Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 2

Today's Manga Monday post is on Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 2 by Hiromu Arakawa. It is 264 pages long and is published by Viz Media. The cover has Al on it. As it is the second volume in the series, you need to have read the first volume. The intended reader is someone who likes shonen manga, adventure stories, and funny heroes. There is mild foul language, no sex, and some violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Ed and at times other characters for plot development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. The brothers’ search for the Philosopher’s Stone leads them to a secret alchemical document which contains a gruesome truth.

Review- This volume picks up right where the last volume ended with Ed facing a mystery man, who destroyed his metal arm. But Ed and Al are saved by other state alchemists and the man is revealed to a war survivor named Scar. He kills alchemists and he is hunting in the main city. This volume has a good piece about the past and what happened to Ed and Al after and they discover what a sorcerer's stone really is and how to make one. We get to see more of other state alchemists and why alchemists are disliked in the world. The worldbuilding is starting to get strong and the reader is getting a feel for the place that Ed and Al have. I am excited to read what is going to happened to them next!

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. 

Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Vendetta Ride from Hel

Today's nonfiction post is on Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Vendetta Ride from Hell by Tom Clavin. It is 386 pages long and is published by St. Matrin's Press. The cover is a illustration of Tombstone and the Earp party. The intended reader is someone who is interested in the real history of the Wild West. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and descriptions of violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- On the afternoon of October 26, 1881, nine men clashed in what would be known as the most famous shootout in American frontier history. Thirty bullets were exchanged in thirty seconds, killing three men and wounding three others.
The fight sprang forth from a tense, hot summer. Cattle rustlers had been terrorizing the back country of Mexico and selling the livestock they stole to corrupt ranchers. The Mexican government built forts along the border to try to thwart American outlaws, while Arizona citizens became increasingly agitated. Rustlers, who became known as the cow-boys, began to kill each other as well as innocent citizens. That October, tensions boiled over with Ike and Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, and Billy Claiborne confronting the Tombstone marshal, Virgil Earp, and the suddenly deputized Wyatt and Morgan Earp and shotgun-toting Doc Holliday.

Bestselling author Tom Clavin peers behind decades of legend surrounding the story of Tombstone to reveal the true story of the drama and violence that made it famous. Tombstone also digs deep into the vendetta ride that followed the tragic gunfight, when Wyatt and Warren Earp and Holliday went vigilante to track down the likes of Johnny Ringo, Curly Bill Brocius, and other cowboys who had cowardly gunned down his brothers. That "vendetta ride" would make the myth of Wyatt Earp complete and punctuate the struggle for power in the American frontier's last boom town.

Review- Clavin takes the reader from the beginning of Tombstone and the man who found the silver veins. The reader gets a well rounded look of the world that the shoot out happened in. From the cowboys and the ranchers who used them to the law and order side trying to protect people and livestock. Clavin is a good writer, he knows how to add details without overwhelming the reader or boring them. He gives his research and the books his used, so the reader can investigate more, if they wish to. Where there is no evidence for a legend, Clavin will discuss the legend but give the reader the best factual information. If you are curious about the real shoot out at the OK Corral, then you should give this book a read. 

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library. 

Yakuza Lover, Vol. 5

Today's post is on Yakuza Lover, Vol. 5 by Nozomi Mino. It is 170 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Yuri and Oya on it, dressed up for a date. As it is the fifth in the series, you need to have read the first four to understand the story. There is some mild foul language, sex and sexuality, and mild violence in this series. The intended reader is someone who likes dark romance, mafia love stories, and strong heroines. The story closely follows Yuri and at times Oya. There Be Spoilers Ahead,

From the back of the book- Choko, a hostess working at a club under the Oya syndicate’s protection, has her sights set on Oya. Determined to have Oya all to herself, the femme fatale arranges for Yuri to be attacked so she can play the hero and use it as an excuse to get closer to Oya. Oya discovers Choko’s plot, but it’s part of the Oya syndicate’s creed to never lay hands on a woman. So how is he going to settle the score with her?

Review- This volume is really about Choko and her obsession with Oya. we do see Yuri as she buys a birthday present for Oya and Oya dealing with Choko but the main focus of the story is Choko and what she will do to get Oya. Of course Choko doesn't understand that Oya is not playing with Yuri, that he is in love with her. So because of that mistake, Choko is going to lose access to Oya forever. I liked this volume following another character for a more in depth look into her motives. Choko was a good side villain, she willing to do just about anything to get who she wants. But the ending was focused back right it should be, which is on Yuri and Oya. I look forward to the next volume. 

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 1 Hiromu Arakawa

Today's post is on Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 1 by Hiromu Arakawa. It is 270 pages long and is published by Viz Media. The cover has Edward Elric on it looking confident. The intended reader is someone who likes mature shonen stories, historical urban fantasy, and intense plots. There is very mild foul language, no sex, and some violence in this series. The story closely follows the Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Equipped with mechanical “auto-mail” limbs, Edward becomes a state alchemist, seeking the one thing that can restore his and his brother’s bodies… the legendary Philosopher’s Stone!

