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Manga Review: Magic Knight Rayearth I, Vol.1-3

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Magic Knight Rayearth I, Vol. 1Magic Knight Rayearth I, Vol. 3Magic Knight Rayearth I, Vol. 2
Magic Knight Rayearth I, Vol. 1 by CLAMP

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

Three ordinary schoolgirls are magically whisked away from their class fieldtrip to the troubled land of Cephiro, where they acquire elemental powers. The benevolent ruler of Cephiro has been kidnapped by the evil Zagato, and the girls must brave many trials in order to become the legendary Magic Knights and save the land. With the help of a mysterious guru sent to guide them, they battle monsters, discover their powers, and meet friends and enemies along the way. But through it all, their kindness, loyalty, and courage supports them, and they learn to believe in themselves and each other.

This story is fairly predictable and commonplace – magic powers, legendary destiny, the ancient mage guide, ordinary people learning to battle monsters, etc… Yeah yeah, heard it all before.
But the girls are so CUTE!!! They’re really lovely and adorable, and I liked their hilarious dialogue. They are not complex characters, and I wish they had a little more depth to them, but they are definitely sweet! Continue reading →

Manga Review: Your Lie In April

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四月は君の嘘 1
四月は君の嘘 1 by Naoshi Arakawa

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kousei is a young pianist who stopped playing the piano when his mother died. When he meets Kaori, a violinist, she sweeps him back into the world of music by insisting that he accompany her in a violin/piano competition. Gradually, Kousei begins to deal with his grief, and finds his way back into living a life with meaning. Although Kaori is wild and full of fun, she is hiding her own dark secret grief.

I have so much love for this series, especially because it is all about musicians, and specifically a pianist. I have played piano and taught piano lessons for more than 20 years, and anything having to do with music is near to my heart. I love how the musicians in this manga are portrayed, full of the love of their artform, full of creativity, and sensitive to beauty in the world around them. Continue reading →

Manga Series Review: Orange

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Orange 1
Orange 1 by Ichigo Takano

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love this manga! Naho receives a letter from her future self, and has to follow a long list of instructions in order to save her friend. Naho’s future self is suffering from all these regrets and it’s up to the young Naho to live her life in a new way, make hard decisions, and move past her shyness to become a bold new person.

The artwork is good, the characters are funny, and the writing is great! I love how all the characters are memorable and different. There is a lot of light-hearted comedy mixed in with the tragedy. I loved the sweetness of the story mingled with the serious material.

 

Orange 2
Orange 2 by Ichigo Takano

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love seeing all these friends growing closer, realizing their feelings, dealing with heartbreak and worry. Naho is so cute as she learns not to be so nervous around boys, and she is growing stronger and more confident on every page!
I am loving this manga so much! The story really tugs at your heartstrings!

Orange 3
Orange 3 by Ichigo Takano

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Things are heating up for the friends as they desperately work together to save Kakeru, and I love seeing how they really come together to support him. This story is so heart-felt and sweet, and I love that there are many light-hearted and funny moments in the middle of the serious subjects.
The characters are all so memorable!

Orange 4
Orange 4 by Ichigo Takano

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, this manga just keeps getting better and better! I want to scream at the characters and cry and laugh with them. I adore every single person in this group of wacky friends.
I may be emotionally involved with this story. Yes, I think so. Probably. Yes.

 

Orange 5 by Ichigo Takano
Orange 5
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My face is crying. My face is crying so much. Just a beautiful wonderful ending to this manga series! I loved seeing these friends all band together to save one of their own. I loved how each member of the group really had to open up and become vulnerable as they all got closer. Especially Naho had to take risks and become a bolder person in order to save her friend.
What a perfect ending! I love it so much!

 

Manga Review: Ouran High School Host Club

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Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 1
Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 1 by Bisco Hatori

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Haruhi stumbles into the Host Club headquarters, and accidentally knocks over an expensive vase. In order to pay for the vase, Haruhi has to work with the Host Club entertaining young ladies at parties and teas. But what they don’t know is that Haruhi, although she dresses in a masculine way, is actually a girl! Haruhi must pretend to be a boy to pay back her debt, and the more she hangs out with the boys of the Host Club, the more she realizes how mysterious they really are.

After watching the anime, I’m already in love with these characters, so reading it as manga just enhances the whole story! I love the artwork. I love the sweet characters and their hilarious drama! I love how the characters seem shallow in the beginning, but then we gradually begin to see more depth to each of them. I love how every character is unique and has their own backstory.
I’m glad that I watched the anime first though, because it’s easier to keep track of the many supporting characters.
Can’t wait to read them all!

View all my reviews

Graphic Novel Review: Broxo

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Broxo
Broxo by Zack Giallongo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Zora goes searching for the lost tribe of Peryton, she only finds one young warrior left, Broxo, but he has lost most of his memory. When the walking dead attack them and a local witch gets involved, there’s no telling what legends or nightmares will be revealed in their adventures. Continue reading →

Comic Review: Crogan’s Vengeance

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Crogan's Vengeance
Crogan’s Vengeance by Chris Schweizer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Swashbuckling action on ships in the 1700s Carribean, evil pirates, and some good pirates with ambiguous moral choices, a lightfooted hero, and a few sharks and storms at sea… this book has everything you need in a graphic novel about pirate adventure! Continue reading →

Graphic Novel Review: Boxers & Saints

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BoxersSaints
Boxers by Gene Luen Yang

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was enthralled by this first graphic novel in the duet! It’s incredible how, despite the violent and serious nature of the story, there is still humor and friendship and family. All the good things of life are entwined with the horrifying circumstances of the Boxer Rebellion.

Little Bao is an ordinary youngest son being picked on by his older brothers, but when his father is beaten by “foreign devils” and his village is cheated by the Christian Chinese, little Bao learns to fight and begins a journey seeking for justice and revenge.

With the help of the magical Chinese gods and heroes of the past, Little Bao and his brothers raise an army to protect the country villages, but circumstances push them to Continue reading →

Comic Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Smoke and Shadow

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Avatar: The Last Airbender: Smoke and Shadow, Part 1
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Smoke and Shadow, Part 1 by Gene Luen Yang

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m loving the continuing story of Team Avatar in these graphic novels! In this one, there is political unrest in the Fire Nation as a band of traitorous rebels try to put the evil Ozai back on the throne. Zuko must fight to protect his newly-found family, but there are spies and enemies around every corner, and Zuko will have to call on Avatar Aang to help.

I love the artwork, and you can really feel the action moving the story forward. It’s easy to imagine it playing in your head like a movie, because the dialogue and facial expressions and fight scenes all flow so well. Continue reading →