#mangamonday — Public Fediverse posts

#MangaMonday 108 “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman (story,) Tevagah (script,) & Kuzomari (lead art)

I think this is the first western work I’ve recommended here. It’s a #webtoon, though, and those have shown up before.

For those who don’t know, #DungeonCrawlerCarl is a series of novels about the earth being exploited by aliens, with the chief resource being the entertainment value of watching some of the survivors try to survive a video game-esque dungeon.

This is the latest adaptation—there’s been a couple audio versions—and it does its job well, condensing some moments and letting visuals handle things when appropriate. It started after the series has been well under way, so we get panels showing characters entering the dungeon who won’t appear properly for a long while. The art is quite good, although some fans have complained that Carl looks too young. (He’s only 27!)

Available at webtoons.com with a graphic novel (Vault Comics) coming this month.

#MangaMonday 108 “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman (story,) Tevagah (script,) & Kuzomari (lead art)

I think this is the first western work I’ve recommended here. It’s a #webtoon, though, and those have shown up before.

For those who don’t know, #DungeonCrawlerCarl is a series of novels about the earth being exploited by aliens, with the chief resource being the entertainment value of watching some of the survivors try to survive a video game-esque dungeon.

This is the latest adaptation—there’s been a couple audio versions—and it does its job well, condensing some moments and letting visuals handle things when appropriate. It started after the series has been well under way, so we get panels showing characters entering the dungeon who won’t appear properly for a long while. The art is quite good, although some fans have complained that Carl looks too young. (He’s only 27!)

Available at webtoons.com with a graphic novel (Vault Comics) coming this month.

#MangaMonday 108 “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman (story,) Tevagah (script,) & Kuzomari (lead art)

I think this is the first western work I’ve recommended here. It’s a #webtoon, though, and those have shown up before.

For those who don’t know, #DungeonCrawlerCarl is a series of novels about the earth being exploited by aliens, with the chief resource being the entertainment value of watching some of the survivors try to survive a video game-esque dungeon.

This is the latest adaptation—there’s been a couple audio versions—and it does its job well, condensing some moments and letting visuals handle things when appropriate. It started after the series has been well under way, so we get panels showing characters entering the dungeon who won’t appear properly for a long while. The art is quite good, although some fans have complained that Carl looks too young. (He’s only 27!)

Available at webtoons.com with a graphic novel (Vault Comics) coming this month.

#MangaMonday 108 “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman (story,) Tevagah (script,) & Kuzomari (lead art)

I think this is the first western work I’ve recommended here. It’s a #webtoon, though, and those have shown up before.

For those who don’t know, #DungeonCrawlerCarl is a series of novels about the earth being exploited by aliens, with the chief resource being the entertainment value of watching some of the survivors try to survive a video game-esque dungeon.

This is the latest adaptation—there’s been a couple audio versions—and it does its job well, condensing some moments and letting visuals handle things when appropriate. It started after the series has been well under way, so we get panels showing characters entering the dungeon who won’t appear properly for a long while. The art is quite good, although some fans have complained that Carl looks too young. (He’s only 27!)

Available at webtoons.com with a graphic novel (Vault Comics) coming this month.

#MangaMonday 107 “Inuta—My Canine Classmate” by Mattakumo-suke

Inuta-san is the cutest girl in class. She’s also dog. Literally.

This is a #manga in very short (usually four pages or fewer) chapters, all playing with the idea of a dog in school. Inu can talk and she walks on her hind legs, but she has the instincts of a typical Inu Shiba. The rest of her classmates are human (except for one who’s a cat.) It’s a very cute series that relies on the art to really sell the premise.

Available in English on the “Manga UP!” app/site, where the originals are grouped together to make still-short-but-not-ridiculously-so chapters.

#Inuta

#MangaMonday 106 “You and I are Polar Opposites” by Kocha Agasawa

What if the manic pixie dream girl was the main character?

Miyu Suzuki is a friendly bundle of energy. She’s smitten by the quiet, direct (and possibly on the autism spectrum) Yusuke Tani. What’s a girl to do? Confess by the end of chapter one, of course.

