Skip Beat! Vol 9 / Yoshiki Nakamura / 200 pages

Kyoko is determined to get vengeance on her ex-true love, Sho by becoming more famous in showbiz than him.  She becomes part of the LME section at an agency and has to wear eye searing hot pink jumpsuits along with Moko the other member of LME.  Kyoko finds out Moko is having some trouble on one of the job offers she gets and tries to help. Then Kyoko meets Moko’s huge family and their friendship becomes closer.  Kyoko also resolves the misunderstanding with her coworker Ren. Translated by: Tomo Kimura

Skip Beat! Vol 8 / Yoshiki Nakamura / 216 pages

Kyoko is determined to get vengeance on her ex-true love, Sho by becoming more famous in showbiz than him.  She becomes part of the LME section at an agency and has to wear eye searing hot pink ‘jumpsuits. Kyoko gets a job acting in one of Sho’s music videos as an angel and instead of ruining the video she gets one up on Sho by out acting him.  However later Sho interrupts a phone call from Ren, and now because of a misunderstanding Ren is angry with her and her friend Moko is keeping secrets. Hopefully her friend Maria the granddaughter of her agency’s president can help her. Translated by: Tomo Kimura

Skip Beat! Vol 7 / Yoshiki Nakamura / 200 pages

Kyoko is determined to get vengeance on her ex-true love, Sho by becoming more famous in showbiz than him.  She becomes part of the LME section at an agency and has to wear eye searing hot pink jumpsuits. Ren, Sho’s nemesis in showbiz, and who works in the same agency as Kyoko didn’t originally like Kyoko, thinking she had joined showbiz only to get revenge on Sho, however he learns that she also did it for herself because she enjoys it.  Kyoko is now also going back to school to finish her education while working for LME. Then she gets an offer to be part of a music video for one of Sho’s songs and she doesn’t know what to do. Translated by: Tomo Kimura

Skip Beat! Vol 6 / Yoshiki Nakamura / 208 pages

Kyoko is determined to get vengeance on her ex-true love, Sho by becoming more famous in showbiz than him.  She becomes part of the LME section at an agency and has to wear eye searing hot pink jumpsuits along with Moko the other member of LME.  After Kyoko and Moko both win the audition they both get to act together in a commercial and it is their official debut into the acting world.  Kyoko gets another LME job this time as Ren’s (a coworker from the same agency) substitute manager when his manager gets sick during this time Kyoko and Ren get to know each other more. Translated by: Tomo Kimura

Skip Beat! Vol 5 / Yoshiki Nakamura / 208 pages

Kyoko is determined to get vengeance on her ex-true love, Sho by becoming more famous in showbiz than him.  She becomes part of the LME section at an agency and has to wear eye searing hot pink jumpsuits along with Moko the other member of LME. Kyoko decides to audition for a part and also finds out that Moko also auditioned for it, their both determined to win but someone from Moko’s past is determined to destroy Moko.  Then the one in charge of the audition changes how the actresses are set up they have to audition in pairs and Kyoko and Moko get paired together. Translated by: Tomo Kimura

Skip Beat! Vol 4 / Yoshiki Nakamura / 208 pages

Kyoko is determined to get vengeance on her ex-true love, Sho by becoming more famous in showbiz than him.  She becomes part of the LME section at an agency and has to wear eye searing hot pink jumpsuits along with Moko the other member of LME.  A lot of LME jobs are work as a grunt but when Moko volunteers them to be extras on a daytime talk show, Kyoko has to dress up as their mascot when they have an emergency and then she has to deal with one of the guests on the show, Sho. She also bumps into Ren while still dressed in the mascot and sees a different side to him. Translated by: Tomo Kimura

Skip Beat! Vol 3 / Yoshiki Nakamura / 208 pages

Kyoko, determined to get revenge on her ex-true love Sho, by becoming more famous than him, joins the LME section at an agency. When she becomes fired up about acting she decides she wants to join the agency’s talent school to become better an actor, and gets involved with an act-off between some of the girls from the school and Moko the newest LME member. Kyoko met Moko when she first auditioned for the agency and who also failed. Now they have to prove that they both have the right to join the school.  Kyoko also meets Maria the granddaughter of the agency’s president. Translated by: Tomo Kimura

