Day 41 – Weekly Reads (12th - 18th)

Presenting the mangas I have read this week and I am pleased to share all the things I have read this week. I am fifteen volumes in this week and it’s not bad considering I didn’t do much this week

Here are the fifteen mangas that entertained me in the week:

• Danganronpa 2 vol 2
• Deadman Wonderland vol 1+2
• Food Wars vol 7-10
• Genkaku Picasso vol 2+3
• Machimaho vol 2
• Paradise Kiss vol 3-5
• Sorcerers and Secretaries vol 2
• Tokyo Tarareba Girls vol 1

In Day 36 and 40, we have covered a few volumes, such as Deadman Wonderland, Genkaku Picasso, Machimaho and Tokyo Tarareba Girls and like previously stated, I will not reiterate these for those who already heard it and if you haven’t then I mentioned the days for you to read, since I am both lazy and don’t want to bother you all with the same thing over and over.

Let’s begin this long chapter of reviews slash comments about the mangas that has won me over the week. We shall start with Danganronpa 2 which was procured from Kinokuniya sometime ago since they sell it cheapest for me.

This continues with the trial to find out who killed off Togami and it seems like chef Hanamura is getting a little hot under the collar as he goes from the fridge into the frying pan. After that, we continue the life of the students but before long, another death occurs and due to a video game, that is holding some truths!

I really enjoyed this, even though, compared to the rest, it was a heavy read and now I cannot wait for the next volume, but I am really impatient as usual and since it ended on the usual cliff-hanger but had a really interesting bribe, I give it a 4 out of 5 bookmarks.

As it dawns on me, I have previously spoken about the four volumes of the Food Wars and feel like I shouldn’t go on about it again, so I shall share the feelings I got from it.

I really enjoyed reading these and I seriously need to finish this story arc and I want to see what happens in the semi-finals since it ended with Soma making a bet that could result in him never cooking again, despite knowing there is up to thirty volumes that we all know he wins. I am seriously excited about the story and I plan to finally be caught up to date by the end of the year or at least be right near the up to date line. I gave it a 4 out of 5 bookmarks.

Now we have the final part of the Paradise Kiss manga reads and it was such a great read. I am even more happy to finally own the complete series since I been wanting a physical copies but didn’t realise it had one till recently and I am so pleased to have them but let’s share the synopsis of the last five.

In the third volume, we follow Yukari as she steps out of school and into the catwalk and her life has never been the same since, she’s rapidly becoming a desirable model and can’t make a single move without parental consent. When she asks George for advice, he gives her grief and not answers, and she wonders if he is worth her time or devotion.
The fourth volume features the school fashion show and a last-minute fight to the finish as the drama escalates and Yukari passes out! A mysterious lady from George’s life shows up and supports him on the big day, Yukari is conflicted if they are friends or more than that and it eats at her trust for others, but she only knows one thing, that she wants everyone at Paradise Kiss to take the first prize at the show.
In the final volume, the show comes to an end, as well as what everyone wants to do as their future is looming closer as they are edging towards the end of their school lives. Yukari is still on between wanting to follow the college route or a modelling career, which also brings her relationship with George to the crossroads that will change their lives forever. Will this be the end of Paradise Kiss?

I really enjoyed the story but not as much as I enjoyed the ending. It was amazing and I really hope people give it a read since it does seem like different compared to other mangas and it tends to break the fourth wall a lot as well. I want to give this a 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks for this series.

Now onto the final volume that I have read and also, a final volume of the series. It was a second-hand procurement and have been mentioned previously in a post but now I will share my second final views on this since I hope to share a better review. 

The story is amazing, and I cannot emphasis that this is fairly a good read and I hope people read this series if they want more of a western feel and view manga with fantasy, romance and drama. It is also fairly short, and I give it a 4 out of 5 bookmarks.

I am really amused that I read this much this week and it makes me happy to read. I am unsure on what to say further since I am burnt myself out by gushing all about the mangas and I really want everyone to give these a read too. Now, this is Mizu signing out and like me, remember to read all the things!

Weekly Reads

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

Day 35 - Weekly Reads (26th - 4th)

We have read so little this week but at least I finished one series, waiting for the last books to come in for the other I read and slowly making my way through Mayo Chiki, where I am up to volume two within the first omnibus.

We have read the following:

• Happy Marriage?! 5-10
• Genkaku Picasso 1

So, let’s talk about the mangas that was read.

First, we have Happy Marriage?!

We continue where Chiwa wants to have her own job to support her reckless father instead of relying on her husband which upsets Hokuto when he finds out that she gets a job without his knowledge, especially since she is working with her crush.
The story starts to escalate as the couple haven’t spoken to each other since Chiwa visited Hokuto’s father, considering Hokuto believes his father is behind his mothers death. Chiwa takes it upon herself to find the truth by returning to his birthplace.
This continues as Hokuto is working harder and they spend less time together, but an old crush still seems to have deep feelings for Chiwa even knowing she is married to Hokuto. Despite working hard for that promotion, he leaves the position to risk everything to make a failing company work, they may be getting closer but Hokuto feels they aren’t a true couple yet.
After being attacked, Chiwa feels that an ex of Hokuto is behind the bad things happening and, in the end, decides to face her to see if she is right. Later on, the couple visits his father where a lot of things start to come to light but Hokuto father leaves, not without leaving Chiwa a letter with a secret that can ruin everything, but some secrets don’t stay down as things now hit the fan and what does it mean for their marriage? Only the final volume can answer that.

From the creator of Lychee Light Club, Usamaru Furuya also penned the work Genkaku Picasso and the sole reason I got this manga is because I loved Lychee Light Club and hoped that his other works would win me over and, honestly, it did.

We follow Hikari Hamura, nicknamed Picasso due to his natural art skills survived a horrible accident that should have taken his life, like it did with his childhood friend, Chiaki, who wasn’t so lucky but it seems that even death can’t keep her down as she appears in front of him revealing how he is still alive and if he wants to keep living, he must help people with his art. Can he truly save people with his art? I hope so cause otherwise this manga wouldn’t reach the three volumes it is currently at. Well, it is complete once all three are bought and I am currently waiting for two and three to come in since I am so excited to read them.

That’s all I have this week folks, since I been stuck trying to read Mayo Chiki. I mean, it’s a good series but I am slowly reading it because I have either been distracted or been so worried that I am going to damage the spine, since I really can’t have that in my collection. Hopefully, I can bring more new reads to the table next week. Until then, read all the things!