Selections from what I read in May: digest version part 1 of 3

Sorry to interrupt my new regular posting schedule, but Blogger was down for the count when I tried to post last night.  Great fun last month.  Here's some of it.

• b Arata 1: Fun, if simple, adventure story; we'll see if it gets any more complex as time goes by.  I feel like I heard this one didn't do so well in Japan, so maybe it got canceled, but I hope the story finished first.
• b D. Gray-Man 17: Yeah, the zombies got old but were still kind of funny, and then POW, POW, K.O.  Did that really happen?  You're pretty sure it did, but then again . . .  Poor Allen.
• b Dinosaur Hour 1: Hilarious.  Brutal and funny, kind of like a Darwinian comedy show.  Don't drink milk or juice while reading.
• b Gakuen Alice 11: NOOOOOO.  You can't just stop in the middle of the sad and adorable, long, drawn-out flashback and still not resolve the huge, deadly conflict looming in the present!  More, please, now.  (It took me the longest time to figure out who was on the cover . . .)
• b Kimi ni Todoke 4: As ST said, "She puts her foot down, but she still believes the best about everyone in a way that is totally consistent with her character."  And totally, awkwardly adorable.  Here is an excellent (spoilerful) rumination on this volume.
• b Kyo Kara MAOH! 6: One bit wraps up and another begins.  It's kind of sad when Yuri realizes that his choices mean that this is his life now, and he may never get to go back again, but it's heartening to see that it makes him want to work harder.
• b Maison Ikkoku 11: I feel for you, dude.  But I do want to smack you.  If you'd stop with the hysterical overreactions and just, you know, talk, maybe things would work out.  But probably they wouldn't because you're both allergic to being honest even when you do talk.  Relationships.  Sigh.  More trouble ahead. This volume had the memorable chase scene that ended in . . . no progress.
• b Silver Diamond 6: Thank goodness it looks like they won't stay on the "happy will save the world" kick.  Happy is great, but it needs power and a goal and a reason to see it through, or it gets stupid and old quickly. 
• b Spiral 11: Okay, there were some pretty devastating moments in this volume, which was mostly just talking.  Kyo Shirodaira makes talking awesome. 
• b Yakitate!! Japan 21: It is so unsafe to read these while exercising because you never know when a pun is going to actually paralyze your brain, causing you to trip on the stair-climber or slip off the bike pedal.  You've been warned.

Ah, reflecting back on the joys of the past is a valuable exercise in reminding one how much one has to be thankful for.  Anything you've read lately that tickled your fancy?