’s orchestras and Rui, who unsuccessfully tries to get picked up in a lobby full of (according to her) gay men.
Now in its sixteenth volume, Nodame Cantabile manages to remain just as funny and touching as when it began. Readers craving a satisfying bite of rich, quirky josei simply can’t do better.
Volume sixteen of Nodame Cantabile is available now.
–Reviewed by Melinda Beasi
By Natsuki Takaya
TOKYOPOP, 208 pp.
Rating: Older Teen
Once upon a time, a thousand years ago, there was a beautiful woman named Suigekka who used her magical abilities to help the people of Japan. The people feared and misunderstood her, however, and killed her after blaming her for the drought that had descended upon the land. A magician who loved her, Hira, went insane after Suigekka’s death and vowed revenge on humanity. He began to turn them into jaki, beings controlled by their negative feelings, while his younger brother, Saga, sought to protect people and undo their transformations. Fastforward into the present, where that inherited conflict is still going on. Tamaki Otoya, a descendant from Saga’s line, is the current shugoshi, or one tasked with exorcising jaki. Hira has reawakened, thanks to the reincarnation of Suigekka, and his quest for revenge continues. Tamaki must stop him, but personal feelings are making him hesitate.
While I originally found Phantom Dream to be confusing, it has really shaped up in the last couple of volumes, and now seems to’ve achieved a good balance between plot progression and character development. Events still tend to happen quickly, but motivations are clearer and moments of sacrifice carry more weight. Protagonist Tamaki has become a more sympathetic character, and I also quite like the story of Eiji, once his opposite number among Hira’s ranks, who defects to Tamaki’s side after learning Hira’s real reasons for creating jaki.
Also assisting to clear up the confusion is the desperately-needed glossary that makes its first appearance in this volume. Unfortunately, the “Story So Far” section includes a big spoiler that, while strongly inferred in volume two, is not confirmed until the early chapters of this volume. One might wish to steer clear.
All in all, Phantom Dream is not bad and is, in my estimation, superior to Takaya’s later work, Tsubasa: Those With Wings.
Volume three of Phantom Dream is available now.
–Reviewed by Michelle Smith
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Official Casebook, Vol. 2
By Various Contributors
Del Rey, 277 pgs.
Rating: Ages 13+
With the second volume in the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney series, the focus gets shifted to Miles Edgeworth, prosecutor and Wright’s chief rival. This marks an improvement over the previous installment, which was equally scattershot but more Phoenix-centric. The series’ format, consisting of four-panel to 20-page-long shorts, remains intact, but Edgeworth happens to be a more interesting character—a brooding anti-hero wearing a mask of haughtiness. He’s got depth that his frequent court opponent lacks.
Otherwise, volume two, subtitled The Miles Edgeworth Files, is mostly more of the same, likely to appeal to those who enjoy the video games these characters are based on. This volume is slightly less ridiculous than its predecessor, which featured a serious tone in one chapter, and in the next, would depict the criminal justice system as going hand-in-hand with channeling the dead. Admittedly, volume two still packs some far-out plot devices—at one point, a potion transforms Edgeworth into a little boy—and there’s also a prosecutor inexplicably armed with a whip. But somehow, it’s more bearable this time. Perhaps the difference is having Edgeworth as the focal point: given his tendency to be the lone voice of reason, readers can cling to him like driftwood during a storm.
As was the case in volume one, many different artists contributed a chapter or two, and having so many creators involved means the overall tone and quality are inconsistent. On the plus side, there is something for everyone: melodrama, comedy, slapstick, chapters that milk one supporting character’s Lolita appeal, others that exploit what some might interpret as potential romantic tension between Wright and Edgeworth. Each chapter is over too quickly for any lasting impact, but for any video gamers who might find the previous sentence sacrilegious, your objections are duly noted by this court.
Volume two of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Official Casebook is available now.
–Reviewed by Phil Guie
By Peach-Pit
Yen Press, 192 pp.
Rating: Older Teen
Zombie-Loan’s sixth volume lives up to its name, as it brainlessly shuffles along. It is tough to find any redeeming moments, as this volume is lacking in every trait that makes for an enjoyable story.
Settings are skeletal at best, with most backgrounds being nothing more than swatches of black and white. Because of this, the world of Zombie-Loan has no ambiance, no feel to it. It is so hard to keep a reader invested in a story that is driven only by character portraits, especially when the characters are as dull as the ones in this manga. Michiru is complaining about feeling useless (anyone else tired of seeing this happen with female characters?) and Chika and Shita are pretty much the same person in every chapter of this volume (so much so that I was swapping their names around every other page). The new kids from A-Loan—they compete against Z-Loan. Get it? It’s so clever—aren’t any any better. The villains aren’t very threatening and the zombies rarely appear in more than two consecutive panels.
Both A-Loan and Z-Loan spend a lot of time chasing zombies, until they arrive at a school filled with spell-bound humans with a thirst for blood. Then the entire school vanishes and the two teams are told that only half of them will be able to survive the ordeal. It is twist that fails to be thrilling in any fashion.
Real peach pits have the potential to grow into something nice. I’m hoping that this Peach-Pit will find a way to do the same with Zombie-Loan.
Volume six of Zombie-Loan is available now.
–Reviewed by Grant Goodman
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