Category: Manga

Review: Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol. 1

Title: Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol. 1
Author: Tomohito Oda
Genre: Young Adult, Manga
Publisher: VIZ Media
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: June 11, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Timid Tadano is a total wallflower, and that’s just the way he likes it. But all that changes when he finds himself alone in a classroom on the first day of high school with the legendary Komi. He quickly realizes she isn’t aloof—she’s just super awkward. Now he’s made it his mission to help her on her quest to make 100 friends!

Review:

Tadano meets Komi when he starts attending an elite prep school. Komi is the most adored girl in school, but she can’t talk to others. Tadano makes an effort to try to communicate with Komi, and he learns that she wants to make friends. Her goal is to make 100 friends. Tadano helps introduce her to people and encourages her as she makes new friends.

This story had a unique school dynamic, with Komi being very popular but also socially awkward. Everyone at school adored her and thought she was the prettiest girl, yet they didn’t realize she couldn’t communicate with them. They all thought she was just too cool to talk to them, which elevated her status even higher. This was a unique way of showing how someone’s appearance may give off one feeling, yet inside they feel very uncomfortable.

This was a great manga graphic novel. I’m excited to read the rest of the series.

Thank you VIZ Media for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol. 2 by Tomohito Oda

My Hero Academia, Vol. 1 by Kohei Horikoshi

Have you read Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?

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Review: My Hero Academia, Vol. 1

Title: My Hero Academia, Vol. 1
Author: Kohei Horikoshi
Genre: Manga
Publisher: VIZ Media
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks” at age four? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny… 

Review:

I’ve seen this series around for a while, so I was excited when I saw it available on NetGalley. I loved this book!

In this world, there are many real superheroes. They each have a unique quirk, which they use to fight villains. If someone is going to have a quirk, they usually exhibit it by the age of four. Izuku has always wanted to be a superhero, but he doesn’t have any powers. When he meets one of the heroes, named All Might, he trains him to follow in his footsteps.

I love it when authors give some information on how they created their work. At the end of each chapter, there was a character profile, where the artist talked about how he created the character and what changes the character went through before publication. This was some great insight into his process. I also liked the page at the end of the book, which gave a shout out to the assistants who helped create the book. It was nice to see those people, who also worked hard on the book, get credit for their work.

I enjoyed this story. It moved along quickly, and was entertaining. I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this book. It lived up to the hype! I’m so glad I have many more volumes to read next!

Thank you Viz Media for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

My Hero Academia, Vol. 2 by Kohei Horikoshi

Have you read My Hero Academia, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?

Review: Manga Classics: Macbeth

Title: Manga Classics: Macbeth
Author: Stacy King, Crystal S. Chan, William Shakespeare, Julien Choy
Genre: Manga, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: ebook
Release Date: September 1, 2018
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Macbeth, the Thane of Cawdor, is a loyal subject to Duncan, the King of Scotland. At least, he used to be. With tempting words and treacherous images, three witches and his own wife inspire Macbeth to a terrible act of treason and murder. As one murder follows another, Macbeth begins to lose his grip upon both his sanity and his hard-won kingdom – but what could possibly unseat him from his bloody throne?

Featuring lush visuals and the FULL, ORIGINAL TEXT

 of Shakespeare’s brutal Scottish tragedy, Macbeth is the second title in Manga Classics ‘ Shakespeare line, an unflinching version of this classic tale! 

Review:

I read Macbeth in high school many years ago. I don’t remember all the details of it, so I wanted to read this Manga Classic graphic novel as a refresher. It was a great adaptation.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s madness was illustrated very well in this graphic novel. Macbeth start out as a fairly good, ambitious character. As he grows in status and kills people, he developed shadows on his face and aged a lot. I liked the way his madness changed his appearance.

I also liked the way the metaphors were illustrated in the pictures. There were many animal metaphors, including snakes and bears. When they were mentioned in dialogue, they were accompanied by an image of the animal. This reinforced the written text.

I love these Manga Classics! They are great adaptations of classic plays and novels!

Thank you Udon Entertainment for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Manga Classics: Romeo and Juliet by Stacy King, William Shakespeare

Manga Classics: The Count of Monte Cristo by Stacy King, Alexandre Dumas

Have you read Manga Classics: Macbeth? What did you think of it?

Review: Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within, Vol. 2

Title: Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within, Vol. 2
Author: Tania del Rio
Genre: Young Adult, Manga
Publisher: Archie Comics
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

The magic continues in SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH: THE MAGIC WITHIN!

Sabrina Spellman’s life is intense. On top of the usual stresses of being a teenager, she’s a witch! And that means two schools and twice the work, from her Mortal Realm high school and the Magic Realm’s Charm School.

