Reader’s Corner: Silver Spoon, Solo Leveling, and the Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

Solo Leveling, Vol. 1 (novel)

The immensely popular webtoon, Solo Leveling, features a basic premise about a young man rising from the lowest of ranks of “hunting” to become incredibly strong. It’s most appreciated for its art, so the question is, if the story is mundane, does it’s forerunner, which lacks any illustrations, hold up? It does—surprisingly well. Volume one of Chugong’s novel series, originally published on the web and now being released by Yen Press, traces the story of Level-E ranked hunter, Jin-Woo, in mesmerizing detail as he “levels up” following an experience that should have lead to his demise. That opening is only one of a number of violent but engaging episodes in the novel, which also relies heavily on descriptions of game-like mechanics. As the rare anime fan that isn’t a gamer, my eyes usually glaze over such details, but Chugong’s vivid but spare descriptions kept me engaged, as the protagonist moves quickly along his journey, which still, is well structured, even if his characterization if less developed. That’s both a flaw of the series and a point of question: Is Jin-woo’s desire for “Money, honor, and power” meant to be admired, glossed over, or criticized? I’m not yet sure, and I wonder if Jin-Woo’s moral development will become a significant part of the story beneath the well-crafted verneer of fighting and powering up, which as imaginative as it is, can’t very well carry an entire series—can it? ~ Twwk

Solo Leveling is published by Yen Press, which provided a review copy.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project, Vol. 18

I did it (insert GIF of everyone applauding Shinji here). I finally finished reading Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project. And let me tell you something about it: While there are science fiction undertones and references to the original series throughout that give you genuine laughs, by the end, the series is primarily just an ecchi teen romantic comedy with Evangelion characters as window dressing. Every chapter is an opportunity for Shinji to mistakenly trip, fall, and accidentally grope a girl. Every other chapter, by the end, sees a character with exposed breasts—sometimes because of said clusiness, sometimes because the mangaka just decides to draw an extended group bathing scene. This volume gives the final actual reference to an Evangelion, but once again, there’s no actual use of it. This alternate Eva-verse is, in the end, a school harem romance and not a science fiction epic that discusses about real issues like depression. For some, that’s fine. For others, the blatant fanservice will be too much. For me, I am still so very struck by how out of character both Shinji and Gendo act in this series when compared to the original . I guess Yui Ikari being alive really made a huge difference! ~ MDMRN

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project, Vol. 18 is published by Dark Horse Comics.

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

First released in the U.S. eleven years ago, and originally published in 2004, Yen Press has rereleased The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (along with all the others) to coincide with the new Haruhi Suzumiya light novel. After all this time, it holds up surprisingly well, and in fact perhaps takes on more meaning now in the booming light novel industry as a series that—as with the anime—inspired so many of today’s writers. A quick read—it tells just one longer tale instead of several shorter one, coming in at under 200 pages—every sentence is meaningful, every chapter tightly structured, and every emotion hits with precision and sharpness as the series at once returns to an older act, takes the story to new places (and new heights), and brings in questions from the future as Kyon wakes to discover that the SOS Brigade has disbanded, no one has ever hear of a Haruhi Suzumiya, and Asahina and Nagato no longer have their peculiar powers. The volume works so well because it depends on those preceding it, not only for it’s “return to the past” plot but also as it ramps up the nostalgia and emotions in both Kyon and the reader. Everything is predicated on how the reader feels about these characters, leading to a tale that’s simultaneously a love fest for the series and one that is satisfying in its own right. Disappearance proves to be, much like its characters, a light novel that surely is timeless. ~ Twwk

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is published by Yen Press, which provided a review copy.

The Genius Prince’s Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt (Hey, How About Treason?), Vol. 1

What we have with this mouthful of a title is a more comedic (and non-isekai) take on the kingdom-running light novel. Prince Wein is appointed regent to run the country of Natra in place of his ailing father, but given how terrible the state of his nation is in financially, he would much rather just sell the country off and run away. Yeah, he’s lazy and a coward. The problem is, he’s also a bit too smart for his own good, and plans that he intend to go towards relieving his workload and avoiding confrontation only make people believe he can totally win wars and bring the country back to greatness. (It helps that the countries trying to deal with Natra have issues of their own…) The result is an amusing read as I had fun seeing Wein pull out plans that work a bit too well and have him suffering from success. I also liked how his relationship with Ninym, his childhood friend and primary aide, is framed in the story both as a teammate that Wein relies on to help run the country, and also a close companion (and love interest) whom he banters with but also trusts deeply and does not tolerate any insults toward her from others. Overall I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this series and how Wein will continue to help his country more than he might want to. ~ stardf29

The Genius Prince’s Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt (Hey, How About Treason?), Vol. 1 is available from Yen Press.