Agasawa’s previous work (in #manga time) was “The Ramparts of Ice” (MM105) and at a glance this covers very similar ground; introverts and extroverts navigating relationships in a high school setting. However, the overall tone here is lighter; there’s a lot of humor peppered with some heavy moments. It’s more of an ensemble piece as well, with two other couples in the friend group getting significant story time. Character work is where Agasawa shines and here there’s more opportunity for it.

Complete with all eight volumes in English (Viz.) An excellent #anime adaptation ran last season with the (concluding?) second due next season.

#YouAndIArePolarOpposites

#MangaMonday 105 “The Ramparts of Ice” by Kocha Agasawa

I picked this #manga up after being surprised by the anime “You and I are Polar Opposites.” That manga was preceded by this, although that aired last season and this is airing this season.

We follow Koyuki Hikawa, a quiet high school freshman with the titular barrier, and her best friend Miki, a newly minted popular girl, as they navigate relationships with their peers. There’s as much exploration of friendship and self-esteem as there is romance, and a lot of the introverts/extroverts dynamics that seem to fascinate Agasawa.

This was originally a self-published webtoon that was then picked for digital and print distribution in Japan. It’s currently being translated into English in webtoon form at mangaplaza.com. The first 48 chapters are free until April 30th, which makes me think that’s how far the anime adapts. At the current rate, they should have the completed series (117 chapters) by the end of June.

#RampartsOfIce

New Read - Animal Crossing: New Horizons Deserted Island Diary, Volume 10

This is, as always, an extremely silly and fun manga.

Volume 10 hit more of Happy Home Paradise, did some wedding season jokes, and other in jokes that are a lot funnier if you play Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

I do, so I really enjoyed it. Had a few chuckle out loud moments.

Lots of fun for Animal Crossing players.

#Manga #MangaReview #Mangagram #MangaCommunity #MangaPost #MangaRecommendation #InstaManga #MangaLover #MangaReader #AmReading #MangaMonday #VizMedia #ACNH #AnimalCrossing #ACNHCommunity #FediCrossing #Nintendo #NintendoManga #あつもり #あつ森 #Photograph #DesertedIslandDiary #KokonasuRumba #Bookstodon

#MangaMonday 104 “Let’s Make Ramen!: A Comic Book Cookbook” by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan

As the subtitle gives away, this is a graphic… #cookbook in the western #comics style, rather than a #manga. Hugh Amano is a half-Japanese chef, and it’s about ramen, so good enough!

It’s a surprisingly comprehensive book, covering the history and basics of ramen in its opening section, and then diving into the details of noodles, toppings, broths, and ramen-adjacent foods (e.g. yakisoba.) Recipes are provided with recommendations for products and details for how to make your own, but even if you plan to leave the cooking to the pros, you'll learn a lot from this book.

Sarah Becan provides color throughout, from copious illustrations to simple boxes for highlighting text, all in a watercolor style.

Published in 2019 by Ten Speed Press.

#LetsMakeRamen

#MangaMonday 103 “Sayuri” by Rensuke Oshikiri

Norio Kamiki’s father just bought his dream home out in the country. Nori, his parents, siblings, and grandparents all move in, but something is not right in this house.

This is a #horror #manga and, for the first half, a fairly typical one. Oshikiri wrote it as a response to Japanese horror films, so the second half goes in an unexpected direction. It was originally collected into two volumes and some people dropped it after reading the first. It is now collected in a single-volume omnibus edition (Kodansha) so you won’t miss the change up.

Note that there is some violence and depictions of #suicide, but it’s not particularly gory.

#Sayuri

April is here, so I’m starting a new thread for these (the fourth!) If you’re backtracking, the previous year ended here: https://mefi.social/@ChurchHatesTucker/116318726115424362

I said last year that I wouldn’t be as rigorous about posting weekly. I’ll try harder not to be as obsessive this year.

#MangaMonday #102 "I Think Our Son is Gay" by Okura

A very cute #manga about the mother of a closeted #gay high school boy. She's got her son pretty well sussed out, and she tries to be discreetly supportive, but mostly she observes her son and his relationships with his peers. She also has some telling interactions with the other adults in her life.

There's an interesting dynamic with the (frequently absent on work trips) father of the house, who has more traditional views and is inadvertently hurtful to his son. Mom doesn't want to out her son, and isn't very confident in her opinions, so she runs low level interference.

There's another, younger, son who is more of a mystery (and ends up stealing most of the scenes he's in.)

