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Childhood Friend Complex is a good humored, patient romance that is worth the risk of your heart breaking over it.

First, if you are struggling with porn use, I do not recommend this manga and you shouldn't read it. Some chapters include nudity and/or sex.

The story is a childhood-friends-to-lovers romance based in a university setting. Structurally, the story has generally favored focusing on the male and female leads for approximately 25 chapters and then starts to focus more on secondary characters and plots after that point and reaches a turning point at chapter 41 (current chapter at time of writing).

The primary duo are really ... fantastic. Their dynamic of picking-on-each-other banter is genuinely funny and exudes a sense that they’ve known each other for a lifetime and live in their own world. Haneul is an outgoing, playful, easily loveable type while Mincheol, though charming if not a bit of a jerk with her, is more brooding and protective generally, making his development as a character the most central to an endgame between them. The psychological struggles of understanding their shifting relationship are not overdone and well-paced.

Mixed within are breaks from the romantic tension (though that romantic tension is exceptionally done; the author is very gifted at communicating passion in body language without text) with the characters having lives outside of their relationship with each other. A love triangle is hinted at and introduced fairly early on as well, but the publication is too early to see what will happen with it.

All in all, this manhwa is on-track to be a very special romance and may be the only erotica I recommend especially since that content is few and far between. I think any fan of romance will enjoy it.

Helck is a slow burn, high payoff adventure that does not overstay its welcome. In 111 chapters, nearly every aspect of its characters and world that are introduced are continuously explored in unexpected ways through the end of the story, resulting in a composed and very satisfying conclusion.

Structurally, the plot of the story is akin to something like Your Name where 60% of the story is slow-paced and relatively light-hearted with many mysteries outstanding, then a turning point is established and the remaining 40% are non-stop reveals, beautifully drawn action sequences, conflicts, and resolution. Among its many virtues, this successful implementation of tight, big-picture ... plot is among its most impressive and lends itself to some incredibly touching character moments as well as some badass action scenes.

The setting is 90% fantasy with some interesting sci-fi adjacent elements towards the end. Regarding genre, it starts as a parody-tournament arc, then a journey/slice of life bit, then something like a fast paced rescue mission. Throughout each of these phases, so to speak, is a very dry, understated humor that is particularly unique. It never goes for big, hilarious gags, but rather for subtle conversational or character details that range from people being overly obvious or completely out-of-place.

Perhaps the most jarring aspect of Helck is its art style. From what I can observe, it seems as though the author uses heavier, thicker line art. They also exaggerate sharp angles in the faces. Females have slightly more narrow necks than what is average in manga, while men generally have wider, more anatomically porotional necks and almost boxy faces. Additionally, the style of characters seems to be a blend of Japanese and non-Japanese sources. While you’ve definitely seen something akin to the cat-girls, elves, and witches that are in the story, many of the major characters have a distinctly medieval Eurpopean feel less unexpected within a manga. These subtle details can simply seem different and take some time to get used to.

Overall, Helck is certainly worth the read and is a well composed adventure with a very satisfying epilogue.

This one has glimmers of genuinely interesting plot and character dynamics, but it very quickly abandons these to essentially episodic, non-consequential encounters with the various, albeit attractive, characters.

First, if you are struggling with porn use, I do not recommend this manga and you shouldn't read it. Nearly every chapter includes some degree of lightly censored nudity or sex.

The art is very well done and the pacing of intimate scenes is definitely the author’s strong suit. Highlights of the central “drama” involve the male MC and Ms. Lee. Ms. Lee has some occasionally interesting hang ups about their relationship and some clearly deep sense of ... abandonment from her prior relationship and her age which is subtly alluded to. Another lust interest, the male MC’s childhood friend, is genuinely interesting in her steady rise to celebrity while the author introduces a potentially slimier side of influencer culture (this seems to be abandoned as of chapter 92, more on this later). Ms. Lee’s daughter is (unsurprisingly) introduced into the mix and her various poor deductions on top of deception by the male MC and Ms. Lee makes her a somewhat unfortunate character.

