Solid Four-Star Manga
352260
Now, if you've ever read the masterpiece Paradise Kiss, also by Ai Yazawa, this manga doesn't even hold a candle to it.  From beginning to end, Paradise Kiss was beautiful, artistic, and tightly knitted plotwise and characterwise all the way from beginning to end.

Nana is long. The premise is odd and hardly interesting.  Two girls with the same first name end up living together.  That's it.  It's all right.  A lot of stuff happens, sort of, like the one girl gets a job and the other one doesn't.  But that's it.  They really don't have any real problems right now.  Nothing bad really happens for about three volumes.

I thought, if nothing else, maybe I'll be able to relate to the fact that they're two kids just moved out on their own to tokyo. Having recently moved out from home and being the same age myself, I was eager for them to experience some of the real-life sufferings I had to.  Not being able to pay bills.  not making enough at crappy minimum wage jobs.  Not always being able to eat.  But none of this happens.  Things just, always go right, and it appears for the sake of leaving time to focus on drama rather than worries with rent.

There is one second, one brief second when the perky Nana realizes she won't have enough money and loses her only job.  However, this is solved within a single page when mommy sends her A LOT of money.  Just sends it right when she needed it.  The end of all her problems.  She immediately gets a better job afterward without a single problem, like the same day.  not sure how everything's so perfect in this world but it is.

Anyway, I give it four-stars because it's Ai Yazawa and it has potential.  Once in awhile, something does happen, and my heart does ache for the cool Nana and her long lost love.  They're just, a bunch of all right people doing a bunch of mediocre things.  I get the feeling it might get better though, so I'm looking forward to it. Perhaps she might even introduce a bit of plot?  Maybe?  When she gets a chance.  No rush.
3796787
I've just bought and finished reading the second volume of Murder Princess. As much as I would love to give it 5 stars, I just have to give it 4; though in my opinion, it does deserve 5 stars to include effort (depending on your overall opinion of the manga).

Although the second volume did provide a good story, sharp, clean artwork, and lots of action (just like the first volume), it quickly falls short with the progression of the plot (the manga itself) being rushed and not enough character development. The second volume hit the climax too soon (halfway through the manga) just as the story was getting a lot more interesting and ended prematurely. However, this is not Sekihiko Inui's fault. I think that the Japanese manga magazine that his work was serialized in called Dengeki Teioh, got cancelled and Inui had put a lot of effort trying his best to finish it right up to the magazine's last issue, he stated this in his afterword page at the end of the volume.

While the manga's storyline was rushed to an "overall conclusion", Murder Princess just felt incomplete. It ended too quickly without any chance to expand the plot a WHOLE LOT further. I believe that Murder Princess has a lot of potential to continue on in more volumes, providing more character development and plot development (which the second volume hasn't done too well on) as well as more adventures/misadventures and other stuff. I REALLY do hope that eventually one day, a new Japanese manga magazine would pick up Murder Princess for serialization and enable Sekihiko Inui to continue on writing more volumes, but chances are that it probably won't see that light of day. Too bad; despite having to end on a short stick, the manga DOES have potential to expand upon ideas to be a greater read. Who knows, maybe i'll be surprised by the news.....

Murder Princess Vol. 2 is still an okay-decent read, despite its premature conclusion and insufficient character development. Because fo those problems, it will leave a lot to be desired and some questions concerning the plot and other characters unanswered. I do recommend reading it though, but be forewarned: the second volume will either satisfy you or disappoint you at the end.
1226150
I really love this series so far, and I liked this volume, but I don't think it's as good as the other four. The events that take place in this volume are generally even sillier than usual, although not necessarily as funny as some of the scenes in other volumes (for example, the haunted house and the drawing contest).

There is, however, a small development in Sato and Yoshida's relationship--it's hinted that they might take their physical relationship to the next level soon.

I was disappointed that we didn't see Torachin and Yamanaka in this volume, so I hope they'll be in the next one.

As far as other supporting characters, the Nozawa twins were in this one, and I like seeing them. (I like how they stand out from the other students.)