Okura is a gay man himself but, as he explains in an extra chapter, he didn't come out to his mother until after volume one was published.

Complete with all five volumes available in English (Square Enix.)

#IThinkOurSonIsGay

I just got back from a trip, so no #MangaMonday this week. However, riffing off last week's guidebook recommendation, you may want to check out this #HumbleBundle collection of #comics and #movies art books from the likes of George Perez, Alex Ross, Howard Chaykin, and both John Romitas.

https://www.humblebundle.com/books/best-humble-bundle-art-alex-ross-george-perez-and-many-more-dynamite-books

New Manga Read - The Muscle Girl Next Door

Skinny guy Daria lives next door to the incredibly muscular Ruby and he's head over heels into her. The entire series follows as he slowly tries to befriend and hopefully get her to notice him in a romantic way.

Daria is shy, nervous, and very skinny. Ruby is outgoing and very muscular. Daria's super into his muscle mommy neighbor.

It's largely a harmless and cute slow burn romance between these two characters with some friends along the way helping them actually get together.

Cute read I found at the library.

#Manga #MangaCollector #MangaReview #Mangagram #MangaCommunity #MangaPost #MangaRecommendation #InstaManga #MangaLover #MangaReader #AmReading #Bookstodon #LibraryFinds #MangaMonday #TheMuscleGirlNextDoor

#MangaMonday 101 “[OSHI NO KO] TV Anime 1st Season Official Guidebook: First Report” by Aka Akasaka (Author) & Mengo Yokoyari (Artist)

OK, it’s not a #manga, but it’s an book about an #anime based on a manga. Close enough! I also realized I haven’t recommended the original, so consider this a back-door recommendation.

“Oshi No Ko” the anime is winding up its second season, but Yen Press just released this translation of the guidebook to the first. If you’ve seen similar books, you’ll know what to expect. There’s a lot of illustrations, model sheets of the various characters, and interviews with the voice actors and some of the staff (including the manga creators, who are given titular credit for this as well.) There’s even interviews with the musicians who did the opening and ending credits.

Yen Press did a good job with this. Even though there’s no sequential images, the book reads right to left at the column of text level, preserving the feel of the original.

#OshiNoKo

New Manga Read - My Sister, The Cat (Volume 2-3)

This weekend, my oldest took the SAT's and I ended up waiting for him at the local library near the testing center. So, I finished up reading My Sister, The Cat.

It does not disappoint in a very cute story of found family with a human living with a cat family.

I don't know what else to say. It's a very cute story about family and sibling dynamics.

If that sounds cool to you, feel free to check it out.

#Manga #MangaCollector #MangaReview #Mangagram #MangaCommunity #MangaPost #MangaRecommendation #InstaManga #MangaLover #MangaReader #AmReading #Bookstodon #LibraryFinds #MySisterTheCat #ImoutoWaNeko #妹は猫 #Senko #MangaMonday

#MangaMonday 100 “Yuko, the Ghost in My Room” by Nobuko Takekawa

Kanna has rented an apartment that is haunted. Fortunately, he’s never been scared of ghosts. He quickly dubs the mostly silent but very present ghost “Yuko” (from “Yurei,” ghost.)

Originally released on X/Twitter, this has VERY short chapters—from one to a handful of pages each. (I think they were reorganized into longer chapters for the #manga publication.) It’s a format the fits the story well, with small incidents providing the building blocks for Kanna’s growing understanding of his “roommate” and his own feelings for her. At heart, it’s a romance in a bottle, with almost everything happening in the apartment.

Ongoing with two(?) volumes in Japan. English chapters are available online at Manga UP!

#YukoTheGhostInMyRoom

New Read - Neon Genesis Evangelion, Omnibus 5 (Volumes 13-14)

Wow. Okay, so that's the end of Evangelion.

This is the final volume of the manga and a content warning, there's a lot of non-sexualized nudity that mirrors that which was shown in the anime.

But the ending. It's...different.

Shinji makes a different choice at the end, the world ends differently and honestly, I like this ending better than the original End of Evangelion movie ending.

All in all, I'm glad I read the manga. Glad I got into this series.

