This is a bit of a departure for the site. Usually, when it comes to manga series, we leave them up to one reviewer or the other instead of switching off. Although Ed’s previously reviewed the first two volumes, I wanted to get in on recommending this astoundingly good series by by Naoki Urasawa. 20th Century Boys volume 3 is where Kenji reaches his turning point. He now understands what’s going on — someone who knew about their childhood games […]

It’s time for that staple of shojo high school manga, the sports festival. Since Haruna and Yoh are in different grades, this will be the only time they get to share a school activity. In addition to the sports competitions, they’ll also be part of a cheerleading group, a behavior that’s uncomfortable for the reserved Yoh. Haruna, on the other hand, is full of enthusiasm, and friends speculate that her energy might break Yoh out of his shell a bit. […]

Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs volume 13 is a definite change of pace for this series about a pet shop worker, her dog, and their friends and canine companions. I appreciate the creator tackling all phases of pet ownership, though. One thing people should consider before getting a dog, or any pet, is that they are likely to outlive their animal loved one. It’s an important lesson in understanding the cycle of life. Kanako had a Pomeranian named Czerny. She doted […]

It’s been a while since I’ve checked in with this entertaining game competition series. (In part, that’s because of a Diamond hiccup soliciting volume 14, which meant I had 15 but had to wait to get the books in order.) I’m glad I could read all three of these volumes together, since they make up a major turning point in Hikaru’s life. Hikaru has become a professional go player, and as volume 13 begins, he’s dressing up for the recognition […]