Happy New Year’s Eve, friends! As the clock counts down toward midnight, what will you be doing? Dancing the night away at some posh event? Watching staid music performances on TV that were recorded hours ago? Watching the ball drop in a city a thousand miles away? Let’s get serious—you’ll be watching anime and reading manga, right? Well, we’ve got a few selections that might pique your interest! Check out our reviews below and let us know what you’ll be reading to ring in the new year!

Agents of the Four Seasons (Vol. 1) • Dandadan (Vol. 10) • Fool Night (Vol. 3) • Insomniacs After School (Vol. 8) • Rainbow Days (Vol. 12) • Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (Vol. 16)

Fool Night, Manga Vol. 3

The discomfort that ran continuously through volumes one and two of this series recedes a little in volume three as cracking the case of the serial killing spiriflor takes precedence over delving into the darkness in Kamiya’s life. With Hourai injured and possibly dying, there’s little time for Kamiya to consider how his life has gone so far and where it’s going. We follow the tranflorated protagonist as he continues to cross certain moral boundaries in tracking down the murderer. The detective work isn’t all violets and roses; instead, dark and violent incidents arise in the course of the investigation. With its emphasis on “police” work, volume three may be a little less philosophical than the previous releases, but it’s just as tantalizingly grim. As with the first two volumes, this one is punctuated with nihilism, but it features beats of humor and optimism here and there to keep us hopeful and engaged. I appreciated the fast-paced action of this volume, which made it feel like a police procedural. This is another wonderful volume in one of 2024’s most captivating new series. ~ Twwk

Fool Night is published by VIZ Media.

Read Reviews of Fool Night: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2

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Dandadan, Manga Vol. 10

Volume 10 of Dandadan does what Dandadan always does: it turns up the characterization and turns down the plot. We’re now dozens and dozens of chapters into the story, and the plot remains pretty shallow. Sure, there’s some conspiracy involving aliens, who now in volume ten are found to have divided into factions as groups of big, powerful ones attack Momo, Okarun, Jiji, and Aira, but this isn’t anything particularly earth-shattering for being this far along in the flimsy story. And yet, despite the simplicity of the plot, the series is still enthralling because of the characters. The four I mentioned are all so very lovable; their interactions with one another are a mix of fun, typical teenage relationships with the over-the-top quality that comes with gathering four crazy, overpowered teens together. Plus there are two more major characters now—Kinta, who I’ve already raved about in previous reviews, and the kaiju/alien Vamola, who is so precious that you’ll want to squeeze her. And so with six highly distinctive and likable characters all thrown together, it’s no surprise that the result is such a fun series. The action in volume ten is also off the charts, as is the artwork (as per usual). So while Dandadan doesn’t scratch my itch for a great (or even average) story, it’s still a highly engaging manga, and one I continue to look forward to, volume after volume. ~ Twwk

Dandadan is published by VIZ Media.

READ Reviews of Dandadan: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8 // Vol. 9

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Agents of the Four Seasons, Manga Vol. 1

In a world very much like our own, the transitions between seasons are managed by human Agents, the Agents of the Four Seasons, who are accompanied by their devoted protectors. After Lady Hinagiku, the Agent of Spring, went missing a decade ago, the world moved on, adjusting to the extreme weather fluctuation between Winter and Summer. So when Lady Hinagiku suddenly reappears, she has her work cut out for her, not just with a population who has forgotten her and her season, but with her fellow Agents as well. Where has she been all this time? Why did no one seek her out? And can a world that has adjusted to climate change really make room to welcome her back? Oh boy, there is so much potential here, folks! The first chapter alone feels like an entire volume, packed full of emotional arcs, mystery, surprising revelations, and even more mystery, all layered atop one another. The intrigue deepens in subsequent chapters as more of the worldbuilding and cast are revealed, bringing with them a hint of romantic tragedy hovering in the wings. Prepare your Kleenex, this is going to be an epic melodrama, I can feel it in my Winter-chilled bones! The allegory here to our own world’s increasingly disruptive experience of climate change is quite interesting to ponder. One character admits that, even though she knew humans had a part to play in the proper functioning of the seasons, she nevertheless took the seasons for granted, until Spring disappeared. Then she started praying. Selah. I’m interested in learning more about Spring’s disappearance, return, and the impact it will have on a now-changed world—are there lessons here for us to learn too? Or will this be pure fantasy? Looking forward to finding out! ~ claire

Agents of the Four Seasons is published by Yen Press.

