Alex Cline Comic Reviews

This is sports manga cranked up to eleven with every aspect of the plot crafted to induce maximum stress (and thus, character development) in the protagonist. The art meanwhile is polished but intense and difficult to look away from. Every detail of this manga feels like it's been intentionally designed to heighten every other aspect, resulting in a final product that's virtually flawless.

One of the most satisfying installments yet in a series that has been consistently excellent.

From the art to the pacing to the cooking segments, each part of this volume meshes perfectly with the others to form a delightfully weird and charming whole.

When reading volumes like this, it's easy to see why the series has become such a hit.

A perfect comic. It is a love letter to volleyball, to the series, and to its characters.

My Brother's Husband is nearly flawless, and the most polished piece of comic art I've read all year. A must-read for anyone.

All in all, My Love Mix-Up! Vol. 2 is just as touching as the series' debut.

From ridiculous antics in the snow to realistically awkward street conversations, the writing sells these neurotic teens' best and worst moments. The art also continues to show a fantastic understanding of comics as a medium and how to elevate a fairly standard premise into one of the most consistently enjoyable series of the year.

Funny, charming, beautifully illustrated, and so relatable it's painful. Pick this book up.

Major plot revelations occur, and they result in even more pivotal questions. Add in artwork that's exhilarating to look at and you've got a must-read.

The Promised Neverland is one of the most popular series out there right now, and this volume makes it easy to see why. The worldbuilding is great, and a number of great new antagonists get introduced. The artwork also stuns, as Demizu delivers some of her strongest visuals yet.

Probably the series' best installment to date, and that's saying something given how high the bar is.

Yet another flawless volume from Shirai and Demizu.

This is simultaneously one of the best sci-fi stories I've ever read and one of the best love stories I've ever read. There's virtually nothing wrong here.

This volume is nearly perfect. Great art, character development, and intrigue make this a book not to be missed.

A poignant and funny volume that pulls you into the protagonists' busy and anxiety-inducing world.

A great start to the series.

Getting to travel alongside Kino as a reader is an extremely gratifying experience.

Great character development and artwork make this a must-read follow-up to one of the most promising series debuts of the year.

A nearly perfect volume with a unique premise and fantastic execution.

Great action, character debuts, and shifts in dynamics make this volume one not to be missed.

From its character work to its world-building, this is a nearly flawless volume.

There's almost nothing to critique here. The manga's world continues to expand in scope.

Overall, 10 Dance Vol. 1 is a fantastic debut volume and one of my favorite books of the year thus far.

A poignant read overflowing with energetic visuals and sexual tension.

Sensual and evocative, with great world-building.

A very charming collection of love stories. There's very little to dislike here.

This manga continues to impress by bringing out the poignancy in everyday life.

An exciting thriller not to be missed.

Overall, Aposimz Vol. 2 is a great followup to a great debut. All of the first volume's strengths are still present and they've been further heightened. The visuals impress on virtually all levels, and the pacing throughout is superb.

Though the final chapters deflate with a lack of conflict, the rest of this volume impresses with its clean line-work, suspense, and layered plot twists.

A very promising start to a manga with a charming protagonist and interesting execution of the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Strong character work and a lovely soft aesthetic makes this volume a pleasure to read.

An engrossing volume that successfully fleshes out Isagi and his teammates.

A highly enjoyable volume with great art, action, and character development.

Great art and character development work in sync to make this volume both funny and heartfelt.

Comics don't get much better than this.

Asano's take on alien invasion has only gotten more unique with time. Not only do we get amusingly flippant human protagonists, but we finally get to see more from the invaders as well.

This is yet another strong installment in the series. Inio Asano's depiction of everyday human life in the face of utter annihilation is still one of the best sci-fi comics currently being published.

Dr. STONE Vol. 5 is a lot of fun. The art is fantastic, with wacky over-the-top facial expressions as well as gorgeous shots of nature and outer space. The plot also takes some big steps forward, both with the tournament and in the flashbacks.

A fun read with great action and character moments.

