Show-ha Shoten!, Vol. 1

I had a lot of doubts going in, but I am pleasantly surprised by how strong this starts. 

I've seen plenty of anime and manga fall flat with localized puns and humor, and when I heard this series was getting an official English translation, I had my doubts. Takeshi Obata, the artist, is highly renown for his work on Death Note and Hikaru No Go, so it made sense financially to bring this series to an English speaking audience who would throw money at it regardless of its worth. 

But this is actually pretty good. The comedy is the weakest part, admittedly, but the tension and drama are keeping me hooked on the plot. The writer knows a lot about the nuances of comedy, and I'm learning a lot about how comedians research, plan, and deliver their art. I didn't know anything about comedy going in, but I have a new appreciation for comedians just after reading volume 1 of this manga. 

I'm excited to continue!