Greetings, readers. I welcome you to another satisfying issue of Manga Hermit. Now, I’m sure that many of you remember my previous article about bartending, correct? A simple bartender believes that he can create a drink so magnificent, so ethereal, so otherworldly that it would surpass human imagination. The “Glass of the Gods”, if you will. Well, it’s not like we’ve haven’t tried to take down supernatural forces before as a species. Not to mention the ways we’ve managed to do it.

Prime example. Not to mention a good portion of the Megami Tensai series.

I digress, however. While deity hunting is exhilarating in its own right, today’s manga isn’t about that. Today, we’re looking at another attempt at trying to bottle divinity. Specifically, wine. More refined than beer, more restrained than tequila, sweeter than that appletini - wine, that sophisticated alcoholic beverage is what we are drinking today. After all, that is what Les Gouttes de Dieu, translated as the Drops of God, is about.

What better way to start off a Maso Monday article than by writing it at 5am? Personally, I don't usually do one episode "reviews", just because I haven't seen the complete package to warrant a judgment. Perhaps I can make the case for AKB0048. But first some background information!

AKB48 is one of the most popular idol groups in Japan today. Not only do their singles constantly chart up to number one on the Oricon, but they have a legion of loyal fans who can still visit them daily in Akihabara. AKB48 is the founding branch by veteran producer Yasushi Akimoto--some other "sister" groups such as SKE48 (Nagoya), NMB48 (Osaka) also are popular. They've even gone international-- JKT48 (Jakarta), TPE48 (Taipei) and of course the upcoming SNH48, based in Shanghai.

Welcome readers to another installment of Manga Hermit! In an attempt to counterbalance the sheer amount of testosterone radiating from the flick about one of the most dysfunctional superhero teams to ever exist, this week’s issue is going to be sweet - Soap drama sweet. Passion, lust, desire; all of that and more will parade in front of your eyeballs till you’re itching for another marathon of Tenga Toppa Gurren Lagann. This issue’s drama fest centerpiece – Suna no Shiro, also known as The Sandcastle!

The first thing to greet your eyes when you wake up is the harsh rays of the sun. Muttering curses under your breath, you pull yourself out from under the covers, ready to face another day of mediocrity. Washing up, eating breakfast, checking the news and email – nothing deviates you from the usual morning routine. At school it’s the same thing: class, lunch, class, and then club. Even the people you see don’t change: the businessman who always drops his briefcase on the train, the gossiping girls at the back of the class…every day is the same, day in and out. You can’t help but think these things as you make your way onto the train, only to walk smack dab into a hostage situation. As the gunman takes aim, your life flashes before your eyes and you can’t help but regret that your life will end this way…until you realize that you aren’t in crippling pain. When you open your eyes, what greets you vision is this:

“Either angels have been taking tips from Skynet, or this is the sexiest Transformer ever” you think to yourself.

Tsumo! 8000/12000 points! The spinoff to the Riichi Mahjong anime, 咲-Saki-, has arrived. Saki is a show known for two great qualities: cute girls playing Mahjong and the yuri undertones within the series. With how the times have changed now, we now have a currently airing show of a Saki series in high definition. Considering how anime has evolved to providing high resolution episodes now, has this spinoff evolved the standards of an animated Saki series? Thankfully, Saki fans will be glad to know that the series is going in strong with its lovable girls playing Mahjong and yuri themes. Like the usual first impressions, I will be covering the first two episodes of the show.

Loli Nodoka? Magnificent!

Plot: A couple of friends since childhood who play Mahjong are separated with time due to various circumstances. After a time lapse, one of our heroines sees their old friend that moved away on TV, winning a Mahjong tournament no less! The sight of her old friend she lovingly used to play Mahjong with winning ignites flames of passion she once had for Mahjong and immediately decides to revive the Mahjong club at their future high school. Thus begins the journey of our heroines who will compete fiercely to make it to the finals of the inter-high tournament.

