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10 September 2012 Leave a Comment

My Week in Manga: September 3-September 9, 2012

My News and Reviews

Last week the Read or Dream Giveaway Winner was announced. The post also includes some stories of surprising manga that were shared as part of the contest. As it was the beginning of the month, the Bookshelf Overload for August was also posted last week. And just to make things a little more interesting, I reviewed Shige Nakamura’s boxing manga Wolf. Although I’m interested in martial arts, I’ve never been particularly interested in boxing. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed Wolf. I also updated the Resources page last week. It’s been a while since I’ve added anything, but I recently came across a couple of interesting blogs: Brain Vs. Book (book and manga reviews and such from Japanese translator Jocelyne Allen) and Lesley’s Musings…on Manga. I’ve also updated the Manga Moveable Feast Archives page so that it now includes more of the upcoming Feasts that have been scheduled.

Onto good stuff I’ve found online! Vertical has posted a licensing survey polling readers for licensing suggestions for the summer of 2013. The poll will be available until September 26, so do check it out. Blog of the North Star and The Land of Obscusion tackled the English edition of Fist of the Blue Sky, a prequel to Fist of the North Star. I actually haven’t read Fist of the Blue sky yet, but their conversation makes me want to read it sooner rather than later. Okazu is starting a new series of posts taking a look at the history and study of yuri, beginning with Prologomena to the Study of Yuri, Part 1. Finally, Ken Liu, contributor to the Haikasoru speculative fiction collection The Future is Japanese (which I previously reviewed), has posted his story notes for “Mono no aware,” one of my favorite stories in the anthology.

Quick Takes

Chi’s Sweet Home, Volumes 8-9 by Konami Kanata. Chi’s Sweet Home is a series that always manages to make me smile. As someone who owns (or perhaps is owned by) a couple of cats, I frequently find myself chuckling out loud while reading the manga. Sometimes, that sort of levity is just what I need and Chi’s Sweet Home consistently provides it. These couple of volumes see Chi’s relationship with Cocchi, a stray kitten, grow. He and Chi explore the outside world together and they get into all sorts of trouble. It’s adorable how he’s just as out of place among people as Chi is among the outdoor cats. They make a very entertaining pair. If you like cats, Chi’s Sweet Home is a very cute series.

Right Here, Right Now, Volume 2 by Souya Himawari. Although Right Here, Right Now isn’t an outstanding series, I’ve become rather fond of it. Takakage can be endearingly affectionate (and horny) but he also has quite a temper. He does seem to shift between these two aspects of his personality a bit too easily, though; the series changes quickly from being amusingly silly to rather serious depending on his mood. Some of the time traveling tropes in Right Here, Right Now seem forced and irrelevant to the story as a whole, but overall it’s a solid little two volume series. Largely taking place during the Warring States period of Japan, I like how Himawari has incorporated the political turmoil and intrigue of the era into the plot.

Strain, Volumes 1-5 written by Buronson and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami. I absolutely loved Sho Fumimura and Ikegami’s manga series Sanctuary, so when I learned that they had worked on another series together I knew I had to read it. Although not nearly as good as Sanctuary (which came first), I still found Strain to be a very engaging series. The trust and connections between characters are constantly shifting. Loyalty—to family, to comrades, to country—is a huge theme in the series. Some elements, such as Angel’s sexual proclivities, seem to only be introduced for their shock value and are forgotten by the end of the series. And, as always, Ikegami’s often photo-realistic artwork is marvelous to behold.

X, Omnibus 2-3 (equivalent to Volumes 4-9) by CLAMP. X is so deliciously epic. Yes, it’s over-the-top, confusing, and the dialogue is ridiculous, but nonetheless I’m enjoying X immensely. The fight scenes are visually interesting even if it is difficult to follow the action. The plot developments don’t always make a lot of sense, but the pace is quick and the story is enthralling if you don’t mind the chaos. At times deadly serious and melodramatic, the manga is occasionally broken up by moments of humor, usually when Sorata is around. The omnibus editions include color artwork that was previously unreleased in North America, which is a very nice touch. I have no idea if or when the next omnibus volume will be published, but I’ll definitely be picking it up if it ever is.

