Reviews (1)

Awesome- A girl who is not a wimp
A girl who can kick butt and really really hot guys in the manga. If you want the opposite of the wimpy girls, this is the one for you. You'll love the main girl and her battles with guys and her frizzapalooza. ... Read more

Book Description

Kagome has returned to her home in modern Japan. Grampa has closed the well and shielded it with spells and scrolls, but Inu-Yasha manages to break through. Kagome and Inu-Yasha return to the other world to fight Yura in a devastating battle. While Inu-Yasha is haunted by his past and the memory of his human mother, Sesshomaru, his full-demon half brother, appears and stages a brutal attack. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pointless, but fun!
This is almost a word-for-word transfer of the English dub script onto paper, accompanied by screen shots. It covers the first three episodes of the TV show. If this sounds good to you, pick it up right now, 'cause you won't be disappointed!

I adore the show, and the dub too usually, and totally didn't mind forking over $10 for some great quality pictures and a bit of a guide to the dub script. (Plus, the incomplete sentences in episode 1 come out a *lot* better on paper.) However, a choice few lines and scenes were cut, redone (often to follow the subtitles), or shortened (my favorite part of the episode 2 dub, where Inuyasha says something like, "maybe you haven't noticed, but the world's full of monsters. You want I should go after them all?" was rephrased in here to be "you want me to" instead of "you want I should", which I had happened to think was about the funniest thing ever ^_^), so it isn't a dead-on guide, but if this really upsets you, I suggest you seek professional help.

Other fans might be angered about how the manga was flipped by Viz to read the Western way but this book is printed in Japanese style for pretty much no reason (since the dub was pretty Americanized anyway), but, I don't really care, and I don't recommend that you do either. (Oh god, they put Koga's jewel shard in HIS OTHER ARM!! THE TRAVESTY!!!) Both the manga and the show aren't meant to be taken that seriously. The creator has a great sense of humor. Just enjoy it!

This Is Big
Theres two main forms of Inuyasha. The anime form, and the manga form. With this new, 'Animanga', it actully takes screenshots from the show, and uses them instead of the original drawings. This has many pros and cons.
Pros

1.its more suitable for those younger, and those who are lightheaded against nudity and blood

2.its quite creative and can be alot of fun

3.for those who prefer it in color, this animanga is bursting with beautiful and high quality colorings and images

cons

1.the best thing about having a original and a anime of a series, is that you get to read the original, and see how much it really changed when they put it into the animeform, but with this, you dont have that, there the exact same

2.though its creative, it has a few flaws, it sometimes might not be clear because of lack of the correct screenshots

3.im surprised to see viz doing this now when they should be translating the original manga, which only has gotten to vol 16

so, its mixed. Me, i didnt buy it, you? Sure. Why not. Its a neat idea, and it doesnt lack in creativity. But pay attention to that flaw list, make sure that you dont mind the flaws before you buy it, because I did.

hold on you will fall in too
this is the best imaginative cartoon yet I have always been an artist and have done some work for one hit wonders who could only get you captured once but with this series I sit waiting for the next it doesnt drag on it keeps you guessing the characters are fun and the book is just like the series only better because their is more partial nudity I love it you must have this book before any other because without the beginnng you never will understand their passion ... Read more

Book Description

In the eight decades that have passed since prolific pulp writer Robert E. Howard created his seminal Sword and Sorcery adventurer, Conan, many other scribes have tried to recreate the passion and energy Howard infused into his stories. Few have come as close as comics writer Roy Thomas did during his long and influential run on Marvel's monthly Conan the Barbarian series back in the 1970s. Collaborating with the most acclaimed and talented artists of the time, Thomas wove a narrative tapestry of action, intrigue, and heroism that's as powerful today as it was when it was published nearly 30 years ago. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

good, but I'm so in the dark!
Argh, this always happens. I never end up with the first book in a manga series, it's always something far into it. You wouldn't think that book 4 would be all that far into a series, but, from the way that the characters talk about things in the end, I think it might be the last book in the series. Lovely colored "story thus far" section at the beginning of the book is beautiful, but only marginally helpful. I had to try to learn things as I read, although I'm hoping to get my hands on the other three books soon. The artwork throughout the manga is gorgeous, and I would love to find out more about the demon characters in this book, so that I could finally figure out why their relationships with some of the angel characters happens to be so good. Although this book seems to be more about the relationships between the characters than humor, I really enjoyed some of the humorous parts as well.