However, this all becomes stupid very quickly because the male MC has virtually no consequences to his actions, nor hardly any moral qualms about his sexcapades because he’s a “young guy” with a high sex drive. He’s not a very interesting character, and as the number of lust interests stack up (very rapidly) after chapter 50, he ends up just being somewhere between a sleezy douche and a sociopath. At this point, the author seems to mostly give up on a narrative and just creates situations for MCs body count to increase. The introduction of an (attractive) doctor character was completely unnecessary and ultimately just serves to make the male MC a worse human being.

Overall, good art, stupid/abadonded plot decisions.

Now that more than two chapters have been released from my initial review, more than enough time has passed to make a fuller evaluation of for Beat & Motion. While promising from its start, the series has continued its trajectory of being a stand-out series worth reading.

The author continues to have a remarkable grasp of using visual metaphor to capture the up-and-down experiences of the characters. Additionally, while the over-arcing narrative has been mostly linear in terms of success for the main characters, there's a potent sense of anxiety in their day-to-day pursuit of those goals that aims to draw the reader into the ... shoes of the main characters. This structure can really speak to anyone who has pursued any performance-based, risky field like art, music, or even sports.

The leads also have a charming, easy-to-root-for relationship that continues to come together quite satisfyingly.

It will be interesting to see where the manga goes moving forward since it has been characterized by mostly good vibes peppered with anxiety. An honest critique could be that the characters have experienced significant success within the first 40 chapters. Though they are still little fish in a small pond, it does seem as though they're moving on a relatively fast track towards their end goals. Yet, there is still plenty of time for the author to set up some heartbreaking situations, which would only benefit the overall message of the story.

I would highly recommend if you're a fan of slice-of-life and romance and if you're interested in the psychological world of artists (I would personally extend this out to athletes as well though this is not a sports manga).

Blue Box is an exceptional sports-romance-drama thing that is a must read (now also a watch) for any romance fan. It is cute, goofy, heartbreaking, and hype wrapped up into a nice little blue box (ha). The artwork is wonderful and Kouji Miura is one of the best character writers I’ve read for the genre. She’s been particularly skilled at writing rivalries, pulling out good qualities from characters with glaring flaws, and giving the reader reason to root for everyone.

You may be disappointed if you’re wanting a stronger emphasis on the strategic elements of games or matches for the main characters because, as Mother’s Basement ... points out, the sports aspect generally takes a backseat to the drama between characters. However, the more recent chapters have a heavier emphasis on the games and these have been some of the best moments of the manga so far.

While my experience as a college athlete certainly enhances my appreciation for this series, I can’t recommend this series enough and it’s on my short list of physical manga I plan to buy. All chapters are available to read at www.viz.com under their subscription.

Also, whatever "blue box" is referring to is still up for speculation to my knowledge.

The premise of Nozoki Ana is extraordinarily stupid with a plot hole WAY bigger than the story’s infamous peephole (just call the police, your parents, and landlord anyway despite being blackmailed?), but I’d be as much a liar as the MC if I said this story wasn’t simultaneously thrilling and emotionally gripping, especially for smut.

First, if you are struggling with porn use or are not comfortable seeing nude female bodies, I do not recommend this manga and you shouldn't read it. Literally every chapter includes some degree of nudity or sex.

As Gigguk has already pointed out, Emiru is what keeps the story genuinely interesting. Her ... mysteriousness, cleverness, obstinance about the rules, and consequent maliciousness is offset by unexpected displays of compassion and bravery that make you question all of your (correct and healthy) assumptions about Stockholm syndrome. Similar to Makima from Chainsaw Man, Emiru puts the reader in a dilemma where this person is clearly not trustworthy, but even after all she does is still likeable.

Kido to some is a typical, indecisive harem protagonist, but I disagree. He’s quite decisive, he just makes consistently poor decisions and regrets them. Yet, it’s useful to keep in mind (and be reminded) these poor decisions are done under a constant state of duress for most of the story. Despite that duress being avoidable, the author’s commitment to the premise turns what could be a bland protagonist into something more like a psychological case study for how one may respond to this situation (emphasis on “something more like” given these situations are mostly timing when he has sex). Consequently, his escapades with love interests at odds with his complicated relationship with Emiru create some interesting moral quandaries prompting questions about privacy, truth-telling, duress and romance, and sexual trauma.

