Madness Manga Mondays (17)

Black Bird Volume 7
By Kanoko Sakurakoji 

(BLACK BIRD SERIES)

Age Warning: Teen +16

Published By: Viz Media (Shojo Beat)

Genre: Drama Paranormal Romance

Date Released: Feb 1st, 2011

Provided By: Myself

***SPOILERS if you haven't read the first 6 volumes.***

Synopsis: 

There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand...or her life! Misao knows her relationship with Kyo is dangerous, but she's used to being the one in peril! Will she be able to stand it when the tables are turned and Kyo is threatened? As leader of the tengu clan and boyfriend of the Senka Maiden, Kyo gets a lot of attention in the demon world, and very little of it is good. From the wrath of a reincarnated dragon to the hatred of a demon hunter, Misao must face the fact that she isn't the only one at risk in the relationship. But how can she just stand by while Kyo is threatened?!

My Review:

If you haven't see some of my other Madness Manga Monday reviews, well then you've missed out on the past six volumes of Black Bird being reviewed and here's links to them for you: 1&2, 3, 4-6

The Black Bird series has held my attention since I first started reading the volumes last year. It's a great (mature at times) manga, that has the reader wondering if Kyo and Misao will ever get together, because of the Senka Maiden issue. Or if they'll find the rest of the text needed to learn the truth if they ever ... (innuendo). I really don't want to spoil anything for anyone reading this review, so I'm going to keep it short. I love this series, and in May I'm going to go out and get the next volume (Number 8) because Black Bird is a great investment in a Manga series in my strict opinion.

Links:

Author's Site (You'll need a translator like Google) | Publisher

Madness Manga Mondays (16)

MMM is a feature here at Loud Words and Sounds.

The weeks MMM is...

Black Bird  Volumes 4-6
By Kanoko Sakurakoji

Age Warning: Teen 16+

Published by: Viz Media

Genre: Drama Paranormal Romance

Date Released: Vol. 4- May 4, 2010, Vol. 5- August 3, 2010, Vol. 6- October 5, 2010

Provided By: Myself

Check out my other volume reviews here and here.

Synopsis:

(from goodreads.com)

There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand...or her life!

My Review:

I love this series! Black Bird by Kanoko Sakurakoji is an amazing teenage romance manga. I mean really, I can't wait for the next couple of volumes to come out (which is soon!). Misao and Kyo have really grown in these last three volumes of Black Bird. They are now more a couple than ever, and this makes it even more dramatic when attacks start against Misao again. But the larger question through out these three volumes is, is Misao ready to go to the next step with Kyo? Or will there be some unanswered questions that rise in the mist of this problem? Well I'm not going to tell you, because that would spoil the whole three volumes. All I can really say is that these last three volumes of Black Bird leave me pinning for more.

Madness Manga Mondays (15)

MMM is a feature here at Loud Words and Sounds.

The weeks MMM is...

Metamo Kiss Volume 1
By Sora Omote

Age Warning: Teen 13+

Published by: Tokyopop (USA)

Genre: Romance Comedy

Date Released: March 13, 2007

Provided By: Myself

Synopsis:

(From goodreads.com)

Kohanamaru comes from a peculiar family, each member can switch bodies with his or her soul mate! His parents can switch bodies, and his aunt, oddly enough, can switch with her cat! Now it's Kohanamaru's turn...When Kohanamaru literally runs into Nanao, the girl of his dreams, they switch bodies. True love, right? Well, unfortunately, she's in love with someone else. And if that weren't bad enough, the "someone else" turns out to be Kohanamaru's twin brother Konatsu...who can reverse their transformation with his own kiss!

My Review:

Metamo Kiss Volume 1 by Sora Omote gives the reader a different romance than most other manga series. Kohanamaru, a boy of different sorts is moving back in to his parents place and in the end finds out something peculiar; he can switch bodies with his true love. It turns out that Kohnanamaru finds this girl, Nanao, in a train station, and through accident they switch bodies. The story continues from this point into a fast paced adventure. Metamo Kiss is a cute manga, full of romance and comedy. I love Omote's drawing style it's a mix in ways of my favorite mangaka's styles, making Metamo Kiss really easy to read. And the plot is excellent making the reader want to find the next volume. By the way there are only three volumes in this series and each  are out. In the end though Metamo Kiss doesn't really stand on my list of must read manga's it was just a cute one I found one day browsing at Barnes and Noble.

Madness Manga Mondays (14)

MMM is a feature here at Loud Words and Sounds.

The weeks MMM is...

