Matt’s Capsule Manga Reviews, Edition 1:
Kat & Mouse #2, R.O.D. #2, Angelic Days #3, School Rumble #3.

I’m in the middle of a number of series at this point (some of which already have a dozen or more volumes out) and like Bob I find myself with more to review than we have room for at Comicsnob. (no, we’re not going to each start daily posts. We have day jobs, you know.) Even if there isn’t time or space for a batch of full reviews, we can at least check in with some old friends.

Here are some second (and third) helpings of manga from previously reviewed series:

##

Kat & Mouse, Vol. 2: Tripped
Published by: Tokyopop
Story: Alex de Campi
Art: Federica Manfredi

96 (90) pages.
Vintage: January 2007
Tones: Christine Schilling
Lettering: Lucas Rivera
Cover Design: Jose Macasocol & Federica Manfredi
Editors: Tim Beadle & Carol Fox
Publisher’s Rating: Ages 8-12

Previously reviewed: Vol. 1
Rating: still 4 out of 5

What’s up:

More of the same for girl detectives Kat Foster and Mee-Seen “Mouse” Huang. This time there is some drama between the two over [*gasp*] a guy. Well, Mouse has a crush on the new art teacher, and as a school-girl crush I think we’re safe in assuming it won’t go anywhere, but I understand these sorts of feelings will crop up on occasion with girls of a particular age.

The heroines manage to patch things up, and also manage to solve not one but three mysteries (hmm… 2 and a halfish; I don’t think they did anything directly to resolve the second sub-plot) that come up during a class field trip to a Boston Art museum.

The series isn’t far enough in for things to become formulaic, yet, but I think we’re starting to see how the larger story arc is going to develop. Methinks Kat & Mouse will run at least 6 volumes, at least from the hints given so far. (of course, we should all hope for more than that.)

##

Read or Die, Vol. 2
Published by: Viz Media
Writer: Hideyuki Kurata
Artist: Shutaro Yamada

224 (212) pages.
Vintage: 2000. US edition May 2006.
English Translation & Adaptation: Steve Ballati
Touch-up Art & Lettering: Mark McMurray
Cover & Graphic Design: Janet Piercy
Editor: Urian Brown
Publishers Rating: Older Teen

Previously reviewed: Vol. 1
Rating: still 4 out of 5

What’s Up:

New assignments. Old boyfriends. Unexplained earthquakes. Hidden Libraries. Events proceed at a slower pace in volume two, perhaps because writer & artist both know they have us hooked, so they can tell a longer story without having to sell us on character and concept.

This series caps out at four volumes, so I’ll likely have another full review for volume 4. There is also a sequel series (R.O.D.: Read or Dream) in release now.

##

Neon Genesis Evangelion — Angelic Days, Vol. 3
Published by: ADV Manga
Story & Art: Fumino Hayashi
based on an original story by Gainax

184 (162) pages.
Vintage: 2003. US edition November 2006.
Editor: Javier Lopez
Translation: Kaoru Bertrand
Graphic Artist: Scott Howard
Publisher’s Rating: Teen, 13+

Previously reviewed: Vol. 1 & Vol. 2
Rating: Downgraded, 2 out of 5

What’s Up:

We deal with the aftermath of the students’ first trial by combat in this volume, but there are also more important things than saving the world– like confessing to the one you love, and going out on dates.

It’s still well done, but I was hoping for more giant-robot-vs-giant-alien combat. Let me credit Hayashi for one thing though: I have yet to see a manga artist with such a deft hand drawing emotion– A single panel (w/o dialogue) is usually all it takes, and I know exactly what the character is feeling.

##

School Rumble, Vol. 3
Published by: Del Rey Books
Writer & artist: Jin Kobayashi

192 (158) pages
Vintage: 2003. US edition August 2006.
English Translation & Adaptation: William Flanagan
Letterer: Michaelis/Carpelis Design
Publisher’s Rating: Older Teen, ages 16+

Previously reviewed: Vol. 1
Rating: Upgraded, 3 out of 5

What’s Up:

Well, in volume 2 quite a bit happened. It looks like the delinquent and so-called secondary character, Harima Kenji, has become the hidden engine driving this series– His character undergoes the most changes, and is also the more interesting to follow even if Tsukamato Tenma, the object of his affection, gets at least as many pages. Harima loses all hope, to the point where he draws manga as his only emotional outlet, then falls even lower when he discovers the artist he respects the most and was emulating (wait for it) is also his rival for Tenma. Then he: shacks up with an older woman, wanders the earth like Caine, becomes mistaken for a local Shinto deity (or perhaps just a saint), tells fortunes on the street, and after a mix-up involving love letters and school correspondence (don’t ask) eventually ends up going back to classes.

Meanwhile, Tenma is also going through her own trials, but… it reads much the same as volume one. Quite a few minor characters are getting fleshed out, so the series as a whole is starting to develop more of an ensemble-cast feel, rather than the one-note love-triangle plot that dominated volume one. Oh wait, volume 3 also has the girls in swimsuits. Oh, I know, no big surprise there. Volume 4 will likely have the cast going to a hot spring resort next. (these are so predictible…)

I have no idea where this series is going to take us next– except that I doubt that anyone is finding “true love” any time soon, obviously.