If you're really enjoying the series, you'll probably enjoy this one. I do enjoy every exchange between the main characters, so I was happy with it, but I hope the next one picks up a bit (and includes Torachin and Yamanaka).
2316259
When I bought Blind Target, I pretty much knew what to expect- I'd read a fan translation on the Internet, and I had already seen the untranslated BT manga on the same site. What I did not anticipate was the sheer elegance of the actual drawing and how well the translation was done. If you have read the series manga published by Tokyopop, this is *nothing* like it. The drawing style is beautifully fluid, and the story is perfect. Viz's translation is wonderful, and I only found one or two minor spelling/grammatical errors in the actual BT story. I can't say the same for the sections called 'Remixes'- the reviewer who said these sections detract from the manga is right. They are very annoying, and contain nothing new. Besides, they only focus on the five pilots and Relena, with the occasional insertion of Hilde or Catherine, and maybe Dorothy. What about Zechs and Noin? Une? However, it is easy to skip over them and continue with the entire reason one buys BT: the story.
The basic plot of Blind Target goes like this: in the interval between the series and Endless Waltz, the pilots and Relena are trying to find a sense of normalcy in their lives and adjust to peace after fighting for over eight months. However, at the same time the White Fang remnants are regrouping, and they want the Gundams as the symbol for their rebellion (hey, it worked last time...). There is a lot of action (though no mobile suit battles) as the Gundam pilots gather to try to stop the White Fang from starting another rebellion. Besides kidnapping, there's assassination, a shootout, intrigue, double-crossing, past aquaintances coming back to haunt... just another day in the Gundam Wing universe...
The original characters introduced in this manga- Chris and Ralph- are as well done as the pilots. Of the two, I particularly like Chris. It should be a credit to the writers that they are done so well.
My only complaint about this (as well as Ground Zero) is that they only focus on the Gundam pilots and Relena. How about the other characters? Like, say, Zechs or Noin or Une? We hear *nothing* about them in the space between the series and Endless Waltz, and I for one would like to know exactly what Zechs was up to in that year before the Barton incident. Or how Preventer was formed. Anything!
Even with these (minor) faults, I would highly recommend Blind Target for its action, excellent characterization, and beautiful art. Enjoy!
169774
In many ways, Yowamushi Pedal is a typical sports manga: a team of atheletes work together to take the crown. Yet it has this charm that makes it stand out from the field.

Case in point: Tadokoro. Sure, on the cover, he looks as if hes ready to punch you in the face and will have a good time doing it. Yet he actually is a nice guy, training out his underclassmen and even trying to help Makishima learn how to carry on a conversation with Onoda. He may seem strict, but he truly shares in the others victories and defeats. Tadokoro is rapidly becoming one of my favorite fat plump big guys in manga.

In Yowamushi Pedal Volume 3, the first-years and the second-years were competing for spots at Inter-High. The curly-haired second-year, Teshima, was in the midst of blocking the underclassmen, but Imaizumi and Naruko placed their bets on Onoda. Quite frankly, I was rooting for the hardworking Teshima and Aoyagi. I mean, we already know the younger three are all prodigies, and the pair really wanted to race once with their dear senpai.

After thats resolved at the start of Volume 4, Onoda starts to wonder if hes worthy of being on the team. What snaps him out of his funk isn't some loud scolding but a moving scene in which Kinjou shows him what being a member of the Sohoku Bicycle Club means. As they say, actions are louder than words, and its this sort of scene that makes Yowamushi Pedal so wonderful.

I wasn't quite as interested when the story went to check in on Hakone, the reigning champs, and Manamis attempts to be the first first-year on the team ever. We then go back and see a race between Sohoku and Hakone. The result was certainly surprising, and I find myself looking forward to the now-captains rematch rather than Onoda and Manamis reunion.

