February starts with a bang as we review awesome new volumes of hot series like Dandadan and Kagurabachi, romances like volume four of You and I Are Polar Opposites, and the breathtaking premiere volume of The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse. Check out our reviews of these and more below!
The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse (Vol. 1) • Dandadan (Vol. 11) • Itaewon Class (Vol. 4) • Kagurabachi (Vol. 2) • Rainbow Days (Vol. 14) • You and I Are Polar Opposites (Vol. 4)
Itaewon Class, Manhwa Vol. 4
Oftentimes, Korean protagonists are men who quietly and relentlessly march forward against impossible odds. Itaewon Class‘s lead, Saeroyi, exhibits those qualities, but they’re blended with unusual and powerful compassion, which makes him a hero you just can’t help rooting for. Along with a story that unfolds with incredible precision—introducing new characters and opening new storylines at just the right times to keep readers fully engaged—it’s Saeroyi who makes Itaewon Class such an addicting read. It’s certainly not the artwork, which remains substandard (probably the worst of any series that I’ve ever kept up with), not that it matters much; this series finds other ways to exhibit creativity, with interesting characters (transgender cook Hyunhi is a new favorite), a villain who becomes viler by the volume, and bits of humor that keep the series from becoming overly intense or too bleak. So don’t let the cover art fool you—there’s a reason this manhwa was adapted into a live-action version that is itself a modern classic. It’s all about the story and characterization, gang, and you shouldn’t miss out on it. ~ Twwk
Itaewon Class is published by Yen Press.
The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse, Manga Vol. 1
In a stunning first volume, mangaka Haruo Iwamune explores the barren landscape, loneliness, and mystery of a post-apocalyptic world—and though it’s often filled with despair, the manga is also imbued with hope and optimism. It begins with a girl traveling through ruined landscapes left behind from the cataclysm, searching for survivors of “crystallosis,” an affliction in which the infected are partially crystalized and preserved, which is caused by creatures that humans have come to call “executioners.” Time after time, she only finds the bodies of the deceased, whose remains she cremates. And yet, she continues along while we wonder: Are there other survivors in this world? Why is this girl able to survive exposure? Is she even human? Surprisingly, all these questions are answered in volume one, setting the stage for a series that may lean a little more into episodic, slice-of-life episodes than mystery, though that element will surely remain. Also of note are the landscape illustrations, which are gorgeous—a feast for the eyes. The series’ tone is lovely, too, a mix of haunting and hopeful, with some cuteness and a sense of resilience that radiates from the protagonist mixed in to keep readers from becoming sullen. I am fully engaged with this tale, and it is with great anticipation that I wonder where it’ll take us next. ~ Twwk
The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse is published by Yen Press.
Dandadan, Manga Vol. 11
The mixture of humor, energy, heart, and quirkiness in Dandadan is unmatched. Volume eleven demonstrates this unique blend perfectly by taking what’s a heavily transitional series of chapters—the main characters recover from the alien assault in volume ten and train in anticipation of a greater force to come—and making it highly entertaining. What other series, for instance, advances a love triangle by using an out-of-body experience for the severely injured and possibly dying main character? Meanwhile, for a story that I’ve complained is short on plot development, we’re in the midst of a couple of interesting mysteries, one hitting the heart (Vamola’s apparent betrayal) and the other causing some discomfort (Serpo’s uneasy alliance with the group). It all adds up to another fun and fast read as we follow these crazy kids into even crazier scenarios. What a series! ~ 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 // Vol. 10
Kagurabachi, Manga Vol. 2
Volume two of Kagurabachi is non-stop! While mangaka Takeru Hokazono has noted that Naruto was a strong influence on him (and the tone of that series is most similar to Kagurabachi when both manga are serious), he’s perhaps even more influenced by contemporary manga Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, which both live in high-stakes situations week after week and are unrelenting (and some say too quick) in their tales. Volume two of Kagurabachi is exactly that, as Chihiro and an elite squadron of Kamunabi aim to take down Sojo and retrieve the Cloud Gouger. In just one volume, you get the highs and lows associated with introductions of new, cool-looking characters who don’t survive; an entire arc for a major villain; Char once again being thrown into danger; and Chihiro’s own growth. It is absolutely stunning. The artwork is also equally remarkable, perfectly fitting the epic clashes in the volume, which also features enough flashbacks to help build more and more context to the happenings in this sorcerer world. However, the downside to so much happening so early is that the emotional aspects of the series barely get time to breathe. Flashbacks to Chihiro’s father and Char’s mother should hit it us hard, but they only skim very surface emotions. It’s like a fighter wielding one of the enchanted blades: a fatal attack (the incredible action in this series) can only be wielded at a cost (the heartfelt portions). It’s okay, though. There are still plenty more volumes to go in which Hokazono could potentially master both, but even if he doesn’t, I have to say that the energy in Kagurabachi is so amazing that if the heart is somewhat sacrificed, I’ll still be happy with this series. ~ Twwk
Kagurabachi is published by VIZ Media.
Read: Kagurabachi Vol. 1 Review
You and I Are Polar Opposites, Manga Vol. 4
You and I Are Polar Opposites is hands down my favorite romcom right now, with the two most considerable strengths of the series on full display in volume four. The first is the cute characters and their relationships: a school field trip provides ample opportunities for relationships to progress, with three in view by volume four. Suzuki and Tani are now the veterans of this group, but the doki-dokiness of their relationship is still developing, and it is super cute, helped along greatly by how wonderfully kawaii these two characters are separately and how even more fun their dynamic is together. Meanwhile, two other relationships are moving along at their own pace, with one taking quite a huge leap in this volume. By the way, the school field trip isn’t just an excuse to provide situations that push couples together—in the hands of Kocha Agasawa, it’s also a way to continue to display the mile-a-minute, panel-by-panel humor and cuteness of the series. And that’s the second point—this manga is so much fun. Every page is full of humor that’s really smart; sometimes, a panel will lead readers to turn back several pages, realizing that some little aside has later become a full-blown gag. There’s depth here. No wonder, then, that volume four provides the best field trip arc I’ve ever read. Do yourself a favorite—if you’re not reading this series already, go grab it. It’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face. ~ Twwk
You and I Are Polar Opposites is published by VIZ Media.
Read Reviews of You and I Are Polar Opposites: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3
Rainbow Days, Manga Vol. 14
With two of the four main characters’ stories more or less concluded, Rainbow Days turns to the two most difficult ones, with volume fourteen focusing on Tsuyoshi, his choice of college, and his relationship with Yukiko. This story should be a smooth one because “Tsuyopon” and “Yukirin” have a strong, gracious relationship. Maybe because of that, however, mangaka Minami Mizuno has failed to develop these characters at all throughout the course of the series. Volume fourteen drops character development for the two in bunches. We’re hit by Tsuyopon’s complicated feelings toward college and Yukirin’s desire both to be a supportive girlfriend and keep her boyfriend near. It’s relatively compelling material but also a tad disappointing because it would have been so nice to get even a hint of this depth out of these characters in the previous volumes; the payoff would have been so much more delightful. Even so, I enjoyed Mizuno-sensei’s attempt to create fuller characters, and if Tsuyopon and Yukirin haven’t received their fair share previously, they at least get a meaningful resolution. ~ 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 // Vol. 12 // Vol. 13
“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.
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