Tag Archives: Viz Media

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 23: Vivi’s Adventure by Eiichiro Oda

Leave a reply

One Piece, Vol 23: Vivi’s Adventure       

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: December 1, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/232 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Just when they think they have disabled the bomb that threatens the people of Alubarna, things get worse. Turns out it has a built-in fallback position in the form of a timer! Now Luffy et al have to scramble to try to overcome this new obstacle. It doesn’t help that the Marines are there and so is Baroque Works. And Crocodile, of course. And the rebels. That’s a lot between them and victory!

Once the danger from the bomb has been handled, there are new questions – such as how can the Straw Hat pirates get past the Marines and sail away? And will Princess Vivi sail with them, as she has been invited by Luffy to join the crew.

This volume sees the end of the Alabasta arc, time to move on. It’s a very satisfying ending, and we can see clues as to what is coming. I am sure we have not seen the last of the Marines – esp Captain Smoker and Tashigi. A blast from the past appears having assumed a new role – you’ll never guess who! And the scene in the bath is hilarious! I’m ready to move on with Luffy and the others. Great volume!

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 22: Hope!! by Eiichiro Oda

Leave a reply

One Piece, Vol 22: Hope!!         

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: October 6, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

As Princess Vivi faces down Crocodile, who has taken possession of the Palace, the Kicking Claw Force arrives! Dedicated to the kingdom, they will do whatever it takes to defeat him!  Meanwhile, Zolo’s battle is done and he has emerged victorious! Sanji is pushing forward himself, along with Chopper and a heavily bandaged Usopp riding on a camel.

Another country has now been heard from in the form of Koza, the rebel leader. Vivi doesn’t want news of the impending explosion to get out, knowing it will only serve to cause chaos. Listening to Vivi’s impassioned plea, Koza tells the rebels not to fight and shed more blood. But his efforts are met with unexpected results.

Just when all seems lost, who should arrive on the scene, to Crocodile’s amazement, but none other than Luffy himself! You just can’t keep a good man down! Crocodile maintains that Luffy will never beat him, he is far out of the boy’s league, he is one of the seven warlords of the sea. Luffy replies, “If you’re one of the seven warlords of the sea, then I am the eighth warlord of the sea!” Brave words but can he back them up?

As Luffy and Crocodile battle, Ms. All Sunday, aka Nico Robin tells Cobra he’s going to miss the rest of the fight, and to take her to the ponegliff…. Now!

The tension rises!  A bomb is set to go off and destroy the square and kill a lot of people – but no one knows where it is! One way or another, it seems as though people will die – can Luffy and his crew prevent this from happening!  Onward to the next volume!

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 20: Time to Graduate by Yusei Matsui

Leave a reply

Assassination Classroom, Vol 20     

Version 1.0.0

 

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: February 6, 2018

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga//192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Despite all the best efforts of the students, the inevitable end for Koro Sensei has arrived. A giant laser has been put into place, aimed at the teacher in a trap he cannot escape, set to deploy just before dawn. The students urge their teacher to take them hostage and flee, but that isn’t really an option. So what else is there to do but celebrate Koro Sensei’s birthday!

Then, just when they thought the situation couldn’t get any worse, it does – in the form of Yanagisawa and his other creation, the Grim Reaper who took Koro Sensei’s place and who is destined to be the next Koro Sensei! The mad scientist claims that his second monster is twice as powerful as his first. He ridicules the students for bothering to show up to what he sees as a hopeless situation and doesn’t hesitate to threaten them in order to see if Koro Sensei will protect them or himself.

And now the final battle begins….

While there is another volume of the series, to all intents and purposes, this is the last one, at least as far as Koro Sensei’s story is concerned. Not like we didn’t know it was coming, we did, from the very beginning. Doesn’t make it any easier to take or accept.  I’ll admit that I cried, even though I’ve read the books before.  RIP Koro Sensei.

