Transient Flower
It is not easy to get over a traumatized childhood especially when the cause of the trauma pertains to one's looks. It takes an extraordinary mindset to find one's way out of the shadows of the detested past and the lingering memories. The main lead is someone like that but I think that by hurting other men, she is also hurting herself especially in the case of the last guy she dated. It is like punishing herself and the others for not being loved as she really is. it is too bad that the story revolves only around agony and not salvation.
COLORS
It is a puzzling oneshot but I think that it revolves at its core around unrequited love, symbolized by the separation wall on p. 14. It begins by the main character looking at the guy she wants surrounded by girls on p. 6, there might have been a confession on p. 7 if it weren't for the fact that the guy gave her the happy-go-lucky attitude, revealing hence that he is unaware of her feelings (he didn't show any resentment towards other guys trying to ascribe a color to her, nor did he tell her what color she resembles in his opinion). The story progressed towards the separation wall on p. 14. The girl probably cried earlier because she realized that he doesn't like her back and the fact that she ascribed the yellow color to him then took it back might be an indicator that she acknowledged that he isn't hers. For him, yellow symbolizes sunshine (the guy shares his warmth with everyone) whereas for her, he symbolized sunset (a symbol for romantic encounters between lovers); at the end, she says he isn't yellow (hence there won't be any sunset for the two of them = romantic encounter between lovers). This is how I read this oneshot anyway ... it may become more comprehensible and interesting when seen in this new light, I might be wrong though.
Puzzle (morie Satoshi)
This one has a "philosophical" sense to it. A deeper and smarter message emerges from within the plotline and the smutty material. The storyline was developed fully, every word and panel filled its role congruously. I enjoyed reading it.
Chupa!
An original plotline with a comic tone. It was very fun and pleasant to read.
Yoru O Aruku Kanemasu Aya
It is great that the mangaka rendered his drawings using a hatching technique. It is unfortunate though that the meaning behind the story is completely obscure; which is very rare for me. I still have no idea what is going on in this oneshot!
Journal for February 5th
This could be labeled more as a dark humor oneshot than a horror manga. It portrays the insecurities faced by a mangaka triggered by an e-mail he received from his editor. This is probably a mangaka's worst fear: not being noticed among the other artists or losing fame after struggling a long time for it. Those insecurities transform themselves, in this oneshot, into a nightmarish unreality. The drawing style is unique. From it, we realize that the artist isn't afraid to use the techniques he has picked up either inside the classroom or from reading books related to drawing and sketching. This is a promising artist. I would give him a shot at any time of the day.
Die