It should be simpler. But in addition to a regular spelling bee, she has to study for a magical spell-ing bee. She’s finally dating her childhood Sweetheart—but he doesn’t know she’s a witch! She also has a crush on a cute young wizard—but he’s dating her best friend! On top of the drama, Sabrina keeps being dragged into the middle of strange and dangerous events in the Magic Realm. 

Written and illustrated by acclaimed artist Tania del Rio, THE MAGIC WITHIN 2 is the second collection of Archie’s critically praised American manga!

Review:

I love this series! It’s a lot of fun. It isn’t like the other Sabrina the Teenage Witch comics or shows I’ve watched before.

There are a lot of fantasy elements to the story. The magic realm plays an important part in the series. Sabrina and her friend discover that the Mana Tree is dying, which represents the life of their queen. They also travel under the sea to the world of merpeople. I love these fantasy elements of the story. Rather than seeing a witch in the real world, which is what the other series are usually about, we get to see the magical world that Sabrina comes from.

One part that I found surprising with this series is Harvey. I can’t stand him in these stories! He can’t make up his mind about liking Sabrina. He likes her, but once they get together, he changes his mind. I was rooting for her and Shinji to get together (even though he is dating her best friend).

I highly recommend this series for fans of Sabrina! It’s a refreshing look at the teenage witch!

What to read next:

Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The
Magic Within, Vol. 3 by Tania del Rio

Have you read Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Magic Within, Vol. 3? What did you think of it?

Review: Romeo and Juliet (Manga Classics)

Title: Romeo and Juliet (Manga Classics)
Author: Stacy King, Crystal S. Chan, William Shakespeare
Genre: Manga
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 15, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

A classic Shakespearean tragedy, Romeo and Juliet is the tale of two star-crossed young lovers who dare to defy their feuding families, put aside all obstacles, and find happiness together – but at a tremendous cost. This grimly beautiful tale, set in the Renaissance Italy, follows Romeo and Juliet from their hateful first meeting to their last.

Manga Classics ™ brings you this incredible new manga version of William Shakespeare’s most popular play, featuring the unaltered original text in its entirety!

Review:

I love the collection of Manga Classics! I was so excited about the Romeo and Juliet manga because it is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays.

I have fond memories of this play because my class performed it in grade 5. It was the first Shakespeare play I ever read. I can still remember parts of it off by heart.

This was a great adaptation of the play. My favourite part was Juliet’s nurse. She was such a funny and dramatic character. She would ramble on about things without getting to the point. Her character in this story was a large woman who screamed a lot. She was overly dramatic, which added a lot of humour to this tragic story.

This is a great adaptation of Romeo and Juliet!

What to read next:

Pride and Prejudice (Manga Classics) by Stacy King

The Scarlet Letter (Manga Classics) by Stacy King

Have you read Romeo and Juliet (Manga Classics)? What did you think of it?

Review: Battle Angel Alita Vol. 1

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Title: Battle Angel Alita Vol. 1
Author: Yukito Kishiro
Genre: Manga, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Kondasha
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: January 23, 2018
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

In a dump in the lawless settlement of Scrapyard, far beneath the mysterious space city of Zalem, disgraced cyber-doctor Daisuke Ido makes a strange find: the detached head of a cyborg woman who has lost all her memories. He names her Alita and equips her with a powerful new body, the Berserker. While Alita remembers no details of her former life, a moment of desperation reawakens in her nerves the legendary school of martial arts known as Panzer Kunst. In a place where there is no justice but what people make for themselves, Alita decides to become a hunter-killer, tracking down and taking out those who prey on the weak. But can she hold onto her humanity as she begins to revel in her own bloodlust?

Review:

I chose this graphic novel on NetGalley because I saw a preview of the upcoming movie adaptation. I was curious about the story, because it looked unique.

The story was good. I liked that Alita was a strong fighter. Depending on the body she is given, she has different abilities. But she was always strong. The villain, Makuka, was so creepy and gross. He was often just a head that rolled around, but the face was disturbing.

Some of the pages in my copy were in colour. I loved the art on these pages. The other pages were just black and white, so it was sometimes hard to tell what was happening. There were a lot of elaborate fight scenes, which were enhanced by the colours, but difficult to decipher when in black and white.

I liked this story, so I’ll have to check out the movie when it comes out.

Review: Les Miserables (Manga Classics)

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Title: Les Miserables
Author: Victor Hugo, Stacy King, SunNeko Lee, Crystal S. Chan
Genre: Graphic Novel, Manga
Publisher: UDON Entertainment
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: September 17, 2014
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Adapted for stage and screen, loved by millions, Victor Hugo’s classic novel of love and tragedy set in 19th century France is reborn in this fantastic new manga edition!

Gorgeous and expressive art brigns to life the unforgettable stories of Jean Valjean, Inspector Javert, and the tragic Fantine in this epic adaptation of Les Misérables!