Book Review: One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji

Leave a reply

One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji   

Author: Yuto Tsukuda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: March 12, 2024

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/232 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

When a famous gourmand, known as “the tongue that spans the seas”, arrives at the Baratie, she is instantly disdainful of all that she sees and questions how good the food can possibly be. She makes ridiculous assumptions concerning the head chef as well as Sanji and the others. Sanji offers to make a dish for her, but under one condition – if she is pleased by what he cooks, she must clean her plate. Game on!

The crew of the Go Merry run across a castaway adrift on the ocean and bring him aboard, although he is less than thrilled and feels they should have left him. Finding a wedding invitation, Sanji surmises that the man is a chef from a nearby island whose only daughter is getting married and he has gone in search of some special seafood he could make for the occasion, but after catching the Draconic Super-fillet salmon, he got caught in a squall. However the weather is the least of his concerns – once he has the beautiful fish, he is unable to properly filet it! Sanji offers to help, but will this task prove to be beyond even his amazing culinary skills?

In the kingdom of Alabasta, a feast is being held to honor the heroes who saved the kingdom! But with Luffy’s enormous appetite and the chef’s staff being temporarily short-handed, a problem is about to arise. Sanji wants to help, but he doesn’t want to intrude. So he introduces himself and says he wants to see how such a large kitchen works, and he is willing to do anything, such as peel potatoes. They quickly take advantage of his generosity!

Sanji finds himself a hostage of the inhabitants of Kamabakka Queendom – an island comprised of drag queens! They challenge him to earn the rights to the 99 recipes of attack cuisine. But this will be no easy task. Challenge accepted!

Sanji – who now goes by Sangoro – is looking for a powerful samurai to join his crew, so decides to use his culinary skills to attract candidates. But as he and Usopp brainstorm, he discovers a soba noodle vendor who seems to have the market cornered. Sanji is never one to resist a challenge, so he challenges them, but soon learns they do have a monopoly on the best buckwheat flour. Can Sanji work around such a problem?

This volume takes the character of Sanji from Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece and features him in his own set of stories taken from various points in the original manga. It’s not hard to see that these stories were done by the creators of Food Wars, as the style is unmistakable.  I love Sanji, so buying this was inevitable. They did a wonderful job with five interesting stories featuring Sanji, as well as a bonus story. If you love One Piece, particularly Sanji, as well as Food Wars, this book is for you.

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 17: Hiriluk’s Cherry Blossoms by Eiichiro Oda

Leave a reply

One Piece, Vol 17: Hiriluk’s Cherry Blossoms      

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: March 4, 2008

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

King Wapol, the ne’er-do-well, pretend pirate has returned to Drum Island and intends to retake his throne, and especially his castle. He is very angry that Doctor Kureha has moved in behind his back. Not only that, there is a pirate flag, symbol of the late Doctor Hiriluk, flying there. That has got to change. Luckily, Luffy has no intention of allowing this idiot to besmirch the banner, and neither does the reindeer Tony Tony Chopper, who has some very amazing abilities of his own! Unfortunately, Wapol is not without his own secrets. Turns out, he ate some devil fruit too – the munch munch fruit – and he can eat anything!

Below, in the village, it turns out that Dalton is not dead, just injured, and Usopp offers to carry him up the mountain to the castle, to seek the doctor’s help. But to Usopp’s dismay, Zolo grabs Dalton and heads toward the mountain. Usopp has no choice but to follow, angrily, as he shouts, “I was about to get serious!” Luckily, before they get too far, another mode of transportation becomes available! Onward they go!

Nami decides that three days in bed is long enough, so she gets up, only to encounter King Wapol, who has entered the castle. She flees from him, and he is too fat to follow. But he has a very unique cure for that which involves eating himself. Suddenly, he’s a whole lot thinner than he was!

Once the situation on Drum Island is resolved, it’s time to head toward Alabasta, to save Princess Vivi’s kingdom!  Little are they aware that someone else is on their way, none other than the top member of Baroque Works, Sir Crocodile!

