While I’m currently following a more relaxed posting schedule at Experiments in Manga if there’s one thing that you’ll be able to count on it’s the monthly manga giveaway. And as it is now nearing the end of the June, it’s time for another one! This month you all have a chance to win a copy of Yui Sakuma’s Complex Age, Volume 1 as recently published in English by Kodansha Comics. As always, this giveaway is open worldwide!
I reviewed the first volume of Complex Age not too long ago and was surprised by how much I could identify with a manga that focuses on cosplay. Not that I have anything against cosplay. Quite the contrary, I admire the enthusiasm and devotion that so many cosplayers display and enjoy seeing the results of their efforts; it’s just that cosplay isn’t something that I’m personally invested or involved in. Complex Age is one of the few manga I know of in which cosplay has such a prominent role, but I can think of a few others that incorporate it in passing as well. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I tend to enjoy them, but Complex Age was the first to really hit close to home for me.
So, you may be wondering, how can you win a copy of Complex Age, Volume 1?
1) Have you encountered cosplay in a manga? If so, tell me a little about it in the comments below! (If you haven’t, simply mention that.)
2) If you’re on Twitter, you can earn a bonus entry by tweeting, or retweeting, about the contest. Make sure to include a link to this post and @PhoenixTerran (that’s me).
It’s as simple as that. Everyone participating has one week to submit comments and can earn up to two entries each for this giveaway. If you prefer or if you have trouble with the comment form, you can also send your comments to phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com and they will be posted here in your name. The winner of the giveaway will be randomly selected and announced on July 6, 2016. Best of luck to you all!
VERY IMPORTANT: Include some way that I can contact you. This can be an e-mail address in the comment form, a link to your website, Twitter username, or whatever. If I can’t figure out how to get a hold of you and you win, I’ll just draw another name.
Contest Winner Announced–Manga Giveaway: Complex Age Giveaway Winner
In general, I’m partial to manga that showcase the culture in/around manga itself so I’ve been quite taken with Genshiken, which follows the various members of a college otaku club. In the series, Ohno is an avid cosplayer and frequently works to convince other members to cosplay as well. Because of her cosplay, she tends to be the most visually extroverted of the group and is able to draw the most interest and attention during club outings.
1) GENSHIKEN! Ohno spoke to me on a molecular level with her obsession, trying to get the other girls into it and forever growing out her hair to use instead of wigs
2) tweet tweet
https://twitter.com/persoconchii/status/748170285111730181
I own Genshiken, which I own along with all of Season 2, but I haven’t actually read it yet. (D’oh!) The first half of Ouran High School Host Club is pretty much everyone dressing up, and then I’m pretty sure there’s cosplay in Kiss Him, Not Me as well. I admire those who can create costumes since I sure don’t have the talent.
Also retweeted contest on my Twitter (@Daiyamanga).
Well your review has made me interested! :D
1. Like everyone else, the only manga title that really comes to mind for me is Genshiken. I can think of a few other titles where the characters would dress up in street fashion (like Othello) but that’s a little different.
2. RT’d under @wanderindreamr
Hmm, I can’t think of any, though in Otaku no Video, some characters are cosplaying for a scene
Yoshinoya, one of the teachers in Hidamari Sketch (Sunshine Sketch in the U.S.), is a fan of cosplay. Although she does not do cosplay of actual characters, she does wear a variety of different costumes. They include a caterpillar, the naked apron approach, a student’s fuku outfit, a cheerleader, and all of the Chinese Zodiac beasts. In the case of the zodiac costumes, she sent pictures of herself to all of her students, with a different outfit and pose for each “lucky” student.
Despite her rather eccentric cosplays, she is actually a very good teacher when she wants to be. In fact, all of her costumes are handmade by herself, either at home or in her school office.
In regard to cosplays of actual characters, there are some cases in Lucky Star, particularly in the cover art; one has Konata pose as Makoto from The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
In Kiss Him, Not Me there were a few cospkays- some from the fictional series’ within the Manga and others from actual shows like Attack On Titan, I believe. Lucky Star also comes to mind with the main character once cosplaying as Haruhi Suzumiya.
I retweeted the giveaway! @shotacare on Twitter
I only encountered real transformations misunderstanded as cosplays :D The last i remember was in Fate/Kaleid Liner…
Retwitted @MauroPellencin
1.) I’ve seen cosplay in the manga Watashi Ga Motete Dousunda! And that’s because the main protagonist is an otaku! She loves BL too but she’s a super huge anime fan, and she’s pretty good with her cosplays too.
2.) Retweeted to my twitter @sabrinajoys
I never read Genshiken; maybe I’ll have to, now.
Others have already mentioned Ouran High School Host Club and Kiss Him Not Me; I think it counts as “cosplay” when the otaku in Princess Jellyfish dress up as fashionable ladies!
Uhm… I think i’ve never read anything like that before
I really can’t think of any manga I’ve read with cosplay in it. The closest I can thing of is when an oddly dressed character shows up and the straight man exclaims something about them being a cosplayer.
Genshiken is the first example that comes to mind. And as others have mentioned, Ouran High School Host Club: I specifically remember that they dressed up as the Shinsengumi once, because I’m a Shinsengumi history buff.
Also, in Pet Shop of Horrors vol. 8, there’s an illustration of Count D dressed up as James/Kojiro from Pokemon’s Team Rocket. It wasn’t actually part of the story, but it stands out in my mind because it was so funny to see D doing cosplay!
Never came across a cosplay in a manga till now. Now that you have asked though, I want to recheck my memories and see if i have. I am Hemangini from India. I love mangas and anime. Would love to read this one. you can contact me at my blog, mypetridish.com
I haven’t read any manga with cosplay in it, but Complex Age looks interesting.
I haven’t read any manga with cosplay (unless you count Lucy from “Fairy Tail” dressing up as a maid), but it sounds interesting.