The mangas biggest weakness is still its art. Many times, art in long-running manga is significantly weaker  almost awful  than the later volumes. I hope it does improve because right now its still a strange combination of typical shounen sports, old-fashioned 70s/90s manga, boys love, and doujinshi. (Makishima also looks as if he stepped out of a Tim Burton flick.) The art has a sketch-like vibe to it. While some sketching looks great, too much and it looks messy. It also still feels like Watanabe is more comfortable drawing the backgrounds than the characters. The bikes and backgrounds seem picture perfect, but Onoda has exactly one shocked expression that is used constantly. Im hoping Watanabe finds his groove, as while Yowamushi Pedal is still easy to read, its definitely below the high standard of the main story.

Even with the influx of sports manga lately, Yowamushi Pedal should find a way onto your shelves. Both the main characters and the author himself have a purehearted passion for bicycle racing that shines on every page. Even if you don't go on bike rides, take Yowamushi Pedal for a spin.

- Krystallina
1435776
This is a spinoff of the Puella Magi Madoka Magica series.  You don't need to read the original manga/watch the original anime to understand this comic, though I highly recommend doing so if you haven't.

Of all the English-released spinoffs this has been the strongest first volume.  There are a number of things it does right (and a few it does wrong).

The things it does right: there's a lot of research and history presented in the novel, and a number of characters (obviously including Miss Joan of Arc) are based off of real ones.  It's nice to read a comic that has effort put into it.  Additionally, it avoids a plotline that shows up in almost every Puella Magi spinoff so far (witch origins) with a few pages, which is pretty refreshing.  The art and character designs are pretty cool, and the witch designs are probably my favorite of all the ones in the spinoffs.

The pacing is for the most part okay, although it really lags when discussing Tart's past.  The first chapter is easily the best, while the ones after it are subpar (the one with her training is downright boring as it's easy to predict what will happen).  Characters are somewhat flat but with some promise, and the first chapter does a good job of setting up their personalities. The villain and secondary characters' motivations haven't been revealed yet and might help round them out.  Tart herself is a pretty boring, naive do-gooder who doesn't seem to understand the implications of what is happening around her, and she's also shown to the be the strongest magical girl.  However, this isn't as annoying as it could be, partly because one knows where she ends up (the comic starts off showing her burning at the stake) and partly because so far it seems the comic is setting up her fall to be based on character flaws.

For the most part, this shows a lot of promise and is a good first volume for the series, especially compared to the other spinoffs.  Easily worth a read for anyone who is a fan of Puella Magi
222629
This review is spoiler-free.

I've read all 3 volumes of this series. First things first - obviously Najica Blitz Tactics, both the manga and the anime - function primarly as fluff pieces designed for men to get a dose of sexy babes and "James Bond-style" action. There is a noteworthy bit of a deeper sub-text to the plot in both the anime and manga but it is something that only really presents itself towards the very end of both their runs. The series' do leave you with a few thoughtful questions after you view/read their last episodes - but otherwise you are coming to this party to see heavy gun-fire and hot women for-hire.

If you can accept this, Najica Blitz Tactics will certainly work the charm to entertain you.  Also, the manga is a bit better than the anime in that it moves even faster and the art/character designs are more striking.  This is one of the fastest-reading manga's I've ever read because the author uses much less text/dialogue per page than you normally see in comics and stages his panels/stories in a way that make you want to keep turning the pages.

Another thing that helps quicken the pace is the fact that each chapter is typically its own full, single story/mission/adventure or what have you.  Except for two two-chapter missions (one each in volume 1 and 2) and the four-chapter finale in volume three - there is not much story continuity between the chapters or the entire books.  But wait, though!  Don't let that scare you off.  I'm usually a big fan of continuity and long story arcs myself but these books still work in spades without it.

Again the chapters are so fast-paced and varied that they suck you right in - and besides by the time it is over, you do have still have some slight feeling of a bigger arc between the lead, Najica, and her partner, Lila.  Each individual chapter/mission usually has an interesting angle to it and a little plot twist as well (such as a reveal of who the real villan is, what the real threat is, etc).  The art is great and the action well-drawn, although you will have to use your imagination a bit to fill in gaps for certain character movements and such between panels.

