Monday, May 24, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: INTERSPECIES REVIEWERS

 Well, I guess I would have to reckon with this series someday, so I might as well take advantage of this month's theme and do so now.

INTERSPECIES REVIEWERS (Ishuzoku Rebyuazu), written by Amahara with art by masha.  First published in 2016 and first published in North America in 2018.



PLOT:

In this particular fantasy world, sex work is just an everyday part of life and many brothels take advantage of the various species and magical encounters available to cater to just about every sort of clientele possible.  The human adventurer Stunk and the elf Zel have made it their mission to try out every sort of girl and service available and rank their experience for a bit of coin.  Along with their reluctant angel companion Crim, they'll do it with anyone: succubi, salamander women, fairies, elves, and so much more.

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: RADIANT

Well, since I talked about Beyond the Clouds I might as well cover the other recent fantasy manga with French origins.

RADIANT, by Tony Valente.  First published in 2013 and first published in North America in 2018.




PLOT:

In the land of Pompo Hills, there are ordinary people and there are the Infected.  These people are wizards filled with a magical force called Fantasia that produces strange side-effects but allows them to fight deadly magical monsters called Nemeses.  Seth is a wizard in training who is ready and eager to fight a Nemesis, and during his first fight with one discovers that he has a special power: he can wield fantasia without the use of the usual magical gauntlets.  This skill makes him powerful, but it also makes him desirable to both other wizards and to the Inquisitors who would oppress them.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: HETEROGENIA LINGUISTICO

There's a lot of fantasy manga out there, but this is the first one not to focus on a traditional hero's narrative or even fantasy food, but instead on language

 HETEROGENIA LINGUISTICO (Heterogenia Linguistic: Ishuzoku Gengogaku Nyuumon), by Salt Seno.  First published in 2018 and first published in North America in 2020.



PLOT:

Hakaba is a linguist in training who is forced to take over for his mentor after an injury.  Thus Hakaba ventures out into the world to interact with the likes of werewolves, lizardmen, harpies, and more.  With the use of his professor's notes and what clues he can gather from his companions and their behavior, Hakaba will learn to decipher the languages of these non-human races, no matter what form it may take.

Monday, May 17, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: THE SACRED BLACKSMITH

Nothing's more disappointing than a series with squandered potential, and this is just one of countless examples. 

THE SACRED BLACKSMITH (Seiken no Burakkusumisu), based on the light novel series by Isao Miura with art by Kotaro Yamada.  First published in 2009 and first published in North America in 2013.



PLOT:

Cecily Campbell is a knight, like her father and grandfather before her.  She has sworn a pact to defend the city of Housman from all those who threaten it, but her resolve is shaken when her heirloom sword breaks during her first battle.  She is saved by Luke Aisnworth, a blacksmith bearing an impossibly sharp sword and incredible skill.  Cecily is determined to have Luke reforge her sword, but both of them are put to the test when a routine fight with some bandits becomes a desperate fight against demons.

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: ORFINA

It's time to take a look at another failed fantasy manga from CMX, although this one is less about fairy tale romance and more about epic battles.

ORFINA (Orufina), by Kitsune Tennouji.  First published in 1993 and first published in North America in 2007.



PLOT:

Fana is a lone warrior on the run from the conquering forces of Granze.  Her wanderings lead her to the kingdom of Cordia and its royal family, who are stunned by Fana's resemblance to their daughter Orfina.  Fana comes to know and love Orfina and her family as if they were her own, but their idyll is interrupted when the armies of Granze finally arrive.  Now Fana must use her skills and her resemblance to the princess to survive and preserve the hope of the people.

Friday, May 14, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: BLACK CLOVER

Weekly Shonen Jump doesn't dabble too much in fantasy these days, and the most recent example is...divisive, to say the least.

BLACK CLOVER (Burakku Kuroba), by Yuki Tabata.  First published in 2015 and first published in North America in 2016.



PLOT:

Asta is determined to become the Wizard King.  It doesn't matter that he's a poor orphan with no magical ability to speak of or that he's thoroughly overshadowed by his magically-gifted best friend Yuno - nothing will stop him from achieving his goal.  His life turns around when he is gifted a strange grimoire that grants him the ability to manifest a magic sword that negates magic.  With this, he can finally join the Magic Knights and finally begin his journey to the throne.

