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The manga could have been a fantastic way to incorporate fresh information pertaining to the viruses within the Resident Evil universe, or at the very least a means to expand on pre-existing ones. Yet, nothing within the five volumes amounted to much of anything at all.

With the first volume, we get introduced to a couple of new people that are quickly shanghaied away into a remote access through an Asian jungle towards a wealthy private school. They arrive and shortly afterwards we get our first zombie attack. Everything felt excruciatingly basic as all of this is occurring. It’s the beginning of every single Resident Evil ... story ever. To be honest, this didn’t really bother me so much as every tale has to start somewhere. But nothing else of import really happens in volume one. We learn miniscule information about the strain, and even those were vague hints rather than anything concrete. It took approximately one hundred seventy-five pages to present the audience with a sequence of events that only should have taken about seventy-five to a hundred, tops. As someone who reads manga quite frequently, I was unimpressed with how stretched out it was. Moving on towards the second volume, I tried to remain hopeful that it would improve.

It didn’t.

My biggest gripe with The Marhawa Desire was the significant lack of a plot that is pertinent to this franchise. Without the occasional glimmer of Chris Redfield’s face, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you that this was part of Resident Evil. It legitimately could have been some random zombie narrative; easily forgettable in every way possible. Every single detail about what was going on–the motives, the fallout, the clean-up–was all painfully one-dimensional, filled to the brim with cheesy and outdated genre tropes.

Let’s look at the virus leak. **MINOR SPOILERS: There were two reasons behind the leak: one of them was a bland and uninspiring need for vengeance, while the other is wrapped in a mystery that’s never revealed. This “mystery” is the only thread that ties this manga to the Resident Evil 6 video game. Putting the motives aside, the virus itself is depicted as giving the infected some unique traits, yet it is never discussed or explored as to what these traits are specifically, or even what they could have been. The mere mentioning of whether it will be revealed in RE6 doesn’t occur either, which augmented how terribly underdeveloped the story was. **END MINOR SPOILERS.

There is one major aspect within The Marhawa Desire involving a few people that I felt was the most compelling part of the whole damn thing. While it surprises a couple of the characters, it ends up taking a back-seat to all the chaos that’s ensuing. I did not understand why it was even brought up if it wasn’t going to be examined! Something like this has also never happened in any portions of the franchise, so it was a huge deal, nevertheless, to have it swept aside like an insect royally frustrated me to no end. The coffin of bad writing was metaphorically nailed shut after I read this scene.

In addition to horrid execution of the plot, the progression for the title in its entirety was contradictory. Due to how callously the story was fleshed out, the pacing of plot events felt like it dragged on for the sake of doing so. From Point A to Point B all the events could have been wrapped up within a terse three volumes, though we ended up with five. As unnecessary as it was, it assisted in further weakening the plot, which at times I had a difficult believing even existed. Upon reaching the last page of the series, I was convinced that it wasn’t really a plot at all, just a convenient excuse to write something that inevitably amounted to fan fiction level discrepancies. However, once we get to the last two volumes, the action gets heavy, and as people are struggling to escape safely, the pacing becomes fast as all hell. You start to blow through page after page, which is quite marvellous considering that NOTHING OF CONSEQUENCE HAPPENS!

Okay, okay… I know that I have ranted about how agonisingly saddened I was with the story, but The Marhawa Desire does have a couple of redeeming qualities. Since the setting is a wealthy academy in Asia, I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the Asian students that attended. We had students of Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and Malaysian descent. Although all the characters were as one-dimensional as the story, and the incompetent White boy saved the day, I did appreciate the effort that went into this specific facet. One of those characters, as I mentioned earlier, does include series familiar Chris Redfield (Resident Evil 1, 5, 6), but he’s only in a handful of scenes. I’d consider it more of a “Special Appearance.”

I also found the artwork to be great. The panels are perpendicular for the most part, which makes it aesthetically pleasant and easier to read. Most of the environments were meticulously detailed and lush with excellent use of shading to bring these scenes to life. The graphic portrayal of violence and gore was also splendidly done. On occasion, the shading would cause minute details to get lost in the fray, especially when combined with the awkward placement of sound effect texts, but it mostly occurred during intense action scenarios.

Unfortunately, those are pretty much the only good qualities.

