“Dream A Little Dream Of Me” – After School Nightmare (manga) – 9/10 Black Cats

People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates. ~Thomas Szasz

Mangaka: Setona Mizushiro

Genre: Romance/Mystery/Drama/School/Supernatural/Psychological/Gender Bender/Fantasy

Review Status: Complete (10 Volumes/10 Volumes)

Licensed: Yes, this manga is licensed in the US.

Art: Lovely. The art is reminiscent of CLAMP’s style, with elongated limbs and some gorgeous bishies. The panels are clean and easy to read (the flow is great, too). Some of the choices in

Summary: You have just awakened to find your darkest secret revealed to a group of people who would do anything to destroy you: your classmates! That’s what happens to Ichijo Mashiro, whose elite school education turns into the most horrifying experience of his life when he’s enlisted to participate in an after-hours class. The only way for Mashiro to graduate is to enter into a nightmare world where his body and soul will be at the mercy of his worst enemies. Can Mashiro keep the life-long secret that he is not truly a “he” nor entirely a “she” – or will he finally be “outted” in the most humiliating way possible?

Review: First impressions are everything in the world, and Ichijo does the best to keep his the way he wants it- as a guy. This is harder than it seems when his top half is definitely masculine, but his bottom half is most definitely not! However, when he’s entered into a class where nightmares become reality and he must face the inner selves of himself and his classmates. The thing is, his inner fear/self happens to be himself… but with a girl’s uniform on, making him instantly recognizable to those who cross his path.

His classmates take an immediate interest- a girl that’s been broken by her abusive father and a rapist, a playboy that thinks Ichijo is the prettiest thing that he’s laid his eyes on but has inextricable ties to his sister, others that would use him as they saw fit. They all have their own demons to fight. Others come and go as they ‘graduate’, disappearing from the hearts and minds of their classmates. Some are unable to overcome their issues and merely disappear.

Watching Ichijo desperately try to figure out the feelings he has about his own identity and the romantic struggles and drama that occur while it happens is interesting, if slightly obvious by the third or fourth volume. I think most people will be able to guess what’s going to happen, and while that disappointed me because of how one of the wheels gets shunted aside, the fact that they’re able to overcome that and still be good friends who care for each other is something unique and wonderful in this genre. It also plays into them finding themselves and their inner strength.

The meaning behind needing to discover themselves and their strengths, as well as what’s happening in the school, managed to be a wonderful surprise twist. The inner struggle Ichijo goes through takes on a far greater significance, with the two sides to him perhaps not being as philosophical as suspected, and the need to graduate being more than just graduation. It all snowballs into one of the best romance/mysteries that I’ve come across in quite a while.

Overall, this was a very interesting look at the psyche and had a great twist I hadn’t expected!

Recommended: 18+. There is incest (blatantly stated but the act is merely implied). Sex is mentioned (and occurs. Genitalia is not shown and the few sections it was in were *brief* and I didn't think it was happening until I read comments that happened later. Kissing and the leadup to sex does occur. There is violence- people get slashed with swords, torn apart, dug into- but there is no gore and it's not graphic, though blood is shown. There are also a handful of minor swears.

Other titles you might enjoy:
I.S. Intersexuality (manga)
Wandering Son (anime and manga)
Revolutionary Girl Utena (anime)
Hour of the Mice (manga)
Arisa (manga)

“Proof Positive” – Nevermore (Visual Novel) – 6/10 Black Cats

Genre: Mystery/Horror

Type: Kinetic Novel

Review Status: Complete (Kinetic Novel- Single Storyline)

Licensed: It’s licensed and free for download at http://games.renpy.org/

Art/Animation: This has some very good art in it. It looks pretty professional, with good designs and deep, vibrant colors. The shading and coloring is also wonderful. There really isn’t much animation to speak of, but the transitions are used well and in the right places.

Voice Acting: Unfortunately, it’s a bit stiff and lifeless. I think that going without would have been the better way to go, because no matter how bad things seem in the story, the main narrator just can’t really get any emotion into his voice. His mother’s voice is better, and I’m indifferent to everyone else.

Summary: Strange nightmares are taking over his life, and the days and nights are melding together. Why?

Review: This has some surprisingly fantastic atmosphere. Real life and dreams come together with some startlingly dark imagery- crows, and the lines of ‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allen Poe. You flash back and forth between dreams and reality as they meld together. Flashes of the truth of what’s happening blend with the dark flashes of night.

Quite frankly, it’s an excellent setup for a supernatural mystery. What is affecting him? Who is that woman? What is the importance of ‘The Raven’?

What it all is, is a huge letdown. I was beyond disappointed in the reveal and the abruptness of the ending. I hope that there will be some sort of continuation, because it’s an excellent prologue. Left as it is… not so much.

Overall, while there was a lot of promise, there is a lot lacking.

Recommended: 8+. There is some weird, surreal imagery that might not be for the youngest players.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Hollow Fields (manga)
Bizenghast (manga)
Perfect Blue (anime)

“Everything You Wanted” – Petshop of Horrors (manga) – 9/10 Black Cats

Somewhere between chance and mystery lies imagination, the only thing that protects our freedom, despite the fact that people keep trying to reduce it or kill it off altogether. ~Luis Buñuel

Mangaka: Matsuri Akino

Genre: Comedy/Supernatural/Fantasy/Horror

Review Status: Complete (10 Volumes/10 Volumes)

Licensed: Formerly licensed by Tokyopop, currently unlicensed.

Art: It has a 90’s feel to it, but has aged better than its contemporaries. It overall has a rough feel to it, but isn’t too shabby.

Summary: A smoke-filled alley in Chinatown harbors Count D's Pet Shop. The pets sold here aren't your everyday variety and the Count prides himself on selling Love and Dreams in the form of magical creatures that come with an exclusive contract. But buyers beware. If the contract is broken the Count cannot be held accountable for whatever may happen. A fascinating and macabre look into the very soul of human nature. (Source: Tokyopop)

Review: The saying is ‘be careful what you wish for, you just might get it’. Count D’s shop is all about fulfilling wishes and dreams- at a price. Whether it’s the promise of cake or something to be gathered later, “D” gives warning to those who buy his pets that things can happen if they don’t follow his instructions- so humans ignore his instructions at their own risk, and often pay the ultimate price.

There’s a policeman onto D – the name he gives himself since he’s not actually the count, just his grandson- and Leon Orcott, member of the NYPD, isn’t going to give an inch! The reader gets to see him as he investigates the strange deaths that are connected with the shop, and is either thrown off the trail or left with nothing to book D on. That interplay is always hilarious. Hardened cop vs sugar-addict prettyboy! D is as wily as Leon is thick, and they make quite a duo as they argue and deal with one another, eventually becoming friends. Chris, a character that’s introduced a little into the series, makes an interesting in-between. Able to see the truth of the shop, but too young and unassuming to really make much of it, he can be as baffled as his older brother when it comes to what is going on.

