Ash Brown

Manga the Week of 10/8

October 2, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Ash Brown, Michelle Smith, Anna N and MJ 3 Comments

SEAN: Manga. Lots. Let’s go.

It wasn’t on Amazon 2 weeks ago, but now I see there is a release for Volume 9 of Ze. A series whose release dates are almost as convoluted as its content.

ASH: I was wondering what was going on with Ze‘s releases.

SEAN: Sadly, Kodansha did not stick with the original title for this series, GDGD-DOGS. But Manga Dogs works just as well, and for fans of Missions of Love it’s by the same author, and has another reverse harem.

MICHELLE: Huh. While Missions of Love was not for me, I kind of liked Toyama’s I Am Here!. Still, I dunno… the temptation is pretty faint.

ANNA: I like reverse harem as much as the next gal, but this isn’t really on my radar.

SEAN: And there’s also the 9th volume of Missions of Love as well, featuring the most likeable, well-adjusted cast in all of shoujo.

ASH: Ha!

SEAN: And the 5th volume of Vinland Saga, which is unlikely to get a shoujo spinoff in Aria anytime soon, unless Ylva ends up going to high school in Japan or somesuch.

ASH: I… would actually read that. (And I’m definitely reading Vinland Saga!)

ANNA: I would also read that! Vinland Saga is so well-executed, each new volume is a treat.

SEAN: Seven Seas has the first volume of Magical Girl Apocalypse, which seems to be for folks who thought Madoka Magica to be too light-hearted and cheerful. But hey, Akita Shoten license! A rarity these days.

And there’s a 2nd Strike Witches: 1937 Fuso Sea Incident.

Vertical has an 11th volume of Knights of Sidonia, which I hope will have more cute romance and action sci-fi (and perhaps a bit less tragic horror?).

ASH: One can never tell with Knights of Sidonia.

MICHELLE: I absolutely must get caught back up on this series. Looks like we’ll be caught up to Japan fairly soon, too.

ANNA: I need to get caught up too! I am so pleased that we have so many manga titles set in SPACE!

MJ: This!!

SEAN: The rest is Viz. If you didn’t pick up the 2nd Food Wars! When it came out digitally, it’s now available in print. I’m hoping for slightly less naked food reactions, but I know there will be some.

ASH: I still prefer my manga in print, so I’ve been waiting to pick up the second volume until now.

MICHELLE: I’m actually kinda looking forward to this.

ANNA: I thought that there were glimmerings of an interesting title here, but I have to admit when I read the first volume I was put off by all the upskirt panels and naked food reactions.

MJ: I’m cautiously optimistic.

SEAN: Happy Marriage?! continues to be a very ironic title as we hit Vol. 8.

MICHELLE: This series has grown on me, so I’ll definitely be checking out volume eight.

ANNA: I think it has gotten a bit meandering as the series go along, but I’ll still read every volume shortly after it comes out.

SEAN: Then there’s Honey Blood, which (say it with me, folks) has vampires in it! The cover art makes me go >_> a bit, but I’m hoping that the relationship in this series is not as unequal as it first seems.

ANNA: Did someone say supernatural shoujo!? I hope this is more like Midnight Secretary than Black Bird. Will be checking it out for sure.

SEAN: Heartwarming supernatural shoujo #1: Kamisama Kiss, which has gotten up to Vol. 16, and shows no sign of ending anytime soon.

MICHELLE: Yay! I like it, but I think I still prefer the author’s Karakuri Odette.

ANNA: I actually like it more than Karakuri Odette! This series is consistently charming.

SEAN: I was a huge fan of the first My Love Story!!, despite the multiple exclamation marks, and look forward to seeing where it goes from here.

ASH: I absolutely loved the first volume of My Love Story!! So much so, here are a few extra !!! for good measure.

MICHELLE: My Love Story!! is a glorious thing. Volume two has been in my Amazon cart for a few weeks now.

ANNA: I have read this volume and loved it just as much as the first!!!!!!!!!

MJ: Definitely looking forward to this… so sweet.

SEAN: Naruto seems to be finally grinding to a slow halt, but that still leaves several volumes to go. And several more times for Sasuke to turn evil.

Heartwarming supernatural shoujo #2: Natsume’s Book of Friends, which has gotten up to Vol. 17, and shows no sign of ending anytime soon.

MICHELLE: Yay! I suppose this means I am a sucker for heartwarming supernatural shoujo.

SEAN: Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan has started its final arc, but that’s going to be a few volumes as well. Here’s the 23rd.

If you missed One Piece the first time around, the 3-in-1 is the perfect catchup, and it’s at Vol. 10.

Oresama Teacher is not supernatural, and I wouldn’t call it consistently heartwarming, but if you want funny shoujo, this is the manga for you, and I adore it. Here’s Vol. 17.

MICHELLE: Maybe it’s the lack of heartwarmitude that makes me only like this one. I catch up on it periodically, but I don’t love it.

ANNA: I do love it, just because it is so ridiculous. This is the only long-running comedy title that has consistently captured my interest.

SEAN: The new arc in Toriko will apparently focus on Komatsu rather than Toriko, as it’s a cooking battle. Should be fun.

Voice Over: Seiyu Academy is over halfway done, and I’m hoping we see a bit more fleshing out of the male lead soon beyond “CATS”.

MICHELLE: *snerk* I do like the cat bits, though. And, surprisingly, I’m rather enjoying Voice Over.

SEAN: Lastly, we get the debut of a new Jump title as well as its 2nd volume, as Viz pushes a fast start to World Trigger. It’s at 8+ volumes in Japan, so has broken the “early Jump cancellation” curse. Should be interesting.

ASH: I’ve recently heard some good things about World Trigger. And two volumes at once? I may have to check it out.

MICHELLE: Whereas I have heard precisely zero things about it! I’ll wait for Ash’s review to decide.

ANNA: I know nothing about this but I will be reading it!

MJ: I’ll be checking this out for sure.

SEAN: Are you exhausted yet? What manga here makes you want to take it home?

Manga Giveaway: Triton of the Sea Giveaway Winner

October 1, 2014 by Ash Brown

And the winner of the Triton of the Sea manga giveaway is…Haley S.!

