07-Ghost - Begleiter

07-Ghost is focused about Teito's story and his adventures with the Church people. How about we get to know more of what it's like with the bad guys? Specifically Ayanami and company?
This oneshot was released before the current 07-Ghost series like the Pilot chapter! It's entitled "Begleiter", refering to the military attendants of the current series!

Like the pilot chapter, it had differences from the serialized version. Like for one thing, the main character is someone completely different. It also focuses more on the military side of 07-Ghost's story. We see some familiar characters (Ayanami and Hyuuga).

Possibly the background and story presented here may have relation to the current serialized version. I hope there is but there's still the possibility that there's no connection. What I'm talking about is the fact that Ayanami and Hyuuga used to be university classmates. Well, I guess it's still safe to assume that even with their selves in the current series, but at least it was clarified here why Hyuuga calls Ayanami "Aya-tan". And he's actually pretty annoyed being called that way (in the current version he just ignores or doesn't mind about it). It also seemed that they have been friends for a long time that Hyuuga really understands Ayanami the best.

Anyway, the story here isn't exactly about Ayanami, but a military graduate who got assigned to Ayanami's division. He only had Hyuuga and this boy though. And of course, being evil as usual, he tormented the boy with a lot of work load. Haha! But soon the boy got used to it and actually started to enjoy his work. Even around Ayanami (the scenes where he teleports to Ayanami's table had been really cute and funny~).

Ayanami had been cold to the boy at first (sorry, as you may have noticed, I forgot his name! Ehehe . . . and I'm lazy to recheck) because he doesn't want to become attached like the previous one who had died to protect him. The main character started to have the same devotion to Ayanami though, and fortunately he didn't die like the previous one. In the end, we get to know that Ayanami had actually become attached to the boy for being himself, not as a replacement for the one he died.

I find it funny that they use the term "marriage partner" to the relationship Ayanami has to his close attendant. Haha! Ayanami could be adorable and lovable if he wants to~ And he may act like your super evil main villain in the current series, but in here we get to see that he's actually a good guy just doing his job much better compare to other military officers. Though I think Ayanami of the current series is also like that. He may have been doing cruel things, but his main goal is to protect his country, and he will do any means to do it. Hehe.

Oh, another funny thing in this chapter is that Ayanami sees the boy as having PUPPY EYES! Haha! He knows moe when he sees one. Bwahahahaha! It really cracked me up!

And of course how could I fail to notice that there are twin boys in this chapter! Yay! Too bad the twin brother of the main character didn't exactly do much except boasting about his accomplishments, and glomping and adoring his twin brother. Ehehe~ But still . . TWINS!!!! *twins lover* Hehehehe~

Overall, it was a good chapter (even if some parts are a little cliched . . .well, as if 07-Ghost isn't cliched) and it would really have been nice if the current 07-Ghost series had shown more background on the military side, not just on Teito's story. But well, 07-Ghost is narrated like Harry Potter. The audience only gets to see more of what the main character goes through. Ehehe~

Fairy Tail gets Anime Adaptation!

This year's 31st issue of Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine will announce next Wednesday that a television anime adaptation of Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail fantasy adventure manga has been green-lit for this fall. The anime studios A-1 Pictures and Satelight will produce the project.
( Anime News Network )

I already expected Fairy Tail to have an anime adaptation because it's already been really really popular! Hiro Mashima's Rave Adventure had been a popular anime, and I think Fairy Tail manga had been even more popular than the Rave manga! So I really think that this will do better! Yes, I freakin' love Fairy Tail! Hehe!

It's mainstream shounen though . . . even if it's very awesome . . . it's still very long. I couldn't follow it anymore. It had been the same case for me with Bleach and Katekayo Hitman Reborn. I love Fairy Tail so I will definitely check out the anime once it's out but . . . I am sure that there will be many many episodes (the manga's still ongoing after all) and there will be fillers. Uuugghh . . . but I wanna know what the anime will be like! I wanna know how Gray and Erza will turn out! They're my favorites so their anime versions should be awesome! Bwahehehe~

Anyway, this had really been an exciting and wonderful news. I doubt I could watch the anime till the end (at least not that soon. Who knows, I might find time to marathon? Hehe), but I still look forward to it!

