Good news: The United Workers of Seven Seas (UW7S) achieved a major victory this week when the company agreed to recognize their union. Though management has not yet spoken to the press, the UW7S Twitter feed posted the following statement on June 24th: “This decision by Seven Seas eliminates the need for an NLRB conducted election and will pave the way for a more expedited path to bargaining a first contract. At a time when many employers continue to fight the unionization of their employees, we appreciate that Seven Seas decided to respect the voices of the majority of staff and recognize us. We look forward to developing a mutually beneficial relationship and reaching a collective bargaining agreement in the near future.” The path to a better contract and better working conditions, however, is a long one. As OASG contributor Krystallina notes, “Bloomberg Law estimates the average length of time for initial negotiations to be 409 days — in other words, 1 year, 1 month, and 2 weeks. One analyst says there’s only about a 50-50 chance of reaching an agreement in a year, with additional estimates calculating it will take about a year and a half.”
NEWS
After 247 chapters, Yuki Suegetsu will bring Chihayafuru to an end. The series, which has been running in Be Love since 2007, proved so popular with Japanese readers that it spawned three live-action films and three anime series. [Anime News Network]
Looking for a manga industry job? VIZ is currently advertising four positions in its publishing division: Copy Editor, Editor, Editor of Original Graphic Novels, and Publishing Production Assistant. [VIZ]
The American comics market is booming, according to industry experts Milton Griepp and John Jackson Miller. They report that “total comics and graphic novel sales to consumers in the U.S. and Canada were approximately $2.075 billion, a 62% increase over sales in 2020.” Comics performed well at many types of retail outlets as well. As Griepp observes, “Sales through comic stores were up 60% vs. last year and 34% vs. 2019; sales through the book channel, including book fairs (which were back in operation) grew at a blistering 81% pace. Digital growth, while slower, was coming off a gangbuster year in 2020 during the shutdowns.” [ICv2]
FEATURES, INTERVIEWS, AND PODCASTS
As Pride Month comes to a close, Okazu reader Meru explains how reading yuri manga played an important role in their decision to come out as transgender. “When I look at Yuri, I see myself: I see the soft butches that could, in another series, be they/them or even they/he,” they note. “I see bodies and ideals and identities that mirror myself. I feel less alone. I feel natural in a country that would rather me turn my back on playing at soft masculinity and gender ambivalence in exchange for kitten heels, a lack of body hair, and legs crossed at the ankle. When I crack open a volume of Yuri and see tomboys and boyish girls and girls straddling the lines of socially acceptable gender and being themselves.” [Okazu]
If you’re a fan of Daytime Shooting star, Deb Aoki thinks you might like Mika Yamamori’s latest series, In the Clear Moonlit Dusk. [Mangasplaining]
On the newest installment of Manga Mavericks, Colton and Lum check in with ongoing series Haikyu!! and Magu-Chan!, and look at new offerings from VIZ, Manga Plus, and Azuki. [Manga Mavericks]
The Manga Machinations crew discuss three series that explore different facets of the LBGTQ experience: New York, New York; Catch These Hands!; and I Want to Be a Wall. [Manga Machinations]
Kory, Helen, and Apryll dedicate the latest Manga In Your Ears podcast to My Solo Exchange Diary and Yuri Is My Job! [Taiiku Podcast]
Paul Semel and Anne Ishii interview Gengoroh Tagame about Our Colours, a coming-of-age story that centers on a queer teen artist. “It’s something I’d wanted to read as a middle and high schooler myself, so decided to write for my own self,” Tagame explains. As I’m now in my 50s, I think of it as a gift to myself 40 years ago.” [Paul Semel]
Also of interest: Cayla Coates talks to Okura about I Think Our Son Is Gay, a gentle comedy about a woman who begins questioning her son’s sexual orientation. “I’ve always felt that gay people in manga and drama are often portrayed as either comic relief or someone with struggles and hardship.,” Okura observes. “I wanted to draw what I consider to be natural, ordinary gay people.” [Crunchyroll]
REVIEWS
Erica Friedman delves into the latest installment of Even Though We’re Adults, singling out the translation and lettering for special praise. “Jocelyne Allen’s translation is outstanding, in providing the nuance and ‘adultness’ this series needs,” she notes, while the “lettering and retouch by Rina Mapa lets’ me feel in the story in exactly the same way as I do when I’m reading the Japanese.” Meanwhile, Megan D. explores the forgotten corners of Tokyopop’s BL catalog with a look at Innocent Bird, “a limp, shallow romance… illustrated with an indifferent and murky hand,” and Christopher Chiu-Tabet continues his retrospective on Sailor Moon with a look at issues 15-20.
- Cat + Gamer, Vol. 1 (A.M. Ziebruh, Bloom Reviews)
- Chainsaw Man, Vols. 10-11 (King Baby Duck, Boston Bastard Brigade)
- Death Note: Short Stories (Harry, Honey’s Anime)
- The Elusive Samurai, Vol. 1 (Lesley Aeschliman, Lesley’s Anime and Manga Corner)
- Fangirl, Vol. 2 (Johanna Draper Carlson, Comics Worth Reading)
- Hikaru in the Light!, Vol. 1 (Bill Curtis, Yatta-Tachi)
- Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible, Vol. 2 (Lesley Aeschliman, Lesley’s Anime and Manga Corner)
- Love After World Domination, Vol. 4 (Justin, The OASG)
- Magical Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More, Vol. 1 (A.M. Ziebruh, Bloom Reviews)
- Our Colours (Ron, Game-News24)
- Sensei’s Pious Lie, Vol. 1 (Joh Piedra, The Outerhaven)
- Sex Ed 120%, Vol. 3 (Justin, The OASG)
- Shortcake Cake, Vol. 1 (Kaley Connell, Yatta-Tachi)
- To Strip the Flesh (Brianna Lawrence, The Mary Sue)
- To Strip the Flesh (Lesley Aeschliman, Lesley’s Anime and Manga Corner)
- Uncle From Another World, Vols. 1-2 (Helen, The OASG)
- Until I Meet My Husband (Danica Davidson, Otaku USA)
- Welcome Back, Alice, Vol. 1 (Danica Davidson, Otaku USA)
- Whisper Me a Love Song, Vols. 1-4 (Anson Leung, Broken Frontier)
- With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day Is Fun, Vols. 3-4 (Krystallina, The OASG)
- With You and the Rain, Vols. 1-2 (Justin, The OASG)
- Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, Vol. 1 (Renee Scott, Good Comics for Kids)
- Yuri Espoir, Vol. 1 (Rebecca Silverman, Anime News Network)