Kamikaze Katio Jeanne Volumes 1-2
By Arina Tanemura

SYNOPSIS:
(From goodreads.com)

Kusakabe Maron is an ordinary high school girl with more then her share of problems. But by night, she is Phantom Thief Jeanne. As the reincarnation of Joan of Arc, her mission is to steal demonpossessed paintings and neutralize their evil. Jeanne's only ally is the angelintraining Finn. Together, they must fight evil by night while surviving high school by day.

MY REVIEW:
Okay so along with Meru Puri and Ultra Manaic, Kamikaze Katio Jeanne was one of the first manga series I picked up. When I looked at the book I was like "Awesome!", demon killing, angles and Joan of Arc (I've had a fascination with her for a while). I love Arina Tanemura's writing and drawing and this series has me wanting to read some of her others (but I still haven't gotten a chance). I reread my favorite parts in this manga last week because I just wanted to, and I can't believe how I loved it. The characters are amazing, I love the plot line, the romance and the action.


In Volumes 1 and 2, we get introduced to the main character Maron, who at night takes on the personification of Joan of Arc and saves the world under the alias Jeanne. Especially from demons that have been taking over paintings and their owners. Maron lives alone with her best friend, Miyako and her family next door, while her parents both are off traveling and separated. After Maron we meet Chiaki, a new neighbor moving into Maron and Miyako's apartment building. He's cute, and well gets a lot of attention from the girls at school. Next comes, Sinbad a competitor of Jeanne's and in volume two we find out his real identity. He's cute and has a little angel named Access to help him. While Jeanne has little cutie Finn-Fish (she's a girl btw not a boy).


Between Sinbad and Jeanne fighting to take their chess pieces to the demons. And a romance between Chiaki and Maron forming within the first two volume its, no wonder why you can easily finish this series in less than two hours. Kamikazo Katio Jeanne has 7 volumes in total, and each one has different challenges and events. Check this series out because its cute and easy to read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
(From goodreads.com)
Arina Tanemura was born on March 12, 1978. She's the author of Full Moon O Sagashite, Time Stranger Kyoko, Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne, The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross, Sakura Hime Kaden, ION, Short-Tempered Melancholic, and more.  Her favorite hobby is Karaoke. One song that she sings is Smile, originally by Myco. She has two cats, named Riku and Kai. She has one elder and one younger sister and one brother. She's the type who hates to lose in anything. She also likes Ribon. She is a Pisces.

Madness Manga Mondays (13)

MMM is a feature here at Loud Words and Sounds.

This weeks MMM is...

Captive Hearts 
Volume One
by Matsuri Hino

Synopsis:

Fate plays an unusual trick on a privileged boy in this adorable shojo! 

Being carried around everywhere and having handsome Megumi act like a slave may seem ideal, but Suzuka just wishes he would stop. Can anything be done about Megumi's captive state? Or is Megumi doomed to see Suzuka as his master...forever? 

Carefree Megumi Kuroishi was living a life of luxury until the day a girl named Suzuka Kogami walked into his life. All of a sudden, Megumi finds himself kneeling at Suzuka's feet and prostrating himself like a servant! What Megumi doesn't know (until that very moment anyway) is that his family is cursed to follow the orders of the Kogami family.

My Review:

Being a big, big fan of Matsuri Hino, you can expect that I loved this volume and this series, Captive Hearts. Captive Hearts revolves around an old curse and a servant that is forced to serve a girl that he soon falls for. In volume one you meet the main characters quirky Megummi, Suzuka and Megumi's father the butler, Kuroishi. Megumi and his father are under a curse one to serve Suzuka's family. Because of this throughout volume one and many others of the series we see Megumi's "servant fits", and with Kuroishi's comedic  handling of his son, your sure to laugh while reading this. Suzuka is also a girl thats lost, coming from China to Japan she doesn't know the language just yet, and wasn't raised to be the only "princess" to the families money. And between Megumi's "servant fits" she just becomes confused about her emotions towards Megumi and this curse. Throughout the series we see these two characters develop but in volume one you see the foundations of the series start. Volume one has its hilarious, funny and romantic points, much like all of Hino's manga series do. And if you like a quick cute manga series to read Captive Hearts numbering 5 volumes, making it more accessible for readers and cheaper! :)

About the Author:

(From goodreads.com)

Matsuri Hino was born on January 24 in Hokkaido. She was a bookshop keeper who one day decided to become a manga artist, and all of nine months later, in 1995, she published her first manga title, Kono Yume ga Sametara (When This Dream Is Over), in Japan's LaLa DX magazine. Despite her swift ascension to professional manga creator, Hino's rich illustrations and enchanting storytelling make her success anything but surprising. A former bookstore shopkeeper, Matsuri Hino burst onto the manga scene with her title Kono Yume ga Sametara (When This Dream Is Over), which was published in LaLa DX magazine. Hino became a manga artist a mere nine months after she decided to become one.