The cases themselves range from creepy to hilarious. From the mermaid that is the spitting image of a dead bride, to trying to hatch a dragon, all manner of amazing creatures of myth and legend are contained within these pages. Often I was grateful for the pages in the back that explained the origin and tales of them, as they were from Eastern folklore that isn’t heard of much in the West. These stories manages to bring in character development and strengthen the bond between the three as Leon becomes less suspicious of the Count, knowing that there were odd creatures and things happening, but later unable to believe D really has much to do with them.

It’s a great manga up until the last volume. There was a definite environmental message that popped up from time to time, but it was never really overbearing or preachy- not until the last two volumes or so. That was where things got really odd and eye-rolling. Cloning, spiritual memory inheritance, and someone threatening to destroy all humankind because of the damage they were doing were involved.

Thankfully, D’s escape from the FBI holds up to the rest story, and the last few pages really made me smile.

Overall, while the ending didn’t quite hold up to the promise of the rest of the manga, this is definitely worth the read.

Recommended: 18+. The F-bomb is dropped a few times per volume, as well as a variety of other swears. It’s not every line, and since most of it comes from Leon and thugs, it feels as offensive as the average cop movie. There are occasional glimpses of boobs- Leon’s room happens to be decorated with half-nude posters of women, and you see it once or twice. What appears to be Count D about to have sex with a man turns out to be him attempting to lure a mythological creature (in disguise) to join his pet shop. He states that another man is bisexual, but not gay.

Other titles you might enjoy:
xxxHolic (anime and manga)
The Tarot Café (manga)
Nightmare Inspector (manga)

“Trapped In Your Head” – Dragon Head (manga) – 10/10 Black Cats

All that is really necessary for survival of the fittest, it seems, is an interest in life, good, bad or peculiar. ~Grace Paley

Mangaka: Minetaro Mochizuki

Genre: Action/Mystery/Psychological/Drama/Horror

Review Status: Complete (10 Volumes/10 Volumes)

Licensed: No. It was formerly licensed by Tokyopop, but has not been relicensed.

Art: It’s a more realistic style than most, more like Satoshi Kon’s work than Studio Ghibli. In short- they look like people you could meet on the street.

Summary: In the horror of witnessing so many classmates perish before his eyes in a violent train wreck, Teru discovers two survivors in the tunnel: Ako and Nobuo. But salvation from this bloody carnage is far from their grasp. As they try to dig out from the wreck in order to come up with a plan to stay alive, the lack of light and food, combined with the stench of death and decay, will lead one member of the group down a dark and demented path. And with sudden, violent earthquakes shaking the tunnel, escaping to the outside world may lead them to an even greater danger... (Tokyopop)

Review: When a disaster happens, sometimes what matters more is actually surviving instead of finding out what happened. In the aftermath of the crash, that’s the priority of the three survivors. However, trapped in a tunnel for days on end, they aren’t left with much to do except speculate and worry.

The first part of Dragon Head delves into the psychosis that can occur in extreme isolation, when people must face conditions not much different than sensory deprivation. Their fears become paranoia, that perhaps there’s something in the dark, or someone that survived but isn’t showing themselves. A monster eventually takes form in their minds, and between it and sudden changes that could spell their doom if they don’t think on their feet, two escape into a world that’s desperately changed and may never be the same.

Hard philosophical questions are asked, and none of the answers are easy and clear-cut. When is it okay to take a life? At what point do you stop helping others and start looking out for yourself? When do you stop searching for answers and accept the world around you?

The biggest challenge they have to face is the world outside. A disaster of unimaginable proportions has occurred that has flattened towns, raised huge ash clouds, and sunk the coasts into the sea. The disasters they face grow worse as they travel onward towards Tokyo. People have become crazed by the events, creating both allies and enemies to the pair.

When you think things can’t get worse for them, they can. They do. As Ako and Teru continue their journey to Tokyo, they deal with all the things the disaster can throw at them. Earthquakes, food and water shortages, flooding, death, and have to deal with it all when they’re still suffering from the psychological effects of being trapped underground and not knowing what had happened for two weeks. The not knowing becomes their drive- they need to know what happened to their families and what’s happening to Japan and gives them one of their reasons to survive. The other is their own fears that haunt them.

Overall, this is a moving, engaging story of two people trying to survive in an apocalyptic world. It may not be pretty, but it is pretty good.

Recommended: 18+. There are two brief instances of partial nudity on Ako’s part, one where she’s unconscious and being groped, another where she’s in a bath. You only see her breasts briefly. There is also the implication of her having been dry-humped, and two instances of attempted rape. This is very violent, with people committing suicide and murder. There are people shot, stabbed, and beaten. You only see one corpse more than once, but the wounds aren’t gruesome. For the rest of the story they’re usually covered in ash or mud.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Drifting Classroom (manga)
Metro Survive (manga)
7Seeds (manga)
Akira (manga)
Jisatsu Circle (manga)
Doubt (manga)

“Sibling Rivalry” – Ibitsu (manga) – 10/10 Black Cats

Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there. ~Amy Li

Mangaka: Haruka Ryou

Genre: Horror, Seinen

Review Status: Complete (2 Volumes/2 Volumes)

Licensed: No, this manga isn’t licensed in the US

Art: Under normal circumstances they wouldn’t be that memorable- under these ones, you can’t forget them. The Lolita girl herself sticks in the mind long after the story has ended. It’s also very expressive.

Summary: A boy went to take his trash out late one night, and found a strange, creepy, lolita woman sitting amongst the garbage bags. She asked if he had a little sister, and he answered her, hurrying afterwards back to his apartment. When he looked out the window, she was gone. Who is the strange woman, and why does she give him such a bad feeling? (MAL.net)

Review: The reason Urban Legends survive so long is because deep down, there’s a little part of us that thinks that maybe, just maybe, it could be true. Too bad Kazuki hasn’t heard about this particular urban legend until he’s already encountered it- and by then, it’s already far too late. She’s looking for an older brother, and thinks she’s found it in Kazuki. Little Miss Lolita weasles her way into his life in the most horrifying ways possible. Cleaning his room, fooling the landlady, and eventually going after his own little sister, Kazuki discovers that she’s twisted to the core.

Both these characters end up being surprisingly memorable. Lolita Girl is one of the most psychotic creatures to grace the pages of manga. She isn’t afraid to kill anyone who gets in her way of a good sibling relationship, or even anyone who happens to be peripherally involved in her plans. Kazuki finds himself being drawn into the madness that another man she knew succumbed to.