I think the biggest take-away from this volume of One Piece is the growth of and addition to the crew of Tony Tony Chopper. The reindeer man learns to open himself to others, particularly Luffy and his crew, and he comes to realize that there is a whole other world waiting to be explored, places where he can use his medical talents. And that he is worthy of having friends! I think he will make a fine addition to the story and look forward to seeing more of them. Another great volume of One Piece!

Book Review: The Way of the Househusband, Vol 12 by Kousuke Oono

Leave a reply

The Way of the Househusband, Vol 12   

Author: Kousuke Oono

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: August 20, 2024

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Comedy/168 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

When another baseball shatters a window in the Boss’ home, he becomes fed up and determined to do something about it. So he sends for the troops, his purpose to go to war. Tatsu and the others arrive on the field to face their opponents – a baseball team of youngsters, who promise to “crush them inta dust.”  Can age hold its own in the face of youth?

Masa decides he wants to be a YouTube content creator and hopes to grow it to be his main source of income, as he explains to Tatsu. Tatsu notices that Masa’s view counts are rather sad, though. As Tatsu is visiting and relaxing with Masa, Masa suddenly starts filming for his channel, and announces he has his first guest – none other than Tatsu, who is taken by surprise. Masa’s intent is to review convenience food items, but maybe Tatsu wasn’t his best choice?

Tora is annoyed to find new competition for his crepe cart in the form of a nearby oden cart. He and Tatsu come down a little hard on the owner of the cart, especially considering the poor guy hasn’t even had a customer yet and isn’t doing very well. So Tatsu and Tora decide to help the newcomer out by critiquing his food.

A group of parents and kids, including Tatsu, are attending a traffic safety class being given by Officer Masaki and the police department mascot, a monkey named Fuzz. Masaki demonstrates safety by putting Fuzz into dangerous situations so he can explain what to do if that happens, but Tatsu is having none of it, and butts heads with Masaki, concerned over the mascot’s own safety.

It’s Halloween, and Tatsu is determined to show the kids the ins and outs of trick or treating!

While taking tea with some of the women from the committee, Tatsu reveals that a Starbox Coffee has opened in their town! They decide they need to check this out and hurry over there, only to be met by a rival gang with the same idea. The leader and Tatsu get into a contest to see who can outdo the other with their orders.

Tatsu and Masa are on a mission to thoroughly clean Tatsu’s apartment. But when Masa mistakenly tries to burn one of Miku’s Policure figurines, she decides to bring in an expert to show them how it’s done.

Miku invites Tora’s sister, Koharu, to go with her to buy a Valentine’s present for Tatsu. Koharu buys a chocolate making kit and Miku decides to help her so they can both give chocolates. Miku has a unique style, perhaps influenced by Tatsu, and she turns the experience into a game of Russian roulette for Tatsu and Tora, who are less than thrilled at spending time together.

Another great volume of The Way of the Househusband. Tatsu is always up to something and it’s invariably entertaining. By now, everyone has become a familiar character and I look forward to seeing them all and what they are up to. I never get bored, and I look forward to the next volume, which I have already pre-ordered.

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 19 by Yusei Matsui

Leave a reply

Assassination Classroom, Vol 19   

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: December 5, 2017

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga//200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

High school acceptance letters have been sent out and received, and all of Koro Sensei’s students have been accepted either by their first or second choices, happily. After yearbook photos are taken, Koro Sensei decides to make a better yearbook just for his class, including photos of them they weren’t even aware existed! Naturally, not everyone is happy about this.

Time stands still for no one, including Koro Sensei and his class of would-be assassins. The deadline for his assassination is drawing near, and the government is taking it seriously – deadly seriously. Far from relying on a classroom filled with young assassins-in-training, they have put their own plans in place. They manage to trap Koro Sensei on the mountain so he can’t escape. Then they have Karasuma tell the students to stay home. When they insist on going to school anyway, they find their way up the mountain completely blocked. The students end up being taken into custody… “for their own protection.” Will they take this lying down? Of course not!  Where there is a will, there is a way! After all, they have been trained by Koro Sensei!

