shoujo

MANGA REVIEW:  Strobe Edge volume 1 by Io Sakisaka

MANGA REVIEW: Strobe Edge volume 1 by Io Sakisaka

Story & Art: Io Sakisaka Publisher: Shueisha/Viz Rated: T for teen Volumes: 1/10 Dear readers, In my ongoing quest to reacquaint myself with the shoujo genre, I stumbled across this new title from Viz. The series completed its run in Japan in 2010 but was just officially published in English this month. While straight up(…)

MANGA REVIEW:  Jiu Jiu volume 2 by Touya Tobina

MANGA REVIEW: Jiu Jiu volume 2 by Touya Tobina

Story & Art: Touya Tobina Publisher: Hakusensha/Viz Rated: T+ for older teen Volumes: 2/5 Dear readers, A few weeks ago, I read the first volume of Jiu Jiu, a shoujo manga series about Takamichi, the heir of a demon hunting family, and her two shapeshifting bodyguard-familiars, Night and Snow. Although the pacing was uneven, I(…)

MANGA REVIEW:  Jiu Jiu volume 1 by Touya Tobina

MANGA REVIEW: Jiu Jiu volume 1 by Touya Tobina

Story & Art: Touya Tobina Publisher: Hakusensha/Viz Rated: T+ for older teen Volumes: 1/5 Dear readers, It’s been a while since I picked up a new shoujo title so after looking around a bit, I decided to give this a try. I admit I don’t often read shoujo manga much these days but it’s good(…)

First Impressions 4: Honey and Clover, and Swan

First Impressions 4: Honey and Clover, and Swan

Dear Readers, Here are two more first volumes, these two from popular series that I found I didn’t like as much as their popularity suggested I should. Honey and Clover by Chica Umino. Viz. Retail $9.99. Rated T+ for older teen. 10 volumes (still ongoing in Japan; 1 released here). Honey and Clover centers around(…)

Manga First Impressions 3: Land of the Blindfolded, I.O.N., Sand Chronicles

Manga First Impressions 3: Land of the Blindfolded, I.O.N., Sand Chronicles

Dear Readers, Two more vol 1′s from Viz. But the first is a Vol 1 from CMX, another publisher who brings quality shoujo to the US. Land of the Blindfolded by Tsukuba Sakura. CMX. Retail $9.99. Not rated, but I’d say high school and up. 9 volumes (complete in Japan and in the US.) (I(…)

Manga First Impressions 2: B.O.D.Y, Monkey High, Haruka

Manga First Impressions 2: B.O.D.Y, Monkey High, Haruka

Dear Readers, Here are some more first volumes of shoujo series coming out: B.O.D.Y. by Ao Mimori. Viz. Retail $9.99. T+ for older teen (kisses, sexual innuendo). 12 volumes (ongoing in Japan, just starting here this month) I’d never heard of this title but I was taken with it from the first page. The drawing(…)

Manga First Impressions: Wild Ones and Fairy Cube

Manga First Impressions: Wild Ones and Fairy Cube

Dear Readers, I got some first volumes of some shoujo series from Viz for review. I’ve not read any of the series, so I’ll just be providing my first impressions based upon all the Vol 1′s, a couple at a time. Wild Ones by Kiyo Fujiwara. Viz. $9.99. T for Teen (innuendo, some cartoony violence).(…)

REVIEW:  Manga Review: Cipher by Narita Minako

REVIEW: Manga Review: Cipher by Narita Minako

Cipher by Narita Minako. Published by CMX. Retail $9.99. Rating: Teen (some heavy issues, but little to no sex or violence; I’d say high school age personally). 7/12 volumes released in English, complete in Japan. Dear CMX, I think you are my favorite shoujo manga publisher. I’ve only tried a few of your series, and(…)