Manga Books

Ranmaru is the son of a yakuza boss; he married an older woman (5 years older) to please his father and the family, but he is not attracted by her and the thing is mutual. During their honeymoon, with all the family around, Ranmaru avoids to be near the woman, and he persists on wearing the traditional Japanese kimono even if his wife despised it. On the Italian cruise ship where they are, Ranmaru gets noticed by an handsome Italian man, Al, who has a deeply interested for all Japanese things, included Japanese men! The first night they meet, Al seduces Ranmaru, and the Japanese guy discovers only the morning after that Al is the captain. On the course of his honeymoon in Italy, Ranmaru ends in even deeply trouble and Al is always there to help him, only "pretending" as reward to ravish Ranmaru, a thing that the Japanese guy is beginning to appreciate...

As always the graphic is gorgeous and very sexy. Poor Ranmaru finds himself in very badly situation, and everyone around him seem to want to ravish him. But all in all this manga has a funny side and in the end Ranmaru always escapes from bad trouble almost unarmed, if not for what does to him the handsome Al.

At first Ranmaru's character is not very "feminine", and in fact it's strange that a very handsome man like Al finds him interesting. But after their first night together, Ranmaru changes, and he becomes more and more cute and pretty, both in behavior than in look.

The manga ends at the second volume, and the English version doesn't give an hint if there is a continue. I hope so, since there is still a lot more that can be said on these two characters.

I absolutely loved Yamane's Finder series, and have been eagerly anticipating this English release of Ikoku Irokoi Romantan. This yaoi is very different from Finder and Crimson Spell. Finder is an action drama, and Crimson Spell a fantasy. This is definitely a romance. This manga includes two stories, the main title and a second called "Love Guide."

A Foreign Love Affair: Ranmaru has been forced into an arranged marriage by his yakuza family. Neither he, nor his bride Kaoro, are happy about it. The story opens with them embarking on an Italian cruise. Kaoro is annoyed that Ranmaru insists on dressing in traditional kimono instead of a suit. Yet, that is what attracts the eye of Alberto, the sexy ship captain. After drinking far too much one night, Ran and Al end up in bed. But, Ran is married and Al sails the seas. So, they go their separate ways. But they keep meeting unexpectedly. Then, Ran is kidnapped while trying to meet Al on land. This is where the story takes an adventurous turn. The romance is on as Al may be the only one who can save Ran.

I truly enjoyed this yaoi. It is one of those rare hard yaoi titles that also manages to build a sweet romance. The sex is explicit, and happens several times, but is also tender. Ran is desperate to be seen as a tough guy, but Al just wants to protect him. It makes for fun, angst-filled dialog between the two. The kidnapping took a surprising turn, which was dark in tone, but fit the story. It was more than just boy meets boy, which I really liked. Both characters are likeable and appealing. One thing did bother me - the story left some things unresolved. Ran encounters a former friend and now rival who is in love with Kaoro. He is involved in the plot, but just disappears at the end. And readers last see Ran and Al together. I sthis more than an affair? What about his family and wife? This yaoi really deserves a sequel, though I have read nothing about one being made.

The second story was good, though I would've preferred more pages for the main title. Love Guide: a college professor's mother hires a "love guide" to help her son find a wife. The yound man is high spirited, and devoted to his job. And he happens to fall in love with his client! Luckily for him, the professor returns the feelings. This was a short, but very sweet romance. And, Yamane once again delivers the goods when the boys consummate their love, more than once! This was an almost perfect bonus story - it was brief, but didn't short change the characters or their romance.

Yamane's art is top notch as always. Clean lines, good proportions and undeniably male characters. The scenery was quite detailed for a yaoi, and there was a nice size cast for the story. The production of the book is also very nice, like 801's other titles, with a full color dust jacket and color plate. There was an occasional typo in the translation, but nothing major to ruin the story. Overall, I highly recommend this!!

Let me start by saying that I especially like those yaoi titles in which the male characters actually look male. I think this is part of the reason why I absolutely loved Yamane's Crimson Spell, so much so that I even ordered the second volume in the series from Japan, despite the fact that I can't read Japanese! I loved it nonetheless.

And Yamane's Foreign Love Affair also has these undeniably male characters, in addition to the tender romance, the gripping story, some very funny scenes and stunningly beautiful drawings, which make this one a highly recommended read.

The manga features two stories:

-> A Foreign Love Affair
Ranmaru Ohmi, heir of a Japanese yakuza boss, has married Kaoru, daughter of a rival yakuza boss, and they're now on their honeymoon aboard a cruise ship traveling the Mediterranean Sea. It's mostly a political marriage and both are not happy about it. Thus we see Ranmaru alone in a bar, during what was to be his first night with his wife, where he meets Alberto, or Al, the Italian Captain of the cruise ship. They spend a night of passion together but go their separate ways again by morning. But while Ranmaru and Kaoru continue their trip across Italy, Ranmaru and Al keep meeting each other unexpectedly and often in situations where Al has come to the rescue.

Very good story alternating between tender romance, hot sex scenes and adventurous situations.

-> The Love Guide
Professor Hirotaka Takaoka tries to find the right woman with the help of the hired matchmaker Tohru Serizawa. After the umpteenth marriage interview Hirotaka realizes that maybe the reason for those failed interviews is the fact that he can't keep his eyes off the matchmaker.

Love Guide is a delightful story and a very sweet romance.