Skip Beat! Vol 2 / Yoshiki Nakamura / 208 pages

When Kyoko followed her true love Sho to the big city to help support him become a famous musician, she never though he would break her heart.  Now she has sworn to get revenge on him by becoming even more famous than him in showbiz, by becoming an actress. Kyoko joins the LME (Love-Me) section of the talent agency and now works in the same agency as Ren Tsuruga, Sho’s nemesis, however Kyoko and Ren don’t get along.  The LME section wears eye catching hot pink jumpsuits and does odd jobs around the agency for people. On one of her jobs being a grunt and working behind the scenes lugging things around for people she gets the chance to dress up and act against an actress for her position.  The results although not what she expected fire up her desires to become an actress. Translated by: Tomo Kimura

Skip Beat! Vol 1 / Yoshiki Nakamura / 184 pages

Ever since she was little Kyoko was in love with her best friend.  When she was young her best friend Sho’s family took her in due to her family situation.  When Sho decides to run away from home to follow his dreams to become a famous musician, Kyoko goes with him, quits highschool, and takes multiple jobs to support him.  Now that he has made it big Kyoko finds out he has been dating other women and doesn't care about her. She vows that she will get vengeance and that she will become even more famous than him. Kyokok gets a makeover and decides to join the talent agency that competes against Sho’s agency when that doesn’t work, she pesters one of the agents until he lets her audition. Translated by: Tomo Kimura

Blue Exorcist Vol. 1 / Kazue Kato (Japanese author) / 202 pages / Color in the title

Rin Okumura was always a rebellious orphan, but when he’s jumped by a gang, a blue flame he never knew he could use reveals that not only is he half-human-half-demon, but he is the illegitimate son of the Devil himself.  After his father kills someone close to him, Rin vows to get his revenge on him and joins the True Cross Academy to become an exorcist.  His teacher is his more intelligent, somehow-whole-human, younger twin brother Yukio; hilarity ensues (for the most part).  The first demon they had to exorcise was within a girl’s legs, making her immobile, because it had tricked her into thinking it was her grandmother’s spirit.  This girl, Shiemi, joins the True Cross Academy alongside Rin thanks to a kind conversation they had with each other.

Another recommendation I got, and my first impression was more towards Miss Kato’s illustrations and the careful detail she put into them, especially with the architecture—that alone is worth a peek into the book.

My Hero Academia Volume 16 - Red Riot / Kohei Horikoshi (Japanese author) / 192 pages / Color in the title

This volume was my personal favorite in the series so far, and not just because it had the most action either.

The professional heroes figure out the missing girl's location is at Shie Hassaikai Compound, so they, along with the four 1A students, go on a mission to rescue her.  The problem: Overhaul, his crew, and the League of Villains have been expecting them, and they've prepared to attack and use a Quirk-removing drug the moment they arrive.

The story at this point mainly focuses on Kirishima and Tamaki's battles, as well as their backstories.  The latter was always socially awkward around his peers since grade school, and with the help of Togata, he became more confident with himself; since he had been hit with the Quirk-removing drug before, he has to work to get it back but faints after defeating three henchmen.  As for the former, I could go on a whole discussion on his backstory.

First of all, I've heard about how, out of all the 1A students, manga readers loved Kirishima's backstory the most, which says a lot since there are loads of backstories for loads of characters, major and minor.  Although it wasn't what I expected, I wasn't disappointed either; in fact, it's pretty relatable.  Kirishima got underestimated by "friends" and enemies alike in middle school due to having a "lame" Quirk, yet he was still determined to get in the top school, U.A..  It’s when there was a life-or-death situation that made him doubt himself.  When he watched an interview with a role model hero, the role model talks about how even he has been afraid and wasn’t able to save people he could’ve, but it was remembering those people and moving forward that made him become a better hero.  And Kirishima took inspiration from that.
His actions during a fight with a duo of villains were so admirable, they were willing to let him heal, so they could fight again.

My Hero Academia Volume 15 - Fighting Fate / Kohei Horikoshi (Japanese author) / 192 pages / Color in the title

Besides Midoriya getting third-year student Togata as his new mentor, three other 1A students are chosen by the other two third-years: Uraraka and Tsuyu Asui by Nejire Hado, and Eijiro Kirishima by Tamaki Amajiki.  Both groups experience fighting villains or dangerous criminals.  In the latter group, Kirishima, who was treated as useless since Vol. 5, proves himself to be extremely powerful even for a hero, let alone a new sidekick.

