Lenni Reviews: "A Strange and Mystifying Story" by Tsuta Suzuki

*This book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

After the unfortunate death of his grandfather, Akio Yamane has no family left and believes he will soon join them. The Yamane family is cursed and Akio is indeed terminally ill. Delirious with fever, Akio desperately prays to a talisman his grandfather said would protect him and summons a demon he names Setsu. Akio begs Setsu to cure his illness and never dreamed how intimate Setsu's "treatments" would be.

Setsu is a straightforward character and he's written in a way that his brusque nature doesn't come off assholeish like Eiri Yuki from Gravitation. You can tell he cares for Akio yet since he isn't human he doesn't bother with the niceties or waste time yet remains likable. Setsu and Akio play off each other well and the story doesn't waste too much time on the typical slapstick. The sex scenes are mildly censored; naughty bits kept in shadow or vague outline and strategically placed word bubbles abound. But it's still hot and the story is cute. 3.5 out of 5.

Note: There are also two side stories: Nylon Vinyl and The God's Don't Exist. The first is a contemporary teacher/student relationship and the second is a historical romance. They are pretty short so there isn't much time for development but they were amusing sides to the main story. It would have been interesting to have them tie into Setsu somehow; as he has been bound to Akio's family for many years. But they're still cool.

 

Children of the Whales #1 (Manga Review)

Children of the Whales #1 (Manga Review)

In an endless sea of sand drifts the Mud Whale, a floating island city of clay and magic. In its chambers a small community clings to survival, cut off from its own history by the shadows of the past. Chakuro is the archivist for the Mud Whale, diligently chronicling the lives and deaths of his people. As one of the short-lived thymia wielders, he knows his time is limited and is determined to leave a better record than his predecessors. But the steady pace of their isolated existence on the Mud Whale is abruptly shattered when a scouting party discovers a mysterious young girl who seems to know more about their home than they do…

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VIZ Media Releases Junji Ito's Frightening Horror Manga Anthology SHIVER

VIZ Media Releases Junji Ito's Frightening Horror Manga Anthology SHIVER

The new anthology from the critically acclaimed master of Japanese horror manga will debut as a hardcover edition under the VIZ Signature imprint. SHIVER: JUNJI ITO SELECTED STORIES contains nine of Junji Ito’s best short stories, as selected by the author himself, presented with accompanying notes and commentary. SHIVER is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and carries a print MSRP of $22.99 U.S. / $32.00 CAN.

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The Promised Neverland Vol 1 (Manga Review)

By Justin D Williams

Emma, Norman and Ray are the brightest kids at the Grace Field House orphanage. And under the care of the woman they refer to as “Mom,” all the kids have enjoyed a comfortable life. Good food, clean clothes and the perfect environment to learn—what more could an orphan ask for? One day, though, Emma and Norman uncover the dark truth of the outside world they are forbidden from seeing.

Anime NYC Coverage: VIZ Media Industry Panel

Anime NYC Coverage: VIZ Media Industry Panel

VIZ Media had a presence at Anime NYC and hosted their annual industry panel. This year VIZ Media made two new announcements in addition to discussing Sailor Moon, and new manga titles such as Children of the Whales, Splatoon, The Promised Neverland and discussing the release of Pokemon Season 1 on Blu Ray. VIZ Media had the audience roaring when they announced the next story in My Hero Academia entitled My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.

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Otakus & Geeks Holiday Gift Guide 2017

Otakus & Geeks Holiday Gift Guide 2017

The holiday season is coming closer and it's time to go shopping. However, the big question on everyone's mind is what should I buy this year. What items are must get for my family and me? As every year the staff at Otakus & Geeks are here to help you out. This year we have video reviews, pricing and separate the holiday gift guide by categories such as toys, anime, manga, video games, tech and much more. Check out this year's Holiday Gift Guide for 2017 from Otakus & Geeks. 

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Lenni Reviews: "Jackass" vol 1 by Scarlet Beriko

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

Keisuke lives with his sister boisterous sister, Akiko, and walks to school with his best friend Katsumi. Katsumi is openly gay and scandalously dating the school nurse and Keisuke finds this out when he accidentally stumbles upon them kissing in the nurses' office. Akiko's pantyhose had gotten tangled up in Keisuke's school uniform so Shinoda, Keisuke's best friend, offers to cover for him by taking him to the nurses' office but when Shinoda sees Keisuke's runner's legs in the pantyhose, he can't help but touch them. But what starts off as simple touching turns to more for Keisuke.

This is a very sexy friends to lovers story with asides to some other relationships; including a boy who bullies Katsumi for being gay who of course is doing so because he has a crush. All the conflicts are handled logically and nothing ever blows up into horrid dramatics; like the whole school turning on Katsumi because he's in a relationship with a staff member. And for an uke, Katsumi is a strong, assertive character. He may be young and sweet but when backed into a corner, Katsumi doesn't wait for a savior. Things play out in ways where you can see real people making these decisions.

