![[MANGA REVIEWS]](images/section_manga.gif)
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Selected Overview
DEBI DEBI (DEVIL DEVIL)
Miyoshi Yuuki
Overview:
In this issue, we have the third story in a new comedy action series by
the mangaka who previously brought HIKENDEN KIRA
to SHONEN SUNDAY. The premise so far is simple:
two arch-rivals, an angel
and a demon, have accidentally wound up trapped in human bodies, the
bodies of two twin brothers. The angel Ios wound up in the elder twin
Kanna, who had been a violent punk; the demon Soudo wound up in the
younger twin Souma, who had been a mild-mannered weakling. Neither,
of course, is much pleased with the arrangement, but our hero (if
"hero" is the right word) Soudo/Souma is by far the less happy. Here
he is, a powerful evil entity, used to having his way, beating up
others, lounging around, and enjoying himself, now trapped in the body
of a human wimp. Ios/Kanna, meanwhile, keeps a wary and somewhat
amused eye on Soudo/Souma.
Of course, as one expects of most manga that have an ill-natured
supernatural being as one of the main characters, Soudo/Souma is
gradually, ever-so-slowly, changing for the better. His body still
carries Souma's compassionate impulses, which means he still finds
himself trying to save people in trouble—such as Souma's
girlfriend. Soudo/Souma can't understand it, of course, but Ios/Kanna
has been noticing a few hopeful signs.
In last week's episode, Soudo/Souma has hooked up with his body's
old friend, a nerdy student who once shared an interest in the occult with
Souma. Soudo/Souma, seeing an opportunity, uses his help to practice
some sorcery that should summon his pet demon-dog (Cerberus, of
course). Instead, all that appears is a cat. Yet this cannot be an
ordinary cat, right? Indeed, as the episode progresses, it becomes
more and more obvious that this cat is not normal. Among other
things, it sprouts bat-wings and can fly (Ios identifies it as a
"bat-cat," or a "Jersey devil"—apparently it is sighted often in
New Jersey. Anyone from New Jersey want to comment?). Soudo/Souma
can even use the bat-cat, clinging to his back like a jet pack, to
heave himself into the air. In any case, the cat, through strange
behaviors that seem coincidental, manages to get Soudo/Souma to
(inadvertently) save the life of his nerdy friend (whom he
accidentally knocked off the roof), and then quickly abandons him just
as he is about to go attack Ios/Kanna. Souma, as usual, winds up in
the hospital. But the episode is not over yet—Souma's nerd friend
has drawn up another picture that may summon something. While it lies
unattended, something arrives through the drawing and attacks a female
teacher.
In any case, the series looks like fun. Unlike the frequently
too-serious "Kira," this one kicks off its shoes and has fun with its
characters. Soudo/Souma makes a great humorous hero, as a bad guy who
is foiled over and over in his attempts to be bad; Ios/Kanna makes a
fine straight man, especially given his obvious discomfort in being
the good guy stuck in a bad guy's body. And as with these stories of
demons who wind up helping humans, it should be interesting to watch
the progression occur—especially since this one has enough humor
to keep the story enjoyable, and not simply moralistic. |
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Selected Brief Updates
INUYASHA
Takahashi Rumiko
Overview: Kagome is a seemingly normal student who finds herself in
fifteenth or sixteenth century Japan, where she meets the strange boy
Inuyasha. Now, they are on a quest to retrieve the fragments of the
Shikon no Tama, whose powers are sought by evil beings.
This issue: Our heroes are stuck in a tiny room, next to which the
giant spider-demon waits for their protective barrier to weaken.
Inuyasha, as a human, is feverish and is suffering from the effects of
the demonic spiders' venom. Kagome worries over him. Inuyasha,
resting under her care (in fact with his head on her lap), even goes
so far as to tell her she has a good scent—in contradiction to his
old statements. Kagome develops classic signs of the old
starting-to-fall-in-love syndrome. Later, our heroes awaken to
discover that Nazuna has been tricked by the spider-demon to remove
the sword that had been keeping up the barrier. The spider-demon
consumes the shards of the Shikon no Tama and pins Inuyasha against a
wall—but Inuyasha's inhuman powers are rapidly returning. |
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ME GUMI NO DAIGO
Soda Masahito
Overview: Asahina Daigo is a young firefighter with the "Me" Company,
who has an unusual ability to find and rescue people in
danger.