There’s more to say about the other characters, who I would say are generally well-written and multi-dimensional. Yet, despite being unexpectedly emotional and well-written, it is still smut so by principle I can only give it a mixed recommendation. Lastly, please do not become voyeurs hoping that you’ll find the love of your life if you decide to read this manga. You will go to jail.

I will dare to say it: Days with My Stepsister is an important anime. I'm not saying it is the new FMA: Brotherhood and it won't be a sales powerhouse, but it is a grounded and honest examination of the often fetishized step-sibling relationship in anime. Despite some production quality blips and some rushed but important character interactions in the last two episodes, Days with My Stepsister comes to a mature and satisfying conclusion in relation to the complex psychological problems of gaining a step-sibling later in life.

If you are looking for another incest-bait anime, this show will likely not satisfy that itch (though it ... may, who knows). However, I do think that this show is worth watching as a sobering palette cleanser from all that Domestic Girlfriend (aka peak), Oreimo, and 変態 I know you read and watch.

Pros:
(1) The climax of episode 12 was remarkable.
(2) Relaxing and slow-paced. Contemplative atmosphere.
(3) Really interesting cuts between past memories and contemplations of characters
(4) Great use of lighting.
(5) Psychologically interesting, even if I wish the characters themselves were a bit more dynamic.
(6) Beautiful, somber soundtrack

Cons:
(1) Characters movement can be noticeably awkward, most notably by how slowly the characters move.
(2) Character faces can be noticeably inconsistent.
(3) As already mentioned, the last two episodes contain some rushed characters but important character interactions that I wished were introduced earlier in the show.

Black Clover both is and is not just another bland shonen fantasy adventure.

In terms of plot, Black Clover does an excellent job establishing mysteries to maintain interest, foreshadowing future events, and building to the bigger picture of the story. Within each arc prior to the end of the Royal Knights arc contains a few offhand, isolated interactions between major characters foreshadowing future reveals, while the Elf Reincarnation arc is the culmination of these occurrences and the catalyst for future story direction. Paying attention to these scenes can help offset the story’s primary weakness, which I will get to later.

It does take a ... while before things really start to set in motion (approximately 150 chapters). In the meantime, Black Clover is primarily driven through its incredibly drawn fight scenes. The sheer quantity of full-page, nearly double-page, and double page panels are astounding, and Tabata is extremely skilled drawing magic effects and battles. Also, in agreement with Geoff from Mother’s Basement, the ½ cloaks representing the Magic Knight squads are both cool and give plenty of space for characters to show off their personal style.

If there’s a drawback to Black Clover, it would likely be its character writing. While it would be dishonest to say that Tabata is a poor character writer, I think it is fair to say that it isn’t his strong suit. Tabata does a good job making characters layered, even if their one predominant feature (Asta’s determination, Noelle’s tsudere-ness, Veronica’s drinking, Charmy’s eating, Gaude’s sister complex) tends to peek through more frequently than not. Characters aren’t forgotten about and can hold their own, but Asta does end up pulling most of the weight in battles. Yet, compared to something like One Piece, Bleach, or even Fairy Tail, Tabata relies heavily on Asta’s unwaveringly positive attitude and ambition to almost mystically bring the Black Bulls together, rather than organically bringing them together through individual conversations, banter and surprising reveals in personality or character. Consequently, Black Clover leaves some gaps in the natural progression of friendships and romances. However, this isn’t to say that all the characters are relatively weak. Yami is a standout, as well as Luck, and Fuegoleon and Mereoleona Vermillion.

All this to say, Black Clover’s plotting and art alone are enough to justify giving it a read. Tabata has an impressive vision for the series, and despite its weaknesses is a unique addition to the shonen battle manga world.

Bleach, though deserving criticism, is a thoroughly satisfying read even for its weaknesses, length, and with a relatively rushed ending.

It certainly deserves criticism for having both excessively long arcs and frustrating character management. It is easy to imagine Kubo losing traction with weekly readers when he goes several weeks without anything interesting from the introductory cast (Ichigo and human friends) only to see those characters get their ass-kicked by bad guy number 8 out of 15.

