Hot Gimmick Vol. 11 (Viz): Did she just…? With her…? Oh, EW. I’ve grown accustomed to Hatsumi’s one-step-forward-two-steps-back gait, but I think she’s achieved a personal worst with her choices in the latest installment of this exercise in psychological shôjo cruelty. Creepy? Check. Jaw-dropping? Check. Shamefully compelling? Um… check. Still, I’m kind of glad it ends with the next volume. I don’t know how much more of this I can take.
Anne Freaks Vol. 2 (ADV): I can barely keep track of the latest developments with ADV, but if the new partnership results in the reliable arrival of more Anne Freaks, I’ll be delighted. With the vengeful teen trio introduced in the first installment, Yua Kotegawa rounds out the supporting cast with a number of compelling additions. The kids are still the stars, but it adds interesting dimension to see them through the eyes of adults (each of whom has his or her own vested interest in the situation). Some want to protect them, while others want to use Anna and company for their own ends. Some even want to try and do both at the same time. Kotegawa is creating a juicy moral landscape here, infusing it with lots of energy, caustic humor, and appealingly squirmy moments.