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Insomniacs After School, Manga Vol. 8

Volume eight of Insomniacs After School settles the series fully into its slice-of-life mode. Magari and Nakami aren’t sneaking off on a trip only to be caught; they aren’t figuring out whether or not to date (they’re now officially dating); and even Magari’s heart condition is no longer a mystery, fully laid out and explained by her here for the first time. Instead, volume eight just follows the two living as a couple and figuring out exactly what that means, particularly with that sweetheart of a boy, Nakami, trying to become the type of man who can stay by Magari’s side for the rest of her life. A new project also begins for the astronomy club (which is now down a member with Magari banned by her parents from being a part of it) and a surprising amount of attention is paid to their club sponsor (as well Shiromaru) in this volume. I liked the ups and downs of the previous volumes, but the quietness and warmth of this one fit so well with the characters and story that I think it may be my favorite volume yet—and that’s saying something considering how terrific a manga this is. ~ Twwk

Insomniacs After School is published by VIZ Media.

READ Reviews of Insomniacs After School: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7

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Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Manga Vol. 16

I can’t help but think that Zom 100 has somewhat lost its way. Following the unimpressive confession between Akira and Shizuka in volume 15, volume 16 continues to feel a bit underwhelming, even as it tries to have fun by playing with some non-zombie horror movies, like Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It’s all fine, but it doesn’t rise to the level of previous volumes in how well it engages the readers’ minds and hearts. I think part of the issue is that Zom 100 is suffering a bit from the same thing that all long-running shonen tend to struggle with—an overabundance of major characters. In trying to give time to each of them, the result is that none of them (except for the most important ones) receive enough character development. That’s the case in volume 16, which focuses on two of the supporting characters in the group, but barely tells us anything new about them. There was one bright spot, though—a scene in which Bea gives advice to Akira; heartfelt and meaningful, this is the kind of warm material I’m looking for from this series when it’s not pursuing an action arc. That little scene makes me think that there is hope yet for Zom 100—and there’s always hope, really, with Haro Aso writing the tale—but two straight volumes of underwhelming material have me concerned nonetheless. ~ Twwk

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is published by VIZ Media.

READ Reviews of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8 // Vol. 9 // Vol. 10 // Vol. 11 // Vol. 12 // Vol. 13 // Vol. 14 // Vol. 15

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Rainbow Days, Manga Vol. 12

Volume 12 of Rainbow Days is both terrible and necessary: it is the one where Mari’s confession to Anna becomes the trigger to the ultimate relationships for both. It’s terrible for a few reasons, but mostly because Mari’s storyline calls for a seriousness that Rainbow Days can’t deliver. This manga excels when it’s light-hearted, and though the mangaka tries to handle Mari’s feelings for Anna with some depth and emotion, it doesn’t work when the “resolution” is Tomoya swooping in to play the kindhearted “true” love interest. The love triangle between Mari, Anna, and Tomoya has always been problematic because the mangaka vacillates between treating Mari’s feelings toward Anna seriously and staying true to the superficial tone of the series. An unintentional consequence is that Tomoya comes out looking manipulative, although the author clearly wants him to look like a patient, compassionate hero. Natsuki also feels manipulative in this volume, too, being the shoulder to cry on for Anna after the confession. So as expected, this volume is like a car accident, and one of the worst in a series that I’ve mostly really enjoyed. But with volume 12 completing the dirty work, clearer skies, sunshine, and dare I say, rainbows—in the form of sweet relationship fulfillment—are surely ahead. ~ Twwk

Rainbow Days is published by VIZ Media.

READ Rainbow Days Reviews: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8 // Vol. 9 // Vol. 10 // Vol. 11

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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.