It’s a catch-up week for us as we give our reviews of volumes that dropped throughout the summer, including the newest releases for Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill, A Condition Called Love, and more!
Sailor Zombie, Manga Complete Omnibus
In the event of a zombie outbreak, what do you do with your dreams of becoming an idol? If you’re aspiring idol Maiko Inui, you keep on going! Zombies listen to music too, after all…right?! Well, it turns out that, yes, they do indeed! But only to very particular songs by a little-known, underground idol who never formally cut an album, though her music is circulating in rare bootlegs amid the devastated post-apocalyptic landscape. And so the search begins: Who is Aruru-san? Where is Aruru-san? And can her music save the world?! I reviewed volume one last year, but had to wait for the release of this four-volume omnibus to finish the tale, and was it ever worth the wait! Sailor Zombie is such an eclectic, zany, unpredictable ride—and a whole lot of fun! Some twists you’ll see coming, others are far too creative to ever suspect; some work well, while others can be a bit of a head-scratcher, at least initially. But all of that is totally fine because this isn’t some epic franchise like TWD or Evil Dead. Instead, it’s delightful, zombiepop-alyptic fun, like clouds of cotton candy, while yet being surprisingly satisfying too. The musical lore is a little rough around the edges at times, but it definitely wins the originality prize. Meanwhile, reading through the huge volume is rather like taking a tour of an artist’s portfolio—or in this case, two artists!—as the styles and tone shift frequently, often from page to page, showcasing all the artistic modes and techniques the illustrators, Jiji and Pinch, can move in. But rather than feeling disjointed or random, it works really well, mirroring the ways in which the narrative too shifts from one genre to another, from horror to comedy, shoujo romance to mean girl school thriller, mystery to tragedy. It’s possible that the third act leans a little too hard into a twist, seeming to abandon the core story for a little too long, but the final volume pulls it all back together nicely, meaning that the omnibus format really does the series a favor (good call, Yen Press!). So, if you’re a fan of zombie tales, and you’re looking for something lighthearted and fresh (but still with some grisly, grim horror scenes!), check this one out! Be sure to buckle up, though, as it’s gonna be a rollercoaster! Now, if only there was a soundtrack to go with it…like, maybe by AKB48 subgroup Milk Planet or something… ~ claire
Sailor Zombie is published by Yen Press.
READ Review of Sailor Zombie Vol. 1
Kamudo, Manga Vol. 2
In my review of volume one, I compared Kamudo to ATLA, the Avatar movies, Dark Crystal (especially Dark Crystal!), and The Legend of Zelda manga, which was made by the duo who wrote this series as well. But Kamudo is also something completely its own, an original and epic story about a boy who seems more human with small dragon characteristics than a full demi-dragon (unlike the rest of his realm) who is fated to possibly destroy the world (though I have a feeling that he’s going to save it). Volume two has him and other adolescent demi-dragons doing ryuken training before they are called to the mystical center of their civilization. However, this coming-of-age story is about to hit a bump in the road and dividing point through a conflict developing since the opening pages of volume one. The action is wonderful if a bit confusing (as is the terminology in the story—such is what happens when you build a unique world!), and the art remains wondrous. Just absolutely stunning. It’s been quite some time since we received a new volume of this series; here’s hoping we won’t have to wait so long to see where the hero’s journey set up in volume two goes from here! ~ Twwk
Kamudo is published by VIZ Media.
READ Kamudo Vol. 1 Review
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill, Manga Vol. 6
What’s a guy to do when he just wants to buy a bathtub but his Fenrir companion keeps killing legendary beasts like wyverns and dragons? These are the challenges that Mukohda faces in volume six of Campfire Cooking in Another World, along with keeping the gluttonous goddesses happy and, of course, feeding Fel and Sui. This is a pretty comfy volume without a lot of conflict, which allows the reader to really just soak in the wonderful scenes of cooking and hunting, both, and to enjoy the three fun personalities in Mukohda’s party. I was able to really take a moment and think about the protagonist’s love for making good food, even though it’s only semi-homemade, which really got me to thinking that Campfire Cooking in Another World is, in part, a love letter to that style of cooking that is daily life in my homes, including my own. There is, however, at the end of volume six a hint of heavier conflict to come, though I’m sure it’ll be accompanied shortly afterward with more great meals and fun times with Mukoda, Fel, and Sui—after all, the food and relationships are the main dish in this lovely series! ~ Twwk
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill is published by Yen Press through the J-Novel Club imprint.
