I am Alice - Yay or Nay?

 

Ever wanted to read a series where Alice in Wonderland crossed over with Wizard of Oz? Want some body switching between a girl named Alice and a boy named Makoto? Then said guy in girls body basically  has a harem of hot guys from the world of Alice in Wonderland? How about Alice loving weapons? Then this is your kind of series!

Printed by Seven Seas back in 2014, this series penned by Ayumi Kanou and Visualworks, this shojo harem with a Gender Bender spin about a boy sucked into a book where he literally hits head with Alice and becomes her. It is complete both in print and digital within 3 volumes.

Basically, boy sucked into book, hits girl, trades places with girl and discovers the  world he is in, is no longer beautiful, with monsters running around with a corrupt King of Hearts. In order to restore it back to it's former glory, Makoto and Alice teams up with an assortment of characters who are very handsome men, some include March Hare and Mad Hatter.

When I first read this, it reminded me so much of the Alice in the country of X series.
How? Let me name a few that is similar, the cast of great looking guys as characters from Alice in Wonderland, all seem to have some sort of attraction to the Alice characters, they somewhat travel together and the harem themes.
How are they different? Alice in this series loves weapons of any kind, the Wizard of Oz vibes but instead of the Wicked Witch, we have a Wicked King and the addition of a male character, gender bend and the fact that the characters, in the end, may return home or maybe not, I haven't finished this series as of yet.

I really enjoyed the art, it is very cute, it definitely has the shojo vibes which I seem to be enjoying of late cause it's great to have those cute series that warms the cockles of the heart, pity we lack a lot of shojo these days unlike back when the companies weren't having a great time due to it being such a niche hobby compared to now.

I somewhat enjoyed the characters and story but being a first volume, I cannot completely say that I hate it but I fear it may be a bit rushed cause being a short series and all, since a lot of short ones end up feeling like that. I mean, Mad Hatter feels the same no matter what I read, which is a pity. Same with March Hare but Cheshire Cat, Dormouse and Tweedle Dum don't feel like the cliche that I got from other works and it was great, especially since Dormouse seems to have a bigger role in this series, despite being a sleepy head who is rather indifferent about things.

The story itself is, like I said, a mix between Alice in Wonderland of the aspect of going to another world with the eccentric cast from the series with Wizard of Oz as Alice and Makoto ends up travelling to meet King of Hearts to fix a problem and get back home, along the way, gaining a party of said eccentrics to deal with monsters and other challenges as they deal with their own agendas that may or may not have anything to do with the main characters tasks.

I do confess I have a weak spot for the Kings valet, who you see at the end of the first volume, yes, it's probably the glasses, it's a weakness, like catnip to cats. Besides, you find out who he really is near the end of the volume too and I was like "KNEW IT!" when I found out. I mean, it is kind of obvious who it could be by just the cast I just mentioned.

This is a yay but nay  kind of series for me.
I'd like to have it but due to age and the fact that it's a Seven Seas title, like Alice in the Country of X, I'd probably have to get it secondhand due to possibly being an arse or expensive to buy brand new. It does not boast confidence within me, so as bad as this sounds, if I can find it cheap and as a complete set, I'd probably get it that way, it's not a series I'd actively seek despite enjoying it as much as I did.
Doesn't help it too much when I have a few series similar to it but it's still a nice edition to a collection.

You can get it here: Book Depository

VERDICT: Maybe - it's a yay if I can find the lot easily.

Ramble about Io Sakisaka

 

Today, I feel like rambling about the three series available in English by a recently popular mangaka, Io Sakisaka.

Most know that I enjoy a plethora of manga, I try not to judge or compare but after a while, you start to since reading and collecting mangas since my early teens, I have finally figured out what I like and dislike. What I want from series. What I expect from series.

So, I am now at a stage where I want to talk bluntly how I feel by comparing the works of one creator amongst their title range. I plan to do this with other creators like Arina Tanemura (Sakura Hime, Idol Dreams, Gentlemen's Alliance Cross), Junji Ito (Uzumaki, Gyo, Tomie) and Maki Enjoji (SP Baby, An Incurable Case of Love, Happy Marriage), just to name a few where I have several of their series.

Let's begin with these three shall we.

Firstly, Io Sakisaka specialises in school life shojo, which is pretty common for most shojo series. I enjoy the art, find it very cute but the story is debatable, depending on which series we look at.
Some of her characters are very distinct but I have moments where I think they all look the same but that's more me than anything else, so I believe.
The covers are usually colourful and appealing to look at and it's one of the reasons why I picked them up, outside of a few amazing friends saying I should give her works a go.

I started with Strobe Edge, which I enjoyed but the pity about it is, I can't recall the series at all. 
Maybe, compared to the other two who is recently ongoing, it didn't stick but I know it hasn't caused any negative reaction.
It is ten volumes long, which seems to be the shortest of the three, I may reread it again just to write a proper review as an apology to why this was so poorly done.

I know, for a fact, the "coven" I speak to really enjoys this title.

