Comic Corner Roundup: November

Comic Corner Roundup is a bi-monthly segment that compiles mini-reviews of comics, graphic novels, and manga that I’ve read recently. Here are my reviews for the month of November which include a retelling of a classic, an apathetic vampire, and a novice witch.

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My Pathetic Vampire Life Vol. 1 by Rose Ishikawa (2016)

Immortality sucks! Koide Manzaku, who became a vampire at age 16, has had to repeat his first year of high school 133 times. To make matters worse, being a vampire means he’s weak during the day, and he’s too grumpy to be popular with girls, so in every one of these freshman years, Koide inevitably winds up at the bottom of the social ladder. But somehow this year – his 134th – he winds up friends with a bunch of popular bros. Could this be the year that Koide actually, finally get to enjoy high school? Sink your teeth into the daily misadventures of a reluctant vampire.

Episodic manga can be a hit or a miss, but surprisingly My Pathetic Vampire‘s first volume keeps the momentum from beginning to end. Each chapter follows a different day in Koide’s life as he tries to make friends in school despite being an outsider (compared to the human students). He initially puts up an apathetic attitude, but deep down he really wants to enjoy high school. Showing us the downfalls from his past experiences he is determined to do this school year right.

This manga despite being simple in the plot is very comedic to the point I was laughing out loud. I enjoyed this far more than when I read a similar style of series, Nichjou. I love the play on vampire tropes and reading about the daily chaos that happens in Koide’s classes. It’s a manga that’s lighthearted and fun! I enjoyed the first volume enough that I’d like to continue with this series.

Final Verdict:

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Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1 by Kamome Shirahama (2019)

In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch…until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem…

I love to read whimsical stories full of magic and that’s what drew me initially to Witch Hat Atelier. I heard a lot of buzz surrounding this manga and now I understand why. The world-building in this fantasy story truly whisks the readers away to Coco’s world full of whimsy and wonder. Because she is young there is a naivete that surrounds her aura, but I love her willingness to learn and explore the world around her. Her energetic spirit will warm the reader’s hearts as she does her best to navigate her journey as a witch.

The artwork is stunning and there is so much detail in each panel. Volume One spends most of its time explaining the magic system but does so in a way that it’s not too overbearing. The characters are colorful and the villains (not sure of them yet) seem intriguing. There’s lots more to come in this series and I can’t wait to continue reading it.

Final Verdict:

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Anne of West Philly by Ivy Noelle Weir (Author), Myisha Haynes (Illustrator) (2022)

When Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert decide to foster a teenage girl for the first time, their lives are changed forever. Their redheaded foster daughter, Anne Shirley, is in search of an exciting life and has decided that West Philly is where she’s going to find it. Armed with a big personality and unstoppable creativity, Anne takes her new home by storm as she joins the robotics club, makes new friends in Diana and Gilbert, experiences first love, and turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. But as Anne starts to get comfortable, she discovers one thing she wasn’t looking for: a family.

I’ve read and reviewed numerous versions of Anne of Green Gables. However, this is the first time I read a modern retelling of the story. Set in the 21st Century in West Philly, this rendition of the story has a much more modern setting while keeping most of the elements of the original story. Anne’s character stays mainly the same and her constant upbeat energy and flair for the dramatics are sure to put a smile on the reader’s face. This rendition felt more like reading a tween/YA novel, but I feel it’s appropriate for a wide range of ages.

I love the diversity of having Anne as a young black girl. I’ve always related to her character a bit, but seeing her look like someone like me made that connection much stronger. I also appreciated how Anne in this version has a passion for STEM and is brimming with creativity. Her spirit will surely motivate younger readers that pick up this book. The artwork matches the vibrancy of the story as well. I highly recommend this retelling.

Final Verdict:

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What comics, graphic novels or manga have you read lately? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have any recommendations, feel free to share those as well.