This book is beautiful, and any BL fan girl/boy should acquire this and add it to their permanent collection. 801-media has done a wonderful job with this title, I could only catch one or two grammatical errors, and even those were almost overlooked. The book consists of a very nice dust jacket and a color insert of the second story's couple, The Love Guide. The binding is nice and it includes a cultural reference section towards the end of the book. Overall, this is a great buy, and the quality from this publisher is still the best in the BL American market. By the way, the comic strip at the end of the book (on the dust jacket) of 801-chan is always a nice and welcome treat!!
The plot has been pretty much explained in the other reviews, so there is nothing else for me to add. If you like this item, then you will definitely love "The Crimson Spell" by Kitty Media (Volume 2 is coming out this fall, ^0^):
The Crimson Spell
The Crimson Spell 2 (The Crimson Spell)
There's plenty of "smex" in both titles and the art/story is beautiful.
Hope this rambling helps in some way, and if not... Oh, well, I did my best.

Ayano Yamane's artwork is just beautiful and her men are so gorgeous and sexy.

The main story "A Foreign Love Affair" is an engrossing romance between Ranmaru, a Yakuza's son, and Al, an Italian ship captain.
Ranmaru forced into a marriage to strenghten the Yakuza families ties is an appealing character and he sure looks alluring in his yukata. As for Al, he is such a stud and the perfect cool and sexy seme. Theirs is a amusing and sweet romance. There are some heavy and dark moments mid-way when Ranmaru is kidnapped and nearly sold off as a sex slave. Here I was afraid that the mangaka would turn this into a dark Yaoi but fortunately she didn't and the story remains romantic and sweet. But the ending does leave one wanting! A few unresolved issues. There is no doubt that Ranmaru will choose his captain but then how does it all pan out with his wife and the Yakuza families. And I would love to know more about Al's background.

The second shorter story on an anti social professor who has no time for love except work finally finding love with his male match-maker is equally enjoyable. Theirs is a fun, light-hearted, cute and equally sweet romance. And I love both characters here too.

And of course the sex in both stories are hot and sensual. A must for all Yaoi fans!

The second volume of the long-running manga series sees it settle down into the general series theme, with flamboyant art thief Eroica and uptight NATO intelligence agent Iron Klaus finding their paths repeatedly crossing, sometimes as opponents, sometimes having to work together. Set in the Cold War Europe of the 1970s, it shows a pair of characters who are on opposite sides of the law and very different in personality, but with some surprising things in common. Alas, one of those things is not sexual orientation, and Eroica's romantic interest in Klaus is destined to remain unrequited, providing the source of much fun during the series.

And there's plenty of fun to be had. The stories are completely over the top, in the same way that the Bond films are over the top -- camp, very funny, and with plenty of action. In this one, Eroica and Klaus have a shared interest in a Greek shipping tycoon. Eroica wants to steal an art treasure, and Klaus wants to stop a KGB agent's honeytrap operation. This leads on to a second adventure in which Klaus is trying to protect world leaders at a meeting which just happens to be just down the road from Eroica's castle -- and for perfectly rational reasons, Klaus ends up ordering Eroica to strip and hand over his underpants... But when they're forced by circumstances to work together, they make a very good team.

Flawed but likeable people, they're enormously entertaining to watch, as are the secondary characters. Both men have a team of minions, not all of whom are quite what their masters would wish for. This volume introduces Agent G, Klaus' gay cross-dressing agent who has a crush on Eroica.

There's also an independent story to fill out the page count, about a strait-laced young German man sent on a cultural exchange visit to a tiny island nation with a very strange navy. There's not much plot, and there's an awful lot of froth, but it's a quick fun read with a serious point underneath the fluff.

You can pick up the story with this book, but it's worth reading the first volume of the series to get the background: From Eroica with Love - Volume 1 (From Eroica With Love (Graphic Novels))

if I had never read any of the fanfics i would not have picked this up... i am so glad i did... though i do have to admit that i had to get over the drawing..(not to my style i guess)... but the storyline and all that is really really awesome... like the other reviewers... thank all the little Gods that the teenagers found somewhere else to light... this manga is really good and i give it high kudos...

As much as I whole-heartedly enjoyed the giddy nonsense of the first volume, it is in the second and third volumes that the reader really begins to get a taste of what this series is truly about. The characters become more solid, the drippy teenagers from the first volume are utterly forgotten and never return, and the focus of the stories shifts considerably into the theme that it will more-or-less take from now on. That being the lives and adventures of BOTH Dorian (or the master thief "Eroica") and the NATO Intelligence officer Major Eberbach, and their respective teams, and how their stories end up crossing and tangling in amusing, exciting ways.

"From Eroica with Love" is fantastic series that blends humour and parody and action and espionage into a wonderfully entertaining blend. Set in Europe during the Cold War, it chronicles the misadventures of the lovely gay English thief Dorian Red Gloria and his unrequited love for the German NATO officer, Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach.

If you ever need to just sit back, forget your life for a while, and laugh, "Eroica" is definitely the series to read. The stories and plots also become more fleshed out and realized as the series progresses, so those who didn't care for the complete nonsense of the first volume should still give 2 and 3 in order to get a better impression of the overall series. And those who enjoyed the hilarity of volume 1--fear not, the wacky humour is still there!

We can only hope CMX Manga continues to translate this series...there are over 30 volumes, and it is still running in Japan. Also, as a note to fans of other Japanese manga: From Eroica with Love is somewhat different from the other manga that has been translated so far, and not just in terms of the art (trust me it grows on you)and the setting (personally, I LOVE the European settings) but in terms of story and dialogue as well. For one thing, it takes longer to read, and is more verbose. Personally, I appreciate that it takes me longer to read, I feel like I've gotten my money's worth for each volume.