This is a fan-service manga but it is actually less fan-servicey than many.  Najica usually dresses more sexy and less slutty.  The fan-service seems slightly less in-your-face than books like "Battle Vixens" and even "Because I'm the Goddess".  Some of the outfits Najica wears (especially in volume 2) are definitely well-designed in a "super-hot" way though.  There are two or three panels of nudity between volumes 2 and 3.

ADV handled these books very carefully in their translation and it shows.  It is uncensored from the JPN version.

I only have a few small complaints about the series. I wish the ending of the three books would have been a bit stronger. There is more of a sudden sci-fi push for the series towards the end of volume 2 that is a bit jarring and maybe off-putting at first (but you can get over it pretty quick). Also, the fact that the series is so short, so fast-paced that one may have a problem justifying paying a high price for it.

Finally, I don't get the sex appeal of one of the main characters, Lila - who very obviously looks like she is an innocent girl not above the age of 14.  Seeing her in alluring poses throughout the books is a bit confusing and off-putting.  You can chalk it up to the strange tastes of the Japanese male audience, say it's a cultural thing, and let it go...but still - it's something that is, of course, a little wierd.

However, otherwise, it's all good - definitely one of the slickest, fastest mangas I've read - a great, quick guilty pleasure for when you need something easy to sit down with.
1312221
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Now, I know there have been a lot of other reviews for this manga, but I just felt like I had to add my input.

I had heard many good things about Rayearth, so I decided to try it.

~*~The art~*~  The art was great, which is something I have seen in many other CLAMP manga. Character designs were very nice, and the scenery was detailed. I also think the battle scenes were nicely done. If I had to give it a rating based on the art, it would be four stars, only because some of the monsters looked odd and unrealistic, and the constant chibi drawings didn't really fit my taste.

-RATING: ****

~*~The Story~*~ When I read the plot to Magic Knight Rayearth, I must say that it sounded quite unoriginal. Three normal girls end up in a magic land, and discover that it is their destiny to save it all. After reading the manga, that opinion has not really changed. I mean, there were some nice differences that seperate it from other manga, but I must give the story a two.

-RATING: **

~*~The Characters~*~ The characters are what make up any book. Bad characters, bad book. In this case, I actually like the characters. Hikaru, who seams to be the lead in the manga, is a short, optimistic, red-haired girl who the other two think of as a younger sister, even though she is their age.  Umi is the blue-haired one, who comes off as a bit snobby at first, but quickly turns out to be a loyal friend. Fuu, who would have to be my favorite, is the blonde with glasses. She is a smart girl, and seems to be the most down-to-earth of the three. Even though they were a bit stereotypical, I liked the characters. I give them four stars.

-RATING: ****

~*~Overall~*~ The first book was good, but I still thought it needed to get better. I bought the second one with that hope, and was pleased to find that, with Ferio joining the group, it did. However, when I bought the third book, I couldn't make it through. Near the end of book two it began to slow down and become predictable. I'd hoped three would take off again, but in my opinion, it didn't.

-RATING: ***

This is a great starter manga, but that's about it to me.

Sayonara! ^_^

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2195650
Yokai is the Japanese word for spirits/ghouls, and that nicely summarizes this beautiful 58 page hardbound graphic novel in which our main character, Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai warrior bunny from an anthropomorphic version of Japan's 17th century, finds himself battling an odd lot of ghosts and goblins seeking to enslave the world.

The artwork and water colors are brilliant, the action is abundant, and the tone absolutely delivers in the fine Usagi Yojimbo tradition.  It is, at times, absurdly silly, cute, exciting, dramatic, heroic and even tragic.  Sakai blends all of this together seamlessly into only 58 pages.  It's a rich adventure that puts you through enough powerful emotions to more than warrant the $14.95 price tag, plus it's one heck of a handsome volume.

Extras include an in-depth interview with Stan Sakai about the making of Yokai, including samples of artwork in their early stages, a brief summary of Stan's career thus far, and some very nice Usagi artwork inside the covers, on the title page, and a small piece on the last page.  I particularly enjoy that last depiction of Usagi having a conniption fit.  Quite cute.