Next is Love Me, Love Me Not.
This one is honestly my favourite so far of the three.
I enjoy the characters, the story is rather interesting. Despite how vol3 ended, I think it did a better job of confronting issues rather than bugger around with the characters causing issues which could be seen as basically manipulation.
I could almost relate to the characters, mainly Yuna since she is rather quiet, which I myself was in HS, though I never had a liking to shojo since I wanted to be one of those girls. Yea, those "I ain't like most girls" which I bet I was since people always wanted to go against the grain of societies ideals.
Anyway, back to the series that is only three volumes in, with a few characters feeling around how to deal with relationships and how they progress and develop as the story moves on.
This is currently in print with Viz and Shojo Beat, will complete at the twelfth volume.

The final title happens to be the worst one for me,
I started to read Ao Haru Ride for two reasons.
Firstly, I wanted to support any shojo releases in hopes of gaining more series, like Honey Lemon Soda or even Rainbow Days. Secondly, the synopsis sounded good. It did start off amazingly but it started to go sour for me due to how Kou treated, not just his friends, but the two love interests.
Like many try to debate with me, I get Kou had a shitty past but that, in my opinion, doesn't give a character the right to mess with characters.
You ain't sure on how you feel, tell them, try to be honest, don't mess with people, it hurts them more than just you. In reality, being a dick to people get you ostracised, especially when you purposely push them away. A few may stick around but more often then not, it doesn't happen. I should know, I was like Kou, I had a rotten past and pushing people away, not hurt them and made them ditch me but it hurt me. I hate how this manga romanticises that. He was even a dick to the people who wanted to help him but the Kou fan-girls found this endearing and makes me wonder if they really ever interacted with someone like him, cause I bet you my bottom dollar, they call him an arsehole and ditch him.
Again, that's my opinion.

Otherwise the story had potential, mainly in the back-up cast since they seem more solid and less vapid.
Even Futuba, the main female protag, was as shitty as Kou. Sure, Touma shouldn't have been okay with being a replacement for Kou, even offering that option to her was pretty cruel cause shee honestly needed to be alone to deal with the loss of Kou since he couldn't just chose one or even say "I'm not ready, I have to fix myself" instead of letting the things play the way they did, which involved him screwing with Futuba and making her break off a relationship, cause he now decides that he wanted her.

I really did not like the main characters, I liked the idea but not where it went and I cannot wait for the thirteenth volume to finish this series, which is slated for early November, just to say that I've read it. As I say, I always finish what I have started, especially with collections.

So, in conclusion.
Read them and judge for yourself for I will always be bias and dictate what I like due to how I feel.
Personally, I'd skip Ao Haru Ride but it's popular and easier to get compared to Strobe Edge, as well as being one from the end. Love Me, Love Me Not has great potential to be an enjoyable read and worthy of being collected, it's also super cute.

You can obtain them here
Ao Haru Ride BD: http://bit.ly/BD-AoHaru
Love Me, Love Me Not BD: http://bit.ly/BD-LMLMN
Strobe Edge BD: https://bit.ly/BD-StrobeEdge

Downfall feat. Life

Downfall - Inio Asano
Viz Media asked if they could use this image, I feel so honoured.

It's been a  while since I last posted here for I have been dealing with a lot of things, finding motivation to blog or been drowning an anxiety with doing things I use to do in my old place, which basically involves doing dishes and dealing with washing. Something I was once forced to do but now is oddly something I have to, no, I must do. Otherwise I get so antsy if I don’t, I feel like I’m not doing anything, feel like trouble will be around the corner, that feeling that I can’t breathe if I don’t do them… It’s too much even though I don’t have to do the dishes or the clothes but lately, I feel that I must. 

Otherwise, in my life I went to the city, got some mangas, novels and a figurine from Kino, I should make a post image just for them, to be honest because adding them here would be an injustice. Also went and had dinner with my partner and his mother, it was a lovely meal and I joined the local club since being local requires me to do so now. 

Anyway, then I don’t recall Tuesday. 

Wednesday was a contributor to my stress for my mother was being unreasonable since I didn’t resolve to be quick to answer her, resulted in her throwing a tantrum and basically being done with me, which is code for basically being disowned in my family. So, since I had other plans, I went to drop off boxes, dealt with the woman-child and resolve to see her the next Wednesday for her Birthday, which I have not found a suitable gift for her. Then I saw a friend that I haven’t seen in ages and had a long convo over sushi with and ended the day with picking up an order, obtaining a shelf and did a spot of shopping to end a stressful morning but a relaxing afternoon.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

But I am not here to talk about my life, I am here to talk about Downfall by Inio Asano which was published by Viz Media.

We follow a mans journey as he navigates the dark waters of being a manga creator who had a taste of glory and started to feel it slip away from him. At first he seems to scorn women and those who don’t seem to support him and his dream, then question on where to go after he finished his series. So he starts to consort with other women for love while his marriage seems to be crumbling to nothing with his career slowly following. It was here another character leads him to find himself more and learned more about her but their relationship doesn’t seem to last as they go their separate ways. He reflects upon his path as he finds a spark within his works, during a signing a fan he chat to on social media meets him and it was thanks to her he found a human side to himself and his works, possibly.

