Pepita: Takehiko Inoue Meets Gaudi This has been a very good year for fancy hardcover editions of manga materials. There’s Gundam: The Origin, Wandering Son is still coming out, Heart of Thomas, and the Nausicaa box set was great. This book, about Takehiko Inoue’s architectural tour of Spain and specifically Gaudi works isn’t filled with [...]
Off the Shelf: Black Butler, Pepita, Gundam
MELINDA: Good morning, Michelle! It’s a gorgeous morning here on Free Comic Book Day. Perfect for reading comics in the park. Do you have any comics-related plans for the day? MICHELLE: Not in regards to Western comics, no, but I am looking forward to reading some Psyren later today! MELINDA: I’ve got a nice stack [...]
Fanservice Friday: Lovesick over Loveless
By now I’m sure that every regular Manga Bookshelf reader is aware that I’ve fallen for Loveless, Yun Kouga’s supernatural fantasy series currently running in Ichijinsha’s Comic Zero Sum—a magazine known for action-heavy and often BL-tinged titles for female readers, like 07-Ghost, Saiyuki Reload, and the upcoming reboot of Wild Adapter. It’s notable that both [...]
Manga the Week of 5/8
SEAN: This week gives us a variety of titles to choose from. Let’s delve right into them. Midtown’s list said that they’re getting in Fantagraphics’ Wandering Son Vol. 4 right as Fantagraphics solicited 5 (for August) noting that 4 was running a bit late. I’ve no idea who is correct, but I’ll lean towards Midtown, [...]
Stop! You’re making manga in the wrong direction!
This used to be heresy, but I actually think it makes sense: Japanese manga critic Kentaro Takekuma makes the argument for creating manga that reads left to right, to make it more accessible to English and Chinese readers. The Kaori Yuki Manga Moveable Feast has wound up, but Foxy Lady Ayame has an archive page [...]
Weekly Shonen Jump Recap: April 29, 2013
This was an amazingly strong week for Weekly Shonen Jump. The majority of the chapters were all excellent, with two exceptions, and once again One Piece has somehow managed not to be the top chapter this week. In fact, in my personal rankings, it’s actually just number three. How did this happen? Keep reading and [...]
It Came from the Sinosphere: Datang Shuanglong Zhuan
The best English translation of the title I recall encountering is Tang Dynasty Dragon Duo, but it just sounds better is Chinese, which is why many people use the Chinese title even when discussing the book in English. The Story The story is set at the end of the Sui dynasty, which is on the [...]
Bunny Drop, Vol. 8
By Yumi Unita. Released in Japan as “Usagi Drop” by Shodensha, serialized in the magazine Feel Young. Released in North America by Yen Press. This review contains spoilers for this volume. Please avoid discussing future Bunny Drop volumes in the comments. So, right around the time Bunny Drop 3 was released in North America, you [...]
Pick of the Week: Twin Spica goes digital!
This week’s new offerings are on the slim side, but Sean, Melinda, Anna, and Michelle are unanimous in their enthusiasm over one new digital offering. What looks good to you this week?
Bookshelf Briefs 4/29/13
This week, Melinda, Michelle, and Sean look at recent releases from Yen Press, Viz Media, Dark Horse Comics, Kodansha Comics, and Vertical, Inc. Bunny Drop, Vol. 8 | By Yumi Unita | Yen Press – This volume has been greatly anticipated and feared by fans—me included. And though I had faith that Unita-sensei would execute [...]