All in all, Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire is a terrible series that doesn’t do any realm of justice to this magnificent franchise. As someone who is a humongous fan of Resident Evil, I felt completely heart-broken by this manga. But I’m not completely heartless! The Marhawa Desire is a symbol of potential. Yes, the story sucked, but it felt fantastic to see a Resident Evil manga series. There really are so many ways that this franchise can be expanded upon, more so when you consider using mediums outside of the gaming mechanic. While this may not have been the greatest artistic addition, I hope that more chances are taken to bring us such content, because in all honesty, it freaking deserves it.

2 brainsplosions outta 5!

Out of all of the serials I watched this season, Restaurant to Another World would have to be one of my favourites. It was feel-good and dangerously hunger-inducing.

In the corner of a local shopping district lies a Western-style restaurant called Yōshuku no Nekoya (Western Cuisine Cat Restaurant). During its business hours, Monday through Friday, it serves normal food to normal folks. The restaurant is normally closed on weekends and holidays. However, on Saturdays it secretly opens its doors to very unique and unusual clientele from some very unique and unusual locales.

The most disappointing part of this entire series was the severe lack of kitty cats. ... The restaurant’s name has the word “cat” in it. The least they could have given me was a little feline mascot!

I just had to get that off of my chest. Aside from that, it was such a fun and delectable series. It’s set up in an anecdotal means with episodes that don’t connect plot-wise. The story itself is simple and straightforward: it’s about a fancy restaurant that caters to diverse, fantastical races from varying planets, and the different ways that these folks come across the Nekoya.

Aside from the delicious and breathtaking dishes that are served at this restaurant, my favourite part of the show consisted of the characters. Even with it being episodic in nature, the anime does a phenomenal job of being character rich and exhibiting stories that share motifs of strength, overcoming grief, loneliness, and insecurities, just to name a few. The experiences that so many of the clientele undergo vary from light-hearted to tender to deeply emotional. There’s an underlying warmth in the hardships they all over-came during their lives that I found to be very comforting and inspirational. Their trials and tribulations are reflected in the foods that they come to love dearly.

For example, we have a lion who was beaten and taken into captivity as a slave where he was forced to fight for his freedom. His favourite dish is katsudon. It’s a dish with lightly fried meat, usually pork, over rice with eggs. The dish helps rejuvenate him and helps him to gain his strength. Thus providing him an advantage, which he uses to obtain his freedom much faster than anyone believed possible. His story also provides a lesson in not judging someone by their appearances as monsters can be hidden within even the most genuine looking folks.

There is another story that revolves around a young girl who used to visit the restaurant with her grandfather where they’d eat parfaits. After he passes away, she falls into depression and her physical health begins to suffer. She’s a very lonely young woman. One day after coming across the magical door, she’s taken to Nekoya. The memories associated with the restaurant help inspire her to get healthier. She begins smiling and laughing a lot more, and the overall quality of her life improves drastically. That was one of the episodes that resonated the most with me.

So, the stories in each episode truly make the series worth watching. It’s an all-around feel-good, heart-warming anime. If that’s not enough to peak your interest maybe the animation will be. It’s beautiful, especially where the food is concerned. Every single dish they showed, even if it was something that I’m allergic to or cannot eat like pork, made my mouth water. I made the mistake of watching this on an empty stomach one evening. My tummy roared louder than my cat! However, when I watched it after having dinner with a full belly, I still found myself desperately hungry for whatever was being shared in the episode.

I think my biggest complaint, aside from there being no kitty cats, is the mystery behind Nekoya. How did it come to exist in a way that allows it to reach different dimensions, as well as different planets? What is the secret behind this unique capability? A part of me wishes it was discussed in the serial, but another part of me really appreciates the enigma. In a way, it adds to the charm.

It may be not super spectacular, but it’s a decent show that is worth watching, especially if you’re in the market for something that is uncomplicated, savory, and compassionate.

7.5 sandwiches outta 10!

When I sat down and took a look at the offerings for the Summer anime line-up, Elegant Yōkai Apartment Life seemed like it would have plenty of potential to be a feel-good type of show. While I was hoping that it would be reminiscent of Natsume’s Book of Friends, I always remained realistic in the sense that it wouldn’t be quite as extraordinary as Natsume’s. However… I never anticipated that the show would turn into a colossal and incoherent waste of my time.

The series revolves around a kid named Inaba Yūshi. After his parents die, he moves in with his Uncle. But feeling like a ... huge burden to them, he decides that when it’s time to go to high school, he’s going to move into the school’s dorm to make life easier for his family. As middle-school graduation approaches and he prepares to make the big move, the dorm that Inaba originally planned to shift into ends up burning down. Desperate to find a place to crash for the next six months as the dorm’s rebuilt, Inaba exhausts all avenues available to him, until one evening a mysterious looking kid offers him a suggestion. This leads to Inaba finding residence in a room within an old and gloomy looking house that turns out to be the home of numerous kinds of yōkai, or supernatural creatures and people.

My first impression of the anime was that it felt a bit unoriginal to me, but there were charming characters and some minor plot development that had me intrigued. My biggest question after sitting down and watching thirteen episodes of this is: what the hell happened to those characters and where did the plot go?

The first couple of episodes for the series, shows us Inaba as he moves into the apartment and begins to get situated with the yōkai occupants of his new residence. The humour was awkward and sometimes a bit forced, but the different supernatural characters with their anecdotes on life felt genuine and feel-good; exactly what I was hoping for. Yet, regardless of this small fluffy quality, the show is laced with predictable tropes, one right after another.

Upon living at the haunted apartment, he moves into the school dorm when its finished. But soon after moving out, Inaba misses the camaraderie and homey atmosphere that came with living with the yōkai. Predictable. When an altercation with some schoolmates occurs, he realises what he gave up and moves back. Predictable. There are many more instances of it. My excitement plummeted very quickly, being replaced with boredom.

In spite of being unimaginative and boring, that wasn’t where the show went wrong. Early in the series there is a vague mentioning of the main character having supernatural abilities, which piqued my interest even more. I felt that it would offer more depth to the seemingly straightforward and somewhat bland nature of the story. But aside from a quick reference to it at the end of an episode, we don’t see anything else pertaining to his “abilities” until four or five episodes later. This is where shit starts to hit the fan.

For the sake of not giving any major spoilers, all I can really say is that the anime begins to severely deviate from the original concept into a whole other type of story. Instead of it being about a guy living with yōkai and learning from them, growing and maturing as an individual, it ends up being some kid who now has to learn to train and manage powers that have manifested out of nowhere. The yōkai turn into more of a background atmosphere than anything else. The transition from point A to point B was jarring, unexpected, painfully forced, and utterly terrible.

The climax that arises as a contrast to Inaba’s fresh powers was horribly written and entangled in disjointed storytelling. While I was watching, I honestly felt as if each episode was written on the fly without much thought or consideration for the overall narrative at all; as if the writers themselves didn’t quite understand or know what they wanted to do with the anime.

I mentioned earlier that we had charming characters. As Inaba struggles with his abilities and what he’s supposed to do with them, these charming characters are only seen a handful of times. Whenever they are shown, I will admit, were the moments that I found most pleasant. Their humour and on-screen presence was much more gratifying than dealing with Inaba.

Another facet that annoyed me immensely was the pointless scene where Inaba’s cousin drops by to visit him. It’s pretty obvious from the first episode that his uncle’s family feel Inaba is somewhat of a burden to them. His female cousin is always depicted with having a mean, sour attitude. Nonetheless, one afternoon she hunts him down and has a breakdown about how Inaba doesn’t visit the family any more and about how she’s always cared for him. This scene doesn’t trigger or address anything else in the series up to the present episode. I don’t know if it will be addressed later, but it was a complete and total useless scene that had absolutely nothing to do with narrative. I felt (only slightly) that it’s a set-up for a future romance, however, Inaba has another person who’s quite open about them possibly being a couple. Did I mention that this scene came out of nowhere with no context to it whatsoever?

After watching episode 13, and seeing that the series would be continuing onwards through the Autumn season, I decided to drop it. I wasn’t enjoying it and found myself to be wholeheartedly frustrated with everything that was going on. I suspect Elegant Yōkai Apartment Life is the reason I fell into an anime slump to begin with.

Aside from the writing, the animation quality was pretty decent during the first half of the season. There wasn’t anything extravagant or special about it, but it was aesthetically pleasing enough and consistent. Yet as more episodes released, I noticed a significant dip in the details of the artwork. Characters had uneven eyes, certain design details would be missing from one scene to the next–it all took on a seemingly rushed appeal that made it even more challenging to enjoy.