While a few horror clichés grace these pages, this manages to be fresh and twisted, and horrifying for it. Madness and obsession mix in terrible ways.

A special note must be made for the side stories- both manage to be just as terrifying, even though one isn’t as unique or memorable as the other or the main story.

Overall, this is a manga that will leave you awake at night. Remember- don’t talk to strangers!

Recommended: YES! 18+. While this has no language that I noted, there is a lot of violence. While nothing is ever done outright, you will see the outlines and some of the implications of what happened will be very clear. There is also a brief scene of almost-fanservice… that is, Kazuki’s little sister wets herself from fear (understandable), and Lolita Girl goes to ‘clean her up’ with an iron. You do see panties in about 4 panels. Kazuki’s friend does give him a porno dvd to watch, but he just throws it in the trash.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Higurashi (anime and manga)
Tomie (manga)
Bizenghast (manga)

“The Circle of Life” – Jisatsu Circle (manga) – 9/10 Notebooks

Genre: Horror

Review Status: Complete (1 Volume/1 Volume)

Licensed: No, this manga is not licensed in the US.

Art: This is more on the realistic side of art, with characters that run anywhere from cute to ugly. This doesn’t hesitate to show more realistic and graphic pictures of violence and injury.

Summary: 54 girls commit suicide by jumping in front of a moving train. However, one girl survives (Saya Kota) and opens another Suicide Club, with other victims. Her best friend, Kyoko, fears for Saya's future and begins to search for the strange secrets surrounding the Suicide Club to try and save Saya and the other girls from committing such a tragedy again. (MAL.net)

Review: From the same mangaka as Music of Marie, this manga was originally supposed to be an adaptation of the live-action movie by the same name, this ended up with a completely original ending on the insistence of the director. Suffice it to say, it worked out well.

For something that seems to take on a very different subject, this has remarkable similarities to his other work. Every chapter builds onto the main storyline. Nothing is wasted or insignificant. It delves into the psyche of the characters and leaves one wondering where the psychological leaves off and the supernatural begins.
54 students. One survivor. Saya’s best friend Kyoko wonders what happened to her.

Saya has been morose for months, accused by classmates of having seduced their boyfriends, dealing with abuse from her father, and was abandoned by Kyoko in her time of need. She found solace in a girl, a leader of a group of wounded souls that dedicate their lives to their leader, and escape their pain. The need for a savior draws these people in, hoping for relief for their pain. But each time someone survives the attempts at death, and those that oppose the survivor end up in dire straits. Kyoko is drawn into what’s happening and why, unsure of what’s really taking over her friend- and is there any escape for her?

Overall, this is a surreal manga that explores what happens when people are in pain, and leaves the question of what drives them to the reader.

Recommended: 18+. This is heavy subject material- there are a few gory shots of bodies and the aftermath of death. Saya is abused by her father and forced to take naked pictures and prostitute herself. The nudity is shown in a fair amount of detail, though the sex isn’t. Two instances of shown genitalia are blurred or erased.

Other titles you might enjoy:
The Music of Marie (manga)
Ghost Hound (anime)
Monster (manga and anime)

“Space Invaders” – Mars of Destruction (anime) – 1/10 Notebooks

"...why I'm so sympathetic to the monsters. The answer is simple. Because I am one." ~Laurell K. Hamilton

Genre: Sci-fi/Horror

Review Status: Complete (1 Episode/1 Episode)

Licensed: No, it’s not licensed in the US. Thank goodness.

Art/Animation: Even though this was made in 2005, the animation would only be acceptable in 1990- MAYBE. It’s choppy, slow, inconsistent, and in some places non-existent. The art is standard, nothing exceptional.

Dub Vs. Sub: There is no dub. The sub, however, is overdramatic and perhaps the sorriest thing about it is that the voice actors seem to be trying. It’s not done well, though.

Summary: Some time after a space mission to Mars ends in destruction, strange monsters called "Ancients" begin appearing around Tokyo. A group of specialists consisting of three girls and one troubled young boy must fight the Ancients until they can come to understand exactly what it is they are fighting. When one of the Ancients tells them that they are the true invaders of Earth, they must search within themselves to grasp what truly is reality. (Source: ANN)

Review: This is a title that is well-maligned in the circles of anime fans as being one of the worst anime out there. Just to see whether this could hold up to such high standards, I gave it a shot.

There is no exaggeration when people say that this is a terrible anime. It starts out somewhat promising, with some lovely classical music, along with some shots of Mars and space to go along with it. And then you get to the re-entry of a spaceship into the atmosphere, which is dialogue set to a still shot. It doesn’t get any better from there.

This is filled with some of the worst dialogue and logic I’ve ever heard. There was an astonishing leap of logic when someone said that DNA from Mars started humanity on earth (wha?) and another man said that it meant humanity originated in Japan. There was an assertion by one of the ‘aliens’ that they had been awakened by the virus that had destroyed life on Mars, even though the aliens had only shown up a few months before and life on Mars had been gone for thousands of years. The worst of it, though, had to be when the characters were in the hospital. They were in an ICU unit, not surgery, but you heard calls for a ‘heart massage’, and someone said that the girl whose head had exploded wasn’t going to make it. Really? I would never have guessed! To top that off was the interesting way that guns didn’t injure the “Ancient” at all until the young man on the task force had shot him once. Then the bullets proceeded to rip into the alien’s flesh.

Of course, a train wreck of this proportion would be nothing without some stellar characters to carry it through. You have the members of the elite force that are young teenage girls of multi-colored hair. None of them are ever given a name. The only one that seems to be of any importance is the guy, who’s forced into a suit that should give him some serious internal injuries, and forced to fight these creatures. Too bad all we know about him is that his father created the suit and that one of the girls on the team likes him.

There is no reason to like or care about anything in this OVA. The characters are cookie-cutter, the plot entirely nonsensical, and the animation completely sub-standard. It’s a complete waste of the space it takes up, on the internet, on cellulite, and in my mind.

Overall, only watch this if you haven’t seen anything worse than Speed Racer, and you need something to compare it to.

Recommended: Um, no. 16+, though, for the gore. People are killed in this- one girl’s head explodes, two cops have holes shot in them.

Other titles you might enjoy: Anything else. However, for some shows with similar, better storylines…
Ga-Rei Zero (anime)
Macross Frontier (anime)
Super Dimention Fortress Macross (anime)
Gantz (manga)
Birdy the Mighty: Decode (anime)
Bubblegum Crisis (anime)

“Who, What, When, Where, Why”- King Of Thorn (manga) – 10/10 Flowers

Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope. ~Anonymous

Genre: Action/Horror/Sci-fi /Psychological

Review Status: Complete (6 Volumes/6 Volumes)

Licensed: Yes, this manga is licensed in the US. However, as Tokyopop is the licensor, its future status is undetermined.