Karasuma visits the students in lockdown and gives them invaluable information, followed by a visit from Ms. Vitch, with what they will need to carry out their plans.  Thanks to Karasuma, they know when to make their move. The Head Assassin has people deployed all over the mountain. No way those children can get past his trained men. But they never took into account that these same students have been training on this mountain for the past year and know it like the back of their hand, whereas they do not. Not a fair match, is it?

Down to the wire now, only two volumes left. The students are determined to complete their assignment of assassinating Koro Sensei, despite not wanting to do so. But can they overcome the hurdles that have been placed in their way? They’re still only kids at the end of the day. But these kids have been trained by the best. So maybe they can save Koro Sensei’s life, rather than take it.

One way or another, the end is coming soon. But will it be a happy ending for anyone? Looking forward to the next volume, somewhat apprehensively.

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 15: Straight Ahead!!! by Eiichiro Oda

Leave a reply

One Piece, Vol 15: Straight Ahead!!!       

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: August 7, 2007

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Pretending to be Mr 3, Sanji has a strange conversation via snail phone with someone who calls himself Zero. He must be the leader of the Baroque Works! Sanji lies and says the Straw Hats are dead, no need to send anyone else to do the job. But will Zero believe him, or will he want some kind of evidence? Both men are unaware that their conversation is being overheard via a listening device by none other than Captain Smoker of the Navy!

A joyous Sanji reunites with his friends. Usopp is rather angry, though. “He wasn’t around when we needed him, but he has the nerve to show up now?” Sanji tells them about his conversation with Zero. And also how he happened to find the Eternal Pose for Alabasta. Huzzah! Now they can leave! If not for that, they would have to stay there a year until their own Pose resets. They bid a fond farewell to Broggy and Dorry and off they go!

To their horror, they discover that Nami is burning up with fever!  Oh dear! She needs a doctor and she needs one now! Plans to head toward Alabasta have to be shelved in favor of locating the nearest island with a doctor! What’s this up ahead? Is that someone standing in the middle of the ocean… on the water! Gasp! How can that be? No, there’s a submersed ship beneath the figure, and up it pops, and with it Captain Wapol of the Tin Tyrant Pirates! Surely this can’t be good?

After the encounter with Wapol and his crew, they sail on, and everything starts to grow colder. Viv explains that they are approaching a winter island. As they near the island, they spot people on the shore, obviously waiting for them. A rather large man tells them to go away, before the people fire on them! Luffy’s first impulse is to respond with anger, but cooler heads prevail and they apologize profusely and beg for help for their friend Nami, who is terribly ill and needs a doctor.

Luffy and his crew are allowed to land. They’re taken to Big Horn Village. The big man’s name is Dalton. He’s the Protector of the island. Unfortunately, there’s only one doctor on the island, and she’s a witch who lives in the castle far away on the hill. They have no way of contacting her, so Luffy decides he’ll take Nami to the witch. Sanji volunteers to go with them, while the others remain behind and wait. Dalton warns them to watch out for the Lupins.  Dalton tells them that they were once called the Drum Kingdom and they were ruled by the worst king ever, whose name was Wapol. That name rings a bell! Wasn’t that the pirate they encountered? Dalton realizes that he is still looking to find his way back to the island, and woe betide everyone should that occur!

A lot to unpack in this volume, a whole lot going on.  From finally being able to leave the island, Nami getting sick, the encounter with the strange pirates, and then their frosty reception on the Winter island, never a dull moment. Sanji’s conversation with Zero is hilarious. Naturally, he’ll figure out at some point that the Straw Hats are not dead and the search for them will recommence.  Will they get to the witch doctor in time to save Nami? Will they live to get to the witch doctor? Have to wait until the next volume to find out!

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 18 by Yusei Matsui

Leave a reply

Assassination Classroom, Vol 18     

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: October 3, 2017

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga//200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Nagisa and Karma utilize their stealth skills to steal aboard the rocket headed to the space station, taking the place of the crash dummies, much to the surprise of the astronauts. Nagisa threatens them with a bomb (a fake one) and Karma explains their mission in order to gain their cooperation in gathering the data on Koro Sensei. When asked how they plan to return, they confidently say that they have that covered.

