King of Cards, Volume 02

King of Cards #2

by Makoto Tateno

Chronicles the adventures of a schoolgirl named Manami and other players in a trading card game named "Chaos," where the line between real life and fantasy is blurred, and the stakes of the game have significant consequences for everyone involved.

Genres: Manga

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

Name (in native language): 立野真琴

Birth Date: March 23

Also writes under the pen-name of Shinjuku Tango.

Makoto Tateno is an extremely prolific mangaka, having created 30+ series of manga in both the shoujo and BL genres. However, she is probably most well known amongst English-speaking audiences for her yaoi series “Yellow,” published by DMP. She debuted in 1986 with the short story "Yuraete Tamago Boys," published by Hana to Yume.

Reviews

[Skjam! · Rating 2 out of 5]

First up this volume, Manami participates in a special Christmas card tournament and must research Christianity to figure out the special rules for her angelic and demonic cards. I found the bizarre use of the birth of Jesus, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection hilarious. Others unfamiliar with Japan's usual treatment of religion might find it blasphemous. Fair warning.

Overall, Manami remains an eternal newbie who hasn't actually learned the rules of the game, and does rash things. Good thing she's got tons of card luck (and the possible supernatural help of her key card.)

The art is pretty, but the romance aspect of the story is really forced.

[Reader17 Der · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt bad for Manami in this story. First she finds out her cousin has a girlfriend then she loses her best card. I sometimes can not follow the story when they are playing the games, but I still like these series. I enjoy that the people she plays in the past doesn't like anyone trying to take her card away from her. (Since secretly they all want to win it off her).

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good