#Manga #MangaCollector #MangaReview #Mangagram #MangaCommunity #MangaPost #MangaRecommendation #InstaManga #MangaLover #MangaReader #AmReading #Bookstodon #NeonGenesisEvangelion #NGE #Evangelion #YoshiyukiSadamoto #SadamotoYoshiyuki #MangaMonday

#MangaMonday 99 “The Isekai Doctor” by Hoko Tsuda (story) & Nobuhide Takishita (art)

You probably guessed from the title that this isn’t a typical “other world” story; our MC is an MD. We do get some fantasy-specific situations (How do you give a dragon an endoscopy? Walk in through its nose) but a core part of this is hardcore medical science. (Tsuda is a Professor of Medical Education.) You will learn things from the explanatory narration boxes!

If that’s all it was, it would be a fun and educational #manga. But it gets political. In this world some humans have obtained—and jealously guard—a monopoly on healing magic, giving them outsized influence. Our MD is guided by Japan’s medical ethics and seeks to treat as many people as he can, which ultimately includes teaching science to anyone willing to learn.

Takishita contributes first-rate art, and a surprising attention to fashion.

Ongoing with eleven volumes in Japan. English chapters are available on kmanga.kodansha.com.

I slapped a quick pink border around this one to match the manga cover...I think it works.

#ACNH #AnimalCrossing #FediCrossing #VideoGames #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #ACNHScreenshots #ACNHCommunity #あつもり #あつ森 #CozyGames #CozyGamer #CozyGaming #MusicMonday #ACNHBuilds #ACNHScenes #ACNHShino #ACNHRaymond #Manga #MangaMonday #正反対な君と僕 #YouAndIArePolarOpposites

I slapped a quick pink border around this one to match the manga cover...I think it works.

#ACNH #AnimalCrossing #FediCrossing #VideoGames #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #ACNHScreenshots #ACNHCommunity #あつもり #あつ森 #CozyGames #CozyGamer #CozyGaming #MusicMonday #ACNHBuilds #ACNHScenes #ACNHShino #ACNHRaymond #Manga #MangaMonday #正反対な君と僕 #YouAndIArePolarOpposites

I slapped a quick pink border around this one to match the manga cover...I think it works.

#ACNH #AnimalCrossing #FediCrossing #VideoGames #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #ACNHScreenshots #ACNHCommunity #あつもり #あつ森 #CozyGames #CozyGamer #CozyGaming #MusicMonday #ACNHBuilds #ACNHScenes #ACNHShino #ACNHRaymond #Manga #MangaMonday #正反対な君と僕 #YouAndIArePolarOpposites

I slapped a quick pink border around this one to match the manga cover...I think it works.

#ACNH #AnimalCrossing #FediCrossing #VideoGames #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #ACNHScreenshots #ACNHCommunity #あつもり #あつ森 #CozyGames #CozyGamer #CozyGaming #MusicMonday #ACNHBuilds #ACNHScenes #ACNHShino #ACNHRaymond #Manga #MangaMonday #正反対な君と僕 #YouAndIArePolarOpposites

I slapped a quick pink border around this one to match the manga cover...I think it works.

#ACNH #AnimalCrossing #FediCrossing #VideoGames #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #ACNHScreenshots #ACNHCommunity #あつもり #あつ森 #CozyGames #CozyGamer #CozyGaming #MusicMonday #ACNHBuilds #ACNHScenes #ACNHShino #ACNHRaymond #Manga #MangaMonday #正反対な君と僕 #YouAndIArePolarOpposites

I started reading You And I are Polar Opposites this past weekend.

I am already 33 chapters in.

Decided to try to recreate the cover for Volume 1 in Animal Crossing. So, here's Raymond as Tani and Shino as Suzkui.

Happy Manga Monday!

#ACNH #AnimalCrossing #FediCrossing #VideoGames #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #ACNHScreenshots #ACNHCommunity #あつもり #あつ森 #CozyGames #CozyGamer #CozyGaming #MusicMonday #ACNHBuilds #ACNHScenes #ACNHShino #ACNHRaymond #Manga #MangaMonday #正反対な君と僕 #YouAndIArePolarOpposites

I started reading You And I are Polar Opposites this past weekend.

I am already 33 chapters in.

Decided to try to recreate the cover for Volume 1 in Animal Crossing. So, here's Raymond as Tani and Shino as Suzkui.

