Manga Books

very addictive series, this book is another great volume. Cant wait till vol. 5.

After what Azusa did to Hatsumi, you'd think she'd hate him, but somehow, she just can't. Ryoki however, doesn't seem to have this problem.

Something happens to make everyone in the complex ignore Hatsumi's family. Fortunately, Ryoki has a plan to endear the Naritas to his mother . . . And is Hatsumi finally starting to fall for Ryoki?

Also, Akane confesses her love to Subaru, but how will this Otaku nerd react?

This is a great volume. The shock of volume 3 is over, but the aftershock is just as engrossing. If you loved the previous books, you'll love this one too.

Hot Gimmick..A VERY addictive and excellent series.I loved it since the 1st volume and screamed when I saw this out in stores...I just love Subaru,hehe.You have to read it!It's so sweet^__^

I fell at the beginning that some of the characters are twisted in this story.

Yet, that's what make them so unique and original. The characters in this manga will left strong impression on you.

Hatsumi, the main character is a kind hearted girl but also a pushover girl who cant stand up and got tongue tied in nasty situation. So, when her long time no see childhood neighboor Ryoki showed up his nose and start bullying her, she cant do anything but abide by his rule. He makes her his slave and order her around as he holds his power over her (a secret-- he saw Hatsumi purchased a home pregnancy test for her little sister who's still in Junior High School). Threatened by Ryoki Tachibana promised to tell his mom--Mrs. Tachibana (who is by the way holds position like the Queen of the employee complex where they all living because her husband is a director), Hatsumi can only agree to be his slave, cause she didn't want her family get in trouble with the Tachibana family.

To complicate things, there are many other people that involve in this twisted but exciting story line.
Atsuza, Hatsumi childhood friend come into the picture and try to rescue Hatsumi from the evil Ryoki, he act so kind that Hatsumi cant help but falling in like with atsuza who also is a model. But to make matter worse, atsuza aliby in doing those stuff is because he has a plot of revenge against Hatsumis's father due to somehting that happen in the past.

While plotting to do something bad to her (try to gang up some his model friends to rape Hatsumi), Ryoki comes to the resue. It seemed that Ryoki slowly turn to be in love with Hatsumi after all. Hatsumi fell all overwhelmed with all that happening in her life and confused with the sudden change in treatment that she received from Ryoki.

So, do u think that their romace (Ryoki and Hatsumi) works out in the end?
I think you should find out for yourself cause I've spilled too much juicy information alreasy (*wink* *wink* ;) )

A confrontation with Azusa after the revelations of his mother's affair (and the attempted gang rape of Hatsumi) leaves Hatsumi with mixed feelings about him. She struggles with the residual feelings of love for him even as Ryoki still persists in his attempt to make her his girlfriend, despite her refusal. Suddenly the whole complex is ignoring the Narita family as well, and Hatsumi thinks it's because she refused Ryoki. At first she decides to submit to him to smooth everything over, but he has a different idea in mind and asks Shinogu, Hatsumi's older brother, to be his private tutor. He doesn't really need it, he is just looking for any excuse to be closer to Hatsumi and to resolve her family being ostracized. Suddenly her feelings about him are becoming, well, less defined as hatred and nearer to something approaching love, but her brother has too much concern over this sudden development in her attitude... and on top over all of that Akane, Hatsumi's younger sister, is trying to cope with her feelings of love for Subaru... It's just one confusing romance after another.

Read this manga... I am not kidding you. The plot is wonderful, the art is wonderful, it is just what you are looking for if you crave a good Shojo manga.

Well first of all I really did like the entire series. I read it till the end. I will not give it away for anyone else reviewing these comments, anyway. I love the series and I got the final manga volume like last week. It is worth all the money I spent -_-; anyway please note this is a manga meant for older teens. But to those who feel bad about that there is going to be a novel version that comes out in Feb.2007 that favors more Shinogu. It will be calling it Hot Gimmick S. and they are thinking of making a Azusa version too.

This was a great issue with an ending I did not expect. I can't wait for Volume 12 to come out!

I have been reading this series from the beginning. It has several unexpected twists! Hatsumi is a quiet teen who ends up in a "relationship" with Ryoki, who seems to be a jackass. As the volumes progress it begins to seem as though he really might care for Hatsumi but then there are two other guys that could be her main squeeze too! Even by the end of volume of 11 you just aren't sure who will get the girl. Though it looks like it might be Ryoki my vote is for Shinogu OR Azusa(I don't think he is really as bad as he wants you to believe!)