New Flavors: Anonymous

Anonymous
by Imamura Yoko
There is a special organization known as "anonymous" which takes children and raises them without names, without feelings, without souls. Then it sends them out to kill. Can emotions get through to these cold-hearted killers? (Storm in Heaven)

The title was really really catchy for me. And after knowing that the plot is about young assassins, I didn't need to think twice about checking this one out! Hehe!

It turned out that each chapter focuses on the story of a particular young assassin of the organization. Their only connection is that they had been raised the same way and are part of the same group, but they haven't exactly interacted with each other. I really hope they will be, like how the first volume of the DOGS manga did it. I think it would be really cool if the main characters of each chapter are more connected than that and will actually interact. Maybe they should even try how Baccano does it. Ehehe~

Anyway, about the story of each assassin:

STORY 1: Bird Cage

The mission of our assassin here is to bodyguard an artificial human. Our leading guy was trained to live without an identity and just to follow orders. Ironically, he had felt being human when being around with this girl. He had actually experience fun and love that are real for the first time when being with her. She had been the one who had actually given value to him . . .and given him an identity. He had done the same for her later . . . pretty late for him to realize how important she had become. It seems to be a love story, though I'm not very sure if their feelings had really been romantic and mutual; but they sure make a very nice couple. The story sounds simple but it had a really nice plot twist later. The ending was tragic . . . made me sad . . . but it was a good story!

Story 2: Heart

This one is about twins who are very different from each other: one is weak but desires freedom and will do anything for it; the other is skillful but extremely obedient to her orders and will do nothing else but it. One of the twins had been really sweet to the other; but the other one is really cold. Not that she hates her twin, she just really doesn't feel anything. An actual emotionless killing machine. When the talented twin was ordered to kill her sister, I'm surprised that she really did it. I expected that the love for his sister will still prevail, like other manga that have a similar plotline. But I find it good that the mangaka had stick to her real personality: she will really follow orders no matter what. Though she did that, we could see that there's still some humanity in her . . . though she doesn't understand it. She had somehow tried to not continue killing her sister . . . and she had felt pain when her sister was gone . . . however she just didn't understand her feeling. It was a good story.

Story 3: Sprout

The main character here is no longer an assassin because he could no longer move his left arm; thus, useless in missions. But instead of disposing him, his superior has begged the higher-ups to make him a teacher instead. And he had become one to little assassins in training. They're different from him though since they're from the outside; thus, they have names, unlike him who had been raised without an identity. It had been a fun and nice story between a young instructor and his students~ However, though the main character shouldn't be able to move his left arm at all, he was able to use it in some panels (like when he rescued the kids). Plot flaw perhaps? But anyway, the main character had still been cool!


Among the three: First story is the cutest and most romantic. Second one is sweetest and most tragic. Third one is funniest and most heartwarming. They all seem nothing special or exceptional, but all three stories have been really good.

Though they're about assassins, the killing parts hadn't been exactly that thrilling for me. But it sure did a good job in presenting human struggles for freedom and identity, also their relationships with one another. It had parts that can make one smile and giggle too. However, each chapter is also filled with tragedy, irony, and mystery. But overall wonderful!

Even if the art is pretty simple and not that spectacular, it was still very nice. Characters have been likable in their own way. . . though I find it pretty peculiar on how they were raised without a name. Maybe if it was just one character I can imagine, but all of them? And I really think they all belong to the same timeline. So hhhmmm . . .

Anyway, this manga is really good and I look forward to see the other chapters scanlated soon! Of course i's highly recommended, especially if you're fond of good sad stories. Those who are biased towards stories involving assassins may appreciate it too, though you shouldn't expect too much bloodshed or extremely well-drawn cool moves. But read it for the story, it's really really really nice.

