Blue Flag:Volume 1 by KAITO
4 stars
I am a sucker for these kinds of stories. Blue Flag follows Taichi who is a pretty normal guy who really has nothing going for him. There is a girl in his class named Futaba who is a bumbling mess. When he helps her one day in the library, he discovers that she is trying to gain her crush's attention. Her crush is a the cutest boy in school, Toma, who also happens to be a childhood friend of Taichi. Taichi ends up helping Futaba and a later character is introduced and a love quadrangle ensues. I am here for this manga. This is the trash I survived off of and live for. It reminded of Hot Gimmick, but not as dramatic. This one is just really cute and it has the usual tropes that make me roll my eyes, but also keep me reading. I am totally here for Blue Flag and I will be continuing this manga series. Volume 1 was a good time and I'm curious to see where the drama goes. I like all the characters and they make the story entertaining. The art work is the type of lines that I prefer and it fits the tone of the story. I definitely recommend this one!
Whimsical Writing Scale: 4
Character Scale: 3.5
Plotastic Scale: 4.5
Art Scale: 4
Cover Thoughts: I am obsessed with this cover. It's stunning.
Thank you, Netgalley and Viz Media, for providing me with a copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars
I am a sucker for these kinds of stories. Blue Flag follows Taichi who is a pretty normal guy who really has nothing going for him. There is a girl in his class named Futaba who is a bumbling mess. When he helps her one day in the library, he discovers that she is trying to gain her crush's attention. Her crush is a the cutest boy in school, Toma, who also happens to be a childhood friend of Taichi. Taichi ends up helping Futaba and a later character is introduced and a love quadrangle ensues. I am here for this manga. This is the trash I survived off of and live for. It reminded of Hot Gimmick, but not as dramatic. This one is just really cute and it has the usual tropes that make me roll my eyes, but also keep me reading. I am totally here for Blue Flag and I will be continuing this manga series. Volume 1 was a good time and I'm curious to see where the drama goes. I like all the characters and they make the story entertaining. The art work is the type of lines that I prefer and it fits the tone of the story. I definitely recommend this one!
Whimsical Writing Scale: 4
Character Scale: 3.5
Plotastic Scale: 4.5
Art Scale: 4
Cover Thoughts: I am obsessed with this cover. It's stunning.
Thank you, Netgalley and Viz Media, for providing me with a copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review.
Beauty and the Beast by Jessica Gunderson
3 stars
Hi, I'm Sarah and I'm trash for Beauty and the Beast retellings. Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite stories and is easily one of my favorite fairy tale to see adapted. This was a fun little surprise that is perfect for young children! I'm also excited to see a family of color portrayed in a Beauty and the Beast retelling. This is an introduction to graphic novels for young children and since we are all quarantined this is perfect for families with little ones. There is discussion questions as well as a rose creation activity. Also, if you want to introduce your kids to fairy tales that aren't the Disney adaptation. I really thought this one was cute. It isn't really for my target audience because I'm not mom and I teach high school students, but I see so much potential with young readers, so I highly recommend it. P.S. The sisters names are Gritty and Petty. If that doesn't make you want this, then I don't know what will.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 2
Character Scale: 3
Plotastic Scale: 3
Art Scale: 4
Cover Thoughts: It gives a good idea of the illustrations.
Thank you, Netgalley and Picture Window Books, for providing me with a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars
Hi, I'm Sarah and I'm trash for Beauty and the Beast retellings. Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite stories and is easily one of my favorite fairy tale to see adapted. This was a fun little surprise that is perfect for young children! I'm also excited to see a family of color portrayed in a Beauty and the Beast retelling. This is an introduction to graphic novels for young children and since we are all quarantined this is perfect for families with little ones. There is discussion questions as well as a rose creation activity. Also, if you want to introduce your kids to fairy tales that aren't the Disney adaptation. I really thought this one was cute. It isn't really for my target audience because I'm not mom and I teach high school students, but I see so much potential with young readers, so I highly recommend it. P.S. The sisters names are Gritty and Petty. If that doesn't make you want this, then I don't know what will.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 2
Character Scale: 3
Plotastic Scale: 3
Art Scale: 4
Cover Thoughts: It gives a good idea of the illustrations.
Thank you, Netgalley and Picture Window Books, for providing me with a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
Hell's Paradise Volume 1:Jigokuraku by Yuji Kaku
1 star
This should've been right up my alley. I am conflicted. Is horror manga not for me? I doubt it because I love Attack on Titan and Death Note, but this was not it. I wanted to love this, but I low-key kind of despised it. The concept has promise. We follow a man who is known as The Hollow and is about to be executed. Every execution attempt does not work and the woman interviewing him reveals why. He still wants to live even though he claims otherwise and he is being given the opportunity to be pardoned of his crimes if he travels to an island that is supposed to be Paradise. However, every time they send people out for expeditions they don't come back. Or if they do they aren't humans anymore, but flowers. Interesting premise, but I didn't care for the art style and it didn't work for me. Maybe I would prefer the anime, but even then I don't think so because the plot did not interest me and I could care less. I am sad. This could've been really good, but I think the storyline is what killed it for me. Also, what's up the random sexualized drawings of woman's boobs and butts. Why were they randomly naked in title sequences? What purpose did this serve, but to continue to perpetuate my issues with the sexualization of women in comics and graphic novels? It made NO SENSE and it had nothing to do with the plot or storyline. I am confused. Anyway, this was a flop and I don't even care if he ever gets back to his wife nor what is really going on the island. I am unbothered and sad because I was supposed to like this one.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 1
Character Scale: 1
Plotastic Scale: 1
Art Scale: 1
Cover Thoughts: The colors are beautiful. I love the cover, but it's the only art in this whole 200 page manga that I cared about.
Thank you, Netgalley and Viz Media, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
1 star
This should've been right up my alley. I am conflicted. Is horror manga not for me? I doubt it because I love Attack on Titan and Death Note, but this was not it. I wanted to love this, but I low-key kind of despised it. The concept has promise. We follow a man who is known as The Hollow and is about to be executed. Every execution attempt does not work and the woman interviewing him reveals why. He still wants to live even though he claims otherwise and he is being given the opportunity to be pardoned of his crimes if he travels to an island that is supposed to be Paradise. However, every time they send people out for expeditions they don't come back. Or if they do they aren't humans anymore, but flowers. Interesting premise, but I didn't care for the art style and it didn't work for me. Maybe I would prefer the anime, but even then I don't think so because the plot did not interest me and I could care less. I am sad. This could've been really good, but I think the storyline is what killed it for me. Also, what's up the random sexualized drawings of woman's boobs and butts. Why were they randomly naked in title sequences? What purpose did this serve, but to continue to perpetuate my issues with the sexualization of women in comics and graphic novels? It made NO SENSE and it had nothing to do with the plot or storyline. I am confused. Anyway, this was a flop and I don't even care if he ever gets back to his wife nor what is really going on the island. I am unbothered and sad because I was supposed to like this one.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 1
Character Scale: 1
Plotastic Scale: 1
Art Scale: 1
Cover Thoughts: The colors are beautiful. I love the cover, but it's the only art in this whole 200 page manga that I cared about.
Thank you, Netgalley and Viz Media, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Do you plan on checking any of these out? What is some horror manga that I may like? Let me know down below in the comments!