Kamui Gaiden directed by Yoichi Sai. I was sadly disappointed with Kamui Gaiden. Based on Sanpei Shirato’s manga that was released in English as The Legend of Kamui, the original is so much better than the adaptation. I still like the overall story, but Kamui Gaiden is almost tedious to watch and some of the jumps in the narrative are hard to follow if you haven’t read the manga. Many of the special effects are distracting and lacking in quality, making the ninja’s movements seem awkward rather than natural. Some of the fight choreography still manages to be entertaining, though. And I did like Kenichi Matsuyama as Kamui. He plays vaguely melancholic characters well and I did enjoy watching him. Plus, fundoshi!

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6 August 2012 2 Comments

My Week in Manga: July 30-August 5, 2012

My News and Reviews

I had three posts for you all last week here at Experiments in Manga. First was the announcement of the Love Hina Giveaway Winner which also includes a brief list of some of the harem and reverse harem manga that have been licensed in English. I also posted July’s Bookshelf Overload. I managed to restrain my impulse buys over the last month (for the most part). And finally, I reviewed Frederik L. Schodt’s The Astro Boy Essays. I actually haven’t read or watched much Astro Boy, but Schodt’s book is a fantastic introduction to Astro Boy and Osamu Tezuka.

Many boys’ love fans celebrated “Yaoi Day” on August 1st, or 8/01. (With a little Japanese wordplay, 801 can be pronounced as “yaoi.”) I saw a lot of love for est em last week, and for a good reason—she’s a fantastic creator. Jocelyne Allen translated and posted a portion of her interview with est em from 2010 at her site Brain Vs. Book. Over at Otaku Champloo, Khursten Santos had a special spotlight on est em. And, while not part of the yaoi day celebrations, Jason Thompson’s House of 1000 Manga featured est em a few weeks back.

Also! The call for participation for August’s Manga Moveable Feast has been posted! Later this month the manga blogging community will be taking a closer look at Eiji Ōtsuka and Housui Yamazaki’s The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service.

Quick Takes

Fist of the North Star: Master Edition, Volumes 7-9 written by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara. Gutsoon Entertainment was only able to publish nine volumes of Fist of the North Star before going defunct. I would absolutely love to see more of the series available in English. When I first started reading Fist of the North Star, it seemed like the series was heading towards a bad-guy-of-the-week sort of story. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I was very happy to see it evolve an engaging overarching plot. Plus, I love the gloriously over-the-top martial arts. These last few English volumes further develop Kenshiro and his brothers’ backstories and introduces one of the primary antagonists of the series.

My Cute Crossdresser by Mitohi Matsumoto. A part of Digital Manga’s new hentai imprint Project-H, My Cute Crossdresser falls into the genre known as otokonoko. Generally written for a male audience, otokonoko features cross-dressing guys, often in somewhat compromising situations (it is ecchi, after all). I quite enjoyed My Cute Crossdresser. For the most part, the sexual content is actually fairly mild. The first and longest story, “Raising Decoy,” in which a guy dresses as a girl to catch gropers on the train in order to bring them to justice, ends up being rather sweet. “Spilled Milk” and “Leo and the Night Sky of Summer” are partially excuses for suggestive crossplay. The collection also includes “An Angel’s Flight” and “Actress.” The volume is fun and even a bit fluffy.

Sexy Voice and Robo by Iou Kuroda. It’s difficult for me to adequately capture my response to reading Sexy Voice and Robo, or to even describe what this manga actually is about. It’s a strange and rather unusual story, but I found it be appealing and immensely enjoyable. Nico, aka “Sexy Voice,” is a bright fourteen-year-old girl who wants to be spy when she grows up, or maybe a fortuneteller. She finds other people intensely fascinating and can’t help but meddle in their affairs, often putting herself in some very dangerous situations as a result. The endearing and hapless “Robo,” who is frequently caught up in her escapades, is one of many men she met while working for a tele-club dating scam.