As the winner, Haley will be receiving a copy of the first omnibus in Osamu Tezuka’s series Triton of the Sea. About a year ago, I came to the realization that I had read quite a few manga that featured merfolk of one sort or another. And so for this giveaway, I was interested in learning about all of the mermaids and mermen that other people had come across while reading manga. I’ve complied a list below of manga that feature merfolk, but be sure to check out the giveaway comments for more details on some of them.

Some of the manga in English featuring merfolk:
Castle of Dreams by Masami Tsuda
Children of the Sea by Daisuke Igarashi
A Centaur’s Life by Kei Murayama
Berserk by Kentaro Miura
The Earl and the Fairy by Ayuko
Legendz written by Rin Hirai, illustrated Makoto Haruno
Mermaid Saga by Rumiko Takahashi
Monster Musume: Everyday Life with Monster Girls by Okayado
Moon Child by Reiko Shimizu
One Piece by Eiichiro Oda
Pichi Pichi Pitch written by Michiko Yokote, illustrated by Pink Hanamori
Princess Mermaid by Junko Mizuno
Selfish Mr. Mermaid by Nabako Kamo
Triton of the Sea by Osamu Tezuka
Tropic of the Sea by Satoshi Kon

I was a little lenient with the definition of merfolk above (mostly because I wanted an excuse to include Daisuke Igarashi’s Children of the Sea) and I’m certain that it’s not a comprehensive list, either. But, it should be a good place to start if you’re looking for some mermen or mermaids in manga. Thank you to everyone who participated in this month’s giveaway; I hope to see you all again for the next one, too!

Pick of the Week: Priapus & more

September 29, 2014 by Ash Brown, Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Anna N and MJ 2 Comments

ASH: It’s a very small shipping list this week for manga, but it also contains one of the volumes that I’m especially excited to see being released in English—Mentaiko Itto’s Priapus. After Gengoroh Tagame’s work, Priapus will be the first gay manga to receive a wide release in English as Bruno Gmünder expands its Gay Manga line. Itto’s work will probably appeal to a broader audience as well, seeing as Tagame’s can be rather…intense.

SEAN: It’s not really in my wheelhouse, but I can’t deny that Priapus should definitely be the pick of the week. That said, I’ll go with a title I will actually be reading, which is the new volume of My Little Monster, a fun shoujo series from our friends at Kodansha.

MICHELLE: I’m in the same boat as Sean. Priapus could be awesome, but the one I’m guaranteed to buy is the latest installment of My Little Monster. It’s in my Amazon cart as we speak!

ANNA: It is cool that more gay manga is being made available in English! That being said, I’m excited for the latest volume of Gundam: The Origin. I’m looking forward to setting aside a long afternoon soon to get caught up on all the space battles and Char Aznable being all Aznably.

MJ: I’ll bring things full-circle here, because the only thing on my list this week is Priapus. I’m thrilled that it is being released, and even though I realize I’m not its intended audience, I’m pretty psyched to read it as well.

What looks good to you this week?

My Week in Manga: September 22-September 28, 2014

September 29, 2014 by Ash Brown

My News and Reviews

Last week unintentionally turned into an Osamu Tezuka Week at Experiments in Manga…sort of. First of all, this month’s manga giveaway features Tezuka’s Triton of the Sea. Tell me a little about the merfolk you’ve encountered in manga for a chance to win the first omnibus of the series. (The winner will be selected and announced on Wednesday, so you still have a little time!) I also reviewed Dororo, Volume 3. Out of all of Tezuka’s manga that has so far been released in English, Dororo is one of my personal favorites. It’s currently available from Vertical in an omnibus edition which contains the entire series, however it may not be reprinted. I highly recommend picking up a copy sooner rather than later if it seems like a series you’d be interested in. And then for something completely different, over the weekend I reviewed the tenth-century classic The Tale of the Cavern (also known as The Tale of the Hollow Tree) which has absolutely nothing to do with Tezuka, but everything to do with music, love, and Heian-era court life.

In other news, the second volume of Lianne Sentar’s Tokyo Demons is now available for purchase as an ebook from the Sparkler Shop, which means the print edition will be released in the near future as well! (If you missed my early review of the novel, I loved it.) And speaking of Sparkler, the membership drive is still going on. If Sparkler Monthly doesn’t get at least 1,000 subscribers it most likely won’t be able to continue beyond its second year, which would make me extraordinarily sad. Please consider supporting Sparkler Monthly, if you can!

Elsewhere online, Shonen Jump is soliciting questions for Takeshi Obata, who will be a guest at New York Comic Con this year. If, like me, you can’t make it out to NYCC, Obata’s panel will thankfully be streamed live online. (Hopefully it will also be recorded.) In London, the Cartoon Museum is currently showing the exhibit Gekiga: Alternative Manga from Japan. To coincide with the exhibition, The Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain wrote a brief introduction to gekiga. Finally, Vertical released a particularly interesting post on its Tumblr account about manga’s English-language market and specifically about the pricing of books.

Quick Takes

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order, Volume 19 by Yukito Kishiro. Last Order was my introduction to the Battle Angel Alita universe. It’s probably best described as an alternate ending to the original series. While I was never as taken with Battle Angel Alita as much as other people seem to be, there were parts that I really enjoyed: interesting characters and character designs, martial arts, great action scenes, and so on. But the plot just never seemed to pull together in a way that satisfied me. I didn’t realize or expect that the nineteenth volume would be the final volume of Last Order. It’s also one of the most frustrating volumes as Kishiro seems to rush through the story in order to bring everything to some sort of conclusion and, in my opinion, fails to do so. Even more disappointing is the fact that Alita doesn’t even really make much of an appearance in it. Apparently there is yet another Battle Angel Alita series that will soon be starting in Japan, but I have no idea how it relates to Last Order. There was certainly enough left confused and unresolved in Last Order that there’s plenty of material for Kishiro to choose from.

