Every so often, we make it to the final volume of a light novel or manga and have to say goodbye. Today, we bid adieu to Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible as VIZ Media releases the final volume of the series. It was a cute, fun manga that really found its voice a few volumes into the run. Check out our review below to see if closed with as much warmth and goodness as it demonstrated through most of its run! And also read our other reviews, which include romance, sci-fi, and fantasy series!
Beastrings • The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl (Vol. 3) • I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time (Vol. 2) • I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness (Vol. 3) • Issak (Vol. 6) • Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible (Vol. 12) • Pass the Monster Meat, Milady! (Vol. 2) • Taking Care of God • The Unimplemented Overlords Have Joined the Party! (Vol. 1)
Taking Care of God, Manga One-Shot
Based on a short story by famed sci-fi novelist Cixin Liu, Taking Care of God is a thoughtful, warm, and sincere look at aging from multiple perspectives. As the story begins, cloud-like UFOs have already filled Earth’s atmosphere for some time when their passengers—elderly beings who all wear a type of helmet—begin to appear in massive numbers. Humans discover that these “Progenitors,” as they call them, are the beings (“gods”) that created human civilization and who, now in their old age, want to settle on earth and live out their final days in peace and learning while cared for by their “children.” They are received warmly by most (the massive subsidy that host families get might have something to do with this), including those in a small village where Zhihan, a wild child who speaks with her physical actions more than her voice, lives. But she reacts violently to one of them who ends up coming to live in her home. The tale of how civilization comes to take in and interact with the Progenitors, and the more personal tale involving Zhihan and her family and companions, is often warm, funny, and charming, but a bit sad, too, mostly because—minor spoilers—Liu seems to be speaking to us (perhaps Chinese citizens and others who live under the virtue of filial piety more than others) about the selfish and haphazard way we treat our elders in societies at large and within family units, sometimes more obviously and other times more subtly. There are some grander themes involving aging at work in this manga too, including those related to civilization, society, and the earth itself. I was enthralled and fascinated by this work, which nicely combines what I assume are many of the elements from the original story with more manga-style tropes like the younger characters that feature here instead of the older ones in the original. Liu’s name is what originally attracted me to this work (his novel, The Three-Body Problem, is being adapted into a Netflix series by the producers of Game of Thrones, David Genioff and D.B. Weiss); I’m now all the more interested in his writing and hopeful that other adaptations of his work may also make their way to us in anime or manga form. ~ Twwk
Taking Care of God is published by Yen Press.
Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!, Manga Vol. 2
The Voracious Villainess and Blood-Mad Duke are back, and this time with an announced engagement! Melphiera might have wondered if Aristide really did want to marry her, but they were able to discuss quite a few things in this volume (including why Melphiera is so passionate about monster meat), showing that he is serious about her. Not only that, they both “bond” over the gift of a royal moodle that Aristide brings in honor of their engagement! Something I wasn’t really expecting when starting this second volume is how Melphiera is encouraged by Aristide to use her love of monster meat to help other people. In her land, she is discouraged by everyone (except her father) to stop her research, but it was fascinating to see how her mother’s research has deeply helped the people in the past. Also, how Melphiera has the chance to help people just like her mother did and without going against her convictions or giving up her dream. That was really really wonderful to see! And that wasn’t the only thing wonderful to see, because these two are honestly two peas in a pod and I love it! The way they get so excited and their faces light up at one another about their said abilities and passions never fails to make me smile. Plus, seeing Aristide be more vocal about how beautiful his soon-to-be wife is had me swooning or giggling or both! Truly, I smiled and laughed a lot when reading this, but was also very impressed by the deeper undertones, making this more just than a fantasy romcom about a monster-meat-loving girl and a monster-slaying boy. With themes of using your passion and abilities to help others, not using rumors as a “right” to be prejudiced, and the chance to follow your dreams without compromising your values, this is one I would highly recommend! ~ Laura A. Grace
Pass the Monster Meat, Milady! is published by Kodansha.
READ Pass the Monster Meat, Milady! Vol. 1 Review
Beastrings, Manga One-Shot
The artwork in Beastrings, a story that puts fantasy creatures into a modern setting, is remarkable, so layered and full of energy that I flipped through volume one a second time after reading it. That’s unfortunately also what makes this one-volume work so disappointing. If purchased as an artbook, it’s fantastic. The full-color pages—with each chapter having a specific color scheme—are a feast for the eyes, with mangaka Shikaku Yamamoto conveying a style that feels at once old school and modern, and both comic-book style and manga. But the manga has a major problem with flow. In trying to tell the story of Juso City, a metropolis filled with all sorts of demons and demi-humans that is now bustling (though not without problems) after being devastated some years prior by a legendary sky whale, Yamamoto is really just stringing images together. The action is jumpy, with almost every panel failing to transition properly from the one before; it cooked my brain almost right from the start. So as a manga, Beastrings isn’t worth the read. But the artwork is so compelling, you may want to pick it up regardless. ~ Twwk
Beastrings is published by Yen Press.
