Copy bought from my local Krackers

I got a phone call near a fortnight ago from one of my suppliers saying they had my Yen Plus order in. I went in today to pick it up and was stunned to find issue two as well. Apparently, for some reason, issue two was released a week or so after issue one, and when they called me they already had both issue in. Wish I’d of known earlier

Any way, this issue I’m starting off with the Korean/english side again, because it leads off with Nightschool, and has an awesome cover by Svetlana!!

Along with more book ads, we have another double page spread for Haruhi (I will watch the anime at some point lol), followed by two pages of this months releases, which include With the Light Vol 03, Wild Animals Vol 01 and Sundome Vol 03. As well as a page breaking down the website (which still hasn’t been fully updated yet, you lose points there Yen!!), and the subscription info. You either phone the 1-800 number, or head over to Amazon and subscribe there.

Onto the chapters now…

Nightschool

We have a change up this time around, with Nightschool leading off this section. I’ve made my feelings on OEL’s clear, but I still like this one, and think it’s one of the few out there that are great.

The colouring of the first few pages was awesome, and I have to admit I really love Svetlana’s character designs. Still nothing in the way of development as such, though this chapter ends at a good point and it looks like the next chapter is going to be kick ass. What I really love though is the astral, though I do sort of wish she’d given it a name. Since I get the impression there’s going to be a few, and they’re common in the night world, not naming them is a bit of a mistake. I can see problems coming from that later. Also it just has to have a kawaii name to finish up hehe.

Maximum Ride

Not sure if it’s just me or not, but Maximum Ride chapters feel really short, though they have the same page count as others.

Again there isn’t really a lot going on in this chapter, though we do get introduced to more of the basic details of the story including who’s who. I’m really liking NaRa Lee’s art style, but something still feels missing from the story. Can’t really put my finger on it, but something feels lacking. I’ve reread the first chapter as well to try and figure it out, but it still feels weird.

Maybe it’s because of the chapter a month format I’m just not able to get into it properly. Hopefully as the chapters are released I’ll get drawn into it more and more.

Pig Bride

I nearly killed myself laughing over this the ending for this chapter was just to damned funny. My initial thoughts for what was going to happen though have been crushed, since I initially figured Doe-Doe was the Pig-Bride, but after the second chapter it seems she’s going to be the nemesis of the series.

I really want to know what she looks like without that mask on though!! The curiosity is killing me!!

There’s still something a little off putting about the character designs, and I think it’s comes down to all of the characters being overly beautiful. Even the support characters are drawn in a way over the top manner which is a bit off putting at times. For once I’d love to read a series where the characters are all normal and average looking, rather than supper wealthy and gods(ess).

Sarasah

I’ve only got one thing to say about Sarasah, and that’s: What the FRELL!!!

Everything about this was screaming that it was a generic love story. Girl loves boy, gets rejected but keeps coming back and confessing. Boy accidentally kills girl by pushing her down the stairs. Girl goes to heaven meets goddess who takes pity and sends her back so she try again to win her love.

However this is where things go weird, up to this point I assumed she was going to be sent to before she had met Seung-Hyu, so she could try again to win his heart. Only some thing seems to have gone wrong and she’s now apparently stuck in some other girls body, and waaaay in the past.

If this had turned out as another plain old romance story, I probably wouldn’t of kept reading. the change up however has my interest piqued and I really want to see how things are going to progress.

I loved one of the gods using a mobile phone to call another to ask if he’d accidentally dropped a soul. I nearly peed myself laughing over that because it was so out of place and yet fits so perfectly. I’m really interested in how this series is going to progress now.

One Fine Day

I still haven’t figured out what the hell this series is about, it’s feeling more and more like one of those series that meanders along slowly without any set goal. I have to admit though that it works really well.

However if it wasn’t included in the anthology I wouldn’t buy it. It has nothing to it, no substance or anything, it’s just cute. Like the story, the art is also open, airy and looks like a sneeze could blow it away.

Sirial’s art is nice and it fits the story perfectly, and I think as a kids read this would be perfect. While other stories in the anthology I read because I love them, this one I’ll read because I’m curious about how each chapter will be. However at the same time I wouldn’t miss it if it wasn’t shown.

Jack Frost

Pointless ecchi starts the chapter, which pretty much sets the final thing for this series. Violence, horror and ecchi, I have to admit that this was another I was going to drop, but ecchi content aside, something about the series caught my interest.

Though admittedly not sure if it’s a series I’d buy in tank format. This chapter basically sets out the story for the series, which seems to be about a war between the four schools. Also we get hit with a bomb shell, the lead , No-ah is dead, and that she’s some sort of undead mirror of when she was living hehe. Helmina looks like an interesting character, though she also seems to be into S&M as well.

Moon Boy – Preview

There’s a chapter of the IceK title Moon Boy included as a preview sample. This caught my eye, and I enjoyed it to an extent at least.

The art is a bit to inconsistent for my liking, though the story has potential to be interesting. Though I will probably pick up volume one, I think I’ll wait till November when the Yen Press reprints are released.