Sure, I basically spoiled the story in a vague as fuck way since this story has so much depths and darkness to it, I feel like Asano is talking about a truth that may be lurking within them, showing us readers a side of the industry that we try to overlook since we want to only see the works more than the creator. It was truly a fascinating read though it was not my favourite of the year but it left me feeling heavy and tired, since there was so much inside the work. I would recommend others to read this since I don’t have enough yet too many words to describe this work.
Then again, this is often reflected in Amano’s works like Solanin, Nijigahara Holograph and A Girl on the Shore, which a stories that make people think of a darkness, changes in life and usually of serious nature that a lot of mangas these days don’t have since they are so not often licensed by companies, which I can say a lot on but don’t wish to waste this post on.

Downfall art is similar to all Asano’s works and is easy to spot from a distance. It’s still appealing and I have moments where I mixed up characters, mainly due to possibly me reading a part before bed. The detail is gorgeous with a sense of depth and somewhat realism. I really love the simple cover and how it looks upon my shelf. I’m glad I accidentally dropped it and felt guilty that if it was damaged that someone else ends up getting it. It was quite the read for me and I hope others, especially fans of his works, gets this manga. It’s a single volume and is really worth the buy.

Let's talk! : Honey so Sweet

Welcome to the first installment of Let's Talk!

To start this off, we just finished reading an 8 volume series by Amu Meguro  called Honey so Sweet, don't let the title fool you, it is honestly more sweeter than honey, for a moment I thought my system was going to overload and melt from how sweet this series really is. I believe this series is going to have a reprint soon, so congratulations on that~!

Honey so Sweet is a series that follows Nao Kogure, a kind but shy girl who helps a delinquent one rainy day despite her fear of him but time passes and said delinquent named Taiga Onise comes to her and asks her out with the intention of marriage! At first she was afraid of him but soon she sees him for the kind soul he is and falls in love with him.

That is the general gist of the story, we follow them as they form a romantic relationship while making and bonding with new friends. Do they get married? Who knows! cause I ain't spoiling it for you guys.

I really enjoyed the character development from all the characters especially the main group where Misaki and Yashiro develop more as characters despite not delving deeply into it, same with Taiga and Nao. Honestly, my favourite character would have to be Misaki purely for the fact of how cute he is and how easily embarrassed he gets when teased, especially by Yashiro. Sou is another character that has a late bloom as he learns to let go and allow himself to pursue what he desires. I also even liked Miyabi and Futami, even if they are originally seen as antagonistic towards the main leads, they really grow on you, even changing how you view them as hopeless in their pursuit of romance.

The art is soft and beautiful without being overwhelming, which is a staple in shojo series but this one stands out compared to other series since it feels like a soft fluffy style that I be able to notice right away as Amu's work. It was such a delight to look at and didn't feel like it was a heavy read. Even the cover and spines help relay the softness of the series and I simply enjoy looking at it on my shelf.

I'm not sure if I have anything I disliked, maybe the fact that this series got me so emotionally cause I got so attached to the characters and I didn't want this to end but the length was great for it.

I'd honestly recommend this series to everyone, even if you ain't a shojo fan but don't mind a cute story about friendship, character progress or want something cute and fluffy to read. It's honestly such a relaxing read. Even in the end, you can't help but fall in love with Nao and Taiga.

I'd give this a 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks!

You can buy a copy from Book Depository but clicking here

Complete Honey so Sweet by Amu Meguro, distributed by Viz Media/Shojo Beat

Day 3 - Manga Mail Haul 1

I like to procure mangas from online since the choices of stores are more limited than the milk available at a local Woolies or whatever your local shopping centre is. I have a fair list of online stores I frequent, few actual physical stores I favour which are a few hours away from me and I even order online from them when the sales are on. So, in the meantime, I been waiting for them to come in the mail and three have arrived within the few days, but one manga was bought from an actual bookstore that has very limited choices but was stunned to see it. 

So, let’s begin with the four new babies.

First manga to join the party is Kobato 5 which I got brand new from Book Depository that it is an online store I frequent a lot.
Now I am just waiting for book 6 to come in and I can’t wait to get them all to read the two final volumes.
The condition of the manga is perfect as usual and I always recommend this online store since it has a usual good price range for Australia and the free shipping helps. I enjoy the art so much of the series. I am pleased to say I am so close to the end and it was a series bought on a whim too, mainly because Clamp has such gorgeous art and the first two mangas was under 8aud.

Second one is from Harry Hartog, the local bookstore near me and usually the prices are a bit pricey for me, considering I usually frequent Book Depository and the amount of manga choices is very limited but I was pleased to find a copy of Ao Haru Ride hiding in the bottom shelf, so I picked it up cause I like the story and the fact that it looks really cute and appealing.

Normally I am not inclined to pay full price but this little baby got exempted today.

This one is also a second-hand book and is more of a series to finish the set.

