Genre: Jidai Geki/Samurai
Rated R, for violence and mature scenes
© 1994, by Hiroaki Samura. Published by Kodansha Ltd., Tokyo.
Shop: Blade of the Immortal Books

Edited Cover Description:
Manji was a master swordsman who assassinated his own corrupted lord. Granted immortality by the 800-year old traveler Yaobikuni, Manji made a deal: he will slay one thousand evil men in exchange for the release of death…

He stumbles upon Rin, the daughter of Asano, head of the Mutenichi-ryu dojo. Both of her parents were murdered by Anotsu and his followers. Now Rin has enlisted Manji’s aid to avenge her parents’ death…

Genre: Dark
Parental Guidance Recommended
Credits: Yuki Kaori
Shop: Angel Sanctuary Manga, VHS, DVD

Cover Description:
A beautiful angel wages war against God - and loses. Reborn as a human boy, Setsuna struggles with horrific visions and supernatural powers. Angels and demons flock to his awakening, spoiling for battle. Will Setsuna lead them to the apocalypse, or to salvation?

You’ve seen those paintings, haven’t you? Those paintings where the Archangel Michael holds his flaming sword and leads his host of angels against legions of demons with their fiery tongues? You’ve also seen statues and pictures of angels with several wings and their marble ethereal faces or those gargoyles atop church steeples looking down on you. Even in their stationary state, these beings can be the most beguiling and the histories about them are majestic! This makes Yuki Kaori amazing mangaka. She couldn’t have chosen better subjects than the sublime creatures of heaven and earth. She has been totally fascinated with their world that she includes the most intriguing details of their myths, starting from their extensive hierarchy down to the wars of demon and angel.

Yuki Kaori, of course, like most mangaka who take Norse myths and fashion them into their own, also gave her own picture of their world. (She has admitted this also in her free talks in the manga.) For one thing, there isn’t really a lot of descriptive references as to the places where demons and angels live. Yuki Kaori had to use her imagination in creating these. She chose European medieval Gothic architecture in showing heaven while Baroque architecture seems to suit Gehenna, the world of demons best.

You won’t be disappointed with what you will see here. Yuki Kaori is a great artist! Her artwork has been hailed as one of the best and her character designs are nothing out of the ordinary. I especially liked how Rociel, the most beautiful angel of all, was drawn to be so beautiful to both men and women. He stands with so much grace and talks with too much conceit. Demons on the other hand aren’t your typical red creatures with horns, pitch forks and spiky tails. They’re actually beautiful creatures as well. (Besides, the Good Book did say that Satan would not appear looking so horrible.) The character designs are not stereotypical. In fact, that’s a very nice thing that makes the story so good! You will find yourself having a very unlikely protagonist and the most beautiful of antagonists.

Be warned though. The story deals with a lot of taboos, most especially the subject of incest. The story’s hero is Setsuna, who is actually the organic angel, Alexiel. Heaven and Gehenna both await Setsuna’s awakening with different goals in mind. However, while hosts of angels and legions of demons battle for that right, our hero finds himself reluctant in that awakening but concentrates more on Sarah. Sarah is Setsuna’s beloved and he will do everything for her. Sarah is also Setsuna’s sister. (Don’t get mad at me. That is not really a spoiler because that is not the point of the story.) I find this a little hard to comprehend because whichever way you look at it, it’s not something anthropologically possible. Sure… that’s still within human realizations and could be different the laws of angels here in Yuki Kaori’s world … but STILL… it’s scientifically impossible and thus hard for me to accept. You will learn later why this taboo is necessary. It leads to a grander design that will affect both heaven and Gehenna.

If you really liked the Angel Sanctuary anime, you have to read the manga. The anime is only until up to volume 6 and they cut a lot of stories in the 3-part OAV. The manga will shed light on why the characters acted a certain way and will fill you in the part of what happens to Setsuna at the end of the third episode. I was actually pissed that the anime left me completely hanging like it’s only some sort of teaser for you to read the manga. There is a lot more that you haven’t seen. I told you about the angelic hierarchy, right? Well, the manga will introduce you to archangels, thrones, seraphims and cherubims, even those outcasts in the hierarchy and will give you insight on what has really happened to Gehenna as well.

