Shanaou Yoshitsune Genpei War 13, Song of Love 8 of 8, My Life 3 (m&c! 22 June 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

Also, all the Bleach box sets you can shake a Shirosaki—or even a regular Ichigo—at ^_^

Eden no Trill © Fujita Maki/Akita Shoten
[Serialized in Princess]
Published in Indonesia as Song of Love by Gramedia/m&c!

“Someday, you, too, will leave Eri.”

Kyoko's words trouble Ritsu, but Ritsu decides to behave as if nothing's amiss. Determined to improve, she practices her singing exercises to avoid disturbing Eiri's piano playing. As always though, disaster finds Ritsu with metronome predictability.

So goes this Song of Love finale tease (with a LOT of additions from Kazé's Trill on Eden tome 8 blurb). That love's trill eventually triumps in uniting two contrary hearts is a given.

Song of Love 8 compiles Phrase 35 through 37 (Last Phrase) and the two-part extra Obbligato 1 and 2. New to Fujita Maki's Eden no Trill? Ain't too late; m&c! restocks volumes 1 through 7 this 28 June.

As for the #1 DO WANT! (which doesn't grab the headline pix because I already led with it the last time) —

Shanaou Yoshitsune Genpei War 13 of 15+ by Sawada Hirofumi

Newly-wed Hyota (Yoshitsune) finds some peace in Kamakura, but not for long. Over in Kurikara, Minamoto no Yoshinaka prepares to face a hundred thousand Heike troops. Will Hyota have to fight in this historic battle at Kurikara Pass?

BTW, if you missed the Shanaou Yoshitsune prequel, m&c! plans to box up volumes 1-6, 7-12, 13-17 and 18-22—that's the complete series—and ship 'em this 6 July.

Speaking of box sets...

Box sets: Bleach 25-30

Bleach © Kubo Tite/Shueisha [Shonen Jump]

m&c! bundles Bleach 25: No Shaking Throne (in which Ichigo is forced to ask the Visored for training), through to Bleach 30: There Is No Heart Without You (Rukia comes face to face with a blast from her past: her former squad lieutenant, Shiba Kaien). The set retails for IDR 95,000.

Missed any of the volumes before 25? Check out this release list Restocks. (They're also IDR 95,000 per six-volume set.)

New m&c! titles

m&c! wraps up Shiumi Saki's Koigokoro or The Awakening of Love mini-series with When Love Is Blooming; launches the sequel to Wang Fenglei's story, The Story of Wang Fenglei Season 2 (Wang Fenglei recovers from injuries sustained in the battle against the Sword Demon and prepares to to take on new foes); and introes a new shoujo series from Takagi Shigeyoshi, Film Girl.

♡ When Love Is Blooming needs no introduction if you've already read the prequels When Love is Hiding (also restocked this release) and When Love is Growing. Basically, Ritsuka dukes it out with “rival” Aizawa-sensei. Lina-chan rates this a 7 of 10. I concur.

The Hijiri × Ritsuka romance takes three chapters—Blended Love, Jealous Love and Blooming Love—to conclude. The final Admire Love one-shot is the story of Ritsuka's friend. (I give it a 6 of 10, readable but not emotionally resonant.)

♡ Film Girl, meanwhile, stars Ordinary High School Student Nakamura Mei, who bumps into the bishie model Shirou and is shocked to find out Le Smexy Shirou is a Mei is my wife! otaku. (He's been crushing on her from the time she was a child model.) Lina-chan gives Film Girl 1 an 8 of 10 ♥ and recommends it as a GET!. I give it 7.25, the fraction simply because of Industrial-Grade Pretty :D

m&c! has also published Takagi Shigeyoshi Pure Awwwsome-ness Flower in A Storm and Kingdom of the Beast, from which the one-shot Bitter Trap is Teh Lurve :D

m&c! manga (2011.06.22)

1. Aoizaka Baseball Club (Saikyou! Toritsu Aoizaka Koukou Yakyuubu) 20 of 26 by Tanaka Motoyuki

Saikyou! Toritsu Aoizaka Koukou Yakyuubu 「最強！都立あおい坂高校野球部」 AKA Aoizaka High School Baseball Club by Tanaka Motoyuki Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 20 first published in Japan 2009.05

Awards
Winner, Best Shounen Manga, 2008 Kodansha Manga Awards

2. [Series Premiere] Film Girl 1 of 2 by Takagi Shigeyoshi

Film Girl 「フィルムガール」 by Takagi Shigeyoshi Hakusensha LaLa and LaLa DX, shoujo Volume 1 (Stories 1-5 and omake) first published in Japan 2010.06

