Comics Books

Neil and Dave add up to be nothing but a right angle. There is nothing wrong with this story. It is full of depth and realism yet it captures the macabre memories one can only associate with childhood. When the memory of a relative can be more frightening than any boogieman. The artwork leaves you breathless. I could spend several minutes looking at a fraction of a page, and pondering the blend of photography with illustration and the ways it contributed to a child's fantasy world and that of his reality. This was the first Gaiman graphic novel I read, and I'm glad because even though the Sandman comics are genius they don't encapsulate Gaiman and Mckean's ability to create a complete work of art.

These 2 have put together a wonderful movie and several wonderful graphic novels. Dark, yes, but humorous and the artwork is amazing.

Neil Gaiman delivers yet another knockout in the realm of the graphic novel with his wonderfully dark and hallucinatory 'Mr. Punch.' A tale of dark and gloomy childhood flashbacks, 'Mr. Punch,' is a great read for those looking for something oozing with chilly atmosphere. The mixed-media (enhanced photos and pencils) artwork by Dave McKean is astounding as well and visually evokes a feeling of helplessness confronting a child when stuck in a grim and depressing environment that amplifies all of his little fears. While this book is nowhere near the epic grandeur of Gaiman's, 'Sandman,' series - as a standalone, 'Mr. Punch,' is a visual and narrative treat not to be missed.

I do love Neil Gaiman's work, but Mr. Punch is not one of his better efforts, in my opinion.

It was loosely put together, and failed to offer up the blurbed promises of "A nightmarish world of violence and betrayal." Though the artwork is good, and Mr. Gaiman's prose is good, the book simply was unable to create even a low-level dread of the creepy Punch & Judy puppets.

It is simply a bland story of a young boy's memories of his Grandfather's failing arcade off the main attractions of a seaside business area.

The boy is sent to stay with his Grandparent's while his mother is due to deliver his baby sister, and he meets and old puppeteer who is not very mysterious and witnesses his grandfather have an argument with a young lady he is involved in. No real violence or threatening situations, merely a vaguely distorted view of some old puppets.

The prose is good, but rather pointless; the artwork is good and strangely done, but when put together to form the whole it came out rather unfulfilling and anticlimactic. A rather generic musing of a mundane summer.

If you have everything else by Neil Gaiman, then go ahead and fill up your collection with Mr. Punch, but this is not a good place to start to introduce yourself to Gaiman, and not recommended unless you are a die hard fan.

Pick up one of his novels first, or his Sandman series or Black Orchid which was beautifully done.

Neil Gaiman has always said this is his best comic, and I find that really hard to believe. I would think that much of the 'Sandman' series is far superior in terms of plot and characterisations.

It is a shame that the script has let this work done, because the artwork is probably the best I have ever seen for a comic/graphic novel, and certainly more appealing than 'Sandman'. Divinely textured, with incredible breath and detail, McLean's (responsible for the Sandman covers) work is truly incredible. The puppet photography is an innovative idea, and the portraits of the boy are also fantastic. The photography of the grandfather's hands also resonates, and overall the work has a wonderfully finished appeal.

However, the series is too short and underdeveloped, and the characterisations are weak. I had difficulty telling several of the characters apart, while it does have that beautiful dark mystical quality I would come to expect with Gaiman.

I read and loved the series as a kid and liked the archive edition even more. It brings back all the excitement of collecting books again.

I've always been a George Perez fan. His art is really awasome. He made with the teen titans a new beginning. Quite an era.
This first book is a must in anyone fan collection. The "new Teen Titans" are So necessary as "The Justice League archives" to understand the DC Universe.Excellent

I've never been a huge fan of George Perez, tho his current take on the "Brave and the Bold" is proving to be quite fun. Yeah, he's the guy that put the Scarlet Witch in that silly gypsy costume and doomed Supergirl to die wearing a headband. That said, I do have a fondness for the New Teen Titans. I never really read the title when it first hit, so much of these stories are new to me. This volume is a nicely entertaining read, and the plotting by Wolfman is well done.

I followed the New Teen Titans only because I was a Batman fan, and therefore was interested in Robin leading the team. My first issue was the Annual #2. I only picked up the New Teen Titans during the run of the Judas Contract. This is a great introduction to the new team beginning with the 16 page "throwaway" story which was really quite good. You couldn't buy the individual issues, nor would you want to. This is a great buy for anyone who even is remotely interested in any one character, such as Robin. You will come to enjoy the others. You can't beat the storytelling team of Wolfman and Perez!

I have read my fair share of reviews for and against the Titans. And for lack of pushing an idea, I have had enough of what seems to be a 1 sided argument.

There is a theme building with each review here...and it's starting to sicken me. You can pretty much see what reviews are rated as helpful, and which have a poor rating. It's as simple as drawing a line between those who dislike the Teen Titans and those who do not. All too often any review that praises them, are rated high, and any that berates them is rated low. There are the prerequisite exceptions of course. But the majority sees all.

I was NEVER into the Titans (comic). I grew up in the late 70's and 80's. Right around the time that most call the Titans hit their stride. I never picked up one, I never thought I would like them. As a young kid, I was more interested in the bigger name heros. It's how I started as a collector. Over time, I had started to move all over the map with comics, yet in doing so I had forgotten about the Titans. Locked away in my mind, seemingly forever. Not ever knowing the excellent stories and artwork that came of them.

Then the cartoon hit the air. (Like some reviews here) At first I turned my nose...didn't care...after all it was the Titans. A Japanese style anime. But as a father, and those out there know well...when your child wants to watch something...sometime your just forced to watch.

Now I have seen what most Anime has to offer. And I DO like the style. I know for some it is a turn off. So naturally you are not going to like the series. But damning the series based on style...is not a reason. About the only thing I saw wrong with the cartoon...was that some of the 2/3-parters had weak endings (Trigon & Terra come to mind). Some of the recent episodes have also been very weak ("Titans, Go!" & "Revved Up" come to mind).

That said...with the Anime series coming to an end with 2-3 episodes to go. I see the real reason why I like the Titans so much. The cartoon series took an attitude against the Titans, and turned it inside out. I knew the cartoon wasn't going to be aimed at adults...(as it seemed that most reviewers here thought). It was obviously aimed at kids from the first word said. So keeping that in mind...this was the first taste of Titans I got.