Review- This is one of the best selling manga of the modern day. This is the story of the Elric brothers as they try to repair their lives after making a horrible mistake as young children. It starts with the brothers traveling to a small village after hearing rumors about miracles. They uncover a priest who is using a whole town and has very grand plans for himself. After this introduction into the world and our main characters, we travel with Ed and Al until the end of the manga where things gets serious. This is a very strong first volume and the edition itself is beautiful with color inserts and color matching end pages. I would highly recommend this series. 

I give this manga a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. 

Sweat and Soap, Vol. 7

Today's post is on Sweat and Soap, Vol. 7 by Kintetsu Yamada. It is 208 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has the two main characters on it, Asako and Kotaro. As it is the seventh volume in the series, you need to have read the first six volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes mature manga. There is no foul language, mild sexuality, and no violence in this manga. There is story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Scents of Self
After lots of discussion and planning (and so many Post-It notes), Asako and Kotaro move in together, and a new era of their relationship dawns! But will these meticulously-laid plans stand up to the pressures and annoyances of real life? Pressures like... meeting the family? Kotaro's managed to smooth things over with Asako's family so far, but his own relatives haven't had the chance to meet Asako yet. She's excited to see how Kotaro grew into the genius scent designer he is today, but she's also apprehensive. Will she leave the right impression, or will that familiar panic overtake her once again?

Review- We get to meet Kotaro's family and see the tea farm he grew up on. His family loves her but of course Asako has to learn to express herself with new people. But Kotaro's family seems to understand her and they make her welcome. This series does so many things right from character's acting like real adults so showing Asako dealing with her anxieties. Her feelings are considered valid and matter to the people in her life. The relationship is shown to be quite realistic, with little fights and misunderstandings, but most importantly Asako and Kotaro talk it out and they find a middle ground that works for both of them. I recommend this series strongly.  

I give this manga a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Eat the Rich

Today's  post is on Eat the Rich by Sarah Gailey and Pius Bak (Illustrator). It is 128 pages long and is published by BOOM! Studios. The cover is green with the title in meat with an eye on top and a finger in the middle. The intended reader is someone who likes horror comics. There is foul language, no sex, and violence in this comic. The story is told from third person close of the main character, Joey. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- WELCOME TO CRESTFALL BLUFFS!
With law school and her whole life ahead of her, Joey plans to spend the summer with her boyfriend Astor at his seemingly perfect family home. But beneath all the affluent perfection lies a dark, deadly rot… something all the locals live in quiet fear of.
As summer lingers, Joey uncovers the macabre history of Crestfall Bluffs, and the ruthlessness and secrecy lying in wait behind the idyllic lives of the one percent. Who can Joey save? Who wants to be saved? And can she even survive to tell the tale?

Review- This is very interesting and fun horror comic series. This is the full run and a complete story, so that makes me like it more. Joey has been dating a guy from a very wealthy family and she is going to spend the summer with him and meet them. Of course there are some things that her boyfriend didn't warn her about, like eating the staff. And when you start eating people, you can never go back. It a very intense story that moves at a good pace without lingering too much on the eating part. The art is good, using a lot of bright colors at intense moments, then becoming more muted when the action is down. It helps the reader get the correct feeling for the scenes. The characters are interesting and Joey reacts in a believable way to what she sees and is asked to do. I would recommend this graphic novel with the knowledge that it is a horror story with cannibalism in it. I would like to read more from the author and artist. 

I give this graphic novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this graphic novel from my local library.

Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 2

Today's post is on Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 2  by Ryōsuke Takeuchi. It is 208 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump. The cover has Sherlock Holmes on it. As it is the second volume in the series, you need to have read the first volume to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and ,mild violence in this manga. The intended reader is someone who likes reimaging of Sherlock Holmes and mystery plots. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- After successfully establishing a foothold in Durham and cleansing the city of some of its corruption, William James Moriarty sets his sights on London. To make headway there, he needs the aid of his brother Albert. But while on his way to London, William is kidnapped by a gang of criminals! Will Albert be able to save him in time?

Review- This volume has a lot going on from William dealing with kidnappers to bringing another corrupt nobleman down and meeting his rival Sherlock Holmes. The kidnapping plot is all planned to help get Albert into running MI6 and thus William into the heart of the government itself. The main story is dealing with nobleman, who likes to hunt and kill commoners for sport. The plot to stop him is very twisty and the reader is going to have a fun ride with it. Holmes is well done and the last chapter is following him as he meets Watson for the first time. I look forward to seeing what trouble William is going to stir up in the next volume. 

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.