So I haven't written one of these in ages (wait I haven't written here like I used to). Anyway, I've been picking up some manga titles on and off and uh. . . reviews! :D
Gate 7 - CLAMP
okay it's another CLAMP thing and honestly, the plot is. . . uh. Whatever really. I just read it since CLAMP and Sengoku. Yes. SENGOKU. \(*^*)/ Biased right there n'all but for those who like the modern interpretation of historical figures, this is a quite delicious treat. Considering how all those warlords are turned into pretty people (minus Date Masamune who's a punk shota. LOL)
The story is about Chikahito who pretty much winds up in Kyoto and meets Hana (gender unidentified) who battles spirits (oni) with the help of Sakura and Tachibana (two obviously ship-able CLAMP dudes guys who help Hana battle) and their quest to find the ultimate demon, the Dairoku Tenmaou that Oda Nobunaga owned. All the warlords are reincarnations of the historical figure. Really, I can care less about the plot at this point if I can see Sakura and Tachibana interact and whatever. It's sengoku!
Either way I'm rather curious in regards of where they are going and what kind of summons and such they have. It's definitely a type of manga you grow on the characters more so than the plot.
GANGSTA. - Kousuke
I actually found this manga from an artist I follow on pixiv actually. lol I liked his really dark, sketchy style and woe and behold he was the mangaka of GANGSTA. x_x; I really hate to say that his story and his style really reminds me of DOGS (bullets and carnage). His character designs don't really help tbh. >_>;; But it has that same kind of flow with the whole theme of sex, violence and drugs. It's a bit more down to earth with the lack of censorship, I guess? It definitely has a different kind of bad-ass flavor to it than DOGS tho.
It's a story about two guys Nicolas and Worick (sp?) who are like a Mr.do-it-all (Like a Yorozuya?) they just handle any kind of business from high-risk-low-return type jobs to neighborhood duties. I don't have much to say to this series yet since there's only like. . . 1 or 2 books out? I only read the first book and I would only buy this book only for the art and not for the story. This almost feels like a manga that an illustrator drew actually. Each panel looks like a separate illustration you can appreciate versus a panel used to tell a story.
Shoukoku no Altair - Katou Kotono
I LOVE the costume designs for this series SO MUCH. I've seen so many beautiful cosplays from this series and I picked the book up and I was quite surprised so many volumes were out yet there's like. . . no hype about it. I didn't even know of it until I saw a cosplay that got me curious.
So, I picked it up and all I can say is "HUH?!" The art is beautiful but, there's so many characters and I'm so overwhelmed and confused. Nothing really stuck to me. X_x; Maybe that's why it's hard for people to get into? The characters really don't leave an impression on you. Maybe because I read it in English and I can't really get into manga if I read it in English. X_x;; I'm trying to find the Japanese but, at the moment I can just enjoy the pretty pictures and just hope I'll understand what's going on.
Donten ni Warau - Karakara Kemuri
Easy to read story about 3 brothers, Tenka, Soramaru and Chuutarou who work as gate keeper/boat men in the impossible to escape prison in the middle of Lake Biwa in the Meiji Era. Each brother has a strong characteristic. Tenka is the oldest, strongest and a former dog of the military that everyone respects. Then there's Soramaru (who is the actual main chara of the story) who looks up to his older brother Tenka and would do crazy things to reach his brother. Chuutarou is the baby who is still oblivious of his duties in life but is probably the most loving. So, the three brothers have to deal with all sorts of villains who have to go to prison or trying to escape prison, etc. In addition to that, Soramaru is trying to avenge his parent's death as well.
The characters grow on you quickly since it really focuses on the three brothers. I also like the style of this artist too. She has a somewhat doujin-esque style yet it's very clean yet detailed.
Hoozuki no Reitetsu - Eguchi Natsumi
I JUST picked this manga up today. LOL I've seen some really beautiful fanarts from this series on pixiv and I was very curious what it was about. The main character is supposedly a super sadistic oni who is also the right hand of the lord of hell. He has a very dark sense of humor and despite his sadistic ways, he has respect from his subordinates and is quite reasonable too. I would have to say that this series is totally GAG and is HILARIOUS. . . only if you're a Japanese native tho. x_x; A lot of the jokes are taken off Japanese variety shows. I'm only on book 1 but, I'm laughing my brains out. X_x;; The Lord of Hell is so cute and is such a pushover by Hoozuki.
If you like Gintama, I will highly recommend this series. Hoozuki is like an extended version of Okita pretty much. Very charming imo. XD
ANYWAY! That's what I've been doing on my time off while I'm not drawing Utapuri doujin or cosplaying Utapuri or really doing anything BUT PLAYING THE GAME. ahahaha I have no patience for games btw. >_>;;