All my cons with this volume are a matter of grasping at straws. This is the series' most enjoyable, heartwarming, and beautifully illustrated installment thus far.

A great series debut from a creative team with strong talents for storytelling.

With charming subject matter and perfect congruence between its artwork and writing, this volume is full of charming and eccentric fun.

This volume is charming, educational, funny, and a breath of fresh air from more serious manga. I highly recommend it.

Love in Focus Vol. 1 is a sweet debut that successfully generates interest for future installments. We get great introductions to Mako and Amemura, and the effective pacing throughout lets us discover the manga's world simultaneously with Mako.

MADK Vol. 2 not only meets the high bar raised by its predecessor but surpasses it. With sharp art encapsulating both beauty and monstrosity as well as a protagonist who's interesting both in his humanity and ruthlessness, this volume is a pleasure to read from start to end.

A great follow-up to a major cliffhanger, My Boy Vol. 4 provides new insights about the series' protagonists while also impressing with dramatic art.

This book is a great read, both visually and in terms of character development.

Great comedy, artwork, and narrative cohesion make this volume a standout.

Excellent character moments and attention to the details regarding the series's premise make this yet another strong volume.

Creative action sequences and enjoyable character development make this volume well worth your time.

The art is full of energy, Overhaul is a great villain, and Lemillion gets time to shine. There are some small cons to this volume, but it's still a must-read.

This is the best volume of the series thus far. It has great art and writing, plus much stronger pacing than usual.

Poignant character work and impressive art make this volume a must-read.

A gorgeous and poignant read.

It's difficult for me to imagine other troubled gay kids picking this book up and not seeing themselves reflected within its pages, and taking a moment of comfort in that. Other Boys is earnest, funny, and the best memoir I've read this year to date.

Overall, Saint Young Men Vol. 1 is a very enjoyable read. The art throughout is pleasing to look at, fits the tone well, and renders the main duo recognizably. The writing is also solid with strong comedic timing and smart, creative usage of the religious source material.

A feel-good mix of the silly and the sacred.

Charming demon designs, strong artwork, and an original take on a familiar premise make this series one to look out for.

This novel is mystery done right. Engrossing characters, a unique setting, and excellent narrative structure combine to make a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.

A pivotal and exciting turning point for the series. Great art and mystery elements elevate the already intriguing drama.

The Promised Neverland Vol. 9 is an excellent read that succeeds at almost everything it strives to do. The art throughout is excellent, delivering well-paced action and a powerful sense of the macabre. There's also a good amount of lore expansion here.

An excellent new version of the heart-wrenching story.

Zombies Assemble Vol. 2 is a ton of fun, and unique among Avengers stories. The artwork is especially great.

An enjoyable follow-up to one of the best debut volumes of the year.

A poignant read with lovely art, effective pacing, and strong development of the protagonists' social lives.

Another great installment with strong art and character work.

A beautiful and emotionally charged end to one of the most memorable manga in recent memory.

Yet another great volume from the best currently ongoing sci-fi manga.

There are plot twists aplenty here, and they're done the right way. This volume continues to up the stakes and sense of mystery.

A sweet manga with good character focus and artwork.

An exciting with great action and development of the series' protagonist.

A heartwarming volume that provides context for Yamato and Sugo's friendship.

The main story about Yamato and Sugo's friendship is poignant, and the back-up stories add comedy and eroticism as well. Overall, this volume is a great read.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Vol. 5 is a very good read. Ikemoto's art continues to be remarkably clean and fluid, and the plot points regarding scientific ninja tools are well-written.

One of the most memorable and unique boys' love titles I've read to date.

It gets off to a bit of a slow start but it doesn't take long before Gotouge stars firing on all cylinders.

Overall, Dr. STONE Vol. 4 is a great read. Boichi's artwork is top-notch, several characters get great moments to shine, and the manga's world feels large and exciting.

Beautiful art and strong character work make this another enjoyable installment.

Charming, highly detailed artwork and poignant exploration of life after the death of loved ones make this is a great first volume.

Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma Vol. 28 is yet another enjoyable installment in the Central arc. The artwork is fantastic, both in terms of the food looking delicious and the characters having hilarious reactions. The cooking matches are thrilling to watch unfold, and we get good glimpses into the various chefs' psyches.

Great art and exploration of crossroads in life make this an enjoyable and fitting conclusion to the series.

Poignantly written and beautifully illustrated, this volume tells the story of a couple you'll want to continue reading about in the series's next installments.

Hunter x Hunter continues to be one of the best comics out there regardless of genre.

An enjoyable debut that effectively introduces a likable, layered protagonist and is lovely to look at throughout.

Fans of Ito's work will note how his artistic and thematic sensibilities have evolved yet remained similar over the decades. This book is not one to be missed.

Overall, this manga is yet another great installment in the franchise. The countries explored are interesting, the artwork makes the world feel immersive, and we get some nice explorations of Kino's psyche.

Marvel Meow is sure to be an enjoyable read for both Marvel fans and fans of cute animal comics in general.

Intricacy of detail, engrossing human drama, and nearly flawless visual storytelling make this volume one not to miss.

Stunning artwork and compelling intrigue make this yet another great volume.

Great art and character writing make this yet another enjoyable volume.

This is an enjoyable popcorn comic. The action is energetic and fantastically drawn, and there's just enough political drama to keep the plot interesting as well.

Shiba takes a simple concept and executes it effectively via strong comedic timing, lovely use of screen tones, and solid character development.

After a decent but deceiving first chapter, Museum Vol. 1 takes off and wows with fantastic tension and artwork, as well as a villain design that readers likely won't soon forget.

Stellar tension, character exploration, and visual storytelling make this volume a must-read.

Lovely illustration and well-thought-out writing make this a poignant debut volume.

This volume is an enjoyable read with major stakes, and it successfully generates suspense going into Vol. 4.

Great action, artwork, and characters make this an enjoyable follow-up to the series' strong debut volume.

Fantastic artwork and a strong start to a new arc make this another great volume.

Badass action and a silly premise mix charmingly to make yet another great volume.

The students' final exams are a lot of fun, the next arc starts off promisingly, and the art is fantastic throughout.

My Hero Academia Vol. 18 is yet another great installment in the series. The Overhaul arc concludes with more highs than lows, and the mini-arcs are excellent follow-ups in terms of adding levity.

An enjoyable, lighthearted volume that lowers the stakes to focus on the characters.

If you're content to let Matsumoto's tide push and pull you wherever it goes, then reading this volume makes for quite the relaxing experience.

Beautiful artwork, dynamic characters, and excellent tension make this a strong debut volume for the sci-fi dystopia series.

No. 6 is back to greatness. Fantastic art and character development make this volume one that's not to be missed.

A memorable, emotionally earnest read.

An ethereal collection of dreams and the dreamlike with lovely artwork and a variety of thoughtfully written plots.

A fitting end to the series filled with emotional earnestness, great art, and a humorous finale.

A very sweet feel-good read that rings true to life in its handling of a young gay couple balancing fear and desire.

A charming debut that impresses on all counts.

Stunning artwork and an inventive premise make this manga a pleasure to read.

A poignant read about loss and love.

Though it falters a bit toward its conclusion, this volume is nonetheless a strong debut with humor and great visuals.

An enjoyable love story with a nice recurrent fine art theme.

Suspense, unique alien lifeforms, and fun artwork combine to make this volume an enjoyable read.

An enjoyable read that successfully introduces the series' characters and core conflicts.

Charming characters, lovely coloration, and unique stories make this one of the best animal manga series around.

An enjoyable read with effective social commentary.

All in all, Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction Vol. 10 mostly delivers more of what readers have come to expect from the series. Fortunately, those expectations are high. The memorable, impressively detailed and emotive artwork paints a clear image of humanity and its potential doom while being engrossing to look at.

A charming volume with solid world-building and lovely detailed artwork.

The series' best issue to date is filled with great art and a nice variety of stories, tones, and settings.

