[Manga Review] Ibitsu

Ibitsu

by Haruka, Ryo
Volumes: 2
Chapters: 13
(w/ side stories at the end of each volume)
Horror, Seinen, Psychological & Gothic Lolita xD

Summary and Introduction:
There's an urban legend about a 'Strange Lolita' that's very popular amongst youngster that has
been spreading. They say that a strange girl dressed in a lolita outfit appears near midnight
sitting amongst a pile of garbage bags. The rumor tells that if you approach her, she would ask you
this question: "DO you have a little sister?", whatever your answer is, she will keep chasing you,
eventually force herself upon your home and announce that she is your 'ideal' little sister. But
that's not the end of it, apparently, all those who encounters her will end up with a 'twisted
death'.

One day, a boy decided to take out his trash in front of his apartment when he suddenly chanced upon
a dirty lolita girl sitting in the middle of a pile of garbage. He does not have a choice but to
continue advancing towards the dump site when all of a sudden, the strange individual asked the boy
a question. The boy answered then hurriedly walked back to his apartment. Upon glancing back, he
noticed that the girl disappeared. But since that night, the bot have been stalked and haunted by
the 'strange lolita' who claims to be his little sister. What twisted ending awaits the protagonist?
That's something for you to find out for yourself.

-Crost

 

Review:
I was too naive to have read this all alone in the middle of the night. It made me shiver with
goosebumps! I used to believe that the Higurashi series was the best when it comes to this kind of
genre(although I still think it is), but this manga is almost on par with it's creepiness. It was a
very interesting manga that kept me amused ,creep-ed out and screaming "Run bitch! RUN!!!" for a
couple of hours.

Art - [10/10]
The art style fits almost too perfectly with the story.

Story - [9/10]
While the plot have some unexpected twist and turns(which I believe is a must when it comes to
horror), I believe that some scenes where too cliched(old-rundown hospital..really?? is it always a
must??). The side stories were nice and freaky as well. Its like I attended a 'Night of a Hundred
Tales'(even though there were only three).

Characters - [10/10]
The cute(?) lolita fits the role perfectly(thanks to it...I now have a unique view for loli
imoutos). Although she has a freakishly obsessive nature along with the wish to have an ideal
sibling relationship was quite unique.

Setting - [9/10]
The story is set in a modern day Japan, having modern day characters and a modern horror story. (but
they really have to go to an old-rundown hospital??)

Overall - [9.5/10]
I really enjoyed reading Ibitsu. Once I got started, it immediately sucked in at its own pace and
made me finish it in one fell swoop. This is greatly recommended to those who loves horror stories,
but is not recommended to those that are faint hearted(coz it could stare the crap out of you).

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[Manga Review] Angel Densetsu

Angel Densetsu Manga Review

Story and Characters

Angel Densetsu is definitely a book that you shouldn't judge literally by it's cover. The drawings are not good or it was like lazily drawn at that or was it just a little outdated compared to today's work. At first i thought that the protagonist of the story is an angel, but it turns out that it was only to portray that the protagonist was kind heart like an angel which looks great as the cover for each volumes. The first time i laid upon this one, i really avoided reading it until two to three months later i was suddenly intrigued that it was a series written and drawn Yagi Norihiro and it was his first published work at that. For those who do not know, Yagi Norihiro is the author of the currently on going manga "Claymore" and is popular for it's dark and bloody action theme. After reading Angel Densetsu, it reminded me some similarities between the art and i would say that it had greatly improved. Also it really boggled me that the author of claymore was capable of making stories that's funny, it was very far from his current work "Claymore".

The story is about a pure and kind heart boy named Seiichiro, unfortunately though he has good intensions he is usually mistaken as a bad person because of his deliquint look. When I day deliquient, it's not that his hair is bleached or he dressed funny, the way he makes faces or the structure of his face is really scary to those who meet him, in shorter terms he was born with an evil face that was commonly compared to a devil. Leaving the town where he grew up, he then moves to his new home and transfer to his new school where countless deliquent challenge him because of his looks. These misunderstanding commonly results into fights, but then because of the different train of thoughts between Seiichiro a kind guy and the other party, it then leads into different hilarious outcomes.

The protagonist of the story is Kitano Seiichiro which was later known as the "Gaurdian" a title given to those who stand at the top of delinquency within the school, although Kitano has no knowledge of it whatsoever. Although he is considered the main protagonist, the story usually revolves around his friends, peers, teachers, and other people who has encountered him. The story has a nice flow and each arc are like episodes which are nicely tied together. It is full of comedic events which are funny in their own way and although some were recycled through the preceding chapters it was able to maintain the flow of the manga in which it will be read until the end.