3. My Life (Inochi) 3 of 5 by Momochi Reiko

Inochi 「いのち」 by Momochi Reiko Kodansha Dessert, shoujo Volume 3 first published in Japan 2009.11

4. Neon Genesis Evangelion Iron Maiden the 2nd (Shinseiki Evangelion: Koutetsu no Girlfriend 2nd) 6 of 6 by Hayashi Fumino/GAINAX · khara [Finale]

Shinseiki Evangelion: Koutetsu no Girlfriend 2nd 「新世紀エヴァンゲリオン　鋼鉄のガールフレンド２ｎｄ」 by Hayashi Fumino/GAINAX · khara Kadokawa Shoten Asuka, shoujo Volume 6 first published in Japan 2005.12

Other languages
English Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days (ADV; six volumes)

Related
Neon Genesis Evangelion (adapted from; 12 volumes as at 2010.04)

5. Pudding in Love (Koi suru Purin!) 2 of 5 by Shinozuka Hiromu

Koi suru Purin! 「恋するプリン！」 by Shinozuka Hiromu Shogakukan Ciao, shoujo Volume 2 first published in Japan 2007.03

Serializations
Serialized in the Indonesian Cherry (concluded)

6. Shanaou Yoshitsune Genpei War (Shanaou Yoshitsune: Genpei no Kassen) 13 of 15+ by Sawada Hirofumi

Shanaou Yoshitsune: Genpei no Kassen 「遮那王　義経　源平の合戦」 by Sawada Hirofumi Kodansha Monthly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 13 first published in Japan 2010.11

Related series
Shanaou Yoshitsune (prequel, 22 of 22 volumes)

7. Song of Love (Eden no Trill) 8 of 8 by Fujita Maki [Finale]

Eden no Trill 「楽園のトリル」 by Fujita Maki Akita Shoten Princess, shoujo Volume 8 first published in Japan 2010.03

Other languages
English Trill on Eden (Go! Comi; cancelled), French (Kazé Editions Trill on Eden tome 8 shipped 2010.12)

8. [Premiere] When Love is Blooming (Koigokoro Kyoumeichuu) by Shiumi Saki

Koigokoro Kyoumeichuu: The Resonance of Love 「 恋心・キョウメイ中 」 by Shiumi Saki Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo This volume first published in Japan 2009.04

Related series
Prequels: When Love is Hiding (Koikokoro Senpukuchuu: The Latency Period of Love; JP release: 2008.02) and When Love is Growing (Koigokoro Koushinchuu: The Evolution of Love; 2008.08)

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

Box Set (2011.06.22)

• [Box set] Bleach, volumes 25-30 (of 50+) by Kubo Tite

Hong Kong manhua (2011.06.22)

1. Long Hu Men - Next Level 4: Telapak Mayat Dingin by Tony Wong (Jade Dynasty) [IDR 70,000]
2. [Series Premiere] The Story of Wang Fenglei Season 2 Book One by Tony Wong and Dick Kwong (Jade Dynasty) [IDR 95,000]

[RE-STO] Restocked (2011.06.22)

• Box set: Bleach, Volumes 1-6 by Kubo Tite
• Box set: Bleach, Volumes 7-12 by Kubo Tite
• Box set: Bleach, Volumes 13-18 by Kubo Tite
• Box set: Bleach, Volumes 19-24 by Kubo Tite
• Box set: Goong 1-6 (of 25+) by Park SoHee
• Box set: Goong 7-12 by Park SoHee
• Box set: Historical Romance II [IDR 30,000]
• Box set: Kirarin Revolution 1-6 (of 14) by Nakahara An
• Box set: Love Sign (Koi*Oto) 1-5 of 5 by Usami Maki [IDR 80,000]
• The Executives of Houou Academy (Houou Gakuen Shikkoubu) by Kawamaru Shin [IDR 15,000]
• Rento 1 of 3 by Karube Junko [IDR 15,000]
• Rento 2 of 3 by Karube Junko [IDR 15,000]
• Rento 3 of 3 by Karube Junko [Finale] [IDR 15,000]
• The Story of Wang Xiao Long 1 of 3 by Tony Wong [IDR 85,000]
• The Story of Wang Xiao Long 2 of 3 by Tony Wong [IDR 85,000]
• The Story of Wang Xiao Long 3 of 3 by Tony Wong [Finale] [IDR 85,000]
• When Love is Hiding by Shiumi Saki

Read more »

Valentine 2011 manga recommendation: Body Shock by Midori Yukako ♥ Wandering Spirit

Only two more days before Valentine's Day. Our Valentine pick today is hidden gem Body Shock by Midori Yukako. Tomorrow, look for a Betsucomi “Sunday double” recommendation. (Not telling what; you'll have to see for yourself ^^)

This shoujo manga review is written in Bahasa Indonesia.

