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21 August 2017 4 Comments

My Week in Manga: August 14-August 20, 2017

My News and Reviews

It’s been a while since there have been two features posted at Experiments in Manga within the same week in addition to the usual My Week in Manga, but that’s exactly what happened last week. First there was July’s Bookshelf Overload which, minus the replacement copies for some of my recently water-damaged books, provides a list of the manga and other media that I picked up last month. (Normally I post the Bookshelf Overload feature in the second week of the month, but I switched things up a little in order to post my review of Kazuki Sakuraba’s A Small Charred Face sooner rather than later.) Last week was also Experiments in Manga’s seven-year anniversary! I wrote a little about the past year and, with some amount of sadness, also announced my upcoming (semi)-retirement from manga blogging. I’ll continue to post here at Experiments in Manga for the rest of 2017, but once 2018 arrives most of my short ramblings on manga will be found over at Manga Bookshelf (and probably at my Twitter account, too).

Quick Takes

H. P. Lovecraft’s The Hound and Other StoriesH. P. Lovecraft’s The Hound and Other Stories by Gou Tanabe. While I am very aware of Lovecraft’s work and influence (the Cthulhu Mythos in particular was tremendously popular among a certain segment of my friends for quite some time), I’ve actually only ever read a single collection of his short horror stories. I largely enjoy their bizarre creepiness, and so I immediately took note when I learned that Dark Horse would be releasing a volume of some of Tanabe’s manga adaptations of Lovecraft stories. Plus, I was simply happy to see more mature horror manga being licensed. The Hound and Other Stories collects the adaptations of three of Lovecraft’s stories from the early 1920s: “The Temple,” “The Hound” (the only one of which I had read the original), and “The Nameless City.” Of the three, “The Temple” was the most successful for me, Tanbe’s deliberately disconcerting artwork perfectly conveying the narrative’s dark and increasingly claustrophobic sense of dread. The Hound and Other Stories is actually the first volume in a series. Nothing official has been announced regarding the translation of future volumes, but Dark Horse has indicated that the possibility is there. I know I’d certainly be interested in reading more of Tanabe’s work, Lovecraftian or otherwise.

Hana & Hina After School, Volume 2Hana & Hina After School, Volume 2 by Milk Morinaga. I’m not as interested in schoolgirl yuri manga as I am in those that feature adult women–which seem to be very few and far between in translation–but I will still happily read them. Which is probably a good thing seeing as most of the yuri manga that has been published in English tend to be set in either middle or high school. (To be fair, that can be said of numerous other genres as well.) Hana & Hina After School definitely falls into that category, and I certainly have been enjoying the manga. While it’s clear that Hina and Hana care for each other a great deal, the romance in the series is actually a little slow to develop, though it does feel more natural that way. Hina recognizes that she has a crush on Hana, and has known for some time, but Hana tends to be a little more oblivious. Hana & Hina After School concludes with the next volume; I would be incredibly surprised if the ending isn’t a happy one, but both Hina and Hana will need to fully come to terms with their feelings before that happens. In general, Hana & Hina After School is a cute and sweet series, but I do appreciate that Morinaga also incorporates some of the real-world concerns faced by people in non-heterosexual relationships.

Samurai Crusader: The Kumomaru Chronicles, Volume 1Samurai Crusader: The Kumomaru Chronicles, Volumes 1-3 written by Oji Hiroi and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami. At this point I’ve read most of the manga available in English with which Ikegami has been involved, Samurai Crusader being one of the few exceptions up until now. Hiroi is probably best known as the creator of Sakura Wars, which I’m not particularly familiar with. (I believe Samurai Crusader is the only other manga of Hiroi’s to have been released in English.) Samurai Crusader is currently out-of-print and can be a little tricky to find, but the series can usually be found for a fairly reasonable price. (Note that the individual volumes aren’t numbered and after the first are given unique subtitles instead; Samurai Crusader is followed by Way of the Dragon and Sunrise Over Shanghai.) Taking place in the 1930s with the Second World War looming on the horizon, Samurai Crusader is an tale of action and adventure spanning the globe and featuring Ernest Hemingway as the a sidekick to the series’ protagonist Kumomaru, a noble young man who finds himself fighting against those intent on world domination. Samurai Crusader is admittedly outrageous and over-the-top, but that’s also a large part of why the series is so highly entertaining.

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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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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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14 March 2011 2 Comments

My Week in Manga: March 7-March 13, 2011

My News and Reviews

Most everyone is probably aware by now of the terrible earthquake, tsunami, and resulting (and ongoing) disasters that struck Japan on March 11. Yokoso News, which normally focuses on Japanese culture and such, has been providing live English coverage of Japanese news sources for the last few days. They’ve been doing a great job and I’ve pretty much been listening to the broadcast whenever I get a chance.