What it did was peak my interest in the comic I shunned all those years ago. I am glad for that cartoon, for without it, I would STILL be shunning the comic for no reason what so ever.

I would suspect that those who are now shunning the cartoon, had higher expectations for a series, which gave NO indication that it was for adults. Primetime or not...it was on the Cartoon Network...and not on Adult Swim. It should have become pretty obvious at some point that this was geared towards children. And the "dumbing down" of Starfire, the "technicolored" Cyborg, the "corney" Beast Boy, the "annoying" Raven, and "uncharacteristic" Robin were all done, because children were the target. Not the adults who have been following the Titans so closely forever.

Do you honestly think writing and drawing Starfire the way she is suppossed to be...would be seen as a good thing for a children's cartoon?

There are reasons for everything. Expecting this cartoon, which has had a good run concidering that most cartoons (that do not involve a pokemon or card game) only last 2-3 seasons at best, to be anything more than a child's version of the comic says something about the viewer...not the series.

The comics have, and always will be, the staple and canon for the Titans being who they are. If you are a person who has enjoyed the comics...why bother berating a child's cartoon? My daughters have enjoyed the cartoon's 5 Season run. Even with the "Things Change" episode going to be the Series Finale, they love each and every second of it. One enjoys Starfire, the other enjoys Raven. And they both have never seen the comic.

If you are a person who enjoys the cartoon, I invite you to pick up the comics. I invite you to discover what the Titans are suppossed to be. What the other characters are suppossed to be. To enjoy the artwork. To enjoy the more involved story arcs.

The cartoon may have been a watered down version of the comics. Though it was never meant to emulate it whatsoever. It HAS served a purpose. A higher purpose. One more important for the comic series than ever before. Agree or not, Love it or hate it, the cartoon has introduced a new generation to the Teen Titans

And from the reactions of my daughters...it is for the better. For me the cartoon did nothing but reinforce the comic. It peaked an interest that wasn't there for decades. And that, for fans of the comic, is a very good thing.

The cool thing about this book and other SM comics is an instant replay is included, which has:
Information about Bunny's family and her friends {both her scout friends and her friends like Molly that have no powers}.
The people from the Black Moon {Nemesis}
A summary of what has happened in previous comics that are in this season {which includes #4 to this one}.
In the first chapter:
Sailor Pluto stops time and kills herself.
Black {Wicked} Lady transforms back to Rini and then becomes Sailor Minimoon.
Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion wake up.
Sailor Moon and Sailor Minimoon destroy Death Phantom.
The sailor scouts meet their future self, including Sailor Moon.
Rini goes back to the 30th century. See if she comes back to the present 20th century.
Second chapter:
Raye and Darien get a premination.
Rini goes to an amusement park and meets Hotaru.

I really love it I like the beginning of it plus it starts the Sailor Moon S comic part.If you are really a moonie you should get this!

I love Sailor Moon!Well...To be hounest...I love Mitchiru...Please,don't get me wrong...I really love her!!!!!!

First of all I loved the cover of this book, not to mention the beautiful artwork inside! Naoko Takeuchi has done it again with book #7! I won't tell you much about the book (or it might spoil it) but I will tell you that this is the book where hotaru first appears-there's not much about her but hey....Anyway, I would recommend to buy book #6 first or you won't really know what's going on.
If you're interested in sailor moon, Nakayoshi magazine was were it all began. ......sailor moon #7 are very worth getting!!

This is another great volume. Usagi/Mamoru, Serena/Darien, Bunny/Darien are the best couple. My favorite version is the Japanese version. I will use both names. In this volume, Usagi, known as Bunny and Mamoru, known as Darien have a wonderful experiece. Bunny and Darien are lovers. After going to the future, Bunny becomes trapped. Darien comes to rescue her in space. Bunny and her boyfriend and true love, Darien, travel together. Bunny asks Darien if she should exist because the future would be altered by her. Darien tells Bunny that she has saved many lives. Darien tells Bunny that he lives to protect her and he will lend her his power. Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon kiss. Bunny kisses Darien. As they kiss, she feels that they become one. She tells him that she's finally found herself. Darien holds Bunny close. After the battle, they send their future daughter back to the future. Bunny and Darien go to a bench together. Bunny becomes sad. Darien cheers her up and says that they have the whole future together. Bunny smiles, knowing he will always be beside her. Bunny and Darien kiss. As they kiss, their future daughter returns. Bunny wakes up the enxt day and is alte to meet Darien, but he forgives her. Bunny and Darien kiss and Darien senses something new. To find out what happens, read this wonderful volume.

The last series of Sailor moon is the best. It tells more about the background of each character. And for once all the Sailor Scouts are gone. You finally get to see how Sailor Moon fights by herself! The book has beatiful artwork. Only it has terrible binding. The Sailor Moon Manga books always kinda fall apart. So be very careful with them! Get this book! You'll enjoy it and read it again and again.

This is probley the closest you could get to the 5th season if you don't get it. Now I know you can get it on e-bay, but I don't want to get it used{eventually}.
First chapter:
It is revealed that Chibi Chibi is a sailor scout.
The starlights talk about what happened in the past.
Sailor Galaxia attacks Bunny and Chibi Chibi.
Second chapter:
Bunny and Chibi Chibi survive the attack.
Eternal Sailor Moon, Sailor Chibi Chibi,Princess Kakyu, and the Sailor Starlights go to the Outer Senshi's planet in hopes of finding the outer senshi.
Third chapter:
The group travels to a river where the scouts memories are taken away.
Sailor Galaxia takes the salor starlights sailor crystals!!!
Rini's picture diary:
Hotaru and Rini goes to her friends store.
An evil ghost takes control of Hotaru.