Madness Manga Mondays (12)

MMM is a feature here at LWS.

This weeks MMM is...

Shinobi Life Volume 1 by Shoko Conami

SYNOPSIS:

(From goodreads.com)

Many, many years ago, a ninja named Kagetora devoted his life to protecting Princess Beni (”Beni-Hime”). Unfortunately, they were attacked and Kagetora was flung into a lake, and sank to the bottom… And is somehow warped to the future where he sees the princess Beni being kidnapped. Little does Kagetora know that Beni is not the real princess, but rather her descendant. Beni, on the other hand, thought that Kagetora was just a cosplayer. Beni, the daughter of a rich man has already been kidnapped a hundred times already... But fear not because Kagetora is here. Will Kagetora be able to go back to the past, or will he remain by Beni’s side forever?

MY REVIEW:

This one volume of Shinobi Life will not satisfy you, until you read the next one because its just that good. I picked up Shinobi Life about a year ago, wanting a new series with adventure and romance. And this manga delivered. Beni is in a sense a girl who wants attention, with no mother and what you can classify as a workaholic father and all the money she wants, she just wants a genuine human companion. Then Kagetora comes falling out of the sky from over a century ago and saves her. Kagetora is a ninja, a good ninja, and he's also great for Beni. In a sense he's her new companion, and its funny seeing him trying to cope with the new century he was dropped into. Shinobi Life by Shoko Conami is a creative time warping manga, that anyone with a love of ninjas and romance will love.

LINKS:

Tokyopop.com

Madness Manga Mondays (11)

MMM is a feature here at LWS.

This weeks MMM is...

Random Walk
By Wataru Yoshizumi

SYNOPSIS:

Yuka is a freshman in high school, living in the apartment next door to her mystery writer father and his new wife. The one thing she learned from her father was to "fall in love as many times as you can, and become an attractive woman." Now that she is in high school, Yuka is determined to meet her one true love. One day, as she and her friend Toko were hanging out, she meets Nozomu, who happens to be the son of her father's friend. Could he be the one?

MY REVIEW:

Random Walk is an interesting walk for Yuka, it about her path for true love. Yuka believes in the notion that the boy she falls for will be her husband in away. Through this 16 chapters of manga, Yuka falls in and out of love and in the end falls for someone unusual that you don't see coming for awhile, until its right in front of your eyes. Yuka is a normal teenage girl, except for the fact she lives alone, but she exemplifies the idea that teens are always in a search for love. There were so many different character in this story its hard to remember them all so a character summary is a little hard since there were several boys. I will comment how ever that each of these boys have their own qualifications to make a perfect boy for Yuka and in the end one is just someone you never see coming. This short manga held my attention the whole way through, and I really enjoy the illustrations that Wataru makes. So check Random Walk out.

Madness Manga Mondays (10)

Madness Manga Mondays is hosted here at LWS.

This week's MMM is...

Dramacon Volume OneBy Svetlana Chmakova

SYNOPSIS:

(From tokyopop.com)

Things just keep getting hotter for Christie as she faces up against her first ever fan convention. She's got a boyfriend, but suddenly she's not sure if he's really the one for her, and the events of the con keep throwing her in Matt's path. Matt's somewhat of a mystery, too. He's always got those wacky sunglasses on, and he can't seem to decide if he wants to be nice to Christie or just be a sarcastic jerk. Throw in an encounter with Lida Zeff, manga-ka extraordinaire, and Christie's dealing with one surprise after another. Of course, convention weekends tend to end all too quickly, and what will happen when suddenly distance is added to all of the factors keeping Christie and Matt apart?

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

(From svetlania.com)

Svetlana was born and raised Russian, and came to Canada at the tender age of 16. She finished high school here, then graduated Sheridan College with a three-year Classical Animation Diploma and is currently a freelance artist, as well as a fledgling North-American equivalent of a manga-ka. She has been in a love-hate relationship with comics and manga for several years now because she is too weak to break it off.Svetlana has drawn for how-to-draw-manga books, RPG manuals, toy designs, animation, book covers and a bunch of online comics. She is an accomplished flake and has no attention span which makes writing coherent bios quite a challenge. Hobbies include: sleeping and reading more comics than is healthy for her wallet. Also, sometimes, eating.