Tears of Kohaku
For All those Manga fans like myself who has been waiting to get to the end of the series, this is truly a beutiful ending.

A Beautiful Love Story and Manga art
Wish by Clamp is probably one of the BEST mangas I have ever read. The story is about an angel falling in love with a human. She did not realize her love for him til it's too late and she was willing to wait for him for 100 years.
This love story is endearing, it will tug your heart strings. I almost cried at the end of the story.

The manga art in this book is absolutely beautiful and fantastic.CLAMP has the ability to draw each character superbly, the angels look ethereal and their personality shows through the drawings. The devils are incredibly dark, enigmatig and have this bad boy streak that you want to love. CLAMP is deffinitely in my favorite manga author list!!! After Wish and Chobbits I am absolutely in love with Clamp's work.

I thorougly enjoy and love this book, I would recommend it for any first time shoujo manga readers.

Sob! What a sad and semi-romantic ending! Tissues please!
Here's the saddest volume. Kohaku, desperate to see her lover, 28 year old doctor Suichuro (or something like that)is forbidden by the lord of Heaven, G@d. Kohaku has to give up her powers to see him, so now, in her permanent energy-saving mode, she heads off to Suichuro's house, where a few seconds later, he DIES! Just like that, Kokuyo realizes who has been covering up the fact he was to die young-G@d. Kohaku is given a choice- to sleep for 100 years until Suichuro is reborn, and desperate, she agrees. So after 100 years asleep, she is reborn to find Suichuro at his old house, waiting for her. This is the mushy dialouge:
Kohaku: "I never did grant you a wish. Do you have one?"
Suichuro: "Didn't you wait 100 years for me to be reborn?"
Kohaku: "Yeah..."
Suichuro: "Then you already granted me a wish."
SOB! WHAT A SAD AND ROMANTIC ENDING! IF YOU ORDER THIS COMIC BOOK THEN YOU'LL NEED TO ORDER TISSUES TOO BECAUSE YOU'LL BE CRYING EVERYTIME YOU READ IT! SOB! SOB!

A little disappointing.
When I picked up the first book, I went nuts over Wish. I bought the books as soon as I could. Unfortunatly, the series had one flaw: the ending. Let's just say I was crying, and then I got really mad. The ending could've better, though it did tie up a lot of loose ends. Great story, bad ending. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

First of all Mana is a guy.
Madame Batolli does look like him though. Under the Glass Moon is a wonderful manga. It's one of teh most funniest ones I've read. I love the illustrations. The plot is great too.

One of the Best
Under the Glass Moon has definately won my interest and has kept me off the edge of my seat while reading. It's story is not dry, it presents both romance and action, and the artwork is incredibly well-developed. I myself am Korean, and I have witnessed lots of great Korean manhwa, but this certainly has beaten the others when it comes to story development.

The characters all seem to interact with one another quite well, and they all come with their own unique personalities, which makes them each likeable. Personally, I simply adore Luel, the shy and quiet Alchemist who is the younger brother of Dark Wizard Luka, the greatest dark magic user of the 21st century. He first appears to be the simple type, but later on I saw how he presents himself as a character and that had me attached to him, however, all the other characters are just as great as well.

If you want to learn more of the story itself, I strongly suggest that you purchase this book, it'll change your life and your taste in manga FOREVER!!