First off, glamcabbit, Manga or books are not DUBBED, they are TRANSLATED!
Ok. Now that that is straight, this manga was really good. Ther artwork is great. The story is good, but it could be better. It just isn't as good as it used to be. Even Naoko herself said that she was sorry she was so kept up with the anime that she didn't really try to make the StarS series interesting (I think)
Anyone who can't have the Sailor Moon StarS anime should get this manga. It's not SO different from the anime, accept the Villians are SOOO much smarter.
This manga starts out with Sailor Moon fighting Kitty and the Sailor Starlights finally finding Princess Kakyu. Later on in the manga, Sailor Moon is left without Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, or Uranus to help her. She then finds out the shocking truth. She is the target of Sailor Galaxia, the scout of destruction. Set upon rescuing her fellow Sailor Scout's Sailor Crystals, Eternal Sailor Moon goes to find Sailor Galaxia with Sailor Chibi Chibi (NOT SAILOR CHIBI CHIBI MOON! THAT'S ONLY IN THE ANIME!), Princess Kakyuu, and the Starlights. But Galaxia won't let Sailor Moon win that easily! Will Sailor Moon be able to get through all the obstacles in her path?
Unfortunately, this description might not be that good, considering I lost my StarS 2 manga in the Seattle Airport ! :'-(
Oh well. Hope I helped you!

PS Would actually be 4 1/2 stars, but I couldn't figure out how to do that! Anyone know?

this book is brilliant. Amazing ... no words could describe it. Well, first off, from the first book, The starlights find their princess and Mamoru d.... HAVE YOU READ THE FIRST BOOk!? i can't say if you ahve or havn't so.. i won't go on about that, anyways along the way, Usagi discovers Sailor Galexia.. and gets to meet her, i won't say anymore.. i advise this book to any Sailor Moon fans, you've seen the series.. trust me, this is totaly different

The second book is so cool too. We find out who the strange lady is that the starlights call princess, and much more questions are answered like Who the starlights really are and what happened to the senshi's and so on but i can't tell you much because then i would ruin it!
There is one cool thing at the end of this book. There is a mini comic that Naoko made for a contest winner where Chibi-usa, Hotaru and Chibi-usa's friends Ruruna and Naruru go to this cool pawn shop and they buy stuff and... i won't say anymore

S.C. Ringgenberg
(602) 621-6439 /sringgenberg1@cox.net



Sight Unseen Brings Terror to Light


Sight Unseen, a 2006 graphic novel from Image, written by Rob Tinnell, and illustrated by Bo Hampton is quite simply, one of the best graphic novels of the last two years, and at the same time, the scariest ghost story I couldn't put down. Tinnell and Hampton's collaboration has produced a genuinely scary and original fearfest, with one of the creepiest villains ever put on paper. Tinnell's script is atmospheric, crackles with believable dialog, and provides a number of good shocks along the way to its melancholy conclusion. Some of the protagonists survive, but this brush with supernatural forces scars them forever.
Bo Hampton eschews his usual realistic, cleanly rendered style (always reminiscent of Al Williamson and Michael Kaluta in good ways) for a moodier, computer drawn style that gives him a broader emotional palette to work with, especially in the darker range of the spectrum. Hampton captures the mood of Tinnell's script so well that I can't imagine another artist drawing this. I give Sight Unseen my highest recommendation. If you haven't read this book, don't waste any time tracking down your own copy! And while you're reading it, you'd better leave the lights on. Pleasant dreams, readers

It's disappointing how unreadable some comics and graphic novels are today. Pretentious, patronizing, overwrought, and often boring. It's a shame how art-driven the medium has become. That sounds a bit odd when you consider I'm talking about COMICS, but it's true nonetheless. If the book has a plodding script with flat characters, cheap lines and horrible pacing, then no artist of any caliber can save it from an inevitable demise. No artist worth his lead should have touched it in the first place, but unfortunately they do, and we the buyers often let ourselves be lured in by big names and lay down our hard-earned cash for worthless drivel.
But this gorgeous little book is worth every penny I laid down for it. Sight Unseen is everything I want my comics and graphic novels to be. Original without being pretentious. Intelligent without being patronizing. Thought-provoking without being overwrought. The characters are believable, likeable and thoroughly fleshed-out. The relationship dynamic between Frank, his daughter Molly, and his research partner Derek couldn't be more spot-on. Every page of this book is perfectly done, by both Bob and Bo. Speaking of which, Bo's artwork is really something to behold. Loose and organic at just the right moment, yet clean and tight right when it had to be. Not to take anything away from the guy, but a few of those panels gave me very Templesmith-esque shivers! That's definitely a compliment in my book. The complete lack of dialogue or narration in certain sequences is nothing short of brilliant...and terrifying!
Truth be told, I was hesitant at first about the glasses. While I'm familiar with some of the research done regarding the paranormal, I feared that the scientific aspects would be delved into far too much for the average reader, and would threaten to overtake the amazing ghost story that was evolving. I was quite relieved and very pleased to see that wasn't the case! Just enough information to keep the reader up to snuff, nothing more. The build-up and climax is a crash course in Horror How-To. My pulse hasn't pounded that hard in a long time.
Kudos to Bob and Bo on this amazing book. I'll be passing it on to everyone I know that loves a great ghost story. I truly hope that there is a script treatment in the works and a studio smart enough to pick it up!

When I originally found out about this book it was at the Philadelphia Comic convention in 2005. I met Bo Hampton who gladly shared some of the pages and concepts to Sight Unseen. I had the pleasure of meeting Bob Tinell and together they crafted a story that frankly scared the hell out of me. The art was riveting. The fact that there were so many panels with no dialouge left the reader to truly study the panel and after looking past the obvious, the minor nuansces are what left the reader frightened. Great concept! The writing is top notch. I could not put this book down. I am not a fan of horror but this ranks with 30 Days of Night as a book that will only fuel the flames of the horror comic book comeback. If this is not made into a film it would be a travesty. This is as chilling as the Sixth Sense and makes the Ring seem tame. I would recommend this book to anyone whether a fan of horror or not. My hope is that Bob and Bo will continue to spin tales of horror and suspense for many more years to come. Dare I say that if I had a few million dollars I would find a way to make this book into a movie. That's how good it is! Read Sight Unseen.

Not a bad book, but at the same time not as frightening as i was hoping for, but it still has quite an interesting premise and a pretty suspenseful climax.

I picked up this book solely to enjoy Bo Hampton's wonderful artwork, but I was surprised at how well written the story was. You don't think that you'll be spooked by a Graphic Novel, but I read this lengthy book before bed and I have to admit that when I turned the lights out I could have sworn I was hearing things. Incredibly creepy.