Dragon Head

Dragon Head was a horror manga series I picked up last year from a Kodansha Halloween Humble Bundle. Let me tell you—it is dark, earning its way into that genre heading. The first volume begins with three teenagers trying to survive in an underground subway tunnel after an earthquake event caused its collapse. As the story progresses, and effects on the surface world around them are revealed, the characters discover that the earthquake was no isolated incident but something that struck all of Japan. It is gritty and violent at times. Yet, the overall story and a desire to see how these characters survive kept me reading page after page. I finished the entire 10 volume series in about three days time as I had a hard time putting it down. The ending is is a hard one, and perhaps very fitting for this work, leading readers to consider how widespread the problems that struck and set the events of the series really are. Psychological horror indeed. ~ MDMRN

Dragon Head is published by Kodansha.

Silver Spoon, Vol. 1

With Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood continuing its tear through our annual AniMarch Madness tournament, I turn my attention to the other now-classic work from mangaka Hiromu Arakawa. Silver Spoon, which ended its run in 2019, is a fish out of water tale featuring high school freshman Hachiken, an academic-focused city boy who decides to attend an agricultural high school in Hokkaido. Volume one has fun with his inability to get used to farm life, though it also sensitively looks at his reasons for choosing this high school while showing that even early on, Hachiken is growing, such as when he condescends horses only to be taught how the majestic animals can show the rider a different perspective on life. It doesn’t take long for readers to grow attached to the series characters, like Aikawa, who is the determined to overcome his sensitivity to blood and death to become a veterinarian, and Nishikawa, who loves tractors and mecha. But most of all, Hachiken makes for a compelling character. Like Edward from FMA, Hachiken is easily frustrated but kind and open; it’s lovely to see him already developing among friends so different from what he’s used to, even while seeing him frequently fall (and slowly get back up)—a source of laughter page after page in this wonderful introductory volume. ~ Twwk

Silver Spoon, Vol. 1 is published by Yen Press, which provided a review copy.

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 12 – Estágio 67

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 12 – Estágio 67 || #Evangelion #RaisingProject ||

Neon Genesis: Ikari Shinji Raising Project” (Shin Seiki Evangerion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku) é um  jogo de video game em que teve o universo expandido para o mangá. É de responsabilidade de Osamu Takahashi e se situa no Universo Alternativo de Shinji do Episódio 26 da série TV. É uma obra oficial licenciada pela Gainax e publicada na Shonem Ace, a versão japonesa teve inicio em Março de 2006…

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Shinseiki Evangelion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku.

Alternative: 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン 碇シンジ育成計画 ; 新世纪福音战士碇真嗣育成计划 ; 이카리 신지 육성계획 ; Eva: Shinji Ikari Raising Project ; Evangelion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku ; Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project ; Shin Seiki Evangelion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku

Description : Dark Horse: Stunning, hotheaded Asuka Langley Soryu has been friends with Shinji Ikari since they were little. And she always sort of assumed they'd stay together-until the day the beautiful, brilliant Rei Ayanami showed up in class! When Shinji starts to get curious about Rei, Asuka needs to figure out if she wants to be just friends with Shinji, or something more. But why are so many people keeping an eye on these relationships-people like homeroom teacher Misato, school nurse Ritsuko, and Shinji's mother-NERV's chief scientist, Yui Ikari...? Ikusei Keikaku means something along the lines of 'Raising Project', and is a series of games that are based around the concepts of Gainax's old Princess Maker games. These games allow you to more or less 'raise' the character as if you were some sort of parental figure. Don't ask me for the particulars, I've never played it or seen it in action. But you can more or less mold the character into the adult you would like them to be. Previously there have been Rei and Asuka raising games, and most recently, a Shinji raising game. For some peculiar reason, they decided to release a manga to tie into the new raising game. The manga begins in a manner quite similar to the alternate universe of episode 26 of the TV series, as well as the Girlfriend of Steel 2 manga. In that aspect, this manga will seem quite 'familiar' to you. #MangaReddit.com, #ReadFreeMangaOnline Read Free Manga Online at MangaReddit.com: https://mangareddit.com/p/shinseiki-evangelion-ikari-shinji-ikusei-keikaku_1584419046.html

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Manga Shin Seiki Evangelion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku kết thúc vào mùa hè năm tới

Volume 17 của manga Shin Seiki Evangelion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku (tác giả Osamu Takahashi) thông báo vào thứ 7 tuần rồi rằng series này sẽ kết thúc ở volume tiếp theo vào mùa hè năm tới.