Body Shock © Midori Yukako/Akita Shoten
[First serialized in Princess]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media Komputindo

Body Shock by Midori Yukako ♥ Wandering Spirit
Review/Recommendation by Lina-chan (Some rights reserved)
Rating: 9 of 10

Don't judge the manga from its cover. Walau tokoh utamanya digambarkan bersama hewan buas, kisahnya justru cenderung sweet and romantic.

Sinopsis
Sejak kepalanya terbentur, Nao mengalami hal yang gaib. Ia mampu melepas rohnya sementara tubuhnya tertidur di suatu tempat. Untungnya, libur musim semi telah tiba. Untuk mengalihkan perhatian, Nao mengambil kerja sambilan sebagai asisten di klinik hewan. Beruntungnya Nao, karena ia menjadi asisten dokter Toshiomi, dokter hewan yang masih muda dan ganteng.

Suatu hari, Yuu, keponakan dokter Toshiomi tersesat. Tanpa sengaja Nao pun melakukan pelepasan rohnya. Siapa sangka bakat unik Nao ini ternyata berguna untuk menemukan Yuu? Tidak seperti kebanyakan orang, dokter Toshiomi percaya dengan apa yang dialami oleh Nao. Hal ini dikarenakan ia melihat bagaimana roh Nao berkeliaran, termasuk ketika tanpa sengaja roh Nao 'menyusup' ketika ia sedang mandi XD.

Kehadiran Nao pun membawa keceriaan bagi keluarga dokter Toshiomi yang hanya terdiri dari ayahnya dan Yuu, keponakan lelakinya. Suatu hari, Nao mendengar rencana perjodohan bagi dokter Toshiomi yang diatur oleh ayahnya. Entah kenapa hal itu mengganggu pikiran Nao karena tanpa disadari, ia mulai menaruh hati pada dokter Toshiomi. Dokter Toshiomi yang sabar, dewasa, lembut namun kadang-kadang suka menggoda dirinya. Akankah Nao berani mengutarakan perasaannya? Apakah dokter Toshiomi juga mempunyai perasaan yang sama dengan Nao?

Read more »

We 3 in Love? 5 of 5, The Confessions of Lady Nijo 2, Tale of Genji 4 of 4 (3L shoujo manga out now)

3 nin de Aimashou? © Mizuki Shioko/Akita Shoten
Tohazu Gatari and Genji Monogatari © Miou Serina/Shogakukan
Published in Indonesia as We 3 in Love?, The Confessions of Lady Nijo and Tale of Genji by by Tiga Lancar Semesta/3L

Two weekends have passed since I saw these 3L shoujo manga on display in Gramed, but only now do I have the chance to advise their release. Believe me, the debate over whether to still post a heads-up raged furiously, but in the end, decided in favor because that's two finales right there, and t'would have been a pity—regardless that I dropped it from my Read/Buy list—to let Mizuki Shioko's first serial We 3 in Love? end unhyped. At any rate, who else but me would bother?

So We 3 in Love? wraps with Hiroo getting drunk, ruining not only Machiru and friends' enjoyment of spring and sakura blossoms but also endangering (we hope only figuratively) our threesome's Talk about complicated! relationship. Volume 5 closes with a poignant one-shot about a witch living in the woods, Sayonara, Kekasihku (Goodbye, My Love).

This release also features latest installments of Miou Serina manga, one of which is (evidently) based on Genji Monogatari (but don't go mixing it up with Asakiyumemishi; that's Level's Hikayat Genji). As I didn't blog the premiere of Miou Serina-sensei's Tale of Genji (despite having volumes 1 and 2 in my library), the least I can do is mark its Indonesian conclusion.

The Confessions of Lady Nijo is not ending yet, I don't think, but I really could care less about torn between two lovers Akako, buffeted by love's storms.

3L shoujo manga (2010.09.28)

Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.

1. The Confessions of Lady Nijo (Tohazu Gatari) 2 of 3+ by Miou Serina

Tohazu Gatari 「とはずがたり」 by Miou Serina
Shogakukan Sho-Comi Zoukan, shoujo
Volume 2 first published in Japan 2008.07

2. Tale of Genji 4 of 4 by Miou Serina [Finale]

Genji Monogatari 「源氏ものがたり」 by Miou Serina
Shogakukan Flower Comics, shoujo
Volume 4 first published in Japan 2009.09

3. We 3 in love? (3 nin de Aimashou?) 5 of 5 by Mizuki Shioko [Finale]

3 nin de Aimashou? 「３人で愛しあいましょ？」 by Mizuki Shioko
Akita Shoten Princess, shoujo
Volume 5 first published in Japan 2002.08

Other languages
English Three in Love (Go! Comi (three volumes, cancelled?)

