Reviews and Comments

This starts weaving in more social commentary, mostly by virtue of the Paradisers (who are very much not wrong), as well as giving us more insight into Saitama's past.

We also finally learn the secret to his strength, which I am going to try doing 🤷

Excellent start to the One Punch Man story, and a great introduction to Saitama, Genos, and a young Mumen Rider.

I wish it delved more into the mental health aspects of OPM, but I hope I will see Saitama deal with his depression and despair of being completely invulnerable in the coming issues.

Everything great about the first book has been tuned up a bit in this entry.

The themes of grief, loss, and community are explored once again, and I think to greater effect, given the worldbuilding accomplished in the first.

Once again, pleasantly surprised that such a graphic novel would give me pause to appreciate some of the lines, or to wipe away a tear, but here we are.

Definitely hoping for more from Mason in this universe.

I am not normally one to read poetry, but this is exceptional.

It is beautiful, hopeful, strong, and honest.

The hope and faith Gorman shows through her writing makes reading it all the more painful, as we look at the state of the US and how we treat everyone domestically and abroad.

This is an excellent Volume as it focuses most on Komi and her existing relationships with Tadano and Najimi, instead of introducing lots of new characters.

The start of exams, summer break, a pool visit, and the Summer Festival are excellent backdrops to Komi's progress in learning how to exist with friends and how to express herself.

Some cute moments, and some vile (thanks, Yamai) intervowen between chirps of the cicada and the wistful feeling of Summer.

More great humor and exposing the awkward phases many go through trying to find their personality.

Yamai might be even creepier in the manga, and we get to see more of middle school Tadano and how awful he was.

I cringe for myself in retrosoect.

Reading the manga is really interesting coming from the NetFlix show, which apparently is a quite faithful adaptation, even down to artstyle.

We get a few extra panels and some better clarity of dialogue and background bits and pieces of text that aren't all subtitled in the show, so I feel like I have a better look into the world and characters.

This volume ends with the infamous Saito game, a highpoint for how ridiculous trying to fit in can get.

I watched the movie first with no foreknowledge of what the source material was, the universe, anything.

I found that I much preferred the book's handling of the core characters and events in the story.

It is a bit more dark than the movie, while also giving a better peek into how ridiculous some of the character's personalities and motivations really are, even in-universe.

I think the movie handled the chaotic aspect of Nimoa herself quite well visually.

Intriguing short story adapted from Austrian folktale, accompanied by some beautiful art.

The tale is simplistic, but melancholy, and is easy enough to follow for someone young, though I was left a bit puzzled by the motivations of the characters.

I think I would like to read the original tale Klassen adapted this from.

When my father gave this to me back in 2017 I avoided reading it as I knew it would only make me cry (I am sentimental, what can I say).

He died in 2022 unexpectedly, and I finally read it for the first time after his passing. It destroyed me.

Now I revisit it to look at his handwriting and hear words he didn't tell me often, if ever, but apparently wanted to.

I miss him, and reading this gives me a chance to focus on my memories of him.

The book is beautifully written, though simple.

Goofy, tons of heart, and as expressive as ever.

I loved seeing the more "inhuman" side of each of these mythical creatures and how they play off one another and humankind.

The glossary of baddies at the back was a bonus as I was not aware of a few of these fine fiends.

I didn't think something like this would get me to tear up or to stop and ponder a line from one of the characters, but here I am.

The art is wonderful (micron pen on paper, scanned and colored digitally), expressive, and fun.

The story is mostly silly, but that is a function of being from the point of view of Buster, a rather naive young housecat.

It touches on personal growth, grief, and the importance of relationships, both with friends and our pets.

Really wonderful, and looking forward to the second book.

Frog and Toad are two folks, different as can be. The odd couple, as it were.

It is a (mostly) lovely look at the mundane and beautiful things that happen in daily life. Wistful, sweet, and grounded.

Glad I finally read some Frog & Toad.

Hilarious, short & sweet, and a great way to make you laugh at parent guilt as you navigate this change in your life.