Manga talk: Bradherley’s Coach

Coming from Samura Hiroaki, the same mangaka that does Blade of the Immortal, Bradherley’s Coach was a tale I expected to deliver on many levels, but it still managed to surpass my expectations.

manga talk: MW

To me, Tezuka Osamu is the father of manga. I’ve read plenty of his works and, even with the generational divide, many of his projects feel just as timeless as the mangaka himself. MW, while not exactly the first series to come to mind when one thinks of the man, is still a classic in its own right.

Manga Talk: Lady Snowblood

While it is one of those series that is perhaps better known for the movie that spawned from it, the manga for Lady Snowblood loses none of its charm in the least.

Manga Talk: Sukimasuki

While it’s just a one shot series, Sukimasuki had a really interesting presentation. I have to say that, even though I liked the characters a lot, it was definitely the feelings it invoked that sealed the deal for me.

Niji Iro Togarashi

Nukes and Ninjas.

My  first exposure to Mitsuru Adachi was through the manga Niji Iro Togarashi, which translates into rainbow-coloured chilli powder It’s a nonsensical title, but it’s a very interesting story in an interesting setting. Without a doubt, this is Mitsuru Adachi’s most peculiar work.

“The story is set in a place very similar in appearance to Earth in the Edo period. However, Adachi regularly reminds the reader all throughout the series that the setting is another planet in the distant future which just happens to look like Earth.”

Translation: The setting allows the mangaka to introduce concepts that attracts his fancy in an ancient samurai setting.

Mitsuru Adachi

Mitsuru Adachi is a prolific sports Mangaka, with most of his works focusing on the game of Baseball, and in breaking the fourth wall, as well as inserting cameos from other media in his works.

How I began to Worry, that I will be Blown to Pieces.

It’s not an exaggeration that he’s one of my favorite authors, sympathetic characters, good character interactions and high-tension, dramatic pacing makes him a very effective story-teller.

Just a roll…

… of series I will be reviewing in the next few days.

Manga:

Living Game
City Hunter
Harelluya II Boy
Tsukihime
Gantz
Highschool of the Dead
Yotsuba
Yankee-kun to Megane-Chan
The works of Mitsuru Adachi

Anime that I’m looking forward to in the Spring Season:

Mayoi Neko Overrun
Darker Than Black Gaiden

Anime under Consideration:

Hakuouki: Shinsengumi  Kitan

I’m a big fan of the Shinsengumi ever since I watched Rurouni Kenshin, I was intend on picking this up but… DEEN. Just DEEN.

Kaichou Wa Maid Sama

I read a few chapters of the manga, and it seemed rather generic, but a different medium may make a better impression, so… review pile.

Senko No Night Raid

I like historic period piece, and Senko no Night Raid seems to be one. From the excerpts, it would involve the Japanese Military, political intrigue in Shanghai in the 1930s and a secret intelligence organisation? Sounds like a keeper, but much would depend on execution. Review pile it is.

Edit:

Angel Beats

Holy shit, is that a girl holding a Desert Eagle? And written by KEY? Review pile!

B Gata H Kei:

From the posters, it looks like another of those dime-a-dozen highschool romance series that Japan never seems to move away from, but the excerpt caught my eye:

“Yamada is a high school student and a virgin, who aspires to have  100 casual sex partners. Despite this, she soon finds herself targetting and pursuing only one boy.”

Let it sink for a minute, reread it again if you need to.

Make no bones about it. THIS. IS. TRAINWRECK. (Apologies)

You know you don’t want to, but you will look anyway. Just to satisfy your inner curiosity of what will happen.

Still, I’m shocked  that there is still a high school girl who is a virgin in Japan, especially considering her… aspirations. Why is she still in school anyway? Wouldn’t a job as a bar-fly be more helpful to fulfil her aspirations? Really Japan?

Anyway, I am rambling.

Signing off,
NK.