Very, very silly.
This is a very silly book. The art is ok, the plot is thin, the characters are irrational. There were a couple places I liked but all in all there's better Manga out there. And usually I like this sort of book... sigh.... Check out The Demon Ororon instead. Really. This one was a quick way to kill an hour, and that's about all.

Hilariously entertaining and EGL ^_^
If you're a fan of EGL (elegant gothic lolita) fashion or jrock music you will probably enjoy this a lot. The story revolves around magicians that are mostly hot sexy guys with a neighbour that looks like Mana and her cute but bratty daughter.

At times, this got quite wacky so aside from reading the bubbles be sure to take a closer look to the amazing drawings. Hee hee I actually laughed out loud *lol* because the story is really funny. There is actually a story but since it's the first volume, you mainly get introduced to the main characters and a new boy *very cute* that possesses many gifts. Not much is given about him but obviously it will be revealed later on the next volume *hopefully* ^_^

Totally for the gothloli's ^^
Awesome. Manga.

The end.

Beautiful illustrations, wonderful storyline - a *must-have* manga for JRock fans and gothic lolitas.

Buy buy buy! ... Read more

Book Description

For Tanpopo Yamazaki, life at the elitist Meiô Academy seems way out of her league. The daughters of wealthy families snub her; other students make light of the fact that she actually tested into Meiô instead of relying on family connections, and the cute boy she saw tending a dandelion the day before wouldn't even acknowledge her existence.Hoping to make friends and have some fun, Tanpopo starts up a gardening committee, but will this help her survive in a school where superficiality and nepotism reign supreme? IMA DOKI follows the trials and tribulations of a budding horticulturist as she makes her way down the winding road to friendship. From Yû Watase, one of Japan's most beloved shôjo artists, IMA DOKI packs comedic charm and heartfelt antics into an adorable bouquet of whimsical fantasy. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Imadoki!!!
When i first saw the cover of this book, I quickly realized the art was Yuu Watase's *_*. She has written many manga, like: Fushigi Yugi, Ceres: Celestial Legend (which I still don't get :p), and Alice 19th, but her newest work, Imadoki, (I have to say) is the best one! ^_^<br /> I personaly LOVE manga about girls with magical powers, alternant demensions, and end-of-the-world consencvenses (Forgive my spelling! ^_^') but sometimes it's nice to relax with some original, normal high-school life stories, and this manga doesn't disappoint!*sigh* <br /> I am SOOOOOOOOOOO glad I bought it ^___^!!!! I'm going back for Vol. 2!!!! The art has cute girls, some best drawn boys I've ever seen, a great original story that grabs you, and the over all book is just GREAT!!!! You won't be sorry! ^_~

Change is scary...but sometimes it's good!
All right, I will admit this: I bought Imadoki because of the manga-ka's name on the front: Yu Watase. Watase-san has never disappointed me, and I have read all of her works that have been translated into English up to this date. (July 2004). However, I was a little surprised when I started to read. No fantasy world? No magical powers? No "ultimate destiny" like the ones faced by Miaka, Aya, and Alice? This is definitely different than Watase-san's other works. I'm not going to give you a plot summary, that's what the little Amazon review thingy is for up above. But, I will tell you this: Yes, this book is not like Watase-san's other works. Heroes and villians aren't exactly defined, the world isn't in danger, and golly, there are an awful lot of flowers.

However, the elements that Watase uses to tell her story are still the same ones she uses in Fushigi Yugi, Ceres, Alice...she gives us a protagonist (female, of course!) that is struggling with something other girls in the world can relate to. Only this time around, the girl isn't thrust into this sudden alternate universe to help her solve her problems and realize her self-worth; this heroine does it on her own turf, with her own hands. There are the beautiful drawings and the handsome bishonen ^_^, and the fact that Watase-san puts a new spin on a pretty-much used up misunderstood-girl plot.