Devils and Realist, Volume 2 written by Madoka Takadono and illustrated by Utako Yukihiro. Although I mostly enjoyed the first volume of Devils and Realist, I was unsure how far I wanted to pursue the series and so decided to read at least one more volume. After reading the second installment, I can say that I’ll probably be reading even more of Devils and Realist in the future. Generally stronger than the first volume and more even in tone, the second volume takes a slightly more serious and dramatic turn. The series’ humor is still present though, interspersed among the more life-threatening events of the manga and the story’s other dangerous mysteries. Yukihiro’s artwork and character designs are very attractive, and as a whole there are some definite homoerotic undertones to the manga as well. Readers’ enjoyment of Devils and Realist will probably largely depend on how well they like the lead and his personality. I, for one, am greatly amused by William’s refusal to believe in the supernatural despite it staring him in the face as he stubbornly tries to come up with any other possible explanation for the strangeness going on in his life.

Fairy Tail, Volumes 40-42 by Hiro Mashima. I’ve only read two series by Mashima–Fairy Tail and Monster Soul–but out of those two, I find that Fairy Tail is the better manga. The long Grand Magic Games tournament arc has now finally reached its conclusion with the fortieth volume. While I did find some of the Games enjoyable, for the most part I’m happy to be moving on to battles that actually have some real purpose and meaning behind them beyond securing bragging rights; I tend to enjoy Fairy Tail more when it feels like there’s something at stake. I’m glad to see the beginning of a new story arc that promises just that–things are starting to get a bit more serious again. (Granted, there was the whole dragon invasion during the Games arc; the possibility that the world will be destroyed is a pretty big deal.) It also looks like Gray will be getting some significant page time, too, which I’m not going to complain about. The Fairy Tail Guild’s latest mission requires Gray to confront his painful memories and past tragedies. It isn’t a pleasant experience for him, but he is also able to draw incredible strength from it.

Hetalia: Axis Powers, Volume 6 by Hidekaz Himaruya. Perhaps by this point I should no longer be surprised, but I always seem to unexpectedly learn something new whenever I read Hetalia. Sometimes it’s a historical tidbit, and sometimes it’s actually something more closely related to current events. This particular volume of Hetalia features micronations and Molossia makes an appearance among several others. (I had never even heard of Molossia before, and it’s in Nevada!) The Nordic states are also an important part of the sixth volume, which includes Iceland. (Ever since writing a report on Iceland in the sixth grade, I’ve always been interested in and fond of the country, so I did get a kick out of that.) Often the humor in Hetalia does require some familiarity with or prior knowledge of world history and politics to really appreciate it, so in the process of trying to make sense of some of the jokes I find that I’m learning about all sorts of interesting things. Admittedly, Hetalia frequently makes use of stereotypes as part of its gags, which some people may find offensive and has generated a fair amount of controversy.

The Tale of the Cavern

September 27, 2014 by Ash Brown

Author: Minamoto no Shitagō
Translator: Ziro Uraki
Publisher: Shinozaki Shorin
ISBN: 9784784104376
Released: 1984
Original release: 10th Century

While reading The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan, I encountered quite a few references to a work of fiction called Utsuho Monogatari. Written in the late tenth century, most likely by the famous scholar and poet Minamoto no Shitagō, it is considered to be one of the first, if not the first, long-form narratives of Japan. That in and of itself caught my attention, but I became even more interested in reading Utsuho Monogatari (sometimes written as Utsubo Monogatari) when I learned how important of a role music played in the tale and that it was an immediate precursor to and major influence on The Tale of Genji. However, I did have a bit of trouble finding a translation of the complete work. Thankfully, with some help from other readers of classic Japanese literature, I discovered Ziro Uraki’s 1984 English translation from the Japanese publisher Shinozaki Shorin The Tale of the Cavern. (Somewhat unusual, as the title is more often translated in English as The Tale of the Hollow Tree.) Uraki was also the first person to translate Utsuho Monogatari from tenth-century Japanese into modern Japanese.

During the reign of Emperor Saga lived a young nobleman named Toshikage who was admired for his beauty, talent, and learning. At the age of sixteen he was ordered to join the embassy to China. However, the three ships that set sail for the continent encountered a large tempest and Toshikage, shipwrecked on the coast of Persia, was the only survivor. It would be many, many years before Toshikage would be able to return to Japan, bringing with him impressive musical skill and a collection of mystical koto gifted to him by the Heavens during his wanderings. These koto and the secrets to playing them–songs that could cause great storms and make the earth tremble or heal those who heard them–would be kept and cherished by his family for four generations. Toshikage’s descendents and their musical abilities were highly sought after, bringing them both strife and fortune in politics as well as love. Their lives would become closely entwined with those of the other nobility in the capital and even with those of the members of the Imperial family itself.

While the beginning of The Tale of the Cavern contains many fantastical elements, the rest of the novel tends to be much more realistic, following the political and romantic affairs of its many characters. However, the magic never entirely disappears from the tale and the novel both begins and ends with the magnificence and marvel of music. Proficiency in the arts–music, calligraphy, dance, poetry, and so on–was a highly desired quality among Heian-era nobility. Those who had such skill in The Tale of the Cavern were rewarded for their diligent study and natural talent, rising quickly through the ranks and securing advantageous marriages and promotions for themselves and their relatives. In addition to music, poetry in particular was a very important part of both court life in Heian-era Japan and in the novel iteself. The Tale of the Cavern is filled with poetry and numerous declarations of love–skillful wordplay was appreciated nearly as much as a person’s status and influenced the regard and esteem in which they were held by others.

As a story of music and love, I couldn’t help but be drawn to The Tale of the Cavern. I don’t think it will necessarily appeal to a general, modern audience, but readers who are interested in classical Japan and Japanese literature would be fortunate to read the novel. (If they can find it, that is.) The narrative does wander a bit, and the plot of the story isn’t especially driving, either. The individual chapters and the characters and events in them are related, but they aren’t always closely tied together; it can sometimes be difficult to tell just exactly how much time has passed between one and the next. Even so, The Tale of the Cavern provides a fascinating glimpse into Heian court life and all of the social and political maneuverings involved; granted, with a heavy dose of romance and just a touch of the fantastic and supernatural added to the novels’ more realistic elements. But I, for one, was glad to have the opportunity to read Utsuho Monogatari in its entirety.

