Columns Archive
by: Max Barnard
my two cents about the releases, non-releases, and a look back at older releases, and whether they were any good.
2006
November
You say you're too lazy to read the whole reviews? You say i made a stupid error in one of my reviews? FAIR ENOUGH! So here's.....
............ well.... um...... anyway, here's the review collection, a straight up score with a couple of sentences on each release.
And as the banner revealed my petty reason for using Gintama pics as much as I can, I’ll continue to go out of my way to continue the poor trend. HERE WE GO!
Zombie Powder vol. 1
(no thumb as of yet)
The best so far, and with good reason. Some of the best art ever, combined with an inspired story and brilliant action scenes make for a top notch manga.
FTP Rating: 95%
Beauty is the Beast vol. 4
An emotionally captivating masterpiece, choc-a-block with laughs and heartfelt moments. And the art style is one of the best around.
FTP Rating: 93%
Shaman King vol. 10
(no thumb as of yet)
A brilliant volume of Shaman King, full of great art and plot, despite my incorrect review of it's content.
FTP Rating: 93%
Claymore vol.3
The most unique art style I have ever seen, combined with a powerful story. Pretty damn amazing!
FTP Rating: 92%
Eyeshield 21 vol. 8
Perfect as a standalone dip into the series or for those who collect the series. American football fun for all.
FTP Rating: 91%
I"S vol.9
The I"S series continues to improve, with even more powerful insight into the fragile teenage mind. Downside? It's very much still perverse.
FTP Rating: 90%
Kare Kano vol. 20
The series begins to reach the penultimate volume in style, although it is VERY far in by now, so read other volumes first.
FTP Rating: 90%
Eyeshield 21 vol. 9
A more comedic volume of this series, at a point where confusion can set in. Not much American football either, if that's your sole interest in the series.
FTP Rating: 89%
Black Cat vol. 4
A decent bounty-hunting manga with a twist. Definitely worth the purchase, and it has a special cover.
FTP Rating: 88%
I"S vol. 8
Perverse, yet criminally insightful manga by legendary Manga-ka Masakazu Katsura. Worth a look if you're a teenager, or even in your twenties.
FTP Rating: 88%
LIFE vol. 2
A depressingly real feeling manga, with potent emotion. Main downside is an art style that has trouble living up to the story.
FTP Rating: 87%
D. Gray-Man vol. 2
A phenomenal book, with a painful release schedule. Works as a stand-alone too!
FTP Rating: 85%
Bleach vol. 14
A massively complicated dip in story based bleach madness. If you know bleach well enough, jump right into its papery goodness. If you don't then steer clear for now.
FTP Rating: 84%
Death Note vol. 7
A conclusion to part 1 of the death note series (It does continue). Brilliant and thrilling to the last page, but confusing beyond words for the new reader.
FTP Rating: 84%
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure vol. 5
A legendary series, with awesome art and storylines and of course, characters. Worth looking at just to see what the hype is about.
FTP Rating: 82%
Bleach vol. 13
A decent volume set a decent distance into a series. One for those who've read the previous 12.
FTP Rating: 80%
Buso Renkin vol. 1
Awesome fresh manga from the Ruroken dude. Pick it up for a new experience. Keep in mind that it isn't flawless however.
FTP Rating: 80%
Hunter X Hunter vol. 10
A high point for this amazing series. A bit confusing to new readers and the art style begins to get worse from hereon, due to the Manga-ka's deteriorating health.
FTP Rating: 78%
Fruits Basket vol. 14
The story of Tohru Honda continues with more hyper artwork and slow stories.
FTP Rating: 75%
Devil May Cry vol. 2
A well-drawn manga for the fans, with a suitable lack of substance.
FTP Rating: 72%
Crimson Hero vol. 3
A decent story powered sports manga, and it's even shojo. Sad fact? The art style is painfully generic.
FTP Rating: 71%
Yuyu Hakusho vol. 10
A somewhat disappointing volume from a decent series. Avoid for the clichéd Hiei and the poor bad guys, avoid more for the fact that this is 10 volumes in. Read the earlier volumes to decide if you want this.
FTP Rating: 69%
.Hack vol. 1
A promising start to a mediocre series. A real shame, only for those with nothing else to buy.
FTP Rating: 65%
.Hack vol. 2
A sudden dip downhill for an already average series. One for those who enjoyed the first. Both of you.
FTP Rating: 61%
Naruto vol. 11
(no thumb as of yet)
An atrocious example of the flaws that display them self every time Naruto has a training arc. Best avoided if you aren't a completist.
FTP Rating: 60%
.Hack vol. 3
A larger, yet somehow even worse, final installment to the series. Avoid if you can.
FTP Rating: 54%