Art: Crisp, clear, reminiscent of FMA in the angular facial and character designs. Plays heavily with light and shadow, with heavy shading.

Summary: Two twins, separated by fatal illness and a selective cure. Kasumi and her sister, Shizuku, were infected with the Medusa virus, which slowly turns the victim to stone. There is no cure, but of the two only Kasumi is selected to go into a sort of cryogenically frozen state along with 159 others until a cure is found. At some point in the undetermined future, Kasumi awakens to find herself and others who were in suspended animation in an unfamiliar world with violent monsters. Resolving to unlock the mysteries of her current situation and the fate of her twin sister, Kasumi struggles to survive in a treacherous world. (Tokyopop)

Review: What do you do when the world you know is gone? When Kasumi awakens from her sleep, she discovers that they haven’t awakened in a world with a cure for the Medusa virus- oh, no. They are in a world that’s who-knows-how-many years into the future, where nightmarish monsters roam the halls of a crumbling castle that they were encapsulated in, thorns grow everywhere they look, and the virus still spreads through their veins.

This manga wastes no time getting to the meat of the story. With everyone in a panic to discover what has happened, most end up getting killed off the bat, leaving us with our band of heroes: six people from all walks of life, that must now discover what happened and why the world is like what it is.

This manga is full of heart-pounding action and twists that are startling. To discover the answers, they travel all over the castle, to various labs and stations. They must face giant salamanders that spark electricity, a frog-monster that spits acid and hallucinogens, creatures like dinosaurs, and human defense systems that have managed to stay running. Along the way they discover things about each other and themselves. Marcus isn’t all he appears to be. Kasumi and her twin have a backstory that might be key to all the things that are happening. Tim and Katherine, a boy who was chosen but not his mother, and a mother that lost her child and regrets it deeply, find inner strength and courage as they face the trials that the castle holds. The other two, Ron and Peter, have the character development of minor characters, yet still manage to play decently important parts. Then you have the mysterious girl and an equally dangerous opponent.

They all are sympathetic to a degree, and seeing what they went through, how they became who they are and why they are behaving the way they are, is absolutely fascinating. It was nice to see solid character development alongside the main storyline.

Not everything is as it appears to be in this manga, and seeing all the plot threads come together is simply fantastic. The virus itself is more than what they originally thought, and becomes a key element in the story itself at a certain point. There is very little in this manga that goes unanswered- the story is tightly-written, the characters interesting and believable, the art clear and the action scenes done well. You can’t ask for more in this type of story, especially when it manages to put so much into so few volumes.

Overall, this is a great post-apocalyptic action story.

Recommended: 16+. This has the worst of FMA-level violence, all the time. People are shown dying- this usually involves limbs flying. There is very little actual gore- it’s mostly blood-spatter shown, even for the worst of wounds (including the aftermath of someone who committed suicide with a bullet through the mouth). This manga isn’t afraid to show bodies, though they are not fresh and, indeed, look more like mummies than anything. You do see a character attempt suicide, though her twin sister stops her in time. And in one scene, you do realize that a character committed suicide (again, gore-less but there is blood spatter).

Fanservice is incredibly low- the one sure instance of it is in an extras page in the back where the author says that it’s hard to draw nice boobs and prefers butts. A few instances where you get full-on cleavage is after a character transforms using the Medusa. However, this is about as fanservice-y as any classical painting. She has been acting as a mother to a young boy the entire time, nearly sacrificed herself for him once, and when she transforms it’s clear that her cleavage isn’t for kicks- it’s symbolic of her motherly instincts towards him, which is born out when she nearly dies protecting the boy. Any other possible nudity (which is virtually nonexistent), is Barbie-doll, or covered up by water/shadow/what-have-you.

The language level is a little high. Though the majority swears are usually not thrown around casually, you do have about 8 f-bombs, 6 g—d---s, and a handful of other more minor swears. It usually levels out between 5-7 instances per volume, with each volume getting a little more intense with the language and more frequent.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Ergo Proxy (anime)
20th Century Boys (manga)
Full Metal Alchemist (anime, Brotherhood, or manga)
Bokurano (anime or manga)
King of Thorn (anime)
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (anime)
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (anime)

“I Can See It All” – Mirai Nikki (anime) – 3/10 Sweethearts

The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” ~Alan Kay quotes

Genre: Horror/Action/Romance/Mystery

Review Status: Complete (1 OVA/1 OVA)

Licensed: This OVA is unlicensed in the US

Art/Animation: The art/animation is pretty decent, but the CG is rather obvious and unattractive.

Summary: Middle school 2nd year, Amano Yukiteru, is a boy who has problem making friends. He thinks of himself as a bystander and will always write down everything he sees in a cell phone diary.

Tormented by solitude, Yukiteru began to imagine things like a friend called Deus Ex Machina who is apparently the Lord of Time & Space. Seeing Yukiteru's miserable state, Deus gives him a new ability. His diary will now record events that will happen in the near future. Yukiteru is then forced to participate in a game which the winner will become Deus's successor. (Source: Mangaupdates)

Review: I’d been waiting for a year. A year since I heard an OVA was being made. One that would set up the story of Future Diary, introduce us to the world and the characters. I got it!

A glorified 6-minute preview.

Honestly, watching this was like watching one of those extended previews in the movie theatre. There’s a boy! He gets a cellphone… that can tell the future! There’s a girl who knows! There’re some explosions! And some other people who have dairies!

*end*

I suppose it isn’t too bad for a preview, but for the time that I spent waiting for it (and it being delayed a season), the mediocre-quality animation and CG, and how short it was, I was sorely disappointed.

Overall, skip this and read the manga.

Recommended: No. But 12+ if you insist. They pass over all the gore and blood, go straight to some explotions. There’s also a kiss.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Mirai Nikki (manga)
Higurashi: When They Cry (manga and anime Season 1 and Season 2)
Liar Game (manga)
Doubt (manga)
Eden of the East (anime)

“A Small Town in the Woods” – Shiki (anime) – 7/10 Disco Balls

All say, "How hard it is that we have to die" - a strange complaint to come from the mouths of people who have had to live. ~Mark Twain

Genre: Horror/Mystery/Supernatural

Review Status: Complete (22 Episodes/ 22 Episodes)

Licensed: This is currently licensed in the US

Art/Animation: While the animation is decent, the art takes some getting used to. There are wild hairstyles in wild colors, and in some scenes you can tell someone was playing a little too much with the color/texture maker.