Happy Manga Monday!

#ACNH #AnimalCrossing #FediCrossing #VideoGames #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #ACNHScreenshots #ACNHCommunity #あつもり #あつ森 #CozyGames #CozyGamer #CozyGaming #MusicMonday #ACNHBuilds #ACNHScenes #ACNHShino #ACNHRaymond #Manga #MangaMonday #正反対な君と僕 #YouAndIArePolarOpposites

I started reading You And I are Polar Opposites this past weekend.

I am already 33 chapters in.

Decided to try to recreate the cover for Volume 1 in Animal Crossing. So, here's Raymond as Tani and Shino as Suzkui.

Happy Manga Monday!

#ACNH #AnimalCrossing #FediCrossing #VideoGames #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #ACNHScreenshots #ACNHCommunity #あつもり #あつ森 #CozyGames #CozyGamer #CozyGaming #MusicMonday #ACNHBuilds #ACNHScenes #ACNHShino #ACNHRaymond #Manga #MangaMonday #正反対な君と僕 #YouAndIArePolarOpposites

I started reading You And I are Polar Opposites this past weekend.

I am already 33 chapters in.

Decided to try to recreate the cover for Volume 1 in Animal Crossing. So, here's Raymond as Tani and Shino as Suzkui.

Happy Manga Monday!

#ACNH #AnimalCrossing #FediCrossing #VideoGames #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #ACNHScreenshots #ACNHCommunity #あつもり #あつ森 #CozyGames #CozyGamer #CozyGaming #MusicMonday #ACNHBuilds #ACNHScenes #ACNHShino #ACNHRaymond #Manga #MangaMonday #正反対な君と僕 #YouAndIArePolarOpposites

I started reading You And I are Polar Opposites this past weekend.

I am already 33 chapters in.

Decided to try to recreate the cover for Volume 1 in Animal Crossing. So, here's Raymond as Tani and Shino as Suzkui.

Happy Manga Monday!

#ACNH #AnimalCrossing #FediCrossing #VideoGames #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #ACNHScreenshots #ACNHCommunity #あつもり #あつ森 #CozyGames #CozyGamer #CozyGaming #MusicMonday #ACNHBuilds #ACNHScenes #ACNHShino #ACNHRaymond #Manga #MangaMonday #正反対な君と僕 #YouAndIArePolarOpposites

#MangaMonday 98 “Adabana” by NON

What’s a little dismemberment between friends?

Some mysteries are Whodunits, others are Howdunits, still others are Whydunits. This one… shifts. We know from the opening pages that Mizuki Aikawa dismembered her friend Mako Igarashi. She quickly confesses to her murder. Her lawyer senses that something isn’t adding up, but what exactly?

As you may have guessed, this is a dark #manga; there’s murder, sexual assault, and dismemberment. At its core, it’s a psychological mystery. Mizuki is the main character, but we don’t really get inside her head. This requires the visuals to do a lot of the work. Fortunately, NON’s detailed art is up to it.

Complete with two of three volumes released in English (Dark Horse.) The third is coming in June.

#Adabana

#MangaMonday 97 “Love’s in Sight” by Uoyama

A cute romantic comedy about a high school girl, Yukiko, and a delinquent, Mori. The twist in this one is that Yukiko is blind. The REAL twist is that this is also an exploration of how society treats people who don’t fit expectations.

On one level this is a typical high school romcom. The delinquents all have hearts of gold and everyone gets embarrassed about everything. It uses the 4-panel gag #manga format frequently. But Yukiko’s blindness isn’t cartoonish (she has a degree of sight) and the obstacles she faces are realistic, from infrastructure to people.

Mori starts as a cartoonish delinquent character, but proves to be pretty empathetic. He quickly realizes that Yukiko’s difficulties also apply to some degree to older people and finds a niche for himself revamping a local video store.

Complete with all eight volumes in English (Viz.)

#LovesInSight

#MangaMonday 96 “Easygoing Daddy” by Asō Yutaka (with “Hineko, Their Only Child” by Nagasaki Batten)

In the early 20th century manga was just finding its form. Unsurprisingly, it looked to western sources. Surprisingly, one of those was the American newspaper strip “Bringing Up Father” by George McManus.