I strongly recommend this series to manga and fans and non-manga fans alike. It is a delightful comic book series.

Ammusingly, volume 2 has come out in english around the same time 31 came out in Japan. This book introduces agent G (Gei-kun).Unfortunately for new fans, there is a side story in Sons of Eve 7 that introduces him & James & tells alittle about them that CMX likely won't translate. G, unlike Ceaser from Volume 1, is here to stay.

Volume two is hillarious with the long-running underwear joke & Dorian's interest in Klaus is growing. It also includes a nice side story called Ivy Navy that has nothing to do with Eroica.

For fans of classic shounenai & modern BL, the relationship in this story can be compaired to Gensoumaden Saiyuki; Klaus = Sanzo, Dorian = Goku.

This is it - the point where Dorian and Klaus took control of proceedings, and their creator (plus thousands of readers) settled back for the ride. In vol.2 of "Eroica", the three annoying and pointless super-powered teenagers who cluttered up the first stories have disappeared for good, and the narrative becomes James-Bond-played-as-1930s-romantic-comedy. For all Dorian's flowing locks, "Eroica" isn't a swooning boys'-love tale. The aesthetic Earl and his Nato nemesis work out their feelings for each other through action, even if that action is unserious, high-powered mayhem involving tanks and dirigibles chasing each other over the map of Cold War Europe. There's often a witty twist to the tale, too: witness the episode in which Dorian's dirigible and Klaus' helicopter fly off in different directions, each with its master happily complacent... and each completely wrong. Partly owing to its (now outdated) extravagantly shoujo artwork, "Eroica" may never be a title with mass appeal, but it's one that older readers looking for witty fun shouldn't miss.

As a bonus, this volume gives us "I.V.Y. Navy", an extravaganza which reads as if Aoike had Susan Sontag on camp by heart (which I'm morally certain she hasn't). A *very* serious young German student - shades of Karl - joins an aircraft carrier of the tiny but oil-rich nation of IVY. Here, chaperoned by a tall and handsome local, he discovers that the captain and first mate (bearded seadogs) go by the names of Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, and that IVY's methods of stopping a war between two Third World nations - backed by the USA and USSR - involve bribery and blackmail. Our hero is shocked to the core... until he realises that all this degeneracy actually *works*. It must be said, this one's odd even for Aoike, but there's an interesting point among all the frivolity.

It's about time that one can purchase a calendar of Fruits Basket (that isn't imported directly from Japan). Fabulous pictures. A perfect addition to any Fruits Basket addict!

This is a very cool calendar! I really like it alot!

this is a calendar for any fruits basket manga and anime lovers! especially if yourlike me, slightly obsessed with it. haha! anyways, the pictures are in color and are from the real anime TV series. this is important to know: the art is different from the manga (the book). the artwork was taken from the anime series, not the manga. which, in case you havent noticed or just dont know, isnt as good, detailed, and doesnt show takaya-sensei's true skill. (takaya-sensei is the author). but apart from that, this calendar is the #1 thing any fruits basket fan needs (besides the manga and anime, that is). :D 5/5 stars!!!
* * * * *

^___^

Not only is this calendar beautiful visually, but it's also very Kyo happy, which makes me, (a Kyo fangirl) very happy. :) I would estimate that 10 out of the 12 months include a picture of Kyo, either as a cat or as a human. No other character has that much coverage in the calendar, not even Tohru, (who I think may be in 8 or 7 out of the 12 months)! I bought this calendar for $1 and you can get it for that amount as well at any Borders Express, Barnes and Noble or Calendar store. If you're a Furuba fan and just want it as a keepsake, don't pay $13 for it. Go to a store and get it for a buck! It's almost April for goodness sake! :)

I bought this calendar today at the mall for about 7 dollars since they were having a 50% off sale. It is by far a great looking calendar and I'm so lucky to have bought it since there were only 2 left at the store I got it from!
The pictures inside are from the anime of the series--not the manga...neitherless the art is great and depicts some of the hilarious scenes from the show. Each month also has a mini-picture on the bottom that deals with a holiday that takes place during the month or something related to the main picture above. A tiny picture of a Sohma in their zodiac form is also on each month's page. The inside cover of the calendar has a brief description about the history of the manga and anime series which I thought to be interesting to read. Pictures are glossy. All I can say is that this calendar is beautiful! Reccommended to any fan of the Fruits Basket anime or manga (I love both! ^__^).

This is the best graphic novel EVER!
It's hilarious and the plot is great! Just make sure you know how to read it properly! ^_^

I picked this up, because I wanted to know what the fuss is all about. Then, I read up to volume 5 and it was heartbreaking. I could relate what the characters were going through and I almost cried *sniff*. The author says she's like the main character, but if that's true, then, she's not a normal person. The main character is that person that never loses hope, always positive, never thinks of herself but helping others. I recommend it to everyone, you'll love it!!! I assure you!!!

This is a most have for any Fruits Basket fan! Some of the detals in this book are not in the paperback book. P.S. I'm not Matthew, I'm his "little girl"( not THAT little:))

I got this since my original paperbacks were so haggard looking. If you haven't read it I would highly recommend it for all ages especially the first few volumes. The hardback is especially nice since the pages are bigger and better quality than the paperback. I hope Tokyopop will follow through with the rest of the series since it's one you'll want to keep for a long time. Oh, and there is no author signature as the Amazon review suggests (beloved Takaya's hand would never draw again if she did!).

Natsuki Takaya hit manga gold with "Fruits Basket," a romantic/comic/fantasy story about one cursed family, and a girl who might be able to set them all free.

