Review: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING: BATTLEFIELD OF PACIFISTS

There are LOADS of Gundam manga spinoffs to pick from for this month, and that's doubly true for Gundam Wing manga.

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING: BATTLEFIELD OF PACIFISTS (Shin Kido Senki Gundam Wing: Battlefield of Pacifists), based on the franchise by Hajime Yatate and Yoshiyuki Tomino, written by Katsuhiko Chiba, and art by Koichi Tokita.  First published in 1997 and first published in North America in 2002.

PLOT:

In AC 196, the united Earth government are trying to eliminate the last caches of OZ mobile suits.  Helping them are the Gundam pilots, working behind the scenes to investigate reports of new automated Virgo suits and a mysterious mobile suit factory on an asteroid.  The boys will have to split up and work fast, as a former OZ commander and a fanatical pacifist activist are determined to get to it first.

Review: SWORD ART ONLINE PROGRESSIVE

 It's been too long since we've done a round-up of some of the many manga sequels, prequels, and spinoffs out there around here.  Let's rectify that this March, starting with a series that dares to ask "What does Sword Art Online look like from the perspective of someone who isn't Kirito?"

SWORD ART ONLINE PROGRESSIVE (Sodo Ato Onrain Puroguresshibu), based on the light novel by Reki Kawahara and character designs by abec with art by Kiseki Himura.  First published in 2013 and first published in North America in 2015.

PLOT:

Asuna Yuuki seemingly spent all her time studying in the hopes of getting into the best schools and pleasing her cold, demanding mother.  She only meant to check out her brother's virtual game system out of curiosity, but now she finds herself trapped in the virtual game world alongside thousands of others.  It's only after meeting a mysterious lone gamer that she finds the determination to not just survive, but get out of the game.

Review: HAPPY LESSON

Of course, I couldn't let the month pass without talking about a bad harem manga, but this one is both different from the rest and yet not all that different either.

HAPPY LESSON, written by Mutsumi Sasaki and Dengeki G's Magazine with art by Shinnosuke Mori.  First published in 1999 and first published in North America in 2004.

PLOT:

Susumu Arisaka is an orphan who has spent the last decade in an orphanage.  Now he's returning to his parents' home to attend high school.  Five of his teachers learn about his predicament and are so moved by his tragic life story that they decide to all become his "mama."  They move in with him, cook and clean for him, tutor him, all in the hopes of giving him a happy life...or a lot of chaos for poor Susumu.

Review: THE YOUNG MASTER'S REVENGE

Shojo manga is full of bad relationships, but what happens when you combine that with one of shojo manga's fluffiest creators? 

THE YOUNG MASTER'S REVENGE (Kimi no Koto nado Zettai ni), by Meca Tanaka.  First published in 2014 and first published in North America in 2018.

PLOT:

As a child, Leo was forced to play with Tenma because her wealthy family owned a fancy department store and Leo's family had a clothing company that wanted to get in good with them.  He mostly got dragged around by Tenma and got nothing for it but mockery from the other kids and turtle bite scars in an awkward place.

Ten years and one extended stay in the US later, Leo's family is fabulously wealthy, Leo is a handsome young teen, and he's ready to enact his revenge.  His plan: seduce Tenma with sweet nothings and princely behavior, only to dump her and leave her in misery.  Those plans get complicated when he learns that Tenma's family went broke and that she's ready to enter into an arranged marriage to ensure her family's future.  Leo's determined that no one and nothing is going to get between him and his revenge, even if it means financially supporting Tenma, teaching her about the world, and saving her from trouble at private school.

Review: FINDER

 We are rested and ready to return with a month's worth of bad romance manga!  Let's begin with...well, "classic" would be too strong for this series so let's say a notable one from BL of the past.

FINDER (Fainda), by Ayano Yamane.  First published in 2002 and first published in North America in 2005.

PLOT:

Akihito is a freelance photographer who wants to use his skills to expose the seedy underbelly of the criminal world.  Alas, he's quickly capture by the powerful gangster Asami, who proceeds to rape Akihito, ruin his film, and set him free.  Akihito hates what Asami did to him, but remains determined to fight crime in his own way.  Meanwhile, Asami finds himself increasingly drawn to Akihito, protecting the young man even as he pursues him for the sake of his own pleasure.