[Indonesian synopses and cover artwork ex-Angelzon.com]

Iamque opus exegi,
~niki DBA 30uɐlnɯɐnɥ (花木蘭03)
Mistress of Adoxography

disclaimer

Cover images and source summaries used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.

other invaluable resources

7net Shopping · Baka-Updates Manga

Technorati tags

3L comics · manga · shoujo · The Confessions of Lady Nijo · Tale of Genji · We 3 in love?

We 3 in Love? 4 by Mizuki Shioko and Special Maid by Maki Hiina (3L shoujo manga out now)

3 nin de Aimashou? © Mizuki Shioko/Akita Shoten (Serialized in Princess)
Geboku Gokko © Maki Hiina/Akita Shoten Renai MAX COMICS
Published in Indonesia as We 3 in Love? and Special Maid by Tiga Lancar Semesta/3L

3L Comics brings us shoujo smut and a somewhat more innocent (though YMMV) otherwise with the new Special Maid and the penultimate We 3 in Love?.

Special Maid, an obviously riding the meido wave rechristening of Maki Hiina's Geboku Gokko, is a one volume anthology from the creator of the also Not!GET manga Iinari Lovers. 3L doesn't identify the sounds like a Doormat heroine by name, only that she volunteers to serve some (also unnamed) love interest. She doesn't mind being his servant, so long as she can stay at his side. Given her submissiveness, she can only wonder if he reciprocates her (unstoppable) feelings.

Lovers Dream (in the Baka-Updates Manga-excerpted description), shares that The Boss helps her, too... sometimes, so what comes across as a Jerk Hopefully Comes Equipped with a Heart of Gold. The same source reveals there are five stories in the omnibus released under Akita Shoten's Renai MAX COMICS label: Lovers Game, White in My Life, Grandfather, The Pangs of Separation, and Happy Baka.

We 3 in Love? 4 of 5 by Mizuki Shioko

Meanwhile, as we near the home stretch in We 3 in Love? or 3 nin de Aimashou? by Crossroad manga-ka Mizuki Shioko, the Love Triangle of One Boy, Two Girls ups the hijinks by chucking Two More Guys into the mix, effectively increasing the rabu geometry to Pentagon proportions. (At least it hasn't leveled up to a swirly-eyed inducing Love Dodecahedron.) Miss Perfect Machiru, determined, talented and good at pretty much anything, is actually fazed by what happens during the requisite Hot Springs Episode, not to mention getting flustered over her younger sib throwing the mother of tantrums. Oh, and there's also a ghost at school. All hopes of spending the Christmas and New Year holidays together go down the drain, especially if Ichiro's dad has anything to say about it.

Go! Comi's Three in Love volume 4 blurb hints at what transpired when Machiru, Ikoma, and Nene go to the onsen (Machiru gets ‘exposed’ in unexpected ways to the eyes of a potential love interest plus Ikoma and Nene declare themselves an official couple). Also, some ping pong playing may be involved, but that's not a promise, as Ichiro's dad's wacky scheme ends up with Machiru and Suruga swapping bodies. Confused yet? Then GET! We 3 in Love? volume 4. (As for me, despite Crossroad fangirlship, I'm passing this one up.)

3L shoujo manga (2010.06.17)

Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details and cover scans.

1. [New] Special Maid (Geboku Gokko) by Maki Hiina

Geboku Gokko 「 下僕ごっこ 」 by Maki Hiina
Akita Shoten Renai MAX COMICS, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2006.08

2. We 3 in love? (3 nin de Aimashou?) 4 of 5 by Mizuki Shioko

3 nin de Aimashou? 「 ３人で愛しあいましょ？ 」
by Mizuki Shioko
Akita Shoten Princess, shoujo
Volume 4 first published in Japan 2002.03

OTHER LANGUAGE VERSIONS
3 nin de Aimashou? is published in English as Three in Love by Go! Comi (four volumes, on hiatus)

[Release advisory by Angelzon.com]

~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03)

disclaimer

Cover images and source summaries used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.

other currently available manga (16 June 2010 street date)

