Manga Review: Ayako by Osamu Tezuka Osamu Tezuka is best known in the United States for his early children’s manga and their subsequent animated adaptations like “Astro Boy” and “Kimba the White Lion.” But later in his prolific career, he also produced quite a few works for more mature readers, such as “MW” and “Ode… Continue reading Manga Review: Ayako
Tag: Japan
Manga Review: A*Tomcat
Manga Review: A*Tomcat by Osamu Tezuka A perennial comic book idea is animal versions of previously created superheroes, such as Hoppy, the Marvel Bunny for Captain Marvel. It turns out that manga creators can do it too. Back in the 1950s, Osamu Tezuka created Tetsuwan Atom (“Mighty Atom”), the story of a super-powered robot that looked… Continue reading Manga Review: A*Tomcat
Book Review: Shanghai 1937
Book Review: Shanghai 1937 by Peter Harmsen Disclaimer: I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it. This is my 25th win! This is the first English-language book specifically about the battle for Shanghai in 1937, which is considered by some to be the start of the Asian… Continue reading Book Review: Shanghai 1937
Manga Review: Vagabond Volume 1
Manga Review: Vagabond Volume 1 by Takehiko Inoue Miyamoto Musashi, author of A Book of Five Rings, was one of the greatest swordsmen of his time (the 1600s) and something of a warrior-philosopher. He’s become a legendary figure, and there have been many fictional accounts of his life in Japanese media. The most influential of these… Continue reading Manga Review: Vagabond Volume 1
Movie Review: Hissatsu (Sure Death)
Movie Review: Hissatsu (Sure Death) A group of seemingly ordinary Edo citizens, mostly of the merchant class, are in fact a loose team of assassins. But fear not, they’re good guy assassins who only take money to kill people who really deserve it. Problem! There’s a new assassin in town, who’s exclusively targeting the local… Continue reading Movie Review: Hissatsu (Sure Death)
Book Review: The Devil–With Wings
Book Review: The Devil–With Wings by L. Ron Hubbard Full Disclosure: I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway in the expectation that I would review it. Presumably this was influenced by my review of an earlier book in the series, “If I Were You.” This volume is part of the “Golden Age Stories” reprints… Continue reading Book Review: The Devil–With Wings
Manga Review: The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
Manga Review: The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service by Eiji Otsuka & Housui Yamazaki. Five students at a Buddhist college discover that each of them has a talent or skill relating to death. The corpse that brings about this revelation is restless, and they help it find peace. In exchange it wills them just enough money… Continue reading Manga Review: The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
Manga Review: Anesthesiologist Hana
Manga Review: Anesthesiologist Hana by Hakua Nakao and Kappei Matsumoto One of the manga genres that doesn’t get a lot of press in the US is “work manga”. These are more realistic looks at an unusual career, showing the day-to-day life and challenges, as well as what it takes to get and keep the job.… Continue reading Manga Review: Anesthesiologist Hana
Manga Review: Ninja Papa
Manga Review: Ninja Papa by Yasuhito Yamamoto. Nobuo Matsuri is a typical Japanese salaryman (office worker.) At thirty-two, he’s got a low-paying dead-end job at a second-rate food company, an incompetent boss who treats him like dirt, a heavily-mortgaged home and a nagging mother-in-law who never hesitates to point out all the many ways in… Continue reading Manga Review: Ninja Papa
Manga Review: Shonen Jump Alpha
Manga Review: Shonen Jump Alpha Let’s start with something hefty, shall we? Shounen Jump is the #1 manga anthology magazine in Japan, selling in the millions of copies. Its emphasis on the themes of “friendship, struggle, victory!” have made it a favorite of both its primary demographic of teenage boys (“shounen”) and the general public.… Continue reading Manga Review: Shonen Jump Alpha