Ash Brown

Bookshelf Overload: November 2013

December 1, 2013 by Ash Brown

I did it! I was finally able to complete my collection of Shotaro Ishinomori’s Cyborg 009 without having to sell a kidney! It took me a little over a year to do it, so I’m rather pleased with myself. Searching for out-of-print manga can be both exhilarating and extremely frustrating. As for the November preorders for which I was particularly excited, the most recent volume in Kentaro Miura’s epic Berserk was finally released. I actually prefer the earlier story arcs in the series, but I’m still happy to see new volumes come out. Seiichi Hayashi’s Gold Pollen and Other Stories was also released in November. It’s the first volume in PictureBox’s Masters of Alternative Manga series; I’m very interested to see what’s in store for future volumes. Another noteworthy November manga is the first of four omnibus volumes of Shigeru Mizuki’s Showa: A History of Japan from Drawn & Quarterly. I’m also looking forward to reading Haikasoru’s most recent release, a collection of related short stories from Miyuki Miyabe–Apparitions: Ghosts of Old Edo. And finally, there’s the license rescue of Ayano Yamane’s yaoi fantasy Crimson Spell from SuBLime Manga. Technically the first volume will be released in December, but my copy arrived a little early. Crimson Spell is my favorite Yamane manga, so I’m rather pleased that the series will finally be released in its entirety in English.

Manga!
Attack on Titan, Volume 9 by Hajime Isayama
Awkward Silence, Volume 4 by Hinako Takanaga
Berserk, Volume 37 by Kentaro Miura
Blue Morning, Volume 3 by Shoko Hidaka
Boing Boing by Yamatogawa
A Centaur’s Life, Volume 1 by Kei Murayama
Cyborg 009, Volume 9 by Shotaro Ishinomori
Crimson Spell, Volume 1 by Ayano Yamane
Dengeki Daisy, Volume 13 by Kyousuke Motomi
The Drifting Classroom, Volumes 1-3 by Kazuo Umezu
Fairy Tail, Volume 32 by Hiro Mashima
From the New World, Volume 1 written by Yusuke Kishi, illustrated by Toru Oikawa
Gold Pollen and Other Stories by Seiichi Hayashi
Lone Wolf and Cub, Omnibus 3 written by Kazuo Koike, illustrated by Goseki Kojima
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Short Stories, Volume 2 by Naoko Takeuchi
Sengoku Basara: Samurai Legends, Volume 2 by Yak Haibara
Showa: A History of Japan, 1926-1939 by Shigeru Mizuki
Sickness Unto Death, Volume 2 by Hikari Asada
Sunny, Volume 2 by Taiyo Matsumoto
Wolfsmund, Volume 2 by Mitsuhisa Kuji
Ze, Volume 7 by Yuki Shimizu

Comics!
The Lotus Eaters, Chapter 1 by Ninoya

Light Novels!
Ai No Kusabi: The Space Between, Volume 8 by Rieko Yoshihara

Novels!
A True Novel by Minae Mizumura

Anthologies!
Apparitions: Ghosts of Old Edo by Miyuki Miyabe

Nonfiction!
Complete Course of Japanese Conversation-Grammar by Oreste Vaccari and Enko Elisa Vaccari
Taiko Boom: Japanese Drumming in Place and Motion by Shawn Bender

Anime!
Fist of the North Star: The TV Series, Collections 3-4 directed by Toyoo Ashida
Thermae Romae directed by Azuma Tani

Black Bard

November 29, 2013 by Ash Brown

Creator: Ichiya Sazanami
U.S. publisher: One Peace Books
ISBN: 9781935548386
Released: November 2013
Original release: 2011-2012

Ichiya Sazanami’s Black Bard was originally published in Japan between 2011 and 2012 in three individual volumes. The English-language edition of Black Bard, released in 2013 by One Peace Books, is a single-volume omnibus with newly created cover art. I wasn’t previously familiar with Sazanami’s work and for good reason–Black Bard was not only his debut manga in English, it was also his first series to be released in Japan after winning the Media Factory Manga Award in 2011. Black Bard was initially serialized in Media Factory’s manga magazine Monthly Comic Gene which is frequently described as publishing shōnen manga for a shōjo fanbase. I haven’t been following the magazine or Sazanami very closely, but the licensing of Black Bard caught my attention for a couple of reasons: one, I generally tend to find One Peace Books’ offerings rather interesting, and two, I can’t resist the combination of music and magic.

