Dec-Jan Manga Roundup

Welcome to a new feature here on the blog.  Since I noticed how much manga I was reading, and how  they were becoming increasingly hard to review, I thought I would change how I did these reviews.  You'll either be seeing them monthly or bi-monthly, depending on how much I read, and they will consist of several short reviews for the books I finish in that time.  I will be reviewing these books as I read them, so they will be more of reactions than proper reviews.

Noragami Volumes 7 & 8

written by Adachitoka

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

As always, this series continues to entertain.  I will say, these two volumes aren't the most serious that I've read.  Seven is a fall-out, I guess you would say, to the events of the previous few volumes.  It has a bit more comic relief, since the first two chapters have a certain god possessing a certain school girl.  Volume eight is a set-up to something serious right around the corner.  And, for the first time, we're really taken into Yato's head and we get to see why he is the way he is.  Slowly, I believe, his history will be peeled away for us, and I am unbelievable excited.  Also, Ebisu, not as much of an ass-hole as I once assumed he would be.  Actually kind of decent, just really boring and lucky.

Blue Exorcist Volumes 1 & 2

written by Kazue Kato

Rating: 3.5 & 5 Stars

Like with Noragami, when I first started reading it, I had already seen the anime and fallen in love.  So the first volume just couldn't live up to how amazing the show was.  Also, like with Noragami, by the time I got to volume two, I had found my groove and fallen in love with it again.  This series lives up to the show, so far, and has me giddy to read it.  Nothing new from these volumes, since I already knew what happened, but I loved reliving them at a different pace.  It seems to go quicker in the manga, so I'll soon be surpassing where the show left it, something I'm very excited for.

Noragami Volume 9

written by Adachitoka

Rating: 5 Stars

This one was just absolute heartbreak.  Does that surprise anyone?  Mostly, the heartbreak comes from Ebisu, who is a beautiful character and I didn't see it sooner but if I ever reread this series I will not take advantage of him like I once did.  The story is really Yato heavy, which is a shift since it's normally narrated more by Hiyori, and while I didn't dislike Yato telling the story, it was a jarring shift for sure.  A few surprises in this one, though nothing mind-blowing, just a sort of "something big is coming" feeling.

Noragami: Stray Stories

written by Adachitoka

Rating: 5 Stars

Okay, so the stories aren't super important to anything, since they're little bonus', but they're a bunch of fun and I haven't actually laughed this hard in ages.  It was particularly pleasing since I was reading it when I was feeling down on life.  If you read Noragami you will want to pick this one up, I promise.

QQ Sweeper Vol. 1

written by Kyousuke Motomi

Rating: 3.5 Stars

I picked this one up on a whim and found that I rather enjoyed it!  The pacing was strange- really, really quick when I wanted development- and the characterizations were a little off.  Honestly, I think it was just a case of lost in translation most of the time, which is a shame.  The general idea of the series is really cute, even though I absolutely hate cleaning and could never do their job.

Pandora Hearts Vol. 1

written by Jun Mochiuki

Rating: 5 Stars

Guy, guys, guys, GUYS, GUYS, GUUUUUUYYYYYSSSSS!!!!  This book was so good!!!!

Okay, so that was me spazzing out because, indeed, this manga is fantastic.  I love the art, I love the story, and I love the characters.  I'm fairly certain this series will end up breaking my heart at some point soon, but I'm ready for it.  Bring on the pain!  (But also, please don't kill everyone like I'm afraid, please...)

5 Star Manga Review: Noragami (Vol. 5 & 6)

Author| Adachitoka  Artist| Adachitoka  Rating| 5 Stars

Edition| Paperback

Related Reviews| Volumes 1 & 2 | Volumes 3 & 4
Buy Links| Book Depository/Barnes and Noble/Amazon

Do I really need to explain why I love this series?

5 Star Manga Review: Noragami (Vol. 3 & 4)

Author| Adachitoka  Artist| Adachitoka  Rating| 5 Stars

Edition| Paperback

Related Reviews| Volumes 1 & 2

Buy Links| Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Book Depository

Manga and Anime Review: Noragami

Author| Adachitoka
Edition| American Paperbacks
Publisher| Kodansha Comics
Genre| Mythology
Rating| Overall 4.25 stars (5 stars anime; 4 stars for first two manga volumes)

So, where to begin with this series?  I feel like there's so much I could talk about, and I plan to, so stay with me.

Noragami is about the god Yato, who's a bit down on his luck since he doesn't have even one believer.  But he makes do, advertising everywhere and charging five yen for his service.  The thing about gods is that they're not something regular people see.  But then Hiyori, a regular girl, sees him and "saves" him from being hit by a truck.  Instead, she's hit, and the even knocks her halfway to the grave, tethered to reality and life by a "tail".  She gets Yato to promise he'll help her, but he's lazy and looking for a friend, so he takes his time and she pals around.

Anime Review
I came across the anime by accident.  It's on Netflix, and it's amazing!  The story had me before the first episode was over.  Each character that was introduced had me in love, and the story continued to build naturally.  Noragami single handidly brought me into the world of anime full-heartedly.  When I saw that the manga was being adapted into English, I heartily jumped at the chance and ordered the first two volumes.

Dub vs Sub thoughts
Let me digress for a moment.  Recently the trailer for the anime with English dubs was released.  I couldn't stand it.  The voices were all wrong and nothing matched up.  I've seen anime in the past and have been fine with it before.  However, Noragami showed me what I was missing.  There's something so much better in listening to the characters speak in Japanese.  I thought maybe this preference came from the fact that I watched Noragami in Japanese first, reading the English subs.  But then I gave another show a try, with dubs instead of subs.  Still couldn't stand it.  I can, from this day, no longer watch dubs unless I have to.

Manga Review
I've read the first two volumes of the series so far and I enjoy it.  So far it hasn't strayed from the story laid out in the anime.  However, it expands on the universe and the mythology a great deal, and also adds important character development that was missed in the show.  I liked these things about it, but I'm glad I saw the show before I read the books because then I didn't feel like I was missing anything.

What didn't I like?  The manga moves much slower than the anime.  I suppose this makes sense, but I feel like it stays focused on minor things for a little too long.  I also didn't get as strong personality out of some of the characters.  Kofuku, for example, was a little flat on the page whereas she pops on the screen.

Neither the story nor the art are bad.  In fact, art wise, it's probably my favorite manga style I've seen.  I feel like the fact that the story is slower gives it, and me, more time to breathe.  And, hopefully, will allow it to develop the relationship between Yato and Hiyori more.  In the anime, what feels like it could be a romance is rather cut off and short.

So would I recommend it?  Certainly!  Particularly if you're new to manga/anime.  It's not a long series so you won't feel swamped by its size, and the anime is readily accessible.