I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness, Manga Vol. 3
I very much wish this series wasn’t so underrated because it is such a fun one! With the town now being clean and having no more “hooligans” causing trouble, the townspeople want to thank Allen and Charlotte for their help, so they feel the best way would be a gifted trip to some hot springs! Allen feels this is perfect because Charlotte can experience more “naughty” things on her very first vacation! While this wasn’t my favorite volume, I definitely had a blast reading it! I think my favorite part was the beginning and how Allen goes super out of the way to ensure Charlotte is safe and has a good time shopping. In turn, because of the things he’s done, he’s now the talk of the town, but in a good way, which wasn’t what he expected! For this story not being an overly romantic one, I love how these two care for each other deeply. There is something so beautiful about seeing them be together and encourage the other, though honestly we all know it’s Allen encouraging Charlotte! But still, I loved it! When it comes to what this volume is about, I think Allen says it best: “Charlotte and I have done plenty of things together, but this will be our first time joining forces!” Those moments of them “joining forces” were amazing, and I was super into the art and how it brought the tension and strength of certain characters to life on page! I am very excited to read the next volume with the developments at the end of this one! Though I want Allen and Charlotte to romantically hold hands and such, it was so deeply satisfying seeing Charlotte take a stand and make her own choices. She really is flourishing, and I desperately want to see more of it! ~ Laura A. Grace
I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness is published by Vertical, an imprint of Kodansha.
READ Reviews of I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2
The Unimplemented Overlords Have Joined the Party!, Light Novel Vol. 1
While not wholly satisfying, the initial volume of The Unimplemented Overlords Have Joined the Party! is nonetheless a pleasant surprise in the “die here and you die for real” subset of the “trapped in a VR game” light novel genre. The surprise comes, in part, because the book starts in so typical a manner for this type: players are trapped by the system in the world of a fantasy VR game and must find a way to survive. The hero, Shuutarou, has a unique skill that’s overpowered. It’s here that the story diverges from more typical fare: Shuutarou is only elementary school-aged and his skill is the ability to create dungeons. How is that overpowered? I won’t ruin it by explaining how, but I will say that this skill introduces him to the titular “unimplemented overlords,” villains who become his servants. The story could go a variety of ways from here, but it takes another most unexpected route by introducing new characters that are set apart from Shuutarou. Several storylines, apparently only connected because the players are all in this world, march forward all at once. And so, Nagawasabi64, the author of The Unimplemented Overlords Have Joined the Party!, aspires to offer readers something unique by writing from multiple perspectives. It’s quite enthralling to experience a light novel written this way, to wonder how these multiple storylines will ultimately converge. The finale of the volume doesn’t quite live up to this build-up, but it’s satisfactory enough. However, I am concerned that future volumes may not stay with this wise and relatively unique decision to have different characters doing separate work in the novel. But if it does, look out—this could be the next excellent entry in this beloved genre, and—as Nagawasabi64 expresses hope for himself in the author’s note—a possible revitalization for it. ~ Twwk
The Unimplemented Overlords Have Joined the Party! is published by Yen Press.
I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time, Manga Vol. 2
If you thought I May Be a Guild Receptionist was simply a cute and funny story about an overworked and fiery young woman, volume two demonstrates that the series strives to be more than that—and in multiple ways. Just like the light novel it’s based on, the manga conveys over and over how stressed out Alina is by her job; she completes all her work and refuses to let it pile up, which leads to overtime day after day and, naturally, a feeling of drowning in a sea of paperwork. Even with Silver Sword’s leader, Jade, assisting her, she can’t climb out of the mountain of work under which she’s buried; and while the situation is often humorous, there’s depth here, too—author Mato Kousaka emphasizes the difficult situations many Japanese experience in the workplace, a feeling that transfers to anyone who has been in similar circumstances here on the other side of the Pacific as well. Meanwhile, the story advances quite a lot as the leader of the Adventurers Guild, Glen Garia, reveals that he knows that Alina is the Executioner; he uses this knowledge to convince her to accompany Silver Sword on a secret quest. How she acquired her special powers is also revealed. Most of these happenings occur in the latter half of volume two, leading to too much story packed into too little space. The volume is too wordy, with too many info drops occurring. I May Be a Guild Receptionist is fun, adventurous, and sometimes meaningful, but if the story continues to get packed like sardines in a can to ensure that one volume of the light novel is fully fit into three volumes of manga, this adaptation will suffer. ~ Twwk
I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time is published by Yen Press.