It’s part 2 of Twilight, pity that the cheapest one was a paperback version of it but it will do and the most damage it has is a piece of the corner taken off. I am just super pleased that the rest of the comic is in excellent condition but got what I paid for and I am happy to have finally finished it, even though I have a dislike of Twilight. Then again, book 1 was a hardcover version and a gift from someone because they assumed that I would I like it, personally I don’t but I can never say no to a comic. I plan to read it soon, just to see if it is better than the novel.

The final one to come in is Death Note 13.
As I say, I got what I pay for, I got it second hand for about 8aud and the only damage worth noting is the few dents and slight warped spine, but I am not too upset with it since the content itself is in great condition. It is probably a few years old and read a few times at best, but I love it and can’t wait to sit it with the Death Note set I plan to get that lacks a book 13.
This series has always been something I wanted to complete for a while and I’m glad to finally be able to say it’s complete.

So that's my mail for the last few days and I am happy to have these in my ever growing collection.

Day 1 - Manga and Goals

In a previous post, I stated that I started collecting in the early 2000’s and my collection has been small ‘til I started recollecting in 2016, where my last count was at 152 mangas. I took a picture during mid-2018 and its final total was in the 232 area, meaning I only went up about a good 80 mangas. Now, I have 626 physical books which is about 735 manga volumes to this date.

Collection about 2016

At that time, I started a manga-based Instagram where I felt so self-conscious about my collection due to being so small. This may have influenced my huge jump in mangas within the 6 months. A side of me is ashamed that such a shallow thing influenced me so much, but I really don’t regret it because I got both old and new series I always wanted to read and found a list of things that inspired me to post and eventually blog about since it brings me so much joy.

So, today’s post is more about my goals for this year and a good look on what I have ended the last year as.

I have a few goals in mind when it comes to my manga collection.

Mid-2018 

The first being to reach or at least get near 1,000 volumes.
I have a few sets lined up to procure in the next few days and waiting for a few to come in the mail.

The second goal is to finish at least 10 series I have started in the last year.
One of my main series goals is Fruits Basket, since it is a near and dear series to me. 

I will list the ten most likely to be completed this year, I hope.

• ·        Fruits Basket Collector’s Edition
• ·        Behind the Scenes
• ·        Princess Jellyfish (hopefully the boxset)
• ·        Your lie in April
• ·        Sankarea
• ·        Pita-Ten
• ·        Anything by Junji Ito
• ·        Kamisama Kiss
• ·        Dreamin Sun
• ·        Ghost in the Shell

I also hope to find and finish Battle Royale Ultimate, X and Hellsing since they are indeed much older and rarer compared to the above titles. I also hope not to start too many new series since I have so many ongoing series that I wish to get up to and stay up to date with. I shall share the top ten series 

I want to keep up to date within the new year.

• ·        The Promised Neverland
• ·        Platinum End
• ·        Magical Girl Site
• ·        Vampire Knight Memories
• ·        The Demon Prince of Momochi House
• ·        Machimaho
• ·        The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
• ·        Danganronpa 2
• ·        Food Wars
• ·        Gantz Omnibus

End 2018 1/3

This is going to take a lot of effort and time considering that this is only 20 out of about 37 series that are either ongoing or ongoing with final chapters and not including series I hope to one day buy ‘cause either short or very interesting series going for cheap.

The third goal is simple, it’s a mix between reading manga a day and writing a small post about it and so far, I am behind. I plan to write up a small review about K-On 1 and 2 to cover the missing days. I really hope to make a habit of this where I just talk and share my love and enjoyment for manga. I may also do this about other hobbies including gaming and novels.

As mentioned before, the Instagram I started was because I wanted to share my love for manga with others and stumbled into the community. Then I saw all these people with amazing and huge collections, even if a lot of their main titles were recent manga I never heard of cause of my huge break from associating with manga. I do admit I got jealous cause I only had old and obsolete mangas compare to all these new, shiny and super popular manga and I wanted in. I felt at that point, I lost myself to it and it took me stepping back to realise that I was trying to appeal to others for the wrong reasons and so I just posted what I liked, and I am much happier with that.

End 2018 2/3

I also started making challenges to meet and bring new people to myself because I am a wuss when talking to new people and it helped in starting conversations. I honestly believe no matter how long I will do them, I will always be an amateur at it and it will forever be my own title.

During the new year, I posted a few people I enjoyed following and out of that, I found out that in one way or another, my Instagram had been either an influence or a source of enjoyment and that meant more to me than I realise cause it told me that people enjoyed what I shared with them to the extent that they either picked up the manga or gave them a smile. It’s things like that which made me happy I started it. I hope this continues and I hope to one day do giveaways as thanks for still following a potato like me.

End 2018 3/3

On other news, I plan to add more about my gaming and other hobbies as notes within each review since I want to, in a way, use this as a diary as well. I want to share what I like as a person since I feel that is more interesting than my personal issues. I can admit that my next four posts may be about K-On, which is the series I am currently reading or even manga mail because I ordered a lot in December and they are slowly making their way to me. Though I cannot wait to post about Magical Girl Site and finish another review I been delaying since last year.