MY REVIEW:

Dramacon, first off was a manga I read a while ago online via Tokyopop.com, because they occasionally put books up there for a couple of days in celebration, at at the time (maybe 2 years ago) Dramacon was one of them. I read it, and really  enjoyed the series, but didn't actually get a paperback copy till this past Christmas. And then I reread the series and saw why I really liked it. Dramacon Volume One takes place at an anime convention or comic-con, and  a lot of drama happens to the main character Chrisite there (so hence the title is called Dramacon). Chrsitie a young inspiring artists is trying to promote a manga her and her boyfriend made together. Chrisite doing the writing and Derek doing the artwork. Yet, something happens, and young love must separate a time or too in most romances. And the fact that Chrisite finds the real jerk in Derek, helps her realize something or someone, the sun glassed Matt.

Svetlana's series Dramacon is really a short and fast manga series, it's only three volumes and has some accelerating and action packed scenes, but also some romance. I love the writing and the drawing style that she uses, and the fact that its easy and clean to understand makes the series all the better. So check it out!

LINKS:

Tokyopop

 Svetlania.com

Madness Manga Mondays (9)

Madness Manga Mondays is hosted here at LWS.

Ultra Maniac, Volume One
By Wataru Yoshizumi

SYNOPSIS:

Shy Ayu Tateishi has just made a new friend at school. But this new friend, much to her surprise, is no ordinary classmate. Nina Sakura may look like a normal middle school girl, but she's got a big secret. She's a witch. Or, rather, she's studying to be a witch. And, apparently, she's not doing her homework. Her spells are devastating in their ineffectiveness and often result in the most embarrassing situations for poor Ayu. But things wouldn't be so bad if Nina's sorcery didn't make Ayu look silly in front of the one boy she secretly adores. All she wants is a simple love potion. What she gets, however, is a new best friend who almost flunked out of witch school!

AUTHOR INFORMATION:
(From shojobeat.com)
Wataru Yoshizumi hails from Tokyo and made her manga debut in 1984 with Radical Romance in Ribon Original magazine. The artist has since produced a string of fan-favorite titles, including Quartet Game, Handsome na Kanojo (Handsome Girl),Marmalade Boy, and Random Walk.

MY REVIEW:
So in Volume One of Ultra Maniac we are introduced to Nina, Ayu and Hiroki and Tetsushi. Through out the series these four will be the main characters, and a couple more will join them. The Ultra Maniac series is one of my favorite series, and along with MeruPuri by Matsuri Hino started my Manga craze. Ultra Maniac involves one factor Nina, the witch from the Magic Kingdom, that has problems with her powers, and comes to the human world to learn instead of stay and flunk out of Magic School. Here, in the human world Nina meets Ayu (one of my favorite characters), the girl that supposedly has it all especially since she is so popular with the kids in her school. But that is all a fake preset, Ayu is acting to get the one thing she wants Tetsushi, a baseball player in her grade. And then there is Hiroki, Tetsushi's best friend. If you enjoy reading quirky romance magic stories I would suggest this for you.

LINKS:
Shojo Beat

Madness Manga Mondays (8)

Madness Manga Mondays is hosted here at LWS.

Venus in Love Volume 1
By Yuji Nakaji

Number of Volumes: 8 out of 12 in the USA

Publisher:CMX Manga or DCC Comics

SYNOPSIS:

College: A time for new friends and new loves — and getting confused about which is which. It seems like Suzuna is on track to land Eichi the guy of her dreams. But her other new friend — the beautiful Hinako — has some interesting information regarding Eichi that's going to force Suzuna to take a second look at the whole situation. She's about to discover that love can come with some unexpected competition.

MY REVIEW:

This was one of the few manga's that I picked up on chance, and fell in love with it. Venus in Love is an amazing manga, that involves several great characters and great illustrations. Nakaji, within the characters of Suzuna and Eichi makes a great romantic comedy story. And the fact that their budding romance still hadn't worked out in Volume 7 makes me want to get volume 8, which came out last month. If I had to sum this series up in two words it would be hilarious and romantic. This series makes me laugh and feel the heart break at the same time. I seriously suggest if you like manga like Fruits Basket, check Venus in Love out!

LINKS:

http://www.dccomics.com/

Author Appreciation Week: Monday / MMM (7)

This whole week is Author Appreciation Week, and was started by Heidi Kling over at her Live Journal. The job, write about on of your favorite authors every day this week. And I think this is a really great idea! And instead of a traditional Madness Manga Mondays I thought I would do one on my favorite Manga artist.

So todays Author/ Illustrator is 
Matsuri Hino

Matsuri Hino is one of my favorite Manga Authors/ Illustrators, I have all of her manga volumes that have been released in the United States, and I love her work. She has an amazing drawling and writing style, and makes ever volume super exciting. So if you love manga check her out! I can credit Matsuri with being one of the first Manga Illustrators I started reading big time and one of two that got me reading manga with MeruPuri.