I can't wait for vol. 12 to find out if she really goes running back to Ryoki!

Hot Gimmick is my #1 manga and I have been a faithful fan to it from the first volume. The story is so exciting and the characters are so beautiful.

I like Shinogu much more than Ryoki and I kinda hoped that Hatsumi will end up with him instead of Ryoki but it seems that it is not going to end up this way. But hey, did Hatsumi really slept with Shinogu? It is so scandalous and juicy :D. Shinogu is so hot and if I were in Hatsumi's place, I would have gone for him.

I am so looking forward to have volume 12, but I cannot hold my horses here :D. What is going to happen? I think it is going to be the last volume of Hot Gimmick, which is a total dismay to me and to Hot Gimmick's fans :(.

Miki Aihara brought us a wonderful manga and I don't think that you can find a better manga out there. Her other manga "Tokyo Boys & Girls" is good but not as much as Hot Gimmick.

Recommended for fans of Miki Aihara

I have been a faithful fan ever since Hot Gimmick first started coming out! In the 11th graphic novel Ryoki and Hatsumi had just broken up and Hatsumi's ADOPTED (and totally hot) brother Shinogu wants Hatsumi to see him as a man and not just her brother. This series keeps on ketting better and better and more intense.

You've got to read the whole series bcause I know you'll love it!

PS: Root for Akane and Subaru!

One of the absolute best yaoi manga in existence. It is definitely emotional as it spans three different couples that are all intertwined in a very interesting way. I'm not going to spoil but from the first chapter on this manga tells an excellent tale that at points will bring tears to your eyes. I know I cried when I read it.

Although the stories are generally short, they are sweet, sexy and fun. At one point I was laughing out loud as the hilarious conversations, they are perfect and witty! Also, the art was well done, and story lines not overly dramatic or unnecessarily angsty, each are different, so you get a range from simple fun to poignant loss each telling a tale of a hybrid child, a being created to change and grow according to their owner's needs and wishes. This is a great "introduction" for readers just beginning to enjoy yaoi. In fact, I have bought and given copies as gifts to friends though I always keep a copy for myself. Very enjoyable yaoi manga!

I really liked Hybrid Child. The stories were imagainitive and the art was beautiful. This manga is sweet and sad and humorous and just as good the second time around.

I was afraid when I bought this manga that I would end up with yet another man gets boy, takes boy, boy is submissive and learns to love type of story, but I was wrong. The author managed to give the "Hybrid Chld" in each story a strong, distinct personality and a caring nature that was returned by the human counterpart.

And the last story was heartbreaking, I cried at the end. And I rarely cry.

No hardcore sex...but it wasn't needed.

This is actually the first yaoi/BL manga that I ever read. My friend got it for me for my birthday, and I have to say, it has remained my favorite BL so far. Now, I don't mind a bit of smut here and there, so I was a little dismayed when I saw the rating on it (Teen) and knew there would be no smex. The pain of the fangirl. HOWEVER it was no disappointment.

The art is absolutely stunning. I still count it as the most beautiful art I've seen in ANY manga. The story was fantastic, and I cried at the end. Then a week later I picked it up, read the last story, and cried again. Beautiful, heartbreaking, spectacular. I would reccomend this to anybody who would listen, and even some who won't.

i have long been a fan of this mangaka, ever since i first read "junjyou romantica," which as of now has 2 volumes published in the states. "hybrid child" is a shorter work, spanning only one volume. despite that, this manga packs a punch that many longer works could only hope to achieve.

rather than one main story, this manga contains several separate stories which are entertwined, albeit in a manner that is not immediately obvious. in fact, one could even argue that the actual "main" story is the last in the book, spanning two chapters and is chronologically the earliest of the narratives.

