Manga Books

I totally love this new series. I have since bought the whole series so far and am waiting anxiously for the next volume. I hear there is also an anime based on this story line. I highly recommend it. It is very funny and totally wicked. The drawings are nice and you will love the two storylines. I couldn't put it down once I started to read it. You will totally love this one.

This series has a great story and is about a young man comming to terms with his love of another man. In this book Misaki questions his relationshop with Usami and togther they go on a date hower it is interupted. Later Misaki's brother asks Misaki to move back in with him and his wife. Also in this book, Hiro trys to nurse Nowaki back to health and we also get a glimpse of a time before Hiro meets Nowaki.

This is a great book with a wonderful story and the drawings are well done.

The discription of this book is rather correct in the previous post. The characters keep their identities from the other books and this book is just another delight to read. Be warned: The chapters on Hiro and Nowaki do not finish a plot sequence so you get quite a bit of a cliff hanger at the end. However, it really just makes waiting for the next book that much sweeter!

--of your time, as much as your money. I enjoyed the first two volumes of this series because of the beautiful artwork and the hilarious antics of the characters. And let's face it, what fangirl wouldn't get a kick out of a story where one of the central characters is a BL (Boy's Love) writer? It is fun to watch Usami swing from ridiculous to (ostensibly) serious and back again, and Misaki's frequent spaz-attacks are as priceless as his confusion over his deepening feelings for Usami is sweet.

I would have been content with the series as a humorous gag-type love story, but volume 3 surprised me with its unexpected deepening of the characters, as well as the plot. We see a greater range of emotion, which it seems Misaki and Usami have been trying to avoid in their tentative relationship with each other--but it was the expression on Usami's face in the 'laundry' scene which was the clincher for me!

A gorgeous series, and I can't wait for the next volume.

I started reading this manga around the time when volume 2 had come out, and after that, I read each installment faithfully right until the end. I have to credit the anime for inspiring me to read this manga, and I must also add the manga is one hundred million times better than the anime version. The anime covered up to volume 7 and ending in a totally unsatisfying way. Tsuda ended her manga in a manner that was more satisfying, although not perfect. Hers is one of the rare storylines that dares to get the protagonists together early on, and then everything after that is how the relationship grows and develops. Along the way we were treated to many entertaining side stories about the secondary characters. My favorite was the story of Yukino's parents. She even made an uncomfortable lolita-like subplot involving Maho and her beau seem palatable, even heartwarming. She managed to create a world of likeable and quirky characters, although they were clearly characters who could only exist in the world of manga/anime. In other words, some of the plot elements she came up with weren't entirely realistic, and in the case of Soichiro's family story, seemed forced and overwrought. The quality of her artwork also left something to be desired. The ending, venturing far into the future, something rarely seen in romantic manga/anime, answers a lot of questions but it is notable for what it doesn't answer. What about the other characters? Some of them are married, some aren't. What about their children? This is the kind of story you can really get into, and by the time you're done, you just want everyone to be happy.

The road to the end has been a long and arduous one. Through many twists and turns, through many dramas the reader has traveled. Not all of them are as satisfying as others, but most have been fun. In this final volume we see the reactions of everyone as the school year ends and we discover what everyone is going to do after they graduate. We also learn how everyone reacts to the young parent's pregnancy (some good, some bad, but all love it in the end).

I really enjoyed this volume. This is one series I got really attatched to early on & was willing to complete it. It may not be for everyone, but it's worth it.

Well I've just read vol 1 threw vol 21 in just a week and I loved it however the last volume kinda got to me a little. When it goes to sixteen years later and it tells all about what the gang has been up to nothing was brought up about the others having childern which I think some of them should have after all it was 16yrs later. In it's end it left room to start all over again with there daughter being in love with there best friend making me wish that it could keep following them threw each generation.

The last volume of this endearing series does not disappoint like a great song or dish that you savor until the end. The warm fuzzies linger after you finish the book. Soichiro and Yukino tell their friends all about the news of the coming baby. They all discuss their plans for the future and as always the emotions of all the characters highlight the story. The epilogue which takes place 16 years in the future is such a wonderful glimpse in how all the characters have grown. Masami is to be congratulated for this wonderful series.

After having bogged down with Arima-kun's back history concerning his parents and adoptive parents, Tsuda-sensei finally gets back to the good stuff that we love and brings back the main cast and the central supporting characters that we had come to love, but who'd been all but forgotten.

