Here’s the latest volume of the other Dark Horse manga series to get a reprieve thanks to two successful anime series.  I say other series because between “Battlefront” and “Drifters” this is clearly the lesser of the two titles.  It’s still not without its charms as the opening story in this volume shows.  The Libra […]

Vol. 12 may have ended with the promise of a new female shogun dealing with Commodore Perry’s arrival in Japan, but that seismic event only plays a small part in the political intrigue here.  Most of the focus is on newcomer Masahiro Abe, the quick-witted Baron of Ise, who rises to the position of Chief […]

Are you ready for another rousing volume of adventure as the title character struggles to take back his homeland from those who have stolen it from him?  Well, that’s not what happens here!  Vol. 7 is the beginning of an extended diversion from the main plot as Arslan and company have to deal with an […]

Comedy is tough.  It gets even tougher to pull off when it has to transition from one language to another.  The gulf in context between Japanese and English swallows some of the gags from this volume whole, something which only becomes clear after you read the translation notes.  I mean, I was willing to assume […]

This series manages a tricky balance of the creepy, unsettling, and even heartwarming with its third volume.  It’s biggest surprise turns out to be relevant to the plot in ways you wouldn’t expect as the old woman introduced at the end of vol. 2 turns out to actually be Shiva’s aunt.  Yes, the same one […]

What kind of dungeon-centric cuisine can you expect to experience in this latest volume?  How about broiled kraken parasite — with sauce!  There’s also a meal made from grilled bits of kelpie, an undine boiled with tentacles into a stew, tentacle gnocchi with giant frog meat, and porridge that was made from rice floating around […]

Could it be?  A volume of “Murcielago” that doesn’t contain anything to aggravate or offend me and focuses only on providing gleefully violent fanservice?  Well, you could argue that there’s some transphobia in the representation of the figurehead of the cult at the center of this volume and Kuroko engages in some more questionable behavior […]

Seven volumes in and Kore Yamazaki’s “The Ancient Magus’ Bride” remains one of the most entertaining titles I read.  It’s mix of excellent characterization, meticulous worldbuilding, and imaginative storytelling is something I continue to look forward to with each volume.  While you would think that the mangaka would have her hands full with this title […]

After vol. 17 spent its last couple of chapters setting things up for Nagisa and Karma to pull a heist on the International Space Station, I was expecting some slam-bang action to be in the offing.  That’s… not what happens here.  The two middle-school-kids get the drop on the astronauts and after some posturing and […]