I don’t read historical manga much any more, as I find not understanding the references off-putting. I gave this a try because a smart editor mentioned to me that it was by Ken Saito, author of The Name of the Flower, which I remembered enjoying when CMX put it out 15 years ago. I’m glad I did, because this setup is intriguing. Tales of the Tendo Family is out next week from One Peace Books. The characters are a bit ..read more

Isn’t that a lovely seasonal cover from when this came out last year? Too bad there is no Halloween party in the book — the costumes are terrific for their personalities. It has taken me so long to tell you why Fumi Yoshinaga’s What Did You Eat Yesterday? volume 20 is terrific because I can’t think of new reasons it’s wonderful. I already, in my review of volume 19, talked about how great it is to see comfortable stories about ..read more

Just when I was getting a little bored with “everyday life with a cat” stories — which is why I reviewed volume 1 and volume 2 but not volume 3 — the author, Wataru Nadatani, shakes things up in Cat+Gamer volume 4 by introducing a second cat! This shouldn’t be a spoiler, since that’s the kitty on the cover. Cat owner Riko has befriended the woman from the pet store, who mentions how lots of people have two cats, as ..read more

I loved the idea of My Lovesick Life as a ’90s Otaku as soon as I heard about it. Nico Nicholson gives us the story of Megumi, a 40-something divorced mother who can’t believe she’s now living in a world where being an otaku isn’t something to be embarrassed about. Anime and manga fans can be open about their likes; heck, they’re even sought after as customers worldwide. Her daughter Sakura takes full advantage with buttons and charms and an ..read more

I hadn’t expected to have much to say about the third volume of Fangirl. It’s part 3 of 4, after all, so it’s supposed to just be getting the characters in place for the upcoming conclusion, right? Certainly, everything’s going wrong for Cath, fanfic writer and new college student. She isn’t sure whether Levi is a friend or a potential boyfriend, particularly now that she’s seen him kissing someone else. She’s gone from writing with her sister to a classmate ..read more

I’m glad to see more manga memoirs coming out. Comics is such a great format for nonfiction true-life stories, as they show what happened in such approachable fashion, including the emotional affect. The trend seems to have started with My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness (2017), with more recent examples including Until I Meet My Husband, Until I Love Myself, and Embrace Your Size. Why I Adopted My Husband by Yuta Yagi is the true story of his relationship. As part ..read more

I didn’t read much of The Way of the Househusband. It’s a good concept — Tatsu, a former gangster, applies the same kind of single-minded dedication and scary overachievement that made him top of the yakuza to taking care of the house — but I found the joke paled for me quickly. It’s the kind of thing that I would enjoy reading more in its serialized form than in collected volumes. Yet The Way of the Househusband: The Gangster’s Guide ..read more

It’s usually around the third volume that I start wondering if a series has legs. The idea behind Cat Massage Therapy by Haru Hisakawa is pretty simple, after all: having cats walk or sleep on you is relaxing. Could this concept support three books? Yes, it turns out. Cat Massage Therapy volume 3 was a pleasure to read, a relaxing escape. The second book introduced some new “cast members” (cats), so this one just lets them do their things. I ..read more

The author of the popular Chi’s Sweet Home, Konami Kanata, returns with another cute cat manga. Sue & Tai-Chan is full-color, printed left to right, for maximum English-speaking audience appeal. Sue is an elderly cat, set in her ways, when her owner takes in the kitten Tai-chan. The older feline is drawn with simple lines, while Tai-chan is fuzzy, with huge eyes, capturing his youth. Sue sleeps most of the time, while Tai-chan explores the world. The short chapters allow ..read more

Although I’m neither a cat owner nor a gamer, I enjoyed the first volume of this series by Wataru Nadatami because of the way it used the language of one hobby to talk about another. Cat + Gamer volume 2 has moved away from that premise somewhat to present more generic examples of how life works with a pet cat. Readers who enjoy seeing adorable animals will still enjoy these stories, because Musubi is drawn to be excessively cute. My ..read more