Will Ako return to her original body? Have Ruby and Aqua truly switched roles? And are either of two brand new series—The Bugle Call: Song of War and Kill Blue—likely to rise to the occasion as worthy of our attention and dollars? Twwk gives you all his thoughts on these questions and more in this week’s Reader’s Corner!
Ako and Bambi (Vol. 5) • The Bugle Call: Song of War (Vol. 1) • The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity (Vol. 6) • From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman (Vol. 3) • Kill Blue (Vol. 1) • Oshi no Ko (Vol. 10)
Kill Blue, Manga Vol. 1
The premise of Kill Blue is simple and silly: Middle-aged GOAT hitman Juzo Ogami is stung by an unusual wasp after one of his missions, and recovers to find that he has aged down to look like he did when he was thirteen. But from this simple aged-down storyline erupts so many fun angles in volume one of the series, starting with Ogami’s personal transformation from a going-through-the-motions killer to becoming a try-hard and awkward middle schooler. It’s sweet and fun, as are the relationships he begins to develop with those around him, leading to a fake love interest, rivals, and bullies, and standing up for his classmates by being his awesome assassin self. There is some splattering of blood in this volume (quite a bit actually), but I would still describe the story as pretty clean—it doesn’t linger on violence, there’s no ecchi in sight, and Ogami declares more than once that it’s morally objectionable for him to romantically pursue an underage girl. In fact, regarding that latter point, Ogami’s focus is rather on his broken relationship with family. All of this hits really well—the emotional highs as well as the laughs—and the story moves forward with an unrelenting pace. I’m very much looking forward to more from Ogami in volume two! ~ Twwk
Kill Blue is published by VIZ Media.
The Bugle Call: Song of War, Manga Vol. 1
What would you get if you combined Vinland Saga, The Lord of the Rings, and My Hero Academia? Well, it might look a whole lot like The Bugle Call, a fantasy series centered on an almost fatalistic vision of a medieval world where hope, in the form of song, nonetheless endures. But volume one doesn’t lean too heavily into the hope. As it begins, Luca is the bugler for a mercenary group led by a violent, pragmatic father figure (think Askeladd), and is thrown in the midst of a battle that doesn’t go their way, primarily because the enemy features “Branch-hexed,” powerful warriors who, like Luca, have a branch-like protrusion growing out of them. Soon, Luca is drawn into their holy war of sorts, even though all he wants to do is learn to play music. That description actually makes the series sound lighter than it is—it’s full of beheadings, blood, and a pessimistic worldview that nonetheless feels like what it might have realistically been like in 1294 A.D. (as opposed to 1294 in the Arboral Year, which is the setting for this series) as men are forced to fight for commanders who care nothing for them, while the weak are victimized in the most terrible ways. But themes like hope, the power of music, and friendship sneak through in these initial chapters and help balance the darkness. Additionally, the powers exhibited by the Branch-hexed are fascinating, particularly Luca’s (I was reminded of the unusual magic system in Mistborn), and the presence of two magical towers and wizard-like clergy were certainly influenced by LotR. All in all, this is a banger of a start for what appears to be a unique take on historical fantasy tales. ~ Twwk
The Bugle Call: Song of War is published by VIZ Media.
[Oshi no Ko], Manga Vol. 10
I think all of us want both that high level of shock that Oshi no Ko provided in early volumes and the deep dive into the Japanese entertainment industry that we’ve become accustomed to—every single volume. But can we just be satisfied with the latter as long as the story continues to twist us emotionally now that we’re so attached to the characters, even if the series can’t always do the former? If it’s as good as volume ten, we certainly can. Ruby Hoshino’s path to stardom explodes because of her work on the variety show, especially given how she positioned herself at the end of volume nine, further opening up the “Dark Ruby” storyline. But perhaps even more captivating is the focus in these chapters on Aqua, Akane, and Kana (both separately and together); there are some startling developments, including a nice cliffhanger ending, but more than anything, it’s fun to see the characters grow (or regress) as the central story continues to unfold. If there’s anything I would poke at in this volume, it’s how fast the material is moving; there are some developments in the story that don’t properly get to stew, though in previous volumes, the duo behind this series would have allowed that to happen. Nonetheless, I found volume ten to be exhilarating and well-made, and after a downturn several volumes back, I can absolutely say: Oshi no Ko is back to great! ~ Twwk
Oshi no Ko is published by Yen Press.