If you are a Watase-san fan, then I don't hesitate to recommend this to you, although if you are going to be disappointed by a lack of fantasy genre and short length (this series is only 5 books long), you might consider picking it up at another time. If you are a shoujo manga fan in general, then this title won't disappoint. It has enough cuteness, and you might be turned on to Watase's other titles. Personally, I loved it!

A disappointment compared to Watase's previous novels...
I've read (and own) all of Watase's translated novels that are currently out (July 2004) and I must say that reading Imadoki is definitly a disappointment compared to Watase's other novels. All Watase's other novels captured me within the first novel and sent me begging for more because of the creative storylines, universal themes, and believible characters, but Imadoki lacks all of these along with a missing major conflict. First off, Tanpopo (protagonist of Imadoki)is flat with a positive, naive attitude which misses the realism of negative features in her personality . Another negative feature of the protagonist's bubbly attitude is that it provides no REAL conflict in the novel. The supposed conflict is of Tanpopo's struggle to make friends in her new school where everyone's a snob. But there really is no conflict because the protagonist is so naive she doesn't realise her conflict and makes friends anyway. Because there isn't a struggle in the novel so far, there's no hook that captures the reader and leaves them wanting more.

Another great setback of this novel is that it's not a fantasy like Watase's other works so the plot (there's a plot?) is further bored down.

If you haven't read an Yu Watase novels yet, I recommend Alice 19th, Ceres, or Fushigi Yugi instead of Imadoki. These are all captivating (even though all have a love triangle in them which is so obvious you can tell who the heroine ends up with without a brain) :P.

Wonderful Story
Imadoki has become one of my all time favorite graphic novels. Along with the beautiful art of Yuu Watase we are led into a fantastic world of rich kids where money and family background means everything. For the honest and bubbly Tanpopo, this is a great chance to make new friends. Unfortunately she is met with many troubles along the way as she slowly breaks down the stoic barriers of several very quirky students. Together their experiences lead them into what true friendship is in days like this, allowing them to put aside their bizarre differences and create lasting friendships. I'm especially fond of the theme of flowers that ties this whole story together. The main characters name, Tanpopo, translates as Dandelion, and she uses the love of flowers and act of caring for them to help her make her own friends. It's beautiful to see how her and her friends all blossom together. ^^ ... Read more

Book Description

Jealous of Alice and Kyô's relationship, Mayura invokes the evil power of the Maram Words. Sibling rivalry reaches new heights when the sisters use the words as weapons against each other. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good reading
alice 19th is good. typical of yu watase's style since i own both ceres and fushigi mangas. but i still enjoy her animation. its beautiful as always. even though the style is typical, i still enjoy it as you still don't know what's going to happen next. drama, comedy, romance, action, adventure. it has it all. definately something not to miss out on as a yu watase fan.

pure perfection
this manga is everything a manga should be in my opinion i love this authours work she also does the art for her magas as well as writes them. Alice 19th keeps me on the edge of me seat with every issue and when i have finished reading it i feel compelled to rush out and buy the next volume right away. theses stories are shojo stories and in my opinion are some of the very best check out ceres it also is a five star in my book enjoy.

alicethe 19 century vol 3
Kyo kissed alice, the story beginn better now with them two?
Stupid Yu Watase ' s style :the main female character in all of her story get many kisse from many lovers.
The wheel of life is going . ... Read more

Book Description

The End of the World...
The prophecies of Gehenna were true. The world teeters on the brink of an undead apocalypse, the night when the progenitors of the vampire race rise to consume their childer amid a rain of blood and fire. As the fated Armageddon for the Kindred arises, what can they do?
FOR THE DAMNED
Drawing the Vampire Line to a close, GEHENNA brings about the conclusion of Vampire's World of Darkness. Featuring a sliding scale which Storytellers can custom-tailer the events of The End to their own chronicles, this book places the final accounting for the curse of Cain in the hands of the players' characters. Part of the Time of Judgement series. Hardcover.