The two hitchhikers parachute back to their classroom, where they find a very angry Karasuma. But Koro Sensei convinces him that the information which the students gleaned from their trip, even outside of the data about himself, far outweighs any of Karasuma’s arguments. Going over the data, they realize that if handled correctly, the chances of Koro Sensei actually exploding and destroying the earth are minimal, and everyone rejoices. Can it really be that simple? But, also, is that a risk they can afford to take?

Koro Sensei wishes to schedule another career guidance session with each of them. Once they graduate, their assassination skills will no longer be of use to them, and they have their futures to consider. That is only 38 days away now. Not a lot of time. Plus they need to apply to the high school of their choice. For Karma, that’s an easy decision – he wants to attend Kunugigaoka High School and make the students’ lives miserable by outshining them lol Nagisa is conflicted about his career choice if he doesn’t become an assassin. He is surprised when Sakura asks him what else would he become but a teacher? That idea had actually never occurred to him.

The second Grim Reaper is still on the loose – and still determined to wreak vengeance on Koro Sensei! It’s unfortunate that he has teamed up with mad scientist Yanagisawa to take down Koro Sensei once and for all!

Valentine’s Day is coming! In Japan, that’s a time for women to buy chocolates for the men in their lives. And also for a certain teacher to indulge his matchmaking propensities! How many couples will he successfully match this year?

Time is ticking away, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance! As the students prepare for life after junior high, surely they must be wondering if there will be any life. They have discovered that the chances of Koro Sensei exploding are minimal, but they aren’t zero, so some sort of chance remains. And it looks like the wannabe Grim Reaper is more than happy to add to their confusion, along with the horrible man who made Koro Sensei what he is today. That can’t be good. Another great volume, only three more to go!

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 14: Instinct by Eiichiro Oda

Leave a reply

One Piece, Vol 14: Instinct     

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: April 3, 2007

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Princess Vivi is appalled that the giant Dorry was tricked into drinking exploding ale, but she assures him they had nothing to do with that! Luffy is forced to overpower him, for the giant’s sake as well as their own, and now he is angry that this happened to Dorry. Meanwhile, Mr. 5 and Ms. Valentine seem to be in trouble with their superiors over their failure. But they can redeem themselves by obtaining the heads of the two giants, Broggy and Dorry, which are worth 100 million berries each!

Luffy, Vivi, Zolo, and Usopp end up running into each other, only to learn that Nami has disappeared and Usopp thinks a dinosaur ate her! Turns out that the two bosses are Mr. 3 and Ms. Goldenweek – he works in wax and she is an artist of gravity. Mr. 3 interferes in the giant’s battle and helps to bring one down and capture the other. Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine capture Vivi, Zoro, and Nami and bring them to Mr. 3, who intends to make them part of his huge candelabra!

Luffy arrives with Usopp and Karoo, but it’s unclear whether his presence is more of a hindrance than a help. Can he use the powers of the wax against their owner? And will Miss Goldenweek overcome him with her Colors Trap ability? Meanwhile, back at the ship, Sanji is wondering what is taking everyone so long, and maybe the girls need him to rescue them. He decides to search for them and runs across the other wax camp, now abandoned. Naturally, he decides to have some tea.  Unexpectedly, though, he hears a phone ring. In the middle of the jungle? Of course he answers it and receives a surprising reply from the other end.

These Baroque Works people just seem to keep coming out of the woodwork! Apparently, the lower their number, the higher in the hierarchy they are. And now we meet Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek (It seems the number system just applies to the men, although each is partnered with a woman). The lower the number also translates to greater abilities, it seems, as well.  Zolo’s suggestions as to how they should accept the inevitable and pose as candles are hilarious, but Nami is not so quick to embrace that particular Fate – not even the suggestion they cut off their legs.

This volume contains a mix of comedy, tragedy, and mystery.  Always something in the Grand Line, am I right? Looking forward to the next volume!