"hybrid child" is set during the meiji period, which is marked by long years of trouble and struggle in japan. what's interesting is the author's use of the historical setting and infusing it with a touch of fantasy in the form of the 'hybrid child,' or HC as is it called. these HCs are kinda like organic robots and grows according to the love given by its master and the experiences the HC goes through.

there are three couples in this manga, with at least a chapter dedicated to each. these chapters all can stand alone, although as a whole it gives a better and more thorough understanding of the phenomenon that is the HC. although at first glance "hybrid child" may seem like a run of the mill plot-line, nakamura-sensei's writing makes this manga an exceptional and compelling read. she manages to convey a whole range of human emotion in these stories without seeming preachy or blatant. there is a delicacy in the way she molds her characters, which contrasts deeply with her angular artwork. i do enjoy the artwork, which although beautiful may not appeal to everyone. her character designs are atypical in the sense that it is not as round or soft as many yaoi mangas are, thus a bit nonconventional in beauty. i find them pleasing, however. one thing i noticed is that the mangaka tends to illustrate hands larger than normal, which could be a plus or a minus. in general i don't mind it although there are instances where i find it quite distracting. this manga has some bedroom scenes, although of the soft yaoi variety, so nothing explicit here. the time period also evokes a sense of nostalgia, even for those who are not japanese, like myself. i blame it solely on the clothing, which i adore.

"hybrid child," unlike many manga of its genre has emotional depth and a layered plot that draws readers in. it is a treatise on the human experience, and brings readers along in the ride as the characters experience all possible situations, the good as well as the bad. what sets this manga a part is the way it treats the darker realities in life, as well as the lighter ones, in a very realistic way. it is a work peppered with charm, humor and bittersweet love that will leave a tear in your eyes.

I have been hooked by this manhwa author. She is the most intriqeing author I know. Nothing she puts on paper or in picture is boring...ever...I love I.N.V.U. and I am so excited that book four is finally making it past the red tape and being published in September. The Queen's Knight is another series she writes and it is almost completely out in Germany...up to book 15. What a great series! Hot men, drama, humor, mystery, beauty, fantasy..it's all there!

This is an incredible manga. I really love the art & style of Kim Kang Won. She has finished Queen's Knight & has restarted the series. I hope that it makes it's target date of September '07 for US release. It looks like it has already been released in Italy...

I adore this shojo manga, with it's beautiful art, interesting plotlines, and loveable (not to mention very cute!) characters. Unforunately, the manga artist who created this title has put it on hiatus while she works on other projects. Volume 4 won't be coming out until the artist returns to this series. (Which she said she will eventually, but no idea when.) So while this series is extremely addicting, it's going to leave a bad taste in your mouth when you realize the cliffhanger is going to be there a long, long time.

I absolutely love this series with all of its twists and turns. However, with this volume as a cliffhanger, I cannot wait till the next one comes out. However, it has been so long that I doubt they will release volume 4. It's a little annoying, too, because this is the kind of series where you truly need to know what happens.

I.N.V.U. was the first Korean manhwa I ever read, and despite my initial difficulty with the -new to me!- Korean names in vol.1, I enjoyed all three volumes immensely, and I'm looking forward to vol.4, whenever it comes out! I.N.V.U. has real characters that could be living down the road, even if some of them seem to be constantly dealing with extreme situations. They are the kind of characters you get to care about and want to see what happens to them next. Some of them are so easy to identify with, although its been a long time since I left school! I like the way we get a glimpse of the inside world and the psychology of this particular sample of modern Korean schoolgirls, their everyday life and problems. The style is very similar to Japanese manga -and having read so many manga in my life that I can't even count them, I found I.N.V.U. both comfortably familiar and pleasantly refreshing. Thanks and congratulations to Tokyopop for taking the initiative to introduce Korean manhwa in English -and the same goes for the other companies following it up. I can only wonder what happened to vol.4 of I.N.V.U. -it seems to be taking a long time to come out!

This title is FANTASTIC. The plot is MUCH deeper than what fans expect from YAOI, and is both artistic and intriguing. The artwork is WAAAAAAY above what YAOI fans are used to, with not only beautiful boys, but whole frames that can truly be called art. You WILL NOT regret adding this title to your collection.

So refined. The art is gorgeous plus the story is intriguing. If you understand psychology and the way multiple personality disorder works than you will realize the author did their homework. Also and ofcourse if you are not into guys falling in love with guys than you will probably not enjoy this. I personally don't care who falls for who as long as the characters are emotionally engrossing and the story is able to hold my attention, this will. Volume II only gets better! It's so sexy, musically, erotically and subtly.

