Amusing!

D.N.A 2부 1
MASAKAZU KATSURA 지음, 김현주 옮김 / 서울미디어코믹스(서울문화사) / 1999년 5월

Karin Aoi is a DNA operator of the future. Currently, the future has an over-population problem, and she needs to go back 100 years in time to stop the cause of this problem, the Mega-Playboy! He is the one who had 100 children from 100 women, and those male children had 100 children from 100 women, and those children...basically causing the over-population problem. Karin finds out that the Mega-Playboy is Momonari Junta, a wimpy and nerdy guy who has the lady allergy, that when seeing an almost naked female body, throws up uncontrolably. Karin shoots him with a DCM bullet that is supposed to enable him from being the Mega-Playboy, but finds out that it was THAT bullet that actually made him into the Mega-Playboy. On certain times, Junta becomes an irresistable guy who attracts every women he meets, except for one girl, Kurimoto Ami, who is his childhood friend. Now, Karin has to try and stop Junta from permanently being the Mega-Playboy.

DNA^2 is a pretty fun anime that once again deals with that 'one man and the many women who loves him' genre. The story is basically entertaining, and the main cast are characterized nicely. My first impression was, nothing too serious about but is relatively fun to watch. The show has a balanced mix of comedy and romance, which goes well with the plot, and the anime is drawn quite good. Some scenes can be pretty risque, with many butt shots and panty shots of girls, which I personally wouldn't mind not seeing too often. Basically, if you like Katsura's works like Video Girl Ai, then please check out DNA^2. It may not be as serious as Ai, but it has many moments.

The usual stuff from Clamp.

CLOVER 1
CLAMP 지음 / 서울미디어코믹스(서울문화사) / 2000년 4월

Clover, by CLAMP, originally began in Amie, a magazine in Japan. From Amie, 3 volumes of Clover manga were created and a 4th appeared after Amie was no longer published. Now, of course, Clover is being serially translated by Mixx in their magazine, Smile. Time will tell whether or not their translation is acceptable to fans.

The world the Clover characters inhabit is one of amazing technology. One can have a prostetic arm one moment, then have a long, cybernetic sword the next. Illusion and reality are no longer at odds with eachother, but instead work hand in hand. Like many of CLAMP's works, fate takes a hand...

Overall, this is certainly a high point in CLAMP's career. Clover will leave it's mark on whomever reads it, whether a fan of cyber-like sci-fi or not. First and formost, before the technology, are the characters.

A timeless classic!

시티 헌터 1
호조 츠카사 지음 / 서울미디어코믹스(서울문화사) / 1996년 1월

The City Hunter manga follows the exploits of Ryo Saeba. Ryo hires himself out as an avenger, investigator, but most often as a body guard. Requests for his services are left on a blackboard in the lower floors of the My City building in Shinjuku. All his cases, in one way or another, always end up dealing with beautiful women. Ryo always comes through, though the lessons learned by the clients and sometimes himself, are not always what they expect.

Ryo's lecherous advances toward his clients and Kaori's protection of same, always leads to some very humorous situations. Throw in the fact that Saeko will occasionally draft him into jobs she can't strictly take care of by following the letter of the law, and then Umi Bozu and the way some of their jobs come up on opposite sides, and you have the makings of a really enjoyable time!

Hojo's art is crisp and extremely realistic. His attention to detail is superb. As the series goes on, his art improves. And though the series starts out somewhat gloomy, as it goes on the humor becomes more and more a part of the story.

Great work!

패밀리 컴포 F. COMPO 1
호조 츠카사 지음 / 학산문화사(만화) / 1999년 9월

A delightfully refreshing look at life with a family that's full of surprises, F.COMPO (FAMILY COMPO) is Hojo Tsukasa's latest manga series. However, unlike UNDER THE DAPPLE SHADE and RASH!!, F.COMPO has already proved that it can survive beyond the 3-manga volume lifespan. No longer in Shonen Jump, F.COMPO debuted in ALLMAN last year. And whether because of its new home, or the fun storyline, F.COMPO is still going strong.

After the death of his parents, protagonist Masahiko is invited to stay with relatives. Looking forward to a real family home environment, Masahiko soon learns that there's more to this family than meets the eye. But not to worry, Shion, the family daughter, is determined to broaden the way Masahiko looks at the world.

Meanwhile Sora, the father and a manga artist, watches as his daughter grows up. And his wife, Yukari, deals with the ghosts of her past. What makes this storyline interesting is that it doesn't always center on the kids. Although Masahiko is obviously the main character in the series, there are chapters where he does not make more than a cursory appearance. Each individual in the family seems to have their fair share of the limelight, which allows each character to really develop in the eyes of the reader. The reader never really feels like he/she is being wrenched from one character to another. And yet, the characters retain their unique identities, including their relative age differences and experiences.

Great!

봉신연의 1
후지사키 류 지음 / 대원씨아이(만화) / 1999년 12월

What appeals the most to the fans of this comic series is the art. Not only has Fujisaki shown much improvement as the series goes on, he takes the utmost care in making sure that each and every character that he introduces has a different look and feel. Thus, you can immediately tell the main characters apart by sight (now, mind you, whether or not you learn to match their names with their faces is a completely different question ...)

And even more so, his art style is such that it can successfully render an 'old' tale in a more 'modern' sense. His illustrations on the cover pages, especially those in color, give a feeling of the ancient times—yet his lines are not as heavy or detailed as what most perceive as 'old-school' art. This mix of old and new, both in plot and in art, seems to have hit it home with many doujinshi authors in Japan, amateur to professional. You would be amazed at just how many HOUSHIN fan-sites there are in Japan!