And "Fruits Basket Ultimate Edition Volume 1" is a must-have for any manga fan who doesn't already own the series -- two books' worth compiled into one, with a hardcover binding, colour art and new foreword. The story itself starts a big sluggishly, but soon falls into its comedic and dramatic stride.

Orphaned Tohru Honda is living in a tent in the woods. But one day she bumps into the large house of school idol Yuki Sohma, and his older cousin Shigure -- and after a landslide buries her tent and most of her belongings, they take Tohru in as a housekeeper/cook. But when the volatile Kyo Sohma breaks in to fight with Yuki, Tohru slips and accidently hugs him -- and he transforms into a cat.

Turns out that the Sohma family is cursed -- certain members turn into animals of the Chinese zodiac, including Yuki and Shigure (rat and dog, respectively). Warm-hearted Tohru doesn't let this stop her from befriending the Sohmas, and soon the three men find that they can't do without her.

Now that she's moved in, her pals Saki and Arisa stay for the night to make sure the Sohmas are taking good care of her, and when New Year's rolls around, Kyo and Yuki find themselves wondering what to do -- go to the main house with the other family, or stay with Tohru?

And at the school, the students are planning a cultural festival, and Tohru encounters two other Sohmas -- the chilly doctor Hatori, and the effusive half-German Momiji, who is instantly pals with Tohru. But Tohru learns of a different side to the zodiac members' lives, when she hears about Hatori's tragic past.

The two volumes compiled here are basically the setup for the rest of the series -- we get introduced to the characters, the settings, and we start to see a bit of their backgrounds. And it doesn't really take long to start liking this quirky, tempestuous bunch and their misadventures.

Takaya spends most of the first volume introducing the characters, and arranging for them to live in the same house. Her artwork also takes a little while to get adjusted to (the first few chapters are a bit awkward) but settles into an elegant, polished style by mid-book.

And she has a knack for very, very funny dialogue ("Didn't she say she'd forgive him for cheating on her?" "I DIDN'T SAY I WOULDN'T PUNISH HIM FIRST!"). But while there's plenty of comedy (Yuki in a dress, Kagura's "crazy love"), Takaya also hints at the darker sides of the Sohma family, including flashbacks of Hatori's love affair with his ex-fiancee, and the bitterly chilly way that it fell apart.

Tohru is a surprising character -- she's almost Pollyannaish in her optimism and cheerfulness. But Takaya makes her likable, goofy and clueless. And as the story goes on, we see glimpses of her loneliness and sadness. She's backed by a colourful cast led by the quiet Yuki, goofily Machievellian Shigure, and volatile Kyo, as well as the scarred Hatori and ebullient Momiji.

The first Ultimate Edition of "Fruits Basket" is a big fat chunk of comedy, tragedy and amusingly quirky characters, and a must-buy for manga fans who don't own the first two volumes separately.

Mihona Fujii definetley scored big with the 'Gals' series! It's the best manga I've ever read! It's about a teenage girl named Ran who's a sophmore in High School. It's basically about her and her gal pals Aya and Miyu. Miyu was part of a street gang and Aya went out with old guys for cash. But Ran soon turns them around and they chill. This book is Hilarious and if ya like it then the rest of the series will rock too!
-Hannah M.

I hope ADV comes up with season 2

vol. 1 of gals! is good.

get it :) trust me.

maybe i liked it because of reasons byond it's quality, but the drawings are so darn cute!

as an artist, i also really apreciated the details. the author doesn't pays attention to every corner of every page.

yea i'd buy it.

Gals! Volume One is the story of high school sophmore Ran. Ran and her friends Miyu and Aya are self-styled "kogals" - trendy teens widely regarded by Japanese as juvenile delinquents. While it is true that some "kogals" are involved in teenage prostitution, knife-wielding gang fights, shoplifting and muggings, Ran is not one of them. Much of the conflict and humor in Gals is due to the fact that Ran's entire family are police officers! Ran swears that she will never fulfill her father's wish and become a cop herself.

Other humor is due to the fact that Ran's super-honest older brother, a young cop, is the boyfriend of Miyu. Miyu was very delinquent until she fell in love. But they have not yet kissed b/c Miyu is not yet legal, much to Miyu's dismay. There is much more humor in the book.

The art in Gals is very good. Author Fuji Mihona has really captured the urban backgrounds of Shibuya, the shopping district/mall that is a haven for Japanese teens, and the center of the Gals manga. Fuji also peppers the manga with entertaining and informational sidebars. At the end of the manga is a humorous drawing of her characters done by her brother.

I am really looking forward to volume two.

This books completely deserves a 5 star review. Perhaps the best example of "Girl-power!" on the manga market, Ran, Miyu, and Aya are all very different girls- but pack a lot of attitude and and spirit in their slim fashionable frames. This book is a celebration of the Ko-gal culture, which in a stereotyped nutshell is a young Japanese girl so cool and well-dressed that that it absorbs her persona- typically a a bit agressive and will do "anything" for her next outfit. Well, as we all know, the stereotype of an identity hardly scratches the surface; Ran and her friends show the world what being a Ko-gal is all about!

Everyone is super-cute and stylish, due to the Ko-gal theme-that's why all through the book everyone is as adorable as can be. (The boys, however, are suitable complements to the playful attire of the girls in thier attractive uniforms.)There's accessories and chibi animal icons everywhere you look, and it really brings the Japanese teen scene to life. The style of the artist is really wonderful-with large eyes, slender bodies, and expressive hands, the characters are really in their element while being spunky, but easily shift to expressing extreme emotions such as anger and sorrow with distinct body language.

