School life with mythfolk, isekai life with a Fenrir, and space life under the New Order are among the worlds we’re visiting in this week’s Reader’s Corner! The first volume of a brand-new Star Wars manga is a standout among our new releases this week, which also includes two manhwa series and much more!

Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill (Vol. 2) • Everyone’s Darling Has a Secret (Vol. 2) • Overgeared (Vol. 8) • Star Wars: Path of the Lightsaber (Vol. 1) • Tower Dungeon (Vol. 3) • Tsumiki Ogami’s Not-So-Ordinary Life (Vol. 3) • Unholy Blood (Vol. 8)

Tower Dungeon, Manga Vol. 3

Our three heroes have been ambushed by a pack of Royal Guard deserters, who intend to rob them and leave them for dead—or for the undead. But those villains’ plans hit a snag when Yuva chooses violence. Sheer, utter, overwhelming violence. Eriquo and Lilicen, in turn, are more than happy to repay the rescue a short time later, when Yuva finds himself facing a monster which even he can’t bludgeon to death (as rare as such a thing is). But although the trio are now operating like a well-oiled machine, some crucial questions are bubbling to the surface. What is up with Yuva and his monstrous strength and durability? It goes far beyond anything explainable by the simple fact that he’s a country boy raised on hard work and hearty meals. And what is the Necromancer’s true objective? He certainly didn’t murder the king, kidnap the crown princess, and summon the Dragon Tower merely for kicks and giggles. The farther up the tower Yuva, Eriquo, and Lilicen climb, the deeper into this mystery they sink… The first thing I felt when I finished this volume was the sense that it was just a tad short. A cursory review of my manga library revealed that Dragon Tower volume three was only about 160 pages, when 190 to 200 pages is roughly the industry norm for tankobon size. But the previous two volumes of this series were also about 160 pages, and they didn’t feel as short. Then it hit me: The first two volumes were denser reads, whereas by volume three most of the story’s “groundwork” had been laid and less needed to be explained. Tsutomu Nihei was therefore able to devote more space to illustrations and less to text. All this to say, Dragon Tower volume three is a book that can fly by you if you let yourself get caught up in the hunt for the next plot point or piece of the puzzle. But if you slow down, soak in the “Dark Souls drawn by Dr. Seuss” atmosphere, and stop and smell the roses (or whatever those growths coming out of the wall are) you’ll find it to be much more rewarding. ~ WacOtaku

Tower Dungeon is published by Kodansha.

READ: Reviews of Tower Dungeon Vol. 1 // Vol. 2

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Star Wars: Path of the Lightsaber, Manga Vol. 1

I’m always excited for new Star Wars properties. Recent failures—perceived or otherwise—can’t seem to dampen the excitement I feel when something Star Wars is released, even when the property connects the two eras of Star Wars that have caused controversy among fans: The High Republic era and Episodes VII-IX. Star Wars: Path of the Lightsaber does just that, taking place during the new trilogy as Kylo Ren rules with an iron fist, the First Order is gaining control over the galaxy, and the Jedi have started to fade into myth. Into this trying time steps Nioka, a survivor of a First Order invasion, who know works as a “tinkerer” aboard the salvaging ship, Random Luck. However, her discovery of a lightsaber aboard a High Republic vessel is going to set into motion things beyond her imagination—and possibly the key to her dreams of becoming a Jedi. The story and artwork is done by Kenny Ruiz, a Spanish mangaka who’s been working in the Japanese manga industry and has a love for Star Wars. His artwork is lively and lush. I have to admit that at first, the style felt a little “childish” to me, and I couldn’t get it out of my mind that one of the major character, Barun, looks like an ancestor of Mario and Luigi, but the style grew on me as the volume continued, and I fully embraced its beauty and dynamism by the end. The storyline is tonally in line with properties taking place in the aforementioned time periods; I think that’s a good thing. While I’ve been disappointed in some of the films and other properties put out by Disney, I have liked the “feel” of these eras; there’s a sense of foreboding, hope, and epicness that runs through each of the works, and it’s present here too. However, fans of the original series who fully hate Disney’s approach won’t find a savior in this manga; it embraces some of the diversity that became a focal point for controversy in the fandom. But that’s not the “point” of this series—it’s a story about a young person finding her way in the universe, which is what Star Wars is always about, and I’m excited to see how it develops within a fairly unique combination of a Knights of Ren storyline, High Republic connection, and the unusual relationship which develops in the final pages. ~ Twwk

Star Wars: Path of the Lightsaber is published by VIZ Media.