I hope this wasn’t a boring post since I really wasn’t sure what to write and I hope that all who reads it has a happy and wonderful new year and can’t wait to see what new adventures are in store. Hopefully I don’t triple my manga amounts again, otherwise I won’t have a room to sleep in anymore.

Manga Mumbles - Shortcake Cake 1+2

While I was in Canberra last month, I bought the first volume on a whim. So eventually, I got around to reading it and kind of fell in love with the story. That very day, I ended up pre-ordering volume 2 and today it made its appearance. Within a short time, I also have read it and decided that I wanted to talk about how much I enjoy this series, so far anyway.

We follow a young girl name Ten as she moves into a boarding house with her friend and a cast of amusing characters. Here she also meets and gets close to Riku and Chiaki, who may seem to want more than friendship from our lovely protagonist. We also meet and learn about a few more characters who Ten may befriend but then again, need more volumes in order to see what happens.

Now I don’t have much to share on story or characters besides being super sweet, simple and can’t help but adore them. The art is pleasant and it males me want to keep reading so I can absorb the beautiful environment they live in. Heck, it even has some of the most amusing facial features that I haven’t seen in a while, since I do read a variety of manga.  Heck, if I was more of a cosplayer, Ten would be on the top of my list.

It’s funny, it has been a while since I had a series inspire me so much to buy it. As soon as I finished one, I ended up pre-ordering 2, as I originally mentioned earlier and that’s because of how volume 1 ended, on a dreaded cliff-hanger. I really can’t add much more since this is just the beginning of what I hope is an amazing series where it may make me a ball at the end due to making me emotional.

For now, I give it a 4 out of 5 bookmarks.

Since this is just the start and I have to impatiently wait for more volumes, but I can wait for great mangas, it’s a major part of my collecting hobby. If anything, I would like to thank suu Morishita for creating such an adorable manga and being able to read it gives me so much joy. This also extends to Shojo Beat and Viz Media for distributing this series in the first place. I am really resisting the urge to pre-order 3.

Manga Mumbles - Assassination Classroom

Assassination Classroom, a 21-volume manga done by Yusei Matsui and the English version distributed by Viz Media. I seem to have bought this series on a whim or even possibly influenced by the movies that came out around the time I decided that I should get them. Whatever the real reason is, I started to buy the series. I do admit, that I sometimes, almost affectionatley call it Ass Class, mostly cause it's easier too.

The first volume amused me to no end but not enough to go off and buy the series. Then eventually I started to get bit by bit. I finally hit around the 7th volume and then the story grew on me and I wanted more, before long I started buying the volumes in bundles but a few times I had to stop due to other series gaining priority, mainly those dastardly out of print series.

Recently, I manage to obtain the last four volumes and felt a huge relief, knowing I had the series in my hands. I basically read them all in a few days and it was such a trip, I laughed, I got angry and I cried with the characters and in the end, I felt so happy and sad to say goodbye to class E because I went through so much with them.

This ramble is more about my experience with the series rather than giving people a reason to buy it. Why? You are probably wondering, because I feel that the series can sell itself better than I could ever say about it.

My collection at it's finest

So, I will try my best to review this series without spoiling it and talking about the manga overall that one usually does in a review.

The art is simple but appealing with great detail to attention with a unique style and recognisable characters, despite having so many. I also enjoy the covers, especially when the creator decided to play with patterns, designs and colours. Even then, it was so simple but striking, it’s a series that is both colourful and dark, I cannot name many series that can pull that off too well.

Even with all the characters, each with their own unique skill and story, Matsui manages to make every character matter and a focal point during the story. This amazes me to no end and I love how each character gets a turn in the spotlight, despite Nagisa being the main character. Even a few characters break the fourth wall, making references to being minor characters or even saying “yes, Nagisa, you are the main guy”. Even one point made a joke about another manga series being run with the theme of spending several pages emphasising how good a meal is. This sort of thing helps makes a manga an amazing read, it’s always the little things and quirks each character provides to the overall story.

With the story, there is so much that happens. We have entertaining fillers between major arcs as to remind the readers that it’s not an overly serious manga and that most of the main characters are children trying to get through school.

So, you have the usual culture fests, sports fests, exams and just general school life. Then you have the side where they are training, trying to eliminate their teacher and facing off with bigger adversaries and overcoming them in the end, which helps develop the characters in many ways.

I like how it wraps up so nicely at the end. Despite being what could have been 20 volumes, the final one is a nice addition where you see Koro-sensei doing other things while his students are busy or even the bonus manga which I would love to see as a major series cause of how unique and amusing it is.

I give this 5 out of 5 bookmarks.

I could possibly spend the next month talking about this series, but I don’t want to give anything away. It’s a series full of surprises, emotions and other amusing things that one can’t help but enjoy. I recommend people to read this series, especially if they like action, heartfelt and a series that just grabs you with it’s tentacles and drags you all around it’s world filling you with knowledge and feelings you never would have expected.

