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juushikaTitle: Domu
Author: Katsuhiro Otomo
Translator: Dana Lewis, Toren Smith
Published: Dark Horse, 2001 (1982)
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 240
Total Page Count: 377,125
Text Number: 1397
Read Because: reread, from my personal library
Review: In a giant apartment complex, the immemorable masses are caught in a battle between two psychics. The architecture is fantastic, and the contrast between that structured repetition and the improbable chaos of destruction is undeniably successful; the sheer scale of the climax and the small echoes of it in the resolution give this a successful structure. But it's not especially memorable—particularly the cast. Akira is better because it's an epic with more room for development, sure, but also because Otomo's style—his themes but also his art, especially his faces—are greatly enlivened by the addition of something sexy like, for example, body horror, motorcycles, or homoerotic subtext.
Title: Ghost Hunt vol 1-3
Author: Shiho Inada (based on the light novel series by Fuyumi Ono)
Published: Del Rey, 1998-1999 (2005-2006)
Rating: 2 of 5
Page Count: 450 (224+208+20 of 195)
Total Page Count: 377,995
Text Number: 1402-4
Read Because: found on multiple horror manga lists, paperbacks borrowed from the Wilsonville Public Library
Review: Review of the series "entire"; DNF during volume 3 of 12. Ghost Hunt's premise could describe any number of serial paranormal mysteries: a motley group investigates hauntings which aren't quite what they seem but nonetheless have a genuine paranormal element; the protagonist is an outsider, but her key role in solving cases indicates she may have latent paranormal abilities; oh, and she's in a developing relationship with the complicated team lead. So whether it's good comes down to: 1) What's the serial paranormal mystery element like? This one is cozy, not too scary, with a standard structure but an interesting Japanese framework. The overarching plot seems thin or absent. 2) How are the interpersonal elements? I enjoy the unlikely bedfellows vibe, lesser cousin of the found family; but the supporting characters are over the top and the central relationship fails to grab me. So this isn't for me, but I get how it could work—maybe a good bet for a cozy & comfortingly predictable paranormal mystery.
Author: Katsuhiro Otomo
Translator: Dana Lewis, Toren Smith
Published: Dark Horse, 2001 (1982)
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 240
Total Page Count: 377,125
Text Number: 1397
Read Because: reread, from my personal library
Review: In a giant apartment complex, the immemorable masses are caught in a battle between two psychics. The architecture is fantastic, and the contrast between that structured repetition and the improbable chaos of destruction is undeniably successful; the sheer scale of the climax and the small echoes of it in the resolution give this a successful structure. But it's not especially memorable—particularly the cast. Akira is better because it's an epic with more room for development, sure, but also because Otomo's style—his themes but also his art, especially his faces—are greatly enlivened by the addition of something sexy like, for example, body horror, motorcycles, or homoerotic subtext.
Title: Ghost Hunt vol 1-3
Author: Shiho Inada (based on the light novel series by Fuyumi Ono)
Published: Del Rey, 1998-1999 (2005-2006)
Rating: 2 of 5
Page Count: 450 (224+208+20 of 195)
Total Page Count: 377,995
Text Number: 1402-4
Read Because: found on multiple horror manga lists, paperbacks borrowed from the Wilsonville Public Library
Review: Review of the series "entire"; DNF during volume 3 of 12. Ghost Hunt's premise could describe any number of serial paranormal mysteries: a motley group investigates hauntings which aren't quite what they seem but nonetheless have a genuine paranormal element; the protagonist is an outsider, but her key role in solving cases indicates she may have latent paranormal abilities; oh, and she's in a developing relationship with the complicated team lead. So whether it's good comes down to: 1) What's the serial paranormal mystery element like? This one is cozy, not too scary, with a standard structure but an interesting Japanese framework. The overarching plot seems thin or absent. 2) How are the interpersonal elements? I enjoy the unlikely bedfellows vibe, lesser cousin of the found family; but the supporting characters are over the top and the central relationship fails to grab me. So this isn't for me, but I get how it could work—maybe a good bet for a cozy & comfortingly predictable paranormal mystery.
