Manga Review: LASBOSS×HERO by Hajime Katsuragi

Shogakukan,
Published March 18, 2013
166 Pages

Sagara Masamune is a manga artist but a very good one. And he has to come to terms that his career is ending. To keep what followers he has on terms, he looks to end the female lead, Nina in the most spectacular way. 

As he works to conclude his manga, he is sucked into Nina’s world. Sagara doesn’t know what is happening but maybe killing Nina will be the way for him to return home. 

This series is one of those series you have to keep reading in order for you to get to the good stuff. I would say volume 3 for this book.

The first two volumes were distasteful. I get that it is supposed to highlight the cliche of manga, especially manga’s with female leads but it was tough to swallow.  But for some reason, I kept going and I am glad that I did.

First and foremost if Ecchi, skin or racy topics bothers you, this is not the manga for you. In the beginning there is a lot of it and once you get pass volume 3 or 4, there really isn’t any.

Sagara is an interesting character because I didn’t feel anything towards him for most of the book. I didn’t think he was a jerk for some of the decision he was making. However, he grows throughout the series and by the end I understood him and his issue as a manga artist.

Nina, is different because her personality was a blank slate. I didn’t see a whole lot of growth to her but that doesn’t mean that something didn’t happen. She changes but it is more subtle than Sagara.

The story elevates so much, you can appreciate the creativeness that is within it. The author really thinks this out. There are twists and turns that are not necessarily predictable and once the mess is over, the plot moves smoothly without you worrying you are going to see something you don’t want to see.

As for the artwork, it could have been better. There was cliche and it was obvious; you really couldn’t see a signature from the illustrator.

Overall, I was pissed because Kiss Manga doesn’t have any more translations and it ended abruptly. But I did really enjoy this series.

4 Pickles 

Manga Review: QQ Sweeper, Vol. 1 (QQ Sweeper #1) by Kyousuke Motomi (UPDATE)

VIZ MEDIA LLC
PUBLISHED SEPT. 26, 2014
208 PAGES

Kyutaro Horikita is part of the cleaning club at Kurokado High School. Tall, mysterious and good looking, everyone notices Horikita but because of his dark and silent staring everyone stays away from him.

By chance he finds transfer student Fumi Nishioka sleeping in a room at the school’s old dorms. But before he can get her permanently away from the room, she sees a door only the cleaners can see and enters without a glance back. Horikita realizes Fumi is special but he must find her before its too late. 

The creativity in this manga is out of bounds and I really didn’t do the summary any justice.

The idea that there are cleaners that’s mission is to not only clean a home or place spotless but also clean the heart and mind of an individual of negative emotions is just freaking cool.

When this other world is introduced, the art work is actually creepy. Sending tiny shivers up my arm. It was actually really cool. It was more than just black dots around it was an emotional piece of art that I appreciate on every level.

The story was very detailed for the first volume. But this didn’t take away from the mystery, intrigue, curiosity whatever you want to call it from the characters. I fell in love not with the characters, who showed a range of emotions including humor but I really fell for the story. It is perfect and I hope the last two books will be great.

The reason this manga didn’t get full stars is because there is a cliche in the romance. It is typical turmoil from the main character and I was disappointed in that. But . . . .

I am really sad that I have to wait for book 2 (doesn’t come out until February). I really cannot wait for it.

4 Pickles

 

UPDATE!!!

The third volume has recently been released and it is amazing. I normally do not post updates to a series I am reading but this is fairly important information. QQ Sweeper is a prequel to the series Queen’s Quality. I do not agree with the move because there is only one volume of Queen Quality and it is only available in Japanese -_-

But anyway, the third volume is the turning point to everything. We find out key details about Fumi Nishioka. Not too much about her past but more about her future. The romance is still there but at the moment it is a bit one sided. I am also predicting the worst to happen because Horikita is being selfish and his feelings doesn’t seem to be genuine for Fumi.

There is much more action in this novel than there was in the other two. It was exciting and it had me at the edge of my seat. It was perfect, where as book two was a bit shaky.

Short review, yes, but this is only an update. As stated previously, there isn’t going to be a volume 4 of QQ Sweeper, because it is a prequel :( Queen’s Quality is the next novel in this series. Finger’s cross I can find it in English and the author will continue the series and not leave it off.

5 Pickles

Manga Review: Yoru Kafe by Maki Enjoji

Shōgakukan
Published 2008
184 Pages

Hina Takato inherits the Queen Cafe from her deceased husband. At 23 years old, Hina is brokenhearted and vows to never love again but things do not work exactly like that.

Very quick read, when you need something to read between you reads.  I enjoyed this series but to say it isn’t cliche it kind of is.

So Hina marries a older man and he unexpectedly dies, leaving her with his money and the Queen Cafe. There she is introduced to three waiters, who sell drinks (because they do not cook) part time.

What I enjoyed about this series is that it is adult theme. The high school back and forth for 12 books isn’t there. It is about a adult woman, who loved her husband fiercely but isn’t sure about moving forward. She is navie, but it doesn’t ruin her story completely. Because to be honest, the men in this story as well have some things going on and her not knowing what she wants actually helped them to grow.

But this doesn’t mean that there wasn’t back and forth. Of course there was, the series wouldn’t have gone very far without it. Was it as drawn out as a high school romance? Nope, and I’m completely thankful for that. Each character had their own mini stories and it didn’t become too complicated for the original story. It added depth without adding unnecessary mess.

So, I read this series on Kiss Manga and it is labeled as smut. There is sex and it is fairy graphic (when it occurs). But would I consider it smut? No, because the novel doesn’t surround sex. But it happens a lot towards the end.

I can’t say that there was something within this series that I didn’t like. Because for what it was it was cute and an entertaining read. I loved the pace, the artwork was alright; nothing spectacular. I would recommend this to someone, who is looking for something quick, light and romantic.

 

3 Pickles