[AOW] Genshiken (10/28-11/3/2012) [#67]

Image © Palm Studio

The Genshiken manga recently (well about a year ago) started receiving new chapters with a new cast of characters and the return of old ones. Because of this, I have decided to feature the anime (which sadly was never a real accurate adaptation of the manga in the first place but it is still a fun series worth watching for otaku's of all types). I don't remember the anime being nearly as good as the manga, but that could just be due to the anime not adapting the whole series =/ Eh, oh well.

Type: Manga adaptation

Genre(s): comedy, otaku, slice of life

# of Episodes: 24

Synopsis: 

This is the story of college freshman Kanji Sasahara and his fellow members of the college club he joins, The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture (aka Genshiken), as he goes shopping for doujinshi, attends conventions and slowly but surely makes his way down the road to fandom. [ANN]

Limit vol.1

LIMIT vol.1

Creator: Keiko Suenobu

Publisher: Vertical

Release Date: Oct. 2012

Price: US $10.95 / $11.95 CAN

Length: 192pgs

The premise behind Limit isn't all that exciting or unique- a group of second year high school students are on their way for a trip known as "Exchange Camp" when the bus driver happens to lose consciousness, thus causing the bus to crash into the middle of some forest looking area. Most of the students (which oddly this manga seems to be missing any interaction with male students, despite them being there) end up dead. The few that do remain (at least that were found in the first volume of this manga) meet up and end up forming some weird patriarchal system because of one student in particular who was seemingly indirectly bullied throughout that year of school.

You would think a manga about a bus crashing could end up being more exciting. Maybe it's the shoujo format and the theme of bullying that is suppose to be explored here... but this manga seems to be falling flat on it's face. I wasn't thrilled by any of the characters- especially the main "villian" Arisa who was seemingly forced into the villain position by the manga artist just because this manga is suppose to explore the topic of "high school bullying". Most painful of all in this manga was the inclusion of a scyth... since when did high school students ever use scyths when on a school trip!?

I can't in good consciousness recommend this manga. It's plain, borring and painful to read. There isn't anything new here and the characters are just so bland. I do feel like I wasted $11 purchasing this... maybe volume two will be better.

[AOW] Negima!? (10/21-27/2012) [#66]

Image © Shaft

Don't worry my nettaversers, I know you must be in awe of that chupacabra; especially since Asuna has created the perfect rendition of one for her "Chupa Club" series of shirts- but the Chupa Club is here for a reason!! To hunt down a chupacabra of Asuna's very own... or is it really a cover for Sensei Negima being a magician?

Studio Shaft really got me with this one. Their, as I like to call it, "sensual" style of animating really suits many scenes of this series. I particularly LOVE the way Asuna's twintails create their own emoticoms such as being the shape of a heart in order to enhance her emotions.

 Negima!? isn't an exact adaptation of the manga of the same name; it's actually an alternate retelling of the series and while not perfect, it is well worth watching (as long as you know not to expect an amazing story that ties up all holes by the end of the two seasons).

Type: Alternate Retelling of Manga

Genre(s): School life, magic, fantasy, drama, comedy
# of Episodes: 26
Synopsis:
Wizard Negi Springfield may be a boy, but he has a man-sized job to do! Fresh from the Academy of Magic, Negi continues his training as an instructor at Mahora Academy in Japan. But before he can get his Masters in magic, the 31 schoolgirls of Class 3-A are gonna keep him up all night cramming for a final exam in will power. Temptation aside, Negi has more on his syllabus than flirting and spells. Darkness is closing in, and Negi is gonna need help from his lovely student bodies to drive the ghouls from their school. These girls want to prove that they're the best in class, and extra credit is available to the cuties that aren't afraid of after-hours phantom fighting! [MAL]