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Unholy Blood, Manhwa Vol. 8

Okay, that cover rocks! All the vibrancy and action and detail of this volume are condensed into that single, awesome image (and you’re only seeing the front here; the image wraps around the spine and the back as well). If you’ve followed my reviews of Unholy Blood until now, you know that I’ve been less of a fan of the more recent volumes, as they seem to simply drag the story out unnecessarily. Well, no more! This final volume is more or less everything I could want the series to be. Author Lina Lim starts us off with two reflective flashbacks that serve to play off each other, ratchet up the tension, and set the stage for the final showdown between Hayan and “God.” Hayan’s reflection asks what the nature of love is, as she explores the loving relationships she’s known and wonders if she’ll ever experience romance; among other things, she asks whether she’s even worthy of others’ love. It’s not hard to read her words as an image of the Christian soul asking whether God (the real one) can love it, despite all its failings. Set against this is Yohan’s recollection of his past: We’ve seen many of these flashback moments before, but never with such an extended look from Yohan’s own internal perspective. Why did he make decisions that caused so much suffering for others? Is it because he was mistreated and abused? Or did he harbor some inner darkness of his own? Did he ever have a choice in turning out the way he did? The answers to all of these seem to be both yes and no. Remarkably, through Yohan’s eyes, the author provides a powerful example of how free will without grace is not enough to be good: We can see clearly that Yohan could have chosen the right path at many points, and yet we can see just as clearly why that was never going to happen—and the causes are never simple. Even at the end, after the final climactic battle, his ultimate moral fate is unclear: Did he actually end up regretting his decisions and make a right choice in the end? We’re never entirely sure—and that uncertainty reflects the fact that no soul, however weighed down with past sins, is ever cut off from the opportunity of repentance and salvation. Yohan becomes an image of us, of fallen humanity. And then the author treats us to our well-deserved happy ending! After the epilogue, showing our friends—and some erstwhile enemies—adjusting to the post-vampire world, Lim provides us with some reflections on the series and how it came to be. Finally, we get a lovely…is that a wedding photo??? This is why I love this series, and I’m glad to have been able to reread it. ~ NegativePrimes

Unholy Blood is published by IZE Press.

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Tsumiki Ogami’s Not-So-Ordinary Life, Manga Vol. 3

Now that we’re three volumes in and the novelty of adding mythfolk into the formula has worn off, is Tsumiki Ogami’s Not-So-Ordinary Life good enough to stand out amongst a myriad of “timid boy x popular girl“ manga? I think so, but your mileage will vary. Tsumiki herself remains a standout character—she’s fun, and her mythfolk quirks (I don’t know how many times she poured water all over herself in this volume) only add to her happy-go-lucky personality. On the other hand, Yutaka remains relatable and his desire to get out of his shell and develop friendships awww-worthy, but he is a little too plain to stand out in this subset of the romcom genre. And if one-half of the main pairing isn’t memorable, the pairing itself isn’t particularly strong, even if they get set up in a romantic, and well-illustrated fireworks/festival chapter, as happens in this volume. Unless you’re a fan of this type of story, Tsumiki Ogami’s Not-So-Ordinary Life probably isn’t worth keeping up with. That said, I am a fan, and I enjoyed the stories we got in this volume, which included relationship growth between Yutaka and Tsumiki’s siblings, a summer work adventure, and the aforementioned festival chapter. I’m also glad that we don’t get into ecchi material, which has been a worry for me about this series. It’s walking a bit of a line, but the mangaka hasn’t taken great advantage of the highly questionable use of demi-human characters in sexual situations that’s become common in manga, and for that and the general feel-good, warm tone of the series, I am grateful. ~ Twwk

Tsumiki Ogami’s Not-So-Ordinary Life is published by VIZ Media.