Read Reviews of Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5
A Condition Called Love, Manga Vol. 17
Hananoi and Hotaru have made the painful decision to split up, and while life continues for both of them as they live in two different countries, Hotaru still thinks about Hananoi. Even when they lose contact and haven’t spoken or seen each other in months, she has truly never forgotten him. She begins to realize that no matter what, she really wants to be with him, and with the help and encouragement of her friends, she decides to go to England and reconcile! I was so scared to start this volume after what happened in the previous volume, even though Hotaru is smiling so beautifully and brightly on this cover, and it would seem to be a much happier volume than the last. Thankfully, it was! Absolutely beautiful and touching to not only see a more confident Hananoi, but also (I would say) a much more open and straightforward Hotaru! Honestly, I feel this was her volume and was so proud of her saying the things in her heart without any concern for how Hananoi would react. It was so powerful, and I feel that the scene when she boldly says two words to him later on really was the perfect way to “wrap up” this volume! I was surprised by how many bonus stories we had, but I loved them all! They were wonderful and felt like they were the cherry on top to really heal my heart after everything that had happened! If you were scared or nervous to start this volume because you didn’t know if it would have even more heartache, I’m thankful to share that no, your heart will be stitched together and feel whole once again alongside these two wonderful characters! It truly was a beautiful and heartfelt volume, among the most memorable of this series for sure! ~ Laura A. Grace
A Condition Called Love is published by Kodansha.
READ Reviews of A Condition Called Love: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8 // Vol. 9 // Vol. 10 // Vol. 11 // Vol. 12 // Vol. 13 // Vol. 14 // Vol. 15 // Vol. 16
Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, Manhwa Vol. 1
Solo Leveling has been quite the hit globally—digitally, in print, and animated. Even if I found the ending a bit on the weaker side, the story of a weakling who gets a chance to advance and become stronger through hard work is well told. The MC might be overpowered, but the challenges he faces are always enough of a threat to create a palpable sense of tension; and the mystery of the world-building is enticing. So…how do you follow that up with a compelling sequel? When your hero is basically a god, certain spoilery events have undone a lot of the drama of the previous series, and much of your world-building has been spelled out already, where is there left to go? That is the challenge facing Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, and the cards are stacked against it; yet the creators do a decent job with the hand they’ve been dealt. Sooho Sung is the son of our previous series’s MC, who has however gone mysteriously missing. Sooho is a college student who gets caught up in a dungeon break and discovers he can level up. Under the guidance of a certain figure who readers of Solo Leveling will recognize, Sooho sets out to grow stronger and to uncover what happened to his parents, and to protect the world from an extradimensional invasion… In my view, Ragnarok is…okay. The sense of mystery that drove its predecessor is significantly diminished, and Sooho seems to have a “fast pass” as he advances through the levels and challenges facing him. Nevertheless, there are forces moving who seem a credible threat, and enough questions and challenges that serve to entice the reader through the plot. I’ve been following this series for a while, and don’t intend to stop anytime soon. ~ Dr. Steve
Solo Leveling: Ragnarok is published by Yen Press.
Almark, Manga Vol. 2
Volume two picks up right where the last one left off: Almark entering class for the first time. He and we are introduced to the cast who will be our companions for the early part of the story: his friends Wendy and Morgan, his rival Tohrk, the mysterious Wollis. Almark struggles with his classes because he has never learned magic before, while his peers have had a couple of years to refine their skills; so our boy spends his time meditating and learning the basics of mana, as well as putting the snooty noble Tohrk in his place during combat class. This being a shonen-ish story, naturally Tohrk must then become his tsundere friend. In all seriousness, though, the volume is a fun one, even if the first part is a bit heavy on the dialogue side as the main cast are introduced. By the end, though, as the mystery of the nearby woods begins to unfold and shadows start to seem more menacing, the plot and drama of the first arc are well underway! Time to enjoy some more fun with Mercenary Harry Potter! ~ NegativePrimes
Almark is published by Yen Press.
Read Almark, Vol. 1 Review
