Manga Review - 'Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen, Vol. 1' by Hiromi Sato, Kamome Shirahama (Creator), Stephen Kohler (Translator), Lys Blakeslee (Letterer)

'Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen, Vol. 1' is a companion piece to 'Witch Hat Atelier'.

It's basically a recipe book, with the adult male, witch master characters, Qifrey and Olruggio (goddess that name), cooking various meals in their atelier, in their fantasy world (helpful real world alternatives are listed at the end). Usually they cook and eat at night, after the apprentices Coco, Agott, Tetia and Richeh have gone to bed, and they have free time, doing the mundane yet enjoyable tasks, for mundane reasons. Sometimes the girls will join in, and taste the end result.

There is no plot to speak of in 'Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen', nor anything whatsoever to connect it to the original series. For someone like me who is generally disinterested in cooking, I found the manga to be quite boring at times, especially when considering the world it is set in, and that these are indeed magical witches.

However, it is harmless, and the food looks amazing and gorgeous, as is to be expected with this artwork. I'm sure a lot of people will find these recipes mouthwatering, and will want to give them a go. Even I'm tempted.

At least the tastes and eating habits of the girls are explored and developed upon.

More than once, illness or tiredness, as well as hunger, are what motivate either Qifrey or Olruggio to start cooking.

Alaira, a Great Hall witch and Qifrey's friend, is in this, too. Which is refreshing, as I felt she was very underutilised in the series.

And Qifrey and Olruggio should definitely be yaoi partners. They have great, close, hot, blushing chemistry when cooking and eating together, and cooking and eating for each other. They are like a married couple, and get heated over the most minor, low-pot-and-pan-boiled anythings.

They could be the yaoi equivalent of 'She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat'. But if there is no way they will actually become an explicitly canon couple, oh well.

Additionally, kindly, read my review of 'Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition, Vol. 1'

Final Score (for 'Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen, Vol. 1'): 3.5/5

Manga Review - 'Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition, Vol. 1' by Kamome Shirahama, Stephen Kohler (Translator), Lys Blakeslee (Letterer)

'Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition, Vol. 1'.

What a striking bundle of magic this series is - it really is like lightning in a bottle - in a manga tome.

So inspired, intriguing, creative and clever; it's an ingenious work of art. Of course the artwork itself is absolutely stunning and spectacular, rich and lush; it raises the bar far beyond that of typical manga. The colour illustrations are too gorgeous and extraordinary. They are breathtaking.

'Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition, Vol. 1' contains the first three manga volumes. It is like a giant, glorious spellbook, revealing a beautiful, fully realised and believable Tolkienesque fantasy world*. It is a world filled with amazing characters, magical creatures, action scenarios, mysteries, arcana, sigils, and spellcasting - that meticulously follows the rules of its own complex yet fun and enchanting magic system.

The reader will be as spellbound and awed as the protagonist, Coco, a young, "normal", magic-loving witch-in-training. We learn about the world of witches with her. Naïve, deeply flawed, persistent, charming and delightful, Coco is a true dreamer and heroine, and a hard worker and thinker, who you'll root for. She will keep going, keep trying, no matter how many mistakes she makes, and how guilt-ridden and depressed she becomes, underneath her smiles.

I love the friendship theme, too, and the message along the lines of the younger generation getting things done - what needs to be done - when the adults around them are, sadly, often useless, anxious, out-of-touch, and set in their ways, and in following outdated, traditional rules and laws.

For all my praises, however, I did lose interest a little towards the end of the 'Grimoire Edition, Vol. 1', but

only a little. I don't know, I just felt kind of underwhelmed by the omnibus's conclusion, and I thought a lot of characters ended up sidelined and not mattering much. In fact, a few characters seem to be forgotten about. But maybe it's an issue of needing to read the subsequent volumes, for a reinvigoration of plot and character progression (and page time).

The smooth, bold, ink-marked, sigil-marked, magically-drawn grimoire pages...

Coco and her fellow witch apprentice friends at the atelier - Agott, Tetia, and Richeh - are awesome. Female kid witches learning useful spells and collaborating together and saving lives is awesome. They're so sweet and adorable, and flawed but ultimately heroic. More of them together in the future, please!

And Coco's Brushbuddy is cute! More of him, the creature pet mascot, too!

'Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition, Vol. 1' - a big, warm, charm-casting, magical-hearted recommendation.

Fans of 'The Owl House', 'Little Witch Academia', and really any shōnen manga and anime - as 'Witch Hat Atelier' does share some conventions and character archetypes in common with those - should check it out.

What a wonderful, fairly-new fairy tale, fantasy and witchy manga series 'Witch Hat Atelier' by Kamome Shirahama is.

Now I just need to watch the anime adaptation, which came out this year.

For a brush-more detail, read my review of 'Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1', that I wrote seven years ago.

Final Score: 4/5

*Hex, even the shape and design of a witch's hat is important to their character and their allegiance in this world!