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: DRAGON GOES HOUSE-HUNTING

 What's the bigger fantasy here: a gentle dragon who only wants a house of his own, or the very idea of being able to afford to buy or build your own home?

DRAGON GOES HOUSE-HUNTING (Dragon, Ie o Kau), written by Kawo Tanuki and art by Choco Aya.  First published in 2016 and first published in North America in 2018.



PLOT:

Letty looks like a fearsome dragon, but he's too gentle and cowardly in nature to act like a proper dragon.  Now that he's been kicked out of his family den, all he wants is a cozy little dragon-sized home he can call his own.  That's not an easy thing to do, though, when seemingly every other species out there wants to harvest him for parts.  His only ally is Dearia, an elven architect and realtor with unconventional taste and possibly an agenda of his own.

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: BEYOND THE CLOUDS

Thankfully, there are more recent fantasy series that is not only appropriate for kids, but also legitimately good all on its own.

BEYOND THE CLOUDS (Beyond the Clouds: La fillette tombe du ciel), by Nicke.  First published in 2018 and first published in North America in 2020.




PLOT:

Theo has spent his whole life in Yellow Town, an industrial center under a permanently smoggy sky.  He works by day as a mechanic, but his nights are spent tinkering and dreaming of visiting the fantastical places he reads about in books.  Then one day a strange girl falls from the sky with an injured wing and no memories.  Theo and his friends try to nurse her back to health, but after an attack Theo is injured and the girl, Mia, is sick with an unbreakable fever.  Her only hope is for Theo to travel into the mysterious forest near the town, in the hopes of finding a doctor with the cure Mia needs.

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: PRINCESS PRINCE

Once upon a time, if you wanted a fairy-tale-style shojo fantasy, you had to settle for books like this.

Thank goodness for progress. 

PRINCESS PRINCE (Purinsesu Purinsesu), by Tomoko Taniguchi.  First published in 1994 and first published in North America in 2003.



PLOT:

The kingdom of Gemstone is seemingly happy and peaceful, but for the royal twins of the land it is anything but that.  When they were born, a prophecy foretold that one of them would have to be raised as a girl to prevent disaster.  Ever since, Prince Lawrence (aka "Lori") has had to hide his true identity, even has he pines for his best friend Jenny.  Meanwhile, his brother Matthew has to deal with Brandon, a former thief who is convinced that Matthew is the one hiding their true gender.  Can their secret survive jealous angel birds, near drownings, and a possible mermaid?

Monday, May 10, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: MUSHOKU TENSEI: JOBLESS REINCARNATION

Isekai fantasy manga are all too often power fantasies for their readers, and sometimes those power fantasies can go in some obnoxious or dark directions.  A lot of manga adaptations try to fix them, but as shown in today's example it's not always successful.

 MUSHOKU TENSEI: JOBLESS REINCARNATION (Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu), based on the light novel series by Rifujin na Magonote with art by Yuka Fujikawa.  First published in 2014 and first published in North America in 2015.



PLOT:

Once he was a hopeless NEET.  Then he was hit by a truck in an attempt to save some teens, and all he can wish for is for a second chance.  He gets it when he is reborn as Rudeus Greyrat, the child of two adventurers with a precocious knack for magic.  Under the tutelage of his tutor Roxy and his friend Sylphie, his power grows stronger, but what will happen when he needs to leave home to keep learning?

Sunday, May 9, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: LOUIE THE RUNE SOLDIER

 LOUIE THE RUNE SOLDIER (Maho Senshi Riui), based on the light novel series written by Ryou Mizuno and character designs by Mamoru Yokota, with art by Jun Sasameyuki.  First published in 1999 and first published in North America in 2004.



PLOT:

Louie is the foster son of the powerful mage Carwess, but he would rather drink and schmooze with women than devote himself to his magical studies.  His real dream is to become an adventurer, but that dream seems out of reach until a trio of ladies declares that he is the hero they need.  Can this hapless, brawling doofus transform himself into a true hero?

Saturday, May 8, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: KONOSUBA: GOD'S BLESSING ON THIS WONDERFUL WORLD

It's a miracle! A modern isekai manga that neither bored nor infuriated me!

KONOSUBA: GOD'S BLESSING ON THIS WONDERFUL WORLD (Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o!), based on the light novel by Natsume Akatsuki and character designs by Kurone Mishima, with art by Masahito Watari.  First published in 2014 and first published in North America in 2016.



