Siddharth Gupta Comic Reviews

The manga's biggest asset, however, is Miyama's incredible art. Fantasy worlds are established through a sense of scale and their lived-in feel, and from the very beginning Miyama's environments are stunningly detailed and thoughtfully planned out.

A Witchs Printing Offices fourth volume is one of its most eclectic collections of stories yet. Determined to subvert fantasy, isekai, and shonen tropes alike, the stories in this volume run a gamut of tones. If you were to give a different chapter in this volume to different people unfamiliar with the series Im confident theyd all get a different impression of what its about. Never let it be said that A Witchs Printing Office is formulaic, because it fully uses the potential laden in its world, exploring it to its fullest in a wonderful variety of stories. Yet, through all its disparate ridiculousness, lies a sincere love for creative passion, and deep respect for people endeavoring to share their art with the world at its heart. Pick up this book and youll be spellbound from the start.

Thereve been many stories about angels and devils becoming friends, but Eniale & Dewiela mashes up Kamome Shirahamas godly artwork and devilish sense of humor in a unique story that only she could imagine. Its a silly but sincere satire of angel and devil myths and tropes, making fun of traditional concepts like naked angels while reaffirming the power in keeping faith in miracles. Shirahamas sense of humor has been lovingly localized by the excellent team at Yen Press, and particular kudos should be given to translator Caleb Cook for his clever turns of phrases, like Dewielas comment about Charon living out in the Styx. Shirahama has earned much acclaim for Witch Hat Atelier, which is considered one of the best comics being published right now. While Eniale & Dewiela is a somewhat sillier and slighter story, awe-inspiring illustrations and imagination still astound, and it serves as another example of her incredible mastery of the medium. Im in heaven whenever I read one of Ka

Fly Me to the Moon is a really engaging, fun rom-com that refreshingly chooses to humorize more uncommon situations than your typical manga love story. Like its central couples married life, its only just getting started, but this first volume still tells a compelling love-at-first-sight story along with the tribulations of the first night of a newly married couple. Hatas comic timing, art, and commitment to showing off the minutiae of his characters daily lives in ways uniquely formatted for manga make it more than worth checking out ahead of the animes release later this fall. Yeah, you could say Im pretty over the moon for this series. If getting married is an all-you-can-hold buffet of physical intimacy, then reading this manga is an all-you-can-read buffet of cuteness!

Go With the Clouds continues to go with the flow, and theres nothing else quite like it. This volume starts in one place and ends somewhere completely different, and the direction of the series remains as nebulous as ever. As frustrating as its narrative aimlessness can be, Aki Iries ethereal art never ceases to mystify. This series is her tribute to everything awesome about Iceland, and honestly, its a convincingly good travelogue. I could stay lost in Aki Iries mesmerizingly beautiful drawings of Icelandic landscapes forever, and eagerly look forward to my next visit to this world through her loving eyes.

This manga is like a warm hug to all those who've ever yearned to hear those precious words, one that I embrace with my whole heart.

I Think Our Son is Gay remains a wholesome warm blanket of a manga. Writing this story seems to have helped Okura work through his own feelings as well.

While its ancient Egyptian motifs are eye-catching, what makes IM really stand out are the kind-hearted messages at its core. It focuses on people suffering through traumas and feeling isolated, and shows them that they don't have to suffer alone and can find companionship in other people. It's a good message to reinforce, and the series tells many heartwarming stories that successfully articulates its themes in enjoyable ways.

Disclaimer: This review was made possible through a complimentary review copy provided by Irodori.You can purchase Leaper and learn more about Irodori here.

That said, while its not perfect, Little Miss Ps heart is in the right place. It has some genuinely thoughtful observations about how to have conversations about womens health and better communicate and learn more when someones experiencing symptoms. I wish its depictions of sexuality were less cismale-centric and it was more trans-inclusive. But as it is, it still depicts a diverse array of relatable health scenarios, in both realistic and fantastical settings, and treats its characters with respect and empathy. The series is about feeling comfortable with your body and who you are, and receiving love and validation from trusted loved ones, and those are messages I can get behind. Depending on who you are, you may not agree, but I look forward to Little Miss P's next visit.

Moriarty the Patriot's reinterpretation of the eponymous character to examine themes of class and privilege serves as a really refreshing recontextualization of the Sherlock mythos, and there's still so much left to explore.

Alcoholic Escape may at times be a hard and uncomfortable read, but as readers, we must understand and respect that it's so much harder for Kabi to write and reveal herself so vulnerably to us, and the least we can do is empathize with her struggle and cheer her on as she makes strides forward in her quest for happiness.

My Broken Mariko is startlingly hopeful for a story so bleak. Its about grappling with guilt and grief in a world so uncaring that coworkers will tell you that your best friends death is no excuse to miss work, and signs on the beach warn that suicide isnt a crime, but littering is. Waka Hirako doesnt shy away from how cruel people can be to each other, and how remorselessly some can steal, abuse, and kill. Yet, they also examine the transformative power a single person has to change someones life for the better, to make every day just a little bit more worth living. Not everyone is born into a loving family, nor a good life, but both stories in A Broken Mariko explore how meaningful it is to have even just one friend looking out for you and how having those supportive relationships can influence us, giving us strength as we navigate a life fraught with hardships.

