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Mangaarev Manga Review

Freezing

Overview

This Manga could be categorized as mature and ecchi, because of the art concept, with those busty breasts hanging here and there, (not recommended for underage). But despite the almost nude art, the plot development is quite good, character in depth explanation is detailed with some mystery or dark background history. While the setting itself worked around in the distant future, where humankind is in a brink of an extinction by a huge monster and humans trying to counter it with a special forces, using specialized weapon…. (umm.. not not.. this is not shingeki no kyojin).. brace yourself!

A S-Class Nova Encountered by Pandora and their Limiter

Sattelizer L. Bridgett with her sad expression

I - Setting, Plot and Twist

Freezing takes places on the future earth, although the map is remain the same, Earth was threatened by an unknown being called Nova, Nova is a robot like type that hovers and capable of firing some kind of beam and duplicate themselves. In terms of strength a single Nova could wipe an entire nation with ease. To countermeasure the Nova, The special forces called “Pandora” was formed. a group superhuman implanted with “stigmata” within their body, granting them physical ability exceed the normal human. Originally developed by Gengo Aoi, a genius scientist the stigmata could only be transplanted to female host due tu certain circumstance. The male itself, even though implanted by similar kind of stigmata could not possess similar kind of power, However they were granted a supportive ability called “Freezing” an ability to stretch a Freezing Field to disrupt or even stop foe’s movements, which is why they were called “Limiter”. The Pandora and their Limiter are both joined force to fight the Nova, by performing a ritual called baptism to each other (a Pandora and her partner was selected individually, and usually have romantic relationship between them, in some cases though, some Pandora have multiple partner and vice versa.)
The story itself hovering around a boy named Kazuha Aoi, a lonely boy that literally overly attached to his deceased sister, and in the moment with a funny twist he saw an image of her sister in the back of a girl named Sattelizer L. Bridgett while she was fighting, so his mistakes makes her lose her duel with fellow pandora. Unfortunately for him, she was called The Untouchable Queen, a kind of girl that was never been touched and no ones dares to touch her. The comedy (and the ecchi, Cough!) didn’t stop there. But elevated to one point when Sattelizer have special feeling for Kazuha, but dare not to confess because of various reason.
The story progression was quite slow paced but deep, first ark contain mostly of chick in uniform trying to kill each other, while the engagement with the Nova itself wasn’t brought up until the later part. Apart from the ecchi (another Cough!) the strong side of this manga is the technique or power upgrade, unlike old school shounen series which usually powered up because of spirit power. The author could explain the technique the Pandora was using with logical manner. the history of the character that was usually explained while they’re engaging a battle was worth waiting, but sometimes it goes too dark, including sex slavery, masochism and such. Sexual issues doesn’t really matter here, eventhough they’re not cross the border of ecchi.

Some Characters In Freezing Manga

Characters

The character naming in this manga mostly based on western names, not Japanese names, few are noted name from japan compared to the western names, the character is such as.

Kazuya Aoi, a first grade entry that clumsily mistaking Sattelizer as her sister. Her actual sister, Kazuha Aoi, was the victim of a war with Nova, making her a notable hero. Kazuya is also the grandchildren of the genius scientist Gengo Aoi.
Sattelizer L, Bridget. The second grader of Japanese genetics, acknowledged as The Untouchable Queen because her phobia to be touched by another person, as well as her unbeatable streask, until she met Kazuya.
Gengo Aoi, Kazuya’s grandfather, a brilliant scientist and strategist, created Pandora project to counter invasion of the Novas within the earth. His another notable project is Valkyrie, a Pandora-like forces but consisting average girls with plasma equip.
Kazuha Aoi, Kazuya’s elder sister that was fallen during the Nova Clash, she was a prodigy Pandora with almost 26 pieces of stigmata implanted.
Chiffon Fairchild, a president of Japanese Genetics, despite her calm and kind face, she was called “Monster” because of her terrifying power, currently the strongest Pandora cadet in the world. Nobody knows her powers until the later arc, shows who she really are.
Elizabeth Mably. The daughter of mably family, a noble that devote to the justice, her hold to justice is even treated higher than her own life. In the arc of E-Pandora, she prove her idealism by supporting the harassed and exploited E-Pandora, rather than obey the order from the higher ups.
Su-Na Lee is the strongest Pandora that still active, Su-Na is often pictured beside Gengo Aoi, even becoming his personal assistant. Even Kazuya and Sattelizer shocked when they knows Su-Na was cooking and tidy up his grandfather house.
Rana Linchen. A love rival of Sattelizer, come across from the Himalayan Mountain because she had some special stigmata (or Kunlun in his native language). she was assigned by the Japanese genetics to attend the second class, along with Sattelizer. She self-proclaimed as Kazuya’s Pandora whilist in the end accepting as the second only to Sattelizer. Even she has some pretty important role, she mainly acts as Comic relief in this manga.

Sample Cover

A Cover of Freezing Manga Tankubon Volume 19

Arts Graphic and Media

The quality of the art of freezing could be categorized as neat, and clean, without lacking or overwhelming details makes the overall experience of reading this manga is quite enjoyable and fun, because the word was not cramped to the tight space and properly arranged.
Anime adaptation and proper AMV will be reviewed on the next update.

