Day 40 – Manga Mail

We have quite a few volumes that came in this week, since they certainly like to take a while in the mail but then again, two were procured from Facebook markets and being in the same state, they came in rather early in the week and was totally worth the non-existent wait.

Here is the list for this week:

• Deadman Wonderland vol 1+2
• Genkaku Picasso vol 2+3
• MachiMaho vol 2
• Pokemon Adventures: Gold and Silver vol 8-14
• Soul to Seoul vol 4

So, like last week, we have manga that is in both mail and weekly reads, so I will put the synopsis here and try my best at keeping it limited but we all know it’s going to happen. Anyway, lets begin with the lovely long list!

It all begins with Deadman Wonderland, a thirteen-volume series that I bought mainly because I enjoy Smokin Parade and knew I had to get it. I currently have four volumes in the mail, and I am not sure if I am happy or sad about waiting to read them. I plan to get all the volumes soon since its somewhat shorter series compared to others I am collecting. These are from my usual online site, so it’s brand new, except a minor white spot on the cover of volume two that just won’t go away but I can live with that.

Deadman Wonderland follows Ganta Igarashi, who was framed for the murder of his classmates and is sentenced to death at the fatal theme park/prison that has risen from the ruins of the Great Tokyo Earthquake.
Every day they fight to survive and provide entertainment to the masses but that’s not all, terrifying secrets lurk in the shadows. Ganta is determined to survive and clear his name, even at the possible cost of his soul. Ganta begins to learn more about his prison life and hearing that the Red Man was in the G Ward and determined to get revenge. Instead he meets a mysterious man who calls him “Woodpecker”.

That’s the two volumes I currently have and read in one day. It was such a great read, I kind of regret not getting it sooner. The story is amazing and so is the art, it reminds me of Smokin’ Parade considering they are from the same creators. I cannot wait to read more of this amazing series but waiting is taking a while but then again, the joys of online buying. I still give it a 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks.

We have a series that I started to boast about on twitter, mainly due to lack of chatter on my slack but I don’t regret it, it’s a great manga. Let us talk about the final two volumes of Genkaku Picasso. Since these are bought second-hand through Abebooks, their condition is great, at best. Usual page discolouration due to age or being stored or shelved for a while, one has minor spine damage from being read and a cover crease from probably having it bent but that’s the worst of it but still worth the low price I paid since buying both was equal to buying one brand new.

We continue with the story of Hikari “Picasso” Hamura where he still draws and dives into the hearts of those conflicted with deep seated issues. In the meantime, things have gotten more complicated as he helps out with Chiaki’s help. In the final volume, the once loner Picasso has made many friends due to helping them out with their issues but now the tables have turned and it’s his turn to face the most difficult portrait, himself.

I started with Lychee Light Club by Usamaru Furuya and that was dark, deep, complex and beautiful but from that one manga, I wanted to read more of his works and found Genkaku Picasso, but the price kept me away for a long time, until volume one was cheap at Kino. Then, of course, I read it and fell in love with the series. Then the order of volume two and three came in and I finished it, it left me feeling sad that I had to say goodbye to the characters who have grown on me and I felt like I made friends with them but happy that they are all together and feeling lighter with their biggest issues resolved. I cannot express how much people need to read this series. It’s short, it’s powerful and it’s a series that I am giving full marks to since it’s just so captivating and different from the other series I have read recently. If I ever got to meet Usamaru, I’d thank him for his works and letting me see into his world, even if it’s through his works. He is one of the few manga creators I would love to own all the works of.

Now the next manga is something I would say is not appropriate for children but I ain’t your mother, so I won’t stop you, but I had to do this to be polite and mature or whatnot. So, I finally got the second volume of Machimaho, which came earlier than I first anticipated and it’s in great condition considering it came from the usual Book Depository. Let’s share the synopsis of this beautiful manga that is just violent and rude, I love it.

Kayo, the rude, crude, mean and now a magical girl who only gotten worse since gaining her new power, and Nako, a magical girl born from mutation who wishes to serve justice on the one who allowed her friends and classmates to die, are in the midst of battle where Nako is determined to take Kayo down but who knows if the city can survive two equally powerful magical girls?

I am super happy about reading this series and I cannot wait for more, but I have no idea if the next volume is up for pre-order but not surprised if it’s over a hundred days away, which it is. Anyway, I give this a 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks again and what else can I say, scantily clad magical girls battling out and killing Atasunmo, which is similar yet different to most magical girl series, but I really enjoy this series.

So, I procured a boxset and it’s the second one, since the first Pokémon box is on its way and probably, if I am lucky, it should be in this week. If not, next week probably. So, originally, I was not planning to get the Pokémon series, but I caved and don’t regret it much, just the price of the boxes are mid-ground and a butt. Anyway, this was procured off Facebook Marketplace and the most it lacked was the poster, no loss there and it’s in great condition, I feel like it’s barely been read. I paid less for it compared to the online prices and local stores.

So, we now talk about volumes eight to fourteen as one big pile.
This series stars Gold and his rival Silver. First it starts with someone steal his bag and Pokémon! Then they take the professors Totodile, so Gold is determined to catch them.
In the second one, Gold is trying to find Silver when he uncovers a bigger threat, but could they work together to over come it?
In the third one, Crystal seems to come in and help the professor in his research. Her goal is to catch them all but what is she to do when a legendary Pokémon Suicune awakens? What does she do to meet said Pokémon?
In the fifth one, Crystal and Yellow team up to find a mysterious flying Pokémon and end up in the same predicament as Gold and Silver.
A masked man is plotting to invade the gym leader exhibition with team rocket. Will the trainers be able to deal with this sudden battle!?
The conclusion occurs when Gold discovers Silvers goal and uncovers the identity of the masked man. A battle is about to unleash, with legendries abound and the trainers are all there. What will Gold do in this predicament?

I haven’t read it yet but since I realised that that they can be read individually. So, I may plan to read this soon, but I seem to wait till the first seven to get in. This is the best I can share right now since I have no idea what I am in for, but it does sound like a good series.

Originally, I wasn’t going to try and finish off Soul to Seoul but since finding volume 4 for really cheap, I ended up procuring it and eventually volume five, just to finish the set and I feel super pleased to finally actually finishing this series. The condition is amazing coming second-hand from Facebook Marketplace and the condition is really good and I cannot wait till I read it eventually when the final volume came in.

I am not inclined to sharing the synopsis since I plan to possibly do this as a bundle considering I haven’t talked about it previously. I am looking forward to sharing this series soon with everyone and I am glad to be finally finished this.

So, there we have it, one week of manga mail and I been delaying since it’s either due to social or avoidance issues, but here we are and there may be a double post today where I will also share my weekly reads since I am so pleased at how much I have read. Now remember kiddies, read all the things!

Mail Manga