This short book (Breakdown Press) begins with a nine page foreward by editor and translator Eike Exner that puts these two manga into context. “Easygoing Daddy” was inspired by “Bringing Up Father,” down to using a Left-to-Right reading order. Flip the book over and it’s “Hineko” (one of the first female protagonists in manga) reading Right-to-Left. There’s even a reversed table of contents.

Unfortunately, there’s only a taste of these two manga; the entire book is about 60 pages. Worse, it appears to be out of print and without official digital release. However, if you’re interested in the #history of #manga this is worth seeking out.

#EasygoingDaddy

#MangaMonday 95 “Smile!” (sometimes rendered Smiley) by Mitei Hattori

Two years after the death of his daughter and the disappearance of his wife, Yuushi Kamome is trying to hold down a job as a freelance journalist. When a pair of proselytizers for the “Smiling Hearts Society” appear at his door Kamome is dismissive, but when he recognizes his wife in the flyer they left he decides to infiltrate the group. Meanwhile, his buddy the cop is called in to investigate three mutilated bodies.

#Smile is a psychological horror mystery thriller #manga. As far as I can tell this is Hattori’s first work, but you would never guess it from the exceptional art. It’s mostly realistic, but he goes slightly off-model at times to give an uncanny effect. There is some gore, although (so far) the emphasis is on the idea of what happened rather than trying to shock you with viscera.

Completed with the first of 11 volumes just released in English (Kodama) and the next due in March.

This is a thing I need to keep reminding myself - "not every piece of media is for everyone."

If I don't like a thing you love, so what? If you hate a manga that I treasure, who cares?

It really doesn't matter. We all have different ideas, different thoughts, different tastes in what stories we find interesting and want to engage with.

I like plenty of stories that have similar concepts to this. A child prodigy living alone with friends filling a familial role? I've read various series like that, which hit me and I loved.

But not this one.

And that's. That's okay.

We don't all have to like the same things.

#Manga #MangaCollector #MangaReview #Mangagram #MangaCommunity #MangaPost #MangaRecommendation #InstaManga #MangaLover #MangaReader #AmReading #Bookstodon #MangaMonday

New Read - March Comes in like Lion, Volume 1

I. Uhm. Hmm.

So, I saw Volume 1 of this at the library and thought, "Sure, I'll check it out. A lot of folks I know loved the anime."

After reading Volume 1, I'm torn. It's a somber tale that appears to be leaning into the found family angle, which I normally like. But something about this doesn't appeal to me.

It felt like a slog to get through Volume 1. While I felt more engaged towards the end of the volume, I just don't think I want to read any more.

I did not enjoy it.

Oh well.

#Manga #MangaCollector #MangaReview #Mangagram #MangaCommunity #MangaPost #MangaRecommendation #InstaManga #MangaLover #MangaReader #AmReading #Bookstodon #MangaMonday #MarchComesInLikeALion #3gatsuu_no_lion #3GatsuNoLion #3月のライオン #LibraryFinds

#MangaMonday 94 “Mechanical Buddy Universe” & “Mechanical Buddy Universe 1.0” by Takuji Kato

A mercenary boy raised by a battlefield droid. A vigilante girl whose gun is in love with her. A combat maid devoted to her mistress. An aging captain of an all-female squadron. A gender-queer ex-soldier. A world recovering from war but plagued by self-replicating weapons.

This #manga started as a series of vignettes—uploaded to social media while Kato worked on another project—that were turned into the book #MechanicalBuddyUniverse. “Mechanical Buddy Universe 1.0” is a soft reboot, mostly taking place after MBU but revisiting events when they are important for the characters. There’s plenty of action, but the heart of the story is the interactions between characters.

MBU and the first volume of 1.0 are available in English (Square Enix) while up to date chapters are online at Manga Up!. Oddly, they appear to be using different translations (most noticeable in No Face’s speech.)

New Read - Neon Genesis Evangelion, Omnibus 4 (Volumes 10-12)

One word defines these volumes more than anything else: Kaworu

Yes, the last volume gets to NERV being invaded mirroring the plot from End of Evangelion in many ways, but Kaworu dominates this volume.

Those who ship Shinji and Kaworu would do well to read the manga. Their relationship is more intense, more overtly romantic, more kissing than in the anime.

It also makes Kaworu's death at the hands of Unit 01 all the more intense.