My posts for this past week included two reviews. The first was for The Guin Saga, Book One: The Leopard Mask by Kaoru Kurimoto. I didn’t enjoy as much as I hoped I would, but I will still be reading the rest of The Guin Saga volumes available in English. The second review was for Tow Ubukata’s award-winning Mardock Scramble, which I mostly enjoyed. Just don’t talk to me about Blackjack. Animemiz’s Scribblings has made the announcement for this month’s Manga Moveable Feast which starts next week: Announcing March 2011’s Manga Movable Feast and a Call for Contribution. The feast will featuring Aria by Kozue Amano. My contribution will be an in-depth review of the first volume of the prequel, Aqua, Volume 1.

Since I read Offered this week, I thought I’d mention a few recent posts made about other manga created by Kazuo Koike and Ryoichi Ikegami: Kate Dacey at The Manga Critic takes a look at Wounded Man as part of her Manga Hall of Shame feature, and Jason Thompson’s House of 1000 Manga focused on Crying Freeman a few weeks ago.

Comics Should Be Good at Comic Books Resources is featuring LGBT comics this month. The entire archive of posts can be found here, but I specifically wanted to mention Brian Cronin’s brief review and preview of Shimura Takako’s Wandering Son. The first volume of this manga is to be released by Fantagraphics in June; I’ve really been looking forward to this series ever since it was announced.

And finally, a few more websites have been added to the Resources page: Anime Research, Manga Widget, Masters of Manga, and Same Hat!

Quick Takes

Immortal Rain, Volumes 3-8 by Kaori Ozaki. I am in love with this series. The characters are great, the artwork is wonderful, the plot is both heartfelt and exciting. The more melancholy aspects of the story (of which there are plenty) are balanced nicely with moments of humor and quickly paced action. Rain is one of my favorite manga characters that I’ve come across recently. He’s adorable. Even after more than six hundred years of life, he has somehow managed to retain his humanity. I believe the eleventh and final volume is currently scheduled for release in Japan in May. Tokyopop has published the first eight volumes; I’m not sure what the plans are for the last few volumes, but I really hope they will be released, too.

Love Mode, Volumes 1-2 by Yuki Shimizu. Love Mode is one of the longest boys’ love series currently available in English. The first two volumes rely a little too heavily on rape and the threat of rape to move the plot along, for me. Some people might also be bothered by the age differences between the couples. Fortunately, Takamiya is actually a really decent person. There is also a fair amount of humor, particularly in the first volume. In fact, there are moments that are absolutely hilarious and had me laughing out loud. I’m not particularly fond of Shimizu’s art style in this series; the first two volumes look a bit dated. Love Mode hasn’t really grabbed me yet, though I’ve been told it becomes quite addicting later on.

Nightmare Inspector: Yumekui Kenbun, Volumes 1-2 by Shin Mashiba. Nightmare Inspector is surprisingly dark for as innocent looking as the artwork first appears. The character designs are appealing although it’s difficult to tell the relative ages of the different characters, they all look young. Hiruko is a baku, a creature that eats nightmares, the more bloody and painful the better. It’s mostly only been hinted up to this point, but there is something ominous about Hiruko’s existence and backstory. People come to him for help interpreting and dispelling their nightmares. The story is fairly episodic so far as each dream is explored, but it is genuinely creepy. I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

Offered, Volumes 1-2 written by Kazuo Koike and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami. I haven’t quite been able to decide whether Offered is so bad it’s good, or if it’s just simply bad. There’s a lot going on: Olympic athletes, drug cartels, Nazis, mummies, underground kingdoms, hypnotism, ancient sperm, nudist colonies, cults, animal sacrifices…did I mention ancient sperm? The manga is ridiculous and absurd and it’s played absolutely straight. The story is ludicrous, but the it presents itself completely seriously. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the whole thing. I am, however, a sucker for Ikegami’s artwork. His figure work is gorgeous and I can’t help but love it. I’m not sure I can recommend Offered, but it’s certainly an experience.

The Great Yokai War directed by Takashi Miike. The Great Yokai War is the first film that Miike directed for children; he’s probably better known in the United States for his more controversial and extreme works. However, The Great Yokai War is a family-friendly romp featuring a delightful cornucopia of colorful yokai, a summer adventure, and quirky humor and visuals. I recently read Yokai Attack! and was thrilled to be able to pick out and identify many of the creatures in the movie. If a particular yokai happens to catch your eye, make sure to check out the gallery on the DVD which includes their names and usual locals. It’s really the yokai that make this movie for me, but the lead kid is freaking cute, too.

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