I've always loved Yaoi. Every chance I get, I browse any book store to find a new title or continue an old one. So naturally, when I saw this one, I jumped to it and started to read. The cover art is truly beautiful in itself, and the art inside was amazing and flowed rather well. The plot itself is a bit fast paced and I'm sure a few yaoi first-timers may be flipping back a few pages and skimming over once or twice, and the schizophrenic Riya can be a bit confusing to determine once you realize his major problem, but the drama, intensity, and character connections will indeed keep you hooked. I couldn't believe I had finished, but when I did, I immediately said, "I must buy volume 2!!!" An overall wonderful story (though hard to pronounce title), I give this book a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars! Recommended strongly for fanatics.

I think it's very gorgeously drawn and I'm in love with it! D:

*bounce*
So cute.
So beautiful.
I highly reccomend it! :D ^__^

I'm not really into yaoi, but the storyline intrigued me to buy it. So I did and I read both volume one and two and must admit it's pretty good. But I've also realized that I do like yaoi. Maybe even more than my other manga. I can't wait for volume three!
~omega-rose

Naraku has tricked the demon killer Sango into thinking that Inuyasha slaughtered her whole village and has even given her a Shikon shard to keep her battered and dying body alive long enough to satiate her revenge! Inuyasha and pals ARE at the demon hunter village, but not for the reason Naraku lied about. They have come seeking out the origin of the Sacred Jewel. They will find out the true story of its creation IF they can convince Sango that they're the good guys and girl of this story, and that Naraku is her family's and village's true killer!

What can I say about Inuyasha that I haven't said already? Tons! I came to the manga after watching all the anime episodes of Inuyasha up to its current releases, so going back to the beginning of the story is like rereading old history, but it's cool. It still galls me the extent to which Naraku has ruined so many people's lives, and really in the end, he's doing this all out of love for Kikyo! Spurned or impossible love makes for dangerous motivations. I think that's a stroke of Takahashi's genius, that one of the most evil villains in manga operates out of love. Another thing I think about after reading Volume 10 are the great characters. Takahashi has made them all likeable and complex with their own motivations and goals. If just one of these main characters was annoying or difficult to like, it would've ruined the whole series. With Sango, we've finally completed the assemblage of heroes that has killing Naraku as their main goal. Let the hunt begin!

I love Inu-Yasha and this manga is great as the rest are. I especailly like this one because it starts with the second half of when Sango, my favorite character, comes in.

This book is great I like the part were sango throughs her boomer rang[the boomer rang bone] at Inuyasha. The main story is sango thinks Inuyasha slayed her village so she goes after him.
with non stop action and plenty of humor this book is amust get for any Inuyasha fan.

...she also has a major grudge. Naraku has tricked her into believing that it was Inu Yasha that murdered her village, and she is out for revenge. Using her incredibly big boomerang (it's taller than she is!), she attempts to slay the innocent dog demon. But when wounded, she is cared for by her prey. Of course, when she finds out Naraku's plans, she is none too happy. After telling the group a story, she joins up with them.

Things will definitely get more interesting from here on out...

KONICHI WA ANIME FANS! And those of you who aren't, Konichi Wa anyways! I LOVE this book (I love almost any anime...but that's besides the point). This book is probably the 2nd best in the Inu Yasha books that have come out. It's great because Lord Inu Yasha and the gang are joined by Sango. Miroku's thrilled about that, as well...BUT let's not get into that, hm? ANYways, Kagome rocks (as always) and Sango is soooo cute! There's a lot of action in this one (not half as much as some of them...but oh well). I suggest you read this because it's a mix of adventure, comedy, and a lil romance (none for Miroku, unfortunately for him, but let's not get into that...ANYways...) So, it starts off where they left off. Sango going to get her revenge on Inu Yasha. Afterwards, They meet up w/ the Water God, who's a big meanie in my opinion. SAYONARA! P.S. Read other books by Rumiko Takahashi!

after reading each of the inu yasha books, like ten times each, i can truly say that this is my favorite. in this book inu yasha comes face to face with kikyo again, and kagome finds out how inu yasha truly feels about the two of them!! this book is filled with close calls, violence, creepy villains, comedy, and of course--romance! what else could you expect from rumiko takahashi-the queen of romantic comedy?! sure, fifteen bucks is a lot to dish out for a 200 page comic book, but it is TOTALLY worth it for inu yasha, and it always WILL be!! BUY THIS BOOK!

To me Inu-yasha is the best cartoon and comic book series. In this book Kikyo comes back to take care of some unfinished business to do... wonder what happens... sorry don't want to spoil it for others, just read it you'll love it.And for the people who love this book watch the cartoon series on DVD ...