Traveling from town to town is a somewhat sullen young man, a wandering minstrel known only as Black Bard. He is famous for his wonderful singing voice; it would not be an exaggeration to call his performances magical. Black Bard enjoys the freedom (and coin) his songs have allowed him as well as the happiness he is able to bring to others through them. Even so, he tries to keep his distance and there are very few people who would dare to call Black Bard their friend. There is Snow-Snow, a young huntress who greatly admires Black Bard and his knowledge of the world, and Windy, a traveling merchant and beast man who first met him when they were children, but Black Bard even discourages their friendship. But now that a powerful organization is interested in Black Bard, his magic song, and the past he’s tried to keep hidden, he needs friends more than ever. Not that he would admit it.

The music aspect of Black Bard was definitely one of the major draws of the manga for me. Black Bard describes himself as a mere musician, but there is undeniably magic in his song. He claims not to cast enchantments, but his music does affect others even when he is not deliberately trying to do so. Of course there are the times that Black Bard very intentionally uses the power of his music to alter reality and manipulate other people. Somewhat surprisingly, by the end of the series Black Bard has almost turned into a battle manga. Music is a significant part of those fights. But in addition to a form of magic, music’s role in Black Bard is also of a more traditional sort. The power of music, both magical and otherwise, provides comfort and brings people together. It is used as a way to convey stories and express emotion, and as a way to keep legends and history from being forgotten.

While it isn’t without its flaws, I had a tremendous amount of fun reading Black Bard. Admittedly, the world building is a mess and the story is all over the place, but I can’t deny that I enjoyed the manga. At first Black Bard seems to be episodic, but once Windy and Snow-Snow make their appearance the story starts to focus in on the Black Bard’s mysterious past. Granted, some of that backstory would have been more effective had it been revealed earlier in the manga and some things are never adequately explained. As the manga progresses, the references to Alice in Wonderland become increasingly prominent. However, those references don’t actually add much to Black Bard except to lend a few names and influence some of the character designs. In general, Black Bard is very attractive art-wise and is an entertaining mix of silliness and drama. I know that I would certainly be interested in reading more of Sazanami’s work.

Manga the Week of 12/4

November 28, 2013 by Sean Gaffney, Ash Brown, MJ, Anna N and Michelle Smith 2 Comments

SEAN: First week of the month. You know what that means. Let’s go.

Dark Horse has the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s volume on Manga Challenges And Best Practices, which, given its authorship, I will merely leave here to let you all know it’s available. :)

ASH: Well, if you’re not going to say anything, then I will! I got my hands on an early copy a few months ago and thought it was great resource.

MJ: Thanks, Ash!

SEAN: Alice Love Fables: Toy Box is a Seven Seas anthology with stories from a) Alice in the Country of Hearts, as released (in part) by Seven Seas; b) Crimson Empire, as released by Seven Seas; and c) Arabians Lost, as not released by Seven Seas, mostly as it’s the only one of these otome game adaptations not to get an actual series.

ANNA: I have a fairly high tolerance of Alice in the Country of series, but stretching it to an anthology series might be a bit too much for me.

SEAN: Dance In The Vampire Bund has another new spinoff, this one called The Memories of Sledge Hammer. It does not feature David Rasche at all, so I am profoundly disinterested.

ASH: I…actually haven’t read any of the Dance in the Vampire Bund manga, yet.

MJ: I feel certain I never will.

ANNA: I doubt I will either.

SEAN: And Kanokon has an omnibus collecting two new volumes of this supernatural harem comedy (not to be confused with Seven Seas’ other supernatural harem comedies).

There’s also Vol. 3 of The Sacred Blacksmith, which hasn’t knocked me out, but has proven to be better than expected.

On the Viz front, there’s Vol. 5 of Demon Love Spell, which is a hell of a lot of fun and also sexy to boot.

MJ: I kinda can’t wait for this. I’m definitely hooked on this series.

