“The Riders Attack” Mori-sensei, what have you done to my Otoyomegatari? Even with full foreknowledge of where things were headed, this chapter was a pretty bracing slap in the face.  There’s not a lot of analysis to be done because it pretty much speaks for itself – chaos, destruction, death, […] Read more

“Meeting the Batan” Normally the most adorable couple in the universe arm-wrestling would be the headline, but that’s not the case here. For my money, Otoyomegatari is the best manga running (though with hundreds of them out there, that’s obviously narrowed down to the ones I read).  In terms of […] Read more

“Pasture” Well, that was certainly an Otoyomegatari chapter unlike any other so far.  But never let it be said that Mori-sensei is a conservative mangaka – she tests the rules and follows her own path when it comes to format more than most others in the field, and this series […] Read more

“Measuring Up” I really can’t take many more chapters like this one. It’s getting to the point now where Karluk and Amira are getting dangerously close to becoming one of my favorite manga or anime couples of all time.  I don’t know how it’s possible for Mori-sensei to make a […] Read more

“The Winged Hawk” To my way of thinking, there’s absolutely no doubt that Otoyomegatari is the most beautiful manga currently in production.  In terms of art, I don’t think there’s another mangaka who can hold a candle to Mori Kaoru – from her backgrounds to her natural landscapes to living […] Read more

“The Feast – Part III” As always, the wedding is for the family, not the brides and grooms.  But there’s something of the discrete, at least, in the fact that the ceremony itself takes place behind closed doors with only the close family present.  Much to the disappointment, I might […] Read more

“The Feast – Part II” AKA “Young Grooms’ Tale” Or, “Saahm and Sahmi are screwed”.  Seriously, you can’t help but feel for these poor kids – they’re going to have a trying married life trying to keep up with Laila and Leyli.  The twins are cute and all, but a […] Read more

“The Feast” Ah, the words every young bride surely dreams of saying on their wedding day: “Hey Mom, can we go see the sheep guts, too?” Mori-sensei is taking the term “slice-of-life” quite literally this time – .  The long-awaited wedding day of Laila and Leyli has finally arrived, and […] Read more