Wow! Thus was a great book. It was easy to read and has a great plot. The drawings are exquisitetly done. The emotion in the story realates well to real life.

The Inu-Yasha series is one of the best mangas yet! It tells the story of a girl named Kagome who suddenly gets transported to anciant japan, were she meets a half demon named Inu-Yasha. They go on a long journey to "get back" the shards of the Shikon Jewel that gives demons ultimate power, and on the way they meat new people and fight many battles.
In this volume, the team are faced against Naraku, the enemy of Inu-Yasha. He tells of how he turned Inu-Yasha and Kikyo against eachother back on that faitful day, when the jewel was stolen. While that is happening, Kikyo is gathering souls to keep her body living. Then, Kagome meets Kikyo one night, were she is imprisoned by her. But it gets worse when Inu-Yasha meets Kikyo face to face. There, Kikyo enchants Inu-Yasha in her spell. There is no one able to help him, not even Kagome. Will Inu-Yasha get away from Kikyo's deadly grasps??!

This book is soooooooo cool! I don't exactly own it (i'm borrowiong it from my best friend), I think I can give a pretty basic idea of whats happenig(based off the TV shows). Well, after Inuyasha pushes Kagome through the well that seperates her world from Inuyasha's, she goes back(of course, cuz they can't continue the series without Kagome)! Then they find naraku and they find out all about him and how he came to be and all that. Then they find out that Kikyo is still alive(god forbid) and Inuyasha goes and kisses her in front of Kagome and Kagome gets mad and Inuyasha gets mad and they all get mad and then Inuyasha says he really did have feeling for her, but she's asleep! ASLEEP!!!!!! There are nice sound FX, though, to make up for the [disappointing] ending (so it's only [disappointing] in my eyes...)!

Kikyo must really hate Inuyasha because she gave most of the Shikon Jewel fragments to Narauku, which increased his power to such an extent that he can actually create new demons from his own body. One of his incarnations, Kanna, an eerie white haired young girl has captured Kagome and Sango's souls in her magic mirror, along with some villagers. Meanwhile, Inuyasha and Miroku battle against Kagura, another part of Naraku, that can control winds. On top of all this, a THIRD incarnation of Naraku shows up to kill our heroes!

So far from reading this manga and watching the anime, I haven't really seen any logical rationale for Kikyo's granting Naraku the Shikon shards. I mean, it doesn't make any sense. Is Kikyo thinking that the more evil the shards become, the greater the ritual will be if she or Kagome ever get around to purifying it? Or does she want to kill Naraku at the moment of his triumph if he gains all the shards? Or is she just playing with him, allowing him to be overconfident in his powers? No matter how you slice it, I don't get it. Hopefully, it's not just a contrivance to extend the series. The relationship between Inuyasha, Kikyo, and Kagome is a pretty complex one which gives some much needed gravitas to all the battles going on this volume. I think it was also a cool move by Takahashi to give some of the parts of Naraku individual will, which sometimes can lead to outright rebellion, especially with Kagura. She wants her freedom, even though she is a part of Naraku. Inuyasha is an excellent manga, but after 16 volumes of great stories, saying this has become a bit repetitive.

Finally the 16th vol. of Inuyasha! In this thrilling novel, one of Inuyashas secrets is revealed and the secret will not only shock you but keep you guessing. This secret could be the fate or future of Inuyasha! First off we find Iuyasha and the others battling the wind witch Kagura. We also find out that her sister Kanna has stolen kagomes soal! Will Inuyasha be able to save her? And what is that strange mirror she carries around? Then later Inuyasha and the others meet another incarnation of Naraku, Goshinki. This demon has the power to read minds, when Inuyasha starts to battle him he predicts Inuyashas every move! Not even Kagome can help him. How can Inuyasha beat a demon that knows what your going to do before you do it? Then comes the first real shocker... Goshinki breaks the TETSUIAGA!(Real shock huh.. I warned you) With his blade gone Inuyasha is being beaten to death. When it looks as though Inuyasha is dead the second shocker comes into play Inuyasha... turns into a... full demon! Can Kagome save Inuyasha, will the Tetsuiaga be broken forever?...KAGOME and INUYASHA FOREVER!!