Characters: The Saki universe is known for its huge cast of lovable characters with interesting quirks and qualities. With this side story introduced, there is even more appealing characters for viewers to love. One particular character that will stand out to viewers is Matsumi Yuu. She is the older sister of Matsumi Kuro and is very sensitive to cold weather, which makes her dress up interestingly strange outfits even in the summer.

While the cast is abundant in females, the characters are designed quite well to distinguish them from each other and spark interest in a viewer’s attention. A main aspect of what makes the cast unique is how they are brought to life through the voice acting of the seiyuus. Having respectable seiyuus like Hanazawa Kana, Yuuki Aoi, and Touyama Nao assuming the roles bring fantastic personality to the characters.

Art and Animation: A lot of wonderful art is featured in Saki Achiga-hen Episode of A Side. There are many beautiful backgrounds throughout the episodes and the animation is smooth and does not have any glaring errors. The characters transition well from the manga to anime and look fantastic.

Music: Featuring tracks from the first season of Saki brings back the relaxing and lively soundtrack Saki has. However, the new adaptation features new tracks as well which are great additions to the well composed musical score of Saki. The opening and ending songs sound good and fit the show nicely.

Overall: Such a satisfying spinoff has been delivered to Saki fans. The show is presented in such way that makes it appealing to those who are not even into Mahjong. If you are looking for an adorable and relaxing show to watch, be sure to check out Saki Achiga-hen Episode of Side-A.

Personal Statement: Oh god, this is a gift from the gods. This anime is so yuri.

Hello and welcome to another installment of Manga Hermit. Today’s review, if you couldn’t guess from that tongue twister, will focus upon swindlers. We’re all familiar with swindlers – individuals who take you on a trip, raising you up the minute you start interacting with them. Next thing you know they’re long gone, leaving you with the fragments of the life you used to know. Whether it’s for financial gain, revenge, or sick pleasure – swindlers never let go once they find their prey. In the mind of Takeshi Natsuhara, Japan is filled to the brim with them.

Japan – where a sucker is found every twenty-three seconds.

New anime news out of Japan reveals that the anime film adaptation of Yoshihiro Togashi's Hunter x Hunter has finally been green-lit. Yoshihiro Togashi, whom is famously known for the manga series YuYu Hakusho has given the film adaptation his stamp of approval. The Hunter x Hunter series has spawned 2 TV anime adaptations (with one ongoing today) as well as numerous OVAs over the past 14 years. But this is the first theatrical adaptation for the series.

The film adaptation is to have it's own complete original story. There is currently no news on when this movie will be out but its good to know that one of Shonen Jump's oldest manga series will finally make its leap to the big screen.

For those that have never read or heard of Hunter x Hunter before, here is a short synopsis:

In the original manga, Gon Freecs' father abandoned him as a baby in order to become a Hunter, an elite class with a license to go anywhere and do almost anything. Now, 12 year old Gon wishes to follow in his father's footsteps and become a great Hunter like his dad. While Gon faces the challenges of the Hunter Exam, he befriends 3 other hunter exam candidates: Leorio, Killua, and Kurapika. Thus begins his adventure...

Source: Crunchyroll

Well readers, we’ve finally made it to March. And unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere, you can be sure that sooner or later we will all experience that moment when we know that spring is here. Whether it’s the sign of color returning to the frozen wasteland, or realizing that sixty-degree weather is too hot for a parka, we all know when spring arrives. You know what tells me that spring is here?

Aside from getting intimate with a box of Puffs?

MARRIAGES! While a bit sappy, marriages are the best scenes of spring hands down. Two individuals staring a new journey together, supporting each other as they face all the challenges and obstacles that life throws their way. Just like a bud or a sapling, breaking though the hard earth – ah, what a beautiful sentiment. Of course the bond between the bride and groom has to be strong; otherwise everything about the marriage will just fall apart. Unfortunately for Takanashi Chiwa, she doesn’t have that luxury.

