Boys Over Flowers – Vol. #6 – The Crime and Punishment of a Kiss

I’ll say forthright that this anime is very feminine.  There’s a lot of romantic and love oriented comedic anime out there that’s equally appealing to both sexes, but this one is strongly geared towards females.  In this volume, lead character Tsukushi is torn between two guys, Rui and Tsukasa, who happen to be friends, and mutual members of the F4 (Flower Four), which is a clique of friends who essentially run the local high school.  As always, this volume contains lots of drama.  The bonus features are sparse, a couple tame profiles and illustration sketches.  It’s hard to pick out a demographic to recommend this title to; but, if you’re interested in romantic anime I’d strongly suggest seeking out the series His and Her Circumstances, a wonderfully done anime with a lot more heart, and none of the drivel.

Overall Grade: C+ 

Dragon Hunter – Vol. #4 by Hong Seock Seo

I just sort of took a shot at the Dragon Hunter series, from manga import gods TOKYOPOP, and was left with mild feelings after the first three installments.  In this volume, however, Hong Seock Seo really finds his stride, and his work has improved by leaps and bounds.  This volume is definitely a page-turner; you’ll find yourself inevitably incapable of stopping to take a break.  Action, intrigue, mayhem, and adventure ensues in this part of the ongoing tale of dragon hunter Seur-Chong and his crew.  I’d suggest this series to both avid manga readers, and rookies alike.  The artwork isn’t necessarily gold; but the fast pace holds your interest sufficiently.

Overall Grade: A- 

Kill Me Kiss Me – Vol. #1 by Lee Young Yuu

This is one of those series’ that’s beyond description.  Japanese-teenage-crossdressing madness (with bouts of blatant homosexuality) ensues… if that peeks your interest than this might be for you, and… you might scare me.  When Tae Yeon finds out that her dream man, a teenage model, is attending her identical male cousin Jung-Woo’s school she devises a plan.  They’ll switch places!  Tae will be able to get close to her idol, and, well Jung-Woo… he’ll be able to be around teenage girls all day, albeit in a dress himself. Sound zany?  It is. Is it worth reading?  I’d say most definitely.  This is a lot of fun, and the material is original and unique.  Read this… but wearing underwear of the opposite sex is not required for maximum enjoyment.

Overall Grade: B 

Yu Yu Hakusho Ghost Files – Vol. #5 – The Beasts of Maze Castle

In this DVD second-tier character Kuwabara is showcased primarily, as in 2 of the 3 episodes on this disc are solely dedicated to his battle with Byakko.  This volume of the series is action, action, and more action.  If you’re unfamiliar with the story, I’d recommend starting from the beginning… although, if you’re just watching for fun; it’s not a bad spot to jump in.  Customary with this series, FUNimation doesn’t deliver with the special features; a couple lame DBZ trailers, and a few miniscule Japanese text translations are included.  Overall, it’s moderately entertaining… but not altogether unforgettable.

Overall Grade: B-