Summary: During a fiercely hot summer in Sotoba, a peaceful and quiet village with a population of 1300 people, a series of bizarre deaths begin to occur. At the same time, a strange family moves into a long abandoned mansion in the region. As time goes on, more people start dying, and their families start to disappear. A few recognize why this is and begin to fight back, culminating in a battle between the living and the undead.

Review: This anime manages to get you at the beginning. Not just because of the strange and unusual hairstyles, but because it so clearly conveys the tension the characters have. Megumi is dying to get out of the town, while Natsuno just doesn’t care. The town doctor is dealing with a bunch of deaths that have no explanation, while the junior monk is dealing with the stress of being stalled in one of his stories and having to deal with an unusual amount of deaths in the village.

Each episode brings you into a little more of the story, with the Shiki gradually being revealed, seeing how they start taking over the village, how the families are affected, how the affected are controlled, and what’s going on in the minds of the Shiki.

This goes a route that few vampire stories today do- it brings in the various feelings of different Shiki, from those who are happy to be murderers, to those who merely want to be with their loved ones forever, to those who are tortured by how they must survive, and those who refuse to become killers because of the shame they would feel.

At the same time, you see how the few who do recognize what’s happening deal with the Shiki invading the town, while the other villagers scoff at them and rationalize the events.

There are a few downsides to the interesting story- the pace for the first half is pretty slow. Apparently, they animated one chapter per episode. For some, this will prolong the tension that is in the episodes- some won’t even feel bored. For others, this will drag out the story and prolong it more than necessary.

Even so, with the 14th episode and the last 5 episodes, there is definite payoff. You get a very good idea of what can and can’t kill the Shiki, as well as finally seeing the bloodbath that a vampire hunt can become. You get a definite look at good and evil in them, with the villagers becoming the predators instead of prey, and in some cases becoming monsters that are just as bad as the ones they’re hunting.

Unfortunately, this didn’t have a very conclusive ending. You see the destruction of most of the Shiki, the destruction of what the villagers were trying to save, but the ending implies that things aren’t quite over between the Shiki and the villagers.

Overall, this was an interesting story that went back to the predator nature of vampires.

Recommended: 16+. The violence gets very graphic, with episode 14 all about finding out how you can kill a vampire, and the last 5 episodes about hunting them and anyone who might be associated with them down and killing them. Lots of blood and death, such as having stakes being driven through hearts, some bodies being hacked to pieces, and one Shiki’s head being crushed before she was staked.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Shiki (light novels and manga)
Blood+ (anime)
Higurashi: When They Cry (anime Season 1, Season 2 and manga)
Hellsing (manga)
Hellsing Ultimate (anime)
Monster (anime or manga)
Mail (manga)
Ghost Hunt (anime and manga)
Kakureno: Hide-and-Seek (anime)
Blood: The Last Vampire (anime)
Bizenghast (manga)
Doubt (manga)

“Follow You To Hell” – Anne Freaks (manga) - 6/10 Turkeys

Revenge is an act of passion, vengeance is an act of justice. ~Samuel L. Jackson

Genre: Horror/ Action/ Psychological

Review Status: Complete (4 Volumes / 4 Volumes)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art: Simple and clean. Not that detailed, but good.

Summary: While trying to bury the body of his mother deep in the woods, high school student Yuri is approached by a strange girl who offers to help him. That is... if he promises to be her "parent killing assistant." Meet Anne Freaks, a bright, attractive teenage girl normal in every way - except that she's on a mission to kill her father, the leader of the dangerous extremist cult: the Kakusei Group. (ADV)

Review: This manga grips you from the beginning. You can see that all isn’t right with Yuri’s world- why he killed his mother (or did he?), the delisions he’s experienced since, and the terror he goes through as he tries to hide it from the world.

Then you hit the second volume. The plot and pacing become slow and tedious. You can’t afford that in such a short series. The characters do a lot of plotting and thinking. Things pick up in the third novel, with our protagonists starting out to make their move. The police, important to the plot at this point, also begin preparations to take out the main characters.

In the fourth volume everything comes to an end. The purpose and people in the terrorist group are surprisingly twisted, as twisted as Yuri has become under the influence of Anne- who’s transition from brave heroine to twisted murderess is rather abrupt. Her motives and ideas, which we thought had become clearer throughout the story, turn in a dangerous way. Unfortunately, the motives of the police are also left rather muddled, which leaved a little too much unclear to the reader.

Overall, this is a decent story. Not the best, but not bad for a short read.

Recommended: 16+, and only if you like this genre. There’s blood and you do see the aftermath of the violence- though you’re spared from the worst of the gore.

Other titles you might enjoy: Black Lagoon (anime)
Higurashi: When They Cry (manga and anime)
Future Diary (manga)
Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service (manga)
Goth (manga)

"Come And Play" - Kakurenbo: Hide-and-Seek (anime) - 8/10 Pumpkins

Weather forecast for tonight: dark. ~George Carlin

Genre: Horror/ Psychological/ Supernatural

Review Status: Complete (1 Movie/1 Movie)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art/Animation: While the CG does look a little clunky and the character designs a little odd, this still has enough dark atmosphere and bright colors to make up for it.

Summary: Among the ruins of the city, there is a game only children can play. It is called “Otokoyo”; a game of hide-and-seek. But whenever children play this game, one by one they would disappear into the blinds of the buildings… The story begins when a boy enters the world of Otokoyo, to find his missing sister.

Review: At 25 minutes, this is the shortest movie I’ve ever seen. And yet it manages to be a fairly good one! You follow a boy as he enters the game of “Otokoyo”, a game that you can play once a month, when the lights of the city flicker and begin to go out. The goal? To hide from the demons in the heart of the building for as long as possible. If you reach daylight, you win. Everyone else… disappears. Such was the case for out protagonists’ sister, and now he’s come to find her.

The players discover that the game is more dangerous and sinister than they believed it to be, and our protagonist learns that there’s far more to the game than he could have believed… a secret that is at the heart of the city….

Overall, this is a great short film to watch if you want a case of the shivers!