The other characters in the series namely kitano's friends and other people in the school, are really fun to watch as they would actually get into fights with delinquents and while the others know exactly what's happening, kitano still remains clueless on what what exactly is happening and assumes rather funny and out of place ideas. There was one chapter  in the beginning that a deliquint held a knife because he was scared of kitano but on the other hand kitano assumed that the guy holding the knife was trying to commit suicide then just suddenly jumps at him saying that it's too early too die in which the other guy took as a word of threat from kitano to not anger or fight him again.

Art

As i had said, the art is not really good and outdated, but if you read slowly through the chapters you can see the improvement in drawings. The only thing that made the art match the drawing is the way Kitano was drawn and it really gave way to how you can appreciate the art. Althought the art is a bit lazy to look at but still makes you read it, Angel Densetsu is an enjoyable piece than one would usually expect to experience at first glance.

Those who are searching for a new manga to read or just something to make them laugh or past time, I recommend Angel Densetsu. This entertaining, comedic, brain boggling type of manga is something i would really recommend as long as you don't mind how it is drawn or how the design goes. If you really don't mind the art then this is a good read for 84 chapters.

If you really laughed and found this work entertaining, I would also recommend the Anime OVA that has two episodes, when kitano screams or jumps out unexpectedly it's sure to be funny.
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Overall, I shall give this manga entitled "Angel Densetsu" an 8 out of 10

Good:
- Very good comedy
- The chapters are nicely tied together
- Unique characters

Bad:
- Outdated art
- Use of recycled puns and jokes
- Characters aren't really that good looking or drawn

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[Anime Review] Mitsudomoe

Title: Mitsudomoe

Type: TV

Episodes: 13

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Jun 20, 2010 to Sep 26, 2010

Producers: Aniplex, Lantis, Bridge,Cospa

Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life

Duration: 24 min. per episode

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Review:

At first, Mitsudomoe is like any typical loli anime. But I was wrong. Mitsudomoe is like Kodomo no Jikan (minus the innuendos and sexual references.)

The story revolves around the Marui Triplets; Mitsuba, Futaba and Hitoha. Mitsuba is the sadistic, yet mature eldest sister. She always acts all high and mighty at home, at school, or even anywhere she goes. Her character isn’t that bad, but I don’t seem to get attracted to Mitsuba for some reason.

Next up is Futaba. She’s the middle sister of the Marui Triplets and possesses an incredible strength that surpasses 100 grown up men. Many might think that Futaba is too masculine for her character, but she’s just too strong for a 10-year old girl. That’s all.

One notable feature Futaba has is her absurd obsession with breasts. She is easily distracted whenever she sees breasts not smaller than B-cup and will gawk on every boob she sees. (Even the gravure photo magazines count)

And last but not the least, Hitoha. She’s the youngest sister and the most perverted one than her sisters. Hitoha is always seen carrying a “seemingly normal” book which is actually a porn magazine. She has a gloomy aura that wards off her classmates with her scary faces, surprising her homeroom teacher, Yabe Satoshi by showing up from under his desk, etc.

Hitoha’s recent hobby is the anime’s fictional Tokusatsu series titled “Serious Sentai: Gachi Rangers” and takes care of the class’ pet hamster named Chiikubi (translated as Nipples in English).

The main element that makes Mitsudomoe funny is the misunderstandings. Every misunderstanding lead to disaster, and if we’re talking about Mitsudomoe, no misunderstanding isn’t capable of making you fall off your chair laughing. Sometimes the anime shows violence, which is often targeted at Mitsuba whenever she’s injured by Futaba. And Yabecchi easily cries due to Hitoha’s verbal abuse caused by misunderstandings.

Overall, Mitsudomoe is an anime worth watching! So if you think watching it makes you a pedophile/lolicon, then you’re damn wrong. 

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[Anime Review] Upotte!!

Title: Upotte!!
Type: ONA
Episodes: Unknown
Status: Currently Airing
Aired: Apr 7, 2012
Producers: Xebec, Sentai Filmworks
Genres: Action, Comedy, Seinen
Duration: 24 min. per episode
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Review:

Upotte’s story revolves around the girls of Seishou Academy who originally are guns that takes human form. The protagonists are middle school students and assault rifles; a small-caliber, full-auto capable gun type: Funco (FNC), Ichiroku (M16A4), Eru (L85A1) and Sig (SG550). It is later revealed that Elementary students are SMGs or Sub-machine guns and High School students are sniping-capable rifles.