• Elex Media: Fairy Tail 6 · Katsu! 5 · A Kiss for My Prince 2 · Legend of Nereid 8 · New Legenda Naga 5 · New Sexy Simpleton 2 · Otoboke Section Chief 3 · Rakka Ryuusui 1 by Sanada Ikki · Sanzoku Ou 1 by Sawada Hirofumi · School Rumble 11 · Vampire Knight 1 by Hino Matsuri · With My Brothers 6 · Nakayoshi 81 · Shonen Star 66
• Level Comics: Aflame Inferno 2 · Air Gear 12 · Psychometrist Eiji 13 · Priest 6 · Vagabond 32 · xxxHOLiC 8
• m&c!: Beauty Pop 7 · Gunslinger Girl 11 · Happy Café 14 · I Wish I Could Fly 1-3 of 3 by Moto Naoko · Jun x Sensation 2 · Sparkling Gingachou 9 · Star Wars 6 · Long Hu Men 168

other invaluable resources

7net Shopping · Baka-Updates Manga · TV Tropes

Technorati tags
3L comics · manga · shoujo · Special Maid · Maki Hiina · We 3 in love? · Mizuki Shioko · Akita Shoten

Platinum Garden by Fujita Maki shoujo manga review

Unearthed this 2007-vintage draft crying out to be finished and reestablish what Here be reviews creds this blog has or ever had. I dedicate it to fellow Platinum Garden fan, natassadea.

Platinum Garden by Fujita Maki
First published in Japan in 2001 by Akita Publishing Co. Ltd.
Indonesian translation by PT Elex Media Komputindo

Down the rabbit hole and into cliché:
Platinum Garden by Fujita Maki shoujo manga review by huamulan03
(Some rights reserved)

A Hana to Yume and LaLa regular, I had next to no expectations from the first Princess shoujo title I picked up—Platinum Garden by Fujita Maki—and who could blame me? The back cover blurb read like a retread: Ho-kay... so the heroine's family owes the bishounen's a googillion yen — big deal (a part-time job as a construction worker ought to take care of that); Enomoto Kazura's chara design—introducing her meido-costumed (strictly a bait and switch) and carrying three plushies on the first volume cover—didn't exactly make my ears prick up; and to exacerbate matters, Indonesia's Elex Media, my manga purveyor, inscrutably published the series flopped.

(Let's not even mention that it's not a trap manga.)

Three strikes notwithstanding, I still bought the first Platinum Garden. Some... thing (Magahara Mizuki embracing Kazura while holding up a card that reads Slave on the back cover, most like) told me I would crazy enjoy the story.

That was back in 2006; Fujita Maki-sensei's shoujo manga concluded its Indonesian run with volume 15 in 2007.

Did I finish the entire series?

You already know the answer.

The more important question is though: Was it worth it?

As I'm rating the series 7 of 10 hearts, the grade ought to indicate both the memorability and investment-worthiness of this title.

Further discussion contains   [SPOILAGE!]

Platinum Garden: The Lowdown

Look forward to

• Teen engagements (the Fiancé/Fiancée and the Bickering/Body Press!! Kinds)
• Angsty bishounen
• Strong female lead
• Dysfunctional family
• The Thing That Goes Doink
• Debts
• Death is their business, and business is good. (Borrowing the apothegm from Jormungand)
• What Do You Mean, It's Not Awesome? super power

Genres

romance, comedy, drama, school life, supernatural

Enomoto Kazura nearly spits out her supermarket-bought ocha (that is, had she been drinking) after learning that her grandfather "bequeathed" her to a wealthy and mysterious family to pay off his deathbed debts. The settlement terms stipulate that Kazura be given over to the Magahara scion as repayment.

Understandably reluctant but alternative-less, Kazura packs bags and presents herself at Magahara Manor to honor her beloved grandfather's promise.

While a hard-labor Cinderella fate doesn't lie in wait for her, a Red Riding Hood one does: Kazura is promptly pounced on by the family's crown prince Mizuki, who tells her that she wasn't summoned to slave away at house chores. Completely bowled over by his sunny smiles and polite manner, Kazura thinks: He's a nice guy.

Still all radiant beams, Mizuki informs Kazura that she is now his fiancée and that she has to live with him from that day forward. Realizing that “fiancée” equals “a person who promises to marry somebody,” 15-year old Kazura freaks. Announcing her intention, I'M GOING HOME! she makes a dash for it. Her handsome fiancé, however, tackles her and whispers in sinister sotto voce, And where do you think you're going?

What a disaster!

But the sinister bit doesn't end there. The trope that actually categorizes this manga as supernatural is the Magahara clan's dark secret: the master of the family is a tamagaeshi, one who can summon back the souls of the dead. What's more, the master presently “cursed” with the resurrection gift is none other than Mizuki himself.

Platinum Garden: Thoughts and Impressions

(Focusing the fangirl discussion on volume 1; otherwise, this review will be hella long(er). Additionally, per usual, don't look for no objectivity here; my review reflex is only triggered by what I like, with the sole exception being this soonjung manhwa.)

