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Reviewed by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane Volume 6 of St. Dragon Girl delivers exactly what readers have come to expect from this series: several (in this case, five) short but sweet stories where the not-quite-a-couple Momoka and Ryuga combine their martial arts prowess and mystical powers to banish demons and other supernatural critters. Or so goes the theory--in practice, this volume begins with Momoka lending her body to the wandering ghost of a dead schoolmate who only wants to finally confess her love to the boy she loves before moving on. Other entities our heroes meet this time out aren't quite so benign, however, with their voracious appetites for different humans' life forces or that very special soul. Dreams and memories are both fair game to satisfy those particular hungers, and unfortunately some victims--like Momoka's own father--aren't inclined to accept help in dealing with the problem. I enjoy St. Dragon Girl more and more all the time. This volume covers a pretty wide spectrum of stories, and while Momoka and Ryuga are still going through the "will they or won't they?" routine, they seem to be inching closer to giving in and being a couple. Ryuga's usual attitude about it tends to frustrate me, since he's more likely to be smug about Momoka's feelings for him than upfront about his own, but when he really gets protective of her it's adorable. I do feel a bit odd that my interest in their (sloooowly) budding romance coming to fruition has less to do with wanting them to be a couple than with wanting them to stop their push-pull relationship, since I'm not invested in the romance. But I really like Momoka, and Ryuga's growing on me, so this isn't a significant complaint. All that said, my favorite story in this volume is the last one, in which Ron-Ron (Momoka's stuffed panda, currently hosting the spirit of the Panda King) discovers the true meaning of the Obon holiday. It's ridiculously cute. Volume 6 includes a bonus section where Natsumi Matsumoto writes about a trip to Chinatown with her assistants, a fan art page, and a page of cultural/translation notes. Review copy provided by VIZ Media. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line! Charles Webb Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com |
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