By REBECCA P.

“Ayumu Shiiba is studying for the all-important high school entrance exams. She is struggling to get by, but thankfully has help from her best friend Shii-chan, who is at the top of their class. But when the test results come back, their friendship falls apart — Ayumu surpasses Shii-chan’s scores and gets into her high school of choice while Shii-chan doesn’t!

Losing Shii-chan is so painful for Ayumu that she starts cutting her wrists for comfort. Hoping for a fresh start, Ayumu arrives at her new high school and finally opens up to a new friend, Manami. But will Manami prove to be the friend that Ayumu truly needs or send her further in a downward spiral?”

My thoughts
Life focuses on Ayumu who is studying for her high school entrance exams. She isn’t the best student, but her best friend, Shii-chan, offers to help when she learns Ayumu wants to get into the elite school she’s applying for. While Ayumu gets in, and Shii-chan doesn’t, Shii-chan is devastated and breaks her friendship with Ayumu. This has a devastating effect on the young Ayumu who begins cutting herself to ease the pain. When she arrives at her new school she has difficulty fitting in until Manami befriends her. This is one manga not for the faint of heart.

Life falls into one of those manga categories where it’s good to read when you’re young and naïve, but once you grow older you find yourself shaking your head at the characters. If you’re an older reader, the first volume of life will feel exactly like that, at least in the attitudes and thoughts of the characters. Due to the context (cutting and depression) it’s aimed for an older audience, but it’s a series that you either like or don’t.

The artwork is average at best and the character models and lines are very simple. The author wanted to make a statement about a serious social issue in Japan as well as raise awareness, and as a result that is the core of the manga’s heart, at least for the first volume. The characters are dull and lacking in effort except for the main character. Ayumu is likable, but when reading through, I spotted a few instances where she made easy mistakes, but by the same token regained them. She’s a typical teenager with a serious problem.

All that being said, Life is a very dark manga that gets darker. The characters and artwork are bland, but the dialogue is fresh and moves the story along at a good pace. However, it suffers the unfortunate fate of having a terrible first volume while the rest of the volumes get better (similar to Chrono Crusade). I can’t say that I would recommend Life vol. 1 as a good read, but it’s a decent read. If you like dark, depressing stories about teenage life then it’s a great book to pick up. Otherwise, pass and skip to later volumes.

Originally posted June 22, 2009
By REBECCA P.

After losing both her parents, Tohru Honda finds herself living in a tent in the woods. While most people would have a dreary position to being “kicked” out for house renovations at her grandfather’s house, and being too afraid of being a burden to stay with friends, Tohru has an unbeatable optimism. On her way to school that particular morning, she stumbles upon the Sohma house, where the “Prince” lives.

Tohru ends up getting sick and spotted later that evening by Shigure and Yuki. She’s taken in and cared for and learns she’s been living on their property. After revealing her story, she’s asked to stay at the house and is given a room. After accidently hugging Kyo, Shigure and Yuki reveal that their family is processed by the spirits of the Chinese zodiac, and she must keep their secret. The rest of the volume introduces several major characters and we see Tohru begin to get closer to the family and the stage is set for later events.

My thoughts
There’s not a lot of character development in Fruits Basket volume 1 as we’re getting introduced to the main characters with plenty of room for the additional characters who’ll make their appearance in future volumes. Fruits Basket volume 1 is of course nothing less than Shojo greatness. It’s been the best selling shojo title in the United States for years now for a reason; it is that good. The characters are rich, refreshing and definitely not stereotypes, but their own unique entity. There’s a good reason why I wrote my junior essay on Fruits Basket (and got above average) based on characters alone.

Fruits Basket’s story is only just beginning to be set in the first volume and things only get better than they already are from here on out. It’s one of those rare series that break all the stereotypes, have a high readability and have this calming and deep thought feeling to it. My only minor complaint in the first volume is the artwork. Natsuki’s artwork is fantastic; however, it gets much better over time. The first volume’s art is a little rough in the ink department.

