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Dec 14, 2010
Gekkoh deals with the story of a boy trying to figure out how to deal with his role as the son of a yakuza boss while helping his new-found sister uncover the story of her past. His other problem is the constant struggle with his own consciousness for being sexually attracted to his half-sibling, who tempts him at every opportunity.
At first, Gekkoh does not reveal anything that feels remotely engaging. The story seems cookie-cutter, the characters are flat and the pacing uneven. However, once you skip past the middle (around volume 5), things start looking for the better as more of the story is revealed
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and the author regains some control over the narrative. You can see the main character develop as a person as a result of his feelings for his sister and the situations he has to go through in order to help her. Later on, some characters revel unusual personality traits and there are even a few jokes thrown in here and there. Expect a few predictable plot twists as well.
The artwork is fair, erring on the side of 'generic' but it gets the job done. Characters could benefit from a more artistic depiction but the environments and some of the background images are done well. The sex scenes are depicted with relative frequency but the author somehow manages to avoid making them feel excessive.
The author uses direction no just to advance the narrative, but also to provide an excuse for depicting erotic parts and sex scenes in the story. While this may decrease the enjoyment for some, fans of the 'ecchi' genre will definitely be satisfied.
*Story - 6
*Art - 6.5
*Character - 7
*Enjoyment - 7
Final Score - 6 (Good)
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Nov 24, 2009
I had high expectations of this manga as a lot of people recommended it to me as a fun shounen which tries to do things a bit differently than typical manga of this genre. Turns out Ann Cassandra matches this description exactly, alas, with a few things missing here and there.
The story unfolds at a suitable pace as the reader gets acquainted with the main characters and setting in a collection of lively and interesting introduction scenes. The premise seems quite fresh and you get curious as to whats going to happen next.
Both of the main characters are fleshed out and strive to be
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a little different to the average stereotypes. Their interactions are both entertaining and engaging to read through. The art has a sketchy feel to it and the lines are not as defined as I would prefer but it is still easy to get whats going on in the action scenes. Despite the fact that the author admitted he had trouble drawing them :) There are some imaginative angles shown and some elements are drawn in a very stylish way.
Towards the second volume, the pace of the story radically picks up as we are rushed through the narrative and the various prophecies that have to be "broken". The story is prevented from naturally unfolding at its own pace and thus feels somewhat forced. This could be due to pressure from the publisher or the manga being squeezed out of popularity polls. We can only guess.
Overall, Ann Cassandra is a quick and fun read which doesn't try to stick with the usual genre cannons too much. However, the reader is left feeling that it could have been so much better if only it was given enough time and more volumes to develop further.
*Story - 7
*Art - 7
*Character - 9
*Enjoyment - 7
=>Final Score - 7.5/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Nov 19, 2009
Fetish is a collection of eerie narratives each dealing with a different subject matter but you are left with the impression that there is an elusive connection between them due to the subtle but dense atmosphere created by these stories and linking them together.
The opening story sets the tone for the whole volume and what seems to be a fairly light read, despite being odd and at times mysterious, deceivingly creeps up on the reader. About half-way through the volume I started to really enjoy the narrative and really think about the theme and meaning behind each story. They are all different lengths and the
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topics vary so you are not left with the felling of repetition. Instead, you get the creepy yet mellow feeling, almost as if these stories have already settled somewhere at the back of your mind and will stay with you for a while making you think and ponder about them.
The art is beautiful, if at times a bit simplistic but Ill leave it to the overall style of the artist. The characters are very well done although they do look a little similar, especially the females. Still, the images are put together very well with the story.
Fetish is the type of manga that doesn't try freak out or disturb the reader just for the sake of generating cheap thrills. Instead, it relies heavily on its atmosphere in order to captivate the reader. I feel this manga could benefit from more stories to allow for the haunting atmosphere to really settle in and feel more present. Despite that, it is still a great read, especially if you are in the right mood for it.
8/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 22, 2009
Dont be fooled by how average and generic the summary of the manga makes it sound. At first, Monster Collection may seem like standard action fantasy manga with a dash of ecchiness and comedy. However, as we progress through the narrative, each of these elements is combined in a very skillful way by the authors (Itoh and Yasuda) in order to create a very entertaining and enchanting tale.
Story wise, dont expect a deep and involving storyline in this manga. Its quite a straight, point A to point B ride and serves mainly as a framework for the character interactions. The narrative flows fast and easy
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to serve the action.
Its the characters and the way they deal with each other that bring this manga truly to life. Unique design and interesting personalities clash and collaborate to create comedy, flashy violence and impressive summons. Almost every character (save for the main villains) has an unusual twist to him/her and at some point the main heroine exclaims - if anyone were to read a story about us, they would assume WE are the BAD guys :)
The quality of the comedy bits is very high and consistent throughout. The humour feels natural and not forced and there were several laugh-out-loud moments scattered throughout each volume.
In the initial volumes, the art is good but has that "seen-it-all-before" feel. However, around volume 3 it really takes a turn for the better and really impresses with detailed and beautiful drawings of various monsters and creatures.