READ I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time: Vol. 1 Review
Issak, Manga Vol. 6
One stage of our heroes’ journey is over, and another begins. Heinrich’s clandestine meeting with a bishop who hopes to reconcile the Protestant and Catholic blocs of the Holy Roman Empire has ended on a promising note. Now comes the trip home, back across several Catholic territories that have been put on high alert and are scouring the countryside for a prince and a samurai. However, within the problem lies the solution. The Catholic baroness Elizabeth Clarenstein needs to pass through several Protestant territories on a mission of her own, and she offers Heinrich a deal: travel together and they can switch off who does the talking depending on the situation. The only potential complication is Zetta. She’s an Anabaptist—a member of a dissident Protestant sect persecuted by both sides. Issak swore to her grandfather upon his honor to protect her against all odds. Heinrich is sympathetic and can ensure her safety within his retinue, but if her religious affiliation is ever discovered by the wrong people, Issak very well might have to face “all odds”… The real life history of the Thirty Years War can drive students of the period to distraction with its innumerable figures, factions, coalitions, and connected conflicts. Even when streamlined for the sake of fiction, you need to pay attention if you want to remember what everyone is doing and to what purpose at a given moment. That’s a situation where it would be all too easy for the plot to go off the rails, but Shinji Makari does a good job of keeping things coherent—everything adds up when you check the receipts. Still, readers should be aware that Issak expects you to keep track of a considerable amount of detail without regular recaps. On the artistic end, Double-S continues to draw some truly incredible action scenes. Clear and straightforward to follow, but visceral and cinematic in their presentation—you’ll be on the edge of your seat as you race through his set pieces, then you’ll want to go back and soak it all in one panel at a time. Volume six is another strong entry in the Issak series. ~ WacOtaku
Issak is published by Kodansha.
READ Reviews of Issak: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3// Vol. 4// Vol. 5
Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible, Manga Vol. 12
As is the case with many manga, Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible changed over the course of its run. When it started, the series was more gag-oriented with characters that were as one-dimensional as they came; Kubo was especially flat, primarily serving as the teasing character type and to provide fanservice. But somewhere along the way, the characters came to life, Shiraishi’s “invisibility” became less about laughs and more about a lack of self-confidence, and Kubo became as much the protagonist as he is. Those positive changes resulted in a warm and memorable series that in volume 12 ends on a similarly wonderful note. As the Kyoto trip continues and Shiraishi’s alone time with Kubo approaches, he tries to build his courage to not only confess his love but to also let his friends know how important they are to him too. The finale doesn’t really do anything unexpected—the final little “twists and turns” are common to romance manga—but the emotion I felt in these final scenes hit me unexpectedly hard. They are the result not just of a formula drawn up to get your heart beating faster and your eyes blurred over, but of the hard work developing characters that readers care about chapter after chapter, and volume after volume. The result is a finale that isn’t rushed, over-the-top, underwhelming, or out-of-character; it’s just right, the perfect conclusion this beautiful little series deserves. Bravo! ~ Twwk
Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible is published by VIZ Media.
READ Reviews of Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8 // Vol. 9 // Vol. 10 // Vol. 11
The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl, Manga Vol. 3
The sparks were flying at the end of volume two, and it doesn’t stop there with the latest volume of The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl! In between Himuro and Fuyutsuki doing overtime together, playing video games, and even going skiing, these two continue to grow ever closer! This was definitely another super fun volume! I really enjoyed more spotlight on Himuro’s coworkers, especially the phoenix because that man is hilarious! The way he brings fireworks, feathers, and very high energy with him everywhere he goes never fails to make me laugh! Ha! I really love how Himuro gets excited about the smallest of things, especially the scene with the icons! That was so fun, and though I felt this volume was more slow burn than usual with the romance, I still giggled and smiled at how he and Fuyutsuki are growing closer together. In fact, the ending is a fun surprise because now Fuyutsuki sees another fun side of Himuro! I really love how they both want to see other sides of each other and hope that continues! Looking forward to reading the next volume! ~ Laura A. Grace
The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl is published by Square Enix.
READ Reviews of The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2
“Reader’s Corner” is our way of embracing the wonderful world of manga, light novels, and visual novels, creative works intimately related to anime but with a magic all their own. Each week, our writers provide their thoughts on the works they’re reading—both those recently released as we keep you informed of newly published works, and those older titles that you might find as magical (or in some cases, reprehensible) as we do.
