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After finishing Dragon Head I just had to express my thoughts about it. Dragon Head is a thrilling artistic adventure. The characters are all quickly thrown into this mysterious phenomenon and have to learn to survive, keep their sanity and their morality. I found the art to be an aesthetic throwback to something like Kazuo Umezu. The detail of the landscape and weather conditions are amazing and the characters simple enough. The story is thrilling and interesting the whole time. I never once felt uninterested. The mysteries keep coming and with every chapter the reader inches closer to discovering a possible truth. It is easy ... to get attached to the cast and find yourself cheering them on or cringing at the possibility of their untimely demise. The story is sort of doing two things at once. We get a straightforward survival story, but we also get an underlying meaning. The story tries to focus on some importance of human fear and why we need it or not. I think the symbolism and dialogue on the fear talk can be a bit thrown into the story, however it certainly does not take away from the experience. The ending is a fine one, leaves much open to interpretation and that is alright. By the end, I was sort of hoping for more or perhaps expecting some more detail on the other plot points. Despite that the story still does a good job at winding it down and opening it up to an end. Dragon Head is definitely an enjoyable read with interesting plot developments, mystery, loss, beautiful art, and emotional appeal.

I went into Mind Game knowing nothing expect that this looks pretty interesting and wacky. Mind Game is fun, artsy, wacky, and touching. I had a lot of fun watching Mind Game because it does some weird stuff mixing the art and live action early on. The story is dark and wacky and I think it works well, especially if you are just watching it to have fun. Mind Game has a lot of cool artistic directions differing throughout. It starts off loose and then grabs form and is slipping unable to find a balance in its direction up to midway through. The art reaches ... a consistent point and stays there to tell the most structured part during the second half of the movie. I very much enjoyed the crazy unbalanced art styles. Mind Game starts confusing and ends confusing, and I love it. The story is completely wacky, keeping the viewer guessing about what is real and what is a Mind Game. The wacky beginning is simple, but then we get into this crazy dance party full of experiences and symbolism. The Overall message being delivered here is touching and fun. There are many moments between Nishi and the cast that are touching and very real. I would recommend this Movie because it is fun and I love the ending. This movie is a cyclical Mind Game start to finish.

Another entertaining manga from Hiroyuki Nishimori. To start, Doushirou is a fun read. The concept is amusing, having a samurai in modern times experiencing delinquency. The archetypes are typical and enjoyable. The story is alright, a bit nondirectional sometimes. I enjoyed the friendship bonding scenes and the homie slice of life. The cast is typical and lovable for a delinquent manga. My favorite character might just be Ikeuchi, the cap man. I specifically find his character very funny and a much needed comedic contrast. I place this story under Kkow and Ochanigosu because it has less direction and less enjoyment. Overall, Doushirou is fun and ... a short read for fans of Nishimori.

Manhole is an interesting manga with cool concepts and a touching story. The two protagonists are likeable and well made. Mizo is the typical old detective type. I really enjoy Mizo's dialogue and design. On the other hand, Inoue is a sweet woman and a caring one at that. I enjoyed all the sweet moments between the cast. Every character is likable and well designed, although some may be unlikable per their archetype. I felt the emotional strength in many scenes involving human conflicts. The main antagonist is designed well and likable to. I dig the "infection" and all the history surrounding it. A lot ... of cool anthropologist type beats. I can easily see this story being adapted into a movie. Manhole manages to grab the readers attention early on and keep it interesting as if you were watching the events play out right then and there. Manhole is a simple thriller with a great ending that I felt was very touching. I recommend Manhole to any thriller fan.

Another fantastic manga by Fukumoto, Nobuyuki. Over the course of reading Fukumoto's manga he has definitely impressed me time and time again with his top tier story writing. Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa is no exception because it is a dark and twisted comedy with amazing story telling and real world insights. Reading SDK was fun and interesting, it stands out amongst his works. Kurosawa is a relatable man and a tough SOB. I love the way he illustrates and pens Kurosawa's depression and anxieties. Kurosawa's views and problems are realistic and pretty relatable. SDK is a tough read, the story is rough and downright screwed up. ... I found myself on multiple occasions just wanting to put the book down because of Kurosawa's internal despair, of which is done very well. You are rooting for him all the way through and it's hard to read when he is struggling internally. The overall messages about life and viewing life are great and touching. The comedic sequences in between the dark aspects are so twisted and a bit abrupt its crazy haha. SDK is such a wholesome story you just have to love it. I would recommend anyone read this because the story has much to offer for enjoyment and life lessons. One of the greatest aspects of Fukumoto's art and story telling is his use of similar character archetypes/roles. Fukumoto is one of the only authors I see do this. He is has these characters like Kurosawa which just stand out and are memorable and likable. He is then able to tweak their art and alter their role while holding together this loveable design. Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa is awesome and shines a light on the relationship between humans and the society we have built.

Kyou Kara Ore Wa! This book series is amazingly outgoing, fun, and full of love. After finishing this I find myself left happy and sad because it's over, but glad that I had the chance to read it. Kkow, as I like to call it, stands out as one of my favorite manga I have ever read to date. It stands out as a genuine manga staple. It stands out because it has these characteristically comedic drawings of over the top cutesy expressions and friends having fun. The entire cast feels real and worthwhile. I can't see myself ever forgetting these amazing and wacky characters.