Sapphire Pyro	READ: 3 chapters (out of 3 scanlated chapters released so far of a 1 volume complete manga) VERDICT: Totally Following
I like the title *_* I love assassins stuff . . . *reads* STORY IS SO DAMN GOOD!!!!! I want more *_*

Bakuman - Chapter 43

Detective Trap is becoming more and more popular!
It's giving pressure to Saiko and Shuujin though but at least they are getting closer and closer in fulfilling their dreams!

• Eiji has been really accurate on his manga-related predictions. He was able to tell which ones will get the prize, and he's aware that his toughest rivals will be Ashirogi Muto. They're tied now! Competition getting more and more exciting~
• Wahahaha! Seems to me that it's Mihoshi who helps Shuujin in coming up with hilarious jokes. "Lighten the nude". . . bwahahahaha! Cracked me up!
• I didn't know that they really aren't paying Mihoshi for her work. But I think she really won't mind since she loves Shuujin too much. Haha!
• Saiko's forcing himself too much. Not getting enough sleep. He almost missed a deadline. Good thing he had realized it before it was too late.
• Nice that Aoki listened to Nakai's advice. Well, they're in a shounen magazine. It's natural that they make it more shounen~ Ehehe. Cool that they're doing well.
• Eiji and his language . . . it's the type I understand instead of the technical way. Haha!
• Hiramura is freakin' hilarious and adorable! Bwahahahahahha!!!! And it seems that him and Eiji had become pretty close, since he thought of hiding at Eiji's place. Haha!
• I find it cool that even though Hiramura doesn't like what he's doing, he's still doing it so well! Haha! His relationship with his editor is so funny~
  

BEST PAGE EVER!!!!
BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not used to a serious looking Eiji . . . haha!

07-Ghost - Pilot Chapter

I didn't actually know about this until a few weeks ago . . .
Apparently, before 07-Ghost became serialized in Zero-Sum magazine, it started out with a pilot chapter and won the top award! I'm not surprised because this series is really freakin' awesome! Haha!
The pilot chapter is actually pretty different from the 07-Ghost that we know right now though. . .

[ THE DIFFERENCES ]

• Title used to be "Seven Ghosts"
• Teito's military life wasn't shown much. It started on how he met the bishops
• Teito's best friend was named Ciel, not Mikage
• Teito was just waking when he escaped, not on a vehicle
• Teito has a mark/seal on his forehead which supresses his power
• Razette hangs out with the bishops and can speak
  
• There was actually a professor who went after him with an army
• No Kors
• The military was actually able to enter the church . . . no secret invasion either
  
• The "Ghosts" aren't shinigami-like creatures but just clergymen being badass
• Mikhail was used really early
• No Mikhail possession occurred. Teito used Mikhail's power while conscious
• The collar punishes the slave if he doesn't obey, not the three commands
  
• Teito turns into a baby dragon but not as cute as Burupya
  

[ THE SIMILARITIES ]

• Teito still has the amnesia/brainwash
• Teito overheard about his past from Ayanami
• Ayanami is still the absolute evil of the show~
• Teito escapes from the academy with the help of a friend
  
• Teito and the bishops meet through an accident
• Teito was treated as a guest in the church
• Frau, Castor, and Labrador are still the same, personality-wise
  
• Teito has the Eye of Mikhail in his hand and has remembered how to summon it through what was taught to him by his father
• Teito wanted to avenge his father and his best friend
• Frau and Teito had been connected because of the collar's power
• Frau and Teito also couldn't be separated from each other for a long time
  

The pilot was awesome but the current version is still much better!!! I am really happy that the "seal on the forehead"thing wasn't included anymore. It's just so "Harry Potter"-like. The Lloyd guy was annoying, I'm glad he doesn't show up again. And though badass fighting bishops are cool, deadly shinigamis are still hell better!

But there are also some little things that I like more in the pilot: I think the name "Ciel" would be cooler than "Mikage". Ehehe . . . Also, I wish that Razette isn't just a mute mermaid but can also speak, mingle with the others, and also fight!

Overall, the current 07-Ghost is really better than its pilot. I'm happy for the changes, even though there are minor things that I wished that the mangakas have kept. Hehe~ But still, for a pilot chapter, it had been really cool and interesting! Even if it's hell more cliched than the current series! Hehe~