While this series falls under the “School-life” genre, Upotte has a bit of comedy and the most important part of the show is the educational trivia about guns. In my opinion as the author of this review, this anime is very interesting to watch not because of the moe girls and possible fanservice. It’s because I have a bit of knowledge with guns and perhaps a slight interest in third-person shooter military games.

FYI, my gun of choice is the Kalashnikov AK-47 and the M4A1 Carbine. XD

And for some reason, the art style used in Upotte reminds me of Eroge! H to Game Kaihatsu Zanmai. Or it's just me?

And lastly, gun-otaku or not, if you have played a bit of those TPS military games like Counter Strike or Call of Duty series, I’m sure you’ll also find Upotte a show worth watching.

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[Manga Review] Bakuman

MangaUpdate | Wiki | MAL | ANN

Bakuman Manga Review

Story and Characters

Bakuman is a shounen manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata whose popularity rose because of the hit series "Death Note". The Manga was published on the Weekly Shounen Jump Magazine in Japan on August 11, 2008 and has now ended it's publication on April of the year 2012. Each chapters are comprised of important events and is directly related to what happens in future chapters where the story is bound to be not boring and connected to the overall plot. The quality of it's story is based on how well the authors played out their cards on how to make their goals which would be presend on the middle and near end chapters of the manga.


The series follows the story of Moritaka Mashiro "Saiko" and Akito Takagi "Shujin, the two who in some sort of fate met in a strage way in middle school then strived to become successful mangaka in the world using the name "Ashirogi Muto". They Strive againsts many hardship and plenty of insurmountable odds to achieve their goal and dreams. In Mashiro's case, he aims to make a great manga enough to make it an anime so that the girl he loves, Azuki Miho can voice the heroine and then marry each other as fulfillment to their promise. The story itself is really pure and straightforward jump material just like other manga on publication it rewards many different values, it's main idealogy which is guts and perseverance is the backbone of the story which makes bakuman really exciting and fun to read.


The first set of chapters mainly on the 1st up to the 3rd volume tackles the hardships of mashiro and takagi or also known as "Ashirogi Muto" to get a manga publication into jump. Unlike other series, the time on bakuman ticks rather fast because each chapters sometime covers more than three months of time. The major characters are then introduced and their roles are set into play which is Mashiro, Takagi, Kaya, Azuki, Hattori, and Iwase. Others say that some few chapters are dragged out or get's boring at some point but i beg to differ. The pacing was good and easy to follow, sure there are some panels that make you want to skip them because of the long dialogues but that's what makes it different from others and it's in the nature of the story a slice of life.

As you go further into reading the series, you'll meet more and more characters like Niizuma, Fukuda, and Nanamine that are also mangaka of the same magazine in which further intensifies the battle of mangaka for the top spot in jump together with their editors which also competes with each other which is funny and entertaining. The romance in the series is also a thing to look into too for it's not only the love problems and rivalry of the main leads are shown but also in those of the supporting characters. The chemistry that is shown in this series is engaged in realistic aspirations and normal yet favorable events, which is very different from their fellow published series and past work, a series that's not presenting any supernatural or unrealistic actions but instead shows pleasant emotions. You'll find a lot of intense in the series that is very similar to what we usually experience in life plus all characters are really likable and bound to get you attached to them because of their unique personalities and physique.

Art

Ohba's great story writings skills and character descriptions equally matched Takeshi Obata's points in art which is indeed excellent in a way. Comparing the art of death note from bakuman, the style has changed to better match the light, touching, suspenseful and fun environment of bakuman. Although this is very different from death note, the high level of detail and clean cut edges of Obata's drawings are still excellent.

It is also very surprising to see that Takeshi Obata can create a variety of drawings from funny comical ones to serious ones. The way characters or events are focused and tones are all very well and matches the athmosphere or effect in the moment of the story be it a serious or funny one. Each panels are well thought out to make readers enjoy each chapter especially when how he make his drawings themseleves come out of the boxes and extends further.

Those who has drawn, written a novel, or made a movie will recognise the creative process in these kind of art is fraught with blood sweat, tears, and cofee. It shows that it requires courage to place yourselft out there in the open from trusted friends to total strangers to receive honest critique and advice. This manga is all about how to achieve and realize the creative process that would help those wanting to create their own works. Bakuman is a manga about writing manga together with the realistic events of how they are made..

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Overall, I give this manga "Bakuman" a 9 out of 10
Good:
- Interesting Slice of life story
- Multiple Character Growth and Storylines
- Interesting Character Ineraction
- Fine art and detail

Bad:
-  Female characters aren't portrayed strongly, some call this  misogyny to the female characters, although it get's better as the story progresses.

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