PLOT:

Kazuma Sato had the bad luck to get hit by a truck on one of the rare occasions he emerged from his room.  In the afterlife, the goddess Aqua offers to send him to a fantasy world straight out of his JRPG-addled dreams with any weapon he wishes.  He jokingly suggests that Aqua herself be his weapon.

Now Kazuma is saddled with nothing but the basic skills of an adventurer and a goddess who's good for nothing beyond the odd healing spell.  Together with a mage who can only cast an explosion spell and a knight who lives for humiliation and pain, they try to find the next big quest.

Friday, May 7, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: MOURYOU KIDEN: LEGEND OF THE NYMPH

Once again I found myself staring down another Tamayo Akiyama manga.  Could it possibly fare better than the likes of Zyword and Hyper Rune?

Spoilers: No, it doesn't.

MOURYOU KIDEN: LEGEND OF THE NYMPH (Moryou Kiden), by Tamayo Akiyama.  First published in 1994 and first published in North America in 2004.



PLOT:

In a distant realm, the sun goddess Mikage watches over her sister Reiki, goddess of darkness.  Long ago Mikage imprisoned Reiki to keep her from destroying the world and now Reiki wants nothing but revenge.  She sends forth her daughter Ayaka to destroy Mikage's stronghold, but Ayaka is distracted when she meets the handsome demon king Kai, who is also one of Mikage's sons.  The two are immediately smitten, but their whirlwind romance is torn apart when they learn of one another's true natures and Kai sacrifices himself to protect Ayaka.  Now Ayaka only years to bring Kai back, even if that means defying her mother, teaming up with some of Kai's siblings, and venturing into Hades itself to bring him back.

Thursday, May 6, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: SLEEPY PRINCESS IN THE DEMON CASTLE

Finding a modern fantasy manga that has nothing to do with light novels is hard enough.  Finding one of those that's a comedy is rarer still.  But does its rarity translate into quality? 

SLEEPY PRINCESS IN THE DEMON CASTLE (Maojo de Oyasumi), by Kagiji Kumanomata.  First published in 2016 and first published in English in 2018.



PLOT:

Long ago in a kingdom far away, humanity and demon kind once lived in peace.  Then the demon king stole the human princess Syalis and trapped her in his castle.  As the kingdom frets and a hero journeys to save her, Syalis is mostly concerned about the quality of her sleep.  Her quest for the perfect night's rest causes her to create all sorts of chaos in the castle, and it threatens to undermine all their efforts.

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: THE DUNGEON OF BLACK COMPANY

 Today's review exists because someone said "you know what a dungeon-crawling fantasy needs?  CAPITALISM!"

THE DUNGEON OF BLACK COMPANY (Meikyu Black Company), by Youhei Yasumura.  First published in 2016 and first published in 2018.



PLOT:

After years of investing in stocks and real estate, Kinji was ready to rake in his fortune and lead a solitary yet hedonistic life.  Then a portal drops him into another world full of demihumans, and after a scam gone awry Kinji finds himself massively in debt to a mining conglomerate powered by slave labor.  Determined to rebuild his life, Kinji is willing to do anything to make money and get ahead, even if that means finding hidden portals, taking a dragon as a companion, or convincing a horde of giant ants to go on strike.

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: RESTAURANT TO ANOTHER WORLD

 When it comes to fantasy manga these days, it seems that the only thing more popular than sending random Japanese people to alternate worlds is having fantasy people (or creatures) rave about Japanese food.  Today's review is an example of the latter, but can it manage to find an unique flavor of its own?

RESTAURANT TO ANOTHER WORLD (Isekai Shokudo), based on the light novel series written by Junpei Inuzuka and illustrated by Katsumi Enami, with art by Takaaki Kugatsu.  First published in 2016 and first published in North America in 2020.



PLOT:

Once a week, a mysterious door opens in the Western Restaurant Nekoya.  Through it comes a strange assortment of characters: wandering explorers, stately elves, lonely demon girls, haughty dragon queens, and so many more.  All of them are after one thing: the strangest yet tastiest food they have ever had, served to them by a talented, tolerant chef.

STORY:

It was hard to not think of Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu while reading this.  The premises are incredibly similar: a real-world restaurant specializing in basic Western and Japanese dishes ends up by chance with an entrance to another world and attracts strange new clientele who are dazzled by all the modern dining conveniences and dishes that most take for granted.  So what can this series add to that otherwise bland formula?  I'd say it's a greater focus on character.