The manga is truly astonishing. It will show you the most remarkable worlds and will test some of your philosophies. It’s quite a heavy read though with all the deaths and violence. (Who would’ve ever thought that the sublime and beautiful can be twisted and cruel?) But it’s all in here. Go find out for yourself.

Individual Rating: Art 10; Story 8; Characters 9

Genre: Shoujo / Drama
Parental Guidance Recommended
Credits: Yuu Watase. Flower Comics.
Shop: Ayashi no Ceres Artbooks and Manga, DVD, Game Shop, Toys and Accessories, Music

Firesenshi’s Description:
It is said that one day, the Tennyo came down from the sky and a man stole her hagoromo (feathered robe) so she cannot go back to the her home in the heavens. The legend of the Tennyo (heavenly maiden) is known to be a legacy of the Mikage family. A dark legacy such that divided fraternal twin brother and sister Aki and Aya Mikage.

When the Mikage realize that the Tennyo named Ceres’s power manifests within Aya, a member of her family named Kagami quickly leads on to protect Aki, now known as the Mikage’s chosen descendant and at the same time, take down Ceres because she seeks revenge on those who have stolen her hagoromo.

In all these struggles, Aya meets Tooya, a emotionless man with no memories, working for Kagami and the Mikage. Tooya has a special power, one such that makes him invulnerable even to Ceres’s power. But if he is the enemy, why is his attachment to Aya growing? Is his special power a threat to Aya and Ceres?

This is one thing Yuuhi Aogiri, Aya’s appointed protector by his sister Suzumi, also a woman with Tennyo powers, would not risk. The question remains: How far would the Ceres go to retrieve her hagoromo? What happens to the Tennyo legend that exists all over the world? And what mystery is there that binds Kagami, Aki, Yuuhi, Tooya and Aya together?

(14 tankubon)

There is a lot of suspense while reading Ayashi no Ceres. The panels were actually edited very well such that when you turn each page, you’ll never know what the next panel would contain, it might shock you. And I thought, after reading and seeing manga and anime bloodier than this, I will not be shocked anymore but I actually was. For one, I know this is shoujo manga I’m reading. Yes, it still deals a lot with love (albeit too much of “love” in there) but there is also subject of incest, murder, defamation of dead bodies. And like I said in my Ayashi no Ceres anime review, I think this one has more suspense and action than magic despite some aspects being the subject of legend.

Of course, as this is shoujo manga which deals greatly with relationships, Yuu Watase has covered that part very well. Thoroughly if I may add. There is too much Tooya-Aya here, it gets quite sickening. There are just too many panels of them hugging and kissing, the kanji “Ai” is wearing out. And frankly, I don’t think that is love. From the first time they saw each other and gave each other hickies calling it a “mark of promise” is a presumption of love. The sexual tension between them is just too high, they can’t keep their hands off each other. Of course, as this manga was made to target teenage girls, the illusion of “love” in this kind of romance would be heightened. Tooya, in his emotionless state where he doesn’t have family nor memories and Aya in her innocence (aka naivete) will just well… calling to end up in bed one way or another at least.

But don’t worry. This happened in Fushigi Yugi too when people got saturated with too much Miaka and Tamahome. There are other great characters to look forward to such as Yuuhi Aogiri, Chidori and Suzumi. The anti-hero Kagami is one character you better watch out for because he has great sinister tricks up his sleeve.

The art in the manga is very well done, as we can expect from Watase-san. How she merge the fantastical elements of legend along with science, plus the elements of love, sacrifice and revenge in subplots and stories makes this a page turner.

Individual Rating: Art 10; Story 8; Characters 9

Genre: Comedy
Parental Guidance Recommended
Credits: 1973. Ozamu Tezuka. Weekly Shonen Champion. Akita Shonen Publishing Company Limited.
Shop: Blackjack Books/Manga, DVD, VHS

Cover Description:
In his highly acclaimed medical drama, world-renowned manga artist Osamu Tezuka plumbs the depths of the human pysche.

