Duck Prince
Your and My Secret
My Heavenly Hockey Club
Strawberry-Chan
(Back to top)
|
Basic Info: English ISBNs:
Covers (coming soon!) The first Ai Morinaga manga I ever read! This wonderful read started my love for her work. It's a bizarre comedy about a boy named Reiichi who, after a horrible car accident, comes back a handsomer man. Hilarity ensues as he tries to get closer to the one girl who was kind to him during his nerdier, sheepish days. After I read the first volume back in 2004, I got hooked. Suprisingly, it took me a while to hunt down the 2 subsequent volumes afterwards (and I got ripped-off from someone on EBay in the process). After I finished the 3 and reread them multiple times, I emailed CPM Press (the publishers of the manga) and asked them if they were planning, at all, to release the later volumes but, unfortunately, I got no reponse. There was a faint glimmer of hope for the release of Volume 4 when CPM listed it in their 2006 online catalog (there's even an ISBN for it!). Though, there hasn't been any word of any release since then and, with the financial trouble CPM has been going through, I doubt there's ever going to be a release by them. Hopefully, another publisher picks it up! Here is a link to what I believe is a Japanese Drama CD of "Duck Prince". How cute is that! |
Your and My Secret
(Back to top)
|
Basic Info: English ISBNs: Covers (coming soon!) "Nanako is the belle of her high school--just as long as she stays quiet. Once she shows her true self, guys' dreams are shattered because she is a tomboy! Meanwhile, Akira has the looks and brains--but his personality is so dull nobody notices him. But one day Nanako's grandfather comes up with crazy, life-altering invention and Nanako and Akira are forced to keep a very big secret: When they switch bodies with each other, will they ever want to go back?!" (From TokyoPop). Another one of my first reads into Morinaga's work! I remember getting it and then realizing that it was by the same author who created my beloved "Duck Prince". AND, unfortunately like "Duck Prince", it was cancelled prematurely as well (by ADV). Fortunately, TokyoPop has licenced it and Volume 2 has finally come out in English, 3 years after Volume 1 was first released by ADV. Like Yamada Tarō Monogatari, there's a Japanese TV show that was spun off this manga by the same name. |
My Heavenly Hockey Club
(Back to top)
|
Basic Info: English ISBNs: Covers (coming soon!) "Hana Suzuki loves only two things in life: eating and sleeping. So when handsome classmate Izumi Oda asks Hana–his major crush–to join the school hockey club, persuading her proves to be a difficult task. True, the Grand Hockey Club is full of boys–and all the boys are super-cute–but given a choice, Hana prefers a sizzling steak to a hot date. Then Izumi mentions the field trips to fancy resorts. Now Hana can’t wait for the first away game, with its promise of delicious food and luxurious linens. Of course there’s also the getting up early, working hard, and playing well with others. How will Hana survive?" (From Del Rey). This is Morinaga's third manga to be released here in the U.S.. When I found out that Del Rey was the company licensing this manga, I was relieved. After all, Del Rey's a pretty good, stable, and consistant publisher. Their translation's always great too! What I love about this manga is its satirical approach towards the 'harem' genre. Hana surrounded by cute guys but she could really care less. It's not until she learns that the club doesn't really play hockey but just indulge in travel and foods that she happens to show any interest of it. While people may compare this work to "Ouran Host High School Club" (and I could see why, they're both very similar) the truth is that "Heavenly Hockey Club" came out BEFORE "Ouran" (2002 vs. 2003). And if we have to compare it to "Ouran", well, "Hockey Club" is the twisted cousin of "Ouran" then (for the record as well, I love Ouran too!). |
Strawberry-Chan
(Back to top)
|
Basic Info: English ISBNs: Covers (coming soon!) "Once upon a time there was a talking frog. This frog's name was Strawberry-Chan. Strawberry-chan loved his boy, Akiyoshi, very much... but Akiyoshi liked nothing more than to use a straw to blow Strawberry-chan up like a balloon - much to the chagrin of Strawberry-chan. Akiyoshi's friends all feel very differently about Strawberry-chan. Some wish he were treated better, some really love Strawberry-chan, and one even wishes he was Strawberry-chan. With all of this love and abuse, will our frog even survive the first volume?" (From Amazon). This is pretty much like Ebichu but with a lot more homosexual innuendo :P |