One of the main reasons I don’t watch as much anime as I used to is because the severe lack of originality makes it difficult for me enjoy many titles. I have been learning to appreciate certain tropes when utilised with unique traits, because I know that some tropes are worth watching. It also keeps me engaged with the medium, which is what I really hoped for with Elegant Yōkai Apartment Life. But alas, it just didn’t happen. Storytelling-wise this was one of the worst damn shows. Granted I didn’t watch too many simulcasts during Summer, but trust me… it goes from zero to what-the-fuck very quickly.

2 rice balls outta 10.

Sakuran: Blossoms Wild is a tale from the Edo Period of Japanese history. It focuses on the pleasure quarter, Yoshiwara, with our female protagonist named Kiyoha. As a child, Kiyoha was sold to a brothel, where she worked as a maid until she could rise to a prominent position of a courtesan.

This book was a re-read for me. I originally purchased it many years ago. Initially, I loved everything about the manga. But after eight years of reading and evolving, I can safely say that I don’t feel the same way about it. While I still enjoyed it, I no longer feel it’s the greatest ... stand-alone manga ever.

The facets that make this manga very good consists of the story. It’s presented very honestly and doesn’t shy away from exhibiting the more candid and less romanticised existence of a prostitute, even high-ranking ones. We get to see the roles that these prostitutes played in society, particularly where men are concerned. Most of the men were turning to these women as a means of retaining some air of relevancy during an era of great change. The purchased affections they received brought them more meaning and self-worth than they would find elsewhere.

Kiyoha is brilliantly flawed. She’s unrelenting in her stubborn behaviour and she never ceases harbouring her secret desire of running away. Growing up surrounded by women who were sensationally popular and wanted by all men, near and far, taught Kiyoha that loneliness and sadness will find you. There is no way to truly escape the internal agony that comes with being a courtesan. While you may appear to be draped in luxury and pleasure to everyone outside of the brothel walls, inside you were nothing more than a prisoner of circumstance and fate; you led a miserable existence filled with such severe hopelessness.

The examinations of brothel life and the significant role that women played, even as piece of property, were fascinating to me. It makes for a contemplative and riveting read, to an extent. The inconsistent illustrations and overall lacklustre execution ends up detracting a lot from the story.

Some panels are exquisitely drawn, particularly the coloured pages. Yet any scenes involving sex or nudity, take on an artisitc change to be more cartoony in nature. This undermines the serious subject matter. But I can also see this as a way to present how silly the women believed sex to be, especially in the ways that it manipulates the feelings of men. Nonetheless, it’s a bit jarring and unpleasant. The differences in character designs are also capricious. Some of the women are very easy to tell apart, but then a new chapter begins, and depending on the scenario, it’s almost impossible to tell one woman apart from the next. This occurs with young men as well.

Other minor flaws includes the romance that Kiyoha has. It is blatant insta-love induced via a sexual response by being with a guy who actually knows what the hell he’s doing. It was so unbelievable and ridiculous. There is very little plot progression outside of watching Kiyoha grow up and deal with her “love,” even that doesn’t sprout up until you’re about fifty-percent of the way finished.

Sakuran is a good manga if you are interested in a realistic depiction of the Yoshiwara pleasure district and what life was like for these women during a tumultuous time of change, but in reality, you can find books with much more flesh and merit somewhere else.

7 combs outta 10!

Orange, written and illustrated by Ichigo Takano, is a slice-of-life, romance manga serial about a young girl named Naho. On the first day of her second year in high school, 16-year-old Naho receives a letter from herself ten years into the future. Initially believing it to be a prank by her friends, she ignored the contents. But as predicted events started coming true, Naho has a change of heart about the letter. The whole point of this little correspondence is to ensure that Naho alters choices that she made as a teenager in order to save the life of her friend, and new transfer student, ... Kakeru.

Orange is the best manga series that I have read in years. Everything about it was extraordinary. I went into the manga with some hesitations as it had been hyped up, especially with the release of the anime a few seasons ago. Yet, I have to admit that the hype for Orange is well-deserved.

The writing is beautiful. The pace of plot progression is perfectly interwoven with tension and suspense as we watch Naho struggle with the decisions laid out before her. The anticipation builds delicately while we watch the effects of the changes initiated taking place. The anxiety and eagerness that is evoked felt marvellous because it had me completely invested in the story, all the way unto its intense and satisfying climax. This works splendidly in other regards to the story as well.

