MANGA REVIEW: Kirio Fan Club Vol. 1

KIRIO FAN CLUB Vol. 1
by Chikyu no Osakana Ponchan
Available April 28

By all appearances, classmates Aimi and Nami have only one thing in common: an undying, almost feral love for Ken Kirio. Despite barely having spoken to him, the two girls spend their days obsessing over the aloof high schooler in ways that only high school girls can. But not all is as it seems in this parasocial rom-com.

At first glance, this is just a weird story about two girls fighting over an unrequited crush. Would it be a privilege to be close enough to hear his farts? Does loving someone mean loving every organ in their body? If you make the object of your affection have a nightmare about you, does that count as seeing them in their dreams? It's the sort of impossibly cringe musings that only hit a person in that particular part of their lives. And within the first volume of Kirio Fan Club, that's just about as far as anything goes.

I say "just about" because there is something else lurking under the surface, and it doesn't take a course in media literacy to spot it. It's true that Aimi has a crush on Kirio. It is also true that Nami has a crush in which she is very invested, and which she has yet to follow up on. But by the end of this first volume, it becomes extremely clear that the two rivals in love aren't telling everyone everything.

Give Kirio Fan Club a chance. If the bizarre humor doesn't hook you, the stealth drama will. And even if you're watching this season's anime adaptation on HIDIVE, it's absolutely worth it to give the original manga a read. While all the bits and pieces are there, the pacing and order of events are slightly different. The original manga and the anime adaptation makes great companion pieces.

TEA PAIRING: The Dragon's Flame
Strong, spicy, and surprisingly sweet, this new cinnamon blend inspired by fairy tales is a perfect match for this manga's mix of comedy and drama. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and more book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

MANGA REVIEW: Grendizer U: The Inception Vol. 1

 

GRENDIZER U: THE INCEPTION Vol. 1
by Tatsuo Higuchi, art by 8 KEY
Available April 28

It's been an absolute delight to see the works of Go Nagai getting expanded upon over the years. While titles like Cutie Honey, Getter Robo, and Devilman have had some degree of notoriety across North America, the popularity of Grendizer (or Goldorak depending on where you're from) has largely been abroad. Even as a Go Nagai fan myself (and one who's worked on localizations on multiple titles from the creator), this is the series that's gotten the least exposure here. So it's great to see Grendizer U: The Inception getting an English-language release.

This manga serves as a prequel to 2024's Grendizer U, an anime remake of Nagai's 1975 manga and anime UFO Robo Grendizer. Like Great Mazinger before it, this part of the Mazinger Saga, meaning you can expect to see Koji Kabuto and other familiar faces pop up. But you can easily pick up this manga with no foreknowledge... in fact, that's what it's made for.

The story of Grendizer U: The Inception starts well before our hero Duke Fleed arrives on Earth, focusing on the rivalry between himself and Gau Su Uls. Just as Duke, the prince of the planet Fleed, prepares to inherit the right to pilot the guardian deity Grendizer, he must face down someone he once considered a friend and learn more about how his home planet is truly ruled. It isn't long before we jump to more familiar territory: the amnesiac "Daisuke," now living on Earth with Koji and Sayaka of Mazinger Z fame. As the first volume comes to an end, Daisuke comes face to face with one of Earth's greatest mecha.

KEY 8's art for this retelling is slick, preserving the basics of Go Nagai's character design while bringing something new to the table. Tatsuo Higuchi's expansion on his own screenplay for the new series also gives old-school anime fans something we don't often get: solid new perspective on a classic. As fresh and new as it is, this story feels right in the universe of the Mazinger Saga. And until such time as Grendizer U gets a legal release in the States, this manga makes a great stopgap. It's a must-have for any classic mecha fan's shelf.

TEA PAIRING: Secrets in the Garden
A watermelon-lime green tea that's new for spring, this tea brings to mind the greenery of the academy back on Fleed and the laid-back warmth of the ranch Daisuke now calls home. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

MANGA REVIEW: Chi's Sweet France

CHI'S SWEET FRANCE
by Konami Kanata, illustrated by Catherine Bouvier
Available now

Chi's Sweet Home and its various continuations is one of my absolutely favorite comfort series. It's slice-of-life manga at its most straightforward: a cute kitten doing cute things, living her best life wherever he finds himself. And in her latest adventure, that's in France!

This short stand-alone is written by series creator Konami Kanata and illustrated by Catherine Bouvier. Originally released in both Japan and France, it's as simple and cute as its predecessors. Chi's family moves to Paris, which is at first fascinating for the little kitten. But a big city doesn't allow her to wander freely as she's used to. Fortunately, her family quickly chooses to move to the suburbs, giving her all the freedom a little kitten could hope for. It's low-stakes, high-cuteness, and (as the title suggests) very sweet.

Clocking in at a breezy 54 pages, this is a great casual read for cat fans of any age. As with any other story in the series, you don't have to know a thing to get immersed. But if this is your first encounter with Chi and her family, you're highly likely to get hooked.