... Kkow is full of fun and comedy. The crazy situations, from light to dark, the characters find themselves in are so entertaining and bond building. The light hearted stuff is fun and happy, however the dark stuff is rough and messy, luckily not crossing the border of very messed up and dark. I laughed out loud with genuine happiness when reading many situations throughout the whole story. I absolutely love the goofy designs of the main casts expressions and their little dualities.

Kkow has so much love put into its drawing and storytelling. When I read this I am swept into the story and can feel every situation and every characters perspective. As I often do, I find myself attached to this cast not only because they are lovable but also because they feel real and I can genuinely relate to them, as I am in my early twenties. The struggles internally and externally that often fall on the main cast are real problems some exaggerated and some not.

To finish, Kyou Kara Ore Wa is a manga you must read, I can't express this enough. I feel like I've grown a bit with this book and now it is a part of me. I'm so sad it's over. As the main cast goes onto their next stage in life, so will I!

The first part of Stone Ocean is slow and a bit lackluster. I am a fan of Stone Ocean's manga and the anime left out some small details. The manga for Stone Ocean is one of the better half of Jojo's as a series. This part starts a bit slow, however it soon ramps up the story as it goes. The anime covers the first part of Stone Ocean and it did a good job at that. One of my concerns with the anime is an amount of still frames and oddly statue like scenes that feel dead not alive, a problem I had with ... Part 5. I enjoyed what I saw for the most part, although I still recommend reading this part instead. The manga just presents the events and relationships a lot better than these first 12 episodes. I can't say I like the opening all that much and the ending is alright. I do love the stands in Stone Ocean and can't wait to see the rest of it animated. The next season should be quite awesome as the story gets wackier and faster. To finish, watch this, it is Jojo and it is enjoyable.

Genius Party is a breathtaking little collection of amazing short stories. All of the stories Genius Party, Shanghai Dragon, Deathtic 4, Doorbell, Limit Cycle, Happy Machine, and Baby Blue are creative and encapsulating. I enjoyed six out of seven of the stories, Limit Cycle being the one I least enjoyed. The rest of the stories are truly unique experiences and have a defined artistic direction. Genius Party the first film is mesmerizing, captivating and leaves me with a positive feeling after watching. Genius Party has entertaining imagery with a symbolic story as many of these stories do. The second film Shanghai Dragon is funny, ... adorable, and kinda awesome. The mc is a boy and he is adorable. The mc is surrounded by action and fantasy with really well done cool fight scenes. The third film Deathtic 4 is so creepy and weird, but with so much artistic value. I really love the direction of this story it is so funny and interesting. The characters are so goofy and the art is weirdly amazing. Doorbell is the fourth film and it is so freaky and wholesome. The story gives off a sad vibe and tells an oddly meaningful story. The fifth film is Limit Cycle and to be honest it put me to sleep. The film is droning and overwhelming in its excessive audio. I kind of like that aspect but it does not hold the same uniqueness as the other stories do. The sixth film Happy Machine is the most solid film and it is so humble, sad, meaningful, and enjoyable. I love the main character being a baby going through a psychedelic experience of sorts. This one is full of hallucinogen inducing imagery and cutesy fun; made me go through the emotions watching it. The seventh film is Baby Blue and its sad and romantic. All I can say is melancholic story. Now all of these stories are worth watching and enjoying. They all offer one of a kind experiences and I recommend animation fans to watch these.

Buraiden Gai is my favorite series from creator Fukumoto Nobuyuki. Buraiden Gai is short and sweet, full of excitement and a jarringly great story/message. This series stands out to me because it has very thought out story and its relatable. All of Fukumoto's stories are relatable, however this one stands out to me because I can really relate and understand the main characters struggles. Gai also points out some real problems with some persons' views of how society is and should work. The story is interesting. The plot revolves around the treatment of younger delinquents and falsified statements by police and the such. The story ... begins with a well done hook that grabs the reader and keeps their interest. It then just goes from there all the while being meticulous and well built. The main cast is awesome and they feel real as usual from Fukumoto. Something about the way he writes just holds my interest and the way he introduces and uses side characters is emotional and supportive to the story. The mind games are thrilling. I was unsure of what was going to occur while reading. I could only hope for the best. The art is detailed and balanced as usual. There are some panels with extreme detail and mixed with simpler designs as often Fukumoto does. I love the designs of the supporting cast and even some minor characters too. I loved reading this and had so much fun at every turn of events. I recommend any fan of Fukumoto's or any fan of manga to read this short book, it's bold, unique, and thrilling.

Gin to Kin is a very captivating story full of excitement and emotion. Gin is the main character and has a lot of well done character development and he is a bad mofo. The story feels real and cinematic. The characters are developed well and as a reader an emotional attachment is quickly built. Fukumoto uses similar designs for archetypes of his characters and it helps create a relationship with that design. I enjoyed most of the story however I did not like one of the character resolutions that occurs in the later half of the story. The art is fantastic, I really enjoy Fukumoto's ... use of screen tones, I find them attractive and that they add to the atmosphere of the story. The cityscapes are beautifully done and intricately appealing to stare at. The character designs for the main cast is dapper and every character looks distinguishable. I find his use of close ups and detailed panels aids in his storytelling. The gambling arcs are thrilling and a lot faster than in Akagi, which is more in depth gambling on a much longer scale. Gin to kin has more variety in terms of gambling and is not directly centered around gambling games. Morita is one likable and savage gangster. Morita manages to find luck at every turn and might be one of my new favorite protagonists. Gin to Kin is something special, a truly great story full of gambling, crime, politics, and action.