Volume 21 begins with one last tale of Asaba-kun and a girl he befriends in his senior year in high school. Then, the story switches to Arima and Yukino telling their friends and family of her pregnancy, then the gang graduating from high school. The manga ends with a super-chapter that takes place 16-years in the future and shows what has happened with all the characters in the meantime.

Yeah, Tsuda-sensei ends on a high note for sure. I loved bringing back the old gang (even if mostly they were just cameos). Having an aftermath chapter (70+ pages?) taking place 16-years in the future was a nice touch and the perfect way to wrap up the manga. Tsuda-sensei's commentaries and ending omake is a nice touch as well.

Finally, there's TokoyoPop's adaptation of this final volume. For the majority of the series run, they've opted for a more domestic approach that removed the Japanese honorifics. However, this final volume has the honorifics included and that is a welcome thing for this reviewer.

Bottom line: A long manga series, one that got bogged down for a while, but Tsuda-sensei breaks free and ends the manga on a high note.

Kare Kano is a Japanese high school drama that my girlfriend got me into. As a guy I am embarrassed to say that I like it. I am, however, hooked and I will own the whole series before the year is out.

Finally, I got volume 4-7 and number 9. Number 8 was on backorder from the website I ordered it from. I have to admit that this volume was a little confusing. Things went by a little fast, and new characters were introduced almost immediately which made things a little difficult to follow probably.

But, I did enjoy it. Maho and Tsubasa hates Yukino. People are still ignoring Yukino and she seems to realize that they found her out, and she's willing to admit it. Can she deal with this?

This was a great volume and I recommend you to continue the series to see what's going on.

Unbelievably fantasic manga series! It is a must read for the accurate depiction of the inner world of teenagers. Not the teenagers as depicted by American TV and film: angst ridden, rebellious, under crippling pressure to conform, continuously chastized by adults for trying to act older than they are. The teenagers in Kare Kano are closer to what most teenagers (in my experience) are really like: responsible, totally emersed in their own world, think grades are actually important!!, and are already incorporating adult decisions into their lives.
At its heart, Kare Kano is a beautiful love story between two souls, whose tender years only adds to the poignancy of the story. Arima and Yukino's love grows from affection into a grand passion almost too overwhelming for their still maturing minds. What I love the best in this series is how in the midst of the action are 'pools' of quiet, in which the emotions of a character can be felt with such forceful purity,like the striking of a bell.

This is NOT your typical romance. The author does a wonderful job of putting the thoughts of his main characters down. I've honestly never read a series that I've found myself so close to the changing personality of the characters. It's like looking into somebody's heart. It's so smooth. Yes, smooth is a good word. Oh, it's wonderful! And the television series is just as good!

I love this edition. It has my two favorite Kim Possible episodes, "Bueno Nacho" and "Tick Tick Tick". This is a picture book, with images from these two TV adventures. The pictures are very clear, art-like drawings. The book pages are made out of thick, durable paper too. In my opinion, this book is worth the price, and would give satisfaction to any Kim fan. It's the perfect book to have, because with it you can see Kim any time you want.

Wow, this is a first! American TV turned into Tokyopop manga! If you think about it, though, there must have been something great that Tokyopop saw in "Kim Possible" that made it worthy of this enjoyable first.

The art in this book is in color, and looks basically like freeze-frames from the TV series. It does lack some of the usual manga items, such as tiny characters on blank pages, and random words, pictures, and notes here and there. But those things are only for smiling at, and don't affect the story much. The fact that the book was in color was very attractive, and already having an insight to the characters from the show was nice. I finally got tired of waiting for future books to come out, but it looks like there is a nice, long line of them now!

I recommend this book to Kim Possible fans, comic book lovers familiar with the show, or people who like comics and would like a taste of KP. It is the first book, too, so you won't be skipping ahead.

this is a relly cool book I LOVE KIM POSSIBLE and this book is a cartoon of bueno nocho and tick-tick-tick (any magor KP fan will know what eps thouses are) but a must buy for any KP fan

Anyone else out there who loves the infectious Disney show Kim Possible would really dig this cool book. It basicly contains two episodes of the show, Bueno Naco and Tick-tick-tick which are two of my personal favourites, Kim fights Shego in the end of each, it's so cool.

Every single page is beautifully rendered in full color and the printing is top notch. I think that the comic book style layout of the the story has a really fun feel about it and overall this book would be a charming addition to any KP fans collection.

