Resources, Features, & Essays

This page contains links to selected features at Manga Bookshelf, providing easy access to our most popular or informative posts along with supporting resources, both on and offsite.

For information on Korean Manhwa, see Manhwa Links & Resources

Essays/Meta/Misc.

5 Female Voices in Manga Criticism – I discuss a few of the many unique female voices in the manga blogosphere
Confessions of a Former Scan Junkie – I talk about my past with scanlations and how getting closer to the North American manga industry convinced me to think more deeply about them.
Getting Our Geek On: What Our Symbols Mean to Us – discussion of the value and meaning behind our favorite geekish collectables
Tears and Manga – what kind of stories can bring us to tears?
Keeping Up Appearances as a Female Fan – discussion of the problematic nature of maintaining credibility as a female comics fan
Why Manga? – why we read fiction, specifically manga
Why Twitter? – a manga blogger’s view of Twitter
Musings on Online Identity – discussion of pseudonyms, accountability, and personal identity online
How I read Dororo, volume one. Finally – Intimidated by Tezuka? Don’t be!
Gender Roles in Fruits Basket – discussion of three characters from Fruits Basket
Ultimo. A Rant? what I didn’t like about the first chapter of Ultimo
How I Got Into Comics, or Why There is Hope for Bob Thompson – the story of my journey from prose to comics

Persuasion Posts

Making the Case for Banana Fish – an introduction to the series by Akimi Yashida

Ash vs. Shahryar – comparing the primary relationships in Akimi Yashida’s Banana Fish (Viz Media) and Han SeungHee and Jeon JinSeok’s One Thousand and One Nights (Yen Press)
Banana Fish at Shaenon Garrity’s Overlooked Manga Festival
If you like this, you might like: Wild Adapter (Tokyopop), Let Dai (NETCOMICS), One Thousand and One Nights (Yen Press)

Why You Should Read NANA – an introduction to the series by Ai Yazawa

Review: NANA, Vol. 14
Review: NANA, Vol. 15 (Manga Recon)
Review: NANA, Vol. 16
Review: NANA, Vol. 17
Review: NANA, Vol. 18
Review: NANA, Vol. 19 (Manga Recon)
Discussion: The NANA Project with Michelle Smith, Danielle Leigh, and me
If you like this, you might like: Paradise Kiss (Tokyopop), Small-Minded Schoolgirls (NETCOMICS), Please, Please Me (NETCOMICS)

Why You Should Read xxxHolic – an introduction to the series by CLAMP

Discussion: xxxHolic, Vol. 12
Review: xxxHolic, Vol. 13 (Comics Should Be Good)
Review: xxxHolic, Vol. 14 (Manga Recon)
Discussion: xxxHolic, Vol. 14
If you like this, you might like: Natsume’s Book of Friends (Viz Media), Tokyo Babylon (Tokyopop), The Antique Gift Shop (Yen Press)

Recommendations & Buying Guides

Favorite Manhwa of 2009 – Michelle Smith, Danielle Leigh, Connie C., and I list our favorite manhwa titles in 2009.
Favorite Manga of 2009 (Manga Recon) – I join the crew at Manga Recon as we list our favorite manga of 2009.
Manga Bookshelf’s Manga/Manhwa Holiday Gift Guide – detailed gift guide including both manga and manhwa titles, divided into a number of gift-friendly categories.
Holiday Special Round-Up – list of holiday manga sales across the web, with an emphasis on recommendations.
Picks for Right Stuf’s DMP Sale – recommendations of series from Digital Manga Publishing
Let’s Talk about Manhwa: Yen Press Edition – recommendations focusing on Yen Press’ manhwa line
Recommendations for NETCOMICS Sale – recommendations of series from NETCOMICS
Recommendations for Yen Press Sale recommendations of series from Yen Press
Let’s Talk About Manhwa – request for manhwa recommendations, yielding much fruit in comments
Best of 2008! In a way – my favorite series read (not necessarily published) in 2008

Yaoi/Boys’ Love

My Thoughts on Yaoi (no, really) – what I liked and disliked about the genre as a new reader
My Thoughts on ~~Yaoi~~ Manga, Part II – continuation of discussion of yaoi and how it relates to my tastes in manga overall
Let’s Talk About Manhwa – discussion on Korean manhwa begins with a look at Korean BL, specifically
Shopping eManga – an overview of DMP’s eManga website, including discussion of several titles
Age Called Blue & the Drabble – a discussion of the writing style of BL icon, est em

Reviews: