Title: Wandering Cat's Cage
Author/Illustrator: Akane Torikai
Rating: 1/5
Published by Fantagraphics and available October 27, 2016, Wandering Cat's Cage is a speculative science fiction set in a near-future dystopia with limited human reproduction-- this is controlled by those in power, and there are few men. This caught my eye for being an adult single volume manga reminicient of the Western series Y: The Last Man. This unfortunately isn't the first manga I've read recently that has particularly weak dialogue (see my review of Kaijin Fugeki in this post). It assumes the reader already knows exactly what's going on and the characters' lines are so brief you really won't learn anything. I think there's an issue with writing when the summary is the only reason you know anything about the story. The art is the best part of this manga, Torikai is fantastic at realistic figures and detailed backgrounds and the world is expressed far better in these visuals than anything the characters say. I know this manga's subject matter reflects the reproductive anxieties of the modern world, especially Japan, much like Omega Megaera, but the writing is so blank it's difficult to get through, let alone glean any themes or message. I'm disappointed, since I would really like to recommend something like this.
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Title: Magical Girl Dandelion, Vol. 1
Author/Illustrator: Kaeru Mizuho
Rating: 5/5
Published by Viz Media and available March 3, 2026, I first heard of Magical Girl Dandelion from an online friend. My friend loves Frau Faust, my favorite manga of all time, so I trust their judgement. Like Frau Faust, Ancient Magus' Bride, and The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún; Dandelion features the relationship of a girl and an otherworldly, perhaps demonic, being. Tanpopo, a high schooler, is given the chance to become a magical girl, a hero who fights evil with powers gained through transformation-- think the classic shoujo Sailor Moon, or the modern Faustian interpretation Puella Magi Madoka Magica. The problem here for Tanpopo-- her best friend and protector, Shade, is a fiend, the kind of demonic creatures hunted by magical girls. The old friends are now in conflict-- Shade believing that this makes him Tanpopo's enemy, to which he decides to sabotage her career, and Tanpopo, now Dandelion, wanting to remain friends with him and team up as fiend slayers. When she says "I just want to be there for him too. Is that really so bad?", it punches you in the gut. The cute magical girl and demon buddy story is cut short, however, when Tanpopo's grandfather is put in peril, revealing the truth behind the fiends. The plot clearly begins here, and we now have a good grasp of the world in chapter two, a relief from the nonsensical and poorly paced manga I've read recently (Wandering Cat's Cage and Kaijin Fugeki) and other series that seem to take forever to start. I was immediately drawn in by the excellent art and in particular Shade's design. Kaeru Mizuho has a real talent for unique creature design. This is always appreciated in a field flooded with generic human-looking demons. In between some of the chapters we get a breather with a Q&A with Tanpopo and Shade answering questions from readers, which is delightful. This series will appeal to fans of FF and the other manga I mention above, and anyone who enjoys odd couples, demons, and wishes they were a Sailor Scout.
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Author/Illustrator: Yuzuru Kuki
Rating: 5/5
Published by Udon Entertainment and available October 1, 2024, I accidentally requested this and I had to get it off my shelf. However, is there any more delightful thing to have to read than an autobiography of beloved cartoonist Charles M. Schulz? I was immediately hooked. While I'm not one of the members of the Millennial Snoopy fandom renaissance, I do have a great love for Peanuts, as all good people do. This manga follows Schulz's growth as both a cartoonist and a person-- from a shy, easily embarrassed, unlucky kid to an artist who knows his life's purpose and is skilled at doing what he loves. I knew a bit about the background of the strip, like how Snoopy was based on Schulz's own eccentric childhood dog, but I didn't know that Charlie Brown and Linus were named for coworkers, or that the mysterious little red-headed girl was inspired by Schulz's crush. Knowing what real-world things inspired the comic strip I read every day in the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette as a child brings the pen and ink stories more to life. I love how this book not only informs readers on Schulz's life and work but also makes them think about the lessons from Peanuts-- the importance of being loved for yourself, taking time to breathe and refocus when problems overwhelm you, and, perhaps most importantly, that everyone experiences the same ups and downs of life. Charlie Brown and I will both win the big game someday.
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Title: Assassin's Creed Shadows: Tales of Iga, Vol.1
Author/Illustrator: regujie
Rating: 4/5
Published by Viz Media and available June 16, 2026, Tales of Iga is a side story for one of my favorite video game series, Assassin's Creed, specifically the latest game, Shadows. For any non-gamers, AC follows the centuries-long struggle between the Assassins and Templars, and each game takes place in a historical period (my favorites are the Ezio games, set in the Renaissance). Shadows is set in Japan's Sengoku Period, specifically the 16th century, and Tales of Iga is a prequel. It introduces the legendary shinobi Momochi Sandayu, Fujibayashi Nagata, and Hattori Hanzō, who join the Japanese branch of the Assassin Brotherhood. While the elements specific to the game probably won't make sense at first to readers unfamiliar with the series (obviously), the history should help-- the Templars, always in search of mystical artifacts to control the world with, are on the hunt for the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan-- the country's Imperial Regalia still used (and held secret) today. If you're interested in Japanese history, things like these, and especially the historical figures, you'll probably find this exciting even if you haven't played AC. The art is fantastic and is some of the best realistic manga illustration I've seen all year. While it probably won't be on the radar of most general manga readers, it will catch the eyes of gamers and weebs. I happen to be both. And I'm looking forward to the series continuing.
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Author/Illustrator: Shuzo Oshimi
Rating: 5/5
Published by Viz Media and available September 15, 2026, Sound of a Blink broke me. I keep starting writing this review and then erasing it because how can I explain the conceit in a sentence and do it justice. Here goes. Sound is a memoir by mangaka Shuzo Oshimi, who specializes in coming-of-age stories with a psychological bent, often reflecting his own experiences. This goes beyond that. The young Shuzo is just finding his place in the world. He's beginning his manga career and has just won an award, he even has a girlfriend. And then his life is shattered when a tumor is found in his younger brother's brain. Shuzo addresses the story to his brother, going back to his memories-- both their lives together as brothers and his own personal life. The whole time he struggles to define his brother's face, saying "I can't see you clearly. Trying to draw you makes me tremble. But here goes anyway." His sketchy, surreal art perfectly visualizes this and all his other chaotic feelings. Even the cover is monochrome, in contrast to most manga covers, usually the one splash of color in an otherwise black and white medium. The panel of nurses shifting Shuzo's brother from his hospital bed to a stretcher to take him to the operating room brought me back to my own surgery this spring-- I remember the pain of just trying to move and how desperate I was for the surgery that saved my life. I don't know what it's like to be in the brother's place, or in Shuzo's, but this hit me hard. I love when art connects to your own experiences. One thing I realized only as I was working on this review is Shuzo's brother is never named. This works on two levels-- the narration addressed to the brother, and Shuzo's trouble bringing his brother into focus. I cannot wait to read the next volume, and I'm going to add this to our collection.
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