From director Yamaga Hiroyuki (Wings of Honneamise, Neon Genesis Evangelion, FLCL), animated by Studio Gainax and based on the manga of the same name by Nakayama Bunjurou and Ditama Bow comes Mahoromatic. I could end my review here with a strong feeling that the above sentence should be enough to get the majority of readers to go out and watch Mahoromatic.

Mahoromatic is the story of a battle android, Mahoro, who after completing her service with a military installation called Vesper is offered the opportunity to live out her final days how ever she so pleases. She, oddly enough, decides that she would like to become a maid and live out her days caring for a seemingly random Japanese High School student.



The characters in Mahoromatic display juxtaposition in respect to their personality traits and the monumentous occasions in which they decide to let such traits shine. Suguru is your classic subdued, sex obsessed coward that could have quite easily been lifted from the screen of Ah! My Goddess, Hina or Tenchi series. Where Mahoro on the other hand is an incredibly destructive and powerful battle-android who makes some killer marinated potatoes and cares for nothing more than the satisfaction of her "master".

Like with nearly all Gainax series, the animation is exceptional and the character designs unique. The soundtrack is not entirely memorable with exception to the song performed during the closing credits. A nice little rumba type of ditty.

Try this series if you are a fan of Chobits or Neon Genesis. I say this because Mahoromatic has a whole bunch or sweet romantic comedy laced with some kick butt action sequences that will keep all tastes wanting more.

Mahoromatic is available from the Comic Shop now.

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Jeff Smith works the prestige magic on the little Marvel Boy at DC. It's a back flash with a step into where Captain Marvel came from and the wizard Shazam. Smells glossy.

Pricey, as expected for the format, binding is tight as a fist with a severed nerve making it unable to open anymore. Bit of a squeeze in reading much like any other comic for simple consumption that isn't in with a collection.

Cute is the large beacon of light which signals this incarnation of the tale. After all, when it's Smith working his magic, there is little chance that it will bear out any other kind of result. And the charm and ball of goodness that it is makes well of this fact. Or perhaps that's the back of the brain talking to the tip of the tongue. Slight knock on the head when looking up will do that.

Having made no effort in prior reading on who this character with the massive bolt down his front, it's an enjoyable and easy read. Nothing is made to grapple at lingering nuances or threads from other series in the canon and with the 12 Step program by Judd Winick on the shelves, reads fine without accompaniment. Damn accessible thus far.

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Second from the series that takes a flash back into the life and times of running with the penitent work of John Doe from the film of the same name. Ralph Tedesco and Joe Tyler working the sin right here as Doe goes this time for a lawyer, evil sickness they are.

Straight off the back of a loose fingernail and format smacks up a dry scalpel that is hard to ignore. From the easy to read saddle stitch of the first, this concoction down the spine, where the glue is ripe, makes taking in the art and indeed the mass of words on pages in the crack, no fun at all. Can't really read this comic when the motion swerves toward the middle of the spread. Peering into the mind of Doe hits the block when the shadows are all too real.

For show, it's a good rock at bringing in another level to reading a comic, yet this clearly can't be the case. Who in their right mind publishes a comic that makes reading it a challenge in the simplest task of opening the pages themselve.

Notes in a ledger, with the run down crazed ramblings suffer for this binding fact. Shining through, Doe is one twisted soul, the collection of clipppings and his mind are comforting in a strange "this is wrong" way.

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Sendou Kazuki is your average run of the mill student. Even though he would be more than happy to be so normal or even borderline mundane he has decided to surround himself with the most left of field circle of friends imaginable. His pseudo girlfriend Takase Mizuki, crazy otaku pseudo brother Kuhonbutsu Taishi and sweet doujinshi artist Yuu. Taishi pressures Kazuki into pursuing a role in the world of manga in the hopes of one day making it to the ultimate Japanese comic convention called Comic Party.

Before I really start to review this series you should be forewarned that this series is pretty much aimed at your hardcore anime fans (Otaku). Many of the jokes, allusions and references may be missed by a first time anime viewer or someone who has not been exposed to the world of manga or doujinshi (basically self published manga). That being said, it is an extremely funny series that can be enjoyed by anyone willing to watch.

On a side note, many people mistakenly call anime manga. So let me clear it up for you. Manga is the general name given to Japanese comic books where anime is the term used to describe Japanese animation (Otaku generally refuse to call anime a cartoon).