Trong game Shin Seiki Evangelion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku, người chơi “nuôi dưỡng” và định hướng cho Shinji Ikari, nhân vật chính của series khoa học viễn tưởng Evangelion. (Trước Evangelion, Gainax…

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Otaku Reader’s Corner: Komi Can’t Communicate, Love Me Love Me Not, and  Fly Me to the Moon

Fly Me to the Moon (Tonikawa), Vol. 3

Season one of Tonikawa may be complete, but Fly Me to the Moon, the manga on which its based, is continuing to roll out, and it remains superior to the show in virtually every facet. Volume three, released yesterday, focuses on Tsukasa and Nasa’s trip to visit his parents, in the process leading the couple through some friction and opening up the questions about Tsukasa’s background and identity more and more. However, never fear ye readers looking for your regular dose of sugary sweetness; the series still lives mostly in the world of cute interactions between the young couple and in plentiful humor, the latter of which was unexpectedly missing from the anime. ~ Twwk

Fly Me to the Moon Vol. 3 is available through Viz.

Love Me, Love Me Not, Vol. 6

Having been thoroughly captivated by the five previous volumes of Love Me, Love Me Not, I expected to enjoy volume six just as well—but I didn’t. What changed? Sakisaka-sensei’s technique and style certainly didn’t, as these chapters are in all ways a continuation of all that’s gone before. But while I’ve argued that the poor decisions and mental lapses of the four main characters are authentic to how 16-year-olds act, the characterizations have started becoming stale, with progressions only being very primary and obvious in nature, and little “true” character growth to speak of, and now joining the already weak and rehashed plots of the story in leading to a most mediocre volume. Seeing unexpected sides of the boys, however, counter some of the issues in volume six, which relies too much on mistaken interpretations for its shoujo angst (it should consult Maison Ikkoku for a more masterful way to achieve this). Most of all, I fear that Sakisaka is going down the familiar Ao Haru Ride route and creating “bad guys that really aren’t bad” characters; the earlier chapters had emanated something special, and I hope for a return to form by volume seven. ~ Twwk

Love Me, Love Me Not Vol. 6 is available through Viz.

The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, Vol. 1

In this high school romantic comedy, next door neighbors Amane and Mary Poppins Mahiru grow closer to each other. The laid-back pace of their relationship’s development is lovely, and they have some genuinely sweet moments, but the story still left me underwhelmed. First, why do they get together? I don’t know. They’d never spoken before, but then Amane shoves an umbrella into Mahiru’s hand and runs off, and next thing you know, she’s cooking for him on a daily basis. Huh? This relates to a second issue: I don’t know who these characters are. Why does Mahiru take such care of Amane? Do they have any common interests or life experiences? Why are they both living on their own? And so on. The two leads eventually start to get characterization beyond “He’s slob who can’t cook and she’s practically perfect in every way,” but not nearly enough. The narration is also annoyingly heavy-handed at times: specifically, it dwells on Mahiru’s looks way more than necessary. The story also has excessively frequent claims that there’s absolutely not anything romantic about their relationship and they don’t have and can’t possibly develop any feelings toward each other beyond neighborly friendship; it felt like the author kept turning my way and giving these exaggerated winks. The second half of the book is noticeably better than the first, with more humor, more characters, more chemistry between the leads, etc. I can’t exactly recommend this on its own merits as a standalone volume, but there’s enough potential here that this might turn out to be a weak start to a worthwhile series. I think I’ll at least want to try vol. 2. ~ jeskaiangel

The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Vol. 1 is published by Yen Press.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project, Vol. 1

About a year ago I was back in my hometown at the town video game store. It has a manga section where they will re-sell used manga for usually around $1 a piece. I saw a single copy of volume 1 of Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project sitting there and had to go for it. An Alternate Universe (AU) version of Evangelion? Sold. This series follows an AU where Shinji and company are not piloting Evas and Angels aren’t attacking Tokyo-3. His parents, both of whom are still alive, are working for the Artificial Evolution Research Center for some, at present, unknown purpose. Then, suddenly, Rei shows up in Shinji’s life and is living at his house. The first volume shows a Shinji that is oblivious to the love of his childhood friend (Asuka) and living a relatively normal teenage life in Tokyo-3. It’s weird seeing them in this context as it’s mostly a silly romance story with some future science fiction elements hidden in the background. The jokes hit well especially if you’ve recently watched the original series. I’m onto volume 2 now and interested to see where this goes. ~ MDMRN

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project Vol. 1 is available through Dark Horse.

