Showing posts with label Ryohgo Narita. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryohgo Narita. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Manga Review: Durarara Saika Arc Vol. 3 (Paperback)




I've finished "Durarara Saika Arc Vol. 3" by Ryohgo Narita.

We love all of humanity.

Mysterious chat room messages, all posted under the name "Saika," profess love for humanity - and for one man in particular. Saika's target: Shizuo Heiwajima!! Over fifty people have been struck in the worst case of serial slashings in the history of Ikebukuro. But the slasher's victims have tasted not only the blade, but also the vision of their attacker. A vision of love, love, love that can only be realized when their own blades have pierced the bodies of their beloveds. Shizuo braces himself for a battle to the death in the shocking climax of the Saika Arc!!

About the Author

Ryohgo Narita is the author of a number of successful novel series, including the original "Durarara!!" books. His earlier series, "Baccano!" was honored with the Gold Prize at the 9th Dengeki Novel Awards.

Product Details
Series: Durarara!! Saika Arc
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Yen Press (January 21, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316369012
ISBN-13: 978-0316369015


My Review:

There is a book sleeve behind the cover which you can unfold to reveal the real cover but I wouldn't do that until you read the whole manga since it contains a spoiler.

In this volume you learn more about Shizuo, Celty, the Slasher and you find out why Izaya hates Shizuo so much!

4/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada/Yen Press for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Manga Review: Durarara!! Saika Arc, Vol. 2



I've finished "Durarara Saika ARC Vol. 2" by Ryohgo Narita.

Product Description

I want to see Shizuo. Soon, soon, soon

A mysterious serial slasher has struck in Ikebukuro. The username "Saika" appears in online chat rooms in sync with the attacks. Saika - the name of the demon blade that appeared in Shinjuku years and years ago.

In its chat room posts, Saika repeats one name over and over again, as though singing the praises of its beloved: Shizuo Heiwajima, Shizuo, Shizuo.

About the Author

Ryohgo Narita is the author of a number of successful novel series, including the original "Durarara!!" books. His earlier series, "Baccano!" was honored with the Gold Prize at the 9th Dengeki Novel Awards.

My Review:

3.5/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Monday, April 22, 2013

Manga Review: Durarara!! Saika Arc, Vol. 1 [Paperback]



I've finished "Durarara Saika Arc Vol. 1" by Ryohgo Narita.

Product Description

Ikebukuro, Tokyo-a neighborhood where twisted love prowls!!

A series of street slashings in Ikebukuro begins to connect total strangers:

A teenage girl with no personality of her own; a beat writer for a third-rate tabloid; a teacher suspected of harassment; an informant based in Shinjuku and a headless rider straddling a pitch-black motorcycle!!

Meanwhile, the slasher continues to terrorize the night, all in search of "him"?

About the Author

Ryohgo Narita is the author of a number of successful novel series, including the original "Durarara!!" books. His earlier series, "Baccano!" was honored with the Gold Prize at the 9th Dengeki Novel Awards.

Product Details
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Yen Press; Tra edition (March 26, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316245321
ISBN-13: 978-0316245326


My Review:

This arc deals with a reporter trying to find the strongest person in Ikebukuro, a slasher who searching for him, we learn more about Shizuo Heiwajima's past, the headless rider who rides a black motorcycle, a harassing teacher and a teenage girl with no personality.

The artwork is greatly detailed and Shizuo seems like a normal guy until you cross him and then he goes berserk.

3/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada/Yen Press for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Manga Review: Durarara!!, Vol. 4 [Paperback]



I've finished "Durarara Vol. 4" by Ryohgo Narita.

Product Description

Dollars, rise up!!

When Yagiri Pharmaceuticals crosses the line, the true leader of the Dollars steps forward to take command of the vast network of members at his disposal ... Though this unobtrusive boy holds a disturbing degree of power in the palm of his hand, Celty is preoccupied by the powers that still control her head ... At the end of the day, will her twenty-year search all be for naught? Or has she found something even more precious along the way?

About the Author

Ryohgo Narita is the author of a number of successful novel series, including the original "Durarara!!" books.

His earlier series, "Baccano!" was honored with the Gold Prize at the 9th Dengeki Novel Awards.