I had previously heard of Aaron A. when I read the online issue of Serenity Rose at his art website, so I recognized his art style as soon as I saw the girl on the cover.
Kimmie66 is a soft science-fiction story about a girl trying to solve a mystery concerning her best friend, Kimmie66, who has sent her a suicide note. Unfortunately, this is difficult since people now socialize through "lairs" or a hi-tech version of a MMORPG, complete with virtual reality goggles.
The characters are interesting, especially Kimmie66. The heroine may remind Aaron A. fans of Serenity Rose - almost similar dress style, mannerisms, etc. The topic of technology and virtual communities would also appeal to modern readers. The art mixes a crisp, cookie-cutter style similar to anime or Junko Mizuno, along with a sketchy, horror edge resembling the works of Jhonen Vasquez. My only complaint is that it is not very long. I would have liked to learn more of Kimmie66 and her life outside of the virutal one, and a few things as well.
For the price of 9.99, I would say its worth buying.

Art: A
Plot: A
Readability: A
Average score: A (worth buying)

The Minx line is supposed to be aimed at teen girls, but from what they tell me at Eide's Comics in Pittsburgh, a lot of books get picked up by regular comic book readers like myself -- older and male.

I picked up "kimmie66" by Aaron Alexovich a couple weeks back and only now got around to reading it. About halfway through, I caught on to what Aaron was up to and was astonished by where it was headed. The book is far more than one would expect for the Minx line or comic books in general. No, it's not as good as Straczynski's "Midnight Nation" or even "Spider-Man: Revelations" but I'd rank it as a "must read."

But Kimmie66 is not just another Minx comic. Sure, girls age 13 - 17 will like Kimmie66, but so will you! Sci-fi/fantasy/techno-goth/awesome! An intiguing story in a hugely new world, creative and brilliant art style with endearing character design.
Buy this comic.

This story will be enjoyed by anyone who has ever experienced a meaningful relationship online: friendship, romance, or even a deep 6 hour conversation with a complete stranger. If you are thirsting for a book that helps you understand the mindsets of the new world we live in, this is one of those books. It may be set in the future, but everything in this story directly applies to the present day.

It hits home with the world we now live in; where physical barriers are becoming less important; where corporations are organizing international employee training sessions in virtual worlds, and are recruiting in Second Life; a world where you have close friends internationally but have no clue who your next door neighbor is.

Information and technological advancement is happening so rapidly that what a person learns in their first year of college can become outdated by the time they graduate. This book captures the modern feeling of infinite access, infinite exploration, infinite creation. In a time when virtually anything is possible (pun intended), we need stories that target, capture, explore and encourage that feeling for all generations living here and now on our very, very small Earth.

The story itself is as old as time: it is the story of friendship, understanding, self-discovery and growing up. I would go so far as to say that I think parents might benefit from reading this book, to better understand the world their children are growing up in. And to simply enjoy the book itself; it is truly for all ages.

Sei-Ann Turns a boy in to some men who are chasing him. She forgets the matter and returns to her life as a servant under the Lady Beck-Ja. Once upon a time she was not a servant, and she doesn't remember much but she knows Lady Beck-Ja calls her by the wrong name. She rails against mistreatment from the Lady until one day she meets the handsome Prince who drops a broach of a random crest at her ankles by mistake. Upon inspecting the crest the design seems familiar to Sei-Ann, but her ruminations are interrupted by the Prince's servant, the same young man she turned in to the authorities that very morning.

So begins a fun shojo title full of power struggles and intrigue. Sei-Ann is constantly trying to get the Prince's attention while escaping the mishandling of Lady Beck-Ja while the young servant, Shion, helps her achieve her goal. But when reassignment to the palace proves Shion to be more than what he appears (and Sei-Ann as well) will Sei-Ann be able to handle the new developments?

This is fun. I enjoy it, and I am not prone to Manhwa titles, because I usually find them inferior to most manga. This is great! I liked it more then I thought I would. Story is good, art is good, what's not to like? I am ordering the rest of them so I can check them out as well. I dig it.

This is a charming story with a smart and capable heroine, some good plot twists, and lots of potential.

I look forward to the second volume.

I bought this at Borders yesterday (for the full price, I might add...I could've saved a dollar if I bought it here), and I read it as soon as I got home. It starts off a bit slow, but once Sei-Ann gets to the palace, it gets much better.