Recommended: Yes! No blood, no gore, but there are disturbing themes/implications, so ten and up.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Perfect Blue (anime),
Higurashi: When They Cry (anime and manga),
Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service (manga),
Bizenghast (manga)
Muhyo and Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (manga)

"Revenge is Best Served Cold" - Hell Girl (anime) - 8/10 Pumpkins

Evil is always devising more corrosive misery through man's restless need to exact revenge out of his hate. ~Ralph Steadman

Genre: Horror/Psychological/Supernatural

Review Status: Complete (26 Episodes / 26 Episodes)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art/Animation: The animation is excellent. It’s smooth and never seems lacking. Some of it is recycled, but it’s not a lot (and the shots are shortened in later episodes) so I really didn’t mind. The colors used are vibrant, even though they are usually on the dark side of the palette. Though the show tends to go for the darker tones (pun not intended!) it still is quite appealing, and when they do use bright colors it is used judicially, in order to emphasize differences in moods, circumstances, the past and present. For example, her own little world is rendered in red and gold- somewhat symbolically, due to the death she deals with. As for character designs… Honestly, they aren’t terribly original in and of themselves, but the personalities that fill them make them incredibly memorable all the same. The background music is never intrusive, effectively conveying the mood. The opening and ending songs are very nice, but the opening seems a little out of place with its lightheartedness.

Summary: Hell Girl. For four hundred years, legends about her have been circulating. If you contact her, she will send the person who antagonizes you to Hell. Through the years, the method of contact has changed with the times, but her modus operandi has always been the same- you may only banish them if you truly want them gone from the world. Today, in the age of technology, one merely has to turn on the computer to do so. At midnight, and only for a minute, you may log onto a certain website and type in the name of the person you wish to send to Hell. Hell Girl will then appear, and she will give you a doll with a red string tied around its neck. When you wish to banish the person, you must pull the string. At that moment the contract will be made, and the person will be sent to Hell. But eventually you will have to pay the price….

Review: Dark. Depressing. Hopeless. That was all I could think about this anime during the few first episodes. Time after time you see people, dragged down by their hatred, greed, and fear, making their antagonists disappear. Their stories were told so compellingly that (and I can’t lie about this) if I were in the same situation, I don’t think that I could have resisted pulling the string and sending the person to hell, even if my own soul were at stake. And yet I couldn’t stop watching. What was it about this anime that made me want to keep going? Was it the compelling stories of the people who sought out Hell Girl? Was it my desire to know Hell Girl’s own history, why she did what she did? Was it the need to see someone- anyone- defy the pull of the string and escape eternal damnation?

Even now, I don’t think I can answer that. All I know is that it drew me in like few others have. I may never watch it again, but I will respect it for the powerful piece of storytelling it is. Everything about it screams “Yes! Someone put time and thought and effort into making me!” which, despite the darkness of the show, nonetheless warms my heart.

For me what truly makes this anime is the characters. The people who contact Hell Girl each have their own stories, their own reasons to do so. They tend to be young females, but both genders and varied ages do give their stories a wide range of incidents, so no circumstances seem to be repeated. But the endings to their stories also give this its flavor, as some end up relieved and at peace with their decision, while others see their decisions come to naught. The main cast consists of six people. First, there is Hell Girl, born Enma Ai. Though she first appears disturbingly- if not horrifically- impartial about sending souls to Hell, as the series goes on we discover that not all as it appears to be with her.

The circumstances of her death and the sacrifices she makes to protect her loved ones make it easier to see why she acts the way she does, and that not even she is completely impervious to emotions. Her minions/friends are also interesting, each with their own distinct personality and background story. Of course, this story must also have its protagonists that struggle against fate- Tsugumi and Hajime Shibata, a girl and her father who are direct descendants of the boy Ai loved. Hajime, a journalist, comes across an intriguing story about Hell Girl and drags his daughter down a twisted path to find the truth of it. In the process, his daughter and Ai’s existences become entwined in a way neither can stand.

Overall, I can’t say enough about this. It really is not for everyone, as some people might be bored by how long it takes for the main storyline to start, and those who like their anime light-hearted should stay far, far away.

Recommended: Yes. 16+, though, for disturbing scenes and violence. Several people are punished rather gruesomely, one woman is nearly raped, there is implied murder and attempted murder.

Other titles you might enjoy: Shigofumi (anime),
xxxHolic (anime and manga),
Paranoia Agent (anime),
Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service (manga),
Bizenghast (manga),
Petshop of Horrors (manga),
Kara no Kyoukai (anime)
Muhyo and Roji's Buraeu of Supernatural Investigation (manga)

"Not Quite Human" - Blood: The Last Vampire (anime) - 8/10 Pumpkins

But other vampire stories? Well, no, I really haven't read too many, and I can't say I'm crazy about romantic vampires anyway - to me the vampire is simply an evil monster. ~Brian Lumley

Genre: Horror/Supernatural/Action

Review Status: Complete (1 Movie/1 Movie)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art/Animation: Very good. Outside of some obvious CG panning shots, the CG is very inobtrusive and blending into the movie. This is done in darker tones, but is very vibrant and rich in those colors. And the art is very nice to look at.

Summary: Teropterids are evil beasts which pose as humans and live only to drink human blood. Fortunately for the human world there are groups dedicated to destroying them. A brooding and mysterious girl named Saya is the best teropterid slayer there is, and now, in 1960's Japan, she is sent to a U. S. army base which may be infested... (ANN.net)

Review: This is a short movie, at less than an hour long. It also doesn’t give much history or exposition as to what’s going on. This is more like a snapshot in time, where what is happening now is what you get. And what’s happening now is that a Korean girl is sent to a U.S. Army base in order to find and destroy the Teropterids- more commonly known as ‘Vampires’, but bear little resemblance to what we think of when we hear that word- that have been preying on the people there.

You see this mostly through the eyes of the school nurse that has been dragged into this by chance. She witnesses a slaying, discovers some of Saya’s past, and is brought along on an adventure that she will never forget, even though she may never make heads or tails of it, and never know the entire story behind it.

Overall, if you aren’t looking for heavy story or plot, then this is a fantastic movie!

Recommended: YES! For those 16+ due to violence and gore- one girl gets sliced in half and others get killed offscreen.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Kara no Kyoukai (anime),
Hellsing (manga) or Hellsing Ultimate (anime)
Muhyo and Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (manga)
Bizenghast (manga)
Ghost Hunt (anime)
Psychic Detective Yakumo (anime)
Bizenghast (manga)
Shiki (anime)

"It's Dark Out There..." - The Dreaming (manga) - 6/10 Pumpkins

Ours is the century of enforced travel of disappearances. The century of people helplessly seeing others, who were close to them, disappear over the horizon. ~John Berger

Genre: Horror/Mystery

Review Status: Full (3 Volumes/ 3 Volumes)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art: Good, solid. Nothing special, but good at conveying a creepy horror vibe.

Summary: Amber and Jeanie, a pair of twin sisters, enroll in an Australian boarding school. But shortly after school begins, the twins uncover a dark, mysterious secret: Students have been known to walk off into the surrounding bushlands, where they have vanished completely, without a trace! (Tokyopop)

Review: A boarding school in the middle of nowhere? A mystery that went unsolved many years ago? Paintings that seem to hold clues to what happened? Sounds like prime fodder for a good mystery! This hearkens back to old Gothic stories, with students that are held at the mercy of a tyrannical principal and mysterious disappearances begin when the students decide to ‘call on the spirits’. “Bleeding” trees and nights as thick as paint add to an atmosphere that’s already full of macabre paintings and Victorian-style furnishings.