Product Details
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Yen Press (October 30, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316209333
ISBN-13: 978-0316209335


My Review:

This volume opens with most people looking at their cell phones with a message telling them to stare at anyone not looking at their cells at this moment.  Then we see Mikado look up from his cell phone and sees Izaya talking to Kyohei.  He is surprised that they seem to know each other.  Then Izaya walks up to Mikado and tells him he knows he is the actual leader of "The Dollars" and gives him advise how to handle the group.

Meanwhile we Celty been chased by a shadowy chaser after receiving a package from a man.  He manages to slice off her helmet and then the slasher chases after the man when he runs off.  Celty manages to retrieve the package when she sees her head on a red haired girl.  Her fellow gang members manage to kidnap the girl so Celty can talk to her but she is rescued by Seiji.  

We learn that Celty's head was sewn on the red haired girl's body when she asked for it.  We also meet Shinra a young doctor who has been in love with Celty and didn't tell her he knew where her head was because he was afraid she would leave him.

There was a lot of violence and action in this volume and more characters were introduced.  Glad we finally learned what happened to Celty's head!

4/5

Manga in series:

1.  Durarara Vol. 1
2.  Durarara Vol. 2
3.  Durarara Vol. 3
4.  Durarara Vol. 4

Thanks Hachette Book Group for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Manga Review: Durarara!!, Vol. 3 [Paperback]



I've finished "Durarara Vol. 3" by Ryohgo Narita.

Product Description

At the invitation of an old school friend, introverted high school student Mikado Ryuugamine, yearning for a life less ordinary, makes his way to Tokyo. His destination: Ikebukuro, a hotbed of madmen living out their most unusual lives. On his first day there, Mikado encounters a cast of characters so colorful, the rich hues of his rural hometown pale in comparison! As if the naĂŻve stalker chick, the high school senior obsessed with the rather creepy object of his affections, the hikikomori genius doctor, the hedonistic information dealer, the strongest man in all of Ikebukuro weren't enough ... Mikado also chances upon a sight that leaves him rubbing his eyes and scratching his head - the Black Biker, who from bodysuit to license plate is black as night, soundlessly weaving through the streets like a figure out of an urban legend. Who is this "Headless Rider" on the jet-black metal and rubber steed!? And why does it seem like Mikado's already gotten himself neck- deep into the insanity that's the norm in his new home!?

Product Details
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Yen Press; Import edition (July 24, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316209325
ISBN-13: 978-0316209328


My Review:

4/5

In this volume Celty is on the hunt for her head when she suddenly spots her head.  It happens to be attached to a girl and you can see the scars from the operation.  Celty goes to talk to the girl when she suddenly starts screaming and running away.  Suddenly a guy comes and starts yelling at Celty and telling her to leave his girl alone.  The girl starts running away and Celty is yelling at her to wait but she doesn't listen.  Celty pursues the girl when suddenly another guy arrives and helps the girl get away.

Celty resumes her hunt for her head when Shizuo arrives asking her why Izaya is in town?  During his conversation with Celty we learn a little of his past.  Celty goes home and has a conversation with Shinra about her head.  Interesting conversation!

We find out that Namie who is the Chief of Yagiri Pharmaceuticals has been kidnapping people for unknown experiments.  She has feelings for her brother Seiji and will kill anyone that gets in her brother's way.  She has ordered her people to get back Celty's head and bring it back to her.

Meanwhile Mikado is going home from school when he encounters Izaya and Celty.  He is wondering why they are both looking for him.  He decides he must ditch them when he notices his classmates watching.  Both Izaya and Celty follow him and he decides he will talk to them.  He asks Celty a question, "why was she after the girl?"  Celty informs him that she is on the hunt for her head which happens to be attached the girl.   Then they get into a discussion where they introduce each other and we learn a little bit more about Celty past.

Izaya is waiting for them when he gets impatient and asks them if they are done and they say no.  He says he can wait so more.  Mikado tells Celty he will go to his apartment and talk to the girl so she won't be frightened.  It's been more than 10 minutes and Celty is getting worried so she and Izaya head up to the apartment.  Meanwhile we see a couple of guys have Mikado on the ground and holding him down.  They are asking him where the girl is and he says he doesn't know.  Both guys hear that people are arriving so they storm out of the door hitting Celty on the way.  Celty is about to give chase when Izaya tells her he recognizes the truck from Yagiri Pharmaceuticals.