ANNA: It is hilarious. I do wish more of Mayu Shinjo’s angsty series were published over here.

SEAN: Dengeki Daisy is coming to an end, but that end is not out here yet. Instead, we get lucky Vol. 13. If you like shoujo at all, you should be reading this.

MICHELLE: I’ve fallen behind with Dengeki Daisy but will be catching up soon!

ASH: I used consider Dengeki Daisy a guilty pleasure, but I’ve gotten over that and just enjoy the series.

MJ: I dropped Dengeki Daisy early on (not for any profound reason, just time) and I’ve begun to regret it.

ANNA: I always enjoy a new volume of Dengeki Daisy.

SEAN: The penultimate volume of A Devil and Her Love Song really needs to cut back on the angst and trauma and start wrapping things up happily. Do I expect this to happen here? No.

MJ: Heh.

ANNA: That being said, it is somehow weirdly refreshing along with all the angst and trauma, just because the heroine’s personality is so distinctive.

SEAN: The 3rd Dragon Ball omnibus, because there are always new generations of fans.

ASH: I’m glad that Viz is finding ways to keep this series in print–I’m one of those people who somehow missed it the first few times around.

SEAN: Vol. 3 of Happy Marriage?! will no doubt feature more fretting, worrying, and self-doubt, hopefully mixed with some nice romance and comedy.

MJ: No doubt. And no doubt I’ll read it.

ANNA: I’ve read it and it continues to be great!

SEAN: Hunter x Hunter 31 is out. The manga’s back on hiatus in Japan, so I’m not sure when it will dribble to a halt here. Again.

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan started a new arc last time, and I expect things will be quite exciting and supernatural in a “this is pretty good, but not great” way.

One Piece Vol. 69. (cough) You’d think Nami and Robin would be on the cov–(whack) Ow!

Skip Beat! is up to Vol. 32. Easily Hana to Yume’s longest running ongoing series, it may be wrapping up soon, but not yet. Still great.

MICHELLE: I’m very excited about this one!

ASH: Me, too!

ANNA: Probably my most favorite insanely long shoujo manga series.

SEAN: Slam Dunk ends with Vol. 31. A terrific sports manga, and hopefully it has whetted fans’ appetite in case Viz wants to, say, license another ongoing Jump basketball series. Hint, hint.

MICHELLE: And this one! I’ve been saving up the last five volumes to read in one big chunk. It’s gonna be awesome.

ASH: I’m behind in Slam Dunk, but it really is a great series.

ANNA: Slam Dunk is wonderful.

SEAN: Toriko is in the Meteor Garlic arc, and this is Volume 19. I like the series a lot, but it’s hard to really comment on when it comes out.

Lastly, Voice Over: Seiyuu Academy has its second volume drop. It’s classic workaday Hakusensha shoujo, with a fun if dense lead.

MJ: I’m eyeing this with a little bit of dread, but it’ll probably reel me in.

MICHELLE: It might. I definitely liked the first volume more than I expected to.

ANNA:I enjoyed the first volume much more than I expected to.

SEAN: That’s a big pile. Any choices?

Manga Giveaway: Fairy Tail Feast

November 27, 2013 by Ash Brown

For those of you in the United States, a Happy Thanksgiving! And for those of you who are not, a Happy End of November! And since it is the end of the month, that means it’s time for another giveaway here at Experiments in Manga. As is tradition, and because Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, November’s manga giveaway will feature multiples volumes. In this case, I have a Fairy Tail feast in store for one lucky participant. This month you’ll all have a chance to win volumes thirty, thirty-one, and thirty-two of Hiro Mashima’s manga series Fairy Tail as published by Kodansha Comics. As always, the giveaway is open worldwide!

Bonus! Hungry for even more Fairy Tail? Funimation has been kind enough to provide an early copy of the movie Fairy Tail: Phoenix Priestess for this giveaway! Scheduled for release in December, you have a chance to win it now, or guarantee a copy by pre-ordering it.

