Story and art by Rumiko Takahashi Original Publisher: Shogakukan (1988) Length: 38 Volumes (407 Chapters) Ranma ½ possesses many of the structures I dislike in the comedy genre of manga. It has a completely detached episodic form of storytelling, a frustrating relationship between protagonists and a general lack of story progression. Yet, I cannot help but love this manga. The characters and universe Rumiko Takahashi … Continue reading Ranma 1/2: Manga’s Classics
Story and art by Naoshi Arakawa Original Publisher: Kodansha (2011) Length: 11 Volumes (44 Chapters) Your Lie in April is an excellent, excellent manga. It’s a simple manga, one that may be unfavourably categorised for the interests it explores (music) and the sub-genres it relies on (high school life). It also possesses clichè, shonen-esque lessons for the reader, teaching us to work hard, love our … Continue reading Your Lie in April Review
Story by Hitori Nakano, Art by Hidenori Hara Originally published in Shogukukan (2005) Length: 3 Volumes (27 Chapters) In early 2004, an anonymous Japanese user posted on 2channel, an online forum, recounting the extraordinary events of his day. Posting in a thread for single men to talk about their issues, he explained how he had been sitting next to a pretty young lady on a … Continue reading Train Man Review
Utsubora Story and art by Asumiko Nakamura Original Publisher: Ottha Shuppan (2008) Length: Originally 2 Volumes (Combined into one for western release) Utsubora was a disappointment for me. It’s not the ideal way to set up a review, but it’s honestly how I would some up my experience with this piece. I was expecting a thought out, intelligently written manga exploring the dark imaginings of … Continue reading Utsubora Review
The Journey of Shuna Story and art by Hayao Miyazaki Published by Akita Shoten (1982) Length: 1 Volume (6 Chapters) The Journey of Shuna was a fun little dive into the creative beginnings of Hayao Miyazaki, the face of Japanese animation. His trademark watercolour artistry and eye for detail has led to the creation of a vibrant world, pulsating with life. Unfortunately, when paired with … Continue reading The Journey of Shuna | A Miyazaki Masterclass
A Castrophe Report (Shuumatsu no tenki) Story by Kenji Sakumoto, art by Keiichi Tsuha Published by Kodansha (2015) Length: 3 Volumes (25 chapters) Why oh why does it have to be like this? After the first few chapters of this manga, I was already visualising the fairly positive review I would be writing for it. It seemed to know when to use classic elements of … Continue reading A Catastrophe Report Review
Story and art by Ha Il-Kwon Published by Naver (2008) Length: 3 Volumes (25 Chapters) I finished reading this manhwa right before bed, which was ideal, because after finishing it I needed a twelve hour sleep to recover from the exhaustion it subjected me to. 3 Combination Level is an exceptional piece, but one I will probably only read once in my lifetime. It provides … Continue reading 3-Level Combination | What you Should be Reading
Dust 8 Story and Art by Osamu Tezuka Originally Published by Kodansha (1972) Length: 1 Volume (8 chapters) For the first time in a long time, I’ve found a Osamu Tezuka piece that I genuinely enjoyed reading, as opposed to viewing it as a “historical artefact”. Despite its erratic start and questionable depictions of gender, Dust 8 proved that when the “God of Manga” can … Continue reading Dust 8 Review
Bug Boy Story and Art by Hideshi Hino Originally published in Soubisha (1975) Length: 1 Volume “One part Kafka, one part Spidey” Everyone loves a good allegory. Finding an entertaining piece that is layered with substance adds extra value in experiencing it. Not only can we immerse ourselves in a story, but we can then spend hours excavating what is left unsaid. These personal findings … Continue reading Bug Boy | Classics of Horror
Kiriko Story and art by Shingo Honda Original Publisher Bessatsu Manga Goraku (2014) Length: 1 Volume (5 Chapters) My manga-themed horror binge has led to me two conclusions. The first is that the medium can be used to create many terrifying experiences with the right use of balance. The second is that many horror sub-genres underutilise aspects of storytelling, which lessens the fear they are … Continue reading Kiriko Review