The story itself is pretty interesting, with the twins becoming distant as the disappearances become more common. The reveal as to what’s happening is a toss-up as to whether the reader will like it. While did think that it was decent, some will find it and the ending unsatisfying in more than one way.

Overall, this is a pretty good manga. I wish there were more to it, or a slightly different ending, but it’s not too bad.

Recommended: For a quick read, I’d pick it up. 13+ due to some disturbing images (blood, some violence).

Other titles you might enjoy:
Higurashi: When They Cry (anime and manga),
Bizenghast (manga), Red Garden (manga),
Kieli (manga and light novels)

"Don't worry, I used the blunt end of the knife." - Higurashi: When They Cry (manga) - 10/10 Pumpkins

I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. ~Author Unknown

Genre: Horror/Psychological/Drama/Mystery

Review Status: Partial (8 Volumes/? Volumes)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art: This is where you see what the anime did with the art- each arc has a different artist, so each time you get different styles. You have some that look fairly realistic, and some that are very cute in style. The anime is an amalgamation of all these different styles.

Summary: After moving into the quiet town of Hinamizawa, Maebara Keiichi spends his days blissfully in school often playing games with his local friends. However, appearances can be deceiving. One fateful day, Keiichi stumbles upon news of a murder that had occurred in Hinamizawa. From this point on, horrific events unfold in front of Keiichi, as he soon learns his close friends may not be all that they seem. Based on the amateur mystery game by 7th Expansion, the story is told in a series of different scenarios. (MAL.net)

The Higurashi manga is divided into several different arcs- you have the ‘question’ arcs, that present a scenario of what happened, and then you have the ‘answer’ arcs- what really happened. So far the arcs that have been released are (in order): Abducted By Demons Arc, Cotton Drifting Arc, Curse Killing Arc, Time Killing Arc, and the first part of the Beyond Midnight Arc. Some of these are manga-only and didn’t make it into the anime.

Review: Reading the Higurashi manga is an entirely different experience than watching the anime. You get more information on the characters, the colors and art is much cleaner and nicer, and you get more arcs, which is always good. You also get the best of what makes this a murder-mystery- you get good clues and you still get a good amount of gore!

I love how all the arcs present the characters. Each of them has their little quirks and backgrounds, and they’re still very loveable. I love watching them interact, and you get more of that here.

There really isn’t much more to say than what’s in the review of the anime, but I have to say, the manga manages to outdo it because of key information that you get that isn’t present in the anime.

Overall, this is one of the best horror manga out there.

Recommended: Most definitely! 16+ readers, please, for heavy gore and some minor fanservice in some of the arcs.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Future Diary (manga),
Bizenghast (manga),
Elfen Lied (anime and manga),
Shiki (anime),
Denpateki na Kanojo (anime),
Hell Girl (anime),
Perfect Blue (anime),
Kara no Kyoukai (anime),
Monster (anime or manga),
Paranoia Agent (anime)
Muhyo and Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (manga)

"Everyone, live on." - Higrashi: When They Cry S2 (anime) - 8/10 Pumpkins

The future is called "perhaps," which is the only possible thing to call the future. And the only important thing is not to allow that to scare you. ~Tennessee Williams

Genre: Horror/Mystery/Psychological/Drama

Review Status: Full (24 Episodes/24 Episodes)

Licensed: Unlicensed in the US

Art/Animation: The art and animation is on par with the first season. Colors are still a tad washed-out, but overall decent.

Summary: Continuing from the first series, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai begins to shed some light on the dark mysteries prevalent in the preceding season. The young group of friends in the town of Hinamizawa continue to enter terrible conflicts with one another in their never ending summer of 1983, often ending with the brutal murder of one of their numbers. Furude Rika, with the help of her spiritual friend Hanyuu, tackles challenges over and over, trying her best to keep their lives from coming to a tragic end. With no end to the torture in sight, Rika must call upon the bonds of friendship and trust among her friends to discover the true villain of this eternal June. (MAL.net)

Review: If you wondered what happened to the town of Hinamizawa after all the death had finished, this series starts off with a glimpse into it. You gain a few more clues into the mystery of the town and what happened, and then are shot off into a few more mystery arcs before the true villain of the series is revealed.

This gives you the background of the happenings- why the people died, why the murderers were killing, and why the murderer was so determined to destroy Hinamizawa. And finally, you get the finale of whether the friends manage to stop it all in time to save themselves and their fellow villiagers.

While it does seem a little anti-climactic, it still was nice to see it all come to an end.

Overall, I loved seeing how all the characters came together to solve the mystery and defeat the bad guys. A must-see to complete the series!

Recommended: Yes. But since there is still some blood/gore, I still recommend this for those 16+

Other titles you might enjoy: Higurashi: When They Cry first season (anime),
Higrashi: When They Cry (manga),
Future Diary (manga),
Elfen Lied (anime or manga),
Bizenghast (manga),
Shiki (anime),
Denpateki na Kanojo (anime),
Hell Girl (anime),
Perfect Blue (anime),
Kara no Kyoukai (anime),
Monster (anime or manga),
Paranoia Agent (anime)
Muhyo and Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (manga)

"To Change The Future..." - Future Diary (manga) - 9/10 Pumpkins

When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened. ~John M. Richardson, Jr.

Genre: Horror/Psychological/Action/Supernatural/Shounen

Review Status: Partial (6 Volumes/? Volumes)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art: Good, solid. It may not be anything special, but it isn’t bad by far!

Summary: Middle school 2nd year, Amano Yukiteru, is a boy who has problem making friends. He thinks of himself as a bystander and will always write down everything he sees in a cell phone diary.

Tormented by solitude, Yukiteru began to imagine things like a friend called Deus Ex Machina who is apparently the Lord of Time & Space. Seeing Yukiteru's miserable state, Deus gives him a new ability. His diary will now record events that will happen in the near future. Yukiteru is then forced to participate in a game which the winner will become Deus's successor. (Mangaupdates)

Review: This manga came out to little fanfare a while ago. I picked it up, not quite knowing what I was going to find. It turned out to be a Death Note-esque blend of plots, action, and sheer excitement.