Impressive artwork and poignant emotional storytelling make this yet another strong volume.

Lovely artwork and some poignant self-analysis from Yushi make this yet another strong volume, though it doesn't quite reach the same high bar as previous installments.

Though its first half is comparatively disappointing, this volume impresses with charming artwork and engrossing character development.

Intricately detailed artwork and continued fleshing out of Yushi's life make this yet another enjoyable volume.

This volume is comfort food, not just in the sense that it's a feel-good read, but also in that it provides moral support and sympathy. The series's artwork continues to impress as well.

Elegant Yokai Apartment Life Vol. 8 delivers what the series always has: lovely art and sentimentality.

The final chapter is a major dud, but the rest of this volume entertains with its lovely artwork and interesting analysis of good intentions gone bad.

Overall, this is an enjoyable read that continues the series' trend of delivering lovely art and great character work.

This volume gets off to a bumpy start, but it soon becomes an enjoyable read.

Touching character moments, suspenseful storytelling, and strong artwork make Erased Vol. 2 a promising installment in the series.

Though the ending feels a bit rushed, this is a strong volume. The artwork and emotionally gripping first chapter are especially strong.

A fun volume with great art, though the pacing leaves something to be desired.

A satisfying conclusion to the series's most pivotal arc to date.

Lovely artistic renderings of nature and moving (but still feel-good) emotional moments make this volume a stand-out in the world of cute animal-focused manga.

Probably the best comic adaptation of Lovecraft to date.

Beautiful artwork and a lovable setting make this romance manga stand out.

Overall, I Want to Feel You Because I Like You is a confounding book. If I'm grading the book as a whole then a high score is probably appropriate since so much of it is so well-done. Nonetheless, I wouldn't recommend this volume without the caveat that many readers will likely feel the ending ruins the reading experience.

Smashed: Junji Ito Story Collection is a fun bunch of horror stories. They vary a lot in terms of how scary they actually are, but the variety in ideas and the consistently great artwork make most of the manga worth reading.

A promising start to the series with strong art and smart choices.

An enjoyable volume with great art and interesting political concepts.

An enjoyable conclusion to the series.

An enjoyable volume with stunningly detailed artwork and solid character development.

An enjoyable read with great character moments.

I had a good time reading this volume and I would recommend it to any mecha fan.

One of the most charming gag manga in recent memory.

Fun character focus and dynamic artwork make this another enjoyable installment in the series.

A good volume with polished art and a solid start to a new arc.

New York, New York Vol. 1 is uneven and unpolished, but its strengths more than make up for its weaknesses. Kain and Mel read very believably as two gay men dealing with the difficulties inherent to life in their physical and temporal context, and the strong supporting cast elevate the series considerably. While the art isn't outstanding it does a good job selling the series' emotional and thematic core, and the overall read is a satisfying one that builds excitement for volume two.

Though more enjoyable than the last volume, this installment carries the same ethos, just more heightened and polished as it goes.

Beautiful artwork and great progression of the main characters' relationship make this yet another good volume.

Character-driven storytelling and beautiful artwork make this yet another strong volume.

Beautiful artwork and poignant final scenes between Rat and Shion make this a satisfying conclusion to the series.

An enjoyably dramatic read with clean artwork and great philosophical musings.

An enjoyable installment in a very slow burn romance.

A sweet collection of love stories featuring well-written dialogue and beautiful artwork.

Great artwork and witty writing make this a strong first installment for the series.

A very promising start to the series. The art is pleasing to look at, the dramatics are a lot of fun, and the setting is perfectly set up to mirror and enhance the mystery.

An enjoyable start to the series.

A sweet manga with lovely art and some poignant character development.

Suspenseful writing and artwork make this a volume that's not to be missed.

Well-built suspense and impressive visuals make this an enjoyable read.

Come for the sweet old couple, stay for the old couple acting even sweeter as they lovingly prepare each other's favorite dishes to de-stress after long, hard days at work.

A slow but solid start to the series.