The art is well done and all the sex scenes are so detailed you will blush while reading. And all the encounters are CONSENSUAL! So, you actually can connect with these pairings and want to see them happy. Great manga, despite being a little confusing when it starts out. 3.7 out of 5 and keep em coming!

This title is scheduled for release on October 10th, 2017 from SuBLime.

New Manga Recommendation Show From Japan: "The Manga Concierge"

New Manga Recommendation Show From Japan: "The Manga Concierge"

Somewhere in Shibuya lies a place where Torai Eisu, a manga concierge, guides people to the manga they “always wanted to read”. In this program, we meet with him every month to hear his title selection, each time on a different theme. In the first episode, the manga concierge introduces three manga themes around games.

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Kodansha Comics Launches the Science-Fiction Manga by Nihei Humble Book Bundle

Kodansha Comics presents the Science Fiction Manga by Nihei book bundle in partnership with Humble Bundle. The offering amounts to $185 worth of digital manga, featuring legendary manga-ka Tsutomu Nihei’s early mind-benders BLAME! and NOiSE up to his masterpiece, Knights of Sidonia. The actual cost of the bundle is based on Humble Bundle’s unique pay-what-you-want charitable model.

“This is an unprecedented deep-dive opportunity into the work of the foremost science-fiction manga artist of his generation, Tsutomu Nihei,” said Alvin Lu, General Manager of Kodansha Advanced Media.

The manga comes in multiple formats including CBZ, PDF, and ePub, so they can be read on computer, e-readers, iPads, cell phones, and a wide array of mobile devices. Bundle buyers choose where their money goes—between Kodansha Comics, three charities (Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Worldreader, and Mental Health Foundation), and, if they like, a fourth charity of their choice via the PayPal Giving Fund. If they like what Humble Bundle does, they can leave a Humble Tip too.

This special bundle ends WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 10:59 A.M. PACIFIC TIME. 

Here’s what bundle buyers get with each tier: 

 

FREE with newsletter sign up
Unlock NOiSE, a prequel to BLAME!

Pay $1 or more
Unlock all of the above + BLAME! volume 1 + a 1-month subscription to Crunchyroll

Pay $8 or more
Unlock all of the above + BLAME! volume 2 + the never-before-published-in-English BLAME! Academy and So On, a spinoff of BLAME!

Pay $17 or more
Unlock all of the above + the Knights of Sidonia Complete Set (volumes 1-15)

 

Furthermore, if Kodansha Comics hits its bonus goals all buyers unlock never-before-seen new work from Nihei,

 

APOSIMZ
A prologue chapter from Nihei’s next manga series. Unlock at $50K.

Tsutomu Nihei Creator Profile video
Unlock at $75K.

Science Fiction Manga by Nihei: Collected Works
Art booklet. Unlock at $100K.

VIZ Media Debuts New RUROUNI KENSHIN Manga 3-in-1 Editions

VIZ Media notably expands its catalog of omnibus manga releases with the announcement of RUROUNI KENSHIN 3-in-1, Vol. 1 on January 3rd. Creator Nobuhiro Watsuki’s acclaimed saga of a drifting swordsman in Meiji Era Japan is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teen and the new 3-in-1 editions will carry a print MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $19.99 CAN each. New omnibus volumes will be published on a quarterly basis.

In RUROUNI KENSHIN, Himura Battosai was once an assassin of ferocious power during the violent upheaval of the Bakumatsu era. But as the Meiji Restoration heals the wounds of civil war, Battosai takes up a new name and a new calling. As Himura Kenshin, he now fights only to protect the honor of those in need.

RUROUNI KENSHIN made its first appearance in Japan in 1992 as an original short story in Weekly Shonen Jump Special and went on to garner fans around the world. Later rewritten and published as a regular, continuing manga series in 1994, RUROUNI KENSHIN ended serialization in 1999 but it continued in popularity, as evidenced by the 2000 publication of Yahiko no Sakabato(Yahiko’s Reversed-Edge Sword) and the 2015 publication of RUROUNI KENSHIN: RESTORATION in WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP. The series also has inspired novels, anime and feature films. Creator Watsuki is also the author of the popular series, BUSO RENKIN, which is published by VIZ Media.

 

Death Note: Light Up The New World Trailer

Hey O&G fans, the trailer for the upcoming Death Note: Light Up The New World live-action movie has been released. The Japanese-language film is Nikkatsu's fourth film in its Death Note series, which is based on the manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. Here is a look at the trailer:

10 years after the Death Note murders, six Death Notes fall to the human world. Two people inherit the DNA of Light Yagami and L, and a deadly new game of cat-and-mouse begins... In Cinemas in Australia and New Zealand November 10. Book your tickets now!

Death Note: Light Up The New World will be released October 29 in Japan, with an Australia & New Zealand release scheduled for November 10. No North American release has been scheduled as of yet.

Warner Bros.'s North American adaptation of the Death Note manga is currently filming for a 2017 release.