See also: Vampire: Gehenna, The Final Night (ISBN 1588468550). ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Vampire: The Masquerade's amazing final bow
Vampire is an amazing game, and Gehenna is an amazing book to end it's run with. The authors do not stick with just one, canonical way to end the series, they give you four different options and let you decide which one best suits your campaign. The four scenarios are all very different and fit very different campaign styles and groups. I can't see anyone buying this book and not finding something they could use in it. It's great.

Where Has White Wolf's Creativity Gone?
You start reading this book hoping for some of the strengths from earlier White Wolf publications (depth of story, well thought out ideas, etc.), but the book lacks depth. After reading through the introductory parts of the book before coming to the 4 possible scenarios, you start to figure out that White Wolf really did not have a well thought out plan for the end of the Vampire line. Why end the line to re-release it as d10 alternate? What's the point of ending this storyline when the ending wasn't well-thought out? But we will have Dark Ages.

And once you read through this book, which is tough, you come to a realization that you could have thought of a much better ending yourself.

The book is okay, but I do not think it's worth the cover price. The novel is awesome. Save your money and buy the novel!

Oh, I would have given this book two stars, but having more then one possible ending changed my mind.

The End...
This book is the final book for Vampire: the Masquerade and covers Gehenna, the end of the world for all intents and purposes. A novel new concept, this book provides multiple scenarios which you can tailor to your needs based on your own needs and likes. No canon, no specifics. Just suggestions, and its a VERY cool concept.

The book starts out with a great piece of fiction using the characters from Cairo by Night, and then gives some general info about Gehenna with stuff like the Red Star, the shattering of the Black Hand and how the sects react. The whereabouts of the Antedilluvians are given (though some are rather disappointing, others are what we've expected all along), though these can be changed to suit your needs. Then the book gives a whole chapter on general setting info for Gehenna. The prophecies and Antedilluvians are examined, including others beyond the 13 "known" ones (though these may or may not just be rumors). Also info on the Inconnu, Jyhad and last daughters of eve, some news clippings from around the world showing how the mortal world is affected and the system for the withering, a new weakness afflicting Cainites in the Final Nights. Info on other supernaturals is largely avoided, but it is mentioned that depending on how it ends it could be a huge spectacle to a quiet bang unnoticed by the mortal world.

The next chapters detail four possible scenarios (which you can adapt for your own use), which I have no intentions of spoiling for you. The first, Wormwood, seems to be the most popular and has God himself taking out his wrath on all vampires. Fair is Foul, probably my favorite, involves Lilith taking her revenge on Caine and his childer amidst the struggles of the Antedilluvians. The next scenario, Nightshade, involves the awakening of the Antedilluvians and may be the "canon" ending to the metaplot from what I've heard on forums. And the final scenario, the Crucible of God, shows what happens when vampires openly take control of human society. And it has a REALLY funny ending if you like ironic justice....

The book closes out with some more stuff, including a Storyteller's guide to running games set in the end times, Stats and profiles for some of the characters presented (which were nice, but some are already presented elsewhere and I guess the space could have been better used in other ways), and finally a last look at Caine himself. Overall, this is a very useful and innovative book. Definately worth running any one of the scenarios presented. The book largely accepts the Caine mythos and Abrahamic religious beliefs (sorry for all those Setites, Laibon, Bahari, Einherjar, etc) BUT makes a big point on how you can change it if you choose. In fact, one of the scenarios includes the Lilith Mythos as I mentioned, which I think is cool. Still, the game is based of the Biblical kinslayer, and it makes sense that the Jewish/Christian/Muslim view of God holds in the game. Overall, just get the book. You and your players will enjoy it.