On Enomoto Kazura

So we've met feisty commoner Kazura bethrothed against her will to almost royalty Magahara Mizuki. Despite her tumble down the rabbit hole, Kazura remains an engaging (and not just engaged) heroine, one whose honesty could perfectly fillet sushi-grade fish. Not only does she refuse to back down from slinging Pervert! and Don't you dare run away! insults at her new fiancé, she's also the type to freely stick her tongue out at matcha while being taught chanouyu. (It's bitter da tte.)

Of course, Kazura's character delineation draws heavily from shoujo manga conventions, but adherence to norm doesn't detract from her heroine worthiness. Her convictions, nowhere more evident than in her decision to stay and honor her grandpa's debts (Mizuki footed all of his medical bills)—in the face of Magahara family scorn—invite respect. Emotional investment comes early in Take (chapter) 1 when she reveals a kee-YOOT!(er) personal philosophy: she doesn't believe in being picky about food, lest she be stabbed in the back by farmers who grew what's on her plate. (She sez she wouldn't blame them, were she that unreasonably food-fastidious.)

Her key charm point is her upfront warmth, and it is this characteristic that draws people—from cool Magahara major-domo Kaito to fiery kindred commoner spirit Kagami—to her. But Kazura's compassion, stemming from a not altogether oblivious understanding of what Mizuki really detests (himself for having the ability to restore people to life), is the foundation of her appeal. (I wouldn't have lasted through 15 volumes had she not had that pull.)

So as evident from her characterization, Kazura is just like other shoujo romance heroines, but Fujita-sensei succeeds in making us (me) like, if not love, her. If I had any complaint about Kazura, it concerns her character design. (You can tell this is a sticking point.) She looks like those Nakayoshi heroines with their wide faces. Not that there's anything wrong with Nakayoshi manga (I ♡ Ghost Hunt and Kokoni Iruyo); it's just that I prefer Hana to Yume and LaLa elfin.

Something “Wicked” This Way Comes... (Oh. It's only Mizuki.)

On Magahara Mizuki

Woe betide anyone who tries to deprive rich bishounen Mizuki of his prey future bride, even if it is Kazura herself. (He threatens to shoot her down if she doesn't leave her tree sanctuary in 30 seconds in the third chapter. Seriously.) But Mizuki's reasons for choosing Kazura as his fiancée, his insistence on her alone, would only be divulged after volume 1; initially, we just learn that it's some kind of rebellion against the Magahara clan that hires out his tamagaeshi power to exclusively service lucrative contracts.

Angst dogs Mizuki throughout the series and you'd be hard-pressed to see subversion of the angsty hero trope here. To say Mizuki's a complicated character is skosh generous as his complexity owes much to romance novel predecessors (unlike, say, Otomen's Asuka or Butterfly in your thumb's Tsubame). Albeit that's not his fault, mostly machinations and self-loathing at the outset thus delimit Mizuki's character growth to fitful, unlike Kazura's, whose Full speed ahead! acceptance of Mizuki proceeds as a matter of course.

So we have to settle for a Mizuki portrayed initially as a bully who would fashion Kazura into an ideal partner, enrolling her into his elite high school and wanting to My Fair Lady make her over with sadou, ikebana, and deportment lessons — and he follows his prescribed character sheet down to a T an M (Machiavelli). When Kazura tells him in chapter 3 what she thinks of his tamagaeshi gift, how it could actually gladden someone (even if it's only one person) by affording the dead and alive parties the chance to say proper good-byes, Mizuki dismisses her optimism, sneering that in his case, he would want no one resurrected and should there be anyone who would mourn his passing, he would like to meet him/her. (To which Kazura counters that at the very least, she will shed a full night's worth tears for him.)

When Mizuki displays any sort of sensitivity or weakness—such as when he tries to cajole Kazura into returning to the house with him or after collapsing from a tamagaeshi job or in trying to stop Kazura from climbing a tree because as a kid she once fell down from one—there lingers that whiff of reader manipulation. Further evidence of manipulation, or more properly, pandering/“service” comes with Mizuki's displays of jealousy (as when he It inconveniences me confronts Kazura about her quick closeness to schoolmate Kagami).

That Mizuki is highly derivative cannot be disputed, but that's the key to his allure. He fulfills reader expectation entrenched by countless romances, shoujo or otherwise. I wouldn't brand him a cipher as he does elicit emotional investment; you want to see him redeemed, like all other 16-year-old, angst-ridden romantic leads you know.

Additionally, because he's the first of Fujita-sensei's male protagonists that I've met, Mizuki's comely chara design set the bar for Fujita manga heroes to come. Predisposed liking of Song of Love/Eden no Trill's possessive Eiri and similarly supernaturally gifted Yatou of Another Kingdom derives from Mizuki's primogeniture.

