I’ve been reading these titles that are published in the .Hack//GU The World magazine for quite some time now. I really love the .hack franchise and the stories that each series brings to the table and these are no different. Granted while GU+ is really the main storyline out of the four (well, for the latest PS2 games anyway), the other three titles are good as well. .hack//XXXX brings back a lot of nostalgia and .hack//GnU and .hack//4koma always manage to give me a lot of great laughs.

Speaking of more current developments in .hack//GU+ chapters 5 and 6, the entire fifth chapter basically builds up Haseo’s obsession and lust for power which he gains in the form of Skeith. Much to Endrance’s dismay, he simply can’t stand up to Haseo’s willpower (which I personally think is derived from not only his determination to save Shino but also his almost psychotic obsession with obtaining power just to lay waste to the AIDA Tri-Edge). There’s only one complaint I have with this chapter though, it lacks the necessary amount of Pai! But hopefully that won’t be the case in chapter 6…

Yes, chapter 6. Other than the conclusion of the avatar fight between Haseo and Endrance, I noticed something else in the chapter (it’s on the very first page actually). Pai’s breasts…are they bigger than they were before? Probably not and I’m just hallucinating or something…. Anyways, things are really messed up with Tri-Edge appearing in front of Atoli at the end of the chapter. Will the ever angsty Haseo find out and hurry to her aid? Or will someone else save Atoli? Or will she save herself…? Chapter 7 will bring those answers to us (soon I hope >_<).

.hack//XXXX is basically a retelling of the original PS2 .hack series. The first two chapters somewhat alter the original story but it’s still riding on familiar grounds. Like with GU+ the art is amazing especially when there are two-page spreads like the one above. One thing I’m curious about though is the mysterious boy without a name that possesses a bracelet similar to Kite’s…. Oh, and BlackRose is as hot as ever.

The .hack//4koma chapters are purely comedy that throws together characters from both the original series and the current .hack//GU games for a hilarious combination. You definitely should be a .hack fan in order to get most out of the laughs you’ll experience will reading them. In the most recent chapters the most comedy has been coming from the whole “Haseo vs. Kite” theme. I never knew those two could be so hilarious together or that Atoli can do dark comedy (I must add an “lol” here).

Lastly, onto to .hack//GnU which I find it to be a pretty fun and entertaining manga. It chronicles the adventures of “normal” players that are in the Lunar Tree Guild. Only one chapter has been scanned so far but I greatly enjoyed it as it gives off a sense of familiarity (I’ve played MMORPGs myself so it hit home a bit) and is much more lighthearted than the main story in GU+. Also, Reid and Anfini are pretty funny characters when they’re together.

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.hack//GU+
Mangaka: Yuzuhana Morita
Original Story: Tatsuya Hamasaki
Synopsis: Backstory/storyline to the upcoming .hack//GU PS2 game.

.hack//4koma
Mangaka: Sumimaru Koichi
Synopsis: A collection of .hack parody in 4 koma format.

.hack//GnU
Mangaka: Tanegashima Takashi
Original: Kawa Azuka
Synopsis: Enjoy the adventures of *normal* players Reid, Anfini, and that of the Lunar Tree guild!

.hack//XXXX
Mangaka: Kikuya Megane
Original: Matsuyama Hirashi
Synopsis: “When he first logs-on, he sees his friend fall into a coma before his very eyes. Now Kite is searching for the answers as to why, and how to save him, inside ‘The World’. Based on the original PS2 .hack series, Infection Expansion (Vol.1), Malignant Mutation (Vol.2), Erosion Pollution (Vol.3), Absolute Encirclement (Vol.4).

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Much thanks to The Wafflehouse for providing scanlations of these great manga (I also got the information above from their project page ^_^).