Overall, this manga was a fast-paced and immensely enjoyable ride. It does not offer anything deep and truly profound. However, it is not meant to be. Its a quick and easy read that you can go for when you want to take a rest from all the serious manga.
Rating - 8/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 5, 2009
My Name is Zushio is primarily a comedy manga. Dont expect to read this for a great plot, deep character development or heart-throbbing romance. Despite lacking these elements, it certanily delivers on the comedy aspect.
The main plot is pretty straight-forward and linear and is mainly used to keep the action going. While trying to regain his kingdom back, prince Zushio meets a lot of characters that help him in his struggle as well as enemies that will try to stop him. Sounds pretty simple but its the way this is presented that matters.
This manga has a lot of laugh out loud and "holy sh**!" moments.
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The author's sense and style of humour is definitely appealing and ingenius.
The unique characters and parodies of other manga is what make this such a fun read. From Silver (the most badass horse ever created) to Poyo (a baby monster who Zushio gave birth to, yes you read this correctly), the array of hysterical creatures and personalities is very impressive. It is simply hilarious to observe the way these creations interact with each other. A few words must be said about the prince himself. Zushio's astounding stupidity combined with his immortality will definitely give you a reason to laugh at his exploits.
The art is fairly competent and is appropriate for the overall style of the manga. Nevertheless, it sometimes gets hard to follow the action in certain scenes and some readers may be put off by its "sketchy" feel.
One other minor complaint I have is that the manga finishes after 4 volumes and although there is some sort of a conclusion, it does not feel like a proper ending. Perhaps adding a few more chapters would have helped achieve a better finale - 8/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 4, 2009
Tokko is an action/horror/seinen manga that combines familiar elements in a stylish visual package. The story takes place in Tokyo where the undead have found a way to escape into our world through special "gates". All hope to prevent the end of the world rests on a group of characters (hunters) who have survived the violent attacks by forming a symbiosis with the undead residing in their bodies. This all sounds like its been done before but the way Tokko presents these events distinguishes it from similar manga out there.
The initial volumes set a great premise and the story smoothly unfolds as you get to
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know the lead characters while weird events happen all around them.
Minor spoiler alert -> the manga has a lot of interesting concepts and little tid-bits that help it stand out such as the premise that hunters have to awaken the monsters within them and it depends on the character what kind of monster/undead spirit awakens. There were various aspects of the undead world that, although not properly developed or elaborated upon, I still found enthralling.
At the end of volume 2, the primary story halts and volume 3 concentrates on a new narrative with fresh characters. This was a weird decision on the manga-ka's behalf as it cuts off the reader's interest that has already familiarized himself with the details of the original plot.
I would have probably given this manga a higher rating if the original story arc was finished with a conclusion of some sorts. As it stands, the manga should be viewed as a short collection of stories in a particular universe. Nevertheless, reading them was quite enjoyable and it definitely has potential to develop into a proper series if the author decides to continue the work in the future - 7/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jun 1, 2009
Intro: despite the fact that is still being published (11th volume at the moment) and there have been only 13 chapters scanlated by ryColaa, I think it deserves the attention. Also, the only review available here is in German?
The story follows two main leads, Shinghi Ghang and Sung-Hae as their rivalry (and potentially romance) heats up when they find out about the fake personalities each one has created to fool the people around them. Determined to eliminate any chances of being exposed to their fellow classmates, each of them tries to come up with ways of getting rid of the opponent.
The narrative is conveyed through
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beautiful art which has a sharp, edgy feel to it and hilarious facial expressions that really add to the atmosphere as the characters are taken through a rollercoaster of crazy situations and wild emotions. The manhwa has a lot of laugh out loud moments, plenty of action and a dash of ecchiness.
So far, it has been an enjoyable read and lets hope that more chapters will be available soon - 9/10
Note: this review might be updated as more volumes become available.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 28, 2009
Banya is a fast paced mature shounen manhwa where odd characters and violent action are put together in a stylish way. The author has created a distinct world with its own conflicts, heroes and adventures.
Banya follows a protagonist of the same name who works as a delivery man in the Gaya Desert Post Office. Together with his friends, he goes on various missions and always delivers the package. No matter what challenges lie ahead of him.
The first couple of volumes concentrate on different assignment that Banya undertakes. Beuatiful art, plenty of carnage and interesting monster designs immediately suck the reader into the
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narrative. After several story arcs, the main plot finally arrives but sadly, it does not have sufficient time to have a real impact. It would have been much better if the story had more time to develop. As it is, it feels rushed and fades into the background letting action take place at the forefront of our attention. The ending feels a bit rushed but considering the total amount of volumes (5), it should not come off as a big surprise.
Despite the fact that the plot centers around the development of the main protagonist, most of the secondary characters still come off as quite interesting and the stylish visuals really help commiting them to memory.
Overall, this manhwa was enjoyable to read. The reader cant help but think that it would be so much better if only it lasted longer. However, it is still a fun ride and thus, earns the score - 8/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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