When Midoriya and Togata go out in the city on patrol, on the other hand, they run into a child sprinting out of an alley; Overhaul appears out of the alley behind her and claims that he is her father.  Seeing the terror in her face and the bandages covering her arms, Midoriya refuses to give the girl to him, and Togata insists Midoriya not to act so suspicious around Overhaul.  In the end, Overhaul persuades the frightened girl to come with him.

And in case that wasn't bad enough, Midoriya gets news that All Might will die between now and a year due to a mix of severe injuries and using up all his power.

Later on, the professional heroes and seven teens meet together to discuss the girl Midoriya and Togata failed to save earlier, telling them about the evidence they found that could lead to her location and thus save her.

Super Awesome, as always.

My Hero Academia Volume 14 - Overhaul / Kohei Horikoshi (Japanese author) / 205 pages / Color in the title

So much has gone on between Volumes 3 and 13 (sorry), So I'm just going to cut to the chase:

Midoriya and Bakugo fight and reveal their thoughts of each other as they do-- the former looks up to the latter for his determination, and the latter is insecure of the former for being approved by All Might more.  They're soon caught, and they both get punished and must miss class time to do "odd jobs" around the school dorms; Midoriya for three days, and Bakugo for four days (since he started the fight).  Each boy gives the other some advice on his Quirk during their punishment.

After Midoriya's punishment ends, not only does he need to catch up in school, but the class also has special guests-- three third-year students who've had personal experience in the professional hero world.  At least one of them, Mirio Togata, proves it in their first drill fight, where none of the first-years, not even Midoriya, were able to beat him-- at least, not without feeling like he or she got pummeled in the gut.  Nevertheless, Togata, originally All Might's to-be successor, becomes curious of Midoriya due to his quick analyzing of opponents as well as why he was chosen as the successor instead.     

                                                         

Meanwhile, the League of Villains invite a criminal who goes by "Overhaul" (the plague doctor guy on the cover) to join them; however, Overhaul declines, pointing out that their never having a structured plan before sending any hit man out on a mission is a major flaw in their system.  He leaves, but he also keeps an opportunity in coming back open while he goes at his own pace on wreaking havoc.

First off, I haven't been able to watch Season 3 the anime adaptation, and I hear this book was the equivalent to the season finale, so now I feel a little more ahead in the story.

Second off, YAY!  MIRIO TOGATA!  I hear so much about this guy from memes-- anyone who has a kid that plays a lot of Fallout would be reminded of its mascot when one sees him-- and he was as plucky and memorable as I thought he would be, but also a lot scarier than I expected.

My Hero Academia Volume 1 - Izuku Midoriya: Origin / Kohei Horikoshi / 192 pages

In this world, 80% of the population has superpowers known as "Quirks", so heroes and villains are battling everywhere!  Izuku Midoriya wants to get into the honorable U.A. High School for young heroes to become just like his role model, All Might-- the greatest superhero of all time.  The only problem with that is that Midoriya is one of the 20% born ordinary, or "Quirkless".  This, along with his determination to reach his dream, leads to a lot of doubt from authority figures and a lot of bullying from his peers.  However, when Midoriya finds himself coming in face-to-face contact with All Might, and then attempts to save a hostage from a public villain when no one else would, All Might is inspired by Midoriya's act and asks him if he would like to have his Quirk, "One for All", passed down to him.  Midoriya accepts but is given the Quirk after 10 months of muscle training with All Might first.  When he is ready for the new year, he and thousands of other kids must first take a test that determines who can be official students at U.A.: fight a giant robot and/or help your peers-- only 1 in 300 would be able to pass.  Saving another peer trapped under a broken piece of robot gives Midoriya enough points to pass; therefore, he gets to be a first-year student at U.A.

Manga Shakespeare: As You Like It / Richard Appignanesi / 208 pgs

Manga Shakespeare: As You Like It is a really well-done adaptation of Shakespeare's original play. I've enjoyed all of Appignanesi's adaptations that I've read, and this one had the added bonus of improving the original for me. He makes Touchstone, the clown, more likeable, Orlando actually earns his admirers, and Jaques is still hilarious. It's all about interpretation!

Millennium Snow (vol.1) / Bisco Hatori / 204 pgs

Chiyuki Matsuoka is a seventeen year old girl who has a fatal heart condition and can die any moment.  She has spent her life going in and out of hospitals and her doctors fear she is near the end.

