I gave this series by Kiiro Yumi another try in the hopes that the disappointing elements of the previous volume had been downplayed or changed. Sadly, they haven’t. If anything, the melodrama in Library Wars: Love & War volume 4 has been ramped up, to levels I found ridiculous. The big reveal of the first two chapters — all while we keep hearing how brave Iku is now that she’s been kidnapped — is that Iku’s long-ago hero inspiration is […]

The hard work of succeeding as manga creators becomes more obvious in this volume. For example, early on, Moritaka decides to copy “at least a hundred pages each of great scenes from ten popular battle manga.” It’s that kind of dedication that points out how the kids see comics as a career. They’re trying to make a successful series, not just write and draw what they want. It’s so very different from the kinds of stories we see in American […]

It’s always nice when a favorite series ends strongly. The main story, a teen romance with dark undertones and a lovely treatment of seasonal changes to mark the passage of time, finished in the eighth book. The ninth volume contained a couple of background stories that weren’t quite as successful as I’d hope, but this, the true last volume, recaptured the magic of the first books. Most of the volume follows Daigo, now a school teacher, learning to have faith […]

It’s the final tournament! Hikaru and two other Japanese players — his long-time rival and inspiration Akira Toya and a brash new guy named Kiyoharu Yashiro — are facing off against teams of young players from China and Korea. It’s not just a battle for the title; it’s a struggle for the future of the game, bringing it more attention internationally and demonstrating whether these young men are ready to represent their countries. In addition to the obvious competition, there’s […]