Issue 89 sharpens its steel with The Sacred Blacksmith, a clang of katanas and demon-slaying fantasy, before drifting into the tender, reflective glow of Usagi Drop and the eerie, bee-haunted dystopia of No.6. Jonathan Clements weighs matrimony in Marié, while Asian Extreme dives headfirst into gloriously unrestrained gore. Sci-fi gets a CG polish in To: 2001 Nights, and Dir En Grey rage against authority in a clash of metal and politics.
Beyond the features, the mag stretches its legs with cosplay tips, a snapshot of Britain’s J-fashion scene, cool monthly finds, dispatches from Japan, manga tutorials, artist showcases, letters, and a stack of fresh reviews. Posters spotlight The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and The Sacred Blacksmith, rounding out an issue that swings from soft-hearted slice-of-life to blood-splattered spectacle without blinking.