Manga Review - 'Claymore, Vol. 1: Silver-eyed Slayer' by Norihiro Yagi

I attempted to watch the 'Claymore' anime a very long time ago. I gave up on it. Maybe the reason why is I thought that it suddenly got fanservice-y, sexual and ridiculous with its female lead. Which I now find to be a shame, because I enjoyed 'Claymore, Vol. 1: Silver-eyed Slayer' by Norihiro Yagi.

It's a manga I decided to buy and read on a whim, and it is action-packed and intriguing, with a tragic (sword) edge, memorable characters, and artwork that is stylised, sharp, eerie and unsettling, like a horror manga, which it technically is.

Fantasy action heroines and antiheroines are my bread and butter and jam, and I am glad to have looked into the manga origins of the female-led, epic fantasy, sword and sorcery, action adventure horror series (Shōnen or Seinen or not), 'Claymore'.

How refreshing it is to see a morally grey, badass, kickass, competent, and complex female warrior protagonist in Clare, the silver-eyed, half-monster-and-monster-slaying Claymore!

In manga and anime, anyway. I haven't forgotten Red Sonja and Xena. Though Clare is more fully and appropriately clothed than they are...most of the time.

I need to watch the anime again. I hope there is no pervasive, gratuitous fanservice there.

Plus, it was only until after I got my hands on 'Claymore, Vol. 1: Silver-eyed Slayer' (great title) that I realised that the Claymore heroine on the cover, the "stoic" badass warrior Clare, looking dead-on at the reader, does have silver eyes that really reflect light! How clever!

Clare is also known as "the Silver-eyed Witch".

So, good manga. Recommended.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Space Trash, Volume 1' by Jenn Woodall

After reading, liking, and reviewing 'Girls' and 'Magical Beatdown', here is me reading, liking, and reviewing another comic by Jenn Woodall, 'Space Trash'.

It is set in a dystopic future, on the Earth's moon, and in a high school, or "Education Center", for "misfit" girls. Meaning, punk girls who are of different races, ethnicities, and body types, and are all queer AF. Girls who are freely, expressly themselves, no matter what.

They are "rebel girls".

In other words, girls who are "difficult".

I suspect the Education Center is actually an internment centre, and a dumping ground for the poor and underprivileged ("Out of sight, out of mind", right?); one that is extremely underfunded.

It is a dump; a messy, stain-covered shithole in outer space for the not-good girls, basically.

'Space Trash' is similar to Kelly Sue DeConnick's 'Bitch Planet', for YA audiences, and with punk sensibilities and an outrageous, irreverent sense of humour.

The whole premise is about space trash, both literal and metaphorical. Though no human being should ever be derogated as "trash", to be thrown away and made to disappear for being an inconvenience in society...

In the shithole prison school for teenage girls who have done nothing wrong, there are ineffectual robot AI teachers (that goes without saying), spacesuits, lost (punk rock) music, loads and loads of graffiti and pop culture paraphernalia and swag, and lots and lots of girls. Girl gangs everywhere. Girl prisoners students who are trying to survive and enjoy themselves - and remember Earth, and its nature and bands and concerts - as their surroundings quite literally crumble around them, threatening to blow them into the vacuum of space. Not that the powerful, authoritarian higher-ups in the privileged, capitalist food chain care.

There isn't a single male character present in 'Space Trash, Volume 1', and it is glorious.

I won't reveal much else about the comic, except that it is more of an introduction to a greater plot than anything else.

A plot that began with humanity collectively giving up on their one home planet, Earth, and leaving in 2091, because it was deemed uninhabitable and unsupportable. Spoilers: This is pure propaganda, a lie made up by the "caring and brave leaders of Earth" (spouted by AI slop) who gave up without even trying and wanted to leave to save their own arses after causing the world's problems to begin with. This shouldn't surprise anyone in the slightest.


"But revisionist history is such a proud human tradition."


'Space Trash, Volume 1' is like 'WALL-E' meets 'Bitch Planet' meets 'Orange Is the New Black' meets space sapphics.

The colourful, shiny, shady, shadowy, manga-esque artwork is freaking brilliant and sublime, and you will grow to like and enjoy spending time with these funny yet tragic, punk girl characters.

The main trio are Stab (Agatha), Yuki, and Una, each different and distinct girls, with different tastes and histories.

Is there any actual continuation of 'Space Trash'? Not as far as I'm aware, and the first volume was published in 2022.

Just like with 'Magical Beatdown', is appears as if Jenn Woodall won't be continuing a comic series she started.

And again I have to ask, WHY?!

But regardless, 'Space Trash, Volume 1' is great, girl power fun, full of meaningful and relevant themes. I adore seeing the various 90s and early-2000s pop culture references sprinkled throughout. I've spotted 'Sailor Moon'! And 'Wedding Peach'! (Woodall sure loves magical girls!) And Elvira, and the manga series 'Nana' and 'Ranma ½'.

Hell, the robot AI school principal (as far as we know, there are no human adults at the school/center) has what looks like a feminised (i.e. "more friendly and harmless") version of the eye of Big Brother from '1984'. An A-Eye fascist dictator!

