How do you not fall in love? How do you be a good bad guy? How do you learn to be a grown-up witch? And what exactly is the professor’s conjecture? All these questions and more are explored in the selections for this week’s Reader’s Corner, which also includes the first volume of a psychedelic sci-fi and the latest on Secretary Kim!

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra (Vol. 2) • Aria of the Beech Forest (Vol. 2) • Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture (Vol. 5) • I Wanna Do Bad Things with You (Vol. 2) • Kiki’s Delivery Service Film Comic: All-in-One Edition • Ultra Heaven (Vol. 1) • The Villainess’s Guide to (Not) Falling in Love (Vol. 3) • What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? (Vol. 6)

The Villainess’s Guide to (Not) Falling in Love, Manga Vol. 3

Luciana and her brother Saphir seek out help from the Wisterias in the hopes they can help discover who cast the enhancement on Luciana. However, the more they investigate, the more they learn and realize how deep this enhancement is. Can the Wisterias help her break it? I don’t remember the last time I caught myself wanting to throw a book because how dare it end on that cliffhanger?! I was so invested and it just ended there?! Whyyyyyy?! Excuse me while I cry in agony… This volume, however, was just as amazing as the others, but the world-building had me literally leaning in when reading, which led to my “frustration” that right as a certain character was going to share life-changing news, the volume ended! Please give me more right now! But moving on… It was still truly a wonderful volume, and I absolutely loved how Saphir is encouraging Luciana to make her own decisions about what to do concerning this enhancement because it’s her life and she will be the one affected the most. Considering she is reincarnated as the villainess, where she supposedly has little say in what will be her eventual doom, I thought it very heart-hitting to see that in this new life, she is being given the chance to be what she wanted for the Dark Lily and his sister: happy endings. Granted, it’s wayyyy too early to say if she will get one, especially with how big this enhancement is, because it is going to change the entire course of her life moving forward. However, as she said, there are so many people helping her, and goodness are they wonderful! Definitely another fantastic volume where the story only gets more gripping and engaging! Can’t wait to see what happens next!  ~ Laura A. Grace

The Villainess’s Guide to (Not) Falling in Love is published by Square Enix.

READ The Villainess’s Guide to (Not) Falling in Love Reviews: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2

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Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra, Manga Vol. 2

I declared volume one of Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra to be “unexpected and delightful,” and while volume two is still the former, with one extended sequence, the latter has disappeared. The passage that kills the delight of this series is a major one in the first half of volume two, featuring two paladins and hired hands from the human civilization exploring the dark forest where Takuto, Atou, and his dark elves now reside. When the human party happens upon Atou, a slaughter ensues. And thus the fine line that the series was walking between making Takuto and Atou “evil” anti-heroes while keeping a generally upbeat tone has been leaped over. There’s barely any excuse to be made for Atou’s actions in the “battle” between her and the humans; the fight taught me that this series will embrace darkness far more than I’m willing to. Thematically, I’m no longer on board, but neither am I from a creative perspective. The structure of the series no longer makes sense: How can you return to “Aww, Atou is so cute!” after she just impaled a bunch of people, especially since she killed parents of young children knowing they had families waiting at home for them? It just doesn’t work. A shame, too, because volume one was as entrancing as volume two is disheartening. ~ twwk

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra is published by Yen Press.

Read Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra Vol. 1 Review

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I Wanna Do Bad Things with You, Manga Vol. 2

In my review of volume one, I wondered if I Wanna Do Bad Things with You would be able to get past some initial speed bumps and attain the level of kawaii and doki-doki-ness that similar series like The Dangers in My Heart and Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible were able to. Volume two answered that question with an authoritative YES, as the manga’s odd couple—rich, sickly, devious Fuji and beautiful, quiet, insecure Wataya—continue to bond through the end of the party story and into a new plot development involving a hospital visit. In between, Fuji’s fiancee is introduced, and she is a hoot! This overly critical and adoring new character is a lot of fun—a terrific foil and rival for Wataya. I’m excited to see how the newly established love triangle develops in future volumes, but even here in its initial stages, it results in some really lovely moments (ex. Wataya quickly realizing that her feelings for Fuji are strong) and humorous ones as well (ex. Fuji thinking of Wataya in quite different terms). It all adds up to a heartwarming and good time, and possibly the next great charming tall girl/short boy manga romance! ~ twwk

I Wanna Do Bad Things with You is published by VIZ Media.