Naho is a sixteen year old girl with a small group of fantastic friends. The essence of their youthful joy and the conflicts they face in regards to first romances is superb. Usually in shōjo manga where there is a tight-knit clique, there also happens to be a couple of loose threads that causes conflicts within their relationships in a negative means. While these six friends do experience some difficult and trying situations, especially where love is concerned, it’s dealt with in a very natural and believable way. People actually talk to one another to sort out their issues and try to resolve matters via communication. This is seldom ever exhibited in manga (particularly shōjo) that when I read it for the first time in Orange, I was awed.

For example, there is a scene where Naho is being bullied by another girl. This girl has some insecurities and inadequacy issues that she isn’t capable of facing, so she exerts her frustrations on Naho. When Naho’s other female comrades see what’s happening, they step in to defend and protect their friend. Yet they take it one step further and openly tell the bully that she’s being a bitch and needs to re-evaluate her attitude. I have never seen this done in a shōjo manga. It felt so wonderful to watch these girls be genuine in their friendship with the main character. There was no jealousy or other immature reasons that kept them at bay. They saw a problem and stepped up to fix it. Such positive depiction of female friendships added so many good vibes. I cheered after I read that chapter.

While all of these aspects are written remarkably, my most-favourite part of Orange consists of the very serious subject matter that it deals with: suicide and soul-shattering grief.

I hate narratives that fetishise suicide or sadness, romanticising it to build a non-platonic bond between two individuals. Suicide and Depression aren’t sexy. They are serious things that need to be dealt with in the most healthy ways available to the individuals who deal with them. Orange realistically depicts the severe emotional trauma and anguish that stems from a profoundly deep-rooted loss, specifically in regards to suicide victims. The story will evoke emotions within you that you won’t even realise you’ve ever felt or hidden away. As a person who has a sensationally intimate relationship with suicide and Depression, I was utterly blown away.

Orange faces the issues that cause the relevant character to feel a need to turn to suicide, head on. It doesn’t sugar coat his pain and suffering. It doesn’t have his friends telling him to “get over it” or that “everything will be fine if he relaxes,” or other bullshit of the sort. Those are the last things you ever want to say to someone who is contemplating suicide or is in an extreme depressive state of mind. Instead, Orange shows the reader each layer of this character’s grief and ache to help us fully comprehend his point of view. This is also shown via the friends who are trying to help save him.

For the first time, I was able to read a story about suicide and not get angry. Instead, I sat down and I cried. I cried as each of these six individuals cried within the monochromatic pages of these graphic novels. My feelings were so raw with empathy and consideration because for the first time I was able to comprehend what it must have been like for people who were trying to save me during my darkest moments. It was extraordinarily overwhelming.

Lastly, I would like to take a moment and mention the artwork. Orange is told in conjunction with breathtaking and elegant illustrations. There are a lot of soft lines and intricate details that help portray the feelings of all of the characters. Everything is drawn so meticulously that you can easily decipher these responses via the physical expressions on each person’s face. The panels are positioned perfectly to highlight distinct scenes and situations, while providing a visual contrast between two people’s contemplations. Full-page drawings never feel overbearing or confusing either. The artwork helps to bring the whole piece together excellently.

Overall, I recommend Orange to every single person who enjoys reading. This is a manga series that is exceptionally heartfelt and magnificently crafted. It has a rather special place on my favourites shelf, where it will remain for a very, very long time to come.

8.5 hair pins outta 10!

TRIGGER WARNING: Strong subject matter pertaining to suicide & suicidal thoughts/situations.

Planetes is a seinen, science-fiction manga series that is written and illustrated by Makoto Yukimura (Vinland Saga). It follows a small group of astronauts who are tasked with keeping near-Earth’s orbit clean of debris. In the four volumes of the series, or two omnibus editions, we get familiarised with the individuals who are doing the disgusting jobs no one else wants to do. We see them as professionals in their trade, and as regular human beings with everyday, normal problems in their personal lives as well.

The chapters within Planetes tend to be very episodic in nature, with a few of these “episodes” spanning multiple chapters ... depending on the arc that is currently being examined. This works superbly because it allows the reader to get to know each of the characters individually. We do see all five to six of these folks working together, but the ultimate focus of each arc falls on a specific person at a time.

