Back to Work/End of Summer Reading
I’m back at work! It’s kind of weird but believe me, I’m relishing the time to drink a cup of coffee and read my email without worrying I’m going to spill on the baby’s head or get my computer torn down by the toddler.
This may be shocking to some but maternity leave is no vacation! Still I did get to squeeze in a few manga these past couple months. Here’s how I felt about them:
Bride of the Water God Vol. 2
I had heard that the second volume doesn’t necessarily improve. The character development is still minimal, the plot is full of holes and the dialogue is laughable. Still, the artwork makes up for everything. I don’t care how insipid Habaek and Soah continue to be, if they wear those gorgeous clothes while flying past the moon in an elaborate ship, I will eat it up.
Uzumaki Vol. 2
There’s very little “horror” that I can’t handle. Uzumaki is pushing the limit. In this twisted (pun intended) volume, the terror is pushed up as the town possessed by a spiral, uh, spirals downward. I warn you, it’s seriously disturbing but brillant. The only thing that bothers me is that the townspeople have yet to figure out what’s going on. You would think that after multiple frightening incidents, including people morphing in snails for godsake, the folks would learn to stay away from anything strange or believe others when they relate that something is wrong – ah, but no.
Pluto Vol. 1
I should have read this title first. I’m a huge fan of Monster and was thrilled to see a couple of series by Naoki Urasawa. My comic book guy recommended it over 20th Century Boys, saying it was different than Monster and would make a nice change. Based on a single Astro Boy story, “The Greatest Robot on Earth”, Pluto takes the concept of a robot murdering serial killer and expands the world to a completely new level. There is obviously a lot of care and reverence to the master, Osamu Tezuka. I’m not sure why I resisted, perhaps because Astro Boy is my least favorite Tezuka title? Whatever the reason, I’m glad I finally got around to it.
So there you have it, my summer reading. Another good reason to return to work? The copies of Queen & Country and A Drifting Life on my desk!
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Comments
I’ve got volume 2 if you want to borrow it! I need to read it first though. I’ll lend you uzumaki too. Thanks for leaving me Queen and Country, Adrienne said it’s really good.
Gantz is so bad for you 
Info in back of Pluto Vol. 1 talks about Monster. Looks like I’m gonna want to read that, too! So much to read, so little time!
[...] Yoshiyuki Nishi’s followup to Muhyo and Roji, at The Eastern Standard. Sadie Mattox has short takes on her summer reading at Extremely Graphic, and Snow Wildsmith looks at some continuing yaoi series [...]
[...] Yoshiyuki Nishi’s followup to Muhyo and Roji, at The Eastern Standard. Sadie Mattox has short takes on her summer reading at Extremely Graphic, and Snow Wildsmith looks at some continuing yaoi series [...]
Welcome back!
Sounds like you’ve also found some reading time, along with taking care of the new edition to the family.
I’m loving Pluto, too. Have to get volume 2 now. Definitely have to try out Uzumaki! (Blood and guts, yes!) Hope you like Queen and Country. I’ve finished the first two volumes and have requested the next on Interlibrary Loan.
Just finished volume 5 of Gantz. Why do I keep reading it? I must be possessed!