All in all, this is a handsome volume containing one heck of a quintessential Usagi story that any beginner to the series could easily appreciate.  Plus it features my all time favorite supporting character in Usagi's Universe, Sasuke The Demon Queller, Sakai's answer to Doctor Strange, only more bad-ass.  Still, the volume is family friendly and will easily cater to people of all age groups and interests.  Whether or not you're a fan of comics, furry animals, or Feudal Japanese culture, Yokai can't help but impress.
2261725
I love this series with every ounce of my being.  In fact, I loved it so much that I couldn't wait for the rest of the series to come out in English -- shortly after Volume 5 was released in America, I ordered the remaining six volumes from Japan.  I can only read a very tiny bit of Japanese, but I enjoyed them immensely nonetheless.  Just to tell you guys -- when volumes 7-11 are released in English, you are in for one memorable ride.  From volume 7 onward, character and stoy developement increase dramatically.  By the time the series is finished, you will recognize it as a masterpeice.  (It is, after all, based on a classic novel.)

Now, about VOlume 6.

In my opinion, this was the weakest volume of the series, though now having read in in English I have a better appreciation for it.  Don't get me wrong -- It's good, but it doesn't quite meet the standards set by previous volumes (Hence the four stars).  However it is a very important volume because it is the divider between the first five volumes and the last five volumes.  It's kind of a transition volume as the story's setting shifts from the capital city of Edo to the enemy territory in Aizu.

Still, a lot of good stuff is in here.  This volume sets up for the introduction of a character whose name has been mentioned several times in previous volumes, who has been a dark presence haunting the background of the manga.

Meanwhile, the Seven Spears are as despicable as ever, and the reader can only anticipate their defeat.  Akinari and the Seven Spears are the most vile, twisted, loathesome villains I have ever encountered.  For me, the sweetness of the Hori women's revenge is not the actual defeating of the Seven Spears -- instead, it is the effect each Spear's death has on his comrades.  Each time one of them dies the survivors become more and more paranoid, fearful, and desperate, each knowing that if they don't kill the Hori women soo, they could be next.
1662539
The depth of my knowledge of manga as a whole is very limited, but I am a huge admirer of the Ace Attorney series of DS video games so this was a no-brainer for me.

The translation is good, and the characters stay true to their in-game counterparts. Maya is clumsy and often obsessed with food, Nick is always trying to see things from another angle, and when something stinks it is (in fact!) The Butz. It really feels like a continuation of the gang after their exploits in the Phoenix Wright trilogy. The art style does its job too. It's similar enough that it won't turn off fans, and yet imparts its own unique touches. One of my favorite things is that it's usually straightforward illustrations, but once the story increases in intensity there are moments where the art style changes to reflect this. I feel like this is a great representation of the game: a back-and-forth between lighthearted and serious moments.

In short, if you enjoy the video game series than you'll enjoy this. In this first volume you'll get one and one-half cases (which may not seem like much, but there are 2 other volumes available, with 2 on the way as of typing) and the story picks up after the ending of the third Phoenix Wright game (if I'm not mistaken). Overall - recommended!
1771100
We're up to vol. 6 and I'm finding the series enjoyable. So far it's filled with your typical manga tropes, but this sort of thing is a guilty pleasure of mine. Most of the character development is with Chitoge and to a lesser extent Ichijo. The romantic plot lines moved further than I expected, but still far too slow. But those of you who are familiar with the genre know that you're lucky to get any movement at all in that department.
2490632
This is a reprint of issues 21-26 of Crossgen's Mystic series bound as a paperback (a TPB - Trade Paper Back).  The art is excellent and the story good but I rated it only 4 stars because the combination of issues in this volume don't quite hang together.
#21 is the defeat of the demon queen left over from the previous TPB, which has some repercussions covered in 22-23, 24 involves a fight with a very powerful Ingra.  #25 and 26 are the beginning of an arc where main protagonist, Giselle, must prove herself to the 7 guilds and truly learn her craft.  This is a great seperate arc which will unfortunately now be split between 2 TPBs (this one and the successor).  I really like the arc that begins in #25 and should continue through #31 (7 issues, one for each guild, or style of magic); this arc is going to be a really well done and I'm looking forward to it.
The art is excellent (the beautiful women are beautiful, the monsters are monstrous).  Good productions values - the colors are really vibrant.  Good story except for the arc problem described above.  A fun read.  I bought this TPB even though I own the original comics for the convenience of having them bound together.
3798925
I started reading the fan translations for this Manga online about a month and a half ago. And I loved them. I devoured all 80 odd chapters (that are available at the time of writing this) of the Yusuke Murata version of the series in two weeks and, in order to support ONE and Murata's work; I bought this volume at a local shop.

