This is the second of my catch up posts.

The Sarasah cover for the manhwa side is a bit, meh. It looks like a nice picture, but it’s being suffocated by the title and the name plate. However I love the Higurashi cover, it just looks awesome and a little sexy. That cleaver though is enough to give anyone nightmares hehe.

I’m starting off with the manhwa side again this issue, but only cause there’s a huge interview with the Higurashi creators.

The Manhwa Side

This side starts with the monthly releases, and I have to admit I disagree with Tania this month. My favourite would be either Y Square Plus or Kaze ni Hana.

Next we have the interview with Ryukishi07 and Suzuragi spanning six pages. Some interesting revelations in there.

Sarasah – Ryang Ruy

This chapter gets into the story finally, as in she meets the guy she was after. But something about this story feels weak and lacking something important. I think for me part of it comes from Ji-Hae, she has nothing likeable about her. The series started out strong but within two chapters was crap. Ryang needs to pull something spectacular to revive my flagging interest.

Pig Bride – Kookhwa Huh & Sujin Kim

Oh gods my ribs!! one of the funniest chapters yet. Pure comedy from the outset, but it’s done in a serious way. One of the things that I’ve notice in manhwa is a lack of genuine facial expressions. This chapter has none of those, it’s crammed with loads of comical expressions and the final one is pure gold. This chapter reveals some really funny personalities and some scary ones. I liked this chapter a lot.

Legend Preview

Next we have a new preview chapter, this time of Kara’s Legend, which I’ve reviewed previously.

One Fine Day – Sirial

hmmm an interesting chapter this was. For the first time we got hints of a potential protagonist, and of an actual story. It threw me a bit since this seemed like an airy nothing really going on series. It’ll be interesting to see how it unfolds. I can’t say what it is, but something in this series really does grab me.

Sadly we’ll have to wait till January 2010 for the collected tankobon *sobs*

Nightschool – Svetlana Chmakova

Holy spats!! Svetlana your a goddess!!

This chapter was awesome full of story, and some comedy that made me grin. Sadly we also said goodbye to one of my all time favourite characters. I hope it’s not a permanent good bye and she comes back at some point.

Also the bonus pages had me p’ing myself with laughter Also seems I’m not alone with wanting an Astral, though Svetlana seems to just want a scapegoat for blaming messes on hehe. The other bonus page is a Svetlana Fan Piece, Max and Angel from Maximum Ride. All I can say is wow it’s so damned cute!!

Maximum Ride – James Patterson & NaRae Lee

Another great reading chapter, with a good mix of action and story. I especially liked the pages with Max in them, it was a great change of pace in a series that had been pretty much action from the outset. The cliff hanger is a biatch though

The bonus page was rather funny to read, especially the last panels hehe

Jack Frost – JinHo Ko

I’m still trying to figure out what the actual story is here, since TBH so far I’m not getting it. That said I think we were given some hints to the story at the end of this chapter, be interesting to see how it unfolds.

I’m not a fan of this series however, the fan service is a bit meh, and the art is far from being great. But I think it has potential, so I’m not giving up on it yet.

That ends the the manhwa side. We have a few random pages which include the Yen Press feedback, pro artist submission form,ads and afterword. Gotta love the kawaii chibi of Angel with the stop sign showing where the manga side starts. She’s just so damned cute!!

The Manga Side

Higurashi – When they Cry: Abducted Demons Arc – Karin Suzuragi & Ryukishi07

This side leads of with a chilling Higurashi chapter, and damn what a chapter. We get to see Keiichi starting to fall apart. As well as Rena being seriously cute, while at the same time being eerily creepy and evil. Over all an awesome chapter that gave me chills.

Nabari no Ou – Yuhki Kamatani

A fairly decent chapter, but one with nothing but action. This chapter focuses on the battle for the Fuuma village. It’s a fairly interesting chapter as we get to see Miharu being evil again. There’s just something awesome in watching someone like Miharu being totally evil while smiling lol…..does that make me a sadist I wonder hehe.

Soul Eater – Atsushi Ohkubo

I’ll be honest and say up-front I LOVED this chapter, it had me in fits of laughter by the end of it. It was definitely a fun chapter, and by far the best I’ve seen of this series so far. That said I still find the art a bit off putting, and wish he was more consistent with his art.

Sumomomo, Momomo – Shinobu Ohtaka

I liked this chapter, and it was a chapter that was in need of telling. It’s the chapter that tells the main plot line. It actually did a good job of explaining it as well, something the anime never succeeded in doing.

Bamboo Blade – Masahiro Totsuka & Aguri Igarashi

Once again we get two chapters, I wish Yen would spread the love some more

I’m really not sure if I like this series or not, I tend to flip between the two. The general plot line I think is a bit lame, and to be honest the art isn’t exactly the best. However I do like the personalities of some of the characters

Final Thoughts

Another good and solid issue, though once again I found myself wishing that Yen would settle down on a format. The shifting around of titles is damned annoying. I especially loved the interview with the Higurashi creators, awesome read!!

Sarasah however has all but died for me, it just feels so damned dead. And while it was an enjoyable chapter, Soul Eater isn’t far behind it.