Weekly Manga Reading List – November 21, 2010

Author / Artist: Akimine Kamijyo
Publisher: Del Rey Manga
Compare prices for Code: Breaker Vol. 1

To most of her classmates, Sakura is a pretty girl, "the kind you just want to protect," although with her black belts in aikido, judo and karate, Sakura hardly needs "protection." But Sakura finds herself in over her head when she meets Rei Ogami and sees him incinerate people with his bare hands. She tries to bring him to justice for these murders, only to discover that Rei is a "code breaker," a government operative who kills and exists outside the law.

The latest series from the creator of Samurai Deeper Kyo is an odd mix of suspense, action and humor. It's full of twisted twists, but so far, it's a little hard to love.

Author / Artist: Yuuki Iinuma
Original Title: Itsuwaribito Utsuho
Publisher: Shonen Sunday / VIZ Media
Compare prices for Itsuwaribito Vol. 1

Utsuho is a teen orphan whose mischief-making is only rivaled by his ability to weave extremely believable lies. A tragedy inspires Utsuho to change his ways: he'll still tell lies but only to do good deeds.

While the premise of this feudal-era shonen manga adventure story sounds heartwarming and the art looks cute, Itsuwaribito is a surprisingly gory tale. Is it weird that I can't reconcile how Iinuma introduces a cute tanuki then follows it with a scene of eyes being gouged out? Its uneven art and story makes this mixed bag of a first volume difficult to recommend.

Author / Artist: Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro
Publisher: Shonen Jump / VIZ Media
Compare prices for Toriko Vol. 3

In this over-the-top action/comedy manga, muscle-bound gourmet hunter Toriko gets to sample some succulent sashimi from a poisonous puffer whale and experiences a battle royale between the most fearsome monsters in the gourmet bestiary. But fight scenes and massive meals aside, danger looms as mysterious beings arrive on the scene that are capable of striking fear in the hearts of ultra-tough hunters like Toriko and Coco.

Filled with imaginative creatures and a muy-macho hero with a bottomless appetite, Toriko continues to serve up shonen manga action with a foodie twist. Utterly bizarre but filled with rip-roaring fun.

Author / Artist: Editorial Staff of Hana to Yume, Lala and Melody
Original Title: Shojo Mangaka ni Narou!
Publisher: TOKYOPOP
Compare prices for How to Draw Shojo Manga

From the editorial teams that brought you some of today's best-selling shojo manga titles (Gakuen Alice, Vampire Knight, Ouran High School Host Club and many more) comes a how-to book that goes beyond the basics and explains the finer points of writing, drawing and submitting your work for publication.

It's mostly geared for aspiring creators based in Japan, and you'll have to look elsewhere to learn the basics of drawing comics, but this book offers an insightful overview of Hakusensha's editorial process; a bit like Bakuman for shojo manga.

Author / Artist: Yoshiki Nakamura
Publisher: Shojo Beat / VIZ Media
Compare prices for Skip Beat! Vol. 22

After struggling to find her footing in her latest TV drama role, Kyoko makes an astonishing transformation that leaves her fellow cast-members and the director speechless. Everyone's impressed, but Kyoko's co-star and rival Chiori is furious... perhaps furious enough to go beyond small acts of sabotage into something more dangerous.

Now 22 volumes into this series, Skip Beat! picks up its pace and returns to the soundstage with an intriguing rival and a surprising solution to Kyoko's toughest acting challenge yet. A satisfying installment of a shojo favorite that will have fans cheering and eagerly awaiting Volume 23.

Author / Artist: Hisae Iwaoka
Original Title: Dosei Mansion
Publisher: VIZ Signature / VIZ Media
Compare prices for Saturn Apartments Vol. 2

In the world of Saturn Apartments, people live in a huge complex that rings the planet and hovers miles above the surface of the Earth; the very rich live in the sun-drenched upper levels and working class folk like Mitsu the window washer live in the darker lower levels. But as he cleans windows, Mitsu and his co-workers make friends from behind the panes and across the class divide.

With its distinctive, delicate artwork and wistful twist on a sci-fi premise, Saturn Apartments offers some heartwarming slice-of-life tales told with indie comics charm. A delightful change of pace.

Author / Artist: Tsutomu Nihei
Publisher: VIZ Signature / VIZ Media
Compare prices for Biomega Vol. 4

Fuyu goes inside the eroding mind of General Narein hoping to discover clues that might help Zoichi defeat Niarudi, the all-powerful matriarch of the DRF. While in a rare state of clarity, Narein reveals the Martian origins of the reverse morphic polymer that threatens to swallow what remains of humanity as part of the DRF's plans to "restore" the Earth.

Nihei's mind-blowing sci-fi action epic just gets more bizarre and complex with each volume. Now on the fourth of six volumes, Biomega revs up the insanity, and almost leaves readers dazed and confused in its wake. A strange, but oddly hypnotic ride to... somewhere.

Author / Artist: Kazuma Kodaka
Publisher: Juné Manga / Digital Manga Publishing
Compare prices for Kizuna Vol. 1

Ranmaru and Kei fell in love with each other in high school, so now that they're in college, they move in together. But things aren't so simple. Kei's mother was the mistress of a yakuza leader, so after her death, Kei is named as the new heir to the family. On top of that, Kei's half-brother Kai has a crush on Ranmaru and his bodyguard Masa.

Confused? Join the club. This first volume is a narrative mess of flashbacks, torrid sex scenes, dramatic declarations of love and sloppy anatomy drawing. I've been assured by Kizuna fans that things will improve later, so I'll just wait for Volume 2 to see if they're right.

Author / Artist: Yuu Watase
Original Title: Arata Kangatari
Publisher: Shonen Sunday / VIZ Media
Compare prices for Arata: The Legend Vol. 4

Modern day teen Arata Hinohara changes places with Arata, a boy warrior from a magical land in the midst of a civil war. While Hinohara tries to figure out how to use a blade with god-like powers, the other Arata baffles his classmates who aren't used to seeing the once-bullied teen fight back.

In this volume, Hinohira wrestles with his feelings for his companion Kotoha, and meets two siblings hiding a horrible secret. Meanwhile, Arata confronts Kadowaki, the bully responsible for the other Arata's misery. A fantasy adventure that is slowly developing into something interesting.

Author / Artist: Hiro Arikawa and Kiiro Yumi
Original Title: Toshokan Sensou LOVE&WAR
Publisher: Shojo Beat / VIZ Media
Compare prices for Library Wars Vol. 3

Set in an era when the information war is fought with guns as well as words, the Library Forces are the last line of defense against government censorship. Iku is new to the Library Forces, so sometimes her enthusiasm and inexperience puts her in harm's way. But when a PTA protest threatens to cut off access to controversial books, it's up to Iku and the Library Forces to turn things around.

After giving it three volumes to try to impress me with its mix of romance, action and political intrigue, I still found Library Wars to be a real snoozefest. Just not my thing.