Our Crappy Social Game Club Is Gonna Make The Most Epic Game, Vol. 1

First of all, a “social game” is basically a mobile game, playable on various social media platforms (hence the name), and often with gacha elements. This light novel gives us a world where high school students actually form clubs to develop said games, and at least when it comes to the actual game development aspect, it’s very good. There’s quite a lot of detail on what actually goes into developing such a game and how they can be successful, and the titular club’s struggle to overcome their issues to make a game is likewise a good read and allows for good character development. This novel is also part romantic comedy, and while that aspect is more standard fare, it’s decent enough with a solid rapport between the main leads. Overall I definitely enjoyed this volume a lot, especially the game development part, and will be looking forward to more. ~ stardf29

Our Crappy Social Game Club Is Gonna Make The Most Epic Game Vol. 1 is available from J-Novel Club.

Reincarnated as the Last of My Kind, Vol. 1

Behold, a new entry in the reincarnation-type isekai sub-genre. What distinguishes this slice-of-life story is it’s focus on unconventional family relationships. Marcus the knight came home one day to find his wife had abandoned him, taking their daughter with her and leaving behind divorce papers; soon after, he also loses an arm in battle. In the process of retiring and returning to run his parents’ inn, he comes across the protagonist, a baby girl whom he adopts and calls Tina (short for Tinaris); while Tina’s species is still unclear, one can deduce from the title alone that she’s not human. Then Nakona, Marcus’s estranged daughter by his ex-wife, tracks down her father. The last major character is Lico (short for Licorice), a knight, alchemist, divorcee, and potential mother-figure for Tina and Nakona; her ex-husband abandoned her to marry Marcus’s ex-wife. Along with familial interactions full of challenges, complications, and heartwarming moments, as well as Tina’s efforts to mastery alchemy, there are also indications that a save-the-world plot might be brewing. As an added bonus, the hints that Lico will be a love interest for Marcus give me hope that this story will avoid a certain unsavory pitfall some other single-man-adopts-little-girl stories have wrecked themselves with. I quite enjoyed this volume and look forward to seeing how the story progresses. ~ jeskaiangel

Reincarnated as the Last of  My Kind Vol. 1 is published by Cross Infinite World.

Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol. 1

Komi Can’t Communicate is a cute, mostly wholesome series about a girl who can’t communicate. Yea, the premise is literally the title of the series. Upon entering high school, Tadano finds himself drawn to the very quiet Komi who happened to sit next to him. Over a series of chapters, he tries to get the nerve to talk to her only to find out she has a hard time talking to anyone. Her anxiety gets the better of her when she tries to even state her name in front of the class. Through a series of goofy stories, Tadano is trying to help Komi make friends. It is a lot cuter than I expected and a very fast read. I was through the first volume before I knew it with how easy it read. I definitely enjoyed the volume and am interested to see where it goes as Komi tries to make new friends. ~ MDMRN

Komi Can’t Communicate Vol. 1 is available through Viz.

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 8 – Extra Stage

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 8 – Extra Stage || #Evangelion #RaisingProject ||

Neon Genesis: Ikari Shinji Raising Project” (Shin Seiki Evangerion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku) é um  jogo de video game em que teve o universo expandido para o mangá. É de responsabilidade de Osamu Takahashi e se situa no Universo Alternativo de Shinji do Episódio 26 da série TV. É uma obra oficial licenciada pela Gainax e publicada na Shonem Ace, a versão japonesa teve inicio em Março de 2006…

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The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 12 – Estágio 69

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 12 – Estágio 69 || #evangelion ||

Neon Genesis: Ikari Shinji Raising Project” (Shin Seiki Evangerion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku) é um  jogo de video game em que teve o universo expandido para o mangá. É de responsabilidade de Osamu Takahashi e se situa no Universo Alternativo de Shinji do Episódio 26 da série TV. É uma obra oficial licenciada pela Gainax e publicada na Shonem Ace, a versão japonesa teve inicio em Março de 2006…

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The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 11 – Extra Stage

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 11 – Extra Stage || #Evangelion ||

Neon Genesis: Ikari Shinji Raising Project” (Shin Seiki Evangerion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku) é um  jogo de video game em que teve o universo expandido para o mangá. É de responsabilidade de Osamu Takahashi e se situa no Universo Alternativo de Shinji do Episódio 26 da série TV. É uma obra oficial licenciada pela Gainax e publicada na Shonem Ace, a versão japonesa teve inicio em Março de 2006…

