Noragami: Stray God ノラガミ

I watched the anime of  Noragami: Stray God ノラガミ and at first enjoyed it but towards the end, not sure if I would have continued.  Now the manga is out in the US, I’ve read the first volume of the three volumes out and will continue until I decide it’s not for me or finish.

Noragami: Stray God ノラガミ is ADACHI Toka あだちとか  first by-herself (another woman author writing shonen) manga.  She did the artwork for Alive: The Final Evolutionアライブ 最終進化的少年 (Alive: Saishuu Shinkateki Shounen) which was written by KAWASHIMA Tadashi 河島正, the series was finished just before KAWASHIMA Tadashi 河島正 died of liver cancer.

Noragami: Stray God ノラガミ is a popular fan art, cosplay, and fan joke manga/anime.  I’m hoping the manga is better than the anime.  There should be loads of comedy, adventure, action, and maybe romance for most out there into those genres.  Kodansha has a volume coming out every 2 – 3 months, at least until August.

Crimson Spell クリムゾン・スペル

SubLime (VIZ) is releasing Crimson Spell クリムゾン・スペル by YAMANE Ayano やまねあやのat a healthy rate of 1 volume every other month until they get caught up with Japan (5 volumes and ongoing).  I expect that volumes will come out once every year or every other year after that as she’s also working on another classic, Finder ファインダーの標的, for a different publisher in Japan (Finder ファインダーの標的 is now licensed by SubLime (VIZ) in the US – although they’re a volume behind Japan in the Finder ファインダーの標的 series and no date (that I know) to release volume 7 – please release Finder ファインダーの標的 vol 7 soon).  Both Crimson Spell クリムゾン・スペル and Finder ファインダーの標的 series are classic and extremely graphic (sex and violence).  Great adult stories and definitely NOT for children!

Crimson Spell クリムゾン・スペル is  a fantasy action adventure BL, a rare genre these days for BL and a great story.  Curses, princes, swords, journey, monsters, wizards, inter-wizard politics, familiars, etc.  Some of the more interesting BL classics used to be fantasy works; however, they’re very rare these days (I understand they take a bit longer to draw as most of the characters have the difficult to draw long hair and maybe newer audiences just aren’t into them or know them in the genre).

The 3 main characters, Prince Vladrigr, Halvir, and Liethregveel – renamed Rulca by Vlad, are on a journey to break the prince’s curse and meet up with others, mostly hostile wizards and monsters/demons; however, that is only in the first volume. By volume 4 they have added to their companions and adventures.

If you love fantasy, action, and adventure and read BL you may wish to try this ongoing classic.

The Sacred Blacksmith Seiken no Katanakaji 聖剣の刀鍛冶

Another series I picked up not knowing anything about – except it was probably shonen or seinen is The Sacred Blacksmith Seiken no Katanakaji  聖剣の刀鍛冶 based on the novels by MIURA Isao 三浦勇雄 with the manga done by YAMADA Koutarou 山田孝太郎.

Notice this is an ecchi series with lolicon elements – not so noticeable for volume 1 but mildly in volume 2, so won’t be continuing it. 

The mangaka does talk about wanting female readers and doing the cover for volume 2 with Luke Ainsworth ルーク・エインズワース for the female readers; however, there is nothing about the drawing to pull in female readers – so he’s not very in touch with what female readers want in their drawings, especially with the addition of lolicon in other areas.  Another let-down for the female audience is the portrayal of the main female character, who is a knight and should be strong and they make her out to be weak and very unrealistic.  Since I don’t know if this is the way she is in the novels or just the manga, I can’t comment on whether the mangaka has misjudged his female audience again.

One feature I like about the two volumes is that at the end in the extras they talk about how katana 刀 are made.  I got out my Wakizashi             脇差  わきざし and compared to the terms and illustrations.  I knew mine wasn’t real (it’s a real sword – made in Taiwan) and was mass-produced  (I didn’t buy because I’m otaku, this was bought a few decades ago for part of my magick paraphernalia and so no one gets to view it & probably illegal for cosplay anyway); however, it was still fun to check it out and see what was missing and what was different (cotton not salmon shark hide – it does have a hamon 刃文). 

The Sacred Blacksmith Seiken no Katanakaji  聖剣の刀鍛冶 published by Seven Seas, which I think all of their manga is seinen and possibly some shonen.  I’ve only read a few of their series and got bored with all but one, Blood Alone.

This is rather formulaic battle manga with some fan service for males – little to recommend for a female audience. 

Animal Land Doubutsu no Kuni どうぶつの国

I’ve just started Animal Land Doubutsu no Kuni どうぶつの国 by RAIKU Makoto 雷句誠.  This is shonen, fantasy, adventure, tragedy, drama.  The drawings are very old-fashioned although it’s not an old series and is still ongoing as far as I know Bessatsu Shounen Magazine in Japan and the tankobon are published in English in the US by Kodansha USA.  The omake mostly are about the author’s dog, but some about the story.

I’ve only read 3 volumes at this time; however, must say volume 2 had overtones much like one of the parts of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen (won’t tell you what or how or which part (there are 4 – so ~17 hours of opera to watch all of Das Rheingold (The Rhine Gold); Die Walküre (The Valkyrie); Siegfried; & Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods) – may I suggest the 1990 Metropolitan Opera version which has subtitles in many languages and a wonderful cast) watch and enjoy it for yourself.  By volume 3 I was getting a strong Gene Roddenberry feel in the story and wonder if the author is a fan of Star Trek (TOS and NG – early part) or some of the early westerns that Gene Roddenberry wrote.

It’s refreshing to have a good story with a message, and done in a way that isn’t obtrusive.  So far seems to be a modern-day parable.

Tail of the Moon Tsuki no Shippo 月のしっぽ

Tail of the Moon Tsuki no Shippo 月のしっぽ and Tail of the Moon Prequel: The Other Hanzo Tsuki no Toiki Ai no Kizu  月の吐息　愛の傷 by UEDA Rinko 上田倫子 – I just read this shojo classic first published in Margaret マーガレット , then released in US by VIZ Shojo Beat.

This is not too edgy shojo comedy, drama, historic fiction with some action.  If you have an empty day and looking to read some shojo, this 15 volume + prequel series may be alright.  For most of the series a very light and fluffy comedy; however, starting with Vol 12 gets a bit heavy for the 11-15 year old audience for which Margaret マーガレット is written, doing some battle/war story arc.  Although, for most readers there will never be a doubt and the author does give unneeded spoilers at the beginning of the series, the war arc could be bit too much for a younger audience with not enough experience in reading to know how it will end, which could be upsetting.

Also, for those that want their history fiction to be more accurate – this one isn’t for you.