Dororo, Vol. 3

September 26, 2014 by Ash Brown

Creator: Osamu Tezuka
U.S. publisher: Vertical
ISBN: 9781934287187
Released: August 2008
Original run: 1968-1969
Awards: Eisner Award

Osamu Tezuka was an extraordinarily prolific and influential creator of manga and anime. So far, only a small fraction of his total output has been released in English. Out of those, one of my personal favorites is his short manga series Dororo. With yokai, an accursed swordsman, and the inclusion of historical elements, I can’t help but like Dororo. Although eventually releasing an omnibus containing the entire series, initially Vertical published Dororo in three separate volumes which earned an Eisner Award in 2009. Dororo, Volume 3, released in 2008, contains the portion of the series that was originally serialized in Japan between 1968 and 1969. It was also during that time period that Dororo went on hiatus. Tezuka abandoned the manga for a year, leaving it without an ending, before returning to it when the Dororo anime series began. The manga was then given a proper conclusion, albeit a much shorter one than was first envisioned. The finale admittedly ended up being a bit rushed, but I love Dororo anyway.

Chased by demons and in turn chasing them down, Hyakkimaru is slowly regaining his forty-eight missing body parts one at a time; each demon he defeats brings him closer to becoming whole. Often it’s not the terrifying supernatural beings that Hyakkimaru must really worry about, though. Humans–with all of their failings, greed, and lust for power–can be just as dangerous as any monster. Hyakkimaru’s father, who selfishly sacrificed his own son’s body in exchange for demonic aid, has become an oppressive warlord. Hyakkimaru isn’t the only one suffering because of his father’s ambitions. The country is being torn apart by war and it’s the farmers and commoners who are being forced to support and fight for leaders they didn’t choose. Dororo, Hyakkimaru’s young traveling companion, also has a family legacy left to deal with. The diminutive thief’s late father was a bandit who amassed a significant amount of wealth. The map to the location of his treasure was tattooed upon his child’s back and now Dororo is pursued by those who want the riches for their own corrupt purposes.

Dororo is one of Tezuka’s transitional works as he began to develop more mature, adult-oriented stories in contrast to his more lighthearted manga generally intended for younger audiences. Dororo addresses serious issues like war and discrimination, but it also incorporates charm, humor, and bittersweet joy. One particular bright spot to balance the darker elements of the series is the titular Dororo. The small thief has led a hard life and can empathize with others and their misfortunes, becoming an exuberant and enthusiastic champion for their causes, while somehow remaining optimistic and cheerful in the face of all the unfairness and tragedy. Hyakkimaru, on the other hand, has an even more dire past than Dororo and has grown weary of the injustices in the world. But the time Hyakkimaru has spent with Dororo as they travel across Japan has changed him. Dororo’s positivity has rubbed off on Hyakkimaru and he has come to care for the youngster immensely. Whether Hyakkimaru realizes it or not, he desperately needed someone like Dororo in his otherwise bleak life.

The relationship that develops between Hyakkimaru and Dororo is only one component of many that makes me appreciate what Tezuka is doing with the series, even if it did end up being truncated. I was initially drawn to Dororo because of Hyakkimaru’s horrifying origin story and his fight to regain what he lost, searching for somewhere to belong and wanting nothing more than to live in peace. His specific situation may be unique, but that desire to be accepted by others is nearly universal. I also liked the supernatural elements in Dororo and how Tezuka slowly shifts the focus of the series to issues more firmly based in reality. The demons and monsters never completely disappear from Dororo, but as the manga progresses the historical influences and more realistic aspects of the manga become increasingly prominent. Among other things, Tezuka’s artwork and storytelling in Dororo takes inspiration from traditional legends and tales, samurai films, and events from Japan’s Warring States period, but he also incorporates his own touches and imagination and pulls it all together in a way that only Tezuka can.

Manga the Week of 10/1

September 25, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, MJ, Ash Brown, Michelle Smith and Anna N Leave a Comment

SEAN: There are sixty-five different manga titles coming out in October. The mind reels. Luckily, this October 1st is really September 30th in book publishing terms, so the four titles featured here do not add to that total (which is good, as it would then be sixty-nine, and I’d feel obliged to make a tasteless joke) and also allow the reader to have a brief respite.

For those of you who are looking for gay manga written by an actual gay man, Priapus is likely the title for you. The premise is somewhat comedic – Zeus sends an emissary to turn all the men of the world gay so that the population dies off, as he is tired of violence and hatred. Thus we have a lot of straight men suddenly questioning their sexuality. The cover certainly makes it look like a lot of fun.

MJ: I’m definitely interested in this. In fact, it may be the only thing this week I really have my eye on.

ASH: I’m extremely excited for Priapus! I’m also very happy to see Bruno Gmünder’s Gay Manga line continue to expand.

MICHELLE: Hm, I’d been unaware of this one before now. Could be fun!

ANNA: This does sound like it might possibly be hilarious.

SEAN: Fairy Tail has its 42nd volume, which no doubt will have the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.

My Little Monster hits Volume 4. Can our screwed up cast figure out how to balance love, school, future careers, and not irritating the heck out of each other? We’ll likely not find that out here, but it should be fun anyway.

ASH: I’ve been rather enjoying My Little Monster.

MICHELLE: Me, too!

SEAN: Lastly, we have the 7th volume of the amazing Vertical release, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin. This one apparently features the Battle of Loum, and it’s a must read, assuming you aren’t horribly behind on it as I am. In which case, buy it anyway and save it for a rainy day.

ASH: The Origin is still one of the manga with the best presentation and design in English right now. The contents are pretty good, too.

ANNA: I have a few volumes stacked up of this, but this is one of those titles that I faithfully buy even if I am behind. Such a lovely edition!

Are you taking a break? Or buying something?

Manga Giveaway: Triton of the Sea Giveaway

September 24, 2014 by Ash Brown

The end of the month is almost here which means it’s time for another manga giveaway at Experiments in Manga! For this giveaway, participants will have the chance to win a copy of the first omnibus in Osamu Tezuka’s Triton of the Sea as published by Digital Manga. (The omnibus contains the first half of the series!) And, as always, the giveaway is open worldwide.

I think it was when I finished Satoshi Kon’s Tropic of the Sea that I realized just how many manga I had read that included merfolk of one sort or another. Triton of the Sea is just one of many. Every creator seems to have a slightly different take on mermaids and mermen, which I find to be particularly fascinating. Some draw upon Eastern traditions, some are influenced by Western legends, and some freely incorporate elements from a variety of different sources, including their own personal imaginings.