The series gets off to a good start, thanks largely to its nuanced protagonist and total commitment to the shojo aesthetic.

Another enjoyable installment in the series. Kanoko and Sumika get some great charactet development, and the manga's unique setting continues to be used to good effect.

An enjoyable, character-driven volume.

A charming volume with a consistent aesthetic and good character development.

Crocodile Baron Vol. 3 is a good book. The art shines throughout thanks to both lovely backgrounds and fun, creative character designs. The titular baron is a very likable protagonist, and his friendship with Rabbit Boy is well-written and poignant. There are also a lot of downright hilarious moments throughout, often involving effective use of tonal whiplash.

This is a solid first installment that'll leave you intrigued to see what future issues bring.

Elegant Yokai Apartment Life Vol. 11 is a good read that excels at what the series usually excels at: lovely art and charming character interactions.

An enjoyable volume that's held back a bit by its disappointing second half.

An enjoyable volume that takes the series in new directions.

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma Vol. 29 is good read, albeit not as strong as many of the series' prior installments. There are some great moments interspersed throughout, particularly where the splash page metaphors and Isshiki's cooking are concerned.

A solid introductory volume.

While the artwork and extended cast impress, issues with the actual romance hold this volume back from being a fully successful debut.

An enjoyable though at times perplexing read.

If this volume just included the main story chapters, it would be great. The bonus chapters, however, drag things down considerably. As a whole, this is a solid but flawed read.

The titular story is fantastic, but the remainder of the collection is wildly inconsistent. All in all, this is a good but still somewhat disappointing book.

An unusual premise and polished, pleasing visuals make this a manga worth checking out.

If you're already a fan of the series or if the concept of a steampunk brawling manga sounds appealing to you then this release is worth checking out.

A charming debut that successfully introduces the premise and builds interest for future installments.

Beautiful artwork and charming character moments make this an enjoyable volume despite its faults.

The artwork impresses on almost all fronts, and there are some charming laid back moments between characters. Unfortunately, the plot is far from memorable and there are some occasional clarity issues. I would still recommend this volume to fans of the franchise, but I wouldn't call it a must-read.

An enjoyable volume with great compositions and that addresses the morality of war.

The back-up story feels unneeded, but otherwise this is a solid ending for a great horror series.

Solid character development and fight scenes make this another enjoyable volume.

The internship arc provides ample room for the heroes to grow in new ways. Unfortunately, Stain and Gran Torino aren't as compelling as the series' preexisting characters.

Great art and villains impress, but the lackluster Midoriya vs. Muscular fight drags things down a bit. A good read, though not the series's best.

Though this volume has some clarity issues, it's still an enjoyable read. The ending is particularly strong and builds excitement for volume six.

Many of the stories feel rushed, but the writing is still enjoyable and the artwork is consistently pleasing to look at.

Taken solely on its own, it's an enjoyable comic. With that said, there's a certain sense of missed opportunity when you consider the book's premise.

A fun read with impressive visuals that most Ito fans will likely enjoy.

Some aspects of the writing stop this volume from reaching it's full potential, but it's still an enjoyable read. The artwork alone makes this manga worth a look.

All in all, So I'm a Spider, So What? The Daily Lives of the Kumoko Sisters brings a fresh tone to an established series.

Impressive artwork and likable characters make this volume a solid start for the series.

Tea Cup Toy Boy is an enjoyable collection. The main story makes fun use of magical realism with its memorable premise, as well as delivers good comedy. The art throughout the book is strong as well.

There is some great narration and potential throughout. Will the rest of the series expand upon that potential?

Though light on plot and character development, this volume entertains with its likable protagonists and delicious-looking food.

Yuri Is My Job! Vol. 2 is an enjoyable book that greatly impresses in the beginning but then shoots itself in the foot towards the end.

The first half is too slow, but the consistently strong artwork and thrilling second half still make this a volume worth reading.

Though the beginning drags on for a while, this is still a solid volume. The premise is a strong one, and there are pleasing visuals throughout.

A solid first volume with fairly generic characters and concepts that are uplifted by impressive and dynamic artwork.