This issue: Daigo, who has at last figured out that he loves fire
fighting and rescue work because it makes him feel uniquely alive, is
desperately seeking Ms. Ochiai, his ex-teacher and romantic interest;
he wants to see if she can truly understand his new inner discovery.
But she is gone from her apartment. Using the dog Gilles to
track her, he winds up in a cold, barren forest, where he guesses the
teacher had gone to find insects for her classes. Tired of searching,
he sits under a tree and thinks about her, wondering if he is losing
her, and if so, why he feels as he does about it. Suddenly, he finds
her; she is as surprised as he is. But Daigo is perhaps more surprised
that he is experiencing a feeling not unlike the feeling of returning
home alive after a fire fighting mission. |
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LOVE
Ishiwata Osamu
Overview: Takagi Ai ("Love") is a girl who, in a bid to have a
re-match with her old tennis rival, has entered a high school tennis
club disguised as a boy.
This issue: Love and her tennis companions are facing the "monks,"
high school students who have shaved heads and heavy religious
training. They are rumored to have "psychic powers." As they begin
playing, Love sees that her particular opponent's shots have the
characteristics of whirling dragons (just as Love's have the
characteristics of leaping dolphins or whales). More disconcertingly,
though, her opponent seems able to slow down her dolphin-shots without
even touching them—just as if he had psychic powers. One of her
tennis mentors notes that she has to use the power of Ki (spiritual
energy) to win. |
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Grooming Up!
Yuuki Masami
Overview: Although originally a city boy, young Kuze Shunpei has taken
to working as a farm hand at the Watarai racing horse breeding farm;
he also has taken to Watarai Hibiki, one of the Watarai
daughters.
This issue: Shunpei starts avoiding Tazuna, realizing that his
previous private tutoring had made their relationship looks suspicious.
Meanwhile, Hibiki, still mulling over his confession of love to her,
also avoids him. At work, Shunpei exercises his personal charge Hiko
faithfully. In the news, Strike Eagle actually (barely) wins a race,
but his upcoming competitor wins another race, setting a new record,
and making it clear that Strike Eagle is not likely to win against him.
And finally, Shunpei manages to get Hiko to eat a full meal—but
then Hiko promptly develops indigestion. |
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GHOST SWEEPER MIKAMI GOKURAKU DAISAKUSEN!!
Shiina Takashi
Overview: Mikami Reiko is a money-hungry, gorgeous female ghost
buster, aided by her sex-starved and underpaid male assistant
Yokoshima Tadao, as well as kind and gentle female ex-ghost
O-kinu.
This issue: Mikami is facing the monstrous power of a creature sent by
her arch-enemies, who are seeking to find the reincarnation of
Mephisto (who, we learn in volume 23, is
Mikami). This creature far outstrips even her augmented power. But a new
arrival quickly vanquishes the monster with a planned, precise attack:
it is Mikami's mother, who has once again come traveling forward
through time to help her daughter. Mikami displays a rare moment of
weakness with her mother (who had died years before). But her mother
is here for business; she is taking over the anti-demonic operation.
She even sends Yokoshima off on a secret mission—back to be the pet
of the demons, as a spy. Poor Yokoshima even has to act like an evil
villain on national TV, earning him the undeserved hatred of humanity. |
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MAJOR
Mitsuda Takuya
Overview: It has been four years since Honda Goro put together the
Mifune Little League. Now, in junior high school, he is reunited
with his old friends and is faced with a new baseball
crisis.
This issue: Honda is chewing out his team for their weak idea of
teamwork. Merely being nice to each other is not what builds a team,
he tells them; it is fighting oneself, fighting amongst themselves,
fighting against opponents and then winning—that builds a real
team. As the game progresses, they see more into his attitude. It is
easy enough to apologize and console, but to win requires true
dedication from every person. One does not play the game to appease
others, but to do one's best. The team, building on this philosophy,
gradually improves.
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