Scan barcode
rnbhargava's reviews
411 reviews
Blue Period, Vol. 2 by Tsubasa Yamaguchi
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This volume is really good, Yatora, the protagonist is dealing with developing his artistic skill and influences while under the grind of art prep school. Some supporting characters help bring about some specific social pressures and prejudices that causes some very pointed tension in the story. I’m giving this volume a 4 because it’s really good yet there’s no specific high point, there’s a variety of thought provoking character and story beats. The series overall is excellent.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
The alcohol is irresponsible secret teen drinking. There’s multiple levels of toxic friendships, both with the protagonist’s old friends and art prep school friends. It’s gaslighting and bullying. The suicidal thoughts and emotional abuse come from the art prep side of the plot. So does the biphobia/transphobia/sexism side of the narrative in this volume.
Spy x Family, Vol. 7 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This volume is actually quite light, they’re all kind of vignettes with each arc focusing a bit on a different member of the cast. That said, it opens quite tense. The rest is plenty of well written spy comedy slice of life. The forward momentum of the core book plot is more mentioned as bookends to the charming, spy comedy infused slices of life.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
There are scenes of child near drowning and also kids gambling. There are jokes about the dog dying or experiencing cruelty that leads to his death because he can read minds about potential near futures. This volume is fairly light but it still has bullying and gaslighting. The different characters have panic attacks about missions not going well but not otherwise. The alcohol use is by a criminal so whatever. Guns just are present in this volume. Most of the stories are of main and supporting characters trying to achieve some money. It’s a fun volume despite not much forward plot momentum
Blue Period, Vol. 1 by Tsubasa Yamaguchi
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It’s a largely character focused book about an academic inclined high school soon to progress to university student suddenly discovering his talent and love for creating art. It’s delightful. Its main issue, though I find it informative and charming, is its in text information dumps about art techniques. This detail honestly might turn some people away from the book. The characters are a bit undefined even by the end of the volume but that’s to be expected, they’re figuring things out themselves. It’s an absolute charmer of a book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Sexism, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
There’s some very minor gaslighting/bullying of the protagonist by his friends, minor social alcohol usage and sexism about certain characters and old fashioned thinking about art.
Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 2 by Naoya Matsumoto
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The fun continues, this volume expands on the world set up in volume 1 and throws some great surprises the reader’s way but it very much so feels like the middle part of a series origin arc. That’s the only reason I’m dinging it down to 4 from a 5.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, and Gaslighting
It’s a science fiction, fighting kaiju action-adventure comedy. Most of this volume happens on a battlefield. The monster design is so much fun. The character dynamics are all informed by one-upping each other mostly and it keeps things mostly quite funny. Well recommended if you enjoyed the first volume or action or Kaiju media altogether
Planetes Omnibus, Volume 2 by Makoto Yukimura
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love this book. It’s so unique and distinct compared to Vinland Saga that followed it. The exemplary character work in both present and past events tie the author’s two main works together.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
There is a bit of nudity/sexuality that helps the protagonist make a firm choice about his life. There is some warfare & propaganda brought against some characters. There’s one character that is said to do a lot of sexist behavior because he doesn’t know any better. The hate crime, racial slurs and xenophobia come about with a specific backstory detail involving a relative of one character, along with an accusation of pedophilia or worse accompanied by a racial element plus a not clarified mental health aspect that’s interestingly done but again, trigger warning for some. I just love the collected experience of Planetes. Overall it’s an interesting look at regular people just trying to make their way in life where life involves jobs in space. I loved every moment.
Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow by Chip Zdarsky, Pasqual Ferry, Matt Hollingsworth
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is a What if so the only prerequisite is a rough idea about who the main Marvel characters featured are and the idea of the symbiote suit that later became Venom. It’s a fun book but also Spider-Man in a very dark place. Zdarsky does quite a good job here. It’s lesser in quality than his work on Spider-Man: Life Story but it’s still very good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Some pretty graphic stuff happens in this book, Spider-Man gives info the Venom symbiote and it causes him to make many bad choices with deadly repercussions and it affects more than himself negatively, it makes you question whether if this what if will leave him heroic still given they don’t have to follow existing continuity. It’s a really fun read. Zdarsky is often a dependable writer
I Had That Same Dream Again: The Complete Manga Collection by Yoru Sumino
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a very enjoyable and cute book. There’s also a mystery/magical realism element that keeps it addictive within its slice of life framework.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Violence, Grief, and Classism
The triggers more have to do with the implications of figures that appear in the story such as bullies, someone who cuts, loneliness, feeling trapped, etc.
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Vol. 5 by Haro Aso
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This volume is quite action packed. They’re trying to save Akita’s hometown in short. There are antagonists too that they have to defeat. The character dynamics and evolution of the 3 longer tenured characters is a major focus amidst the action. This book just keeps it up being a fast paced postapocalyptic action comedy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
The antagonists are quite disgusting and problematic. That said you can make the case for making them gross in several ways is purposely vilifying say fatness. The book does go into how some of them might actually be at fault for their own sad state. That doesn’t mean others don’t have somewhat legitimate victimization on some levels. The injuries and medical content is a mixed bag between lighthearted humor and seriousness. The misogyny & sexism is both played for laughs also in some ways demonizing certain appearances compared to others. Anything can be problematic if you think about it but It didn’t bother me much as it’s a format trope now. The villains definitely bond over their shared toxic relationships that they may or may not have perpetuated
This book overall though just keeps getting more and more entertaining. The characters mature a lot.
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Vol. 4 by Haro Aso
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Well, this volume is the horniest so far. It’s essentially a bunch of short misadventures as Akira and the crew make a new friend as they make their way to his hometown. There’s a master sushi chef, hot springs, and a treehouse builder met along the way too. Flirtations develop, extra comfort with each other happen as well. It’s a fun ride.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
There’s nudity, this volume is horny so it’s in that sort of “fan service” way that many anime & manga do at times. The one major new character could be described as a clichéd version of an exchange student/backpacker like you might see in some teen movies. It’s not necessarily harmful but some might really not like that type. She was fun to me. Some others might ding the book volume for her though
Planetes Omnibus, Volume 1 by Makoto Yukimura
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is incredible. I thought to pick up Planetes because I’ve been reading through Vinland Saga and figured to give a try to Makoto Yukimura’s earlier work. Planetes is so good. It’s hard sci-fi while still having complex, multifaceted characters with their own reasons to be drawn to working and living in space. There’s so much heart too in this too. I appreciate that this book also references fundamentalist Terrorism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
There’s a terrorist organization that’s a recurring element. The fact that they’re said to have Middle Eastern leadership might be too on the nose for some people. There’s a character that seemingly becomes a potential love interest to an adult character that’s a bit problematic. Many of the characters are arguably abusive in how much they leave their families at home for space based jobs despite the fact that they could still be involved in an earthbound capacity. The storytelling is fascinating and quite different than Vinland Saga. However, it’s just as thrilling and addictive to read in its own right.