The human elements of the story disappoint, but impressive artwork and sci-fi themes keep this volume enjoyable.

A solid manga with charming art and a nice office setting.

An enjoyable read with a nice variety of stories.

A debut volume with a lot of heart and a great premise, but that also has some major issues holding it back.

A solid gag manga that fans of the main series will likely get at least some chuckles out of.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Vol. 3 is easily the manga's best installment to date.

This volume is a mixed bag. It has plenty of great moments, but a lot of it feels stale and unoriginal. It's probably only worth your time if you're a huge Evangelion fan.

Matsumoto's artwork is simply stunning, and stunning in a way that feels truly unique to an extent that few other comic artists can match. Unfortunately the actual plot just isn't much to write home about.

The pace slows down a bit too much for my taste, but this is still a solid follow-up to the series' first volume. The artwork continues to be lovely, and we get some needed exploration of life in the West Block.

This series sometimes feels like two different manga rolled into one, so while it's a fun time it's a bit too disjointed to be great.

Poignant moments and a creative back-up story impress, but this volume is too disjointed to feel like a proper sendoff to the series.

The artwork impresses and the characters, though lacking in depth, are likable. Overall, this is a solid volume.

A solid volume, but not the series' best.

Though its characters and lore could use more depth, this volume's strong artwork and premise help keep it enjoyable.

A suspenseful second half and interesting concepts help to balance out the slow start and generic art.

A lot of this volume is excellent, but extremely poor handling of a rape scene and its consequences sours the entire experience.

FukuFuku: Kitten Tales Vol. 1 is cute and delivers on its premise. Unfortunately, the slice-of-life plots aren't made interesting enough to make up for how mundane they are. This is a good, but not stellar, volume.

A book held up by the backbone of its art.

This volume has a lot of strong artwork and concepts, but a generic main cast and several failed attempts at humor bring the overall quality down significantly. It's solid, but non-MHA fans can skip this.

Though this volume has nice pacing and artwork, its worst moments prevent it from generating much excitement for future installments.

This isn't a bad manga, but it's not a must-read either.

Though its ending is suspenseful and has some great visuals, this volume's first half suffers from slow pacing and dull page layouts. Overall, this is just a decent read.

Clean artwork and unexpected developments charm, but overpowered characters and a lack of visual clarity prevent this volume from living up to its full potential.

There are some cool monsters here, but sadly the plot delivers little of substance. Ultimately, this volume doesn't stand out.

Umeda has major talent, but the execution in this volume is half-baked. Great moments are interspersed throughout stretches of bland or boring quality, resulting in a bumpy read.

Though this volume has some lovely art and characters with potential, many of the stories suffer from poor pacing choices and subject matter not being explored to its full potential.

Though this volume has its strong points, its abundance of generic characters and lack of unique direction hold it back.

The first half is solid and the artwork is consistently good, but the ending's multiple twists and significant pacing issues hold this manga back.

This volume isn't bad, but it is a disappointing low point for the series.

All in all, Wish of God is neither one of the best nor one of the worst yaoi titles I've read recently. One of its biggest cons is just that it's bland.

Yakuza Lover Vol. 1 is just okay. The art is serviceable and the sex scenes are among the best in the book, which is appropriate given the marketing. Nonetheless, there's little about the series that sets it apart from other titles.

Some recognizable elements of Kodaka's style are present, but all in all this manga falls flat compared to her later works.

Aspects of the premise are interesting and the art has some upsides, but overall this is a forgettable volume that captures none of the franchise's best qualities.

The final phase of the series gets off to quite a bad start. Unfortunately, these chapters don't read any better collected than they did from week to week.

Cramped layouts, unsuccessful humor, and a lack of stakes make this volume a disappointing read.

Though its artwork impresses, this series fails to stick out from the large flock of similar titles.

A shiny, action-packed series that grabs one's attention with its premise just to fail to deliver on any of said premise's charm.

While the visuals are good, everything about this manga's premise and its execution leaves much to be desired.