Fairy Tail recently reached a milestone in its English publication. It can now claim its place among all of the series that have lasted for at least thirty volumes in English. In part because of its length, Fairy Tail is a series that I probably would have never gotten around to reading except that someone very deliberately put the manga into my hand. For me, I don’t bat an eye when a manga reaches ten or so volumes. When a series is around twenty volumes, I still consider it fairly manageable. But when a series hits thirty volumes or more, it becomes rather daunting and I start to seriously consider whether it is worth the investment of my time and money to pursue it. Sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes the answer is no. Obviously, if the series has lasted for so long it must have at least some merit to it. Either that, or an extremely devoted fanbase. There are several thirty-plus manga series that I adore and count among my favorites.

So, you may be wondering, how can you win a Fairy Tail feast?

1) In the comments below, tell me about your general feelings or opinions regarding long-running manga series.
2) For a second entry, simply name a manga ~~not mentioned by me or by someone else~~ that has at least thirty volumes published in English. (I know of at least twenty-five series.)
3) If you’re on Twitter, you can earn a bonus entry by tweeting about the contest. Make sure to include a link to this post and @PhoenixTerran (that’s me).

And there you have it! For this giveaway, each person can earn up to three entries. As usual, there is one week to submit comments. If you have trouble leaving comments, or if you would prefer, entries can be e-mailed to phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com and I will post them in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on December 4, 2013.

VERY IMPORTANT: Include some way that I can contact you. This can be an e-mail address, 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: Fairy Tail Feast Winner

Pick of the Week: Pink, Titans

November 25, 2013 by Ash Brown, Michelle Smith, Sean Gaffney, Anna N and MJ 1 Comment

ASH: There are a few interesting things being released this week, but there is one volume that especially stands out for me: Kyoko Okazaki’s Pink. Originally published in 1989, the manga is of the earliest successes from one of the most influential mangaka in josei. I was greatly impressed by Okazaki’s Helter Skelter, also released by Vertical this year, so I’m particularly looking forward to reading Pink.

MICHELLE: Pink is definitely the one I’m looking forward to the most. I am also amused by how innocuous its cover looks, given the plot synopsis!

SEAN: I am looking forward to Pink, which sounds great. My Pick, though, is for the 9th volume of Attack on Titan. It really is quite a pivotal volume, with all the various plot bits that have been dropped over the last several books coming together and making sense. Plus we get a great cliffhanger into what looks like an even more pivotal Volume 10. This is not the runaway breakout hit of 2013 for nothing.

ANNA: I am also very much looking forward to Pink. I’m so glad Vertical has decided to bring out some quality josei titles!

MJ: Well, I pretty much already declared Pink as my pick of the week, and I have no good reason to contradict myself, so my choice this week is clear. I really enjoyed Helter Skelter, and I’m thrilled that we’re seeing more Okazaki this quickly. Thanks, Vertical!

What looks good to you this week?

My Week in Manga: November 18-November 24, 2013

November 25, 2013 by Ash Brown

My News and Reviews

I’ve never run a poll before, so I’m probably more excited about this than I should be, but you all currently have the opportunity to vote on my next monthly manga review project. I’ve narrowed it down to five different options–a mix of individual series and thematic collections–and am letting readers decide which manga I will be focusing on next. Check out the post for all the details. The poll will run through the end of November, so please come and vote!

Last week I posted my review of Hinoki Kino’s manga No. 6, Volume 3. I am very happy to be able to say that the series continues to improve. I’m really looking forward to the next volume. And for your reading pleasure, here are a couple of interesting articles that I happened across online last week: A Short History Of Japanese Sign Language (with a fascinating connection to manga) and Are Comics Too Hot For Apple?, about the impact of Apple’s inconsistent policies when it comes to digital comics, including manga.

Quick Takes

Darkside Blues written by Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yuho Ashibe. I think I’ve suspected it for a while, but reading Darkside Blues seems to confirm it–Kikuchi may have some great ideas and settings for his stories, but he can’t quite seem to focus long enough to pull them all together into something coherent. Darkside Blues features many of the elements that I’ve come to expect from Kikuchi’s work: a mix of near-future technology, magic, and bizarre horror; evil organizations bent on taking over the world, crushing those that would stand in their way; a tall, dark, and handsome (well, androgynously beautiful) anti-hero. I’m fairly certain the manga is related to Kikuchi’s Demon City universe, or at least it makes reference to it. There are some great scenes here and there, but the story as a whole is a mess and doesn’t make much sense. Kikuchi claims that the story is complete, but it feels like a small part of something much larger. However, I did like Ashibe’s artwork, and so will probably look into tracking down Bride of Deimos because of that.