So, you may be wondering, how can you win a copy of Triton of the Sea, Omnibus 1?

1) In the comments below, tell me a little about the merfolk that you’ve encountered while reading manga. (Never come across mermaids or mermen in manga before? Simply mention that.)
2) If you’re on Twitter, you can earn a bonus entry by tweeting, or retweeting, about the contest. Make sure to include a link to this post and @PhoenixTerran (that’s me).

And there it is! Each person has one week to submit comments and can earn up to two entries for this giveaway. If necessary, entries can also be sent via e-mail to phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com which I will then post in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on October 1, 2014. Good luck!

VERY IMPORTANT: Include some way that I can contact you. This can be an e-mail address in the comment form, a link to your website, Twitter username, or whatever. If I can’t figure out how to get a hold of you and you win, I’ll just draw another name.

Contest winner announced–Manga Giveaway: Triton of the Sea Giveaway Winner

Pick of the Week: Goong & more!

September 22, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, Anna N and MJ 2 Comments

SEAN: I realize that the rest of the team will be focusing on only one or two titles this week, but honestly, there’s TOO MUCH for me to choose. But since it only comes out once in a blue moon, I will push the others reluctantly aside and cast my vote for the 4th volume of dark fantasy Shoulder-a-Coffin Kuro. If I recall, the 3rd volume ended with us worrying if Kuro would survive past the fourth, so I look forward to seeing how far she makes it.

MICHELLE: I guess my reaction to the release of a new volume of Goong pretty much sums up my feelings about the series. And we’re getting rather near the end, too!

ASH: The manga I’m probably looking forward to the most (and longest) this week is A New Season of Young Leaves. It takes something special for a school-based BL to catch my attention. In this case it’s the author, Venio Tachibana, whose previous work in English I’ve enjoyed tremendously.

ANNA: Like Michelle, I have to go with Goong. This manhwa has one of the most addictive soapy storylines and the elaborate illustrations of the characters are always lovely to look at. The new volumes can’t come out fast enough for me!

MJ: I’m also interested in A New Season of Young Leaves, but I admit there’s really only one way for me to go this week, and that’s Goong. Goong, Goong, Goong. There aren’t a lot of soapy series I’m following these days, but this one will be a favorite always. And it doesn’t hurt that it is released here in hearty, omnibus-sized chunks. It’s always satisfying, and always lovely to look at. I can’t wait to read more.

What looks good to you this week?

My Week in Manga: September 15-September 21, 2014

September 22, 2014 by Ash Brown

My News and Reviews

Two manga reviews were posted at Experiments in Manga last week, both with a bit of queer bent to them. First, I took a look at Wandering Son, Volume 7 by Takako Shimura. Wandering Son is a series that means a tremendous amount to me personally, so I’m always happy when a new volume is released. (And speaking of releases–Fantagraphics assured me that the eighth volume will be published sometime next year.) My second review from last week was of Fumi Yoshinaga’s What Did You Eat Yesterday?, Volume 4, which I continue to thoroughly enjoy (even though it can sometimes make me hungry when I’m reading it).

A while back I, and a handful of other people, were interviewed by Justin Stroman about why we buy manga. He turned it into a pretty great article, so I hope you’ll check out Why It’s Worth It to Buy Manga over on Manga Bookshelf. As a followup of sorts, Justin also posted Life As a Manga Fan in the United Arab Emirates at Organization Anti-Social Geniuses which was a fascinating read. Another interesting interview from last week was Tofugu’s conversation with translator and interpreter Jocelyne Allen who has translated a ton of manga among other things. Also of note: Breakdown Press recently announced its next alternative manga publication–Masahiko Matsumoto’s “The Man Next Door.”

Quick Takes

I’ve Seen It All, Volumes 1-2 by Shoko Takaku. The featured guest of this year’s YaoiCon was Shoko Takaku. I realized that I hadn’t actually read any of her work, so I decided to pick up I’ve Seen It All. Dr. Saikawa is a specialist in men’s health, specifically addressing concerns dealing with genitals. By chance he meets and soon falls in love with Asano who is blessed with a “cock of peerless beauty.” I’ve Seen It All easily has the most references to penises that I’ve ever come across in a boys’ love manga. Saikawa is completely unfazed about it–it is his job after all–and no one else seems to be either which just makes the manga even funnier. Asano and Saikawa are adorable as a couple. It was also nice to see that they both try to make sure that the other enjoys their more intimate moments (of which there are plenty). The other characters are pretty great, too. Despite some of the more realistic elements of the series, I’ve Seen It All leans slightly more towards the silly and sweet. Happily, there is at least one more volume of I’ve Seen It All; I just hope that the rest of the series will be translated because I loved the first two volumes.

Monster Soul, Volume 2 by Hiro Mashima. I’ll admit, I did enjoy the second and final volume of Monster Soul slightly more than the first, but it’s still not a series that left much of an impression on me. Where the first volume was largely episodic, the majority of the second volume of Monster Soul focused on one story–the Black Airs’ efforts to rescue the souls of an entire kingdom of humans from the clutches of the Drei Kommandos. In the process, Mashima takes the opportunity to delve into the back stories of the individual members of the Black Airs. I personally appreciated that the characters were further developed, but the series is too short to really take advantage of it all. Although Monster Soul doesn’t stand out much, it is generally entertaining. The action sequences in particular are fairly well done. Admittedly, there are a few annoying character quirks that don’t make much sense within the context of the story as a whole, such as Mummy’s propensity for stripping for no particular reason. Overall, Monster Soul feels more like a prototype than anything else. It is very energetic, though.

Time Killers by Kazue Kato. While I largely enjoyed Kato’s manga series Blue Exorcist, I never seemed to be quite as taken with the story as so many others were. However, I’ve always been fond of Kato’s artwork. And so, I was very interested in reading Kazuo’s short story collection Time Killers. The anthology collects eleven short manga selected from over a decade’s worth of Kazuo’s work, including some of her earliest and debut stories. Many of the manga included in Time Killers simply consist of whatever elements Kazuo felt like exploring and mashing together, completely disregarding what readers might be interested in. The manga ends up being a somewhat odd conglomeration with a strong indie feel to it, but I rather enjoyed its quirkiness. The collection also includes a story that is derived from the same source material as Blue Exorcist, which was interesting to see. It’s also worth noting that Time Killers is probably the nicest release that I’ve seen from Viz Media’s Shonen Jump imprint. It has a slightly larger trim size, includes beautiful color pages, and is printed on high-quality, glossy paper, too.