I do not regret buying it, the art is still beautiful, and the US publisher has been good enough to include the "Extra Chapters" that do not tie into the main plot line as well. Not having those was my greatest fear before I purchased it.

However... certain  aspects of this translation don't work as well as I'd like. Now I'll grant I don't speak Japanese, so I can't vouch for accuracy, but I *DO* speak English, and it doesn't always properly reflect the way good English ought to sound.

It's very confusing though,  because for huge stretches of the book it works. Most of the translations are fine... occasionally better even, except for about 5% at key moments.
It's there that, when the dialogue gets a little complex, or a very important punchline needs to be delivered, it comes apart at the seams a bit. The basic idea remains, but the words written down are far from the best ones to communicate those ideas logically or humorously. It seems like the translator was either in a hurry or looked at it and settled for "good enough."

As another light smudge on the overall presentation, all of the beautiful Japanese Onomato sound effects have been removed and replaced with typical english comic book counterparts. I leafed through two or three other manga series volumes sitting on the stand, and THIS was the only one that felt the need to do that. It boggles my mind, but this is honestly a relatively small complaint, and I choose not to hold it against this book.

But even so, I still give it four stars. The english itself deserves a 3, probably? But I'd have rated the book at 5 if not for that. I really can't condemn the work that ONE and Murata have done here simply because I am incapable of reading Japanese.

So My recommendation is: Buy it anyway. It's a great volume to leaf through and ogle when only a proper Tankobon will do, and Murata and ONE will spend your money well. But if you actually want to read the best version of these chapters? You may want to track down the fan translation.
2586091
I can across this via the more recent manga adaptation. I have yet to finish the work, but I've enjoyed what I've read so far. It moves at a rather brisk pace, and if you've read the aforementioned manga version like I have, you'll find yourself playing "Spot the difference."
4751232
(Note: I haven't read the original separate books so can't compare)

Content: The anime has followed this manga quite closely at this stage, so if you liked the anime, you'll like this. The English translation feels well done  - even the important sounds effects have a translation done in the same style so blends in nicely.

Book: I'm pleasantly surprised how sturdy the book is for such a thick book. The spine hasn't cracked and no pages have come loose on my first read through. It's well printed - no ink has rubbed off on my hands or got smeared.

Overall: Really pleased with the quality for a cheap price (and less shipping internationally) and will definitely pre-order the second omnibus.
1517165
And that's a good thing; at least it is if you like manga from Japan, and this Original English Language manga really keeps the right vibe. DeFilippis and Weir have a wonderful way with words, and Shiei did the art beautifully. If someone ever bothered translating it to Japanese, then it would look right at home in Japan.

About the book itself. The print is very clear; there's no smudging or misprints, and you can clearly read even the smallest print (for when people whisper). The binding seems sturdy and well put together, but I won't know that for sure until it's been around the block once or twice. So, Seven Seas Manga really seems to know their stuff; but back to the content.

If you like High-School manga, then you should definitely try it out. I wouldn't know exactly what to compare it to; it doesn't exactly scream out, "I'm your cup of tea!" (Neither did Ouran Highschool Host Club or Skip Beat, but I read those too) anyway; I've never read a high-school/ninja/conspiracy manga before, so, if I ever actually ran across it, then I might have picked it up anyway. But in this case, a friend recommended it to me, and it was only $5.20, so I bought it immediately, and I couldn't be happier.

I take that back, I would be much happier if I had the rest of it sitting in front of me right now (I read this thing in two sittings). I found it nearly impossible to put down, and I wait with baited breath for the time when the next volume arrives at my front door.