Review:

I have never read the original Les Miserables or watched the movie, so this was the first time I heard the story. I really liked it.

There was lots of tension in the story that I wasn’t expecting. There were also some mature themes, such as child abuse and prostitution. I always thought it was just a sad story, but the tense twists were very good.

I liked the art in this graphic novel too. It follows the same design of the other Manga Classics. Each of the characters were distinctly drawn. I loved the way Cosette looked. She was so adorable!

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. Now I want to read the original book!

The Scarlet Letter (Manga Classics)


Title: The Scarlet Letter (Manga Classics)
Author: Stacy King, Sun Neko Lee, Crystal S. Chan, Nathaniel Hawthorne
Genre: Manga, Graphic Novel
Publisher: UDON Entertainment
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: March 18, 2015
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A powerful tale of forbidden love, shame, and revenge comes to life in Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter. Faithfully adapted by Crystal Chan from the original novel, this new edition features stunning artwork by SunNeko Lee (Manga Classics: Les Miserables) which will give old and new readers alike a fresh insight into the Nathaniel Hawthorne’s tragic saga of Puritan America. Manga Classics editions feature classic stories, faithfully adapted and illustrated in manga style, and available in both hardcover and softcover editions. Proudly presented by UDON Entertainment and Morpheus Publishing.

Review:

The Scarlet Letter was one of the first 19th Century novels I read, and I loved it. This manga was just as awesome!

One of my favourite things about this novel is how the scarlet letter stood out on Hester’s chest. All the illustrations are black and white but the letter “A” was in red. It made it stand out so much. This is different from the other Manga Classics that I’ve read, because they were completely in black and white.

Hester’s daughter, Pearl, was a very cute girl, but she was also very creepy. On the back cover of the book, there is a colour drawing of Pearl in a red dress. I wish the whole thing could be coloured, because the red of her dress and Hester’s “A” was so vibrant, that it would have contrasted very well with the dull colours of the puritan town.

This is one of my favourite books in the Manga Classics series. I highly recommend it for fans of the original book and new readers.

Jane Eyre (Manga Classics)


Title: Jane Eyre (Manga Classics) 
Author: Charlotte Bronte, Stacy King
Genre: Graphic Novel, Manga
Publisher: UDON Entertainment
Release Date: November 15, 2016
Rating: ★★★★★

Jane Eyre was orphaned at a young age. She was sent to live with her aunt and cousins, but they never treated her well. After an incident with her cousin, Jane’s aunt, Mrs. Reed, send Jane to a school. The conditions weren’t good at the school, with the girls being underfed and underclothed. Eventually the school got better, and Jane taught there for a few years when she finished her own schooling. Then, she put out an ad to be a governess. Mrs. Fairfax asked Jane to come to teach Adele, Mr. Rochester’s charge. Soon after Jane arrives, strange things happen. She thinks the house is haunted. 

Jane Eyre is one of my favourite books. It has just enough mystery in it to make it suspenseful. 

This graphic novel is great! It tells the story very well. 

I liked the way that Jane looked very evil as a child. She had dark hair and eyes, and she was always yelling at people. It made her very spooky and set the tone for what will happen later in the story. 

Each of the characters looked very distinct, so I could distinguish between them. Sometimes, if the characters are drawn in the same style, they can blend together and become confused. But the characters all had a separate style of clothes and looks in this story. 

This is my favourite book in the Manga Classics series! 

Beauty and The Beast: The Beast’s Tale


Title: Beauty and The Beast: The Beast’s Tale
Author: Mallory Reaves
Genre: Graphic Novel, Manga
Publisher: Tokyopop
Release Date: March 28, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

The Prince had everything he could ever want. But he was not kind. When a beggar woman came to the castle, he turned her away. She cursed him and his castle, turning him into a beast and his employees into furniture. They would stay like that until the final petal falls on his rose. Then, they would all be doomed. Everything changed when Belle came along. She went to the castle to rescue her father, who the Beast had imprisoned for trying to steal a rose. Belle took her father’s place and stayed at the castle. The furniture immediately fell in love with her. They knew that if anyone could save their Prince, it would be her. 

I loved this graphic novel. It gives a fresh perspective on the Beauty and the Beast tale, since it only focuses on the Beast. Though his story is told in the movie, this manga focuses only on his side, so it is unique. 

I liked the way that the Beast’s emotions were demonstrated through the art. When the Beast was angry, sharp lines were used for shading. A few times, the Beast’s frame took up two pages, making him seem huge and intimidating. 

One thing that bothered me while reading this book was the order of the text on the page. In a manga, it is supposed to be read from right to left. But sometimes this one read from left to right, if the text was higher on the left. This was confusing at first. 

This is a really great graphic novel. It goes along with Belle’s Tale. My review for Belle’s Tale can be found here.