MATSURI's SERIES
Captive Hearts
MeruPuri
WANTED (See my Review here!)
Vampire Knight

Madness Manga Mondays (6)

This is a continuation of my last MMM on the Black Bird Series.

Madness Manga Mondays is hosted here at LWS.

Black Bird Volume 3
By Kanoko Sakurakoji

Number of Volumes: 6 (3 are out in the U.S.)
Publisher: Shojo Beat
SYNOPSIS:

There is a world of myth and magic that intersects outs, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand...or her life! Misao is starting to trust her heart where Kyo is involved, especially after he gives her his primary feathers. It isn't just her first present from him, it's a magic talisman that will keep her safe when he's not nearby! Misao is elated to be able to go to school without the fear of being eaten, just like a normal teenage girl. But as her feelings for Kyo deepen, she starts to realize that as his bride she will have to leave her human life behind including her family!

MY REVIEW:

I have to say one thing, Volume 3 of Black Bird left me with a lot of questions, and doubts about Kyo. And in result I really need Volume 4 to come out soon (it comes out May 2010). This Volume centered around one thing Misao and her search to be normal. With one of Kyo's primary feathers she's protected from the normal demons, that used to just try and trip her in the hall. And that means one thing a normal life. Misao in result takes benefit of this and reconnects with her friends and family. But the one thing that bugs me in this volume is her dad (well he bugged me before but now its just worst), I think he's not normal. He's controlling and trying to cherish Misao more than I think he should be. And I think he knows what Misao sees because he  hints at it. Which leads me to thinking his body has been taken over by a demon. He might be made to be that way though, so I don't know. Dad rant over. Now on to Kyo. I love him, he's so awesome and so horny its funny. And he tries his best to keep Kyo happy. But something worries me, because there's something he's not telling her or the reader, so ya something is happening there also. This is why I really need Volume 4, so I can get some of these questions like: Does Misao's Dad know? Is Kyo up to something? What happens when they get married? Seriously, I need Volume 4 right now. 

This was a really bad review but I wanted to ask questions. Do any of you have these same doubts?

 Check out the other post that I did on the Series (the first two volumes) for information on the Author and Links.

Madness Manga Mondays (5)

Madness Manga Mondays is hosted here at LWS.

Black Bird Volumes 1 and 2
By Kanoko Sakurakoji

Number of Volumes: 6, but 3 in the United States Currently

Publisher: US Publisher Shojo Beat

SYNOPSIS:

There is a world of myth and magic that intersects outs, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand...or her life!

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Kanoko Sakurakoji was born in downtown Tokyo, and her hobbies include reading, watching plays, traveling and shopping. Her debut titles, Raibu ga hanetara, ran in Bessatsu Shojo Comic (currently called Betsucomi) in 2000, and her 2004 Bestucomi title Backstage Prine was serialized in VIZ Media's Shogo Beat magazine. She won 54th Shogakukan Manga award for Black Bird.

MY REVIEW:

(Just a warning this might have some spoilers because its hard to explain with out giving some stuff away.)

So I really like Black Bird, I received the first two volumes for Christmas and loved it. I need to get the next volume which was released at the beginning of the month. But never mind my needs you read this for a review. Black Bird is interesting to say the least. Its about Misao, a teenage girl that wants a normal life but can't get one because, guess what she sees demons all around her! And can't escape them until, her friend from when she was young Kyo comes back. We found out one thing he's a demon, that wants to marry Misao so bad he fought his brother for the head place of his demon clan the Tengu, half crow demons. Kyo is horny and a funny character, that becomes a teacher at Misao's school so he can protect her from the other demons trying to eat her to gain immortality. Misao is the cute girl, the has a strong heart and would do anything to protect herself from these demons.

This manga series is interesting, and reminds me a little bit of Backstage Prince which I read awhile ago. Its interesting and keeps the readers interest, while also give the reader some romance. Just so everyone know this is rated for Older Teen by VIZ Media, and might not be suitable for some younger teens just because of some of the scenes. But never mind the rating, I love this series and it means I needed to get the next volume. The one wish I have is that the school library would get manga, because it would be so much cheaper for me to get books.

LINKS:

http://shojobeat.com

http://sakurakoujien.lolipop.jp/ 

(This last one is in Japanese so you will have to use a translator, but is Kanoko's offical site.)

~All Information for the Synopsis and Author Information was found at shojobeat.com.~


Check here for a review on Volume 3 of Black Bird.