The characters are all very different, with understandable (and sometimes despicable) motivations for participating in the game to become Deus’ successor. Yukiteru, our protagonist, doesn’t want to participate, but soon realizes that unless he wants his existence wiped from the face of the earth he must. Along his way he picks up a motley crew of other players and friends. They help and support him in his battle to keep the others from winning, because if he doesn’t then his family and friends are at risk. Explosions and gunfights abound here as they try to kill eachother of- some in fairly simple ways, others in ways that are pretty out-there but fantastic to watch!

The story develops wonderfully, and quickly. He encounters his first rival within the first volume, discovering that truly anyone could be a fellow player. The players are willing to do anything to win, including threatening those he cares about. There are certain restrictions to the usage of the Future Dairies. Each one has its own restrictions and limitations. There’s a lot of interesting ways to see how different ones work together, and how the loopholes can be exploited.

The only thing I have against this is that around volume six-heck, in volume three there's a big one!- definite moral ambiguities comes into play. Some people would probably put this down to certain moral lines being crossed, though others would likely understand or still want our protagonist to win, hoping that when he does he will set things right as the new Deus. I will continue the story myself to see how it all works out.

Overall, this is a solid psychological series that will leave you at the edge of your seat!

Recommended: Yes. It does have a lot of disturbing deaths and some gore, there is some sexually suggestive stuff (including rape), some partial nudity, so 16+, please!

Other titles you might enjoy: When They Cry (anime and manga),
MPD Psycho (manga),
Elfen Lied (anime and manga),
Perfect Blue (anime),
Doubt (manga),
Deadman Wonderland (manga and anime),
Liar Game (manga),
Future Diary spin-offs (Future Diary: Mosaic, and Future Diary: Paradox)(manga)

"Found you, Keiichi-kun..." - When They Cry (anime) - 9/10 Pumpkins

Destiny is something not be to desired and not to be avoided. a mystery not contrary to reason, for it implies that the world, and the course of human history, have meaning. ~Dag Hammarskjold

Genre: Horror/Mystery/Drama/Psychological

Review Status: Complete (26 Episodes / 26 Episodes)

Licensed: Licensed in the US
Art/Animation: The colors tend to be a little washed-out, and the art isn’t as nice as I’ve seen elsewhere. The good news is that the animation is decent, and overall it does what it sets out to do- tell a muder-mystery that’s happening in a small town!

Summary: After moving into the quiet town of Hinamizawa, Maebara Keiichi spends his days blissfully in school often playing games with his local friends. However, appearances can be deceiving. One fateful day, Keiichi stumbles upon news of a murder that had occurred in Hinamizawa. From this point on, horrific events unfold in front of Keiichi, as he soon learns his close friends may not be all that they seem. Based on the amateur mystery game by 7th Expansion, the story is told in a series of different scenarios. (MAL.net)

Review: When They Cry, or as it is more famously known, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, is a story about a group of friends that are the victims of horrific happenings. The story is told in arcs- a series of ‘question’ and ‘answer’ arcs, with each arc presenting a different scenario of the events that lead to the death of the protagonists. While at first it seems like nothing but an excuse for a gore fest, as you keep watching you realize that all isn’t as it seems with the murders. As you see first one person’s view of the same events, then another’s, people who at first seem innocent suddenly have deadly motivations, and others who seem like likely suspects turn out to be allies.

The characters are all sympathetic. You can’t help but like each quirky member, from the mischevious but scarred Sakoto to the tortured but gentle Rena. Each member has their own past and history- some good, some not so much. But they all smile with the others- they love their friends.

The only problem that I can really point out is that when transferring mediums from manga to anime, there were some key bits of information about the characters that got left behind or on the cutting room floor. Even without that information, as you get the bits and pieces of what’s going on and start to piece the clues together, you end up with a mystery as fantastic as any.

Overall, if you can get past the gore and violence then you have a great series.

Recommended: Because the violence and gore can be graphic and disturbing, 16+. But yes, this is a great series.

Other titles you might enjoy: Higurashi: When They Cry (manga),
Future Diary (manga),
Bizenghast (manga),
Elfen Lied (anime and manga),
Shiki (anime),
Denpateki na Kanojo (anime),
Hell Girl (anime),
Perfect Blue (anime),
Kara no Kyoukai (anime),
Monster (anime or manga),
Paranoia Agent (anime)
Muhyo and Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (manga)

"Seriously Wierd" - Bizenghast (manga) - 10/10 Pumpkins

I walk in the realm of the supernatural. ~Benny Hinn

Genre: Horror/Mystery/Drama

Review Status: Incomplete (7 Volumes/ ? Volumes)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art: Odd, Gothic-looking, but not unappealing. I would actually say that it works very well for this manga. It would look very odd for anything other than a horror manga! And the level of detail is wonderful. It’s all very effective, and very good.

Summary: When her parents die in a car accident, Dinah Wherever is sent to live with her aunt in an old house that used to be part of a reform school in the run-down, decrepit town of Bizenghast, MA. In the woods surrounding her new home, she discovers a hidden graveyard that is home to a vast array of restless spirits, people whose violent and unhappy deaths have made it impossible for them to find the way to the next world. There she discovers that she has two choices: she can help these lost souls... or she can become one of them. (ANN.net)

Review: While this is an American-made manga, that doesn’t stop it from being a fantastic work of imagination. The mangaka manages to imbue this rundown little seaside town with lots of personality and life… so to speak.

The characters are characters. You have the classic two sides of the same coin couple in Dinah and her best friend Vincent. She is a depressed, anxious girl that suffers from being able to see the spirits, and it’s slowly driving her out of her mind. He is a true gentleman that tries to understand her and what she is going through. The two guardians that they hav met and made friends of (so far), Edaniel and Edrear even more so, with Edaniel being an amazingl off-the-wall boy who spends more time as a cat than cute human, and Edread, his brother, is even more of gentleman than Vincent!

The story is also fantastic- Dinah accidentally is drawn into the world of the dead, needing to help them find their ways to the Great Beyond…. Or the Great Below, as it sometimes is the case. But there’s a bigger mystery going on- some of the dead aren’t resting as peacefully as they should, and even more dark things than even the Guardians of the Mausoleum could have anticipated. Each volume brings you closer to what’s going on, and closer to the fight that Dinah must undertake to save the town and its inhabitants.

Overall, there are disturbing images and death depicted. It’s not graphic, but this is a manga for those 13 and over.

Recommended: For sure! This has enough creepy atmosphere to last you a good while. 13+ due to violence, death, and some gore. There's also dead bodies/dead body parts.

Other titles you might enjoy: Muhyo and Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (manga),
Mushishi (anime or manga),
Ghost Hunt (anime or manga),
Higurashi: When They Cry(anime or manga),
Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service (manga),
Mail (manga),
Psychic Detective Yakumo (anime),
Darren Shan (manga),
Nightschool (manga)
Kieli (manga and light novel)