Manga Mumbles - RWBY Vol.2: Mirror Mirror

If one knows my habit of buying manga, I tend to try and focus on finishing other sets, usually ones with final volumes. So, in typical me fashion, I was planning to delay buying this volume of RWBY. Probably wondering why this didn't happen, the answer is rather simple; nostalgia.

Back when I was first buying mangas I use to buy from my local EB games, since at the time I wasn't really aware of other places. So I thought, "for old times sake", that I should grab RWBY being both the only volume there and that good ole time feels and procured a copy of this lovely manga to go with the two other RWBY mangas I have. Side note, I do look forward to the other releases and future manga volumes from RWBY even if I ain't too keen on Rooster Teeth and the series as much as I use to be.

Anyway, back to the main topic. So I bought this manga, looking forward to reading stories that focus on Weiss and I really enjoy the themes it seems to be centering on.

It's about Weiss and her loneliness, her desire to be noticed and then her realising that now she doesn't have to go seeking for it, cause now she has a team of friends who are there for her and love her for her.

I still very much enjoy the fact that each comic is done by a different person but still following the theme of friendship and Weiss development as a character, even though some seem to show a deep love that Weiss has for Ruby, which is a great sign that Ruby has helped Weiss a lot more than she sometimes realises.

Another reoccurring theme is Weiss's admiration and desire to be like her older sister, sometimes to be seen by her and others is to surpass her in every way. Even in the end, her sister only wishes the best for Weiss and even praises her on the amazing friends she makes, which is really kind of pulls at the heartstrings.

This manga has both strong themes and whimsical stories. They are both serious and silly. I really enjoy the concept of the anthology where I feel like I am learning more about the character it focuses on and those around her.

The art style is different between each artists but it still gives the same feeling as each other and even the series. I also cannot wait for the next volume in this anthology and secretly hope one day that they may even do the other parties, like JNPR, I would honestly buy the shit out of that series, sorry for the unsavory words but I feel so strongly about that team compared to RWBY.

Out of all the comics, my least favourite would be No Doubt Weiss by Umiya, the art style doesn't overly appeal to me but I do kinda like the theme and my most favourite would probably be One Day by Kuma, mainly cause it feels like the best view of Weiss, someone who seems like she doesn't care but when it comes to it, she will do anything to save and protect others, also the art is cute. It was really hard to pick one favourite and one least favourite cause they were all so good. I recommend this to RWBY fans more than anything, since you need the knowledge of the story and characters from the series by Rooster Teeth.

I give this series a 3 out of 5 bookmarks

It's a great read but mostly recommended to people who are familiar with the RWBY universe more than someone randomly picking it up. Though I still recommend it to people who enjoy a feel good manga about a group of friends discovering themselves, each other and their place in the world.

Lady Agi posing with the newer manga

Manga Mumbles - The Wallflower

The Wallflower is a 36 volume story about Sunako, a hermit with the love of slasher and horror films is being forced into being a lady by four beautiful men on behalf of her Aunt and their landlady. This greatly upsets Sunako as she rebels against their every advancement of change in order to gain their chance at free rent.

This is the easiest synopsis about the story I can write and we meet a few characters that help change Sunako but does she really become a lady?

I read this series years ago, from 1 to about 12 and thought it sounded amazing. Then, with help from my amazing partner, I got the first 16 and then finally 17 and 36. With all the mangas bought, I decided to binge read the series I enjoyed when I was in my teens and I was sorely disappointed and that saddens me a lot.

Now, before I continue, this is going to be a spoiler filled review about The Wallflower.

Honestly, there is nothing that can't be ruined about this series cause it's 36 volumes of the same thing over and over with different looks and situations.

Yes, I wasted about a month reading this series thinking that something is going to change and the sad thing is, it doesn't change there is no conclusion, there is no ending and there is no real story progress or change.

I was hoping that maybe Sunako, at the end, would play the role of the lady when needed but remained true to herself, maybe even start a relationship with Kyohei, even if it's a small one where they both realise they have feelings and go "Sure, maybe it can work" instead of the "deny, deny, deny" relationship they have.

The only real character developments happen with the minor characters, their relationships grow, they become more interesting people, they actually become more interesting than Sunako, who is the main protagonist. This is saying a lot.

I felt like the story and characters had a lot of potential but it fell flat.

I want to agree so much that I liked this series, I did, for the first 12 volumes. Then it was like reading the same first twelve volumes over and over for the next 24 volumes. I sadly don't like this series, like I said before, had so much going for it but failed and it makes me sad, considering I spent so much on buying a series that barely had any satisfying aspects at the end. I mean, if I can read seven volumes of a manga within 1 day and about a week to read 6, it's saying a lot about this series.

I can't even bring myself to review each individual volume cause each one would be like, read volume X to get the same feeling as volume Y did. Even Devil Survivor that has 8 volumes gave me more satisfaction than this series ever did. Sorry Wallflower fans but I once use to enjoy the series but there is so much I don't like about it.