What Did You Eat Yesterday?, Vol. 4

September 19, 2014 by Ash Brown

Creator: Fumi Yoshinaga
U.S. publisher: Vertical
ISBN: 9781939130792
Released: September 2014
Original release: 2010

With each new volume of Fumi Yoshinaga’s series What Did You Eat Yesterday? that is released in English, I seem to fall in love with the manga just a little more. What Did You Eat Yesterday? probably isn’t my favorite series by Yoshinaga, but I still enjoy the series immensely. Granted, What Did You Eat Yesterday? has a few things going for it that particularly appeal to me. First of all, I’m already a well-established fan of Yoshinaga’s work in general. I also happen to be a fan of food and food manga which What Did You Eat Yesterday? most definitely is. But perhaps most importantly, I appreciate the series’ realistic portrayal of a devoted gay couple and some of the issues that queer people face in contemporary Japan. Food and gay men are frequently found in Yoshinaga’s manga–often together for that matter–so it’s not a terribly surprising combination to see in What Did You Eat Yesterday?. I’m certainly not going to complain about it, though. The fourth volume of the What Did You Eat Yesterday? was published in Japan in 2010 before being released by Vertical in English in 2014.

Although he is a successful and respected lawyer, Shiro much prefers his time spent in the kitchen over his time spent at the office. Cooking has its challenges too though, like when Shiro’s boyfriend Kenji decides that they should have friends over for a dinner party rather than eating out. This solves the problem of Shiro’s constant worrying over being outed as gay while in public, but now he is left to fret over what to serve two men with very discerning palates. (Fortunately, Kenji is more than happy to eat whatever it is Shiro cooks up.) Every once in a while it’s actually Kenji who is set loose in the kitchen. Shiro is more particular when it comes to cooking and preparing meals so he’d much rather be the one in charge, but occasionally that’s just not possible. Kenji might not have the same confidence or natural flair that Shiro has for food, but he can still make a pretty good dish when he needs or wants to. From time to time even Shiro is faced with a technique that he hasn’t quite mastered yet. And so while cooking is often a way for Shiro to unwind, it can sometimes cause a bit of stress, too.

As always, food, it’s preparation, and the resulting recipes are all a major part of What Did You Eat Yesterday?. Some readers will find the minute details tedious, especially if they have no inclination or ability to actually try making any of the dishes, but those sections can easily be skimmed over or simply appreciated for Yoshinaga’s artwork. Her illustrations of food and cooking techniques are beautifully drawn and nearly photorealistic in many instances. Yoshinaga is able to convey a wide variety of textures which is especially important, and impressive, as she is working in black and white without the aid of color. But what particularly struck me about the cooking scenes in the fourth volume of What Did You Eat Yesterday? is how Yoshinaga skillfully captures the different moods pervading the kitchen through Shiro and Kenji’s body language and facial expressions: Shiro’s intense preoccupation when trying to put together the perfect meal, his gloom and frustration when something doesn’t turn out quite right, Kenji’s frenetic happiness when he gets a chance to take care of Shiro for a change, and so on.

Even though a fair amount of What Did You Eat Yesterday? is spent in the kitchen, Yoshinaga’s focus on the characters is a particularly important component of the manga. The series tends to be episodic from chapter to chapter, but growth and change can still be seen as Kenji and especially Shiro are further developed. The fourth volume of What Did You Eat Yesterday? shows Shiro struggling with his anxieties about still being partially in the closet, admiring and perhaps even envying how open, easygoing, and carefree Kenji is able to be about his sexuality. Kenji and their friends are exceptionally considerate and accommodating of Shiro’s fears, but those fears still understandably cause some tension in his relationships. Another interesting developement in this volume of the series is that both Shiro and Kenji at least temporarily become the confidants of their respective bosses who have a few family issues of their own to work out. While the food in What Did You Eat Yesterday? is appealing, it’s really these sorts of connections and moments between characters that make the series so engaging.

Manga the Week of 9/24

September 18, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, MJ and Anna N 4 Comments

SEAN: I’ve been joking about the large amount of manga coming out last month and this month, but a look at what’s coming in October tells me I should have held back. October is vicious. That said, next week has a far greater amount of manga than usual on 4th weeks of the month, so let’s take a look.

MICHELLE: I just really cannot be bummed about that.

SEAN: Dark Horse has a 6th Lone Wolf & Cub Omnibus, which unsurprisingly has nothing to do with Spice & Wolf at all.

ASH: That it does not.

SEAN: DMP has a trio of new BL manga releases. Apple & Honey is apparently quite heartwarming, A New Season of Young Leaves is a schoolboy romance, and Twittering Birds Never Fly seems to be the darkest and most psychological of the three.

ASH: I’m really happy to see A New Season of Young Leaves finally being released after being delayed so many times. It has the same author as Seven Days (which I loved), so I have high hopes for the manga.

MJ: Oh, I also loved Seven Days… I will have to check this out.

SEAN: Kodansha has a 3rd xxxHOLIC omnibus, which hopefully continues to show off Watanuki, one of the best male leads they’ve ever had.

MJ: Hurrah! I will always applaud xxxHolic.

SEAN: One Peace books has two volumes of a new series that could not be farther away from its previous license, Whispered Words. Raqiya: New Book of Revelation is a seinen manga from Kodansha’s Morning magazine, and deals with God returning to Earth, sort of.

ASH: It also deals with heavily armed heretical cults. And lots of things explode, too.

ANNA: Explosions and cults sound good!

MJ: Agreed!

SEAN: I enjoyed the first volume of D-Frag! more than I expected, with its focus on the weird rather than the cute. I’m hoping for more with Vol. 2.

Seven Seas has a third volume of Dance in the Vampire Bund: The Memories of Sledge Hammer, and yet I betcha he still hasn’t said “Trust me – I know what I’m doing” anywhere in it.