Mikado starts researching Yagiri Pharmaceuticals and finds out everything started with Celty's head.  Mikado phones Namie to meet up and talk.  When she arrives she goes berserk and starts yelling she would do anything to make sure no one gets in her brother's way.  Then we notice a whole group of people are behind her and she asks who all these people are.  Mikado says they are part of his Dollars Gang.

The volume ends!

4/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada/Yen Press for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Manga Review: Durarara!!, Vol. 2 [Paperback]



Manga Review




I've finished "Durarara Vol. 2" by Ryohgo Narita.

Product Description

The Black Biker of Ikebukuro, gliding along the dark streets on her pitch-black motorcycle, may take on any number of delivery jobs, but Celty's objective remains fixed on one single task: recovering her severed head. The dullahan of Irish lore has sensed her head in Tokyo, but even with the research of her unorthodox doctor friend (perfectly suited to examine her unorthodox body), she has made little progress finding it. Meanwhile, the color gangs of Ikebukuro are dealing with a newcomer even more mysterious than the Black Biker: the colorless gang known as the Dollars has the usual thugs fearful and uneasy ... and they have good reason to be scared ...

Product Details
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Yen Press (April 24, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316209317
ISBN-13: 978-0316209311


My Review:

In this volume we learn more about Celty's background about how she lost her head.  She has sensed her head is in Tokyo but even with the help of her unconventional doctor friend she hasn't been able to locate it.

Two people are kidnapped and tortured to find out who they are working for.  One guy is asked to pick a manga and his kidnappers will torture him the same way as described in the manga.  He picks an issue of Black Butler and he is about to get his eyes drilled but they are interrupted (it would have happened) by another one of their gang members.  He finds out he is being held by the Dollars Gang which is the deadliest ones around and no one knows who their leader is and seem them.

Mikado RyĹ«gamine is walking with one of his friends when they see Anri Sonohara being harassed by a group of girls.  They hide behind a corner of a store and watch what happens.  Then all of a sudden Izaya Orihara appears behind Mikado and talks to him.   We see Anri still being harassed when Izaya grabs the bully leader's phone and smashes it.  She is in shock but is unable to move and finally leaves.  Izaya is moving towards Mikado when all of a sudden a refrigerator is thrown at Izaya and hits him.  


Then we see are introduced to Shizuo Heiwajima who starts to fight with Izaya.  They are in a grabbing match when all of a sudden an object is thrown at Mikado and he is saved by another man Simon Brezhnev.  Then Shizuo and Simon start fighting and Izaya escapes.  Meanwhile Mikado and his friend have escaped to a restaurant and start talking.

This volume has a lot of violence and really crazy and psychotic characters.

5/5

Other manga in series:

1.  Durarara Vol. 1
2.  Durarara Vol. 3 (July 24, 2012)
3.  Durarara Vol. 4 (October 30, 2012)

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada and Yen Press for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Manga Review: Durarara!!, Vol. 1 [Paperback]



I've finished "Durarara! Vol. 1" by Ryohgo Narita.

Product Description

Welcome to Ikebukuro, where Tokyo's wildest characters gather!! Meet an ordinary boy who daydreams about the extraordinary. A naive stalker girl. The strongest man in Ikebukuro. A shut-in doctor with questionable credentials. A hedonistic informant...and the "headless rider" astride a pitch-black motorcycle!?

As their paths cross, this eccentric cast weaves a twisted, cracked love story.

Product Details
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Yen Press; Import edition (January 24, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316204900
ISBN-13: 978-0316204903


My Review:

The storyline is the same as the anime though it goes into more indepth of how psychotic Izaya is.

The manga opens with Mikado Ryūgamine, a young boy who longs for the exciting life of the big city, moves to Ikebukuro at the invitation of his childhood friend Masaomi Kida, who he hasn't seen since he was young, to attend Raira Academy with him. After meeting Masaomi at the train station, they both set out at night to the streets of Ikebukuro. Masaomi warns him about people he doesn't want to cross in the city: like a violent and superhumanly strong man, Shizuo Heiwajima, an information broker, Izaya Orihara, and a mysterious gang known as "The Dollars." After running into some of the side characters, Mikado witnesses a local legend called the "Black Rider", who rides around Ikebukuro on a black bike that occasionally brays like a horse, and who is also rumored to have no head under its helmet.

3.5/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada and Yen Press for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!
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