Franken Fran Frantic
A sequel series to Franken Fran.
We discussed this on a recent episode.
This isn’t a bad manga by any standards but it does feel like a cash-in. If you’re a fan of the original you sure get more of the same and that’s really about it.
~dakazu
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
A manga about an unkillable ninja on death row who is recruited to investigate a mysterious island to find an elixir of immortality in exchange for his freedom.
We talked about this series on Darfox Dabbles.
The extreme high quality of this series can’t be understated. I can’t say enough about Yuji Kaku‘s fantastic artwork. Stylish action sequences and gorgeous backdrops help bring the story to life. Even the first chapter could be a stand alone one shot for it’s wonderful storytelling. This series would’ve been popular in any magazine but I think they chose to serialize it as a web manga because of the violence. Currently it stands as a flagship manga for Jump+.
You can read all the available chapters on VIZ with a subscription and I highly recommend it.
~dakazu
Infection
A manga about a group of high school students who try and survive during an outbreak of a virus that transforms humans into cannibals.
Wow this is not very good but somehow it’s been running for a long time on Magazine Pocket. Probably because of the absurd amount of fan service. Even in the first chapter a girl has to pee in a can and beyond the extreme crotch shots she basically has an orgasm while relieving herself. It’s really stupid.
T&A aside this is essentially just a zombie series. The infected look fairly creepy as they have hundreds of tiny maggots coming out of their eyes and mouth. Beyond that I couldn’t stop my eyes rolling from the over sexualization of all the female characters whom were mostly manipulating men to white knight them. Hard pass on this one.
~dakazu
Colorful Crow
A manga about a wannabe delinquent who ends up signing a contract to become the guardian protector of an old shrine run by crows.
We’ve discussed this manga on an older episode.
This is my first experience reading a Matsuri Akino series and I really enjoyed it! Akino has a really retro style that makes characters look like they’re straight out of a shojo series from the 70’s. It worked perfectly with the story as the spiritual crows are represented as old school delinquents.
Unfortunately the series concludes abruptly after 3 volumes but reading this has gotten me more interested to read Pet Shop of Horrors so I might look for that next.
~dakazu
SPY x FAMILY
A manga about an elite spy who forms a fake family with a deadly assassin and a telepathic child to carry out his next secret mission.
This is such a fantastic series. I love the premise of a fake family where everyone is hiding a secret. The dynamic between the spy trying to carry out his mission and the contract killer hiding her identity all being completely known by their fake telepathic child is ripe for comedic moments. I’ve never read any of Tatsuya Endo‘s previous work but they’re a master of stylish action scenes that help keep every chapter exciting to read.
It’s available to read on MANGA Plus and I highly recommend it.
~dakazu
Libidors
A manga about a high school boy who gets infected during an outbreak of a virus that mutates people into monsters when they get aroused.
This is Masaki Kasahara‘s current manga after he wrapped up Gunjou Senki. The premise really feels like an X-Men story with an erotic twist that I’m not really sure if I personally like. The protagonist is miraculously able to control his mutation without losing his mind and eventually ends up fighting to protect the girl he has a crush on while being targeted for his unique status. Obviously the title is take from the fact that the mutations are directly linked with one’s libido.
I think Kasahara’s artwork and storytelling are really helping me push pass the pretty stupid premise. There’s some interesting body horror happening with the transformations but then they’re tied to different fetishism like long socks and young girls that really made me roll my eyes.
It’s currently serialized in Young Jump so I’ll probably keep reading it as I read new issues.
~dakazu
Rocking You!!
A manga about a high school boy who ends up joining the rock research club and starting a band with it’s solitary member.
Pretty decent music manga. I give Kaori Ishikawa lots of props for having a super kinetic art style that really gave off the intensity of rocking guitars and vocals. Chapters titles were songs that I would listen to as I read through it.
This was serialized on Jump+ and I was kinda sad it ended abruptly. I guess it didn’t have enough popularity to continue.
~dakazu
X-Power Yojigen Nikutai Shinka
An advertisement manga about an amazing body enhancement program that will bring you to your peak health.
We discussed this “manga” on an old episode.
*Snicker
OK… This is probably the most ridiculous thing I have EVER read in my life.
It’s essentially an advertisement in manga form for a scam body enhancement health program. The creator of the program calls himself Sennin(Sage), and starts off by saying you shouldn’t believe him but then talks about everything from how modern medicine is a worthless sham to how he’s discovered the true way to live healthy. And of course, you too can achieve this life changing knowledge for a low fee of $50 a month. What a steal!
*Snicker
This book is filled with hilarious promises and guarantees for this health program. Sennin says you’ll access your primordial hormones and become a babe magnet and your penis will even grow an inch. I thought the part where he explains how members will be participate in the Honolulu marathon and meet their BFF after they fund themselves was particularly hilarious. Sennin even openly admits that he loves money and he’ll use the money he receives to buy things like a new iPhone and designer jeans. I’m not joking about this.
Everything about this screams scam. I’m completely dumbfounded that this thing even exists.
~dakazu
NASA
An anthology of works by Naoki Urasawa.
It was really interesting to see Naoki Urasawa‘s origins that focused on comedic themes. The title series NASA was about a middle-aged man who works with a group to launch a rocket to reach space. It could’ve been the progenitor for Space Brothers if Urasawa got it picked up. I will say that besides that story it’s pretty easy to see why the some other series were never fully serialized.
Pretty good collection of stories and a fun read.
~dakazu
Have a Great Sunday
A manga about an old writer living between Japan and New York who’s visited by his son and son-in-law every Sunday.
Absolutely wonderful series and peak Natsume Ono in my opinion. I love the dynamic of a the old writer and his doting son along with the more passive observer son-in-law. It’s a great combination of Japanese and American slice of life. They even throw Ono’s favorite Italians in the mix as the son-in-law is Japanese Italian.
A warm story about family. It’s fantastic.
~dakazu