No doubt, what draws you to this story is the masterful artwork by Bo Hampton, but the entire book is a treasure. Even the format of the book and it's extra behind the scenes section at the end fit in perfectly. The only thing I have to say negative about it is that I found a few mispellings and grammatical errors in the book. Strange. Usually you don't see that in a Graphic Novel. But that really doesn't affect the intensity of this book. My highest recommendation.

I have been a faithful FoxTrot reader for years. Roger, Andy and their kids Peter, Paige and Jason are always good for a reality check with a large dose of laughter. I've got two girls and let me tell you, I see a lot of my kids in Paige with, I believe, even a healthy dose of Jason thrown in. And they have Peter's bottomless stomach. Of course, they're faithful FoxTrot readers too. I used to read the strip to them, explain what was going on, but now they get it just fine and we three all laugh together. Then my girls try and explain the strip to their dad, who pretends he doesn't get it.

The FoxTrot folks are a great family, one we sort of got used to checking up on every day, so we took the news that Mr. Amend was going to cease daily distribution of his wonderfully funny people and turn his strip to Sunday only, with a bit of sadness. Still, we have these terrific FoxTrot books to keep us going with our FoxTrot fix. Mr. Amend is to be commended for his great gift to our culture and his great gift to so many lives. I truly believe a laugh a day, helps keep the blues away and the FoxTrot gang are always good for a laugh. Heck there are a lot of laughs in the FoxTrot books. I know, I have them all and I am, along with my girls and my hubby dear, eagerly awaiting the next one.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention, we don't have an iguana, but my girls do have a pet gecko and, you guessed it, his name is Quincy.

I've been a Foxtrot reader for a long time and personally I think there is something suspiciously wrong with people who don't find Bill Amend's characters funny as all get out. If you want a good laugh, check out Bill in your local newspaper, or better yet, get one of the Foxtrot books. They are all great, really, they are.

Like many of Mr. Amend's fans I'm a bit disappointed he's switching his strip to Sunday-only, but fortunately I can still read him daily in the Foxtrot books. Get them one and all and you can keep right on a laughing.

You see the list on the side, and obviously, I am a FoxTrot fanatic & own all of the books. Just why would I own something that is dumb? Besides, if you haven't heard of FoxTrot, you either: don't look at the newspaper, or haven't visited the bookstore in about a year.

Among all of the halarious one-day strips, outrageous series include:
-Moby 2000
-Thanksgiving
-Jasoneezer Scrooge
-Christmas
-Jasonzonbayhoodotcom
-Paige vs. Red Orb Guardian
-Babysitting
-Baseball's suprising spectators
-Where's the coffee???
-Summer Dayz
-To Boonhurst...To the hospital...To Wall Street

Aren't intrigued yet to buy this book?

Admit it. We all have one or more family members that resemble the characters in the FoxTrot comic strip. Whether it's the tofu cooking mom, the morning-coffee addicted dad, the hollow leg older son, the self-absorbed daughter, or the geeky younger son, every family can relate.

"Think iFruity" is a collection of daily and Sunday FoxTrot comic strips. It starts with the dad, Roger, buying a Mobycom-2000 cell phone (think Titanic), and ends with Peter being disappointed with his Physics Lab. In between, the family gets their new "iFruit" computer (mango-kiwi, thank you), Roger goes a day without coffee (not a pretty sight), Paige fills her aquarium before taking it upstairs, and Jason kills off the Internet (makes the "I Love You" virus look like the sniffles).

The fun and hilarity never ends with the Fox Family. There's always some kind of chaos or mayhem going on--mainly created by the youngest, Jason Fox. If there hasn't been a problem that has confronted the Fox Family, just wait. They're always having to deal with a crisis that leads to hilarious results.

"Think iFruity" is yet another fabulous FoxTrot collection that is 127 pages of fun-filled comic antics from Roger (the father), Andy (the wife), Peter (the oldest son), Paige (the daughter), and Jason (the youngest son who has a pet iguana). One of the main story points that surrounds this collection is when the family must buy a new computer, and to Jason's absolute horror it is an "iFruity." How will the family cope with the change? Will Jason lose his mind and trash the computer himself? You'll have to wait and see what happens.

Other funny scenarios included in this fine collection:

*Roger's "Mobycom-2000"*
*Jasonezer Scrooge*
*Paige Defeats the Red Orb Guardian*
*Giving Up Coffee*
*Peter's Summer Gig ("Star Wars" Phobia)*
*The Paige Witch Project*
*Roger Quits Work (A Classic "Fox" Saga)*
...and more!

Bill Amend has never failed to get more than a few laughs out of me with his funny characters. The strips are topical, witty, clever and downright hilarious. He never runs out of ideas or storylines, and he always uses his characters to their full potential. This collection is just as funny as the previous ones, if not more. I am never bored when reading FoxTrot, and I was never bored during my reading of this particular collection. A job well done on all fronts.

"Think iFruity" is another hilarious FoxTrot chapter that definitely needs to be a part of your FoxTrot collection. And if you have not read FoxTrot, the more reason to check this out! If you're looking for an entertaining read that won't take up a lot of your time, this FoxTrot collection is just the fix for you. A great read that will have you laughing from the start. -Michael Crane

I have had tons of pets. But none as demanding as cats. Now that I think about it cats are good training for dating, but I'm getting off track. Sumire Iwaya finds Momo, a homeless guy in a box, and takes him in. But in order for him to stay with her and eat her food he has to be her pet. Which is why he has a female dog's name. Now that seems simple, till her old flame shows up and wants to link up with her again. What if he wants to come over? What if he wants to have dinner with her? What if he wants to have sex with her? Things may get complex. I plan to keep an eye on this manga series.

I really can't add much to the detailed reviews already listed, so I'm just here to add more stars to this under publicized manga. I own volumes 1-13, and am eagerly awaiting the final volume- too bad they take four months in between each volume. This manga is intelligent and funny, with great romantic moments. And it is refreshing that all the main characters have well developed personalities, and are talented (as opposed to the stupid-but-sweet girl with smart guy dynamic you sometimes see playing out in shoujo manga.. eh..). This is definitely manga for an older teen or adults. Don't be turned off by the questionable title- you'll be missing out on a great story (in Japanese (Kimi wa Petto), the title literally means "You're My Pet" but I guess Tokyopop didn't find that catchy enough). Highly recommended.