#Manga #MangaCollector #MangaReview #Mangagram #MangaCommunity #MangaPost #MangaRecommendation #InstaManga #MangaLover #MangaReader #AmReading #Bookstodon #NeonGenesisEvangelion #NGE #Evangelion #YoshiyukiSadamoto #SadamotoYoshiyuki #MangaMonday

New Read - Delicious in Dungeon, Volume 14 (Final Volume)

And with that, it is finished.

I have mixed feelings.

I enjoyed the ending. It was a fitting end to the series and worked well. It also tied up so many loose ends.

Although the romantic subtext between Marcille and Laios OR between Marcille and Falin was never really explored and my goodness did they have various chances by the end.

But, I regardless of me trying to ship characters, I think it ended well and each character's ending was earned.

Glad I read this series.

#Manga #MangaReview #Mangagram #MangaCommunity #MangaPost #MangaRecommendation #InstaManga #MangaLover #MangaReader #AmReading #LibraryFinds #Bookstodon #DungeonMeshi #DeliciousInDungeon #ダンジョン飯 #RyokoKui #KuiRyoko #MangaMonday

#MangaMonday 93 “Cats With Jobs” by Pandania

Pandania was recommended earlier for “Cthulhu Cat” (MM34.) This time around we have a slightly more grounded concept; #cats doing people jobs. I say “slightly” because the jobs range from the ordinary (fishmonger, programmer) to the extraordinary (phantom thief, mad scientist) to the fantastic (magical girl, superhero.)

It’s a cute concept, and Pandania’s art style is well suited for it. The cats are recognizably cats, but anthropomorphized to varying degrees. Basically, whatever is required for a particular joke. The format is a simple four panel gag #manga style, usually with one sequence per page per job.

Ongoing(?) with one of two volumes in English (Seven Seas.) The second drops tomorrow. Note: the print edition of volume one comes with a sticker sheet!

#CatsWithJobs

#MangaMonday 92 “Chainsmoker Cat” by Nyan Nyan Factory

I’m not a big fan of gross-out humor, but I do have a soft spot for heroines that are a complete mess. This #manga has both.

Yani is a catgirl who is utterly addicted to nicotine. Her apartment is filled with loaded ashtrays, trash, and scorch marks. She can’t hold down a job, because she needs constant smoke breaks. When her water is shut off she relieves herself outside.

Her sister is relatively normal and wants her to quit smoking. Her drug fiend neighbor looks up to her, and is frequently disappointed. Her landlord is long suffering, but secretly into her.

It’s fertile ground for low-brow humor, and Nyan Nyan Factory has mined it for ten volumes so far. The first volume was just released in English (Seven Seas.)

“Nyan Nyan Factory” is a group pen name, and the art shift from chapter to chapter reflects that. Additional artists contribute pages to a “Nyanthology” at the end.

#ChainsmokerCat

New read - Delicious in Dungeon, Volume 13

My goodness! Laios outsmarted the demon.

We got some great backstory of the demon who created the dungeon. What a great moment to really understand the character better.

But yea, this was a moment where Laios outsmarted one of the most powerful beings in the entire universe.

But, at what cost? That's how it ends. We're not sure yet.

Final volume next. Thankfully, I already have it from my library.

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#MangaMonday 91 “Girl Crush” by Midori Tayama

Tenka Momose is smart, pretty, and athletic. She has a crush on childhood friend Harumi, but he has eyes only for the adorkable Erian. This seems pretty predictable, except that we’re following Tenka and not Erian. And then they both head off to Korea in an attempt to become K-Pop idols. (Nice knowing you, Harumi.) And then they end up at different agencies. (See ya, Erian.)

The bulk of the story is Tenka’s personal growth and the competitive nature of the idol business. With Tayama’s stylish designs, it sometimes reads like a sports #manga drawn by a fashion illustrator.

#GirlCrush is #KPop slang for a cool girl admired by other girls, in case you were expecting a different kind of manga.

This was originally released online, so the English chapters (currently at ch. 99) are at ComicKey.com while print and digital Volumes are being put out by Viz (currently up to vol. 4/ch. 50) at a fairly quick pace.

New Read - Neon Genesis Evangelion, Omnibus 3 (Volumes 7-9)

Wow. This is a lot.