This is my first experience with a Korean manga, and it took me a while to get used to because it reads normally, left to right, unlike Japanese manga (which I've grown accustomed to).

The art is very beautiful, and the story is very sweet. I wasn't expecting one of the princes to be a pedophile, though...that took me by surprise. It's kinda weird...

But other than that, it's a good read and worth the price. I totall recommend it.

Let me just start by saying I'm normally more interested in Yaoi (boy's love) manga and it's been a long time since anything of this nature has hooked me. I picked up the title randomly during my search for new manga, and I was just immediately overwhelmed with the beauty of Hee-Eun Kim's art. The cover alone is worth a study, as is the pinup on the inside flap.

As with any new series that I know nothing about, I flipped through the first couple pages at Borders to see how the translation is. Especially since this was originally Korean, it's hard to know if the English is going to be broken or just downright awful. I was pleasantly surprised; the translation is top notch.

I took it home to poke through some more...and instantly fell in love. The characters are very 3D (don't let the rags-to-riches element fool you; it's a simple tale with a romantic twist), interesting, and every page is filled with detailed art. I've never actually seen a manga this well-developed, and it's supposedly Hee-Eun Kim's first! Also, don't be fooled by the slow beginning -- as another reviewer has said, once Sei-Ann gets to the palace, the story really picks up and draws you in.

The detail in the story, characters, and art are the reasons I give this the highest rating possible. My compliments are to the manga-ka first and foremost and second to the translator, whose outdone him/herself.

Pick this one up and give it a read. You won't regret it.

This vol along with the first 5 are so great, shows passion, love, comedy, angst all in just one story.

100% recommended

I salute Kazuma Kodaka. She was able to do a beautiful job with this series. It brought a lot of my emotions to the surface. I cheered at the rescue. I laughed at the proposal. I cried at a possible break up. One cannot help but to fall in love with these characters. The extra story was good though it took up half of the book. Now, we wait for Book #7. I pray that it will come out sooner. That's a issue that has to be taken up with Be Beautiful Publishers. This is one of the yaoi series that I recommend.

After more than 6 months, Vol 6 is finally out. The story arc which begins in vol 4 finishes with an exciting and tense climax here. Tashiro's and Jack's relationship is also given a sort of satisfying conclusion in the early part of the book. But that is not the last of this couple as there is the bonus short story, "Gun & Heaven", in the second half of the book, on how this couple met and became lovers. "Gun & Heaven" is a gripping and arousing story by itself. If Tashiro did not make an impression in Vol 5, this young man holds my heart by the end of this story. I hope Kodaka will come back to this intriguing couple later in the series, when there is a need to put in some action scenes.

For my top favorite Yaoi couple, Ran and Kei, there are some anguished, emotional and sweet moments in the hospital. Ran is still tightly strung over nearly losing Kei. They exchanged heated remarks hurting each other. Of course they made up, a deeply moving and romantic scene which ended in Kei finally proposing (remember the rings) and an erotic moment (Yup, Ran is the active one here since poor Kei is still woozy..).

Kai and Masa seemed to have drifted further apart in this vol, the tension to be resolved in Vol 7, of course.

Kizuna has everthing I wish for in a great Yaoi. Vol 6, charged with angst, emotions and passion, is no exception. Last but not least I love Kodaka's men. They are such sensitive and vulnerable characters.

Now I just have to learn to be patient and wait for the translated Vol 7 which I hope is not another half a year away. With Kizuna volume 10 released in Japan early this year, we poor fans relying on the translation from the annoying publisher Bebeautiful are at least 3 years behind. Give us a break, Bebeautiful!

Less than 100 pages of main plot! Gah! More than half the book is devoted to this side story that focuses on what really amounts to be two bit characters in the series. Neither of them existed before volume 5 and I'm not quite sure what the appeal was so big about either of them. Maybe in Japan, where this series was serialized in a magazine and people didn't have to wait 6 months between fixes (what is up with you guys, BeBeautiful?!), they had a lot more fun exploring all the new characters with the shorter pagecounts per release?

Now, I'm not saying the story about how Jack and Tashiro (Roy) first met and fell in love wasn't interesting, but I really would have preferred to see the resolution of Kai and Masa's relationship instead and seen this side story at some future date (like at the end of the series). We've been frustratingly made to wait for six volumes to see these two finally stop circling each other and again we are forced to sit down for another undetermined number of months to see any more.