Sumire Iwaya is a tall, workaholic, head-strong woman with a commanding personality. She has a smoking problem, tends to get drunk on wine, and dates men who are at her height or taller. In the first two pages of the manga, her personality and several of her habits are revealed, as well as her punching her now ex-boyfriend for cheating on her in the office. As she frustratingly tries to deal with her loss, she kicks a box lying at her doorstep and looks down in horror when she sees a body inside.

Enter Momo...or that's what Sumire decided to call her 'pet'. With a bouncy, energetic attitude, Momo, named after a real dog Sumire had a long time ago, allows Sumire's comfort as she washes him, feeds him, pets him and talks to him about her deepest feelings. Momo, in return, opens up to Sumire that he takes ballet classes and hopes to make a career in what he does. Like Sumire, he also has a tragic past, but he's a lot more quiet about it. Sumire aso has to hide Momo as her human pet from everyone in her office (they all think he's a cat!), especially her new love interest, a sexy man named Senpai Hasumi. While she struggles to let go of her feelings for Hasumi, she also can't seem to let go of Momo as well, being the one major conflict in the volumes to come.

The good thing about the first volume is that although it tends to rush into things quite too fast (Kissing Momo already?), it keeps you reading to find out if Sumire will have one of her bitchy moments, seeing more of Momo's hilarious antics, and to see the slowly developing relationship between Sumire and Hasumi. The humor is spot-on, with Momo taking the role of a dog a bit too seriously as he shakes himself dry after a bath, or curling up on the couch the same way a dog would do.

It's a romantic comedy that can be pretty humorous and some parts had me laughing outright. You can feel for Sumire and her struggles between a man she loves, and the 'pet' she took in. And her love for Momo shows, especially when Momo takes off for ballet 'unannounced', leaving Sumire in a nervous breakdown of guilt and indepression. To anyone who likes romance that isn't afraid to take itself to some funny levels, this manga is for you. Good stuff.

I've read a lot of manga in my time, and this is, by far, one of the best. Tramps Like Us is an off-beat romantic story about a young(ish) professional woman who takes in a 17-year-old boy as a pet. What I really like about this manga is that it doesn't fit into the classic romantic comedy manga format. Speaking about the series in general (not just Volume 1), Sumire does have a boyfriend, an ex that she arguably hasn't gotten over, and issues with her family. But what makes the story (in Volume 1) is when she takes in an injured boy as a pet, naming him "Momo" after her dog that died when she was a child. This causes trouble as Momo seems to have some deeper feelings for Sumire, and suspicion arises when Sumire won't bring her boyfriend over to her house because of her "dog". She eventually has to learn to divide her time between the two, all while keeping her boyfriend from knowing that she's keeping a boy as a pet.

The manga is also very well written and well drawn. I saw the TV series, "Kimi Wa Pet" that was based on the manga, and it was good but it didn't seem to measure up to this manga. I like Yayoi Ogawa's style and use of facial expressions. Also the end and beginning of chapter artwork is always really cute. :) If you love manga, are just getting into it, or want to try it, I highly recommend this series. Even reading through just the first novel gets you hooked. It's sweet, addictive and original...you'll love it!

The title Tramps Like Us could refer to the fact that the main character, Sumire - a girl in her late twenties, offers to take in a homeless young man for a night as a gesture of goodwill ... but I prefer to think it refers to the characters's quest to find their place in the world. All the characters in this series are "homeless" as they are looking for their place to belong, whether it be at work or in a relationship.

Normally in stories featuring a twenty-something girl, like Bridget Jones, the main character deals with problems such as looking slim and trying to cope with work. However Yayoi bravely gives us a main character who is so attractive she resembles a model, is highly educated, and, apart from a few hiccups, has a successful career. Yayoi shows us the inner thoughts of this "perfect" woman, who is actually very insecure and lonely. She has to cope with her workmates misinterpreting her shyness with being an a cold hearted [...]. Women dislike her because she is so goodlooking, while men feel threatened by her high education, tallness, and career success. After being dumped by her boyfriend, when he makes his secret girl-friend pregnant, she makes a vow never to date anyone who is shorter than her, makes less money, or is not as qualified as she is.

One night she finds a young man living homeless outside her house. After letting him stay one night and, in a bid to make him leave and as a joke, she offers him the chance to live in her flat as long as he agrees to be her "pet." And to her surprise, he agrees! Sumire names him Momo, the same name as her childhood dog, and treats him exactly as she would a dog. She gives him a home, feeds him, and tells him her problems. As she does not think of him as a "man" she is completely at ease to be herself and does not feel the need to pretend to be "perfect" as she does with the men she dates. However, because she thinks of him as a pet, she does not think of the possibility of a relationship with him. Before she realises it, he becomes her confident and her emotional support. Problems arise when she meets up with her first boyfriend/crush, the goodlooking, successful, and really nice guy Hasumi. Her relationship with him in college ended prematurely in college and they both see this as a second chance. However she cannot admit to Hasumi that she keeps a young man as a pet.

Yayoi gives us three dimensional, very human characters. Both Hasumi and Momo, while being completely different in looks and personality, are both sweet, attractive and considerate. Sumire is also very likeable. She is only truly comfortable in jogging bottoms, smoking, playing playstation games, or watching trashy tv. These are her secret vices that only her best-friend and Momo can see. It is a welcome change to read a romance with older characters, from the normal high school stories, and Yayoi delivers honest believable three dimensional characters, attractive art, and a very addictive romantic (and often funny) storyline.

The story is about finding companionship, about how the prospect of love can be so close to you that you miss it, about the difficulties a successful career woman has in a male dominated work environment, about how women are faced with the prospect of choosing between marriage and work, and about finding your place in the world. A place where you can be truly free to be yourself, comfortable in the knowledge that you are loved for your faults as well as your successes.