Read I Wanna Do Bad Things with You Vol. 1 Review

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What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?, Manhwa Vol. 6

“See every new experience as an opportunity. Don’t be hard on yourself. Moreover, don’t apologize. Take not just today, but every day, as a learning experience.” Miso and Youngjun are fully in a relationship, with Youngjun even having proposed to Miso at the end of the previous volume! Now all that’s left is telling their family, but what happens when all the in-laws meet? I’m so sad this series is over! I knew I had been super loving it because this is the second time I’ve read the series (though first time physically) and seeing the ending all over again was so beautiful! I felt like everything was wrapped up beautifully, and I especially loved how Mr. Park had a happy ending because I appreciated his advice to Youngjun as it has touched me and my own life. One thing I had forgotten when rereading is how funny the meet-up between in-laws was! Oh my goodness, I laughed so much, especially with how the night ended! Not only that, but every time Miso and Yougjun were about to get “lovey-dovey,” she would push him away, leading him to get “hurt.” Ha! Definitely one of the best chapters in this volume and one of my favorite “gags” in the series! Another favorite chapter (well, chapters) was the bonus one, in which we see a very special character! He was so adorable, and I had to laugh at how he viewed Youngjun’s antics! I wish we could see more of him! Overall, this was a very strong and satisfying ending that left me emotionally happy! It’s one I would love to reread again and see their love story unfold once more because it was full of humor, heart, and laughter. Definitely recommend it if you’re looking for an office romance manhwa with a strong mystery arc as well as a shorter series! ~ Laura A. Grace

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? is published by Yen Press.

READ Reviews of What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5

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Ultra Heaven, Manga Vol. 1

I absolutely love it when publishing companies bring back older series that a new generation might adore or publish works that never got a release in the U.S. in the first place. Last Gasp is doing just that with Ultra Heaven, a sci-fi series about a future where the drugs of choice are pharmaceuticals that are specifically blended to put you in the mood you desire. “Pump bars” are legal establishments where bartenders are licensed medical professionals, but for Cub, the high he gets from these bars is not enough; he seeks a stronger blend, but is the one he’s eventually given opening a door he shouldn’t pass through? As might be expected from the summary, Ultra Heaven is a mesmerizing, psychedelic trip, and maybe more—maybe. That’s the real question. The artwork, which is so trippy (the pumps the characters take are reminiscent of LSD), and the large-sized, beautiful release by Last Gasp make volume one eminently ownable, but it’s the traces of something more that have me captivated. The mangaka does a fine job of making Cub and his friends so relatable, despite being drug-addled young people who are wasting their lives (and killing themselves). The portrayal of a future where we depend on these mood boosts and law enforcement has become a profitable enterprise feels prescient, but it doesn’t quite go far enough for me. Is there depth here, both in characterization and the vision of the future? I hope these facets can be built out and become equal to the wonderful (and warning: oft mature) illustrations, this short series could be marvelous. ~ twwk

Ultra Heaven is published by Last Gasp.

