On this week’s Reader’s Corner, we review a sequel to Alice in Borderland, the newest volume of the trippy series, Yan, the full collection of Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san, and much more! Check out our thoughts below and let us know what you’ve been reading!
Alice in Borderland Retry • Love at First Memory (Vol. 2) • Once Upon a Witch’s Death (Vol. 2) • Our Aimless Nights (Vol. 1) • Please Look After the Dragon (Vol. 2) • Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san Complete Omnibus • Touring After the Apocalypse (Vol. 7) • Yan (Vol. 3)
Please Look After the Dragon, Manga Vol. 2
Ilsera and Murakami continue their adventures in volume two of Please Look After the Dragon, which starts with a bang (the thunderclap type) as they deal with a new, powerful dragon, and continues with more everyday sort of events, like Ilsera learning how to summon items out of thin air. It’s all very comfy, familiar, and, frankly, boring. This is the type of series that should give you warm feels, but I didn’t get those because I don’t think the execution is very strong. I didn’t really care at all about the new character whose introduction filled the final pages of volume one and the first chapters of volume two, nor did I really care that Ilsera and Murakami themselves were in danger. This is because the characters aren’t memorable or particularly distinct, the artwork is forgettable, and the laughs are—with the exception of a really funny summoning of curry—virtually non-existent. I appreciate the effort here, and there’s nothing about this series that’s worth harshly criticizing—I just think you’re better off reading similar stories that are better executed. ~ Twwk
Please Look After the Dragon is published by Yen Press.
READ Please Look After the Dragon Vol. 1 Review
Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san Complete Omnibus, Manga
Yen Press has released a complete omnibus of Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-san, a delightfully odd manga that turns the everyday chaos of working in the manga section of a bookstore into comedy gold. Based on creator Honda’s real-life experiences as a bookseller, the series is a collection of short anecdotes involving difficult (but more often unusual) customers, publishing mishaps, passionate manga fans, and the countless challenges of keeping books on shelves. The humor is certainly niche—particularly when it dives into manga industry and fandom culture, which often leads to really dense material—but that’s also the appeal, as is the unusual appearance with which the mangaka draws the employees. I also really enjoy the warmth of the series, as Honda’s affection for books, his coworkers, and the customers shines through in every chapter, making the series as much a celebration of the people who connect readers with stories as it is a workplace comedy. If you’ve ever loved a bookstore (or worked in one), you’ll probably find yourself smiling all the way through this omnibus. ~ Twwk
Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san Complete Omnibus is published by Yen Press.
Our Aimless Nights, Manga Vol. 1
Chika is an upbeat young woman, and Waya is a quiet young man; both attend the same high school. On the outside, it would seem like these two would never interact, but what their classmates don’t know is that they have been secretly meeting outside of the convenience store that Waya works at! Could something deeper than friendship bloom between these two? If you’re looking for a series very similar to Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You but without the smoking and centering around two high schoolers instead, this is a manga you need to try! I was deeply touched by the opening message from the editor sharing how something is missing for younger YA readers because I definitely agree! I do believe, though, this manga can help fill that gap! I was honestly surprised by how sweet and wholesome this was! I don’t remember feeling too interested when it was physically announced, but seeing it on NetGalley made me want to give it a try because I remember a friend being super stoked about it. I can see why, as I enjoyed seeing our leads slowly grow not only in their feelings for one another but also more confident as individuals, especially Waya. Seeing him smile was so cute, and Chika’s smile completely lights up a room! They definitely don’t seem like two characters who would run in the same circles, but I wonder if that’s what made their story feel special? I really loved seeing Chika ask Waya random questions because she wanted to get to know him better, especially after we found out that Waya doesn’t even use LINE because he prefers talking face-to-face with people. Talk about refreshing! I think if you like short, wholesome slice-of-life romances, this is one I would definitely check out! ~ Laura A. Grace
Our Aimless Nights is published by Ink Pop.
Love at First Memory, Manga Vol. 2
Mia still unfortunately hasn’t gotten her memories back, but these guys are not deterred by the gap in them. In fact, they have all decided to live together to help her! From working on missed school assignments to celebrating her birthday, there certainly is never a boring moment in Mia’s life…and in her heart! Another very excellent volume that continues to leave me so thankful I gave this manga a chance! Granted, I confess I was not happy with Issei taking the spotlight at the beginning. I find his character so sus, but! Kudos to the creator because while I was internally dreading a focus on him, I was very surprised by the opening chapter, which gave us a big reveal that I didn’t see coming! Even though the ending showed him briefly touching a necklace, I left questioning just how much he is really a “con artist” because I think there is a lot more history between him and Mia than I ever thought. However, I loved Tsurugi having so much time on page! Eeeeppp! He had so many super cute blushy faces that I couldn’t help squealing! Granted, that’s not to say that our other two handsome guys didn’t have some time to shine too, because they did! And as a result, I adored Ririto’s character so much! I loved how he planned a birthday trip and brought everyone together! It was so special, and I hope we see lots of him in future volumes! Kei was great too, and I like him a lot! That one scene with him being nervous was adorable! Overall, this volume was another blast to read! I’m very excited for the next volume! ~ Laura A. Grace
Love at First Memory is published by Kodansha.