Pop Life is a powerful, poignant story about growing up and growing apart. Its about the families we make and the relationships we create, and treasuring the time we have with the people we love before its too late. In many respects its Minami Q-tas defiant declaration against living a monotonous life, espousing the importance of continually creating new experiences and relationships, living fully and freely. The storys such a love letter to the joys of living itself, and Im glad to know it received an equally loving localization from Star Fruit Books. My only nitpick would be that there are some words I wish didnt have to be hyphenated, but considering the space restraints of world balloons, I understand why it had to be done. Regardless, I truly appreciate them introducing English-reading manga fans to this series and Minami Q-ta, whose next work I eagerly look forward to reading. So if you havent already, pop up a copy of Pop Life and have the time of your life. We all have a space

Sadako at the End of the World is a wonderfully empathetic reflection on the Sadako mythos. It understands the tragedy of the character and works to give her a sense of fulfillment and closure most other interpretations dont. It imaginatively reframes her curse as something comforting in its post-apocalyptic setting, giving her the opportunity to help rather than hurt. The storys final chapter is called We Love You, Sada-chan, and truly, this book is a loving tribute to her. If anything, Sadakos curse is that she so thoroughly captured the hearts and imaginations of every horror fan who sees her, which is why her legacy will forever linger. Even at the end of the world.

Overall, Seven Little Sons of the Dragon is a fascinating, entertaining, and thought-provoking collection of stories espousing the virtues of communication, trust, and making an effort to change. It's also just a fascinating look at an artist finding their voice by writing and drawing things they're interested in. Fans of Delicious in Dungeon will enjoy seeing some of the primordial foundations of Kui's fantasy storytelling and humor in these stories. Even if you're unfamiliar with her other series, this is still a fantastic collection of comics, showing off the depth of Kui's skill as an artist and storyteller. They may lack dungeons, but these stories are still delicious.

Isaki Uta has quickly become one of my favorite artists to keep up with, as their work is always full of interesting visual and thematic ideas centered around exploring the experiences of outsiders and outliers to a societal status quo. Silkscreen is no exception, depicting the struggle between living in conformity to social pressure or living authentically in defiance of them in a compelling, thoughtful way. Even if they feel their art is simpler than normal, I think Uta masterfully employs their visual metaphors with great depth, heightening the impact of the beats of their story and the themes theyre communicating. Theyre a phenomenal storyteller that knows how to make the most of their art to leave an impact on their readers, and Im excited to see what kinds of stories theyll tell next. I look forward to the next time I can lift the veil up on Utas work and explore the boundless worlds of their imagination once again.

Silver Spoon remains an affecting story about the power of people overcoming great obstacles; an encouraging reminder to keep persevering, trusting yourself and the connections you make to help guide you on the path to your dreams.

As the series heads towards its final couple of volumes, you really get the sense that no matter what roadblocks remain, everything is going to work out for these hard-working kids by the end.

No matter what, Honda-san is truly a manga fan's manga. It is densely packed with references to all sorts of manga, new and old, and touches upon cultural events like Shigeru Mizuki's death and promotional stunts for the Assassination Classroom live-action movie that are sure to amuse people who remember them.

While Honda-san doesnt leave us with a pointed farewell, this volume still illustrates the publishing world in all its joys and challenges through Hondas witty sense of humor and distinct artistry. Hondas minimalist aesthetics but strong linework and inky brushstrokes imbue a lot of character to her art. While Honda is sometimes only left to work with drawing talking heads during her conversations and interviews, her choice to draw all her characters in masks and her ability to express emotions through strong gestures adds a lot of amusing charm to these interactions. Not to mention her visual metaphors " like the publisher, wholesaler, and retailer all holding hands in a bridge to symbolize their harmonious relationship " are spot-on images that illustrate the insights she wants to educate readers on in memorable ways. This series has been a great boon to manga fans whove wanted to learn more about what goes into bookselling as a profession and the publishing world. Its a

There's a reason The Rose of Versailles is a classic, you know? I have legitimate criticisms of some of its poor subtext, but the art alone earns it full marks in my book.

Househusband is a wonderful exploration of healthy, modern masculinity channeled through domestic pursuits that're taken seriously and performed proudly.

Hanako-kun sets itself apart from other supernatural battle manga thanks to its unique art, setting, and emphasis on empathetic themes.

Urusei Yatsura has firmly established its identity, status quo, and style of storytelling by this volume, and if you've enjoyed what it's had to offer so far you'll find more of the same here. I really loved a lot of the chapters in the volume and seeing Takahashi have fun creating interesting new stories and experimenting with longer-form ones, while also giving some much-needed attention to fleshing out Ataru's character.

Usotoki Rhetoric was championed as one of the most anticipated new releases to look out for by shojo and mystery manga connoisseurs, and its fans told no lies!