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Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture, Manga Vol. 5

By volume five of this manga adaptation, it’s become clear: Takatsuki and Fukamachi’s characterization takes priority over the mysteries they are examining. While the original light novels spend by far the bulk of time on the “mystery of the week,” with only certain chapters or small pieces of others steadily unveiling Takatsuki’s story and showing Fukamachi’s growth, the manga has from the beginning been structured so that the professor and his student are front and center, with their cases just helping to move their personal stories along. Nowhere is that more evident than in volume five, which catches up to the light novel series (an unusually fast pace, which once again shows the lack of emphasis on the serial mysteries) by completing the previous story, flying through a new one, and then beginning another. In one sense, the pacing makes sense since the last story features a scene connecting to the first one; but it also makes me feel a lot of “So what?” regarding the supernatural investigations. Sure, I wanted Mulder and Scully to discover their backstories more fully and grow in their personal lives and relationships, but not at the expense of the wonderful stories in the present; I have the same feelings here about Takatsuki and Fukamachi. Unfortunately, there were multiple instances in volume five where I turned a page back because I thought I had accidentally skipped a couple of pages; these times made me realize that the story moved way too quickly. I hope that mangaka Mikage Sawamura will find a way to place a greater emphasis on the investigations while also retaining the wonderful and warm characterization she’s developed, which perhaps exceeds the original material. If not, the series may end up ringing hollow—a strange conclusion for a manga that has such depth of character. ~ twwk

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture is published by Yen Press.

READ: Reviews of Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3

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Kiki’s Delivery Service Film Comic: All-in-One Edition, Manga

Just as with the recently released My Neighbor Totoro film comic before it, Kiki’s Delivery Service Film Comic: All-in-One Edition is more a child’s book or Studio Ghibli collectible than an engaging work on its own merit. For the uninitiated, a “film comic” is an adaptation that strings together stills from the animation and adds the work’s dialogue to create a manga. There’s certainly an art to it; in some scenes, such as those where Kiki’s mood sours, multiple stills from within a second or two of animation are displayed. In others, just one still may be taken from a 5-10 second snippet of film. It’s well structured, but since the images are taken from a film rather than drawn specifically for this work, and with the original being made for animation rather than manga, the film comic is ultimately a far inferior work. You don’t get the same sense of wonder and yearning that’s expressed in Miyazaki’s classic film. You are much better off spending your time watching the original than reading this release—though with its lovely hardcover and the effort put into the film comic, it does make a nice addition to the bookcases of Studio Ghibli aficionados. ~ twwk

Kiki’s Delivery Service Film Comic: All-in-One Edition is published by VIZ Media.

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Aria of the Beech Forest, Manga Vol. 2

Aria’s world has continued to grow bigger and bigger, with her taking her first trip to a friend’s house! However, when an unexpected visitor arrives and shares how her world could get much bigger, will Aria take the opportunity? Another very sweet volume!! (Though I didn’t appreciate that huge cliffhanger of an ending! Ha!) I really thrived on seeing Aria grow and learn more about the modern world! It was fun and refreshing to see her slowly learn and see all the technology she’d never used, only to think it was because magic helped make it work (like the oven for example). On the flip side, I loved how Alvin was teaching her about how things work and being patient with her. It’s very sweet. Speaking of sweet, Colleen really shined this volume! I loved her sincerity and how much she cared for Aria and their friendship. She is the perfect first friend to have, and I loved seeing moments of them together! I especially appreciated how kind Colleen and Alvin’s mother are to Aria and embracing her with open arms. One thing that really struck me about this volume is the theme of being content in your circumstances. Maybe that sounds weird to say, given that there is someone trying to convince Aria to leave for London, but I think it’s obvious that Aria is happy where she is and where she lives. Does she want friends? Yes, and she now has friends, so she doesn’t have to move to a “fancy place” just so she could be happy. I’m a little unsure if Aria is afraid to leave or if she is sternly putting her foot down because she’s happy in her home, but I can honestly say I’ll be sad if she ends up moving to London in the end. I think Aria has such a beautiful lifestyle and can only hope that those around her will embrace it just as much as she has. Sad to know the next volume is the final volume, but I will eagerly be looking forward to it nonetheless!  ~ Laura A. Grace

Aria of the Beech Forest is published by Yen Press.

READ Aria of the Beech Forest Vol. 1 Review

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“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.