The aftermath of the situation with Unit 03 and Toji. How Shinji emotionally is just...broken. And then his melding into the LCL for a time and his mother and him starting to piece together more of what the Eva units are. It's a lot.

Also, more of Kaiji's backstory than I remember from the anime. Plus the completion of his arc. Wow. Well done.

Also, Asuka's emotional and mental attack. Plus the addition of Kaworu toward the end of the omnibus.

A lot went on.

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New read - Delicious in Dungeon, Volume 12

Plot. My goodness. Plot. Laios' realization about the power of the dungeon. And Marcile. Oh goodness, the manipulation of Marcile by the demon was just...so much.

It was such a well done volume.

Only 2 more before I finish the series. Let's see if I can get them from my library network!

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When our investigative student leaves Innsmouth, that's when the twist occurs. It begins mid-story with the main character about to kill himself after the horrors he saw in Innsmouth. But yea, when it catches back up to the intro I was like...eh.

The art was fantastic and gruesome. May look into more work by Tanabe. Not necessarily interested in more from Lovecraft, though.

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New Read - H.P. Lovecrat's The Shadow Over Innsmouth (manga adaptation)

I've never read any Lovecraft before. I saw this at the library as a single volume adaptation by artist Gou Tanabe and decided to check it out.

It's horrifying and interesting to read. But, perhaps it's me, but the twist ending didn't exactly hit as hard as I think it's supposed to.

Short version: Innsmouth is a New England port town that has been shunned by the neighboring communities out of fear of their strange practices. Our lead is investigating the town and comes to see some of the horrors within.

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New Read - Delicious In Dungeon, Volume 11

I am trying not to give spoilers as I read through Delicious in Dungeon. Not everyone wants to find out without a spoiler tag what happens as the series goes along BUT, my goodness. This was a great volume.

Moving the overall plot along, Laios love of monsters keeping him safe in such a fascinating manner, new monsters to be eaten, the golden lion, new reveals. And that ending of the volume.

What a journey to get to this point.

Can't wait to dive into Volume 12.

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New Read - A Vampire in the Bathhouse

Luka is a handsome, chiseled vampire living in the demon realm. One day he's hungover and sore, so he goes to a bathhouse in the human realm to ease his pain and magically, he feels better. Enter Sakura, the 20 something man who is running this family bathhouse with his Grandfather.

Luka sucks Sakura's blood bonding them.

Basically, it's a slice of life romantic comedy between a pansexual vampire and the not yet ready to call himself gay bathhouse operator. Lots of strategically placed steam for mostly nude dudes.

Overall, cute and largely chill.

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New Read - Delicious In Dungeon, Volume 10

Another of my weekend reads was Delicious in Dungeon, Volume 10. I read it while waiting in the car as my oldest took the SAT on Saturday morning.

A lot of movement as our heroes make their way to trying to save Falin, meet up with the Lunatic Magician. The ending of this volume. Oof.

Glad I already got Volume 11 checked out from my library! Phew.

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#MangaMonday 83 “Flying Witch” by Chihiro Ishizuka

“Gibblets with a side of fantasy.”

That line is said by a neighbor as she witnesses a group of witches enjoying a cook-out while showing each other the first spells they learned. It’s also a fair summary of this slice-of-life modern-fantasy comedy #manga.

The titular witch, Makoto Kowata, is still in training. To be closer to nature, she’s moved out to the country to live with her aunt, uncle, and two cousins. The cousins, Kei, a boy about Makota’s age, and the younger Chinatsu, who soon aspires to become a witch herself, introduce her to the countryside and their network of friends. Makoto, helped by a couple of the local witches and especially her frequently-visiting free-spirited sister, shows them the supernatural elements of this world. It’s a (usually) relaxing story with a low-key sense of humor.

Ongoing with 13 of 14 volumes available in English (Kodansha.) A twelve episode #anime aired in 2016.

#FlyingWitch

Kabuki as Taro Sakamoto

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Next up on my Halloween costumes / scenes is Kabuki as Taro Sakamoto from Sakamoto Days.

Kabuki was the perfect choice to be Taro Sakamoto from Sakamoto Days and, I just HAD to share this for Manga Monday. Side by side shots of the full color and the black and white manga inspired pic.

Have a great Monday!

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