Standalone, Nana, and Fushigi Yugi
93b. Deja Vu - Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter (데자부).
wiki
Manga updates
Written and illustrated by many Korean authors
from amazon Product description
Unfulfilled love always ends tragically or does it? Through different seasons and different eras in time, two lovers cross paths again and again, trying for that one chance to get it right. Different lives, at different points in history, but one thing remains constantâ€"their love for each other. Spanning the beginning of history, WWII-era Japan, modern-day America, and the far distant future, these love stories remind us that love truly has no boundaries.
Some points:
- These short stories are interesting read. Some are quite sad.
- The fifth story is a bit on the creepy side.
Bottom line, this is the first manhwa that I like and will reread. The drawing is more manga-style - less flowery that the other 2 that I've read.
93c. Times x two （かけるに - ×２）.
wiki
Manga updates
Written and illustrated by Shouko Akira
from Viz Media website:
Love at First Touch: Love is in the air at Field Day, and Eri can't figure out what draws her to Kohei!
Expiration Date 2001: Miwa's secret crush Kenta gives her a soda, and she decides that the date on the bottom of the can must be symbolic. Could this love taste sweet , or will it go sour?
Second Impression: When delinquent Naoki tuns out to be an attentive gardener, will he and Haruka sow the seeds of romance together?
Frequency: What happens when rascally loudmouth Kaori gains the ability to tune in to the private thoughts of model student Morihiro?
Baby Universe: Can Kengo convince Saki that she's not too grown up to recapture the innocent excitement they felt while searching the sky for UFOs as kids?
Some points:
- This is a collection of short stories by the mangaka of Monkey High.
- They are cute to read.
Bottom line, I like it.
94. 2 volumes of NANA (ナナ, Nana).
wiki
Manga updates
Written and illustrated by Yazawa Ai
from Viz Media website:
Vol 1: Nana Komatsu is a young woman who's endured an unending string of boyfriend problems. Moving to Tokyo, she's hoping to take control of her life and put all those messy misadventures behind her. She's looking for love and she's hoping to find it in the big city.
Nana Osaki, on the other hand, is cool, confident and focused. She swaggers into town and proceeds to kick down the doors to Tokyo's underground punk scene. She's got a dream and won't give up until she becomes Japan's No. 1 rock'n'roll superstar.
This is the story of two 20-year-old women who share the same name. Even though they come from completely different backgrounds, they somehow meet and become best friends. The world of Nana is a world exploding with sex, music, fashion, gossip and all-night parties.
Vol 2: Anxious to get into a Tokyo groove, both women are on the prowl for a funky and cheap place to live. But inexpensive apartments in Japan's capital city are hard to find. Thank goodness each Nana has a clique of cool friends willing to help out. Too bad these friends are a little wiggy!
Some points:
- I've read many rave reviews on this series but I'm reluctant to try because "mature" label and the blurbs (the most recent review on this is by mbeasi here - which also links to other reviews). I got *burnt* by Sensual Phase (eta: since then, I avoided all titles by Mayu Shinjo and want to avoid another mistake. Anyway, I've seen NANA at the local public library many times but chose other ones instead. But this time, I decided to give it a chance - it's only 2 volumes.
- I must say that I like it. Surprisingly with all the mistakes Nana K. (Hachi) has been making, she isn't annoying as I had expected. I'm not sure why.
- Nana O. seems to be strong on the outside but has a hidden vulnerable.
I was so disappointed in Shoji Endo - I wish he didn't cheated on her. I kind of see it's coming since they were a couple by the end of book 1 and there are 10+ volumes to go.
- It's fun to see Hachi (Miwako - from Paradise Kiss look-alike) becomes a main character, and Junko (Yukari look-alike) is a supporting cast :)
Bottom line, I'm glad I give it a chance - and probably will get the books eventually - when it gets to almost complete since reading 3 or 4 volumes at a time is more satisfying.
95. 6 volumes of Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden (ふしぎ遊戲 玄武開伝, Fushigi Yūgi - Genbu Kaiden).
wiki
Manga updates
Written and illustrated by Yuu Watase
from Viz Media website:
Vol 1: In her first encounter, she meets the mysterious outlaw Limdo,a Celestial Warrior with a tattoo of the Chinese character for "woman" on his chest. Limdo can not only summon the wind as one of his special powers, but he can also tranform into a woman!
Takiko meets up with the bowman, Chamka, who is hunting Limdo. It seems Chamka is one of the seven Celestial Warriors as well...
Vol 2: During their journey Chamka and Takiko come upon a burning house. Chamka tries to save a young girl's life and demonstrates his special power: to freeze things in ice! The effort weakens Chamka however, and he must stay in the village to recuperate. The girl's family offers shelter, but her father sells Chamka out to the bandits who are hunting him. That's when Limdo reenters the picture...
Vol 3: Takiko has found three Celestial Warriors, but four remain hidden. While she and her friends journey to the Oracle Anlu, who may have the power to locate the remaining warriors, Limdo travels undercover with the army of Qu-dong. At Turning Point Rockfield, their destinies will intertwine again...and Takiko will learn that her quest is more difficult than she imagined. If she's already located three of the seven warriors, why does the Oracle claim there are five still to be found?
Vol 4: Takiko now knows where to find the remaining Celestial Warriors, but, with spies around every corner and the army of Qu-Dong on her trail, she may not survive the journey. When Tomite accidentally lets slip that Takiko is the Priestess of Genbu, she's kidnapped by villagers in order to be sacrificed to a dragon! And in a confrontation with the Celestial Warrior Hikitsu, Hikitsu's power over water may be more than the other Celestial Warriors can handle...and those who gaze into his eyes see more truth than they can bear!
Vol 5: In the midst of a heated battle, Takiko is transported back to her own world. There, all the problems she escaped through her father's book are waiting for her: her mother's funeral, her father's disapproval, and her reunion with Mr. Ohsugi, her first love. But with the wisdom and strength she's found as the Priestess of Genbu, Takiko knows what she has to do. And when she discovers that the wishes of the Priestess really do have power in her world, she realizes that she must find a way to return to the Universe of the Four Gods!
Vol 6: Takiko has found another Celestial Warrior--in a house of ill repute! But the proud, bitter Inami has no interest in following the priestess, and she intends to test Takiko's mettle in a duel. Can Takiko's skill with the naginata withstand a full Celestial attack? And when a dark force engulfs the women of the brothel, can Takiko and Inami join forces to save them?
Then Yuu Watase presents a special side story set in the world of her hit series Ceres: Celestial Legend!
Some points:
- Finally, I got to this one which has sat on the to-be-read pile since last year and because book 7 is here (if only Rightstuf shipped it already!).
- I like Takiko much better than Miaka. The only thing I can remember regarding Miaka from the other series is her constant of calling for "Tamahome." Takiko seems to be more independent and isn't getting into trouble every 5 minutes. However reading this makes me want to reread Fushigi Yugi and other series of hers (except Absolute Boyfriend - that series was a let down!)
- The mangaka said Limdo (cat) and Tamahome (dog) probably wouldn't get along - which I thought funny
- There will be a long wait until #8.
Bottom line, another series for me to collect - I like this one better than Fushigi Yugi - so far - I hope it doesn't take a nose-dive at the ending. I wonder if she'll write about the 4th priestess.