 |
Ouran High School Host Club, Volume 7 - Bisco Hatori
by NowheresEnd
General Plot (shortened version from my review of Vol 1)
The basic plot revolves around a scholarship student named Haruhi Fujioka, whom stumbles in upon the "Host Club" - a club devoted to helping the rich young ladies (and gentlemen if they are that way inclined) spend their leisure time happily - while looking for ... a quiet place to study. Here Haruhi meets the rest of the characters whom will remain with us throughout the story: Tamaki (the King), Kyoya (the Shadow King), Mitsukuni (Hunny), Takashi (Mori) and the twins, Hikaru and Kaoru, each of course has their special skill for entertaining the clients of the 'Host Club'. The series continues by describing interesting/humorous events that happen in and around the 'Host Club'.
Volume Specific Plot
The first story of volume 7 is all about the 'Shadow King' Kyouya, and starts with him waking up in a noisy mall-type area, surrounded by 'commoners'. Haruhi happens upon him and saves him from being lost without money or a phone, and treats him to fast food. Afterwards, while walking around, Kyouya's personality shows through when browsing the porcelain. The second story in this book is based around Hunny and his newly introduced little brother, Yasuchika (Chika for short). It begins with Chika attacking Hunny, and turns into a Host Club game of 'reunite the brothers', as they have never been very close. We also meet Mori's younger brother, Satoshi, who is charged with caring for Chika the same way Mori does for Hunny. This story runs into the third chapter of this book, and culminates in a battle between Chika and Hunny, with cake and Bun-Bun at stake. The fourth story in this book starts with the Host Club visiting Haruhi's home, and receiving the shock of seeing Ranka (Haruhi's father) in his 'manly' state. It turns out that haruhi isn't home, because shes been abducted by the Zuka Club to star in their musical. The Host Club plot to save her, aided by her father, and ends in true Host Club fashion, with much hilarity. The fifth story in this book is an extra about the Hitachiin twins, containing the saga of when they first cried in public, so almost all of it is drawn with them as children.
The final story in this Volume is a bonus manga called Love Egoist (Please Please Me) which continues from the earlier 'Love Egoist' bonus manga, picking up a little while after the first one ends. Sumire is still in love with Mr. Saginuma, and as she says "nothing has changed". He still feels little for her and goes to the Kuronuma twins for help. Needless to say, because shes spending so much time with him the other girls at school begin to bully her, but she decides not to take revenge as she would have done, but quietly puts up with it, until Mr. Saginuma tells her to stop helping him and go away. The ending I will leave to you to read.
Drawing Style/Substance
The drawings, as usual, are excellent, although the first story lacks somewhat in the backgrounds as it is not based at the High School. This is definitely made up by the level of detail and flamboyance in the fourth story, when Haruhi and the Host Club end up at St. Roberia's School. The extra manga is lovely, and shows once again the manga-ka's ability to regress her characters looks to perfection (the twins are impeccably drawn and very cute). The bonus manga is in the same more round style with a lack of backgrounds as the other bonus manga's are, but is still pleasant to read/look through.
Other Positive
This volume is highly re-readable, and includes a lot of character revelations, and some of their history. It also incorporates a lot of the secondary characters from earlier books, which brings back some fun faces.
Other Negative
As mentioned, the backgrounds as lacking in chapter one, and there are quite a few panels in this book (probably more due to the story line than laziness) that have few characters lines in, which can make it seem a bit disappointing. However, the bonus manga is the best so far, and doesn't disappoint as its length is quite long. This does mean that the OuHos part of the volume may seem short, and this could be found disappointing to fans who wanted a long plotline this volume.
Even with the shorter stories, and the lack of backgrounds/speech I still think that this is a good volume by Hatori, particularly as few of the stories are related and so would require more research/different drawings. It is as always a pleasure to read and one that will be staying firmly put on my shelf for re-reading!
Read the complete review |
 |
Ouran High School Host Club Vol.6 - Bisco Hatori
by NowheresEnd
General Plot (shortened version from my review of Vol 1)
The basic plot revolves around a scholarship student named Haruhi Fujioka, whom stumbles in upon the "Host Club" - a club devoted to helping the rich young ladies (and gentlemen if they are that way inclined) spend their leisure time happily - while looking for ... a quiet place to study. Here Haruhi meets the rest of the characters whom will remain with us throughout the story: Tamaki (the King), Kyoya (the Shadow King), Mitsukuni (Hunny), Takashi (Mori) and the twins, Hikaru and Kaoru, each of course has their special skill for entertaining the clients of the 'Host Club'. The series continues by describing interesting/humorous events that happen in and around the 'Host Club'.