The resolution of the cliffhanger at the end of volume 5 was also a bit disappointing. The entire incident where it concerned Ran's rage was over and done with in 7 pages. Sure, we got another handful of pages of Kai and Masa, but the fight was over in far too short a time. I was really hoping for more butt-kicking than we got to see.

I have to admit though, that the comedic elements in this volume between Kei and Ran were wonderful, particularly Ran's reaction, "That was it? That's how you propose?" and Kei's response, "I did take a few blows to the head." In all, the entire scene between them in the hospital before they were unfortunately interrupted by Kai were extraordinary. Kodaka has some incredible gift to use so little to show so much so well.

I feel like Kei and Ran's bit in the story has said its piece now, though, and the end of the series, once this issue between Kai and Masa is resolved, can't be much farther over the horizon, or I may just get tired of the series. There's a point when something needs to not be dragged along anymore, and I'd hate to see such an amazing series suffer the fate of a slow torturous death.

There are parts in volume 6 that will leave you wanting more, and there are parts of volume 6 that will leave you wanting more. Yeah, I said it twice. I have to so as I wait another 6 months for volume 7 I'll maintain some semblance of sanity by fooling myself into thinking only half that time has passed. A flawed logic, I know. That said, the only two aspects of this book that made me give it four stars instead of five were the above mentioned half a book of main plot and the snail pace of the release schedule. I'm off to pull my hair out now and send it to BB as a warning...

i heard from someone.. there is good story of love.. i want to read that the book! and also dvd too. .smile thank you so much

My favorite series besides Fake, Kizuna (released by BeBeautiful) is at the moment I would say the ultimate classic among all Yaoi Manga to date that has been released.
Enjouji has been kidnapped by the Yakuza and they find out who he really is which puts his life in danger. His lover, Ranmaru is sick with worry when his boyfriend doesn't return home, fearing that he is in trouble and finds Enjouji's half brother Kai, to help him locate and rescue Enjouji.
Ties of love are pulled to the extremes when Ranmaru comes to terms with the fact he may lose Enjouji forever and picks up his sword in an act of revenge for his fallen lover.
Kizuna is defiantly a title you should pick up! The translation is perfect and the art suits the storyline well. Anyone who is a fan of titles like FAKE and wanted more action should defiantly look up Kizuna.

Finally Book 5 is here after such a long long wait! Bebeautifulmanga.com, the publisher, just takes too long to get Kizuna translated. Book 5 continues the story arc from Book 4. No sex scenes here but the great story line, well developed characters and of course the presence of my favorite Yaoi couple, Kei and Ran, more than made up for it. Kai seems to have matured in Vol 5. About time, as I never like this bratty character whom I always feel should not be paired up with Masai. Tashiro and Jack, another couple, chip in with hints of their intriguing pasts.
Kei has disappeared and Ran is sick with worry. Ran finally finds his beloved Kei but can they escape. Ran is about to kill to revenge and protect the man he loves. Will Ran lose it..and that is how Vol 5 ends.., with a cliff hanger.
I have all 10 volumes (to-date) of the Japanese version of Kizuna though I do not know a word of Japanese. Just looking at the pictures is enough to keep me pulling my hair in frustration at the slow pace of the translation of Kizuna.
Well, I last heard that Vol 6 will be out in April and I really hope Amazon will not take too long to secure Vol 6.
Believe me from what I can gather from the pictures of my Japanese version, Kizuna just keeps on getting better and of course more hot scenes!

It's painful to wait between volumes of the English release of Kizuna.

If you're unfamiliar with the series, Kizuna is one of the most popular Yaoi titles around by the fabulous Kazuma Kodaka. It's drawn in "shonen" style, which is how men's comics are often drawn. Hard lines, shadows and angry rough looking fellas. Most Yaoi is drawn in "shojo" style, with softer, more feminine attributes. This makes Kizuna very unique among Yaoi titles, though it really shines in the quality of the writing.

The storyline of Kizuna revolves around two lovers, Ranmaru, a former kendo champion and Kei, the illegitimate son of a Yakuza boss. Kei's half brother, and legitimate heir to the clan, Kai, is also mixed up in the two men's lives and causes a lot of trouble for Kei, Ran, and his personal bodyguard and pseudo-suitor, Masa.

If you are new to the series, you should probably go back and start with volume 1; volume 5 picks up in the middle of some heavy storyline, and you'll be lost if you don't already know what's going on. In fact, I was lost because it has been so long since volume 4 (though there is a "story thus far" at the beginning to jog one's memory with).

