While criticisms of the worldbuilding are valid, I was just here for the vibes, man.

Well, this was FUN! Slick-mouth Scott is in a hellish, sci-fi military school, and he's about to break out! The art style was simple but complimented the story well. I thought the dialogue was fun/ny and learning about the setting and Scott's past kept my interest.

Scott doesn't know when to shut up, but I like him a lot. Let's just say the boy's mouth is cut long and wide. I also thought Barda was going to be a filler bully character, but she gets some depth. 

Even though Himon's departure felt a bit rushed, Bekka's illness doesn't get resolved, and we don't find out

anymore about Scotty boy's past

, I had a really good reading experience with this, and I would love to read more with these characters. 

 Characters were flat, but the mystery aspect and spy tropes kept me hooked. The tension is well-paced and Ben doesn't know who to trust either. There's a fun twist that I didn't see coming! Kids will definitely get way more mileage from this. 

I was under the impression that these were all self-contained one-shots, so I rated them individually until I realized to stop. These shorts slowly build into a story.

#1: 1 star
I didn't care for it. One of those goose chases with a twist, but I always appreciate detective characters, especially ones who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty.

#2: 2 stars
Somber but wholesome. Two robots reflect on a tragedy for robot kind and the finiteness of human lifespans. But it's sort of heartwarming.

#3: 1 star
A bit of time travel, I guess. Wasn't that engaging tho

#4: 3 stars
This gives me iyashei vibes. Watching an android do errands, help people, and download various instructions was calming. Just day to day life for Ito. The artwork shines in this as well with different locations and dynamic poses. It ends a bit wistfully too. Hmm.

#5: 2 stars
Not much to say. Necessary plot and backstory

#6: 3 stars
Aww, during a checkup, Ito remembers his deceased spouse. And he has a chance encounter with a new friend.

#7: 2 stars
Hmm

#8 3 stars
Interesting!

I love Toby and Chloe's end. Who knew robots could make you feel all warm and tingly inside. c: Onda's story is so doggone boring. Like, what's the point? Ito and Chloe/Toby's story was so much more impactful.

Overall, the stories are a little disjointed and take a while to form any type of thread, but it's worth the wait. 

Never Open It: 2 stars
I didn’t quite connect with this one until the twist. It started bittersweet, then surprisingly turned into a revenge tale.

The artwork was very expressive, but, at times, too sketchy. On the other hand, the usage of red was great.

Empty: 2 stars
Slightly confusing but a reread cleared things up. In the grand scheme of things, childish curiosity ends terribly.

The Promise: 4 stars
The best one of the trilogy. This one had a good beginning and end and was easy to follow. Not to mention a final boss battle! Underachiever, lazy Yohio finally finds his love in the mysterious Tsuu. Very bittersweet yet satisfying.

I wasn’t familiar with these folktales before, but I definitely want to read more interpretations/the original Crane Wife. I like the pattern of helping animals can lead to interesting consequences. Also, that cover is so gorgeous. 

 That ending shot was just beautiful. 

I hope you know I kept all the Lion King parallels and references to myself. And it wasn't easy. One of the lions here looks way too much like Simba and another favors Scar. Anywho, the artwork is beautiful and powerful as we have come to expect from this series. This story ends a bit on a somber note.

 What to really say? The art masterfully tells the story without words, and we see the cycle of the animal kingdom in full effect.  There's also a brimming tension with a volcano erupting in this story. 

The characters were fine, but the plot was meandering. From the escape to crashing on Earth, to helping Rashid’s loneliness, to legitimizing Owen’s daddy’s dreams, to Felix’s true upbringing, etc. I think Felix and Joy’s time on Earth just felt run-of-the-mill and lackluster, so it dragged a bit though the final third does pick up. The dialogue could also feel unnatural at times. 

But I really love how music plays such a big part in this author’s works. I would love to hear a full song from her. Wish I could’ve enjoyed this more, but I’ll definitely keep reading from Dow. I like her imagination. The concept of soulmates/Kindreds was interesting.

 Slightly better. And the art has improved. Some panels are seriously beautiful. But this is very repetitive mindless sex lol.