And End to the Vampire Storyline
Vampire The Masquerade was White Wolf's baby. It was their first game that started an amazing foray in to "The World of Darkness." Like all of White Wolf's storylines, information of the end has been present since the beginning. Whte Wolf is one of the few companies that followed their word. They said it would end and now it is. Vampire Gehenna is a great book for tying together some of the various plots in Vampire. I have played Vampire, but it is not my specialty. However, this book does what it was intended to do while giving you several options on how to end the story. The book consists of some informative chapters and four scenarios that can be used to bring the beginning to an end. It is well written and very interesting. If you are a White Wolf fan, this book is a must. I plan on buying all of the final books for the World of Darkness storylines.

A worthy epitaph to a game that revolutionized RPG's
vampire: gehenna is the final conclusion to the metaplot of a great horror rpg. I found the book offered many possible plot and thematic ideas on how to bring the vampire apocalypse to any campaign. It is also great for those troupes that want to run a gehenna scenario with pregenerated characters. The best part is that it gives the storyteller complete control and creativity in developing the climactic conclusion to her or his games. A must have for those long time fans, like myself, who have been collecting White Wolf games for years. Bravo! ... Read more

Book Description

Newly rewritten by Gaiman for this graphic novel, these two ominous stories from the author's award-winning prose, Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions, feature animals and people not being quite what they seem. In "The Price," a black cat like a small panther arrives at a country home and is soon beset by mysterious and vicious wounds. What is he fighting every night that could do this, and why does he persist? "The Daughter of Owls" recounts an eerie old tale of a foundling girl who was left - with an owl pellet - as a newborn on the steps of the Dymton Church. She was soon cloistered away in a local convent, but by her fourteenth year word of her beauty had spread - and those who would prey upon her faced unforeseen consequences. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Beguiling Glimpse Into The Twilight.
Able to spin great tales from the endless realms of
human dream and natural wonder, Neil Gaiman is among
the very finest of writers around today. Touching
the bonds between the mundane and the marvelous, with
a flair for language and character which can touch
gently and brusquely arouse, often at the same time,
Gaiman's scope unflinchingly draws our particpation
in some of the most illustrious tales ever told.
Those who've experienced his gripping work in novels
such as AMERICAN GODS, haunting teleplays such as
BABYLON 5's "Day Of The Dead", or Sequential landmarks
such as THE SANDMAN and the playfully-beckoning 1602,
know full well what a Grandmaster of Literature Neil
Gaiman is.

Yet, an area which Gaiman is drawing renewed attention
is the area of the illustrated narrative. Fresh ground
was broken when Gaiman and the superb illustrator Charles
Vess redefined Faerie lore with the award-winning STARDUST.
Now, with the visual depth and engraver's genius of
illustrator Michael Zulli, Gaiman strikes deep with Dark
Horse Comics' CREATURES OF THE NIGHT.

The handsome hardcover offers a pair of tantalizing
vignettes which unveil elusive tableaus of what we cannot
see, or often refuse to face. With word balloons absent
from all but two strategially-placed pages, the result
is a daring read for the attentive spirit, and curious soul.
In "The Price", a black cat's steadfast ordeal is the
window into a deeper mystery as old as Time itself. "The
Daughter Of Owls" peers vividly into essential places
where the wayward and lustful dare not go. Each tale
is delivered with a seamless intimacy which belies
the looming, often terrifying issues at stake.

An artist whose work spans across entire idioms, Neil
Gaiman is a cunning storyteller with much to tell. Those
who think Gaiman's gifts are fit only for any one title,
or should be limited to any one field, do the author-and
themselves-a grave injustice.

Enter evening, reading slowly, mindful of all paths......

Must have for your Gaiman library...
Granted this book is short (note: 48 pages) and consists only of two stories. But they are new and they are good stories. Gaiman does what he does so well- weaves a tale so well that you're captivated until the end (no matter how long or short the story is).

If you're an avid reader of his online journal, you may recognize the black cat in the first story- which has a shocker near the end. I had a, "Whoaaa... No way, man" moment. And the second reads a lot like an old Grimm fairy tale- the kind that doesn't necessarily end "happily ever after" for everyone. And Zulli's artwork is wonderful in both stories.