For example, how every female character wants to bang the four main males. That is unreasonable, I find it funny at first but after the first hundred times, it gets so annoying and boring, like all there is to them is their looks and I couldn't really enjoy them as characters.

I would have liked Sunako but something about her irked me after a while, especially when she wants to do right by her aunt but wouldn't even enter a middle ground where she could still be herself but played the role of a lady.

Noi and the Princess characters were kind of good but fell flat since they were partnered with very flat male characters, same with Machiko.

Then we have the gold digging, man-hunting Aunt that basically left a bunch of stupid children to run a house and are really unable to look after themselves. Then again, I never liked vain characters like her anyway.

It's hard to enjoy a story that is stuck in a loop and never progresses, characters that barely progress and the art style is okay but it feels really boring after the first few repetitions of the volumes.

What would I give for this series? a 2 out of 5 bookmarks.

It had great potential but it just fell through, it felt like nothing really changed for me, sure little bits did but not enough to really warrant praise.

Manga – Where did I begin?

I am not keen on restarting on a professional note but rather a personal one where people can understand where my hobbies started and other things that may not mean much but it could give me a to understand myself and my hobbies. 

I don’t recall when I started collecting manga exactly but I can mention how it all began and in a way, it wasn’t the best of reasons to start a hobby.

It began in HS, around 2003 when I made a group of friends who was into Anime and such. One day, they brought a manga in and I loved it because of how different and interesting it was but the other reason I kept liking it and anime was because I wanted to fit in and stay with these friends. So I kept collecting them.
It was when I was looking at these five that I remember the joy they brought me and that I didn’t buy them because of those friends but because I wanted them for myself. I manage to reclaim some series I nearly gave away at the time and spent a few years in a limbo where I was figuring myself out. It was about 2015 when I made my current group of friends and reminded me of why I loved Video Games and discovered I enjoyed Tabletop Games and games like DnD.
This is why I collect manga. They bring a joy to my usual somewhat gloomy world.

I started with Fruits Basket, Battle Royale, Cardcaptor Sakura, Chobits and X/1999. Sadly, I wish I recall who was first but I sadly can’t. I can recall going to EB when they use to have this tiny arse collection that I use to think was huge and I bought most of my volumes there, heck being $15aud a volume was a lot then but to me, it was worth spending a large chunk of pocket money on it, then again, I was 13/14 years old and had so little care other than knowing if I could get the next manga or another video game cause I could only have one or the other.

Then the next year, my friends took me to Kinokuniya where I use to save up and buy hundreds of dollars on mangas. I got into more series but mainly the ones my friends liked, since I still wanted to belong with them. This went on till for about a year and then the visits got less and eventually 2012/13 rolled around and that’s when things went wrong with my friends, slander was spread about me and I lost all my friends.

I no longer had a reason to keep collecting mangas or watch anime, the love for them died horribly. I could no longer look at them, so I tried to give them all away but when it came to the first five series I ever owned, I couldn’t let them go.

One of my friends, who is also my Ex, reminded me of why I use to love manga and it sort of rekindled my love for anime. Sadly it didn’t last long since I can’t get myself back into it. He helped me start buying manga again, as a way to help me feel better about my current issue and it worked for a bit but I couldn’t fully love them and I use to get angry at them for being such a bad reminder.

This is what Mouse did and it may not have been much at the time but now I realise it meant a lot.

Then I met my Mouse, he has helped me with myself and in turn, I started to love manga again. I started setting funds aside every pay to buy new volumes, to collect both old and new series, he even helps me buy them too. The one thing that helped me with ending my hatred for manga was the day I lost my temper at the manga, I couldn’t look at them, I couldn’t touch them. Mouse came over and helped me put them back on the shelf and made them look beautiful. I sat there, looking at them and since then, I started to let go of the stigma I had towards them. He really helped me that day when it came to manga and myself. I’m so glad I met and end up with an amazing guy like him.

I started with about 5 series and had fluctuations between the years until today where I have nearly 600 volumes in 90 series and 19 one-shots for a total of 109 manga titles. I regret one thing, it was letting this hobby have it’s love stolen by toxic people and missing out on some rare series or having volumes stolen and now having a hard time finding replacements. It’s the only regret but I am working on making this collection beautiful again, something to be amazed by.

I want to read so many stories, meet so many characters and enjoy what they can offer.

Manga Mumbles: Lets Talk Love Hina

Years ago, when I was a young Lass, I discovered manga and the choices back then was very limited and to make things even more fun, there was even less choices of where to find them and even worse if you don’t aim to travel to the city just for Manga. Back then I also use to be a weeb, into anime, worshipped Japan and thank the lords, I grew out of it, so the city was a frequent visit and back then, I wanted to read Love Hina but I delayed it for other series, like Battle Royale or Chobits.

Recently, I procured my partners 12 volumes of the series and read them all. I don’t look forward to the ending since I am in two minds about what I read to this point.

Let’s start with the first 8 volumes.