Tactics, Volumes 1-2 by Sakura Kinoshita and Kazuko Higashiyama. First published by ADV Manga, then Tokyopop, and now available through JManga, Tactics is one of the few manga that I’ve read that takes place during Japan’s Taishō era. Kantarou is a young folklorist who is occasionally called upon to exorcise yokai that are causing problems for people. The plot moves a little too quickly at times and is nearly as hyperactive as its protagonist. The stories tend to be fairly benign even when they include slightly more menacing elements. Personally, I prefer my yokai tales to have a little more bite to them, but there were parts of Tactics that were genuinely fun. I was particularly amused by the tengu Haruka’s extreme attachment to his rice bowl.

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30 July 2012 Leave a Comment

My Week in Manga: July 23-July 29, 2012

My News and Reviews

Last week was the CLAMP Manga Moveable Feast, hosted by the Manga Bookshelf. As part of my contribution to the Feast, I reviewed the omnibus edition of Clover which is one of my personal favorites when it comes to CLAMP’s work. Next month’s Feast will be focusing on Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service written by Eiji Ōtsuka and illustrated by Housui Yamazaki. Eeeper’s Choice Podcast will be hosting. The scheduling of future Feasts is currently under discussion in the MMFeast Google Group if you’d like to jump in and have your say.

On to interesting things I found online! Deb Aoki has posted the notes from the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con best and worst manga panel. I always look forward to seeing the resulting lists each year. Also at the San Diego Comic-Con, JManga announced the Manga Translation Battle, which has now officially started. JManga also recently started a new blog—JManga Poi Poi. Over at Okazu, Erica Friedman posted some excellent food for thought Why Yuri Cannot be Financially Successful…The Gospel According To Fandom.

Also! The most recent manga giveaway here at Experiments in Manga has been posted. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, but you still have time to enter to win the Love Hina Giveaway.

Quick Takes

Aftershock: Artists Respond to Disaster in Japan edited by Adam Pasion. Although I only recently learned about it, Aftershock is one of several comics anthologies that were released in response to the 2011Tōhoku earthquake. Aftershock is a fairly slim volume but packs in works from over thirty-five contributors hailing from all over the globe. The comics capture the artist’s personal responses to the earthquake in Japan and how their lives and works have been influenced by Japanese culture. A few of the selections relate the experiences of some of the creators who were in Japan at the time of the earthquake. Overall, I found Aftershock to be a great collection. (Proceeds go to various relief agencies.)

Crimson Snow by Hori Tomoki. While I wasn’t blown away by Crimson Snow, I did enjoy Tomoki’s debut collection of boys’ love stories. The the anthology includes the titular “Crimson Snow” about a yakuza rescued by a tea ceremony heir, “At First Sight” in which two university students admit their feelings for each other, “Cry for the Sun” about a young man’s relationship with his father’s lover, and “Galance” which is a continuation of “Crimson Snow.” Although there are certainly a few intimate scenes, Crimson Snow focuses more on the characters, their histories, and their emotions than it does on sex. The majority of the encounters feel like natural extensions of the developing relationships rather than being included just because they’re an expected part of the genre.

Deadman Wonderland, Volumes 2-5 written by Jinsei Kataoka and illustrated by Kazuma Kondou. I was very intrigued by the first volume of Deadman Wonderland. However, as much I thoroughly enjoyed parts of the subsequent volumes, there were other parts of the manga that frustrated me immensely. For one, major plot twists are dramatically revealed only to be forgotten for volumes at a time. I also have a hard time believing that the Deadman Wonderland inmates are given so much free reign within the prison. But there are still aspects of Deadman Wonderland that I enjoy. I particularly like Kondou’s artwork and most of the character designs. And even when it doesn’t make a lot of sense, the story is frequently engaging.

Sanctuary, Volumes 5-9 written by Sho Fumimura (Buronson) and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami. Sanctuary is one of the best manga series that I’ve read recently; it’s really a pity that it’s long out of print. The juxtaposition of organized crime and politics is fascinating. Each are cutthroat and dangerous in their own ways, the players in each realm working within strict codes of conduct. At times, the mafia seems more honest and honorable than the politicians. I’m not even particularly interested in modern-day politics but nonetheless found Sanctuary to be incredibly gripping. The story of Hojo and Asami’s relationship and their struggle to change Japan together after surviving the killing fields of Cambodia is intense to say the least.