Plot, narrative pacing, art, pay-off

It's hard to believe anyone capable of resurrection; in Christian history, only one personage pulled off restoring life to the dead. That Mizuki is credible as a tamaegashi earns Platinum Garden near full marks in suspension of disbelief. Furthermore, I lurved Fujita-sensei's tweak: making Mizuki collapse—as cold as a corpse—after each tamaegashi performance, the extortionate “repayment” hinting that the power does trespass on divine province.

I would also like to commend Fujita-sensei on her dialogue-driven pacing and backstory handling. Even if we get most of the information we need in the 60-paged first chapter, it doesn't feel like an info dump. Furthermore, the clues the supporting characters leak only build up suspense and propel the narrative merrily along.

Not many (if any) surprises in the art and layout, which is just how I like my manga. Makes for easy reading. The largely subject-to-subject panels adhere to Scott McCloud's holy grail of clarity and drive the supernatural plot forward with connect the dots ease. The amount of text (refers to the Indonesian version) balances nicely with the illustrations and I have no complaints other than my beef with Kazura's chara design. To my untrained eye, the action sequences appeared believable and none struck me as awkward, which says a lot about Fujita-sensei's draftmanship. And did I say no surprises? I was pleasantly caught unawares by the appearances of Dark!Mizuki, heavy on the black backgrounds and dense tones. He gives the series that air of menace, contrasting nicely with Serious!Mizuki (despite the fine line separating the two), and throwing into relief differences with Fake-nice!Mizuki, Infrequently-honest!Mizuki, and Worried-about-Kazura!Mizuki.

A caveat for those who get into this series for the Mizuki x Kazura OTP: The kiss only comes in volume-I'm-not-telling. (You can take that to mean that unlike, say, Kaichou wa Maid-sama!, it's NOT in   [SPOILER!]

volume 1.)

In summary, not ground-breaking but still effective story-telling.

Platinum Garden: Report Card

TV Tropes points out in Emotional Torque that the overriding goal of all storytelling is to get a reaction from the audience — a laugh, a tear, a desire to change, or maybe a desire to kill the storyteller.

It continues: There is nothing more saddening than a story that gets an apathetic reaction. A story should influence and affect us. The storyteller wants to see their audience pay attention, hang on their words, and applaud with a standing ovation when it is all done.

So in spite of Platinum Garden borrowing heavily from Been There Done That shoujo stock, the cliché wrapped in conformity still works because of Fujita-sensei's understanding of audience reaction and consequent execution. Did I pay attention? Hang on to the words? Yes, for the duration of 15 volumes. Laughter? Check. Tears? Check. And despite not applauding when it wrapped, I can claim emotional investment that persists to this day. I cherish this particular descensus in cuniculi cavum.

Rating

I rate the series 7 of 10 hearts, which translates to enjoyment even on reread

~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03)

P.S. Platinum Garden is published in English by TOKYOPOP; volume 7 released 2008.08.05 (these are Amazon.com search and/or product (commercial) links.)

invaluable resource

TV Tropes

Technorati tags
review · manga · shoujo · Platinum Garden · Fujita Maki · Akita Shoten · Elex Media

Cyber Believers 4 of 4 and I Love You, Suzuki kun!! 2 (3L Week 17 shoujo manga)

Week 17 equals this week. Had to resort to this numbering because my 3L contact only indicated that these shoujo manga are expected to street this week.

Dennou Believers © Mizuki Shioko/Akita Shoten (First serialized in Princess)
Published in Indonesia as Cyber Believers by Tiga Lancar Semesta/3L
[Artwork provided by 3L]

Azumi or Natori?!

It's come down to this. Who will Rui choose? Azumi, the computer prince on the side of justice who can Ctrl+Alt+Del school rules, or Natori, the controlling discipline committe head and reigning school bully (not to mention, Rui's fiancé)? For the answer, do GET! your volume 4 of Cyber Believers, Mizuki Shioko's Electric Love Comedy which ends its Indonesian run (as already belabored) this week.

Suki desu Suzuki-kun!!
© Ikeyamada Go/Shogakukan
(Serialized in Sho-Comi)
Published in Indonesia
as I Love You, Suzuki kun!!
by 3L Comics

I Love You, Suzuki kun!! 2 by Ikeyamada Go

As for the continuation of Ikeyamada Go's Suki desu Suzuki-kun!! love rectangle, Hikaru's unwavering support has made Sayaka fall for this Suzuki-kun, and the feeling only stands to escalate, seeing as how he's 100% behind her as the new lead in the play, replacing his childhood friend Chihiro. But still not used to all the attention, will Sayaka be able to reveal her acting genius and overcome her insecurities?