READ Love at First Memory Vol. 1 Review
Alice in Borderland Retry, Manga
Alice in Borderland is one of my favorite series, but it’s such an emotional ride that once I finished the final volume, I was ready to step aside from the story forever. So it was with some trepidation and honestly, a bit of dread, that I went into the continued adventures of Arisu with Haro Aso’s sequel, Alice in Borderland Retry. It starts a number of years after Arisu’s original trip into Borderland; he’s about to become a father, and has fully forgotten about his time in that horrible world. But Arisu is once again dropped into Borderland, and unfortunately, has not recovered his memories; thus he doesn’t have any particular advantage in the game he’s about to play with several new comrades. The volume feels quite a lot like an additional arc from the original manga—a fascinating game, painful decisions involving morality, and compelling supporting characters, including one that became one of my favorites in the whole of the franchise for her beautiful ethics. That said, is it worth investing in this one-shot volume if it feels “extra”? Absolutely it is, and in part because while it could have worked as an additional arc to the original series (I have to feel that this is something Aso-sensei thought of then but never used), it is lovingly done as part of the extended franchise. He writes that he wanted to dive into questions about humanity again as he questions himself, and that’s thematically key to this volume as Arisu’s thoughts and actions—particularly in light of having become an adult with more things to care about and different concerns on his mind than he had as a teenager—lead us to wonder not only what we would do, but more importantly, what we truly value. This is a fantastic addition to the series, and I’ll say this too: I am ready for more. I hope we get a sequel to Alice in Borderland one day, because I’ve rarely read such important conversations put to paper in such an enthralling way as Aso-sensei has done, and Retry has let me know: I am ready for more. ~ Twwk
Alice in Borderland Retry is published by VIZ Media.
READ Reviews of Alice in Borderland: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8 // Vol. 9
Yan, Manhua Vol. 3
The final volume of this Taiwanese action sci-fi opens with a flash-bang of a flashback chapter! It manages to recalibrate the entire story just enough to deepen the intrigue, but without sucker punching the reader. That is to say, it answers some fundamental questions—like who Yan Tieh Hua really is, and what made her the deadly woman she’s become—while inspiring yet others, setting up a final arc that has some deliciously twisty treats in store. But it’s not just the eponymous hero who is in the spotlight: Each member of her motley crew gets his or her moment, as their (back)stories weave together beautifully in time for a final showdown that is both narratively satisfying and artistically gripping. Author-artist Chang Sheng storyboarded the action sequences as if for widescreen, and it hits really well! The draftsmanship continues to delight, with really quite stupendous illustration from backgrounds to closeups and everything in between. The publisher, Titan, made a really good call going with a slightly larger format for these books, and the three volumes with their painterly cover portraits on fluorescent backgrounds would liven up any shelf. All in all, Yan has been a short series, yet it packs a real punch, and comes to a satisfying conclusion. That said, I can’t help but wish for more! So, if you’re fond of flawed superheroes and Asian action films, be sure to check out Yan! ~ claire
Yan is published by Titan Manga.
Once Upon a Witch’s Death, Light Novel Vol. 2
Meg Raspberry’s time on this Earth—er, that is, on Victorian-era English-countryside-inspired fantasy Earth—is ticking down at an alarming rate, leaving the seventeen-year-old with only about six months to live before the curse, Death’s Decree, finally overcomes her. But that’s no reason to be depressed! Instead, Meg keeps pressing on with her magical development, visiting a rare magical rite, tackling magical contamination at home and abroad, and making new friends at every step. This volume covers episodes 7-12 of the anime, so there’s no new material yet for anime-viewers. Yet there are a few rewards tucked away here for the reader. First off, a huge shoutout to the translator, Megan Turner, for creating such a witty text, and deploying specifically British colloquialisms and turns of phrase so perfectly (including my favorite, “pear-shaped”). Meg’s oft-remarked-upon (especially by her mentor, Faust) middle-aged man persona and mannerisms come across really well too, especially in the rendering of her kabuki actor impersonations. Thanks to the first-person narration that a novel allows (as opposed to anime), we really get a strong sense of Meg’s unique voice. She’s such a great character! There are a few more details here too about the mechanics of magical contamination and its redress. All in all, a really fun read, even for fans who, like me, have already watched the anime a couple times. Can’t wait for the next volume! ~ claire
Once Upon a Witch’s Death is published by Yen Press.
Touring After the Apocalypse, Manga Vol. 7
When we last saw Youko and Airi, they had just set off some fireworks when suddenly a jet appeared overhead! Turns out that the jet was manned (womanned?) by an astronaut named Claire (great name, btw), and although there’s nowhere for her to land, thanks to Airi’s facility with Morse code and English, the three agree to rendezvous at Misawa Air Base. The girls are excited at the prospect of finally meeting up with some others, but even so, Youko points out that there’s no need to hurry straight there; the base isn’t going anywhere. So why not hit a few Touringram sites along the way? And so the leisurely exploration of the post-apocalypse continues! This time, there’s a new pet, an Audrey Hepburn reference, and possible possession by a demonic namahage mask thrown into the mix, along with the usual half dozen or so bucket-list-worthy sightseeing spots. Youko’s mysterious dreams intensify, and finally begin to clarify too, as she’s able at last to put a name to a certain face. There still may be no infodumps addressing the mounting pile of questions about the exact nature of this post-apocalypse and our cheery duo, but we do finally get a few new clues as to the extent of the cataclysm that has struck the world. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Mangaka Saito’s ability to weave just enough tension in with the relaxing slice of life is impressive, turning an easy-going, mundane kind of story into a veritable page turner! Looking forward to the next installment—my hopes are high that the next volume will bring us even greater Claire clarity! (PS: I finally noticed that the QR codes that pop up in each chapter at the various tourist spots are actually functional! Readers can “collect” the digital stamps right alongside Youko and Airi. Pretty neat!) ~ claire
Touring After the Apocalypse is published by Yen Press.
READ Reviews of Touring After the Apocalypse: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 6
“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.