I'm from Korea and I've read lots of comic books but Inuyasha was so far THE BEST. I've read till volume 33 and it gets more and more exciting everytime! I read all of them in Korean and Japanesse but I've read one of them in English. The English version is kinda weird cuz they talk strangly. I think the japanese and korean version was better. In volume 16, Inuyasha will be turning into his demon form! And his tessaiga breaks but he gets it fixed again. Everyone HAS to read this, it's a great book!

this rocks, fans of inu yasha everywhere should enjoy it. i live in japan now, but i started reading inuyasha in america. let me just say it only gets better and better. rumiko takahashi is brilliant! try some of her other material.

All of the Inuyasha books are excellent but this book takes the
story to an all time high point. There are many twists and turns during the whole series and now there's a big question about Kikyo and Naraku. The books are really good if you like Japanese animation and love fantasy or action stories. I highly suggest the Inuyasha books!!!

I love this series. The writer of this comic new exactly what he was doing when he write this. If there was an American TV show of this I would watch in an instant. Alas It seems the availablilty of this comic is some what sarce where I live. You would think living near chiacgo and being next to a bunch comic stores would help right? NOOOOOOO! I can't find the second volume anywhere. (Except for here.) It seems this is a classic example of what I want to is what other people don't seem to be to interested in. I love watch the character Jan talk about food and how he can really manipulate to be just about anything he wants it to be. The only problem is that DIAMOND DIRECT DIDN'T HAVE ISSUES 2 AND 3! Comic book distributors didn't have the freakin' comics! I went to other store only to see the had all the later issues. My quest must continue!

I highly recommend this series to anyone who has even a mild interest in cooking and/or the 'Iron Chef' tv series. This is shonen but, hey, I am still hoping Jan & Kiriko will end up as a couple eventually. Maybe Okonogi should lock them in the freezer together.

This is Volume 8 in the 'Iron Wok Jan' managa series and it packs a lot of goodies! First of all, it winds up the spring roll battle where Okonogi surprisingly enough becomes a serious contendor! Food critic Otani has not given up his long-standing grudge against Jan and uses his influence to place the mysterious Gogyo in the Head Chef position at Hotel Mirage (yes, that was Dan's position . . . ). But who are the two mysterious girls bearing a gift to Otani at the all-star opening bash at the Mirage? And a hyped-up televised battle begins between Gogyo and Jan (to be continued in Volume 9).

I absolutely love this book. A must-see!!!! Its tell the story of a young hot-shot, extremely cocky chef, Jan Akiyama, working at the Gobancho Resturant as a traniee but he is extremely proud to think that his cooking is better than others. He still have much more to learn. Sure, the comic genre will blow your big mind away when he comes up with something unique and creative dishes yet strange and bizzare. Its also feature some cool little martial art moves in the competition. Jan is not the only one, but there are other new prodigy in the cooking field is Kiriko Gobancho, and Cilene Yang (Big busty girl) complete against him as well. Each of them have different cooking philosophy. This comic will sure laugh your roundy belly till you pee in your pants. This is cooking manga managed to keep the reader entertaining than the cooking television. Buy it, I recommmend it.

This is volume one of the "Iron Wok Jan" series- new volumes are coming out on a monthly basis. It's a bit shy of 200 pages, b&w, in the original Japanese format (that is, backwards). This volume introduces us to cocky young chef Jan, who cooks only to defeat his opponents! If this sounds over the top, it assuredly is- but you'll be caught up in the high melodrama and the bizarre recipes. Now that Food Network is out of new episodes of "Iron Chef," there's no better place to get that "they're eating what?!" thrill.

If you're curious about those small-format books with numbers on the spines that are taking up an ever-increasing amount of space in your local bookstore, or if you think manga are only about kung-fu psychic robots from outer space and saucer-eyed girls in sailor outfits whose magic unicorns help them become popular at school, the "Iron Wok Jan" volumes (17 and counting, last I checked) are an excellent place to see what the field has to offer.

All the ingredients (excuse the expression) of classic shonen manga - that's Japanese for "comics for boys" - are here: the grandfather whose memory must be honored, the stern mentor, the stammering sidekick, and the cute girls (who in this case are packing 42G casabas under their cooking uniforms). Then you have the stare of determination and the overcoming of obstacles. And of course you've got to have lots of gaping mouths, sweat beads and speed lines. It all adds up to a dementedly intense narrative that somehow manages not to take itself very seriously.