I just have to say alot of people said what this is about. About a girl that is gothic scarey and 4 boys that are beautiful as the light of the sun trying to make her a lady to get free rent. If I was them I do it too man, "free rent oh yeah" You get some new art in the manga, that is really new to us. But in anycase the art you learn to love I did. Just because this manga series is just so funny. Every page I was laughing so hard I couldn't even finish the page. You start looking at the art as if it beautiful the first couple of pages. I love the art now these people look Japanese. KEWL. I fell in love with these characters. I have alot of manga all kinds. But this is new to me, it's funny, cute, funny, and you get some romanitic times. I just love it. Just go to a book store and read the first one and if you don't like it. Then something is Seriously wrong with you. This is SO FUNNY PLEASE IT IS SO WORTH THE MONEY FOR TYPE OF PEOPLE IT'S JUST SO FUNNY YOU CAN'T SAY NO. OK maybe you can but don't.

One more thing this series goes to 20 volumes I checked it out. So I got 6 to go now. But they're not going to be out till next year. :(. I really do hope you like this series, as alot of people did here.
Later and Smiles ;P

I am not, by a long shot, what you would call an avid shoujo manga reader. It was actually never even my intention to read this, but my sister put a little annoying bug in my ear so (needless to say) I decided to give this manga a shot. I could not have been more grateful for actually doing so. This is, by far, one of the best mangas that I have ever read. The characters are highly entertaining and well developed, the art is beautifully done, the storyline is just awesome, and the author's ability to thrown in serious issues (such as self-esteem, beauty, and self-acceptance) is just amazing. It can be a bit over the top sometimes (not in an angsty way thank goodness), but its a comic so all is well!

I'm actually able to read and understand the Japanese version of this series, so I'm lucky enough to have read all the way up to vol. 19. All that I can say is that I'm still a fan, I will always be a fan, and I hope that you will become one too. The Wallflower isn't for everyone (obviously), its a little bit on the gothic side and sometimes that turns people off. I'm no goth either, but I can set aside my personl preferences to read and enjoy these books like there's no tomorrow. They're just that good.

the description doesn't do it justice; it comes off sounding like another coming-of-age girly story(which i guess it is but in a fantastic weird way). I give it five stars but with a few draw backs.
The good:

the most hilarious story i've read. i've never laughed so hard; Sunako is just awesome and completely different than the squealing girly mold of most shoujos. The leading lady is a horror obsessed recluse thrust into the light of four normal, handsome boys. The artwork ranges from mostly cute, funny chibi form to incredible beautiful artwork (mostly when Sunako is pissed or dressed up). There are some actual real poignant points in the manga. One scene that that i enjoyed was in the middle of 'turning Sunako into a lady' Sunako sits in her room surrounded by her horror comforts and asks Jason 'if they took away your mask and your chainsaw and made you be something you aren't what you would you do, Jason?' or something to that extent.

A couple of bad points:

though i'm going to get flamed for this the leading four men are waaaay too girly. Kyohei looks like a woman. Look at the front cover! If you didn't know any better you'd think it's a woman. I had a lot of trouble seperating the boys because they pretty much looked alike. Though the general thought is unique and funny there isn't a lot of go power for this manga. the slapstick gets old fast and starts to meander and looses the plot thread. you could read the first manga and be satisfied without reading the rest, i mean you can pretty much guess how it will end.
so. buy the first one and enjoy a laugh.

After reading through the other reviews I thought there wasn't too much to add, but . . .

I had to say something about the art. The art is extremely different. The author bases her characters on real Japanese musicians and due to this the characters actually look Japanese. Not a single character falls under the perfect looking, big eyed, shojo character that this type of work is prone to (think Fullmoon, anything by Yuu Watase). Due to this the art may be off putting to some. I think it is beautiful and completely original.

The only downside to the art is that Sunako (the main character) is usually drawn as a simple cartoon. When she is drawn she is beautiful and it makes you wish the author drew her like this more often. Also, the backgrounds are extremely sparse and sometimes there is nothing at all.

The plot lines (I have up to volume 11) are somewhat episodic (but there are cliffhangers), but it works. It feels like you're getting snipets of the life that the four boys and Sunako have together and their interactions. Plus, this is a truly funny book. Sunako tries to kill people, Kyohei is constantly being kidnapped or abused, Ranmaru has dated every women in the tristate area, and so on. There really is nothing like it.

All in all, if you want something funny, fresh, and original give this series a shot. Just know that you'll have to be patient to get the next vol. New works come out quarterly.

Calling Sunako Nakahara morbid is a huge understatement. She enjoys watcher slasher flicks and scary movies, her best friends are anatomical dolls Hiroshi-kun and Akira-kun, and she has black curtains in her room to keep out the sun-light. It's easy to say that she would be happy living in darkness for the rest of her life. However, Sunako's aunt, a flighty but rich woman, is worried about her niece, Sunako used to be `normal', she used to care about things like beauty and fashion and Ms. Nakahara doesn't like the new, dark Sunako, because frankly, she's a little scary. Ms. Nakahara strikes a deal with 4 incredibly handsome boys, if they can turn Sunako into a real lady; they can live at her super posh mansion rent free for 3 years. How is Sunako supposed live with 4 men so attractive, so `bright' that she has a nosebleed (in Japan, it's said that nosebleeds are caused by lust) each time one comes too close?

On the flipside, Kyohei, Yuki, Takenaga, and Ranmaru are forced to live with a girl so scary that they are still not quite sure if she's real or a ghost, and what's more, how can they teach her to be a lady? The first day they meet her and realize that they have a huge problem on their hands: Sunako appears in an old, stained, sweatshirt, an ugly skirt and hair that covers her face, it was remarked that she looked like the girl from `The Ring'. Having never met a girl who could resist their charms, the group is determined not to be fazed by her fearsome façade.

The series, although unrealistic, is hilarious. Each of the male protagonists adds their own style of humor: Ranmaru, a notorious lady killer with so many women he must loose count, is always the one hitting on women and is often used when a parody of a corny love scene is needed. Takenaga is the intellectual who, next to Kyohei, is the best at coping with Sunako's dark side. In the beginning, he was the only person that could see inside Sunako's room. Yuki is the cute one and also the one most disturbed by Sunako and her love for horror, he normally cries after prolonged contact with her because she will do something disturbing. Kyohei is the most attractive, lead the hardest life and as a result is the toughest of the four. Kyohei is stubborn and rude; he fights with Sunako on a regular basis and he is the only one that can keep her under some form of control.

