This week’s must-read article focuses on manga rating systems. Otaku USA editor Danica Davidson sat down with Kodansha’s Ben Applegate for an in-depth comparison between Japanese and North American publishers’ approach to content warnings. “There is no industry wide standard for age ratings” here in the US, Applegate notes. “That’s not just in the manga industry, but for the publishing industry writ large. There are systems that certain publications use, and there are systems certain publishers create or adopt, but there’s no industry organization like the MPAA or RIAA for music, imposing guidelines for publishers on the outside.” That means American publishers spend a lot of time developing labels to help consumers decide if an “All Ages” title is, in fact, suitable for very young kids who may be in the earliest stages of learning how to read as well as kids in grades three, four, and five.
NEWS ROUNDUP
Did you know that Princess Mononoke is one of Leonardo DiCaprio’s favorite films? Me, neither… speaking of Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron received an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature… Kodansha will publish the first volume of Initial D with two variant covers… after a five-month hiatus, Land of the Lustrous will resume in the April issue of Afternoon… Yen Press just announced nine new titles for July 2024… VIZ just added Star Wars: Visions to its May line-up… and Last Gasp will publish Keiichi Koike’s series Ultra Heaven about “a dystopian alternative present where any kind of substance able to alter the state of mind is legalized and authorized for consumption.”
ESSAYS AND PODCASTS
If you’ve been curious about The Yakuza’s Bias, let Deb Aoki and the Mangasplainers tell you why you should be reading this goofy comedy about “a stoic yakuza” who “gets sucked into the world of K-Pop.” [Mangasplaining]
The Reverse Thieves name Ai Yazawa’s Neighborhood Story their manga of the month. [Reverse Thieves]
Rob offers an in-depth reflection on a new VIZ title, Steel of the Celestial Shadows. [Dad Needs to Talk]
And speaking of samurai, The Mangaroos discuss Takehiko Inoue’s Vagabond, “an epic historical action manga” that’s “violent,” “passionate,” and “breathtaking.” [Mangaroos]
In the most recent installment of Screentone Club, Andy and Elliott review two “questionable romances” in “a very questionable setting.” [Screentone Club]
Wondering what new manhwa titles are worth a look? Rebecca Silverman offers a well-curate list of titles from Solo Levelling to Cynical Orange. [ANN]
To mark the thirtieth anniversary of Taiyō Matsumoto’s professional debut, Scott Cederlund revisits Tekkonkinkreet. [From Cover to Cover]
The headline for Tony Yao’s latest essay—Kaiju No.8: The Beauty of a 32-Year Old Hero—is music to this older manga critic’s ears. (The essay is great, too!) [Drop-In to Manga]
REVIEWS
Joe McCulloch weighs in on Taiyō Matsumoto’s latest series, Tokyo These Days… Lisa De La Cruz gives high marks to Send Them a Farewell Gift for the Lost Time and The White and Blue Between Us… Megan D. jumps in the WABAC Machine for a nostalgic look at Yuu Watase’s Arata The Legend… Masha Zhdanova rounds up the best new VIZ titles of January 2024… and the Manga Bookshelf gang offers pithy assessments of new manga.
- Bride of the Barrier Master, Vol. 1 (Adam Symchuk, Asian Movie Pulse)
- Captive Hearts, Vol. 1 (Danielle Van Gorder, The Fandom Post)
- Captive Hearts, Vol. 2 (Danielle Van Gorder, The Fandom Post)
- Captive Hearts, Vol. 4 (Danielle Van Gorder, The Fandom Post)
- Dead Mount Death Play, Vol. 11 (Josh Piedra, The Outerhaven)
- Delivery for You! (AM Ziebruh, Bloom Reviews)
- How I Met My Soulmate, Vol. 1 (Demelza, Anime UK News)
- King in Limbo Omnibus, Vol. 1 (Rebecca Silverman, ANN)
- MARRIAGETOXIN, Vol. 1 (Mr AJCosplay, ANN)
- My Mate Is a Feline Gentleman: UK Arc Over, Vol. 2 (Sarah, Anime UK News)
- Rooster Fighter, Vol. 1 (SKJAM! Reviews)
- Since I Could Die Tomorrow (Danica Davidson, Otaku USA)
- Spy x Family, Vol. 10 (King Baby Duck,Boston Bastard Brigade)
- Takopi’s Original Sin (King Baby Duck,Boston Bastard Brigade)
- Tokyo These Days, Vol. 1 (Josh Piedra, The Outerhaven)
- Tokyo These Days, Vol. 1 (Tom Batten, Library Journal)
- Yozakura Family, Vol. 8 (King Baby Duck, Boston Bastard Brigade)