Rosario + Vampire Season II: Volume 9

I've had enough of the Fairy Tale story.  I've tired of Moka's past.  I'm ready for them to move on.

Bleach Volume 43: Kingdom of Hollows

More posturing; still no Ichigo.  The biggest gun is out for Ichigo to come save everyone though.  At least he seems to be falling out of the sky to do just that.

Bleach Volume 42: Shock of the Queen

I keep reading Bleach hoping for resolution.  I keep getting fight scenes.  The big guns are coming in, this might be coming to a close soon.

Naruto Volume 49: The Gokage Summit Commences

This feels like the beginning of the end.  I can't imagine Naruto not being Hokage by the end of this arc, and once he's fulfilled his dream, is there much point in continuing the story?

Naruto Volume 48: The Cheering Village

Unlike Bleach, Naruto has really grown in both attitude and in story telling.  Naruto is no longer the brash "act before thought" youth that he was in the beginning of the series.  Now, he's not only more powerful, he's more mature.

Bleach Volume 41: Heart

I know I just complained that Bleach was one long fight scene.  But holy cow was this a cool fight scene!

And then back to the battle over Karakura Town.  sigh

Bleach Volume 40: The Lust

I keep waiting and waiting for something other than a major battle to happen in this series.  Maybe I'm reading the wrong series.  Things happen in Naruto though.  Not so much in Bleach.  I was rewarded with the return of Ichigo this issue though.  Orihime seems to be going through something.  I do want to see where she ends up.

Bleach Volume 39: El Verdugo

I'm seriously considering dropping Bleach.  I read it because I found Ichigo to be an interesting character.  He hasn't really been in it for pages and pages.  It's one long fight after another interspersed with the leveling up techniques.  I expect more.

Naruto Volume 47: The Seal is Destroyed

Epic battle.  Really well built up through the preceding pages and then the huge payoff.  It might have just been a big fight scene but it was rewarding.

Naruto Volume 46: Naruto Returns

Naruto gets a pretty epic re-entrance in this volume.  It's hard to imagine that he'd get here when looking at where he came from.  Things are really building up.  Not good that Kakashi is having a heart to heart with his dead father.  I don't want this to be the end of that character.

Black Butler Volume IX

Reading this reminded me too much of the movie Clue.  I kept expecting a fast forward run down of what had happened.  I don't believe Sebastian's dead though.  He seems harder to kill than that.

Naruto Volume 45: Battlefield, Kohona

Massive battle. Watching Sasuke throw down was pretty amazing and Naruto's training session was interesting. He really is growing and those in Kohona are starting to notice. I fear for Kakashi though. I know Kishimoto is not afraid to kill main characters, but he's one of my favourites.

Bleach Volume 38: Fear for Fight

I had a brief moment of hope with the last volume that Ichigo may be returning to the manga. Alas, it was brief. This volume was more battle between the Captains and Aizen's minions. I get that they're all really powerful, but each issue seems to be trying to one up the last with how over the top it can get. I want to see Ichigo rescue Orihime!

Naruto Volume 43: The Man with the Truth

This volume was huge!  Double size almost.  I can see why it was done, there was no real spot to split the story into another volume and it does bring the whole arc with Sasuke and his brother to a close.  It was an amazing battle.  And, as always, Kishimoto lets his character shine through even when it's just a fight. 

I don't know how I feel about Sasuke switching his revenge to the whole Konoha village.  It's going to set up conflict between him and Naruto again.  Though, I suppose they might see eye to eye on it.  Both their lives have been affected by decisions the ruling council thought would save the village.

Naruto Volume 42: The Secret of the Mangekyo

So it's revealed that Jiraiya looks on Naruto like a grandfather because his name was taken from one of Jiraiya's books.  That's so sweet.  It made his death in this volume more poignant.  I was quite touched when I read it.

Black Butler Volume 7

This concludes the creepiness that has been this arc of Black Butler.  I was wondering why Ciel wasn't worried about his staff.  I thought he was just callous.  Apparently Finnie is some kind of mutant and his hat hides a number on the back of his head.  Mey Rin's short sightedness belies her extreme accuracy at distance and Mr. Tanaka is a silent killer.  Plus, the chef is American.  I thought there was something up with him.

However, with a little space to fill, Toboso also gives us the story of a new suit for Ciel.  Which includes a tailor that likes to feel up Mey Rin's breasts but is also attracted to Ciel's feminine form as he's still just a small boy.  Not what I was expecting.

Bleach Volume 37: Beauty is so Solitary

So I've been complaining that the story has focused more on the Soul Society of late than it has on Ichigo.  This volume finishes up the back story (which does answer a few questions and even got me interested for a moment) and then heads back to the present.

Yay!  Ichigo is on his way to rescue Orihime!  And she's being all brave waiting for him!  And he's getting help from his friends!  And then it's back to what the Soul Society is doing against Aizen.  Sigh.

Naruto Volume 41: Jiraiya's Decision

I thoroughly enjoyed this one.  And it had very little Naruto, instead focusing on his mentor Jiraiya.  Seeing consequences of decisions is a big message in this arc and this was a prime example.

Naruto Volume 40: The Ultimate Art

Heading for the showdown between Naruto and Sasuke.  This volume is working to show how accomplished Sasuke is.  If he's that cool and Naruto has a chance then Naruto has to be that cool as well.

It's classic Gandalf action.

Black Blutler Volume 7

Sebastian becomes both more demonic and more human in this volume.  He really lets the demon out in trying to get information from the circus performer.  I think it's the first time he's really looked evil.  On the other hand, he seems to be becoming more human in how he relates to Ciel.

This was the creepiest thing I've read in a while.  Harvesting body parts from children to make yourself into a porcelain doll is horrific.  And to do it because that's what he thought Ciel wanted hinted at paedophilia.