Bottom line, Fruits Basket is a series NO manga fan should be without. Regardless of whether or not you like shojo or romance, it’s a series that needs to be in your collection. With a storyline that is over the top in quality, has winning characters, brilliant artwork, and a little something for everyone, all I can ask of those who haven’t picked it up is what’s stopping you? The review is done. Go to the store now or order it online, you won’t regret it and it only gets better.

Originally posted July 12, 2009
By REBBECA P.

My thoughts
Chibi Vampire volume 2 picks up by quickly summarizing the events of the previous volume. I’ve noticed there are some manga that do this every book or in rarer cases almost every chapter (like Hana to Akuma). It kept things fresh and gets new readers and old readers into the series (but overdone it becomes a hindrance). However, I would not recommend skipping volume 1 or you will be missing out on important details and events and be confused in volume 2.

Kenta is still confused about his mother’s change in attitude and begins to have suspicions about Karin. In response, she continues to act oddly around him (more so than before) and combats his suspicions with kindness. One thing you can’t help but enjoy in Chibi Vampire are the characters. They’re not stereotypical, they’re alive and fluid and some really make you wonder (if that’s a good or a bad thing, that’s up to the reader to decide).

The story does move along and offer a lot of openings for developments in the future. However, it may be too much for the reader and while it is important to leave open plotlines for the future, there’s an awful lot opened in a story where not a lot happens. It’s actually a short book, especially compared to some manga (Chibi Vampire volume 2 is only 158 pages). It’s disappointing to see a manga where things do happen, but not enough.

That aside, Chibi vampire continues to be a great manga. Good characterization, a light-hearted storyline that’s easy to pick up (just be sure to read from the beginning, this isn’t a series you can just grab and know from volume 5 and know everything that’s going on). Fans of more serious manga may not find interest in Chibi Vampire because it is a comedy and a lighter manga read than some.

The story is progressing and there’s not a lot of fault found in Chibi vampire volume 2. No manga series is perfect, but Chibi Vampire gets a lot of things right. Volume 2 just was a disappointment compared to the first volume, but I have high hopes for future books.

Originally posted June 26, 2009
By REBECCA P.

Enter Karin, a vampire with “monthly” problems. She’s a vampire with nose-bleeds and an intense blood-gushing reaction to the new transfer student Kenta Usui. This creates several embarrassing episodes for both of them, and even more ‘coincidentally’ they start to work at the same place. Of course, Karin’s life was never normal to begin with as a vampire. Living with her parents, brother and younger sister, she’s the family’s black sheep. Not only can she go out into the sun and enjoy it, but she gives blood instead of taking blood from her “victims,” creating a very positive result. The question is, what will Karin’s reactions to her classmate Kenta Usui result in as well as her life as a vampire?

My thoughts
I picked up Chibi Vampire on a whim (better known as Karin). I had seen it and heard a little about it, so seeing the majority of the series at my local library, I grabbed the first book. Once I picked up Chibi Vampire I was immediately drawn into the story. The dialogue is crisp and moved at a great pace. The artwork isn’t overly complex, but is well suited to the manga as a whole. The artwork is cutesy to an extent, but don’t let it turn you away from a great series (and in my opinion the artwork is great).

Chibi vampire is intended for older teenagers and up. It does have some panty humor (nosebleeds and panty shots), but keeping in mind that the manga-ka is a woman, don’t expect a lot. There are some clichés in Chibi Vampire and it’s easy to read between the lines and see what’s coming, but despite that, it’s a manga that keeps you hooked and something I hope the rest of the series continues to do.

All in all, chibi vampire is a series that will keep you entertained to the last page. With a good story, good dialogue, and just a great overall appeal, it’s definitely a series to check out. Even if vampires don’t appeal to you, if you can enjoy funny, cute and light-hearted manga you’ll probably enjoy Chibi Vampire. Now, if only I didn’t have to wait until tomorrow morning to read the rest of the series.