Read Tsumiki Ogami’s Not-So-Ordinary Life Vol. 1 Review

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Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill, Manga Vol. 2

Volume two of Campfire Cooking in Another World takes Mukouda to another town and the forests of the world he’s found himself in, as Fel’s hunting provides him with serious riches—and rich meat to fill the Fenrir’s tummy! Although these releases are short in length, the adaptation is really well done; the reader will also feel “full” after reading about Mukuoda and Fel’s adventures. In this volume alone, they travel to two towns, Mukuoda learns about magic and the world’s politics, beastfolk are encountered, and, of course, many delicious meals are made and gobbled down. A beloved character also makes their first appearance! Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill is a charming, fun read—one that’s mostly about warmth and food and feels, but also adds some interesting world-building and hints at danger to fill its pages with more than empty calories. I will say, though, that I was taken aback by some really foul language used in these pages which was completely unnecessary and taints a story that otherwise has a “wholesome” feel, even if there’s also violence that would restrict it from being enjoyed by younger audiences. Still, all in all, this is proving to be an excellent manga adaptation of a wondrous, enjoyable story. ~ Twwk

Read Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill Vol. 1 Review

Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill is published by Yen Press through the J-Novel Club imprint.

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Everyone’s Darling Has a Secret, Manga Vol. 2

As charming as I found volume one of Everyone’s Darling Has a Secret, I found volume two to be equally cringey and rote. This series started with a volume that wasn’t breaking any new ground in its “shy boy has special relationship with beautiful girl” storyline, but featured cute and quirky leads with great chemistry. It’s peculiar that volume two doesn’t continue to emphasize Kuromiya’s “fish out of water” personality, which made her stand out in the initial offering; instead, she really feels more like a character that exists to simply march the storyline forward, with these chapters revolving around midterms and her doing something special to thank Hiruno for helping her study. And it’s not just boring—the storyline is cringe-inducing as it moves along its path in a predictable and saccharine manner. The volume also isn’t helped by the introduction of the “childhood friend” archetype, who pops up in a random manner and continues to feel like she’s artificially inserted into the story because, hey, that’s what you’re supposed to do in these types of tales. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am by volume two, but I still hold out hope because I want to embrace the two sweet leads, and because I really like the artwork in this series, especially when the mangaka conveys that they’re stressed or otherwise out of sorts by devolving their character design. There is potential! I’ll stick around for now and hope for better writing and a return to form in volume three. ~ Twwk

Everyone’s Darling Has a Secret is published by Yen Press.

Read Everyone’s Darling Has a Secret Vol. 1 Review

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Overgeared, Manhwa Vol. 8

As Grid completes his fight against the Yatan Cult and finds time for another intense battle before Satisfy‘s big global event, Grid barely has time to breathe. But that’s okay—he’s really, really enjoying this. And so am I! Volume eight of Overgeared demonstrates every bit of what makes this series so much fun—not a single panel is wasted, as the action (and plot development too) is non-stop; the illustrations are vivid and lush; and the characters are all fun, both allies and rivals, and especially Grid himself who is such a hoot, as demonstrated in the last, very Iron Man-esque panel of volume eight. I don’t know if all the gameplay mechanics make sense, and if they’re thrilling for fans of such metrics and designs, and I don’t really like the harem that’s starting to form, especially with the have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too that comes with marrying an NPC, but those elements barely bother me because I’m simply having too much fun with the manhwa. And digging a little deeper, I’m also enjoying Grid’s character development, which is happening fairly rapidly but is consistent with the person he was always presented as; and because he’s growing into a decent guy, it’s encouraging and heartfelt. Overgeared is a great time—and I hope it stays that way for many volumes to come! ~ Twwk

Overgeared is published by Ize Press, an imprint of Yen Press.

Read Reviews of Overgeared: Vol. 1 // Vol.2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 7

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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.