Review: STELLVIA

It's so rare to find a mecha manga with a female protagonist and mostly female cast that isn't made for the sake of fanservice, which makes it all the more disappointing that this one turned out so poorly.

STELLVIA (Uchu no Suturuvia), based on the anime series by Xebec with art by Ryo Akitsuki.  First published in 2003 and first published in North America in 2005.

PLOT:

Nearly 200 years ago, Earth was ravaged by a massive electromagnetic wave from a supernova.  Even decades later, the night skies are still tinged with green.  That's the reason that Shima Katose wants to become a space pilot: to see what the stars truly look like.  She manages to get into the illustrious space academy Stellvia and makes some friends, but she struggles with her piloting courses.  What she and her friends don't know is that the second wave of radiation is only a few months away...

Review: PURI PURI

 Valentine's Day may be past, but that's not going to stop me from trashing on some poorly conceived harem manga.

PURI PURI, by Chiako Taro.  First published in 2005 and first published in North America in 2007.

PLOT:

Shocked by the scandalously sloppy looks and behavior of his students, the principal of the all-girls Saint Sophia's divinity school decides that the best solution is stricter surveillance and to make the school co-ed.  That's how Masato Kamioda became the school's first male student, hoping to use this opportunity to study for the priesthood like his foster father.  Following in that holy path will be more challenging than Masato anticipated, as when he's not being threatened with expulsion by the student council he's being tempted by the soft, squishy, panty-clad bodies of his fellow students.  In particular, the body of sweet, motherly Ayako might be the biggest temptation of them all.

Review: HINADORI GIRL

Nothing hurts like getting your hopes up only to be disappointed, even by obscurities like this. 

HINADORI GIRL, by Mari Matsuzawa.  First published in 2004 and first published in North America in 2005.

PLOT:

While his scientist father is away on the moon, Yoshiki decides to tinker with his dad's greatest invention: Support Robot Sally 001.  She has a special program that allows her to learn about the world in the same way a child might.  This makes it hard to teach her basic things like cooking and cleaning, but makes her very endearing to everyone save for Yoshiki's jealous and quick-tempered sister Akira.  Can they raise Sally right while fending off the vain scientist Tsukiko who wants to steal Sally for herself?

Review: STRAY LITTLE DEVIL

Let's close things off with an devilishly charming little series that's been mostly lost to the ages.

STRAY LITTLE DEVIL (Sutorei Ritoru Debiru), by Kotaru Mori.  First published in 2004 and first published in North America in 2006.

PLOT:

Pam Akumachi was always told by her grandmothers that nice devils were real.  They even taught her a spell to summon them.  When Pam finally tries to use it, though, she ends up getting sucked into another world full of devils and angels.  She discovers that she has been transformed into a devil and gets attacked by an angel that looks just like her best friend.  Now the only way for Pam to get back to her world is to become a full-fledged devil and that means starting from the beginning.  She has to learn to read their language, work her way through the demonic ranks, and find a familiar, even if she has to shake up a few rules to do so.