Fairy Tail, Volume 32 by Hiro Mashima. Now that the preliminaries are over, the Grand Magic Games proper have begun. Eight teams will be competing in the Games which consists of a mix of event challenges and battles. The teams themselves represent guilds that have been encountered in the series before as well as a few new ones. One thing that irked me a little was that there are actually two teams from Fairy Tail participating. That in itself didn’t bother me, but the fact that it was played up as a surprise (to both the readers and the characters) was unconvincing. Also, it has been established that Fairy Tail has always been one of the weakest guilds to participate in the Games, so I find it a little difficult to believe that not one but two teams made it past preliminaries this year. That annoyance aside, the event challenge in this volume was actually pretty interesting. I appreciate that the players have to put some actual thought and strategy into it instead of simply relying on who can out-magic the other. Magical skill certainly helps, but being clever is important, too.

I’ll Be Your Slave by Miki Araya. I’ll admit it. I laughed. Several times. Out loud, even. I’ll Be Your Slave is so incredibly ridiculous, and intentionally so, that I just couldn’t help it. Moriya is having a difficult time finding the perfect model for his project when he happens across Ouno, a beautiful but extraordinarily lazy teenager. Fortunately, Ouno’s job will basically amount to him sitting around and looking pretty. He’s easily tired and loses interest in things quickly, but if he doesn’t want to put the effort into doing something he simply lets someone else do it for him. (This even includes walking from place to place.) Moriya is more than willing to pamper Ouno. Mopping up sweat? Check. Foot massages? Check. Sex? Sure, why not! I’ll Be Your Slave is definitely more of a comedy than it is a romance. The humor is great and the over-the-top reaction shots–complete with dramatic poses and bursts of sparkles–are hilarious. The characters admittedly don’t have much depth to them, but that’s also part of what makes the manga so funny.

Swan, Volumes 1-3 by Kyoko Ariyoshi. While I appreciate and admire dance and dancers, and even watch dance performances from time to time, I’ve never had a particular interest in ballet. That’s probably the primary reason that it took me so long to get around to reading Swan. (It’s also out of print and some of the volumes can be a little hard to find.) But, I kept hearing how wonderful Swan was, so I finally made a point of seeking it out. I should have done it sooner, because it really is a fantastic series. I may not be a dancer but I am a trained musician; there are many parallels between the two arts seen in Swan with which I can personally identify. The importance of basics. The grueling practices that push the body, mind, and soul to their breaking points. The good-natured competition and the vicious rivalries. The passion, drama, frustration, and desire that go hand in hand with creative expression. The complete joy experienced with success and the utter despair felt at failure. Swan is incredible; I can’t wait to read more.

Random Musings: Picking My Next Monthly Review Project

November 22, 2013 by Ash Brown

Now that I have completed my monthly Blade of the Immortal review project it is time for me to tackle something new. And, as promised, I am putting it up to a vote and letting readers of Experiments in Manga help decide what that will be. I am looking for a project that will last roughly six months to a year, isn’t a sword-fighting epic or period piece (basically, a different genre than Blade of the Immortal), and is something that I’m interested in reviewing. Don’t expect any scathing posts to come out of this project—this is manga that I already know that I like or for which I have an established affinity. To aid in the selection of my next monthly review project, I have narrowed down the choices to the following five options:

Mermaid Medley
I keep hearing that mermaids are the next big thing, but they’ve been around for a while. I don’t have a particular interest in mermaids, but I do love water and legends. Using a loose definition of “mermaid,” this option will include in-depth reviews of Daisuke Igarashi’s Children of the Sea, Young-Hee Kim’s Evyione: Ocean Fantasy, Rumiko Takahashi’s Mermaid Saga, and Osamu Tezuka’s Triton of the Sea. I might try to do something with Reiko Shimizu’s Moon Child, too.