I collect all of Gaiman's work, so this was a no brainer purchase for me. If you're new to his work, maybe try Murder Mysteries or Stardust or definitely the Sandman series first. You'll get hooked, I promise. I gave this 4 out of 5 stars strictly because it was so short. I wouldn't have minded waiting for a hardcover with at least five stories of the same length as these two. Because then the book would have lasted longer than half an hour! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Before or After
What really interested me was that the manga (book) was actually made before the anime and games in Japan.

.hack jr.
Volume two of the manga series picks up two themes that appear in other .hacl media, with a twist, of course. Shugo finds his own aura look-alike - Zefie. Unlike Aura, Zefie has a strong personality that makes several members of the team, particularly Reina, uncomfortable around her. Vagrant AI like Zefie are rare, and their behavior is unpredictable. She turns out to have some surprising powers.

The presence of Zefie and Shugo's bracelet cause a stir back in the management of The World. Sure enough, a new version of the Crimson Knights, now the Cobalt Knights appear on the scene, led by Kamui Shibayama. They are corporate, not volunteer, and carry out a policy of "if you can't control it - delete it." In no time at all they are at odds with Shugo and Reina.

Of all the .hack genre, I find the manga the most disappointing so far. The story is pitched at a much younger audience than the 13+ that it is marked. It is a replay of several of the original .hack themes set several years after the other storys are completed. So while this series is a pleasant read, it doesn't live up to the almost introspective approach that even the game uses. Nor does it reflect any more light on the series as a whole.

.hack fans will want the manga series on general principles, but for the casually interested, the anime series is a better introductions. That or the game itself.

Hooked!
This manga helps you to understand the .Hack series although i would suggest getting the game first it realy doesnt matter. I was hooked the day i bought the first book i finished it that day. although the animation is sd it fits the story somewhat. This is a must have on your manga shelf!

kewl
I bought the first and second book to this series and i just love it! The drawings are so cute! *huggles her manga* ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A letdown
I was dissapointed after reading this one. I'm tempted to say I hate it, especially in comparison to number eight. Way too much of Skurai for my taste, and a lot of it brings out some of the more annoying traits in a lot of the charecters. I hope number ten is better because number nine was just plain mediocre. Though Fenris has some good moments in the begining of the book hehe ^_^ ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fun, enjoyable shojo...
This was an enjoyable, entertaining manga featuring Ai Maekawa and her journey to transform from a nerdy, plain "jimi" (Japanese slang for a plain, studious girl) to a cute, popular girl. Following a rather pained journey through middle school Ai studies for her high school entrance examinations with exuberance determined to change her life. After an extreme diet and beauty regiment she enters a high school where she doesn't know anyone hoping for a fresh start...but she keeps receiving anonymous notes from someone who claims to know her past. Will Ai be able to keep her secret without losing her head or her dignity? Find out!! This was a good, quick read and I could definitely identify with the character's desire to make her life better. New series from Izumi Kaneyoshi. ... Read more

Book Description

They are the Exiles, reality-hopping nomads forced to repari the broken chains of time.Failure means a fate worse than death; success, a new reality and a new mission.The Exiles' latest assignment brings them face-to-face with the Fantastic Four and the X-Men!Will the team be able to stand on their own AGAINST the Marvel Universe's greatest heroes? Collects EXILES #46-51. ... Read more

Book Description

Continuing their journey west and leaving a trail of dead Youkai in their wake, Genjyo Sanzo and company come upon a young woman who has quite a tale to tell. She recounts the story of her long lost lover, a Youkai who succumbed to the madness. In spite of it all, she continues to wait faithfully for his return. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A hilarious book!
Saiyuki takes place at the end of a peaceful time known as Shangri-La ( when demons and humans lived together in peace). The peace is broken when someone ( I won't give away who) attempts to ressurect the evil demon known as Gyumaoh, who had been sealed within Houtou Castle 500 years ago. A strange mist spreads across the land, causing the once-calm demons to become violent and destructive, killing many humans.

