Bamboo Blade - 1

They fight for justice! They fight for sushi!

Kicking off our first sports manga review, it's the high school kendo warriors of Bamboo Blade!

Additions to the Bookshelf

It's been a little while since the last review, but have no fear!

I, the Maid of this establishment, have been busy!

Last week, I attended the MCM in London and acquired lots of new manga, including a complete 20-book boxset.

Suffice to say, my collection is steadily growing.  I'm not going to run out of manga to review any time soon and I'm hopeful that I have a good variety of work to choose from.

I'm kicking myself a little that I didn't go in for cosplaying this year.

I might have been tempted to even share a photo.

Oh well - maybe next year!

So, I've got some reading to do, and I'm going to work harder on my reviews to improve for you.

Until next time, Happy Reading!

~ The Maid ~ 

Tail of the Moon - 1

A romantic ninja adventure!

It's time for the next book on the Maid's shelf!  I present to you, the romantic comedy, Tail of the Moon!

Magic Knight Rayearth

First off the Manga Cafe bookshelf is Magic Knight Rayearth!

Omnibus Edition, published 2011

Discovering Manga

Do you remember your first manga?  First anime?  That wonderful moment when you discovered something wonderful in this foreign media?

I can recall mine quite clearly.

T'was many moons ago!  (We're talking late 90's)  T'was a time when I went to the local library every Tuesday evening with my family.  I was one of those children who always seemed to have their head in a book and I eventually went through what felt like the bulk of the children's books available.  Invariably, as I began to exhaust the kids books and of course get older, I started venturing into other sections.

Lo and behold - a comic section.  A single, spinning display unit.  Mostly consisting of Batman, Sandman, and assorted "male target audience" comics. Nothing much aimed at young girls at the time, but I gave it a spin anyway.

Then, as the collection of dark spines spun round, a little face on the spine of a red book caught my eye.

Introductory Babble

Irasshaimase!

Welcome!  Come on in, welcome to The Manga Cafe.  Take a seat - wherever you want is fine.  Get yourself comfy.

Might want to grab a drink first.  Tea?  Coffee?  I find a hot drink always go well with reading manga, personally.  

I'm currently going through a coffee phase.  And a lack of good sleep phase.  Fairly sure there's no coloration there ... honest!  I just find myself lost in manga - we've all done it, that "just one more chapter" promise which invariably turns into a panicked stare at the clock when it's 2am and you have to be up at 7am.

I am sorry.  Where are my manners?  I haven't introduced myself!

I'm the Maid, of course.  What is a cafe without a Maid?  I look after the place.  

Ok - that's obviously not me.
I'm simply not cute enough to warrant an actual photo.
That's the delightful Kotori of Love Live! School Idol Project
and she's Akiba's Legendary Maid to boot!

This little nook of the internet, to which you are most welcome, is where I will regale you with tales of the joys of manga!

Basically, I review manga.

It's all talk of manga I have enjoyed (or not as the case may be) and perhaps we'll find some common ground.  You don't have to agree with me, we all like what we like!  But just maybe my reviews will encourage you to pick up a book you may not have considered otherwise and discover a new manga to enjoy and take a place on your bookshelf.

My ramblings may not be restricted to just manga.  Naturally, I watch anime too. An overlap is inevitable.  TV series, animated films, and probably live action Japanese films will come up in time.

Once again, welcome and I hope you enjoy your stay at The Manga Cafe