Parasyte by Hitoshi Iwaaki
Parasyte may very well be my favorite horror manga. It’s also one of my favorite manga series in general, so I’ve wanted to give it a little more attention at Experiments in Manga. Originally published by Tokyopop back in its Mixx days, Parasyte was later picked up by Del Rey Manga. Del Rey Manga is no more, but happily Kodansha Comics rescued the series. (Upcoming live-action and anime adaptations were recently announced, too!) I’ve already reviewed the first volume of Parasyte, so this option will include in-depth reviews of the remaining volumes.

Real by Takehiko Inoue
I honestly believe that Real is one of the best comics currently being released in English, and I haven’t reviewed a single volume of the series. But I love it. Inoue’s artwork and storytelling is fantastic and his characters have incredible depth. Even if you’re not into sports (in this case wheelchair basketball), this series is well worth checking out. This option will include in-depth reviews of all twelve volumes currently available in English as well as reviews of any future volumes that are released.

Usamaru Furuya
The first Manga Moveable Feast that I hosted at Experiments in Manga featured the work of Usamaru Furuya. At that time I reviewed the first volume of each of his series available in English, and I’ve always meant to get around to reviewing the rest of them. This option will include in-depth reviews of Genkaku Picasso, No Longer Human, and Short Cuts. If I’m feeling ambitious, I may also attempt to review Furuya’s artbook Flowers (which hasn’t been released in English.)

Year of Yuri
In the past I’ve read and reviewed yaoi and boys’ love manga. I’ve also read and enjoyed yuri manga, but for some reason have never gotten around to actually writing any in-depth reviews. It’s probably about time I change that. This option will include twelve in-depth reviews of manga and other comics with yuri and/or lesbian themes. I haven’t finalized the list yet, but expect a variety of genres, demographics, and styles. Some titles will be out-of-print, but I will review more recent releases as well.

So, what’ll it be? My fate is in your hands.

(The poll will be open through the end of November!)

Manga the Week of 11/27

November 21, 2013 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, MJ and Anna N 4 Comments

SEAN: I love the end of the month. It’s so quiet and peaceful.

DMP has the 8th volume of the Ai no Kusabi novel series, which I think is the final volume of this epic sci-fi master/slave BL tale. It’s 1980s-tastic!

MICHELLE: I remember watching the OVA of this (possibly at a convention) and being THOROUGHLY confused.

ASH: It’s nice to see this series finally completed in English, especially after a nearly four-year hiatus.

MJ: If only this was a manga instead of a novel. “1980s-tastic” has a much stronger hold on me when there’s lots of artwork involved.

ANNA: I love 1980s-tastic manga art!

SEAN: Kodansha gives us Attack on Titan 9. I went on about this volume at length in my review. At great length. Seriously, I just wouldn’t shut up. Also, I can now say Ymir! Hooray!

ASH: I’ll admit it: I’ve become hooked on Attack on Titan. I’m glad the series is doing so well for Kodansha, too.

SEAN: There’s also the 2nd and final volume of Sailor Moon Short Stories, which I also reviewed. I recommend getting it for Rei Hino. Also, that wraps it up for the manga, barring any artbook releases in the future.

Seven Seas has another 2-volume omnibus of Witch Buster, which I am so unfamiliar with I can’t even muster up some witty wordplay banter.

ASH: The only thing I really know about Witch Buster is that it’s original title was Witch Hunter.

SEAN: Vertical has Pink, by Kyoko Okazaki. I’ve been waiting for this since it was first announced. It’s from an earlier period in her career than Helter Skelter, and has a crocodile. Hence, everyone should read it.

MICHELLE: I’m really looking forward to this one!

ASH: As am I! I’ve really been enjoying Vertical’s josei titles this year.

MJ: I suspect this will make a strong showing in our upcoming Pick of the Week column. It’s certainly mine!

ANNA: I am glad for the reminder that this is coming out, because I’m going to order it! Helter Skelter was one of the more distinctive manga that I’ve read recently, so I am very much looking forward to Pink.

SEAN: Yen has the 2nd volume of Judge, which is shipping this week instead of last for some reason. See, it’s missing deadlines like that that would get you killed first in a survival game manga.