It was easy to get confused in the beginning because Tomoko Hayakawa draws Sunako in half-chibi form (Sort of small and cartoon like) and Sunako looked like she was 12 years old to me. As the series progresses Sunako gets smaller and rounder until she is in full fledged chibi mode, the author explains her reasons for this in book 2 or 3. You rarely get to see Sunako as her true self but when you do she is either incredibly beautiful or disturbingly threatening, which ever is more appropriate to the plot. The artwork is magical, with the right touch of darkness surrounding Sunako and exploding light around Kyohei and his friends. There are scenes with Kyohei and Sunako together that are so beautiful and intricately drawn it's easy to become spellbound; you can practically feel their emotions radiating off of the page. The series is very goth, but it's entertaining enough that anyone can read it.

The Verdict:
Beautiful art paired with hilarious characters and dialog makes this series one you should not pass up. It is such a relief to read a shoujo manga that dares to break the mold! A+

Perhaps looking forward to this book raised my expectations. I thought the previous two in this series were simply some of the best space opera combined with social commentary scifi available. This book simply does not deliver.

First, there are continuity errors. In one page of the novel, literally, one page, prepackaged meals are called 'prepacks'; in the rest, they're suddenly 'preheats'. Huh?

Second, she changes POV character waaaay too often. You can't even really call this a Koscuisko novel because he appears in less than half of the scenes, and is very rarely the POV character. I don't mind multiple POV novels, but someone as accomplished as Matthews should know that readers need some kind of clue at the beginning of a section as to who is narrating that section. Even just some geographical locator "on board _ragnarok_" or some such would have been an immense help. Half the time I had to go back after a page, when I'd figured out where and who 'we' were, to realign that information in my brain. Sometimes I had to stop in the middle of a section and wonder if she'd changed POV character on me or just got her pronouns confused (which she did, at least twice).

The whole novel has a sloppy feel to it. There's no compelling plot for Andrej; one never feels an awful lot of empathy for Ivers, and even though the surface plot tensions are resolved at the end, the internal problems for Andrej or Ivers are never resolved. And I don't mean 'unresolved' in a way that screams 'sequel'. She wraps everything up pretty tightly, so that I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last novel in the series--everyone's off to a Brave New World, inside the Judiciary or not, and hope is in the air, and.... all the loose ends are just oh so conveniently tied up. (Except the rioting and bombing and looting and why have a prologue in a place that's never EVER mentioned again in the novel?) It's a fuzzy and unfocussed novel that actually at times was a chore to read. I loved her other Andrej novels, but this...well, I wish I could go back in time to a week or so ago and still have hopeful expectations for this novel.

I think Matthews is taking the Conan Doyle approach and chucking Holmes off the cliff in a hope to be done with the whole mess. A shame, really.

You should buy this book.

HOWEVER, I reccomend doing so only if you've read the other Jurisdiction novels-- Exchange of Hostages, Prisoner of Conscience, Hour of Judgement, and Devil and Deep Space. It's not that Warring States isn't a coherent tale on its own-- it is, and a good one. But you won't enjoy it as much if you don't know the context, especially since a fairly major plot in the book hinges on a conflict begun two books ago. Besides, these are all fine characters who deserve some getting to know.

To those who have read the others-- Warring States is a little different from what we've seen before. There's a little less focus on Andrej Koscuisko, and a little more on the workings of Jurisdiction. It isn't a bad thing. All the old themes are still there-- love, and sacrifice, and willful stupidity, and good intentions. And they're just as satisfying as they've ever been.

As in the previous books, the author demonstrates a really refreshing grasp of a universe that exists outside of her main protagonists. Conflicts do not arise in a void; they exist because of other characters-- whose point of view you also get to see things from. None of the characters in Warring States are just handy plot devices.

One of the really nice things about reading Susan Matthews' writing is that if a person is antagonistic, she does not tell you so. She shows you so, by letting you into their head and letting you see how they understand the world. Look, ma, they've got motivations! Ditto her protagonists, and she doesn't exactly attempt to gloss over their flaws, either. None of these people fell from Krypton to leap tall buildings in a single bound. They're just people-- like the villains-- doing what makes sense to them.

It's nice.

So she's got a bunch of great characters. And? And they exist in a well-planned world. There are well defined cultures and governments and it makes SENSE that thus-and-such a character came out of this-and-such a culture. It's all internally consistent, which means there's nothing to jar you out of what is really a fascinating universe.

In the end, Warring States is a compelling book (and we shouldn't expect anything less of this particular author) and a well written one (ditto) and a satisfying one (see previous).

Well, as satisfying as a cliffhanger could be.

Susan R. Matthews returns, after a long wait, with "Warring States," the latest in her "Judiciary" novels featuring Andrej Koscuisko. It's packaged well--a large-size paperback on good paper, and it solves the murder of First Secretary Verlaine that occurred at the end of "The Devil in Deep Space." This time Andrej, after setting one of the two plots in motion, becomes more or less tempest-tossed as the action switches to the doings of Bench Specialist Jils Ivers, who's part of a convocation assembled to pick the next First Judge (while also being a suspect in the murder).

Ms. Matthews tries hard to overcome the inherent clunkiness that she's set for herself by blending the two plots together, and if she doesn't quite succeed, she certainly fails honorably, and it's definitely worth your time. As before her sense of place is extraordinary (when Jils orders a meal in a luxury hotel suite, you'll almost taste the food; when she descends underground where the convocation is being held maybe you'll feel claustrophobic too), and her chilly prose is as lucid as ever. Unfortunately, Andrej, who's worked hard to overcome his sadomaschoism (he refuses to torture people anymore), is a crashing bore after the tempest starts tossing him about after that opening act of his--he seems to have no willpower, nor control over his own life, and his motivations seem principally to have become those which Ms. Matthews assigns him, rather than having grown organically from the story.

In short, the author probably would have been better off writing two novels instead of cramming two stories into this one.

Notes and asides: Bench Specialist Vogel, who used to be Garol Vogel has become Karol Vogel. The handsome cover, by Christian McGrath, depicts, almost certainly, Jils Ivers, but who the man in uniform is could be any one of several characters. That might just be the point.

This is a thoroughly enjoyble book! Especially if you've been reading Susan Matthews before, you'll like this one.

Why? I think that, in the previous 2, Susan couldn't make up her mind about giving Koscuisko a happy ending or getting him killed. The fact that she couldn't make up her mind, hurt those plots. Now she's made up her mind: not to kill him, not to give him a happy ending and nevertheless to change his entire universe. And that brings so much new freshness to this book...!