Although the art is great, the story doesn't miss a beat. The characters all have amazing personalities, especially that of ex-badgirl Miyu,pre-reform. Just her backstory is worth ten bucks- her attitude is unbelievably in-your-face, and words cannot express how cool her misbehaving is. She's no wimpy teen-queen bully or mild delinquent-she's the real thing, complete with beat-downs and a gang of her own. Of course, in the present her relationship with Ran's cop brother is just as interesting to follow. Ran is the main character and ko-gal, and as she comes from an all-cop family, nothing's more enjoyable than her blatant disregard for the rules. She's got the most charm- she's not afraid to speak her mind or break a nail or two when she's trying to makes things better for everyone. (Althouogh she has some unorthodox methods her family wouldn't quite approve of.) Aya is the quiet one, but her intro is amazing. She's a sweet girl, but there's always something going on with a quiet ones- Aya is no exception.

One minor thing- the book "feels" funny. The paper is kind of stiff, making a rather small book feel rigid- but it's not a bother unduly, the pages are just a bit harder to crack open.

To sum it all up, Gals! is an uplifting and upbeat, pretty cute and pretty kick-a**. You can moon over the clothes, or you be floored by thier personalities. Either way, you'll love it.

One of the best manga's of all time. Gon is loved greatly by children and many adults in Japan and has recently come to America! This is a great buy and I suggest looking into the entire series. I have been an anime/manga fan for 9years now, and I can confidently say you won't be disappointed with this buy.

This is the book that introduced Gon - world's last dinosaur, one foot tall midget tyrannosaur, alternately playful and cuddly or as ferocious as an enraged Hulk when need be - to North American audiences. Featuring a different artistic style (especially in the first story, "Gon Eats And Sleeps") than the later Gon volumes but no less phenomenal. In the back of the book are photorealistic drawings of the real-life species depicted in the three tales - so photorealistic, in fact, that at first I thought they were actual black-and-white photographs. That's how great the art is.

"Gon Eats And Sleeps" is possibly the most essential tale in understanding this enigmatic little dinosaur. Readers who start with a subsequent volume may well ask themselves 'why does he keep tormenting that poor bear so?' In this tale we see the beginning of the rivalry between these two titans, a rivalry it seems the Bear is always destined to come up with the short end of the stick on. Basically, Gon takes great umbrage when a large grizzly bear chases a smaller one off a catch of fish the smaller bear has caught. And thus the lifelong animosity begins, an animosity that notably doesn't extend to other bears, just this one, 'The Bear'.

It isn't always spelled out as clearly in subsequent volumes, but when Gon goes on the offensive against The bear or some other creature, it seems obvious there is some past transgression (usually directed against one of Gon's small, defenceless animal friends, it seems)that has sparked the blood feud. Ferocious but valiant, Gon marches through life enjoying the world and defending the weak with his own sense of justice, and while I don't feel the little guy is sadistic or mean he sure can be an intimdating force. As I noted in doing a writeup on "Gon Color Spectacular" Gon never kills his foes and they seldom are worse off than a few bruises and scratches; too much serious carnage would definately ruin the charm and tone of the series.

The second tale, "Gon Learns To Fly" is one of the most hilarious tales in the Gon pantheon and simply has to be seen to be believed. Words cannot do this an adequate description, but talk about refusing to admit defeat! And in "Gon Glares" - which certainly boasts some of the most, er, unique visual imagery ever captured on paper through either pen or photo, we see that even in defending his circle of friends Gon is not without compassion for his predatory adversaries. A perfect ending to a perfect book; a perfect start to a whole series of unforgettable Gon adventures!

You. Yes, you. Get this book. This is the first release from Masashi Tanaka and what a release it is ! It is simply the best artwork I have ever seen in comic books, or anywhere else for that matter. Small and fierce Gon kicks butt!

For those of you that liked jurassic park, Bambi and 101 dalmations, but hate Barney, Gon is for you. Gon is a VERY small dinosaur from a bygone age, he has no problems being the last dinosaur, and seems to enjoy the arrogance of his seeming indestructability. He is a staunch defender of the downtrodden and the helpless, as well as his lunch. The art is fantastic, the stories (no words) flow well and are completely enjoyable

Gon is, by and far, an enjoyable journey through the greatly unexplored world of nature and is introduced to us in the most unlikely of ways. Here, amidst an untamed world, we meet the most unlikely of travelers, that of a two-foot-tall unstoppable force that just happens to be one of the cutest/aggressive characters ever to grace a storyline, as he looks for fun, adventure, and something to eat. This book is where the adventures of Gon, the adorable dinosaur with a voracious appetite for exploration/competetion, begins, introduced to us in short story forums. We join Masashi Tanaka as he relays this through silent adventure after silent adventure, speaking wheels through expressions and a flurry of emotive responses instead of simple spurts of meaningless dialog.

Here, Gon first battles and then humiliates an otherwise gargantuan bear that otherwise seems to dominate the wilderness, ends up flying with the aid of a few eagles after a strange little adventure in feeding/protecting some little ones, torments a dingo looking for some easy pickings, fights alongside some wolf cubs he seems somewhat attracted to, lives amongst the penguins, and builds himself a mansion that makes even the beavers enviously agitated.

If you've never had the opportunity to check this out, I would recommend it highly. The art style, the character itself, and the fact that I've never found myself bored throughout five books filled with him, says that Gon is a force to be reckoned with.

I only own the first half of Maison Ikkoku, and this graphic novel is one of the bests!

EMBRACED BY ILLNESS:
Godai's cold got worse, and now he's stuck in bed. He's not finding it easy to get better with ongoing parties, and an unwanted visit from Mitaka.
MY NOTES:
Funny. Nothing great though.