I enjoyed the first volume of Girls Und Panzer more than I expected, with its focus on the tanks and teamwork rather than the cute. I’m hoping for more with Vol. 2.

Series based on Alice in Wonderland are to the last two years what vampires were to the two years before that. Here’s I Am Alice: Body Swap In Wonderland, from the author of Dictatorial Grimoire. I’m hoping for some nice snark.

ASH: Oh, I had missed the Dictatorial Grimoire connection. It should have interesting character designs then, if nothing else.

SEAN: World War Blue has got to be running out of old-school video games to turn into fantasy kingdoms, given it’s up to Vol. 7.

If you enjoyed the first volume of the Accel World light novel from Yen On, perhaps you will also be entertained by its manga equivalent. I look forward to seeing if our hero’s weight is drawn purely for comedy or not.

MJ: I’m interested in this, and your question, too.

SEAN: Are You Alice Volume 6? Or are you any one of 10,000 other Alice titles?

ASH: Heh.

SEAN: I suspect Bloody Cross 4 will be the volume that finally makes me decide to continue with the series or not. Let’s hope it’s a good one.

The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan has its 6th volume of being mild, adorable, and having minimal conflict. Can it keep this up?

Each adaptation of a Durarara!! light novel seems to get its own separate manga series, so this 3rd series adapts the 3rd novel. After focusing on Mikado and Anri in the first two, Masaomi should get focus here.

I love GA Art Design Class, probably more than it deserves, and definitely more than any other bloggers out there. Don’t care. Cannot wait for Vol. 6.

And for the rest of the Manga Bookshelf team who aren’t waiting for moe slice-of life art school antics, there’s Goong 16.

MICHELLE: *Kermit flailing arms!*

ANNA: SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!

MJ: SO MUCH SQUEE.

SEAN: And for those angry at GA for taking up all the artist’s time, there’s a 4th volume of the much darker series by the same artist, Shoulder-a-Coffin Kuro.

And speaking of dark, Soul Eater’s covers are going to be pure black before too long.

If you’ve only been following the Spice & Wolf light novels, why not check out the manga? It’s up to Vol. 9! I understand there is some spice, and perhaps even a wolf (or wolf girl).

ASH: No swordsmen or young children in carts?

SEAN: Lastly, we get a 7th omnibus of the thrilling epic action movie manga Until Death Do Us Part.

MICHELLE: I really need to get caught up with this. I liked the first volume much more than I expected to.

SEAN: That’s a lot. What’s for you?

Wandering Son, Vol. 7

September 17, 2014 by Ash Brown

Creator: Takako Shimura
U.S. publisher: Fantagraphics Books
ISBN: 9781606997505
Released: August 2014
Original release: 2007

The wait between the release of each new volume of the English-language edition of Takako Shimura’s manga series Wandering Son can seem torturous, but without fail I’m exceptionally glad when the next installment is finally available. Wandering Son is a manga that is personally very meaningful to me, so I’m always a little worried that Fantagraphics won’t be able to complete the series, which would be a shame. Fantagraphics’ edition of Wandering Son is beautiful, complete with color pages and hardcover binding. Wandering Son, Volume 7 was originally published in Japan in 2007 while Fantagraphics’ English translation by Matt Thorn was released in 2014. The series concluded in Japan with the fifteenth volume, which means that the English-language release has just about reached the midway point of Wandering Son. I sincerely hope the rest of the series will be able to be published, too.

The seventh graders’ production of a gender-swapped Romeo & Juliet for their school’s cultural festival is over, but there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight for the drama unfolding in the classroom. Although a few of the students were dissatisfied with their own parts and performances, the play was generally well received, resulting in the theater club attempting to scout some of the best talent. This does cause some tension as the members of the various school clubs shift around to follow their personal interests, leaving friends behind in the process. Some friendships are being severely tested while other, more antagonistic, relationships appear to be on the mend. As Shuichi, Takatsuki, and the others grow and mature, their connections to one another change and evolve, too. Puberty continues to progress as well, bringing with it unwanted changes, anxieties over developing bodies, and concerns over physical appearances. What to wear, what not to wear, acne, and skin problems are all legitimate worries, providing opportunities for both teasing and bonding.

Wandering Son is told in a somewhat non-linear, almost fragmented sort of way. Shimura takes individual moments and memories, often from different points in the characters’ lives, and then layers them together, drawing connections between the separate pieces that would not necessarily have been obvious otherwise. This makes it easier for readers to see that the characters, though they all have their own unique perspectives and individual experiences, are dealing with some very similar issues. Their approaches to those issues and how they deal them are often quite different, though. This layering and revealing of parallels, as well as the other narrative and storytelling techniques that Shimura uses, are very effective in building on some of the themes that Wandering Son explores–namely personal identity–by exhibiting the depth and nuance of the series’ sensitive portrayal of the characters as individuals. The realism and authenticity of the characterization in Wandering Son is one of the manga’s greatest strengths.

Another related aspect of the manga that is handled particularly well is the natural changes in the characters’ relationships with one another. Wandering Son has a large cast of both primary and important secondary characters and it’s a close-knit group. When something happens between two of the members, the social dynamics of the entire circle is influenced. Major developments occur when Shuichi and Anna begin dating, helping to trigger some unexpected changes in Chiba and Takatsuki’s relationship which were particularly interesting to see. Chiba is incredibly self-centered and at times exceptionally unlikeable, but she’s also perceptive and seems to be very sure of herself and who she is. Takatsuki, on the other hand, is still working all of that out but is fiercely determined in other ways. It’s because of Takatsuki’s persistence, despite Chiba’s prickliness, that their friendship has a chance of improving–something that everyone would be happy about. It won’t be an easy process, though, and will take some time. Wandering Son excels in capturing the real-life messiness of relationships.

My Week in Manga: September 8-September 14, 2014

September 15, 2014 by Ash Brown

My News and Reviews

Two reviews were posted at Experiments in Manga last week. Coincidentally, they both happened to be for works that are a bit disconcerting. First up was my review of Boogiepop and Others, the light novel by Kouhei Kadono which launched the entire Boogiepop franchise. The book is a fantastic mix of science fiction, mystery, and horror with a particularly interesting narrative structure. I’ll definitely be tracking down more of the series to read. The second review was a part of my Year of Yuri monthly review project. I took a look at Erica Sakurazawa’s Between the Sheets, one of the very first josei manga to be released in English. It’s a story about obsessive love and is legitimately disturbing, but in an entirely different way than Boogiepop and Others.