Enter Genjyo Sanzo, "holy" Priest, selected by the Gods to seek out the one responsible for the chaos that is spreading. Accompanying him are Son Goku (the "Monkey God"), Sha Gojyo ( half water sprite), and Cho Hakkai (demon).
Son Goku: 500 years old (looks 18), acts child-like, loves food, is always arguing with Gojyo, looks up to Sanzo, and may prove to be the most powerful of the group.
Gojyo: 22 years old, smokes like a chimney, hates water(ironically), loves the ladies, enjoys gambling.
While Gojyo is only half demon, Hakkai and Goku are full demon, and must wear power-limiters(Hakkai's is the cuffs on his left ear, and Goku wears a headband).

What keeps Gojyo, Goku, and Hakkai from going crazy like the other demons? Their humanity. Each has a tragic past that keeps them "human". I won't reveal their pasts now, as that would spoil it, but if you can't wait to buy the next manga, just buy the DVDs. They're almost exactly like the manga, and just as funny.

Pros:
Hilarious
Wonderful art
Great Characters
Great Story line

Cons:

I wouldn't recommend this book for those under the age of 15, because of: blood, violence, gore, sexual references, and "crude" jokes. I love it, but some people may be offended.

Impressive
If you like Yu Yu Hakusho, Fake, or Gravitation, then I really recommend you check this out. It starts off a little slow, but once it speeds up, I'm sure you'll really like it. Saiyuki is based on the old chinese legend, "The Four Constables". The main goal here is to find out what's making all the local demons act strangely and stop the ressurection of this demon lord, Gyumayoh, who was imprisoned years ago by a prince. The first time I saw Saiyuki was when I watched the demo DVD that came with one of the issues of Anime Newtype USA magazine. One other thing is that there's a great deal of comedy sprinkled here and there (which is great, if you don't like really serious plotlines). As I said, I really recommend you check this out.

Enjoyable, not spectacular...
Saiyuki is a modern update on an old tale. "Journey to the West" is referenced in many works, from Dragonball (the character of Son Goku primarily) to Love Hina (the gang puts on a stage version for the kids at the beach.) Let me first say that having some familiarity with the tale is probably a good thing; it would be otherwise easy to lose one's way with the many characters introduced in the first volume. That said, the book is still worth a read. The reinvention of Sanzo Genjo as a roguish, rough-hewn priest prevents the story from being bogged down, and really lets the central protagonist shine. Son Goku is rather fun as a hyperactive, gluttonous youth. Rather much like the monkey demon he is, I suppose.... The kappa, Sha Gojyo, is the typical gambler/drifter/womanizer/con man archetype; he's not a bad character, just not very interesting yet. Last of the central four is Cho Hakkai. This will probably prove to be the most interesting. The character guides describe him as hiding a sad past; this hasn't quite been revealed yet, but this quiet master of magic has loads of potential.

The first volume deals with encounters of assassins in a village and a Buddhist temple; very little plot advancement occurs. So consider it a character-based volume, and get to know our heroes. It should be useful come May, when Volume 2 hits U.S. shores. ... Read more

Book Description

The essential d20 System resource for clerics, druids, and paladins!

This definitive sourcebook provides players and DMs alike with everything they need to expand and improve characters of faith in their d20 System game. Path of Faith includes:

• 13 new prestige classes, including the dervish, the inquisitor, and the daughter of storms
• 10 new legendary classes, high-level character options for characters of truly legendary ability, skill, and renown
• New faith disciplines, such as the everlasting warriors of the phoenix
• New organizational templates, including the fanatical Ashen Circle, a company of druids who will do anything in their power to protect their woodland home
• Rules for building cults, expanded rules for small gods disciples, unique holy symbols, positive and negative energy, powerful racial ceremonies, and much more. ... Read more