THE MAN WHO REACHED FOR THE STARS:
Godai can't make it to the annual Ikkoku Christmas party due to a job redecorating. But when he sees Kyoko's face after she finds out, he quickly changes his mind to not go. So not only will he show up, but with the gift Kyoko's always wanted in a bag.
MY NOTES:
Pretty good. A nice joke at the end.

CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR:
Godai's left in charge of Ikkoku while Kyoko and everyone else is gone.
MY NOTES:
OK. Pretty funny (although the drinking contest between Kozue's dad and Godai is hilarious!).

THE KISSING SCENE:
Akemi comes home drunk one night, after being dumped by her boyfriend, and kisses Godai and Kyoko! Kyoko then dreams that night of kissing Godai, while Godai wonders about the kiss.
MY NOTES:
This is a good chapter, with one great joke. And expect a certain... SOMETHING, to happen...

NO PEEKING!:
Kyoko buys a leotard, while Yotsuya desires to reopen a certain `peephole.'
MY NOTES:
The first few pages might be boring, but the rest is great!

MIXED MESSAGES:
Kozue gives Yusaku pansies for Valentines Day that just might just mean more than what they appear to.
MY NOTES:
An OK chapter.

THE BETTER TO HEAR YOU WITH:
Rumors spread that Mitaka and Kozue are dating.
MY NOTES:
This chapter is funny enough, without the big plus of having my favorite Yotsuya line (so far)!

CLOTHES MAKE THE???:
Kyoko accidentally starts an Ikkoku Costume Party.
MY NOTES:
Funny.

JUST A LITTLE CARD:
A postcard in Soichiro's diary might cause confusion.
MY NOTES:
I think this would have made more sense if you could read everything Soichiro writes on the pages, and not have a little bit cut off.

This graphic novel will take a certain focus on comedy, with the exception of the fourth chapter.

No real major events in this volume of Maison Ikkoku, but of course it is still a wonderful read. The main events in this book are Godai recovering from a cold and the "care" that his fellow housemates spread upon him. Yes, as you can guess there will be alot of drinking. Even Mitaka fixes him some chicken soup. We also get to see a little adventure when Akemi comes home drunk and only kisses Godai, but Kyoko as well, hehe. My favorite chapter of the book has to be when the gang dresses up in different outfits and have a party. As already stated no new ground is really broken here, but it is fun to flip through these pages again and again.

Every Maison Ikkoku graphic novel ive read so far has been nothing short of 5 star... heck they should increase the ratings to 6 stars just for this book! Its definatley the best thus far, if your into subtle romance and the twists that go along with it!!

"Good Housekeeping", Volume 4 of the international masterpiece of romantic comedy, "Maison Ikkoku", continues the great comedy and touching romance seen in the previous volumes. Although a uniquely Japanese story, the appeal of this timeless classic is universal.

Maison Ikkoku is a run down apartment building in Tokyo. Living there is struggling and wishy-washy college student Yusaku Godai, who has fallen head over heels in love with the beautiful, young manager of the building, Kyoko Otonashi. Kyoko has some feelings towards Godai, but she's a widow, and still is not over the death of her beloved husband, Soichiro.

Complicating matters between the two are rich, suave, hysterically dog-phobic, and handsome tennis coach Shun Mitaka, Godai's rival for Kyoko; and Kozue Nanao, a sweet, cute, and naive girl, who accidently has become Godai's platonic girlfriend. Kozue is clueless that Godai is in love with Kyoko.

But the crowning touch is the 3 other residents of the apartment building: hard drinking, hard partying and hard gossiping Mrs. Ichinose, who lives with her young son Kentaro; Akemi, a sexy party animal who is the bar hostess at local hangout ChaChaMaru, and who wears her see-through negligee around the building; and then there's the mysterious Yotsuya, who gets his kicks out of peeping, and breaking through Godai's wall so that he can mooch food from Godai. These characters would be at home in "A Confederacy of Dunces".

All 3 regard Godai as their personal toy, and they get their kicks from teasing him and holding their drinking parties in his room. They've also discovered that Kyoko is fun to tease as well.

With 9 chapters, Volume 4 picks up where Volume 3 ended: Godai is back home at Maison Ikkoku, but he's ill after the misadventures of the last volume. Too bad his nursemaids are Mrs. Ichinose, Akemi & Yotsuya. Christmas comes to Ikkoku once again. Godai's got his eye on the perfect present for Kyoko. Since this involves Godai & Kyoko, there has to be a string attached. New Year's results in two visits by Godai to the local shrine, first with Kyoko, then with Kozue. A drunken Akemi starts off a kissing chain reaction with Godai & Kyoko thinking about lips and the meeting thereof. Kyoko & Akemi buy leotards. Naturally, Yotsuya wants a peek. A trip home by Godai leaves Kyoko taking care of Godai's basket of flowers. Did anyone tell Kyoko that the flowers were a gift from Kozue? Speaking of Kozue, frustrated by Godai's lack of affection, she looks for some expert advice on the subject. The expert? Coach Mitaka! Welcome to misunderstanding city. Mrs. Ichinose's young son Kentaro has taken comfort that despite all the weirdos at Ikkoku, at least manager Kyoko's normal. This opinion might change after the results of an unplanned costume party, triggered by an innocent Kyoko. Finally, Kyoko's father-in-law gives Godai a package to give to Kyoko; Soichiro's diary. Can Kyoko get jealous of a dead man?