TEA PAIRING: March Home in Bloom
Inspired by Little Women, this vanilla and floral white tea has the perfect light and cozy vibes for any Chi story (but especially this one)! Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and more book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

BLOG TOUR: Unemployed Killers Support Group

UNEMPLOYED KILLERS SUPPORT GROUP
by Rio
Available April 21

It's difficult losing a job, especially one that requires your unique skillset. Imagine, then, how difficult would be for hitmen — and not just because that's a very specific job that comes with its own set of problems.

Locker Loyed isn't leaving the business out of guilt or a change of heart. Rather, he's losing his eyesight and simply won't be able to do the job. His former employer directs him to a support group for people who share his predicament. And wading into this new group of people uncovers a variety of secrets, while also digging away at Locker's own past concerns.

I'd never heard of Rio prior to reading Unemployed Killers Support Group, but this creator tells a truly compelling story. The rough and cinematic art conveys the moods and histories of the comic's tortured protagonists perfectly. And while there is a central story arc taking place in real time, the best parts of the stories are the flashbacks, where we learn about Locker's fellow unemployed killers. Everyone's story is vastly different, ranging from jobbing assassins driven to emotional outbursts to a man who's never even pulled the trigger once. The dialogue is tight and clever, and everyone's background and motivation is vastly different from each other, creating a colorful and variegated narrative.

Equal parts funny, emotional, tragic, and violent, this is an uncommonly good noir manga that deserves the accolades it's received. You can grab your copy from Titan Manga starting April 21!

Thanks to the folks at Titan Manga for supplying me with an advance copy.

BOOK REVIEW: Infinite Shores

 

INFINITE SHORES
by Pascale Lacelle
Available now

The Drowned Gods trilogy has been one of my favorite reads for quite a while now. Combining a unique magic system and worldbuilding with an intricate multiverse and a massive cast, this is truly a story that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let you go. If you're new to the books, you must start at the beginning — because Infinite Shores, the final book of the trilogy, starts in the thick of a war among gods, universes colliding, and time changing.

Emory, Romie, Baz, and Kai remain at the center of the narrative, but joined by people from across worlds. The moon-centric magic they went to school to learn, it turns out, has analogues in far-flung universes. And the stories they were told all their lives, while true, are twisted in ways they could imagine. Loves are torn apart, gods walk among mortals, and magic flows free. As Baz travels back in time over and over to change fate, Emory must decide how far she'll go to protect her loved ones and the world at large.

Saying much more will give away not only the heart of Infinite Shores, but the trilogy as a whole. And this is one that deserves to be read from beginning to end. It's a must read for my fellow dark academia lovers, as it plumbs the depths of what the thirst for knowledge can do... both good and bad. The print editions are absolutely gorgeous to boot.

I'll never stop being impressed with how well Lacelle manages the many threads of this story. Usually something with this structure would fall apart for trying to juggle too much. Btu everything works in harmony. It's sad to see this story come to its close, but it's the right ending for it.

DRINK PAIRING: Elixir of Serenity
Don't worry, I'm not abandoning my bookish teas! But once in a while, a book comes along that necessitates a bit of sparkle. Velvet Hammer is a romantasy-inspired line of subtly-flavored drink sachets. The Elixir of Serenity is a sparkling blue with a light cherry flavor, made with adaptogens and amino acids to help you sleep. It's a perfect fit for a trilogy about magic that flows with the tides. Use my link for a 15% discount on elixirs from Velvet Hammer!

MANGA REVIEW: Gizmo Riser Vol. 1

GIZMO RISER Vol. 1
by Roku Souna
Available now

The only world Claw has ever known is underground. He works every day to dig up new stone, and because of the chill, he can't even go outside to look up at the stars at night. His uncle tells him stories of a far-off place and a flame that will allow the lucky person who reaches it to fly. While Claw dreams of rising (literally) above his lot in life, the execution of his uncle leaves him with no other choice. Fortunately, he has his father's Gizmo — a high-tech pair of mechanical gloves — to help him do it.

In the first volume of Gizmo Riser, we get a look at a world built on inequality. Claw and his fellow slaves have no hope of escaping their lot in life as the wealthy of their world live high above them. But it turns out our hero isn't the only one who possesses Gizmos, and Claw will make both friends and enemies as he rises (and in some cases, you're never quite sure which is which)!

Equal parts Gurren Lagann and Gachiakuta, Gizmo Riser is a great read for fans of post-apocalyptic sci-fi. More than anything, what shines out is hope. So much literature of this genre (manga and otherwise) come to a full stop after describing the hopeless future. What makes series like these great is their willingness to imagine something more: people fighting on and helping each other, even if escape seems all but impossible. I look forward to seeing that hopefulness continue through later volumes.

TEA PAIRING: Sunrise Breakfast

Like Claw climbing his way out of the lowest levels of Urunaria, this English breakfast is both strong and bright. Use my referral code for 15% off this and other teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!