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The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 11 – Estágios 64 e 65

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 11 – Estágios 64 e 65 || #Evangelion #RaisingProject ||

Neon Genesis: Ikari Shinji Raising Project” (Shin Seiki Evangerion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku) é um  jogo de video game em que teve o universo expandido para o mangá. É de responsabilidade de Osamu Takahashi e se situa no Universo Alternativo de Shinji do Episódio 26 da série TV. É uma obra oficial licenciada pela Gainax e publicada na Shonem Ace, a versão japonesa teve inicio em Março de 2006…

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The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 11 – Estágios 61, 62 e 63

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 11 – Estágios 61, 62 e 63 || #Evangelion #RaisingProject ||

Neon Genesis: Ikari Shinji Raising Project” (Shin Seiki Evangerion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku) é um  jogo de video game em que teve o universo expandido para o mangá. É de responsabilidade de Osamu Takahashi e se situa no Universo Alternativo de Shinji do Episódio 26 da série TV. É uma obra oficial licenciada pela Gainax e publicada na Shonem Ace, a versão japonesa teve inicio em Março de 2006…

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The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 10 – Estágios 60 e 60.5

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 10 – Estágios 60 e 60.5 || #Evangelion ||

Neon Genesis: Ikari Shinji Raising Project” (Shin Seiki Evangerion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku) é um  jogo de video game em que teve o universo expandido para o mangá. É de responsabilidade de Osamu Takahashi e se situa no Universo Alternativo de Shinji do Episódio 26 da série TV. É uma obra oficial licenciada pela Gainax e publicada na Shonem Ace, a versão japonesa teve inicio em Março de 2006…

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The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 10 – Estágio 55 e 56

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 10 – Estágio 55 e 56 || #Evangelion #ShinjiIkariRaisingProject ||

Neon Genesis: Ikari Shinji Raising Project” (Shin Seiki Evangerion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku) é um  jogo de video game em que teve o universo expandido para o mangá. É de responsabilidade de Osamu Takahashi e se situa no Universo Alternativo de Shinji do Episódio 26 da série TV. É uma obra oficial licenciada pela Gainax e publicada na Shonem Ace, a versão japonesa teve inicio em Março de 2006…

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The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 9 – Extra Stage 2

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 9 – Extra Stage 2 || #Evangelion #RaisingProject ||

Neon Genesis: Ikari Shinji Raising Project” (Shin Seiki Evangerion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku) é um  jogo de video game em que teve o universo expandido para o mangá. É de responsabilidade de Osamu Takahashi e se situa no Universo Alternativo de Shinji do Episódio 26 da série TV. É uma obra oficial licenciada pela Gainax e publicada na Shonem Ace, a versão japonesa teve inicio em Março de 2006…

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The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 9 – Extra Stage 1

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 9 – Extra Stage 1 || #Evangelion #RaisingProject ||

Neon Genesis: Ikari Shinji Raising Project” (Shin Seiki Evangerion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku) é um  jogo de video game em que teve o universo expandido para o mangá. É de responsabilidade de Osamu Takahashi e se situa no Universo Alternativo de Shinji do Episódio 26 da série TV. É uma obra oficial licenciada pela Gainax e publicada na Shonem Ace, a versão japonesa teve inicio em Março de 2006…

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The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 9 – Estágio 54

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 9 – Estágio 54 || #Evangelion #RaisingProject ||

Neon Genesis: Ikari Shinji Raising Project” (Shin Seiki Evangerion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku) é um  jogo de video game em que teve o universo expandido para o mangá. É de responsabilidade de Osamu Takahashi e se situa no Universo Alternativo de Shinji do Episódio 26 da série TV. É uma obra oficial licenciada pela Gainax e publicada na Shonem Ace, a versão japonesa teve inicio em Março de 2006…

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The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 9 – Estágio 53

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project – Vol. 9 – Estágio 53 || #Evangelion #RaisingProject ||

Neon Genesis: Ikari Shinji Raising Project” (Shin Seiki Evangerion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku) é um  jogo de video game em que teve o universo expandido para o mangá. É de responsabilidade de Osamu Takahashi e se situa no Universo Alternativo de Shinji do Episódio 26 da série TV. É uma obra oficial licenciada pela Gainax e publicada na Shonem Ace, a versão japonesa teve inicio em Março de 2006…

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