I did not like them. It was the same themes and, to be honest, abuse but in different areas and the story was not just going anyway. Sure, I love series that try and establish the goal and characters but I felt like it took 8 volumes to get anyway. The harem concept was a joke cause it’s super predictable that Naru, who constantly beats up Keitaro, is going to be the girl he marries. Another thing about Naru is the constant attacks on the guy, even when she is at fault. After the first few falls which results in tit grabs and garments being taken off, it loses its humour and becomes annoying cause it doesn’t stop.

I honestly wish I could talk more about the other characters but half the time, they are just in the background or props for more shit to be dished out on the somewhat boring and useless main protag. 

I get that when it was released, this use to be the best thing in Manga but reading it over ten years from it’s prime time, it’s not that great.

In my opinion, the first 8 volumes are just one giant filler.

Now, volume 9 started to garner interest from me cause it feels like the story was actually going somewhere. The characters seem to finally have a reason for being there besides props for the main two characters. The plot seems to make sense since they are now in Tokyo U and everything seems to finally mean something to the reader, it means progress.

Then, another character comes in and throws the story into a spin. I mean, at this point, why bother? 

Just means more work for both creator and reader but this addition brings in the whole incest thing which is beyond creepy in my opinion but I do admit, with her in the mix, it gave a spice to the story which also makes Naru pull her finger out her arse and do something about her feelings with Keitaro, which took nearly the whole series to get to this stage which should have been done when Mutsumi proposed herself as a love interest as Keitaro. No, we have to drag out an already dragged out series.

Normally I would rant and rave till the cows come home about how cliché and boring this series is and wonder how this actually got popular if it didn’t have the fan-service and harem themes that usually brings all the hormone driven males to their shores. I am still disappointed that it took 8 mangas to get somewhere interesting. I admit, I kept reading cause I love Tama-chan.

Now, I shall actually talk about the manga themselves.
For an older manga, the art style is still lovely but sometimes it gets really busy and overwhelming sometimes but at least they are utilising all the space.

The story is bland at best but it only really gets interesting after 8 volumes of filler work under the guise of story establishment. I mean, how hard is it to establish a story of a guy wanting to get into Tokyo U to fulfil a promise while living in luxury with a harem of gorgeous women, debatably with underage ones too, and then finally fulfilling that promise and marrying the girl of his dreams? 

Apparently with 8 filler volumes and 7 volumes of actual story where shit gets done.

Now the characters are not that great at first. The progress best when the story actually started to get interesting. Why won’t I say more on this or anything? All I can say is boring, bland and cliché. That’s this series in a nutshell and it’s quite sad. I bet if they remade it with all the good parts, I would probably have bought the series. I kind of glad that I never bought it originally, otherwise it may have ended up being a series I regret buying and would dump it on my friends who gets it up for the harem/fan-service/empty mangas like this.

I do apologise that this is not as positive as I would have liked but that would be lying. I actually struggled to read this series as a whole and I rarely take more than a few hours, let alone two weeks to read twelve volumes of a manga series. This says a lot about the series if anyone knows what I am like with a good manga. Spoiler: I read mangas in an hour or so cause I love a good story and I absorb it so much to the extent I regret finishing it, like I did with That Wolf-Boy is mine. Actually, I’d recommend that more than Love Hina and it could have done more with story.

Ken Akamatsu is a fascinating mangaka since I prefer some of his other series more than Love Hina, such as Negima and UQ Holder which are of the fantasy and supernatural themes but also have a reverse harem thing too. I also like the fact that he is a creator to the J-comi site that distributes digital versions of out-of-print manga. As much as I don’t like Love Hina, I feel that Ken did his best since this was his second series to garner much attention after A.I. Love You. If you are like me and can’t travel to local stores, you can purchase copies of his mangas from sites such as Book Depository.

Volume 1: $25.39aud (https://www.bookdepository.com/Love-Hina-Omnibus-1-Ken-Akamatsu/9781935429470?ref=grid-view&qid=1529977609622&sr=1-1)
Volume 2: $22.09aud (https://www.bookdepository.com/Love-Hina-Omnibus-2-Ken-Akamatsu/9781935429487?ref=grid-view&qid=1529977609622&sr=1-4)
Volume 3: $25.05aud (https://www.bookdepository.com/Love-Hina-Omnibus-3-Ken-Akamatsu/9781612620206?ref=grid-view&qid=1529977609622&sr=1-2)
Volume 4: $25.03aud (https://www.bookdepository.com/Love-Hina-Omnibus-4-Ken-Akamatsu/9781612620213?ref=grid-view&qid=1529977609622&sr=1-5)
Volume 5: $19.85aud (https://www.bookdepository.com/Love-Hina-Omnibus-5-Ken-Akamatsu/9781612620220?ref=grid-view&qid=1529977609622&sr=1-3)

Food Fuss: Takoyaki

Today, I helped make takoyaki. I mean, not from scratch but I am still pretty proud of myself for doing pretty good on my first attempt.

My friends seem to enjoy it too =D

Next I will be eating some stir fry and possibly playing more tabletop games. This weekend is a much needed thing for me.

Video #2

Bwahahaha Part 2 =P

Video #1

A Video me and my friends made |3