READ Reviews of Oshi no Ko: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8 // Vol. 9
From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman, Manga Vol. 3
Volume three of the manga adaptation for From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman is a particularly compelling read in light of the currently airing anime. I’ve been enjoying that series, which is basically a feel-good story about a middle-aged man whose care for others and strong morals forever change the lives of his students and others who come to know him. The emphasis there is on good feels and the girls he interacts with, which is what makes the manga a surprise—there’s a lot more lore here, a deeper story, and fewer glimpses of the girls. Volume three closes the guild adventure story and starts a new one involving the misuse of magic; these two tales, along with some connecting tissue involving Beryl getting a new sword, hint at some deeper evil at work in this world, which I have not felt at all from the more optimistically toned TV series. A lot of time is also spent on panels that feel “extra,” like for minor characters who receive a little more development or small info drops about the world the characters inhabit. None are terribly interesting, which is why I think the directors made the right choice in the anime to keep things relatively superficial, focusing on the strengths of this series; still, the manga is worth reading because this remains a nice tale (slight boring asides and all), and may offer something extra to viewers like me who also haven’t read the original light novels. ~ Twwk
From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman is published by Yen Press.
Read: From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Vol. 1 Review
Ako and Bambi, Manga Vol. 5
Ako and Bambi began as a cute series with quite a mystery at its center. Now, in volume five, the series retains some of that cuteness (mostly through the brilliantly simple drawings by the mangaka, Hero) and the mystery remains relevant, but drama and romance are now a very strong element in the story. While I think the series is at its peak when it’s cutest, it’s still strong in this new stage. Almost every character in the series (some 15-20 total) has feelings for another character, frequently unrequited. This could lead to dokidoki moments, but more often, it gives Hero the chance to deepen characterization and let us know about their background and motivations. For instance, Hana’s anxieties are far deeper than just a general worry about embarrassing herself in front of Hiki, and Azusa’s relationship with Bambi is becoming more and more anchored in her working relationship with him. Most central in the drama in this volume, though, are the many different ways in which Ako is being pushed toward possibly leaving Bambi, who is becoming more and more smitten with her. I appreciate the slow build happening, almost as much as I continue to love the art style and cute expressions on virtually every character’s face from time to time. I’m even starting to know and remember who each character is, which was a huge problem in earlier volumes! The biggest issue for me in this one, instead, was how panels transition from one scene to a wholly different one featuring different characters without making a major distinction between panels; it’s a stylistic choice, and one that only served to confuse me. Regardless, I’m really enjoying this series and now, more than ever, am wondering how many happy endings we’re going to get—and if the most important one of all will materialize. ~ Twwk
Ako and Bambi is published by Yen Press.
Read Reviews of Ako and Bambi: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity, Manga Vol. 6
While volume five expanded to give the fantastic supporting characters in this series a chance to shine, volume six turns the focus back toward Rintaro and Kaoruko as the festival comes to a close and the former finally decides to make his feelings known to the latter. As everything has been in this heartwarming series so far, that scene is handled with gentleness and warmth, while what comes after the confession is equally involving. What’s also really compelling is how the perspective turns toward Kaoruko in the chapter following the confession; until now, we’ve been seeing most of this budding relationship from Rintaro’s eyes, and it’s thrilling to get a different view of it. To me, this is the seminal romance manga of this decade, and volume six continues to show why through lovely, funny, and charming scenes. In an author’s note in this volume, mangaka Saka Mikami writes that she cried while writing these chapters—you may find yourself doing the same as you cheer on a precious would-be couple and their dear friends. ~ Twwk
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is published by Kodansha.
Read The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity Reviews: Vol. 1 // Vol. 5
“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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