Although able to work miracles, due to mysterious circumstances, Doctor Black Jack is unlicensed to practice. Thus, his clientele often harbor some unsavory secrets of their own…

(9 released tankubon)

I am a fan of Ozamu Tezuka, Japan’s premiere manga artist, since I was kid but really… this one of an unlicensed surgeon with a cute sidekick Pinoco baffles me a bit. I like Blackjack. Ozamu Tezuka created a character so dark and mysterious. However, if one is a doctor, specifically an unlicensed surgeon at that, I wonder how those great characteristics I once admired fit. Well, it does fit the character actually. A character that engages in unrecognized surgical practices such as joining two hearts together or even operating on himself. How that is medically possible is totally unknown. Tezuka-san of course, though not a medical expert, probably just based it on the fact that his character is a great surgeon enough to do those things. Well, okay. That is still weird to me.

But somehow, I can’t put my finger on why these all work. And there are indeed some stories that are endearing. I especially remember those chapters. I must admit this is something new. It’s weird but it’s good. Expect Tezuka-san to create something totally unique.

There is a Blackjack OAV and Movie. The art there actually made Blackjack look more handsome to me although the art does not have the Tezuka trademark. It’s because the animation was built only recently.

–
NOTE: This description was written sometime 2001 and was recorded in the classic Otaku Fridge as ??.??.2001. Unfortunately the database would not accept non-numerical values, so this review is now dated January 02, 2001 by default.

Individual Rating: Individual Rating: Art 7; Story 7; Characters 8

Only people with a strong stomach, a morbid hilarity, an extraordinarily weird sense of humor, and a life deprived of drama would enjoy this; I know, trust me, I’m one of them. Hehe! What can I say? I mean, you don’t have to think deep in order for you to understand and enjoy everything, even if it may involve a real genius of, take note, an UNLICENSED surgeon (a cute one, may I add). The stories are equally fun to read as it is a mixture of adventure (yeeha!), some romance (for those who love it, I guess), suspense (you have to read it for yourself for you to know), comedy (as is said before, the kind of comedy that comes with a strong stomach), and even… drama! Not the kind of drama that will make you puke, but some stories that may actually make you, eherm, cry. (Gasp!) Hehe!

I wouldn’t know how to otherwise tell you why I did enjoy this manga because, to tell you frankly, I wouldn’t know either. All I know is, you have to read it yourself so that you’ll know what the heck I am talking about; this kind of manga is undescribable! Although I would say that Ozamu Tezuka, creator of AstroBoy, did a cute job of this (yup, yup)! If this doesn’t spill your guts from laughing, then, don’t worry, Black Jack is there to the rescue!

Individual Rating: Individual Rating: Art 7; Story 7; Characters 8

Up until several months ago, I’ve never even heard of Samura Hiroaki’s Blade of the Immortal. So you can imagine my surprise when I had gotten hold of it…

A manga this good, and I haven’t even heard of it? How very un-otaku can you get!? But it was probably just me, for as I later learned, the series was huge hit in Japan. I blame it on the fact that I tend to concentrate on anime more than I do on manga… I can’t believe I almost missed this!

The art is spectacular. It had me awestruck from start to finish. The detail and pencilwork is amazing, so you can only imagine how superb fight scenes were done. There’s only one thing, though–I have a hard time distinguishing his female characters from one another. Otherwise, everything else was perfect and beautifully two-dimensional.

The storylines and plot are commendable. Not really complex, but very interesting. Hiroaki Samura used some concepts which are similar to other sword-action anime/manga (it’s more or less inevitable anyway), but most of them are different and totally original. He used a powerful play of violence, harsh reality and emotional turbulence–and I should say it was a pretty effective mix. It may come off a bit too strong at first, but it does have that intriguing quality to it that makes it difficult to put down. It’s probably what makes Blade of the Immortal click.

All in all, I would have to say that this is one manga that should be included in every collection. In fact, it’s one of the best sword-action manga I have ever read (or even watched), and that is saying pretty much! Highly recommended to anyone looking for a unique and interesting read.

Individual Rating: Individual Rating: Art 10; Story 9; Characters 8

Genre: Shoujo / Drama
Parental Guidance Recommended
Credits: 1975-1979 Kyoko Mizuki and Yumiko Igarashi

Thundersenshi’s Description:
Once upon a time, there was a little orphan girl crying her heart out on a meadowy hill. It was during this time that she had met her prince–a handsome young boy who approached her, and told her gently to dry her tears and smile instead. The little girl never forgot that memory closest to her heart. Not even after several years later when she travels the path of self-discovery…believing that someday, she will meet her prince again and find true happiness once and for all.

This is the story of Candy White; her life, her loves and her sorrows.