Meanwhile, what's happening with Chihiro and the other Suzuki-kun, Shinobu?

3L shoujo manga (Week 17 release)

Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details and cover scans.

1. Cyber Believers (Dennou Believers) 4 of 4 by Mizuki Shioko [Finale]

Dennou Believers 「 電脳ビリーバーズ 」
by Mizuki Shioko
Akita Shoten Princess, shoujo
Volume 4 first published in Japan 2008.02
CY-Believers published in English by Go! Comi (four volumes)

2. I Love You, Suzuki kun!! (Suki desu Suzuki-kun!!) 2 of 7+ by Ikeyamada Go

Suki desu Suzuki-kun!! 「 好きです鈴木くん！！ 」
by Ikeyamada Go
Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo
Volume 2 first published in Japan 2009.03

NOTE
(1) Source: 3L (via email)
(2) Links like this are Amazon.com search and/or product links (commercial), in case you're interested in another language version.

Leaving you with moar eyecandy:

Cyber Believers back cover

I Love You, Suzuki kun!! back cover

~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03)

disclaimer

Cover images and source summaries used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.

other manga currently available (28 April 2010 street date)

• Elex Media: Adventure of Cat Mix Toraji 3 · Eyeshield 21 v36 · Fullmetal Alchemist 22 · Kaiser Z 12 · Kunai Legend 1 by Iori Tabasa · Legend of Nereid 6 · One Piece 54 · Penguin Revolution 4 V3 · The Puppet Master Lin 6 · The Ruler of Nabari 9 · Sora - The Wingless Duck 16 · Trigun Maximum 14 of 14 · With My Brothers 4 · X-Zone 3 · HanaLaLa 49/2010 · Angels Eye by Dwiyani Christy, Girls of Alps Heidi by Igarashi Yumiko, Precious Moment by Esvandiari Sant, Doraemon Movie 1 - The Records of Nobita Spaceblazer (FIRST) and Doraemon Movie 1 - The Records of Nobita Spaceblazer (LAST) (RE-STO)
• Level Comics: Angel Heart 3 · Eagle 10 · Jio 5 · Love Affair 5 · Restore Garage 251 vol. 5 · Lucky Luke - Lucky Luke vs Joss Jamon · Lucky Luke - Nabi Palsu · Michel Vaillant - Para Sponsor · Yakari - Yakari dan Sang Rajawali
• m&c!: Battle Brawlers Bakugan 3 · Bleach 22 · Born To Cook 6 · C-Blossom 1 by Shimotsuki Kayoko/Fukui Harutoshi · Goong [Palace Story] 19 · My Fragile Love 1 by Miyawaki Yukino · My Fragile Love 2 · My Fragile Love 3 of 3 · Shanaou Yoshitsune - Genpei War 1 by Sawada Hirofumi · Tokyo Angels 1 by Fujii Mihona · White Paper Ark 5 · The Story of Wang Fenglei 1 by Tony Wong · Hand 7 No. 2 · PenDragon 2 · Tengu-Do 2 · KOLONI: Garudayana 2 · Cherry 42 · Shanaou Yoshitsune volumes 7-12 (box set)

other invaluable resources

7net Shopping · Baka-Updates Manga

Technorati tags
manga · 3L comics · shoujo · Cyber Believers · Mizuki Shioko · I Love You, Suzuki kun!! · Ikeyamada Go · Akita Shoten · Shogakukan

Dragon Girl shoujo manga volume 3 by Fujieda Tohru (m&c! street date: 21 April 2010)

Dragon Girl © Fujieda Tohru/Akita Shoten (First serialized in Princess)
Published in Indonesia by PT Gramedia/m&c!

Dragon Girl 3 of 5

By Fujieda Tohru
Original title: ドラゴン★ガール
Akita Shoten, originally serialized in Princess, shoujo
Volume 3 first released in Japan 2007.11
Published in Indonesia 2010.04 by Gramedia/m&c!

May contain [SPOILERS]

Synopsis

Rinna and the Shoryu Ouendan club members get into a fight with Meiko High's Ouendan squad. As punishment, student council president Toshogu freezes all their club activities. Unwilling to give up cheering for the other teams, Rinna goes and joins the cheerleaders squad and there bumps into Subaru, her first love.

m&c! volume 3 street date: 21 April 2010

Volume 1 of the English language Dragon Girl (published by Yen Press) is scheduled for release 2010.09.28

~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03) via m&c! on facebook

disclaimer

Images and source summaries used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.

other invaluable resources

7net Shopping · Baka-Updates Manga

Technorati tags
manga · m&c! · shoujo · Dragon Girl · Fujieda Tohru · Akita Shoten