Volume 4, for example, has the arrogant demon-eyed Jan Akiyama fiercely competing against his proud but virtuous colleague Kiriko Gobancho and the vampy Celine Yang (who for some reason is translated as a southern belle) at the "Iron Chef"-like 1st National Chinese Cuisine Cooking Contest "to become the greatest chef in Japan". Although Jan and Kiriko have made a side wager that the loser must leave the restaurant where they both work, there is even more than that at stake. Ultimately this is a battle between the three contestants' respective *philosophies* of cuisine.

Jan, of course, insists that "Cooking is a competition". "I'll bathe you all in blood!" he taunts his rivals at one point - lolling a Gene Simmons length tongue. "Akiyama's cooking knows no defeat!" By contrast, Kiriko says that "Cooking is about heart" - and demonstrates it by choosing a dish that she invented to help kids eat their vegetables - "Coral noodles! This is my weapon!" And Celine, as befits a woman with her spectacular bust, holds that "Cooking is about abundance" - "To me, cookin's about how far you can go with flavah, aroma, and beauty."

Once the battle begins, the reader is treated to some bravura flurries of action cartooning at its best - especially when Jan pulls out the knife-shaved noodles trick handed down to him by his dead grandfather. (Who naturally appears spectre-like in the background to exhort him to valor.) Anyone who has enjoyed the original "Iron Chef" will feel right at home with the proceedings - complete with know-everything Dr. Yukio Hatori-style commentary by Kiriko's uncle as he observes from the stands filled with gasping awe-struck spectators, and Kiriko's post-battle reflection that "I did the best I could! There were no oversights."

So whose cuisine reigns supreme? Well, you would have to get Volume 5 to find out - since manga storytelling takes up vastly more pages than American-style comics. But if you enjoy food or authentic glimpses into a truly foreign culture, and don't mind some "salty" language that would never make it into one of our kid's titles, Jan will deliver the goods.

Or to put it in his own boastful words to the judges: "Got it, fellas?"

Ken Akamatsu, Love Hina vol. 4 (Tokyopop, 1999)

Oh, Akamatsu-sensei, why'd you have to do it? Here I am all happy that I've found my favorite manga since I discovered Bleach, and you had to go and toss in a super-animal. Worse yet, you had to do so in a volume where the plot seems strained as it is; this is a lot more contrived than earlier volumes (and given how contrived some of the situations get, that's really saying something). I'm not going to stop reading the series, because I still love the characters, but man, I hope this flying turtle fades into the background mighty quick. ***

Beautiful! Excellent! Hilarious! Intriguing! Ken Akamatsu creates yet another amazing volume of Love Hina! Definetly wan't a disappointment! I have nothing else left to say.

This series is grate. Naru realizes(kinda)that she likes Keitaro and before that makes him cry. READ THIS!!!!

This is the fourth volume in a very funny manga series. But don't start with this volume, start with the first one. This particular volume introduces the characters of Seta, a university lecturer; and his bratty daughter, Sarah. Anyway, it is still as funny as ever, and if you enjoyed the earlier volumes, you will enjoy this one. Oh, one minor criticism about the series in general: sometimes the placement of the balloons makes it difficult to tell who is speaking. Other than that, I have nothing bad to say about the series.

The story so far: Keitaro remembers making a promise to a girl about attending Tokyo University so they could live happily ever after together. Unfortunately he doesn't know who this girl is but he thinks it may be the most abusive resident at Hinata House! It turns out that she isn't as bad as she seems when she offers to help him study for the entranace exams since that is her goal too. Naru becomes upset after failing her entrance exams and finding herself a ronin. She trys to runaway but Keitaro follows. As she trys to get away from him they end up running into eachother everywhere! They end up at the same hotel (turns out they're both using the smae travel guide) and the woman there is a room short and puts them in the same room! A Honeymoon Room! Meanwhile back at Hinata House, the residents frantically try to find the two fearing that they may have tied the knot! This thought causes panic in the residents because although they don't want to admit, they have a crush on Keitaro! My favorite of the first three is this one! by far the funniest!
In this volume: Naru's blues about failing the entrance exam catch up to her. Keitaro and Naru's friend Mutsumi turns out to be a major harzard to herself and others. Keitaro now must deal with the turtle that Mutsumi gave them. Keitaro and and Naru go on a hunt to track down Tama-chan because she has left with a watch that belongs to Naru. As they try to follow her it turns out that Hinata House has many secret passages and that the watch is so important to Naru because Keitaro gave it to her last Christmas! So does she really like him? Not even she wants to come to terms with her feelings!