Its character management is a more nuanced topic, given that it makes sense with the size and scale of encounters that the main human cast (Orihime, Uryu, and ... Chad) would have a limited role. However, Kubo consistently provides too-little, too-late for their interpersonal dynamics, which can be understandably very frustrating for someone interested in a more, for lack of better wording, personal series. As Geoff from Mother’s Basement points out, this quality can dilute the hype someone may expect from a shonen battle manga, even for intentionally hype scenes (exception: Kenpachi).

Yet, ironically, the casts’ diversity is also among Bleach’s many virtues. Despite seeming less-character focused, characters are generally unique, interesting, and are written in a manner that presupposes a whole life about which we, the readers, are only getting a small glance. Same goes with the story’s world. It seems vast, mysterious, always subject to change and not fully understood by its inhabitants. Needless to say as well is Bleach’s tremendously cool style and art quality. The sheer quantity of cover pages, outfits, poses, fight scenes, extreme close ups, and two panel pages makes this manga a treat for the eyes. Additionally, contrary to a common opinion, I personally wasn't bought in until after the Soul Society arc (though Hueco Mundo was a slog). Some volumes can be read through in 15 - 30 minutes, and Kubo becomes very deft at managing his cast while keeping the pace moving, even if sometimes you wonder "why is that character here in this moment?" The Thousand Year Blood War arc in particular wastes no time jumping into its action and provides a sufficiently satisfying conclusion, even if it could have been perfect with another few chapters.

Consequently, it’s a shame that Bleach dropped off in popularity after the Arrancar arc (source: https://www.jajanken.net/en/sakuhins/Qv1nJDx0jK). A lacklaster anime adaptation (sans Thousand-Year Blood War) and Kubo's story structure fitting a completed product versus a weekly publishing schedule definitely went a long way damaging Bleach's reputation. However, its weakness doesn’t detract from what Bleach is as a completed story. After reading it, you won’t be able to unsee its influence on modern works, especially something like Jujutsu Kaisen. Its length is challenging and honestly the beginning through the Soul Society arc is probably the most difficult. However, this series is well-known for a reason and is certainly worth the time and effort.

8.5/10

Every reader who is blessed to read the masterpiece that is Domestic Girlfriend is inevitably confronted with an important question. No, it’s not whether the “Magnum Opus of All Literature Ever” deserves such a lofty title – that’s a given. Rather, the question is how it manages to do so, and in the process reduce titles like Berserk, Oyasumi Punpun, One Piece, Slam Dunk, and Vinland Saga to comparatively “mid” at best.

Some may say that Domestic Girlfriend overstays its welcome or that it drags its drama on for too long. These people are clearly unenlightened and haven’t read this magnificent work of art. Yes, it ... may be exhausting and you may need to take breaks while reading it. However, that’s only because the density of its content must be pondered for its brilliance because it easily overwhelms our feeble brains. There are no superfluous panels, dialogue, or plot points, especially when one character sticks a pill in another character’s butt, or when characters turn into puddles, when no one can identify the female who is having non-consensual sex with other characters, or when another character is passed out drunk and topless. These connect to the deepest themes of the human experience and every re-read deepens one’s insight on philosophy, science, love, and suffering.

Others may say the ending is terrible. I repeat, these fools are unenlightened and haven’t read the story. One is not merely moved by the story of Natsuo, Rui, and Hina; they become the story and live it out. Upon reading it, we become Natsuo, wrestling with our affections for our new stepsisters while struggling to be a writer and fending off the affections of other women over the course of many years until chapters 274 - 276. No one who hasn’t read Dome x Kano can understand this statement, while all who have read it can. Once you’ve acquired this knowledge, then one can see why the ending worked as it did.

Therefore, it is not an open question whether one ought to read Domestic Girlfriend. The question is when. What is stopping you from achieving enlightenment? What are you scared of? Actualization? The Good Life? Theosis? However, there is only so much I can say. Rather, I'll let you soak in the dialogue of this opening scene and ask yourself whether you can smell just a hint of its power:

“Don’t get the wrong idea, okay? This doesn’t mean we’re dating or anything. We aren’t going to exchange numbers. This is probably a one-time thing.
"(thinking) I feel so out of it. Even though none of this seems real… it’s without a doubt happening. Just a moment ago, I lost my virginity."