Conclusion

Freezing is a fun manga to watch, despite the overly drawn ecchi that was drawn. The plot, was quite entertaining. The twist and moral codes, lifting up issues that was hot in reality. The manga tend to expose and make the girl in this manga feels superior with their ability and spotlight, with the boy just as a “support” character.
Apart from the gender bias, the connection and character exploration is enjoy to follow, Sattelizer shyness, or used to be called Tsundere in Japanese terms is fun and makes us wonder how the romance will turn out. While the usually bold and sincere Kazuya becoming shy if it’s around Sattelizer.
The battle, the twist and story is not boring, especially when the main character and his friends were taking a rest after a long arc, but suddenly attacked by the enemy and started the new arc, making the plot while typical is easy to crunch and followed.

Overall Rating : 7/10
Reason :

Typical but enjoyable plot development
Ecchi themed art making it inappropriate for underage

Mangaarev's Manga Review

Toriko

Introduction

Toriko Ready To Fight

Today I'll be reviewing a food themed japanesse comic (manga) titled Toriko. When themed as food, Toriko was more well suited as fighting (shounen) manga because the ingredients itself is some odd monster and to acquire it require fighting those monster. However, even if it’s a little bit odd, the manga is quite fun to read when we need some entertainment, especially for a shounen themed manga lover. make sure to read all of the post, guys!

Setting, Plot And General Storyline

Toriko manga was staged on the future earth where the standard of the world was cuisine, called Gourmet Age. Gourmet Age worship the delicacy more than anything, while good taste could end even the world war.
Delicacies often requires a hard to get material, when specific strength and method was required to obtain them. This is where Bishoku-Ya comes into play, however bishoku-ya itself has rankings and the main character, Toriko is one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” some of the strongest bishoku-ya in the world.
The gourmet age itself, was ruled by IGO (International Gourmet Organization) led by Ichiryuu. IGO itself is a non-country based organization, so they wasn’t bounded by nationality or border and currently the biggest and most influential organization in the world.
IGO regulates all the Bishoku-ya (Food Mercenary) including license, authority and even jailing and punishing them. They also have biotope (an artificial landmass with many creatures) that preserve and cultivate food ingredients. The IGO also develop a technology that could measure an ingredient capture level.
But when there’s light there will be evil within, so in this manga, the opposing faction is Bishokukai and their mission is monopolize all the ingredient in the world
Could Toriko and his allies save the world from falling apart?

the Famous "Four Heavenly Kings"

III - Characters

The character development in this manga is unexpectedly good, the slow moving pace of the story make it has the room to fully explore each of the character emotional bonds and the grows of physical powers.

Reason : Deep exploration and background explanation.
Some of the characters would be listed below

1. Toriko
- a ridiculously strong ingredient hunter, he has an unique nose that was very sensitive to air, have two main skill, knife and fork that was formed using his fist and developing over time. he was one of the four heavenly kings.

2. Sunny
- Yet another four heavenly kings, his power is the hair that could bend according to his will, and different hair have different power characters, a narcisstic, beauty lover but rather becoming a comic relief later on the story.

3. Coco
- one of the four heavenly kings, have power over the poison and antidote inside his body, he has unique power that could forsee the future using electromagnetic wave reading.

5. Zebra
- The troubled child of the heavenly kings, and the last joined on the later adventure, his voice is frightening, and his looks too is rather disturbing, but he has a gentle heart in mind and caring towards his friends, despite his rude attitude.

6. Komatsu
- Komatsu is a chef of a 5 star restaurant in the gourmet city, he was first assigned to relay message recruiting Toriko to hunt some kind of ingredients. he has a minor role in the beginning, but developed through the course of the story. Later in the plot, he acquired some special skill of hearing voice of the ingeredients.

6. Acacia
- The Greatest ingredient hunter throughout history. his presesnce is unknown, leaving only legend and a legendary full course.

7. Ichiryu
- The eldest of Acacia's disciple, he is very strong but have weak resistace to alcohol. leading IGO in his daily life.

8. Knocking Master Jirou
- The second of Acacia's disciples, he could do "knocking" prefered skill using weapon to make the enemy helpless. but he was such a drunk

Section IV Artwork, Anime Adaptation

It’s disappointing to say but the artwork in this manga is fairly clumsy. It’s not that bad though, but the lines are rough and lack of details. Some of the size aspect is unsteady and changing (with overly muscular posture of almost every character) However, the storyline and character development makes up for it.
Unfortunately Toriko Anime require a lot more research, so we will update it as soon as it’s available.

Section V - Conclusion

Toriko was first released on 2008, surely it has a long history, but in fact. They has lost fame to other major manga hits like naruto, One Piece and Bleach. I don’t know the exact reason are, but I guess it because the manga has a great weakness using some unknown monsters as ingredients, making the “food” theme almost completely overridden by the fighting theme. It also make the food inside the manga is pretty hard to imagine.

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