Sora's doujinshi reviews

Doujinshi are basically self published, unprofessional, mostly non-profit manga. Better explainations can be found here for a simple explaination and here for a crazy long one..

I had gotten a bit of money from relatives for Christmas, so instead of buying a DVD like I usualy do when I have extra cash, I decided to really treat myself and buy some doujinshi. That's how it got started. I'll buy more and add them to the page as time goes on.

My main fandoms are definatly the children's novel series Harry Potter (Lupin daisuki!!! <3) and Darren Shan. It's just so cool too see book characters anime style. In fact, the doujin pictures from HP are far, far closer to the books then the movies. I'd really like to get some from the video game series Guilty Gear as well. Especially focusing on Bridget and/or Dizzy.

Lastly, I've only taken 1 semester of collage Japanese, so no, I can't read these beyond the character names (thank goodness foreign names are written with katakana)

Harry Potter

I'd really like to collect a lot more HP doujinshi. They're so many nice looking ones! My favorite circles are Wondering Trip (I want their stuff so badly!), Cacaomath, Mochiya (when they don't do shonen-ai stuff xp), and R.R.O.C. (Tom Riddle XD!!!). My favorite pairings are Lilly/James and Ginny/Harry (Cho should fall off her broom :p). My very favorite characters are Lupin, Riddle, and Ginny (in that order). I also just love Lupin and Sirius friendship stories (FRIENDSHIP, not yaoi xp) and stories about the Marauders as children (I actualy like them as characters better then the trio. Come on, Jo! Write a book about them next!)

Holy Night
by Asanisi Chisa (Cacaomath)
The cover is a really pretty picture of Harry with his broom and a crescent moon behind him. The back cover has to be one of the cutest things ever included in a doujin. Harry, Ron, and Hermoine paper dolls XD!!! Kyaa! Ka~wa~ii~~~!!! Both covers are glossy, like on a regular manga.
The first page is just a thin sheet of green paper. Next is a lovely color picture of Ron, with wings and ribbons. After that is the paper doll clothes XD The first story in the book is about the twins (who look adorable) sending Harry an interesting picture while he's at the Dursley's house. Then there's a 4 koma (four panel strip) and a two page story, neither of which I really get. The book ends with a sad feeling story about Harry visting his parents' grave. Lovely book. The art is priceless. This is a fairly thin book, though. Alot thinner than the 3 others I own at this time.
4/5 (just because I don't get that one story)

Darren Shan

DS isn't one of my favorite book series, but I like it well enough. I don't really have a favorite character, but Darren, Evra, and Kurda are pretty cool. Not much romance or female characters in the books but Darren/Debbie and Crepsley/Arra are okay. Favorite circle is R.R.O.C. I really hope they do more DS.

Cross Fire (Kurosu Fuaia, says the katakana)
by Rito Kohsaka (R.R.O.C.) and Akira Takatsuki (Brappers)
The front cover is Kurda in Rito's style and the back is Akira's art. The covers are a nice thick paper-feeling paper. I think what I'm getting at is that the covers aren't glossy, yet feel nice to the touch.
This doujin focuses on Kurda. It's hard to talk about Kurda without spoiling books 5+6, but here it goes. The first half of the book is by Rito, whom I love dearly. Her art is wonderful here and she draws a darn good-looking Kurda. Story wise, it looks like Kurda just killied some one, possibly a vampaneze, but what do I know? It could've even been one of his prince trials (I wish I could read kanji T_T). Anyway, after words, it looks like everyone's bragging in the dinning hall. Kurda looks kind of ill and is holding a cold rag to his head. Arra, the half blind dude (no, I don't remember all the character names), and a guy in a t-shirt with an elephant on it (possibly Gavner) talking to Kurda. Probably encrouraging him. It then ends with a different scene. I'm pretty sure it's the part in book 5 where Kurda kills that guy (if you've read it, you know who). I wish the whole book was by Rito. This little section was so very good. I am a little dissapointed in the 100% complete lack of Darren in the entire book. I would've liked to see him in Rito's style. Though, from looking at her Harry Potter doujin and her actual manga Planet Guardian, I think she draws slightly older characters (Especialy Tom Riddle and Kurda *drool*) better than children. Her Harrys always look funny to me, so her Darren probably would too.
The second half of the book is by Akira, who's art is good, but not amazing. The story seems to be about Kurda's trial in book 6. I do like the picture of Kurda at the very end, in the author notes. He looks kinda like Kira from Death Note ^_^;
Overall: 4/5
If you're a Darren Shan fan, and you don't hate Kurda, it's a great buy.

Bleach

I'm not too familiar with Bleach, as of writting and I don't really plan on buying more Bleach doujinshi unless one is terribly eye-catching and I just can't stop my self. All the characters in Bleach are very cool so it's hard to pick a favorite. If someone tied me to a chair and made me watch Dragon Ball Z until I picked a favorite, I'd probably say Ichigo. That Quincy guy seems cool too, but I don't know enough about him yet. Not picky for pairings either. Ichigo/Rukia and Ichigo/Orihime are both okay. I don't have a fav circle. Weekend has great art, but I don't like their stories.

Wishlist

Must have
Please contact me if you have these and are willing to sell them!