Even though it’s categorised in such a means, the writing is extraordinary. As someone who understands complex and difficult sciences rather well, I understand that being an astronaut and doing this mundane occupation of “trash gathering” is actually extremely dangerous and intricate. You have to be absolutely brilliant with many, many subjects in order to be able to complete the tasks assigned to them safely and successfully. While we learn about each person, it’s done in a highly intimate manner. The reasons that everyone has for wanting to have a career out in the void of space is uniquely personal to them. Some of those reasons as terribly emotional, while others are as simple as mere curiosity. This creates a dynamic for diverse personalities and unpredictable storytelling. Each crew member’s plight in various forms, no matter how subtle or forthright, helps to create a much bigger picture: the family they have all become. Every aspect is tied together by one piece of thread or another. So yeah, the chapters are episodic, but the narrative is quite cohesive in the grand scheme of things.

In addition to being highly character-rich, the examination of space-life is fantastically realistic. Some motifs include political strife; emotional, physiological, and psychological stresses; and the families of the astronauts who are being affected by their prolonged absences from Earthly lives. This in turn evokes an array of emotions. There were at least three times while reading this manga serial where I had to take a break because I began to cry. The focus on family is so heart-wrenchingly relatable. Everyone has a dysfunctional home-life. But it’s still a home, a place they’ve left behind that is filled with warmth and love. It was beautiful. As well as crying, there were many moments where I was completely awed by the physics, astronomy, and engineering that went into creating the bulk of the what the astronauts are charged with doing.

The manga is sensationally smart and profoundly intelligent, not to mention meticulously technical, in regards to living in space. This includes dealing with gravity within a space station, the affects of cigarette smoke within space communes, settling on a planet for mining, etc. My brain felt so wonderfully invigorated and completely immersed; it was a very interactive type of reading experience for me. All of it is further amplified by the masterful illustrations.

To say that Planetes is one of the most breathtaking manga series’ that I have ever read would be, quite frankly, one hell of an understatement. I’ve read a lot of gorgeous manga, and comics, but nothing on a scale that can truly compare to this seinen story. One of the most terrifying parts of being in space, whether you reside there or are exploring its depths, is how overwhelmingly vast and empty it is. It’s a black void filled with trillions of stars and other gaseous creations. There’s no oxygen, no light, no sound, etc. It is fucking frightening how lonely space truly and utterly is. The mangaka does an exceptional job of bringing this horrifying concept to life with his drawings. When I look at a page that is nothing but a single man standing on a planet, looking out at the blackness before him, I get chills. I can feel the anxiety and panic of it all seeping into my bones. It’s an all-encompassing sort of mastery that creates a strong foundation for the series. Without the art, Planetes would have been lost to its potential. But it wasn’t and I’m so damn grateful for it.

Speaking of being grateful, while there are a myriad number of motifs that are exhibited in Planetes, my favourites are the ones that have to do with life being what you make of it and the people that you share it with. No matter who you are, or what your trade consists of, a life without these two distinct qualities isn’t really a life worth living. It’s a notion that I know I have taken for granted and have forgotten on my journey thus far, and it feels marvellous and comforting to be reminded of it every now and again.

In conclusion, if you like hard science-fiction, and you are a fan of technically, complex narratives that concentrate on being in space, then I recommend this manga series to you. It’s positively brilliant.

10 pocket watches outta 10!

My first impressions for this show after watching the first two episodes, I felt that the season would focus on motifs of Natsume growing up with unique capabilities and what life was like for him during these difficult times. It turns out that I wasn’t too far off on my hypothesis! Woot.Very much like the previous season, this new addition has been quite reflective in regards to Natsume’s past, mostly in relation to the obstacles that he faced as a child. We get to experience more concrete glimpses into the core facets via contemplative thoughts that our protagonist has about the person he used to ... be and the person that he’s become. This breathtakingly puts into perspective the character growth that he’s undergone over the span of the past 72-episodes.

Every single aspect about Natsume’s Book of Friends is a stunning masterpiece and a subtle ode to Japanese culture and spiritual beliefs. It’s presented in glorious animation, infused with the aesthetics of tradition and history. From the mannerisms and etiquette, to the way that everyone interacts with another-supernatural or otherwise-to the common dilemmas involving dysfunctional and complicated familial bonds, friendships steeped in misunderstanding, and the simple emotions of loneliness that’s blossomed from a deep loss–all of these come together in a marvellous, fluid way to create a story that’s highly engaging and compassionate.