Myung-ee is an interesting character, though she’s full of cliches. It wasn’t until the end of the chapter that it started to get interesting.

Onto the Japanese section…

Nabari no Ou

Another change up this month, as Nabari no Ou takes the lead role. This chapter basically reveals more about the hidden world of shinobi, as well as reveals some of what the Shinra Banshou is. There’s not really a lot of character development, but the action makes up for that. I love Miharu’s indifferent attitude towards just about everything that’s going on around him. Even when people are swearing loyalty, he’s totally indifferent to it.

Soul Eater

Rather oddly, I found I enjoyed this chapter. The predominance of ecchi content is a bit OTT at times, and the art is still a huge turn off for me, but the story is pretty solid, in a way. There doesn’t feel like a set story to be honest, since we have totally different cast from the previous chapter, left me wondering what the real story is.

Still not sure I’d buy it in tank form though, something about it is still off putting and feels shallow.

Sumomomo, Momomo

Rather surprisingly, this series, so far at least, is following the anime (or the anime followed the manga). This has me a bit worried, since the anime leaves so many questions unanswered it spoilt the fun.

However, so far this chapter lives up to the hilarity of the first.  Momoko is the main lead this time with Koshi taking a back seat while Momoko torments the teacher. This was one of my fave elements in the anime, and the manga is just as damned funny. Though there was a few minor divergences. The chapter ends with Momoko and Koshi learning that assassins are after him so as to start a war.

Shinobu’s art is..well…unique. I really wanted to hate it, but it really does fit the story well, and while it looks bad at times, I realised it’s been done deliberately to emphasise the scene.

I can’t wait for the next issue, hope it’s released as early as this one was!!

Bamboo Blade

To be honest, this one isn’t keeping my attention. The premise was good, but the characters just don’t have any appeal for me. The first few chapters in issue one of the anthology had some good points, but chapter three has nothing to it. What’s more without the support of the comedy, the art looks pretty bad as well.

We’re only three chapters in and I already despise the lead, Kojiro, with a fiery vengeance. I actually want him to loose just to see him squirming in terror (does that make me evil lol).

I’m hoping that something picks up in the coming chapters, otherwise I’ll be bored of it fast.

Higurashi – When they Cry: Abducted Demons Arc

Ahhh this is what I was waiting for!! The anime creeped me out to much, and this one does as well, but it’s creepiness is on a more subtle level. This chapters is no exception.

Karin’s art is just amazing, the characters she has created are full of life, and the art clearly reflects this. Coupled with Ryukishi07′s story and we have a truly unnerving story. I was impressed with the way they were able to draw me in, and a I hate horror really.

There are already differences between the anime and manga, the manga is a bit more violent, but also more cute at the same time. This blending of creeping you out, then making you go ‘KAWAII!!” with the characters is amazing, and a first for me. I hope this blending is carried through with the rest of the series.

The only thing I noticed though was Rika, she keeps referring to Keiichi as ‘Sir’, which coming from a little girl like her just feels really weird. I wonder what the original Japanese term was, I’m guessing something like -sama or -dono for them to translate it as ‘Sir’.

Overall Thoughts

Once they relocate Jack Frost (which is apparently happening from issue three) I think they’ll have a good mix in Yen Plus. Granted there are series I probably wouldn’t buy if they in the store, however by having them in this anthology I get to try them out first. Nightschool is a prime example, as it’s an OEL I probably wouldn’t buy it. Which would of been a loss on my part since I’d be missing an excellent series. Svetlana is one of the few OEL artists (and by few I can count them on one hand!!) that I think are excellent. She’s the same age as me as well, so I’m extra envious hehe.

I’m really impressed by the variety of titles they’ve pulled together, there really is something for all tastes included. The thickness is awesome as well, Shojo Beat always feels a bit thin to me. Especially so since a lot of the pages are filled with pointless ads and other stuff. Yen Plus has ads as well of course (and oddly this issue has a Tokyopop ad hehe), but they’re all gathered at one point and are vastly outnumbered by the manga. As it should be.

I was especially glad to see the interview with Svetlana in this issue, and hope that there will be others like it to follow. I’m still also holding out for a ‘Post Bag’ sort of area where readers can write in, send fan art etc etc. A lot of people hate this thinking it dilutes the manga, but I see it as building a bond with the fan base, something which is IMO essential.

This is definitely a anthology worth getting a subscription for, if you can get it. I’m hoping at some point for the UK market to have a subscription option as well.

UK Availability

While I haven’t experienced any problems buying copies, some people are apparently. The best place to go is Forbidden Planet, or your local specialty store. Basically anyone who uses Diamond to get their stuff. However because it comes from Diamond you’ll have to pay a premium (usually ends up costing around the £5.99 mark)

One place I know for definite that has it, and can get it, is a local (to me) shop called Krackers. If you’re locals can’t get it, give them a ring. Though you will have to pay postage for it

Their contact Info:

Email: enquiries at krackers dot com