With no connecting story arc, this volume emphasizes humor and offers insights on both Japanese culture and the characters. The New Year's day chapter is especially rich in cultural references, showcasing the most important of Japanese holidays. Note that Kyoko & Kozue's kimono's have different length sleeves. Kyoko's sleeves are short, since she's been married. Kozue's sleeves are long, since she's stll young and single.

A good example of character insight is offered in this conversation between Kyoko & Mrs. Ichinose:

KYOKO: Do you think I'm the jealous type? MRS. ICHINOSE: You sure are. KYOKO: Couldn't you at least have hesitated a little? MRS. ICHINOSE: But it's true!

Better than "Oh! My Goddess!", with humor ranging from gentle to hysterical, this wonderful romantic comedy continues forward in "Good Housekeeping".

This was the first Maison Ikkoku book that I read, and this is the one that got me hooked on to the series. It is incredibly realistic and there is plenty of humor imbedded within the main storyline. The relationships of the characters are constantly shifting back and forth just like real life. That's not mentioning the great drawings and detailed plot lines. Or, just in two words -- it's great!

The first four prologue chapters outlines the origins of Japanese history starting with the creation of the world by the gods. Then we fast forward to the time of the ruling Taira (Heike) family in 12th century Japan. They are overthrown by the Minamoto family faction. At that time, one of the symbols of the emperor, the ancient sword named Grasscutter was lost in the Inland Sea. The Heike crabs in the sea, have the appearance of the lost Heike warrior's faces (Google the image of these crabs, they are amazing!). Fast forward again to Usagi and the ongoing plot to restore the emperor to power and overthrow the shogun. In this volume, brilliantly as ever penned and written by incomparable Stan Sakai, Usagi stumbles literally upon Grasscutter. The conspirators had enlisted supernatural powers to secure the sword, and it is up to Usagi to prevent Grasscutter from falling into evil hands. Other highlights of this volume include Usagi's on-again, off-again bounty hunter sidekick Gen, and the supremely evil Jei, emissary of the gods. Sakai never fails to disappoint and is able to maintain an amazingly high standard for his graphic novels.

I only just recently discovered the adventures of Usagi Yojimbo, and being a swashbuckler/samurai fan I started thumbing through issue number one at my local library. It looked interesting enough to pick up. The first couple of books were fun, you can see where artist Stan Sakai borrowed from Japanese mythology and other sources, and look a few homages to some of Kurosawa's greatest films. Light entertainment. And then I picked up Grasscutter. What a story!!! Starting of with the legend of the sacred sword Grasscutter, Sakai spins an amazing quest saga. All the elements are there, love, betrayal, friendship, loyalty, honor, magic, monsters, plots, ninjas .... A fast moving tale with surprises on almost every other page. To add even more depth to the story, Sakai cleverly weaves in characters and plot points from past adventures. You don't need to read previous Usagi Yojimbo novels to enjoy this tale, but trust me, it's well worth it!

In this story , the future of Japan swirls on "Grasscutter" the losted Japan Emperor Sword in the bottom of the sea, wich was the gift of the sun goddess Amaterasu to the first Japan Emperor and the most important simbol of the emperor authority. With 4 prologue-shortstories that tells the old history of the sword, you can inmerse yourself in this tale without problems in this "1999 Will Eisner awarded Graphic Novel".

Basically, at this time the shogun is who have the power, but a conspirancy of 8 Lords, pretend to find the lost sword and use it in a plot to reinstaurated the full power of the emperor. Once again the journeys of Usagi Yogambi take him to the middle of the action and put the destiny of Japan in his hands.

Good story telling where the costumes, and historical facts will be mixed with magic and misterious forces in a fight between good and evil, among a good and detailed art, fullfill the expectations of the fans. You will find here a lot of the usual protagonists, but if you are not common to this serie this can be a good startpoint because is a self contained story, anyway, apparently there will be a "Grasscutter 2" for the beginning of the 2002.

Stan Sakai gives us a glimpse of the mythos of the creation of Japan. A sword - Murakumo-nu-tsurugi - from this legend resurfaces in the age of Usagi Yojimbo. The sword was once in the possession of the Emperor but vanished beneath the ocean. Desperate samurai seek to reclaim the sword as Usagi stumbles upon it. Usagi slowly realizes the potential danger of this sword and wishes that he had never found it. When the sword is taken away from him he charges after it realizing that the sword could cause civil war in his beloved Japan. In this book Usagi again meets the bountyhunter Gen, the mad samurai Jei, priest Shobo and the lightning fast samurai-ko - Inazuma. Outstanding artistry from Sakai and awesome swordplay from Miyamoto Usagi. In the end of this book Stan Sakai writes about the myths that inspire him to write these stories and explain these myths. Really interesting if you want to know more about japanese mythology.

Stan Sakai's long running series hits an all time high with this ambitious story mixing history, mythology, and his own unique universe of anthropomorphic characters.

The book begins delving in Japan's mythological past to tell story of the origin of "Grasscutter," one of the three sacred treasures given to the Emperor of Japan, and how it was lost in a battle that decided the fate of who should rule the nation. This trade paperback contains copious notes on Japanese history and mythology so it is much more than just reading a comic book.

This story includes other storylines that have appeared as loose threads in previous books and they all tie neatly together in a well thought out epic confrontation, including a climatic showdown between Usagi and long time nemisis, the demonic Jei.

I would recommend this series to more than just fans of comic books and graphic novels. It's just an excellent story. Period.