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25 June 2012 2 Comments

My Week in Manga: June 18-June 24, 2012

My News and Reviews

I posted two reviews last week, neither of which have anything to do with manga whatsoever. As I’ve mentioned before in passing, I study traditional Okinawan karate kobudō. Because of this I was interested in learning more about Okinawan history. George H. Kerr’s study Okinawa: The History of an Island People was exactly what I was looking for. It is the first and one of the only comprehensive histories of Okinawa available in English. My second review was for Todd Shimoda’s novel Subduction with artwork by his wife L. J. C. Shimoda. The illustrations and overall design of the book were some of my favorite parts of the novel.

Digital Manga has launched their latest Kickstarter project. The company hopes to publish Osamu Tezuka’s Unico in English and in full color. The project already has a ton of support and I’m expecting it to be successful. Plus, if the project meets it’s goal quickly, Digital Manga will announce yet another Tezuka manga to be licensed. As much as I love seeing Tezuka available in English, I hope that Digital Manga will consider other titles to fund through Kickstarter, too. Another project I’d like to draw your attention to is for Laurianne Uy’s Polterguys, Volume 1, a fun manga-inspired comic. You can learn more about Laurianne and read Polterguys at her website Laurbits.com.

This week is the Takehiko Inoue Manga Moveable Feast! Anna and Michelle, the co-hosts for this month’s Feast, have a nice kickoff post. Below, I have a quick take for the first couple of volumes of Inoue’s series Slam Dunk. I previously reviewed the first Vagabond omnibus and later this week I’ll be reviewing the second. Buried in some of my past Library Love posts, I have a couple of quick thoughts on Real, which is probably my favorite series by Inoue. Happy Feasting, everyone!

Quick Takes

Calling by Miu Otsuki. Calling was a really nice surprise. I wasn’t expecting much out of the manga, but it turned out to be an excellent boys’ love one shot. One of the best things about Calling is that Otsuki avoids many of the unfortunate and often used tropes of the genre, especially those dealing with rape. When Kazuaki tells Kira to stop, Kira stops. (Seriously, consent is hot.) The story is much better for it, too. The men’s relationship deepens and matures more naturally than it would have otherwise. The two obviously care for each other and make for a very affectionate couple. There are conflicts and misunderstandings in Calling, but it is a very sweet manga with well-developed characters.

Sanctuary, Volumes 1-4 written by Sho Fumimura (Buronson) and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami. Akira Hojo and Chiaki Asami are two ambitious young men who are determined to transform Japan together, Hojo working through the underground and Asami working through the political system. Their struggle to rise to power is fraught with challenges as they confront corruption and very real danger. They have literally put their lives on the line to reach their goal. Sanctuary is thrilling. Hojo and Asami advance only to be pushed back again. They just barely manage to hang on to control of the situation. One wrong move and all of their efforts will come to nothing. This series is fantastic and I’m really looking forward to reading the rest.

Slam Dunk, Volumes 1-2 by Takehiko Inoue. Slam Dunk was the first of Inoue’s manga to be translated into English. Initially published by Raijin Comics, the license was later rescued Viz Media. Slam Dunk was Inoue’s breakthrough manga. The story follows Hanamichi Sakuragi, a big guy and high school delinquent who joins the basketball team in order to win the affection of a girl. Except, he doesn’t really know much about basketball. I was pleasantly surprised to discover how funny the series is. It was also interesting to see Inoue’s earlier, more simple (but still dynamic) style of drawing. Although I don’t feel compelled to rush out to find out what happens next, I enjoyed these first two volumes and would like to read more.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Episodes 14-26 directed by Kenji Kamiyama. It’s been a while since I’ve watched any Stand Alone Complex, but because so many of the episodes stand on their own, I found myself falling back into the series fairly easily. Unfortunately, some of those episodes can be rather tedious; although there’s some good world building, there’s a lot of talk and not much action. I would find my attention wandering, making it difficult to follow some of the political machinations that become important later on. But when the series actually gets around to kicking into gear, it’s great. The animation quality is excellent, too. And I’m never going to complain about a soundtrack by Yoko Kanno.