Anyway, this volume is packed full of action. Yes, action. Not the sexual kind. Kei has been kidnapped and Ran has finally gotten worried. He enlists Masa's help and then joins up with Kai to find him. Kai, for his part, escapes the watchful eye of his bodyguard, Tashiro, who himself is distracted by a former acquaintance. Kai is really taking a role of authority in this volume. He breaks from his dependency on Masa and works to help his half-brother with the man they both love.

The volume ends in another cliffhanger, so we'll all have to wait for volume 6, whenever that will be, to find out if Ran has totally lost his mind, or if he is just really pissed off.

As with Kizuna fans, there are many people that you want to get together. Ranmaru and Kei, in this one the happy couple spend an not so privet honeymoon where Kei greww up. Kai and Masa came along (thou Masa was there casue Kai asked him to be) Kai and Masa's relationship has started to take off in the wonderful inn. And Kei and Ran get to have thier honey moon.

This book just keep getting better and better kei and ran are the two main people for me but masa and kai are interesting also. i can understand why kei is upset with his brother he is always spoiling things for him. but he doesn't want any one looking at masa he is a very selfish boy! the shower scene was very hot i like seeing ran's face when he is in the heat of passion the face turns even on and when they lay flowers on the grave of Kei's mother it's funny the way masa and ran seem to gravitate toward each other it's like it's done on purpose but it's so inocent but the brothers think otherwise. it's funny watching kai get jealous and upset with ran who is supose to be the on he is in love with. when it comes to masa no one is spared his jealousey he is like a little boy who wants all he sees no matter what! i love this vol and look forward to the rest of the series. the sex is hot and the story never lets you down it just makes you eager for the next vol.

Finally, Kizuna returns its focus to the loving relationship between Kei and Ran. I am absolutely satisfied with this new volume and I look forward even more to the next volume. I'm even happy that BeBeautiful seems to have picked up the pace with their releases from last year's painfully slow schedule, and a top notch job they did. I'd have to say that this is the publisher of yaoi that I respect the most for quality of localization into English, even if they are the slowest.

Ah, fan service. It seems Kodaka took notice of its absense as of late. She gave us a small taste of it in volume 6, but that was not nearly satisfying enough. Having been denied any real graphic depictions for several volumes, Tashiro and JB in the last volume not withstanding, we finally get to see the newlyweds consummate their relationship on vacation.

Kei finally heals and we get a wonderful scene with his father and his now husband. The lovebirds get a free trip to a hotspring from the aging yakuza boss which the two men use as their honeymoon destination. Kai of course, who is still having trouble dealing with his feelings for Masa, forces himself along and the standard angst and interruptions of Kei and Ran's alone time ensue. We're in a place with that relationship that satisfied many of my expectations by the end of the volume, but there is enough left over to hold my interest into volume 8. We also get to learn a whole lot more about Kei's childhood and his mother, and Ran finally makes a decision about his prospects in kendo thanks to some goading from Kei.

A lot of people don't like Kai. I can understand where that comes from. He's completely immature. I don't understand though, why people seem to think that Masa is not a good match for him. Masa is just as messed up as Kai is. They deserve each other. One spastic spoiled brat and one stoic brooding jerk. They balance each other, and when they don't they at the very least cancel one another out. Volume 8 promises to give us the best taste of this couple's relationship.

For fans of Kizuna, I have to say this volume is wonderful. Don't waste time wondering whether or not to get it. I know I will be waiting happily for the next installment myself.

After the heavy story arc in Vol 4 to 6, the romantic Vol 7 is a great change in pace. Vol 7 finds my favorite Yaoi couple, Ran and Kei, on their honeymoon (remember Kei's proposal in Vol 6). Of course, Masa and Kai are along for the ride. Being interrupted constantly by a mercurial Kai is certainly not the couple's idea of a honeymoon.
Ran and Kei are into some pretty hot coupling here. The scenes in the hot bath and hot spring, on the tatami are darn erotic. Kei, just recovered from his ordeal, is at his most randy self and Ran...Well Ran may "seems" reluctant on the surface but certainly not shy in anyway. Meanwhile poor Kai is trying to get the moody Masa to reciprocate.

On a personal note, I never understand why Kodaka pair the intriguing Masa with the bratty Kai. Maybe I am bias as I never like Kai while I am all for Masa. I know I am the loner in this opinion.

