manga reviews

[PSYCHEDELIA]

I won't lie I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did with Stigmata, probably because I couldn't get as invested with them being policemen. Like, sorry fellas, it's my "if they're legally untouchable, they're morally unfuckable" making it bitter in my mouth... Like it's not that different if they're detectives or investigators, but like. They have the same job and it's a rookie and senior thing? And they're coworkers with a crush on each other, but one nearly dies and has an out-of-body experience, allowing his shooter to be caught without needing to be physically awake to provide testimony... I wish I knew why he was having that experience though, or at least it happened more than once so we could learn more about this ability to astral project and touch living beings. Like it was okay, I liked the characters for who they were, but the storyline itself felt like it needed more ingredients. Need more tomato and cheese plot and worldbuilding lettuce inside my yaoi burger, y'know?

i love it when a solid CHUNK of a character's personality is that they're good with/love animals...

[STIGMATA: LOVE BITES]

A friend suggested I might like this. Very pretty art style, I love the inks so much, I kinda wanna eat them? It's a very "yummy" artstyle. The premise of Asoko being given the memories of the dead and living them out as if he were that person- was something I've rarely seen done before, and it was done really nicely here. I like how they blended it into the investigation, and it made for a fun and a compelling time for each mystery. Kuroiwa's boss not caring that he's bisexual and in love with his partner because he's the only one who can handle him in the department and they aren't able to get another person to solve the conflict of interest issue is really fucking funny. "I don't give two SHITS that you want that twink obliterated, get back to work." I'd read more of this author's works. They're very pretty.

are ya winnin', asako-kun?

[MONSTER]

It was a very exciting and dramatic storyline, following Dr. Tenma and the people's lives he's touched as he's on his quest to stop the serial killer he had saved. I really liked how you could feel the guilt dripping off everyone involved, not just the doctor himself. Is it meant to be a little nod to Frankenstein's monster? But I feel that's not right, because the real monster was the doctor, not the man he created. Maybe that's how Tenma feels, though? Maybe I'm reading too much into it, the "monster" is explained through the manga anyway. Loving all of Urasawa's usual hamfisted storytelling and art styles; he draws people so beautifully in a way that appeals to me specifically. I need Dr. Tenma carnally, btw.

naoki urasawa needs to stop drawing and writing beautiful men i want to dip and kiss under moonlight

[MOB PSYCHO 100]

Incredibly funny, emotionally poignant, and a splendidly-written story! It has solidfied its place as another one of my favorite manga. Nobody cares that the art isn't typically "good-looking". I argue this style works so well in the story's favor. This isn't about looking good, the intent and legibility with the art matters more to me. It doesn't need to look good all the time to get its message across, anyway... infact, I almost feel that the messages and story beats would come across with less force if too much focus was placed on the visuals. It is about passion and voice, visuals are a 2nd to the voice from the author's heart. Mob is an INCREDIBLE protagonist, and each member of the cast has something charming about them- each feels like their own person with their own things going on. The author's messages of "You are not special, and that's okay." and "Do not hold your negative emotions inside of yourself, you must learn to live with them." Still sticks out with me, and I feel it always might. I would read this before watching the anime, you will miss out on a few good, key additional character moments that didn't make it into the anime.

shigeo kageyama, one of the most relatable protagonists to ever. go! read his story!...

[YU-GI-OH!]

Wanting to understand the characters and memes better, I finally read this manga expecting not much. But holy SHIT! I WAS WRONG. This was an incredible journey from chapter beginning to end??? The power of friendship is cranked up to 11 here, you could cut it in the air with a butter knife. Incredibly over the top plot with ridicuously over the top characters, and a banging artstyle to boot. Incredible. My favorite was definetly Jonouchi, becuase he's a real one (a real goober) and a tie with Yugi. Gotta root for the little guy. I became genuinely upset whenever character's lives were at stake. And I admit I got like... kinda teary when I realized I was getting close to the end of our friend's time with the soul in the puzzle piece.

Literally how do you keep getting yourself into situations. No wonder you died.

[DUNGEON MESHI]

Eating lots of food. The power of love. Loving something so much it eats you as you eat it. Eating lots of food, again. These are what endear me towards Dungeon Meshi, and why I think it's my favorite manga I've read. Yes, I haven't read lots of other manga as of writing this, but you kinda have to understand what I'm reading, here. The writing is awesomely clever, hilarious, and impactful- straight through my heart and sits with me for days after I've read it. It's a heart-on-your-sleeve type of writing, my favorite kind of writing, and yes- that might be because it's the only way *I* know how to write, but it's still wonderful; this story is wonderful. And the art... I want to eat it! That's the only compliment I can give it that fits, the best kind of art is the one you just want to scoop up with your hands and eat! Go read it! Go eat it!

me too, buddy

Manga Reviews!