After consuming some of Jenn Woodall's work now, the only thing I object to is: her (pretty exclusively female) characters smoking. Anything to do with nicotine, and as far as I'm concerned, vaping isn't much better. I hate to see anyone smoking, in real life and in fiction. I am vehemently against it. Sorrynotsorry.

Otherwise, I admire her punk, feminist, no-fucks-given, girl-empowering, girl-loving, and 'Sailor Moon'-loving art and stories.


'The future is ours!'


For my further thoughts on Jenn Woodall's creations, here are my review links to:


'Girls'

'Magical Beatdown, Vol. 1'

'Magical Beatdown, Vol. 2'

'Magical Beatdown, Vol. 3'


Final Score (for 'Space Trash, Volume 1'): 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Magical Beatdown, Vol. 3' by Jenn Woodall

The final instalment of 'Magical Beatdown', which is a shame, because it definitely leaves you wanting more, and it ends on a mystery and cliffhanger.

Does Jenn Woodall seriously have no plans to go further with this series? Why not?!

Basically: Fujiko, with a new boyish haircut, and the pretty and feminine Kyoko go out on a date. Kyoko's arsehole ex-boyfriend and his male mates interrupt them, and start harassing them, making highly inappropriate, sexist and homophobic remarks. Kyoko appropriately lashes out at her ex, and, depressed, bails on the date. Enraged, Fujiko tracks down the boy gang - who of course are also street harassers of girls - and as a magical girl she slices them up one by one. Breaks their privileged skulls apart. Then there's the final boss boy to contend with, who it turns out has magic too, stolen from another magical girl...

I won't spoil anymore, but wow is 'Vol. 3' ridiculously fun and violent, like the previous two volumes. It continues to grow and develop in length, dynamism, characterisation and plot.

Why is there no more?!

Once again, there's the pink (and darker shading) for the second half of the comic - the hyperviolent magical girl fight sequence - and different shades of blue (and black?) for the first half - the ordinary, civilian half. This part keeps on looking different in each volume, what is up with that?


"On behalf of love, justice, and just being done with this shit...MAGICAL HEARTACHE COSMIC LOVE BEAM!"


My 'Magical Beatdown, Vol. 1' review link.

My 'Magical Beatdown, Vol. 2' review link.

Well, as it stands, thanks for the good, fun, cathartic, feminist revenge fantasy comic, Jenn Woodall.

From one 'Sailor Moon' fan to another.

Final Score: 4/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Magical Beatdown, Vol. 2' by Jenn Woodall

'Magical Beatdown, Vol. 2' is a bit longer and more developed than 'Vol. 1'. It shows the consequences of said magical beatdown from the previous instalment - what should be called a bloody massacre - of not

innocent victims, mind you. The girl characters are given names (our main magical girl is Fujiko, for example), and the magical girl fight sequence is longer, more ridiculously gory, and ends in an actual, big, disgusting monster boss battle. It's not just harmful, misogynistic, male street harasser gangs this time round, who are clearly working for a much higher and more dangerous power and authority.

Additional notes: Magical Girl Fujiko has a crush on fellow schoolgirl Kyoko, and for the final boss battle she combines her sword and spiky bat to form a typical magical girl staff - that turns into a scythe! She still has her motorbike at her command, and her eyepatch remains on the left eye in this volume! Improved art consistency.

What's not consistent, however, is the use of colour. The pink for the fighting is the same, but why is the mundanity at the beginning a greyish, more bold and darkly pronounced colouring, instead of blue, like in the first and third volumes?

"When are you worms going to learn...Don't underestimate girls."


My 'Magical Beatdown, Vol. 1' review link.

Next up is 'Magical Beatdown, Vol. 3', the final little comic in this series by Jenn Woodall.

Final Score: 4/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Magical Beatdown, Vol. 1' by Jenn Woodall

Hey, I love Magical GirlsTM, so why not check out a hyperviolent one-shot magical girl comic (plus its two sequels), that's also a female rage and revenge fantasy?

It wouldn't be the first time I read an adult, violent Magical GirlTM feminist revenge fantasy.

And 'Magical Beatdown' is just a quick fun and cathartic fantasy, even for someone like me who doesn't usually approve of extreme violence in any context.

I was into Jenn Woodall's other work, 'Girls', which in addition contained art of the magical girls from 'Magical Beatdown' on one page, ergo another reason I had to get this.

A mousy, bespeckled Japanese schoolgirl who just wants to have fun playing at the arcade is accosted by a gang of predators on the street, and she transforms into a tall, foulmouthed, sword-and-spiky-bat-wielding magical girl*, and takes down their arses in swift, bloody, gory and hilarious fashion, and she can summon a motorbike to kill them, too.


"Yay, video games!!"


That's it.

Maybe that's all it needs to be.

The colours are blue, dark and shadowy for the mundane moments, and bright pink, light and white for the magical girl fight moments. What a contrast! So much spurts of pink blood.

Thus concludes my review of 'Magical Beatdown, Vol. 1', which is similarly short and sweet.

Next up is my review of 'Vol. 2'.

Final Score: 3.5/5

*Which eye her eyepatch covers isn't consistent from panel to panel, and I'm not sure if it was intentional.