Graphic Novel Review: Maoh (Juvenile Remix) by Kotaro Isaka and Megumi Osuga

(This will be the last of my manga reviews for a while.  I've got a lot of fiction titles set to be reviewed, including an Aston West short story collection, Harbor by Lindqvist, Serial Killers Inc by Andy Remic, A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, and a whole bunch of other stuff sitting on my Nook or my book-infested floor.  Now to the review...)

Maoh is another series I discovered with my Utopian Studies glasses on, something which I am quite pleased about.  Of the three manga titles I picked up at MegaCon (Utopia's Avenger and Library Wars are the others), Maoh is the most complex and interesting, delving deep into the dark recesses of citizen-based justice, bullying, and self-identity, all within the first volume.

Maoh takes place in Nekota, a city that is rapidly modernizing, taking with it the world its residents have come to love.  Gangs roam the streets, crime is on the rise, and greedy businessmen are trying to take everything they can while the city falls apart around them.  But a vigilante group -- known as Grasshopper and led by the charming and beautiful Inukai -- has risen

Graphic Novel Review: Utopia's Avenger Vol. 1 by Oh Se-kwon

I've spent the last year practically immersing myself in the Utopia Studies canon, which might explain why Oh Se-kwon's Utopia's Avenger grabbed my attention.

The legendary kingdom of Yuldo is gone, destroyed by a ruthless army who were bent on ending Hong Gil-Dong's utopian dream.  Now Yuldo is little more than a memory, its creator disappeared.  But when a merchant's daughter is attacked by the Bright White Killers, she is rescued, to her surprise, by none other than Yuldo's creator (and his companion).  Hong Gil-Dong has returned with a new mission:  vengeance against those who brought his kingdom to its knees, destroyed

Graphic Novel Review: Library Wars Vol. 1 by Kiiro Yumi and Hiro Arikawa

Every time I attend a convention, I come back with a little something extra in my collections. For anime conventions, this usually means I leave with a lot of manga and candy. Such is the story of how I came into the possession of the first volume of Kiiro Yumi's Library Wars (thanks MegaCon!).  Unfortunately, the journey did not end with the desired result.  While the premise of Library Wars is an amusing one, the narrative and world lack any sense of continuity, leaving a story that feels both strained and nonsensical.  Library Wars is a prime example of what manga looks like when it goes horribly wrong.

Iku Kasahara is a soldier in training for the Library Forces who has always dreamed of becoming a member of the elite Library Defense Force.  In a world where the government actively seeks to

Graphic Novel Review Up: Britten and Brulightly by Hannah Berry

You all can check out my review for this awesome graphic novel here.  A great read and definitely worth picking up at the store.

Anywho!