Having to pay off the crippling debts her father incurred on a business venture, Ms. Chiwa is office lady by day, part-time hostess at night. Barely making enough to cover the housing for her and her father, things take a turn for the worst when she retaliates against a customer named Mamiya Hokuto for …calling her out on her crappy lifestyle. Having no idea of the ramifications of her actions (and subsequently being fired from her part time gig) she goes to work the next day, only to be called up to the president’s office. Upon her arrival, Chiwa realizes that the president is the crass customer she threw whiskey at the night before!

You get what you reap, Chiwa. Jack Daniels has no pity on those who dishonor his brethren. Even those below him.

Preparing for the worst, she is shocked to find that he is also accompanied by his grandfather – the patriarch of the Mamiya family. Chiwa is even more shell-shocked when she is told that the Mamiya family will pay off her father’s debts, due to a favor owed to Chiwa’s deceased grandmother. The catch, you ask? Well… the patriarch would like some great grandkids from another one of his possible heirs.

Because adoption is so passé’ these days.

And so begins the newlywed life between Chiwa and Hokuto. Will they find a love so pure between each other that no soap opera can compare? Or will they fight and potshot each other while stumbling through a relationship filled with so many mixed signals, you would think Zoro was the captain of this Love Boat?

Hapi Mari, also known as Happy Marriage, is the brain child of Enjouji Maki. It made its debut in the Josei magazine Petit Comic back in 2009 and is still going strong. A fairly strong romance manga, Hapi Mari has the pull of a soap opera while not overwhelming the reader with lust and heavy theatrics. The series strangely maintains a lighter theme than what one would expect from such a plot line. This may be due to the lack of “difficult” obstacles between our two love birds. The art style of Hapi Mari is simplistic in its execution. Compared with other mangas with heavy tones and high detail, Hapi Mari keeps its style light and easy, without losing the perspective of either the characters or the environment. This style belies the lightness of the story being told.

Character wise, Hapi Mari has all the basic archetypes found in a drama: backstabbing family members, dotting patriarch, ex-wives and ex-classmates that act as possible love interests, convoluted familial bonds, etc… Chiwa is the airhead heroine of our tale – plucky and determined, but has a tendency to cry before solving the issue at hand. Hokuto is the jackass businessman, who swears that the relationship will be professional, but it’s a drama –he falls in love eventually. It’s rare when they don’t.

Still, Hapi Mari caught my eye because of its ease to read. I won’t say you will be taking gasps with every page, but it wouldn’t hurt to take a look, no?

Hello readers! Welcome to another installment of Manga Hermit! In today’s issue, I feel like revisiting a previous manga. Who here remembers the man who stands above all men, the James Bond of the assassin world, the love child between Jiraiya and Jiraiya (if that was humanly possible) – Ryo Saeba! If the females here are wondering why we’re revisiting that particular specimen, it’s because the impossible has happened: Ryo Saeba… has a child!

The banana does not like lies, Manga Hermit.

Maybe in THIS world it’s “lies and slander”, but that is why you have to appreciate Alternative Universes. Which brings us to today’s subject: Angel Heart! Written between 2001 and 2010 with thirty-three volumes in existence, and brought to you by the same man who brought us City Hunter, Tsukasa Hojo, Angel Heart focuses on a particular “what if” scenario: What would happen if Ryo Saeba actually got married to his partner Kaori Makimura? Apparently, there is a reason why City Hunter doesn’t tie the knot. Within the first chapter, our lovely fiancé is already dead from a car accident.

For those interested in anime and fighting games, you may have heard of Aquapazza. Many have probably not heard of this niche 2D arcade fighter however. It is the latest game developed by Examu, which created the 2D fighter series, Arcana Heart. Aquapazza takes its playable characters from Aquaplus’ visual novel studio, Leaf. With a cast full of dating sim characters, the moves in this fighting game can be quite interesting to watch.

The PS3 version of Aquapazza will include at least four more characters (two playable, two assist) than the arcade edition. The home console port will contain a story mode, online play, score attack, a gallery, and an improved training mode. While no exact release date has been determined as of yet, Famitsu is expecting a release some time in June of 2012.

Source: andriasang