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11 June 2012 Leave a Comment

My Week in Manga: June 4-June 10, 2012

My News and Reviews

For most of last week I was in Nashville for a conference for work, which means I didn’t get nearly as much manga and anime in as I would have liked. Hauling large stacks of books through airports isn’t particularly fun, so I didn’t take much with me. Still, I managed to find time to get some reading in before I left. I also managed to post an in-depth review of The Bible: A Japanese Manga Rendition while I was away, the latest manga offering from One Peace Books. The Read or Die Giveaway Winner was announced last week as well. The post shares some favorite book loving characters and series, too, so please check it out.

Some exciting licensing news! Drawn & Quarterly will be releasing Shigeru Mizuki’s GeGeGe no Kitaro in early 2013. Rumor has it that it will be a “best of” collection, but no specific details on the publication have been released yet. Elsewhere online, CBLDF reported that both a manga and an anime have survived being challenged under Tokyo’s Youth Healthy Development Ordinance amendment. Although I’m not familiar with either work, this makes me very happy. And over at Yuri no Boke, Katherine Hanson has great a post about Yuri Characters Who Are Out To Family Members in Manga, which includes a couple of titles that are available in English.

Quick Takes

Fist of the North Star: Master Edition, Volumes 4-6 written by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara. I really do love this series. Post-apocalyptic, shirt exploding, martial arts mayhem, with a brooding hero…I can’t help but like it. I particularly enjoyed these volumes because they delve further into Kenshiro’s past. The overall story is starting to feel more cohesive and less “fight-of-the-week.” I also really liked Rei. He’s a great addition to the cast. He’s just as much of a badass as Kenshiro, but more emotionally unstable. Their personalities play off of each other nicely. I personally prefer the more realistic fights (and I use that term very loosely) in which Kenshiro’s opponents aren’t outrageously over-the-top.

Let Dai, Volumes 11-15 by Sooyeon Won. Let Dai is relentless and emotionally exhausting. The story is melodramatic, the narrative and dialogue is extravagant, and a lot of it is unbelievable, but the thoughts and feelings that the manhwa expresses are incredibly real. The scenes where Jaehee and Dai’s parents confront them about their sexuality hit very close to home for me. Let Dai is an epic. The characters actually grow and change as the story progresses. Events from the first volume that set everything into motion are never forgotten and are played through to the very end of the series. The youths in Let Dai have to face tragic circumstances, some of their own making, but society, adults, and even their own families have failed them, too.

Tokyo Zombie by Yusaku Hanakuma. I’ve read several of Hanakuma’s short manga, but Tokyo Zombie is the first book length work of his that I have read (it also happens to be his first long-form manga). Tokyo Zombie is a darkly comedic homage to the zombie genre, specifically zombie films. The manga incorporates and plays with many of the tropes that would be expected from a zombie story. Hanakuma also throws in plenty of his own quirky elements—pig surfing and professional wrestling, for example. Violent and grotesque, the manga quickly earns its “adults only” label. Hanakuma’s art style is deliberately crude, but it’s also rather charming somehow. Either way, it fits Tokyo Zombie perfectly.

Black Rock Shooter directed by Shinobu Yoshioka. The Black Rock Shooter franchise began with a single illustration by Ryohei Fuke. It went on to inspire music, video games, manga, and anime, including this eight episode series that aired on noitaminA. I probably wouldn’t have picked up the series had not someone made me sit down and watch the first three episodes. I didn’t think I would be interested in the life dramas of middle school girls, but I found the series to be oddly compelling even if its symbolism was terribly obvious. There is reality, but then there is psychological fantasy, too. The series has three major animation styles. The first one introduced is a visual feast that I’d really like to experience somehow other than streaming (my connection couldn’t keep up.)

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