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Made in Abyss is a great manga, however it is somewhat disturbing to read and not for the faint of heart. The first couple chapters are quite slow which might put you off reading them, but this is all necessary for the sake of world-building and backstory. As the story progresses though, the action picks up and we are introduced to a various assortment of likeable and not so likeable characters (in Made in Abyss, it's a common trend to either love a character or hate them with your guts). The manga also has a habit of hitting you where it hurts, then giving you ... a couple chapters of respite. As for the art, it is utterly beautiful, and the dialogues / translations never fail to convey their original meaning. All in all, if you plan on reading Made in Abyss, you're in for a ride that will have you crying, looking away, but also admiring the fragility of the lives that the main characters lead. This is a manga you won't forget.

Made in Abyss is a great anime, although it definitely isn't for everyone. The story starts out tame enough, at an *ahem* orphanage, but as it progresses, themes such as death or trauma take center-stage and make for an unforgettable ride. That said, the anime manages to balance out the tense and the calm, meaning it isn't quite as overwhelming as Elfen Lied for example. The characters themselves are all unique and it's apparent love was put into their creation. I would recommend this anime to anyone who enjoys raw, unedited media that speaks directly to the soul.

Rating: Masterpiece, however not for the faint of ... heart.

Pokemon Adventures is a must-read if you grew up on the Pokemon games and anime, since like those mediums, it caters to the thrill of exploration and wonder, something we usually lack as adults. From the first page, you are met with familiar faces, such as Red and Professor Oak, but also new ones, such as Green and Silver, who have more personality than you'd expect. The story itself is divided into arcs, so if you just want to skip the Red / Blue or Gold / Silver arc, you can always do so. The art is definitely good, and the panel layout does not ... disappoint. The only thing that detracts from the manga is the fact that characters often find themselves in convenient situations, which makes some of the events hard-to-believe, but this is a shounen after all.

Why does Black Lagoon deserve to be called a 'masterpiece'? Let me tell you. First of all, it doesn't pretend to be something it's not, take Zom 100 for example, which started out light-hearted in the beginning and then tried to be dramatic, to little effect. Black Lagoon doesn't take its setting and characters lightly. Revy is a cold-blooded mercenary, seeking to avoid relationships whenever possible; Rock is a businessman, always finding the right words to keep himself from trouble; Dutch is a no-nonsense smuggler, doing anything if the price is right. The characters of Black Lagoon are all unique in the sense they are ... all fleeing from something, all joining up together to escape their painful pasts. I think this is an anime that grows on you; you come to like the characters for what they are, not what you wish they were like. Also, Revy and Rock's relationship is open-ended, but if you watch the show, you know where it's headed. Enough said, watch it already!

Neon Genesis Evangelion is definitely one of the most influential 90's anime out there, and for good reason. First of all, the story is top-notch, exploring what it means to be human in a hostile, callous world. When we are introduced to the protagonist, we do not think much of him, as a matter of fact it's normal to go as far as dislike him, because of his inability to act and make important decisions, however as the anime progresses, we come to understand his mind and his struggles, and begin rooting for him instead. Also, the animation is iconic and the pauses in between ... character dialogue is impactful, it makes for a unique viewing experience. There's also the fact all main characters have a tragic backstory, which makes you feel for all of them. The only thing keeping it from being a masterpiece is the ending, which although isn't terrible, is really quite confusing and underwhelming. If you include End of Evangelion, this is a 10/10 though.

Elfen Lied, as the title suggests, is not actually about elves. It's about girls with the power to behead anyone within a couple meters of their vicinity, and if that doesn't pique your interest, it's doubtful this anime will. First of all, there's the issue of the over-the-top violence. In basically every other episode, someone gets brutally killed and you have limbs flying left, right and centre. Then there's the lack of comic relief, or any relief at all from what occurs in the anime, so you're basically watching a depressing show from start to finish. Lastly, the way the characters behave and think is ... beyond me; the main character acts like Mother Theresa even though his life is on the line, and his cousin gets jealous one minute, then forgives him the next. I don't exactly know what the author was thinking when he created these characters. To not be too harsh though, this anime does offer some character development and heart-felt moments, and I'm sure it has an audience, but it's definitely not for the grand majority of people.

High School of the Dead, often discredited for being an ecchi, offers more of a story than one would expect. To start things off, each of the characters serves a purpose, and the mc isn't the stereotypical nerd we've all come to expect in ecchi. The situations the characters find themselves in, forces them to take drastic measures, and reveal their true intentions, which I really liked. Gore and blood are present of course, but not in a shocking kind of way (take Elfen Lied for example). And the ecchi parts are obvious, but they don't detract from the story due to how interesting the ... characters are. There's even a reference to George Romero movies! When it comes to the negatives, there honestly isn't much I can criticize, apart from the fact literal breasts are used as a firearm stock (is that even safe?).

Zom 100 was great, until it wasn't. The anime started out very strong, with an upbeat, catchy theme contrasting other zombie media where the death of characters is usually a tragedy. The main character is especially unique in this regard, treating the zombie apocalypse more as a blessing than a curse. The story progresses at a good pace, and the art style is really pretty, however, that's where the positives end. First of all, it's hard to care about the characters. Akira (protagonist) is just an ex-salaryman who wants to have fun, while his best friend, Kencho, is only unique in the fact he likes ... to get naked in front of others. For the first couple episodes, this would be fine, but there is little character development even by the end of the series. Then there's the fact the last 4 episodes follow a completely different trajectory than the rest of the series, attempting to make the anime deeper than it actually is. Also, apart from being "fun", the series was unable to make me laugh, cry, or feel much of anything at all. Now to be fair, the opening song is really good and I had no issues with the overall sound quality or animations. It's obvious effort was put into creating this series.