I’ve been super busy at work recently (actually, life in general has been pretty busy) so I’ve not been able to keep up with a lot of manga news, but I did catch a couple of license announcements from this year’s YaoiCon. SuBLime has a new slate of digital and print manga to look forward to (I was particularly excited to see a Tomoko Yamashita manga licensed; sadly, I think it’s digital-only at this point) and Digital Manga will be releasing a collection of Kou Yoneda’s No Touching at All side stories, among other things. Also, Mangabrog posted translation of a Q Hayashida interview from a few years ago. As a fan of Hayashida’s Dorohedoro, I was very happy to have a chance to read the interview.

Quick Takes

From the New World, Volumes 4-5 written by Yusuke Kishi and illustrated by Toru Oikawa. I continue to be completely torn by From the New World. There are parts of the manga that I absolutely love, but there are several things that frustrate me immensely and greatly inhibit my enjoyment of the series. I am not a prude and am generally not offended by fanservice, but the sex scenes in From the New World seem so incredibly out-of-place. I know that sexual relationships are an important aspect of the worldbuilding in From the New World, but the manga does not integrate them very well at all. I can only assume the original novel handles it better. Thankfully, the sex scenes in the manga are relatively rare. Unfortunately, they are very difficult to ignore and are only ever shown when young girls are involved. From the New World does much better with the story’s science fiction and horror elements. It is dark and disturbing, and these two volumes are particularly graphic and violent, as well. Despite my reservations–of which I have quite a few–I do plan on finishing the series. There are only two more volumes after all.

Kinoko Inu: Mushroom Pup, Volume 1 by Kimama Aoboshi. The first volume of Mushroom Pup may very well be one of the oddest manga that I’ve read recently. And even though I enjoyed the volume, I’m still not exactly sure what to make of it. Calling Mushroom Pup quirky would be putting it extremely lightly. Hotaru Yuyami writes and illustrates horror books for children, but ever since his beloved dog Hanako died his creative impulse has completely left him. One evening a strange pink mushroom growing in his garden turns into an even stranger intelligent dog-like creature which attempts to help Yuyami get over his loss in some very bizarre ways. (This isn’t even attempted to be explained.) Also invading Yuyami’s life as he tries to grieve is his childhood friend-cum-editor and a mushroom researcher (with an amazing mohawk) who just so happens to be a huge fan of Yuyami’s work. For all of its strangeness, Mushroom Pup is actually rather subdued and even the humor tends to be straight-faced, which in some ways makes it even funnier. At the same time, it’s also a bit melancholy and heartwarming.

Raqiya: The New Book of Revelation, Volumes 1-2 written by Masao Yajima, illustrated by Boichi. One Peace Books doesn’t tend to do much in the way of marketing or press releases, so it seems as though the publisher’s manga appears almost out of nowhere. Raqiya is a five-volume series focused around a young woman named Luna who seems to be the harbinger for the end of days. She has caught the interest of a small but extreme cult of heretical Christians as well as the attention of a secret and heavily armed Catholic organization charged with hunting down such heretics. It’s interesting to see Christianity play such a huge role in a manga, even if it is a highly fictionalized version of the religion. There’s also plenty of destruction and action in Raqiya–explosions, gun fights, car chases, and so on. Boichi’s artwork is effectively dynamic and extremely intense, if occasionally a bit over the top. Raqiya is definitely a violent and extreme manga; Boichi doesn’t hold back. Boichi is a Korean artist now working and living in Japan. His series Sun-Ken Rock has been available digitally, but Raqiya is his first manga to be released in English in print.

UQ Holder!, Volumes 1-2 by Ken Akamatsu. Technically a sequel of sorts to Negima!: Magister Negi Magi (or at least set in the same universe), UQ Holder! seems to stand completely on its own and requires no knowledge of the earlier series. (Which is a good thing seeing as I haven’t read it.) So far I am fairly underwhelmed by UQ Holder!, though there are a few things I like about the series. Akamatsu’s fight and action sequences can be fairly entertaining, for one. Also, I tend to enjoy manga that explore the repercussions of immortality, which UQ Holder! is set up to do. Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite followed through on that potential yet, despite a wide variety of different types of immortals and immortality being introduced (vampires, genetically modified humans, cursed beings, and many others). In general, the story of UQ Holder! is lacking a clear direction with far too many different genre elements, tropes, and cliches being forced to share the same series. It doesn’t help that the goals and motivations of the series’ protagonist are left deliberately vague as well; Akamatsu tries to make a joke of it, but it either doesn’t quite work or just isn’t funny.

Pick of the Week: Titans & Sparklers

September 15, 2014 by Ash Brown, Michelle Smith, Sean Gaffney, Anna N and MJ 1 Comment

ASH: It’s a rather light week for manga releases, but even so there are still a few series, like Genshiken that I’m currently following. However, the releases I’m most curious about this week aren’t even manga, though they are manga-related. Kodansha’s branching out with the Attack on Titan guidebook, but I’m particularly interested in reading Before the Fall from Vertical, which generally shies away from light novels.

MICHELLE: I have fallen several volumes behind on Bokurano: Ours, so I don’t know for certain that it’s still as depressing yet fascinating as it was early on. Perhaps the kids find a way out of their predicament! With that hope in mind, I recommend the final volume!

SEAN: I’m a sucker for infodumps, so the appearance of the Attack on Titan Guidebook is good news for me. I look forward to seeing the likes and dislikes of the entire cast in their biographies.

ANNA: There isn’t much coming out this week that appeals to me, so my pick of the week is Sparkler Monthly. I checked out their offerings recently, and I’ve enjoyed the online comics I’ve read from them. Check out their membership drive!

MJ: Anna, what an inspired idea! I will join you in your enthusiasm for Sparker Monthly! Though I admit I initially subscribed pretty much solely for the latest chapters of Jen Lee Quick’s Off*Beat, I’ve stuck around for the rest, including Quick’s new comic Gatesmith, which is very intriguing so far.

What looks good to you this week?