Now that we have that out of the way... Comic Party does a great job of explaining the reasons behind the fandom or otaku-dom that exists in not only the Anime and Manga fan bases but also extending to Sci Fi, Comic Books and cosplay. It does this in the best way imaginable. It follows the journey that Kazuki is a part of. The inspiration behind the creation of his manga, the philosophies behind the creative process and the homage he pays to those pop culture icons that have influenced him in the decision to go into publishing his own manga.

Comic Party is a great series that has no issues with poking a bit of fun at the clich?s that it itself raises. On the same note, through these clich?s it pays homage and parodies the styles, genres and in fact the whole medium of anime.

Comic Party is a nice short series that is packed to the brim with laughs, bright and colourful animation and a great insight into what makes us Otaku tick.

Comic Party is available from the Comic Shop now! SO GO GET IT!!!

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Burst Angel is yet another in a seemingly endless pool of visually stunning series’ by Studio Gonzo.

Apprentice pastry cook Kyouhei is pressured by his teacher and fellow student to gain employment to solve his fiscal difficulties. In answering an employment advertisement he is hired by the leader of an elite bounty hunting, giant mecha operating, machine gun wielding mercenary team led by the scantily clad Sei. Consisting of Amy the grumpy young computer genius, Meg the buxom cowgirl and a white-haired, chaps-with-no-pants wearing, glowing tattooed psychopath who can seemingly destroy and robot or beastie with no more than the squeeze of the trigger on her trusty side arms... her name is Jo.

At the beginning of the series, Kyouhei seems to be the central character. I personally figured that the story would revolve around the relationships he builds with each character, climaxing in a point where he cracks the hard emotional shell of the ever intense Jo. Thankfully this was not the case. Although likeable, he is all too snivelly and not in a comedic sidekick way. He manages to come across as more of a wussy annoyance than anything.



The character designs, although realistically impractical, are fantabulous with fan service abounding. Most noticeable was the cowboy/bounty hunting theme, reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop, and to a lesser extent, Trigun. Meg sports a 10 gallon hat and yellow leather loose stockings while Jo wears a muscle shirt, neck scarf and chaps with no pants. As I said, it looks great with no thought given to practicality.

The mecha designs are also great. In particular Jango, Jo's personal mech and the highway patrol units that destroy any high speed wrong doers.

If you're looking for a series with a seriously in-depth story to sink your teeth into, maybe Burst Angel isn't for you. On the other hand, if you're after a series that is visually compelling, choc-a-block with action and filled with characters that are easy on the eyes, Burst Angel is definitely worth a look.

Burst Angel is available at the Comic Shop now.

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It is the year 2071. Spike Spiegel is a type of bounty hunter also known as a Cowboy. His motives are ruled by the holy dollar and his history is questionable at best. He survives day to day, scraping by not only monetarily but physically as well. His partners in the war against crime: Jet, Faye, Ed and Ein, the genetically engineered dog, assist in his interplanetary bounty hunting bonanza.

The planet Earth has experienced a mass exodus due to a catastrophic accident that has left behind only those too poor to move off world. This leaves your paupers, criminals and general miscreants to run amok in a desolate den of nil justice. This suits Spike and his team just fine, how else could they afford all that Ramen?

Cowboy Bebop is somewhat of a paradox in regards to its genre, style and theme. From episode to episode you could very well go from rolling on the floor in stitches (ROFLMAO for all you net fiends) to convincing your friends that you have dust in your eye (an oldie but a goodie).



Stylistically speaking Cowboy Bebop is and was head and shoulders above anything released around the same time. The use of retro/future tech is nothing new to Anime (Last Exile) but Bebop gets it done better than most. The retro look reaffirms the feeling that Earth is a lost hope. Even down to Spike's bangin' 1970's beatnik suit.

All of this is sustained by the support of outstanding cast and writing teams. In response to all of the Anime-elite out there, I don't care what you say, the dub is excellent.

Yoko Kanno's music direction and score is most definitely one of the highlights of the series. It covers all genres from electronica to jazz and from metal to spoken word. If you ever get the chance, go out and buy this soundtrack. It is at worst, incredible.

Bebop is worth the watch, whether you are a fan of comedy, light-sci fi, action or just like pretty pictures.

Cowboy Bebop Remix, with enhanced 5.1 surround sound and all new previously unreleased special features, is available now at the Comic Shop.

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