Many thanks to Yen Press for providing a review copy
About the Mangaka
The mangaka this time is rather unusual, since Peach-Pit is actually a female duo. Sendo Banri and Ebara Shibuko have had success after success, though they did go through three other group names, before settling for Peach Pit. Every piece of work they have done has gone on to become both a hit as a manga, and a hit as an anime. DearS, Rozen Maiden have been licensed, both in anime and manga format. Only Shugo Chara and Zombie Loan’s anime remain unlicensed. Their other work, is a a series of short comics called, Peach-Pit’s Three Titles Collaboration Comic, and mixes the characters from the three big manga, DearS, Rozen Maiden, and Zombie Loan. This is also unlicensed, though unconfirmed rumours stated that at one point it was picked up by Tokyopop.
About the Manga
Another awesome volume from Peach-Pit, though in the grand scheme of things not a lot really happens.
I have to say it, the colour panels of Michiru is just so damned cute!! When I first started to read this series I wasn’t overly keen on her design, but now I absolutely love it. This panel (which is just the cover image without a background admittedly), shows off just how cute Michiru is.
All of my favourite characters make appearances in this volume, I was really shocked to se Bekkou drawn differently, he had a weird and rather cool look this time around.
The art of Peach-Pit is the same as always, sadly with the same flaws as usual, but lets face it we don’t seriously expect mangaka to change over night. Rather we get to see the changes slowly happen over the course of a few volumes. This is no different, as the volume progresses some of the little things I didn’t like are subtly changed, smoothed out and become more polished. This gives the characters themselves a more polished and sharper feel.
There isn’t really much in the way of story development this volume, but we do get some intriguing character developments.
Michiru is by far the strangest this volume, while she was always strange, I never thought she would be anything more than having the ability to see zombies. However this volume blows this completely away, as we’re given hints that Michiru may well be something more than anyone has thought so far.
My favourite character Yomi takes centre stage as well this volume, and we get a sort of explanation into who she is,as well as to what powers she may be hiding. though nothing solid is given, it’s all hints which is awesome since it gets you thinking.
Finally we have Akatsuki, initially I thought we were getting some development from him, and we do get some. Insights into his past, which are revelations in their own right, but most of his time seems to me to be about Michiru’s powers.
I’m really looking forward to how Peach-Pit take this series, since we have four different sides stirring the pot. with hints of a fifth as well.
Yen Press did their usual awesome job again, with only some minor guttering around a few pages. The translation was smooth and flowed consistently with nothing leaping out as wrong. That said there is panel where the ‘Undertaker’ recites a Buddhist chant. This was left in what I’m going to assume was Kanji or Hiragana. I’d of preferred that to have been in at least a readable script, or at the very least a translation note. I just would have liked to know what he was saying, even if it was just nonsense.
Also on the translation pages there’s a bit at the top called ‘Staff’ that lists the various japanese staff. I’ve no idea why but for some reason Yen decided to go for a black font on a black background. Result: All but unreadable.
All said and done though I did enjoy the volume, and have a slew of new ideas to ponder over while I wait for the next volume. Which I can’t wait for!!
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