The plot? Warring states (I think) refers to colliding realities: the Judiciary order with its rules and regulations versus the chaos and turmoil because of the departure of its Enlightened ruler (the First Judge). Free individuals versus slaves. Loyalty to principles and people, versus loyalty to ambition and selfishness. In Koscuisko the warring states are guilt (over the anguish caused by his legal exercising of torture) versus eagerness to relive the thrill caused by the adrenaline rush provided in the act of torturing.

It's a good book in this series, on many levels. Sometimes it's a bit slow, because the dramatic tensions makes you want the action to speed up (skipping forward solved that problem for me).

You'll enjoy it.

The eagerly awaited next installment of The Life & Hard Times of Andrej Koscuisko is here! All major points having been covered in previous reviews, I'll just add my opinion that Susan has done it again. Our beloved favorite characters are all here (even Joslire through his family), including cameos from those we might have forgotten about. The emotions run just as high or higher than in previous books, despite the reformation of certain characters. Hints of what is yet to happen in this universe will keep you checking to see when the next novel is scheduled for release.

I will reiterate the warnings of previous posts, however. This is a volume of a series, so it's best to begin at the beginning with Exchange of Hostages. Otherwise, some of the shocking page-turners in this book just aren't as shocking.

This volume is the conclusion of one of the best love stories of all time. You must start with volume one and read the whole set. I've got the books and the TV series, and I re-read/re-view them quite often. It's a funny, silly, heartbreaking, frustrating and ultimately a heartwarming, beautiful story. After all their difficulties, Yusaku and Kyoko finally get together in a perfect final volume. I just wish we could have more (hear that Takahashi?)!

Rumiko Takahashi is known for letting the relationships between her romantic leads drag on for years or even decades without them ever evolving or being consummated (see Inuyasha), but as the last and concluding volume of Maison Ikkoku opens, Godai and Kyoko enter a love hotel. Godai should be in heaven, right? I mean, this is what he's always wished for. But things become a bit awkward when Kyoko says that she is thinking about Soichiro. Godai thinks she's talking about her dead husband, but Kyoko corrects him and says she meant her dog, which happens to have the same name. Is that the truth? Suffice it to say, Godai suffers from impotence at the moment of truth. Things get even more complicated when his ex-girlfriend, Kozue shows up wanting to talk about their relationship. She had already told him a guy proposed to her but she didn't want to say yes because she didn't want to hurt Godai's feelings. On top of all this Godai is going to find out how he did on the teacher certification exams. The only way he can ask Kyoko to marry him is if he passed, so there's a lot riding on the results.

I have been reading this series off and on for a little over two years now and I have to admit I got a little misty eyed when I came to certain sections of this last volume. Simply because you never wish good things to come to an end. I used to have that experience a lot with anime and manga series, but it has become rarer lately, probably because there is so much product coming out that you don't have time to lament the end of one before you start another. Instead of just centering a review on this one volume, I'll just make some comments about the series as a whole because in terms of quality they were all about the same. The central conflict of the manga that lasted through the first to most of the last volume was the lack of courage Godai had to make Kyoko his. He bumbled his way through a relationship with Kozue and some childish competition with Mitaka the tennis coach but he was just never aggressive enough to pursue Kyoko with a single-minded determination. He was too wishy-washy. Kyoko too suffered a lot because she wanted to be pursued, hunted, and caught by an alpha male. While this kind of thing makes for a lot of heartache and tragedy in real-life, in the manga world it's the perfect tried and true setup for comedy. And boy was Maison Ikkoku funny! One of the best comedies I've ever read. I've still never figured out how Takahashi was able to make such a masterpiece from such simple materials and operating mainly with character interaction rather than plot. To me, that's the hardest story to write. Making the lives of everyday people interesting and fun. It's also great to experience a relatively long manga series that has true resolution and ends on an upbeat and happy note. A great manga work.

I must have read MI a dozen times in Japanese, and I recently bought the whole series in English just for fun. I'm generally pleased with the translation, but a mistake in this volume on one of my favorite lines in the whole series prompted me to comment. "When she laughs, the world is mine" should be "When she smiles, the world is mine." Subtle, but important.
Now that I have that off my chest, ignore the nitpicking and buy the whole series. If you like great stories and superb characterization, you can't go wrong.
I'm dropping a star for some rough editing at the beginning of the series and for a few other productions problems.

Whew!
I laughed until my mouth hurt, I went thirsty while reading this series so I wouldn't wet my pants or spit out my juice. I tried not to read Maison Ikkoku in public because my laughing made people look at me.
I made sure that when I reached the more tender, introspective scenes, that I locked myself in my room so I wouldn't embarrass myself when I began to cry.
I connected with Yusaku because I'm a college student, and with Kyoko when she was in deep thought.
I don't know what powers of telepathy that Ms. Takahashi has that she can pinpoint the exact thoughts that go through a person's mind. Being a creative type, I can understand a little, but her skills are uncanny and her comedic timing plays out as some of the best TV skits.
(Just remember the double-takes of the characters and you know exactly what I'm talking about)
I'm happy to say that I was not only entertained, but also learned a great deal about proper story-telling, pacing, and emotional setting.
This was truly extraordinary. Yusaku's heartfelt plea to Kyoko, Kyoko struggling within herself over moving on, the events and circumstances in life that hinder or help us... I'm getting emotional here.
Bravo Ms Takahashi. I know there is a kind of lifetime achievement award in the comic world that you should receive, or perhaps you already have.
It took me two years to finish the graphic novels. A two years that I rushed through and now wished I had savored more, but I'm not complaining.
All Yusaku's dreams came true as well as Kyoko's.
May all our dreams be just as fruitful.
I'm going to miss these people.
And I mean ALL of them.

There were times I thought the story of Maison Ikkoku would never end--the complications just compiled and continued! But at last, the conclusion arrived, and it left me feeling relieved and satisfied. I was still left to wonder about a couple things, though. For instance, just what does Yotsuya do for a living? Was this something I was supposed to pick up at some point, or are we left to wonder forevermore?
I'm glad I started reading the series, and I'm glad I read it all the way through. All that money was well worth it.