By Mat K.
I know it’s a gloomy week so far, and no one really wants to go out in this weather, but if there was ever an excuse to get your feet damp and squishy I believe good books are it, and this week we have some good books. Let’s start with the 8th and final volume of Pluto, the Urasawa X Tezuka collaboration event. When we last left off in Volume 7 Photon just got obliterated, and his hands survived just long enough to protect the child Wassily and the guard-bot from the explosive force. And then Atom finally wakes up, but with 6 billlion personalities flowing through his brain, will he be the same awesome robot from before he was torn to shreds? THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME! I’m just glad that I waited for the first 7 books to come out before I started reading it, because I couldn’t imagine having to wait all that time between each release. PS: If you haven’t started reading Pluto already, what is wrong with you?
Also coming out this week is Osamu Tezuka‘s Black Jack Volume 10. In this volume there’s a mummy, a bike race, a dolphin, and then Black Jack hits a bar. But after all that, who wouldn’t? For anyone still unfamiliar with this classic Black Jack is a mysterious and charismatic young genius surgeon who travels the world performing amazing and impossible medical feats. Though a trained physician, he refuses to accept a medical license. This leads Black Jack to occasional run-ins with the authorities, as well as from gangsters and criminals who approach him for illegal operations. Because he keeps his true motives secret, his ethics are perceived as questionable and he is considered a selfish, uncaring devil.
Then there’s Trinity Blood Volume 12, which for all intents and purposes I thought had already ended forever ago. Considering that Volume 11 came out last July, one again Tokyopop is really pushing the envelope on customer interest again. But who knows, maybe the appearance of all these almost forgotten books means that Tokyopop is finally picking up some steam again. Considering that it’s owned by Disney Co., you would think they would have more budget for printing and stop making stupid decisions. Oh well. Also coming in this week is the Mugen Spiral complete collection (collecting all 2 volumes). Now, I liked this short but sweet series, it’s like a concentrated version of Her Majesty’s Dog, complete with sexy demon boy.
Finally on my list of things you need to get out in the rain for is the premier of the new samurai series Red Hot Chili Samurai by Yoshitsugu Katagiri. Kokaku is a flashy, know-it-all samurai. He may seem lazy, but when it comes to bad guys, he has no mercy! He’ll do whatever it takes, especially when his one life’s passion-chili peppers-is at stake. Fasten your robe belts, this fire-breathing manga is action packed and won’t let go! Now, the inside art is nice enough, but the cover art is really something special. Reminds me of something like Samurai Champloo meets Gankutsuou. And it’s bright red, kind of hard to miss.
Anyway, lots of awesome things for you all, including a hot new yaoi called Love Knot by Blu Press, not to be confused with the Love Knot by June Press. So brave the storm and buy some books. See you next time!
Ja Ne!
