Lady Kanoko and Vampires
9c. 1 volume of The Secret Notes of Lady Kanoko (笑うかのこ様 - Laugh Lady Kanoko - Warau Kanoko sama).
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Written and illustrated by Ririko Tsujita
From Tokyopop
It’s high school meets nature documentary in this new shojo comedy! Kanoko Naedoko, a third-year student in junior high, doesn’t make friends and keeps to herself. Which is fine by her because then she can be the ideal “objective observer.” Steamy love triangles, school gossip and courtyard politics only mean more data for Lady Kanoko! But when she befriends some of her classmates, what will happen to Kanoko? Will she become more than just an observer?
Some points:
- I was reluctant to start collecting another new series, but I read many good reviews on this series so I started with lots of skepticism.
- I love Kanoko and her superior attitudes to hide her loniless. She's awesome.
- I really enjoy how she observed her classmates and considered them her lab objectscase studies.
- I love her devilish grins - see the cover page of chapter 1. She's great. I'm so glad the author keeps her in glasses and not gives her contact lenses so far. She has a librarian look :P
- I've reread the book more than 2 times so far.
- I hope this series does well so the sequel Koi dano Ai dano - 恋だの愛だの will be licensed, too.
- She's not interested in romance at all.
- Her first mistake was approaching Tsubaki :D
- I like Tsubaki. I was sad when Kanoko transfers to a new school in chapter 2, luckily, Tsubaki still sticks around same as the other 2.
- Hanai seems to be an air-head at the beginning, but she's so nice and has a good heart. I can't hate her.
- Let's not forget Natsukusa - Why did he blush on page 13? Was it because Kanoko caught him looking at her? I don't think he likes her in romantic sense.
- I can't wait for #2, especially look at how many bespectacled characters on the cover :P
- Speaking of cover, the one on the right was on rightstuff - I guess it was before the final was decided. I must say for this particular series, I prefer this cover over the current one since it's more whimsical. Don't get me wrong, the current one looks really nice but I like the green and red combo better. I wonder if Tokyopop will keep the old logo for the current on-going series or start to change to the newer one.
- She's so cute in the costume.
- The joke is on her, her friends observe her, too. What a great twist.
Bottom line, it's a keeper. Highly recommended.
10. 9 volumes of The Record of a Fallen Vampire (ヴァンパイア十字界, Vanpaia Jūji-Kai, Vampire Cross-World).
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Art by Yuri Kimura and Story by Kyo Shirodaira
From Viz
Thousands of years ago, Vampire King Akabara "Red Rose" Strauss lost both his kingdom and his queen. Since humans were unable to kill the queen, they sealed her away, erecting thousands of fake seals so that the king would never find her true location. Despite being pursued by relentless dhampires, Akabara continues to search for his queen to this day…
Vol 1: Akabara's quest takes a sinister turn when an entity called the Black Swan appears. The Black Swan inhabits the body of a young human girl every 50 years, giving her the power to destroy the Vampire King and his queen. With each incarnation the Black Swan grows stronger--will the 49th Black Swan mean the end of Akabara?
Vol 2: Akabara is heavily injured during his battle against Kayuki, the newest incarnation of the Black Swan. Kayuki remains shrouded in mystery--not only does she bear a striking resemblance to the previous Black Swan, but she also offers Akabara a temporary truce! Why does she need to keep the Vampire King alive?
Vol 3: Dhampire leader Bridget delivers a shocking revelation about Akabara and his queen, Adelheid! The mystery of Akabara's dark past continues to unwind, but can the truth Bridget divulges be trusted?
Vol 4: With aliens poised to take over Earth, Akabara forges a tentative alliance with the humans to help fight off the invasion. But can everyone on the team be trusted, especially since the Black Swan's ultimate mission is to kill Akabara?
Vol 5: More, much more, is revealed about the events of one thousand years ago, starting with the unusual circumstances of Bridget's birth and leading into the dark and deadly political struggles of that bygone era!
Vol 6: Recollections of the past come to an end just as the terrors of the present are unleashed! The survival of humans and dhampires alike depends on Strauss, but does he dare take action and thus reveal one of his most closely guarded secrets?
Vol 7: Long ago, Strauss tried to bring peace to his realm by exposing himself to sunlight, only to have that very sunlight betray him. Now, with his queen freed from her imprisonment, Strauss reveals that her far more bitter betrayal, the cause of his thousand-year quest for revenge, was never what it seemed!
Vol 8: Despite a solemn promise never to do so, Adelheid decides she must reveal who really killed Stella. The revelation is a shock, but not to Strauss, who found out long ago not only who the murderer was but what had prompted such a heinous act. But can any of this really matter with Earth facing an imminent alien invasion?
Vol 9: Now that she knows the truth about Stella and the Black Swan, Kayuki is faced with a fateful decision concerning the conflict between her and Strauss. Strauss and Adelheid, meanwhile, prepare to deal with the looming alien invasion, knowing that the future of vampires, dhampires and humans depends on overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds!
Some points:
- Borrowed from ILL.
- I'm curious since it was written by the author of Spiral - Bonds of Reasoning.
- It's interesting how the editor got the author to write a vampire story - I like reading anecdote like that.
- I had guessed Leticia was Black Swan 50th - luckily I was wrong.
- The story is ok so far, I'll keep reading since I had borrowed all 9 volumes.
- I was on the fence about this series after finishing volume #2.
- Things start to get more and more interesting starting volume 3. And so far volumes 6 and 7 are my favorite. I haven't read the last 2 yet. I like how the story was told different character's version of the past.
- I like this series a lot. Its take on vampires are interesting - not blood-thirsty and all that.
- I'm thinking of collecting it - only 9 volumes and completed.
- Vol 8 and 9 are very emotional. Kayuki was presented with a problem kill or to be killed.
- There is no vilains, just necessary evil. I guess because Saberhagen doesn't trust Strauss. Strauss would be a character one loves to hate, but he was presented in such a way that when all his suffering explained, one just sympathizes with him.
- The way Strauss said goodbye to every one is so gentle and nice and it could seem dragging on or repetition, but it works for him somehow.
- Everyone was dealt such bad cards.
- I should have guessed how the end was going to be based on the title!
- The meeting between Strauss and Stella is so sweet.
- The 3 last volumes are my favorite of the series.
- I enjoy reading both the artist's and the author's notes at the end of each volume. I wonder why there wasn't any column like other manga. The author also explained why he did certain things and why he didn't let vampires in his story sucks blood :) - that was very interesting.
Bottom line, what a great series, even though I don't get vampires :)
- Continuing series: Manga
- Otomen 9
- Kimi ni Todoke 7
- Portrait of M & N 2
- rambling:
- I stopped by Kinokuniya yesterday and picked up the rest of Stolen Hearts 3-6, Honey Bitter 5-6 - this is a sojei by the author of Kodocha, and Junai Labyrinth 1-3 by the author of Zig*Zag. I have looked at 2 volumes of Honey Bitter. It looks like the story isn't ended yet. I haven't had time to look at the others.
- 2 short new surprisingly good series for me so far is Lady Kanoko (I'm thinking of picking up the sequel in Japanese, because I'm obsessed!) and Eensy Weensy Monster (I'm thinking of rereading Kare Kano.)
- Appropriate user pix for a vampire series ;)