For those of us into romance, Vol 7 is certainly worth its weight in gold. There is also a touching revelation of the 2 brothers' past when they first met.

Looking forward to Vol 8 and let's hope Bebeautiful does not dally too much.

These elegant short stories are deceptive. On the surface hardly anything seems to "happen" in each "episode" other than a sword fight or two. Actually there is a LOT going on. Koike is in touch with humanity in ways many of us never will be.

Lone Wolf & Cub artwork is anything but simple. These stories are CARRIED by the masterful drawings. I am constantly amazed.

The main storyline continues to build from volumes 1 to 3. I highly recommend ALL FOUR books, and I also suggest you read them in order.

I've been so blown away by the work Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima
that I decided to wait until the entire series was released to finish reading it. After the first three volumes, I didn't really believe they could keep up the same level of quality, and it turns out I was right.

Volume 4 blows the previous three away.

It's worth reading just for the heartbreaking Daigoro solo story, "Parting Frost", where the toddler sets out in search of his father and makes a very powerful enemy of his own. The other three stories are nothing to sneeze at either, and in addition to great entertainment, the creators also provide some important lessons about the history and culture of Japan in pain-free ways that don't even give you time to realize you've been learning; Perfect for Gaijin's like me!
I can't imagine how this series can possibly get any better. Stay tuned.....

I just love these mangas of Itto Ogami and his son. I use to collect the old comics that First Comic published, then I heard that Dark horse was republishing them So I just had to get it. These books are suggested for mature readers only because they have some sex, lots of violence, and bad language. But it perfectly shows feudal Japan in the Edo state.

This fourth volume in the manga epic "Lone Wolf & Cub" manages to transcend the previous volumes. Kazuo Koike's stories not only continues to mine the history of Edo-period Japan for fascinating narrative settings and details, but Goseki Kojima continues to try different art styles dependent on the story being told. This volume offers up the next four stories of Ogami Itto's journey along the Assassin's Road:

(20) "The Bell Warden" gives its title to the volume, but it is the third best story in the volume. The current bell warden of the capital's nine bells wants the assassin to cut off the right arm of his three successors as a test. Each of the three is an expert with a different weapon, but also weapons that are different from anything we have seen to date. (This volume's "Ronin Report" essay by Tim Ervin-Gore in the back is "Weapons Glossary: Part One," which helps to explain more about these weapons). This story becomes a series of three fights, albeit unlike what we are used to it the series.

(21) "Unfaithful Retainers" sets the tone for the other three stories in this volume in which Ogami Itto becomes something of a secondary character for most of the story. This tale involves the new class of Orisuke that arose during this period to serve samurai families without sharing the values of samurai society. The assassin has a mission regarding the Orisuke, but when he encounters two young girls about to kill themselves. Curious about what they would do so, he listens to their story and then comes up with a startling suggestion. The climax involves another one of Lone Wolf's complex strategems to put his prey where he wants him.

(22) "Parting Frost" is the most unforgettable story in this volume. Left to wait patiently for the return of his father, Daigoro has run out of food and decides to search for Lone Wolf. Going to a Buddhist temple because his father often meditates at such place, Daigoro finds a samurai who is stunned to see "Shishogan," the eyes of a swordman alive in the moment between life and death (i.e., Ogami's eyes). Seeking to solve the mystery of how such eyes could belong to a child, the samurai observe Daigoro's actions. A stunning story, totally unforgettable. But this is only Volume 4 and the thought that there are stories down the road that might be better than this one is mind-blowing. But every time I think I have read the best "Lone Wolf and Cub" story, there is one even better in the next volume. Daigoro says little, but Koike shares with us the child's thoughts and we discover what he has learned from watching his father. A fascinating character study made all the more poignant by Daigoro's ability to remain in some ways a child, despite all he has seen and endured.

(23) "Perfomer" offers an intriguing mystery regarding a woman whose body is tatooed in a most eye-catching way. The woman also happens to be an expert sword fighting and apparently the next target of Assassin Lone Wolf and Cub. But once again, there is more to meet the eye regarding this situation. These stories started off with a key element being the brilliant strategems by which the Assassin gained access to his victim. But by this point in the epic the situations are becoming equally complex as Koike and Kojima take their stories to the next level. This is the second best story in this volume, which continues the amazing progression that each is superior to its predecessor.

I continue to read these stories, one a night before going to sleep. These stories live up to their well deserved reputation as one of the great efforts in the history of comics.