 However, on one fateful day Chiyuki meets a mysterious teenage Vampire named Toya, who claims to hate humans, yet keeps showing up to spend time with Chiyuki.  Even though Toya is at times rude and pushes Chiyuki away so as not to get to close; Chiyuki is persistent (read: Stalkerish) in sticking around and being friends.  This gets to the crazy-sauce point when Toya yells at Chiyuki to "Leave me Alone", and Chiyuki with a very large smile responds, "I won't, I'll never leave you alone."

Oh yeah, and by the end of the book another handsome Teenage boy, who happens to be a werewolf, takes an interest in Chiyuki just to stir things up.  Typical Shojo fare, we'll see if this series can dig itself out of the usual paranormal romance genre stereotypes.  But I am not holding my breath.

Otomen (vol. 2) / Aya Kanno / 187 pgs.

You really can't take this series seriously.  The main character Asuka Masamune, is a guy who loves "girly" things, ie cooking, cleaning, sewing, cute girl toys, girl comics, etc.  In this volume, his mother returns from working overseas (it's amazing how many parents in these Japanese comics are always conveniently gone 90% of the time).  Asuka's mother suffers from fainting attacks which may kill her if it happens to many times.  Of course, she only wants her son to be 100% masculine and if he is anything else she faints.  To make matters worse, Asuka's mother has arranged an engagement between Asuka and the daughter of one of her very important clients.  

Dengeki Daisy Vols. 2 &3 / Kyousuke Motomi / 190 & 185 pgs.

In Volume 2, after Teru's apartment is broken into and ransacked, she moves in with Kurosaki.  The school's computer system is hacked again and it becomes apparent that someone is after Teru because they believe she has her late brother's work stored on her cell phone. 

Volume 3, deals with Teru leaving Kurosaki and moving into a new apartment with Riko, her late brother's (ex)fiancé.  It's funny to see how much Kurosaki misses Teru even though he won't tell her.  The chapter ends with Teru figuring out "Daisy's" true identity (finally!), but she continues the charade to give herself some time to think it over. 

So far so good.  It's refreshing to read a comic where the romance starts out as a close friendship first, and the male character is a complete gentleman.

Dengeki Daisy, Vol. 1 / Kyousuke Motomi / 170pgs. / 1st in a Series!

Teru Kurebayashi, is a young (16-ish) teen, who lives by herself and goes to an elite private High School on scholarship.  Her parents died a few years ago in an accident, and at the start of the book her older brother becomes ill and passes away under mysterious circumstances.  Before his death, though, he gives Teru a cell phone and an email address of one of his friends that goes by the user name "DAISY".  Daisy, is charged with looking out for Teru, and in her solace she exchanges messages and becomes very emotionally attached to him.

Being alone and very poor, Teru ends up getting a job working as an assistant to the school's custodian, Tasuku Kurosaki.  Kurosaki, is actually "Daisy", which is obvious to everyone, except of course, Teru.    Even though Kurosaki is kind to Teru in the online world as "Daisy", offline he keeps her at a distance by teasing and being standoffish.  The reader quickly finds out that his hot/cold actions are because he is in love with Teru, but something is holding him back. 

This series looks like it is going to be a much nicer version of the mysterious, cool, overprotective, alpha male falling in love with the sweet, young, innocent Mary Sue type.  Which is still creepy, but at least nicer than the series, "Hot Gimmick" or "Gravitation" where the male leads are downright abusive to their "love interest". 

Side Note: "Dengeki" means something like electric or electronic (or so I have read).  Since she only communicates with Daisy through her cell phone, I guess the series title fits.  (and BTW, this is First book in a series, so 2 Bonus Points!!!)

Maximum Ride, Vol. 1, the Manga/James Patterson/256 pages

Maximum Ride is the fourteen-year leader of her flock,  a rag-tag bunch of kids that have been raised and experimented on at the "School" for their whole lives. After escaping and being on their own for the past few years, their youngest sibling, Angel, has been kidnapped and taken back to the school. The flock heads across the country to rescue Angel.  Always in constant danger from the Erasers, half-human, half-wolf beings from the school, the action is non-stop. Illustrator NaRae Lee has transformed the popular James Patterson series into a fascinating new manga series.  It is considered an original American manga novel, so it reads more like a graphic novel, left to right. I enjoyed the graphic novel, but I think having read the novel version by Patterson made the read more enjoyable.