Visually, the anime is just as lovely, if not more, as its predecessors. The natural surroundings of the forests, neighbourhoods, and mountainous regions are depicted with great detail while retaining an air of ordinary beauty. The characters are all natural and easy to differentiate from one to the next. Whenever it calls for it, the suspense, laced with ethereal affects, conjures just the right amount of tension without feeling heavy, forced, or insufficient.

The soundtrack continues to be wholeheartedly magical with melodies composed of piano, shamisen, and wood instruments that work together to instil warm-hearted emotions and empathetic responses. It’s tasteful, sophisticated, and so easy to listen to, making it the absolute perfect accompaniment to the classic aura of Japanese culture.

Regardless of all of these things to love and appreciate, the best parts of the season were the themes of friendship and family, the bonds that tie people together, which is inherent in every new instalment to the serial. It’s a show that really peels away all of the layers that make humans such complex creatures and reveals us for the simpletons that we are: individuals who fight our own realm of loneliness; people who just want to love and be loved and accepted, whether it’s romantic, familial, etc.

In conclusion, Natsume’s Book of Friends was one of the best shows out there for the Spring 2017 Anime line-up, and it will always be a masterpiece for me. It’s the kind of genuine feel-good series to pick up when you need it the most. I highly recommend this to all fans of anime, especially if you’re new to the medium. It can be enjoyed by anyone who loves a beautiful story.

10 maple leaves outta 10!

Mars is definitely a series for the ages. It has everything that one could possibly ask for when looking for a great romance manga series, and then some. Whether you are a sucker for gorgeous art, tight-knit plot work, or beautiful characters with dark histories, you will definitely find yourself falling in love with this series before the end of the first volume.

My experience with Fuyumi Soryo began when I picked up her psychological sci-fi series Eternal Sabbath a few years ago. ES was one of the very first manga series that I had ever read and I thought it was amazing. I’m still rather ... inexperienced when it comes to manga, so when I was ready for a new obsession I decided to focus on the classics. Learning that Soryo was the author for this fan favourite, I just couldn’t help myself.

Mars literally has everything that is needed for a full-bodied romance manga. There is of course heart-warming romance with lush handfuls of racing, bullying, sociopaths, tragic and haunting pasts. We can’t forget murder and child abuse either. If this was any longer than its 15 volumes, I’d have to say that it was quite the decadent little soap opera of manga. But even with such a variety, Soryo manages to execute it all with luxurious fluidity. As everything unravels, you are never once left feeling that things are happening too quickly or too slowly. The pace is in perfect combination with the events that take place.

One of the things that normally bother me about high school lovey manga is how annoyingly immature they can come off at times, filled with whiny kids who complain about the dumbest things. Most of the time, I feel that those series can be rather patronizing or preachy. Even though Mars is about a couple of kids in high school, the lives and obstacles they are faced with are substantially more adult in nature than I was expecting it to be. I went into this filled with scepticism, but by the end of the second volume my doubt had been totally replaced with serious and passionate intrigue. The focus on all of the tough topics is rendered with an air of realism—the tension and suspense—and for me this was one of the characteristics that had me so freaking hooked.

As I said up above, I’m already familiar with Soryo so when I saw her art again I felt a nostalgic glee in my wee little heart. Even though I recognized her style, the utter elegance of it all just blew me away. She gets very detailed but with a delicate and gentle touch. Her clean panels are charming with their simple presentation. Soryo unravels some dark and disturbing elements in her series but it becomes all the more accessible with the diligence of her lovely artwork.

Mars is a superb romantic manga series. Fuyumi Soryo really outdoes herself. It’s beautiful in both story and style, and I recommend this to any fan of manga who is looking for a serious, suspenseful piece of literature. My rating for Mars is easily a full ten.

There were many things that I loved about Elfen Lied. It has very good action (lots of crazy blood, gore, and explosions), it has plenty of comedy (in that cute haremish sorta way), and best of all it has characters that actually evolve (without the typical shōjo romance BS). Each character has a background and extenuating circumstances that make him/her unique, most of them tragic. Watching these people grow from the roots of their issues is quite beautiful. The development doesn’t lack in showmanship or emotion and that is what makes Elfen Lied absolutely amazing.