While the many dishes of Nekoya are prominently featured, the focus of each chapter is more on the character coming to eat it.  They're all basically little self-contained short-stories that so happen to revolve around this restaurant, and that's a solid story structure.  Interestingly, this series makes more effort than usual to make the restaurant staff characters onto themselves.  It's not just about the demon girl waitress Aletta, but the chef himself is much more of a presence.  He interacts more regularly with his customers and you get hints of a history behind the restaurant itself.  Even if it's populated with fairly stock fantasy character types, you truly get the feeling of a cozy restaurant with loyal, regular clientele, and that atmosphere goes a long way toward distinguishing this series from the rest.

ART:

Once again, the art here is a bit of step down from the original light novel illustrations.  That artwork isn't necessarily brilliant, but the characters there look a little older and more elegant; these characters are flatter, rounder, and more moe in comparison.  I'm also not please that more effort is put into the fanservice than it is into the food.  There's a lot of awkward top-down shots of the ladies as they eat that's clearly done to better focus on their chests (or stare down their tops), a few bath scenes, and a dragon queen that doesn't always remember things like 'clothes.'  It's not enough to be a total distraction, but it's a crutch that a lot of these light-novel adaptation mangaka tend to lean on.

RATING:

Restaurant To Another World has a charming atmosphere and a stronger emphasis on character than your average food series.  If the art were stronger, this would be an easy green light.  As it is, it's a fun twist on the formula that will appeal to seasoned food manga fans but not good enough to appeal beyond that crowd.

This series is published by Yen Press.  This series is complete with 4 volumes available.  All 4 have been published and are currently in print.


Monday, May 3, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: THE DEVIL IS A PART-TIMER

 You know, we see so many stories about people travelling (by choice or by death-induced force) to other worlds.  What you don't see as often are characters from other worlds travelling to ours.

THE DEVIL IS A PART-TIMER (Hataraku Mao-sama!), based on the light novel by Satoshi Wagahara and Oniku, and art by Akio Hiiragi.  First published in 2012 and first published in North America in 2015.



PLOT:

In another world, a holy warrior squared off against a great and terrible demon king to stop him from conquering the entire world.  Mid-battle, he and his attendant were transported through a magic portal to modern-day Tokyo.  Their magic is limited, and they find themselves without money, identification, or any idea of how to return to their world.  Thus, the once powerful demon king must survive by any means possible, even if that means becoming the best possible fast-food worker.  What will they do when they discover that they weren't the only ones transported, and that an even more powerful force may also be coming for him?

Sunday, May 2, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: THE LIZARD PRINCE

It's been too long since we've covered a CMX manga on here.  They always had shojo fantasy series that were always interesting, even if they weren't always good. 

THE LIZARD PRINCE (Tokage Oji), by Asuka Izumi.  First published in 2003 and first published in North America in 2009.



PLOT:

Princess Canary is far from thrilled at the prospect of her engagement to Prince Heath of Gazania.  Heath is a boorish, lazy jerk whose very nature offends the sensible, strong-willed Canary, and he in turn has no desire to get married to anyone.  He decides to switch places with a talking lizard of his, unaware that said lizard is in fact his missing elder brother Sienna.  Canary ends up falling for this gentler, thoughtful creature, but their true love makes the magic behind the enchantment go haywire.  How do you make a royal relationship work when your fiance can turn into a lizard at any moment?

Saturday, May 1, 2021

Merry Month of Manga: DRAGON HALF

This month marks the ninth anniversary of The Manga Test Drive.  It's honestly kind of fantastical that I've been doing this for so long, much less that people have continued to read these reviews, so why not celebrate with a month's worth of fantasy manga!  We're going to be seeing our fair share of modern isekai fantasy titles over the course of this month, so let's start on something a little older and a lot different.

DRAGON HALF (Doragon Hafu), by Ryusuke Mita.  First published in 1988 and first published in North America in 2018.


PLOT:

Mink loves nothing more in the world than the dreamy dragon slayer/pop idol Dirk Saucer.  Unfortunately, she herself is half-dragon and has to compete with a haughty princess for Dirk's attentions.  So, Mink decides to head out on a quest with her friends Lufia and Pia to find a mythical potion that will make her fully human.  All she has to do is defeat a wicked king, a bunch of random monsters, a dumb knight or two, win a tournament, and take down the demon king behind it all.