I rate this five stars because it is the best volume of the best manga series. What's inside:
*Claes spends a lonely day and has her memory jogged.
*Triela broods over her loss to Pinocchio.
*Rico wears a dress and goes to the opera. She also beats the heck out of a guy who is cooperating with weapons smugglers.
*We meet a new cyborg, Beatrice.
*Henrietta craves even more of Giuseppe's attention.
*We learn that Hilshire worked for Europol before he joined the Agency, and we witness the circumstances that brought him and Triela together.
*In a heartbreaking sequence, a Europol medical examiner, Rachelle, saves Triela's life.

If you haven't read the first three volumes of this series, much of this volume won't make sense. So,please read the first three, and when you get to volume four you will witness a leap forward in the flowering of the main characters.

I love this series, and I waited so long for this manga to come out. And, I definitely wasn't disappointed - more great stories, especially for those who love Triela.

I'm so happy to see this series coming back, and this volume does not let down in the least. There is alot of focus on Triela this volume, but since she is imo one of the more interesting characters out of the girls this was a good thing for me.

Volume 4 of Gunslinger Girl begins with a focus on perhaps the saddest member of the cast of girl assassins: Claes. Her handler had begun to doubt the ethics of what he was doing and had thought about exposing the whole operation. To prevent this, he was liquidated by the SWF. The problem is that once a girl bonds to her handler, there is no going back and it is extremely hard, if not impossible, to give her a new partner. So Claes is pretty much excess baggage and is only kept alive for the sake of study and experimentation. Since her memory was wiped clean, she walks around with a sense of something missing from her life. A sadness she can't quite put her finger on. Triela, too, is having some life issues, as she grapples with her first major defeat by the killer Pinocchio. She would have gotten killed by him, but he had a flashback to something in his past and spared her life. She doesn't have a lot of time to dwell on it though, as she and Hillshire are assigned to protect a mob boss daughter because her father has decided to turn state's evidence against his former friends.

The aspect of this series that Aida handles so well is that there isn't a lot of exploitation of the "cute" factor that drawing and portraying such young girls could easily slip into. Instead the writer shows how the spirit of each girl finds a way to fight its way up through all the brainwashing and conditioning to desperately grasp at something of a normal life. While the story sometimes flirts with the idea that the girls are in love with their partners, again, this is never taken to moe otaku extremes and is explained by saying it is a result of their conditioning. Aida also handles flashbacks well, using them just enough to explain her character motivations and giving them depth, without causing jarring interruptions in the flow of the current storyline. This is a great series. It's too bad that ADV Manga sucks and a new volume hasn't been published in 6 months. At one time, the release schedule averaged one volume per YEAR. For example, Volume 3 was published in June 2005 while this fourth volume did not come out till July 2007! And now it seems like there has been another interruption. They should really just give up the license, along with Cromartie and Yotsuba and get out of the manga business

I have been waiting for over a year for this to come out and I have not been disapointed at all. The book continues the great story started years before. If you haven't read this series before I recomend you start at issue 1 and if you have read it than what are you waiting for get this book!

Release Control Art Restriction to Level "0" and 2nd coming of card shark and rip van.

Number seven in this fantastic series is a continuation on a point. We're at war now, and the vampires are tearing people apart left and right. Blood, guts and gore flow thickly across the pages. While all this is fantastic, for those looking for plot, this volume has less of a delivery. Its mostly blood this time around, but if youre collecting the series and want to keep up, you can't miss it! There is one major plotpoint stuck right in the middle bookended by carnage so pick it up and read it you Hellsing fan!

The plot is really good!Graphics are great and I almost cried becuase Seras looses her love, Captain Vernadead.It's really sad but so good!

If you've made it this far, you know that the graphics are superior, the story is awesome (you can't beat Nazi vampires and the Vatican trying to take out a Protestant vampire killing organization, Hellsing). The best part about this book is that it focuses just on the fight at the Hellsing Headquarters and goes in-depth just about Seras and the other people there. I can not wait for #8 because Alucard arrives in London at the end of this book.

If this is this end then perhaps my rating is a bit too high, but still, Hellsing, from volume 1 though 7 was one of the most solid manga I've had the chance to read. It doesn't veer at all from its base storyline, it's bloody and violent and lets you know this early, and the characters are lovable, even if they are monstrous creatures who enjoy gore. And in volume seven, though the story definitely isn't finished, the action is non-stop and quick-paced. I blasted through this manga in less than an hour.

Of course, the story in this volume follows the continuing struggle against the undead Nazi invaders who have targeted England as the focal point for their "var". The battle focuses mainly on Seras and the Captain's efforts to keep the Hellsing Organization headquarters intact as an undead invading force led by a tattooed, sorcery-wielding vampire. Let's just say that things don't go so well for the Hellsing members and the Captain's mercenaries, but their is one big surprise that had me sitting up straight as I read. I won't spoil it, but it's a spurring moment indeed that appears as things seem to be at their grimmest. And Alucard, the hero of the story, doesn't have much of a role in this, so don't expect him...

Then comes the super ambiguous ending. It's a kind of face off that shows that things definitely aren't finished yet, but by all indications this is the last manga in the line, at least in the States, and a new volume isn't planned as of yet as far as I know. The soon-to-come anime, though, is planned, one that actually follows the storyline of the manga and doesn't go off on it's own course. Maybe the story will be finished there, or maybe it will be as ambiguous as it was in the manga. If it is, I'll be one disappointed Hellsing fan, that's for sure.

Either way, I still highly recommend this manga to anyone who loves darker manga such as Berserk. It's easily the goriest manga I've read, with a story that promotes action over plot, which will appeal to fans of quick-paced manga. Hellsing is a great manga, all around, and should it continue from this volume, I'm considering making it my personal favorite (which is now held by Berserk).