Flaws? Well the art is good, but it’s not phenomenal. The ... action is depicted rather nicely, but sometimes the pages would be overloaded giving it a very busy appeal. I didn’t really know where to focus my attention at certain points, however. This isn’t a heavily reoccurring thing, so it wasn’t too bad. The character design is nice, but the eyes are so large and similar that it became difficult at times to differentiate the female characters. The male characters all looked vastly different from one another most of the time, so identifying them didn’t require as much effort.

Another flaw that I found with this series was the ecchi (or frivolous perverseness) element was mostly unnecessary. The unrelated sexual innuendos took away from the serious tone that shadowed the plot. I can understand the need for comic relief, especially in a piece like this, but there are other ways to add humour rather than breaking plot to insert stupid sexual dialogue, which seemed like a waste of space given that the women spent eighty five percent of their time in the buff.

Overlooking the crude humour breaks and sometimes brimming art panels, Elfen Lied is a wonderful series that should be read by any fan of manga at least once. The plot is very interesting, especially if you’re into science-fiction and elements that question the term “humanity,” or if you just love to stare at bare breasts. Like I said earlier, the character development is wonderful, done no amends by the anime series in the least. I recommend this with seven out of ten stars.

There’s nothing overly complex about The Earl and the Fairy. You have a fairy doctor whose sole occupation is helping fairies, whether it’s with internal fairy conflicts or their conflicts with humans. Then you have a mysterious Earl who seeks her assistance for some tricky nobility contentions. The two formulate a unique friendship, one that is constantly questioned by a sassy, bow-tie wearing, whisky-drinking kitty cat (upon seeing said feline, I was totally sold).

The characters, although quite entertaining, are nothing overly special, but they are a pleasant step away from the quintessential shōjo traits, which make themselves apparent early on. The portrait of young girl ... (named Lydia) in blossoming adolescence with a cheery perception of a profession of which she has no experience would be the very first thing the reader is presented with. But you’ll note that she’s not a student, she’s not ditzy, and she’s most definitely not a boy-crazy harlot searching for self-worth in the opposite sex. This was a delightful change of pace from the norms of shōjo. Her intellect and kindness make her very easy to become smitten with. Then we have our dashing Earl, who is (expectedly) flirty and charming, yet regardless of his fun personality he comes off as rather enigmatic, and you soon recognize that he’s not your standard prince-type. While the male protagonist is very stereotypical, the two characters have a tasteful chemistry in the way they interact that just feels great to read. My favourite character is the fancy feline friend of our darling fairy doctor (no surprise there, right?). He is an absolutely enchanting little critter. With a snarky tongue, a taste for the finer things in life, sophisticated attire, and cute compassion for his comrade, his presence really rounds off the cast nicely.

My favourite characteristics of The Earl and the Fairy probably began when the references to Celtic lore were introduced. I have always admired fantastical creatures like mermaids and any folklore stories pertaining to them is almost like porn for me. When the plot of this series took us to an island off the shores of Ireland, called Manan, all because of some mer-tails (ha, see what I did there?), the fangirl within me squealed with excitement. The execution of the adventure and the expression of these Irish fables were wonderfully winsome.

The usage of supernatural qualities continues throughout the four volumes, however, the quality of suspense begins to lack momentarily in between the two different story arcs. Because The Earl and the Fairy is so terse, there is limited space for filler material; actually there is none to speak of. While this can be an appealing aspect, it also hurts the writing. The conversion of plot as the story unfolds is left feeling abrupt and rushed. It’s almost tangible as you begin to feel this hastiness at certain key parts of the story. When you finally approach the finale, there is a slight taste of emptiness upon the tongue. Questions loom above your head, dangling from threads of curiosity.

The brusque nature of the plot notwithstanding, The Earl and the Fairy was an enchanting serial to sit through, especially due to the art. The clean and polished nature of the artwork draws your attention to the page, the details fine and shadowed with articulate care. Even if the pages are brimming from corner to corner, your vision never feels overwhelmed. It is comfortable to the point that it compels you to take a moment or two to truly admire the fine lines and thick strokes that illustrates the story. While at first glance it seems standard, the longer you read it, the more you realize how lovely it is.

If you are a fan of fantasy and supernatural traits with an appetite for the shōjo genre, then I recommend this to you. It’s different from your standard high school drama but in all of the best ways. While it’s not the greatest thing out there, it definitely doesn’t disappoint. My rating for The Earl and the Fairy consists of seven brownies outta ten.