Volume Specific Plot
The first story in this volume start off with the Host Club playing cards, at which Tamaki and Haruhi come last, and therefore have to help Kyoya uncover the 'culprit' behind several letters (some blank, some with newspaper cuttings stuck on to make a message), whilst everyone is getting ready for the school festival. A new recurring character is introduced in this story, called Takeshi Kuze, an old friend of Kyoya's. The second story continues the first and we begin to see more about Kyoya as some of it centres around his home, and we meet his father and sister. It then moves on to the beginning of the festival with the clubs battling it out for use of the grand salon. The third story is again another continuation, finishing up the race for the crown which will give one of the clubs the grand salon, and Haruhi figures out whom the perpetrator of the letters was. The fourth story continues the letter plot, and we get to see more of Tamaki's father (the Chairman), and then the festival starts properly, with all the parents attending. We get to meet the twins mother and father for the first time, as well as Kyoya's extremely dark side when his father turns up, and finally Tamaki's grandmother whom causes quite a fuss, and directs the fifth story. As such the fifth story tags on to the fourth, starting with Tamaki feeling as if he upset his grandmother, just before the Host Club take up guests for a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, it ends with Haruhi being forced into a dress for the ball. The sixth and last story is completely removed from the festival, and is a piece entirely dedicated to the creation of a mystery food to appease the deputy headmaster, after the Host Club spill his lunch all over him.
Drawing - Style/Substance
The drawings in this volume are excellent, particularly as we have several full page/double spread fanciful pictures of the Host Club, not to mention all the work on the costumes and clothing changes for the festival. There are also some more of those fantastic backgrounds that Bisco Hatori sometimes pulls out of the bag for special Host Club occasions. We also see a lot of actions/dialogue in this volume which is well fitted in amongst the drawings.
Other Positives
This is another volume with a lot of character development, and revelations about their pasts. It includes some flashbacks, which are nice, as we get to see some of the characters as they were as children. The stories in this volume as both funny and heart-warming, in true Host Club style.
Other Negatives
I really don't think there are any for this volume, as Bisco has managed to simply squeeze so much into it, but I suppose having the one story just extended each time may make it seem a little lacking. It also highlights the oddity of time within the series, as some chapters leap time, while other creep along very slowly.
Overall another smashing book by Bisco Hatori that gives up beautiful backdrops on an amusing touching storyline, with well rounded characters.
Read the complete review |
 |
Ouran High School Host Club Vol.5 - Bisco Hatori
by NowheresEnd
General Plot (shortened version from my review of Vol 1)
The basic plot revolves around a scholarship student named Haruhi Fujioka, whom stumbles in upon the "Host Club" - a club devoted to helping the rich young ladies (and gentlemen if they are that way inclined) spend their leisure time happily - while looking for ... a quiet place to study. Here Haruhi meets the rest of the characters whom will remain with us throughout the story: Tamaki (the King), Kyoya (the Shadow King), Mitsukuni (Hunny), Takashi (Mori) and the twins, Hikaru and Kaoru, each of course has their special skill for entertaining the clients of the 'Host Club'. The series continues by describing interesting/humorous events that happen in and around the 'Host Club'.
Volume Specific Plot
The first story in this volume starts out with the shock that Haruhi may be expelled for not coming first on an exam, and needs to study to make up the grades in the re-sit, thus introducing a new character, Ayame, as Haruhi's tutor for the episode. Quite quickly the story begins to move around Ayame and her 'hate' for Tamaki, the reason for which becomes the centre of the story. The second story in this book is all about the summer holidays, for which Haruhi (and eventually the rest of the Host Club) has decided to spend at her father's friend (whom will become a recurring character) Mizusu's pensione. The Club make a game out of it, to become the most 'refreshing' helper, so that they can stay by Haruhi's side. The third story picks up where the last left off, with the Host Club visiting Haruhi at the pensione for another day. However, Haruhi's old school friend, working in his summer break for his family, delivers fruit to the pensione and they get talking, much to the annoyance of the twins. The frouth story is again a continuation of the previous, and starts with a 'date' between Haruhi and Hikaru, set up by Kaoru in an attempt to get his twin to see that he likes Haruhi. Of course the Host Club go to spy on them and try to intervene. Unfortunately it starts going badly and leads to Haruhi being caught out in a rainstorm. Finally the fifth story of this volume reintroduces Nekozawa, and introduces his little sister, Kirimi. Nekozawa wants to be closer to his sister, but is struggling due to her fears, and so enlists the aid of the Host Club, and particularly of Tamaki, Kirimi seems to have taken a liking to him.
We also get an extra story about Mori and his problems with Autumn sleepiness.
Drawing - Style/Substance
The drawings in this volume are excellent quality, with Bisco outdoing herself with the detailed backgrounds, both in and around the High School as well as in Karuizawa. We also get some nice full page group pictures of the Club in different outfits.
Other Positives
This volume contains so much plot and character development that its bursting at the seams! Not only do we get to see Tamaki as he was younger, but also we begin to delve into the enigma that is the twins. Bisco also expands upon the Nekozawa story, and considering hes just a minor/support character, is quite unusual for a manga-ka (author) to do.
Other Negatives
Theres so much jammed into this book that I'm not sure there are many negatives. One simple one that I have stated for another of the volumes, is that Bisco has added small boxes with miniature pictures in at the bottom's of pages again - this time with information as well - but it still feels like just making use of extra space.
This is one of the most value for money volumes of the series (at £6.99 currently in shops), its got everything you want in buying a new volume of OuHos: development, fun, humour, lots of plot and a feel good story.
Read the complete review |