Speaking of missing deadlines, I forgot to mention that last week the 10th and 11th volumes of the Haruhi Suzumiya light novels shipped as one big omnibus. This catches us up with Japan, at last novel-wise, and is one of the best yet, provided you’re used to the Japanese light novel narration style, which involves a torrent of words and introspection.

What manga are you thankful for?

No. 6, Vol. 3

November 20, 2013 by Ash Brown

Creator: Hinoki Kino
Original story: Atsuko Asano
U.S. publisher: Kodansha
ISBN: 9781612623573
Released: October 2013
Original release: 2012

Hinoki Kino’s No. 6 manga is one of two adaptations available based on Atsuko Asano’s series of science fiction novels No. 6. My introduction to the story was through the anime series, but I am very glad to see the manga being released in English as well. No. 6, Volume 3 was originally published in Japan in 2012. The English-language edition was released by Kodansha Comics in 2013. Although the manga and the anime both share the same character designs and basic story, they are both different interpretations of the original novels. The manga, which is currently still an ongoing series, actually began serialization before the anime adaptation began airing. I quite enjoyed the No. 6 anime–except for its rushed original ending–which is why I was particularly interested in reading Kino’s manga. I felt the first volume was a bit uneven, but the second volume improved in both world-building and pacing, so I was looking forward to reading the third.

Even though at one point he was considered to be among No. 6’s elite, Shion is now a fugitive hiding outside of the city in West Block. Currently he is living with Rat who has already saved Shion’s life on several occasions and who himself is listed as a violent criminal by No. 6. Fortunately, the city seems to have very little interest in what is going on outside of its walls, so the two young men should at least be safe for the time being. In fact, Shion seems to be adapting surprisingly well to life in West Block, although his kindheartedness and naivety still have a tendency to get him into trouble. Inside the city, Shion’s mother is still afraid for her missing son’s safety and Shion’s childhood friend Safu wants to do anything that she can to find him. The risks involved in searching for Shion are not small and both of the women are under close surveillance by the authorities. A single mistake could lead to their arrest or convenient disappearance.

The relationship between Rat and Shion has always been an important part of the No. 6 manga. This hasn’t changed with No. 6, Volume 3, but the volume also further develops the relationships between them and the other characters. The pacing of the third volume is happily a bit slower than the first two which allows more time for Kino to better explore those relationships. Particularly telling is Rat’s interactions with Dogkeeper and how different they are from his interactions with Shion. Rat normally doesn’t hesitate to manipulate and intimidate other people and is more than willing to resort to violence. It’s his way of distancing himself from others in an attempt to avoid being hurt or taken advantage of. There is a small amount of kindness to be found in Rat’s personality, but he keeps it very well hidden. Shion is Rat’s complete opposite in this and seems to be made up of nothing but kindness, though he certainly has become less of a pushover than he once was.

It’s not only that Shion, Rat, and the others have different personalities, it’s that they have completely different worldviews and ways of thinking. This is a sources of strife in their relationships, but from this conflict comes subtle changes in their attitudes. Shion has an effect on those around him and he in turn is slowing changing as well. As an outsider in West Block, Shion asks questions that no one else would think to ask; he’s not as naive as he first appears, simply more open-minded and optimistic. Those used to living in the harsh environment of West Block have lost that idealism, and in time Shion may lose it as well as he is confronted with the terrible reality of West Block and the truth behind No. 6. He is strangely accepting of his own situation and exile, but when it comes to those he cares about he feels compelled to protect them at any cost, even if it puts him in danger. Each volume of the No. 6 manga continues to improve; I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where Kino takes things next.

My Week in Manga: November 11-November 17, 2013

November 18, 2013 by Ash Brown

My News and Reviews

Last week was apparently “Blade of the Immortal Week” here at Experiments in Manga. I finally got around to reading and reviewing Blade of the Immortal: Legend of the Sword Demon, a novel written by Junichi Ohsako with illustrations by Hiroaki Samura, which is a re-imagining of the early part of the manga series. Honestly, I was disappointed with it and would only recommend the novel to fellow Blade of the Immortal completists. I also reviewed Blade of the Immortal, Volume 27: Mist on the Spider’s Web. With that review, I have now caught up with the English released of the Blade of the Immortal manga series. And so, I wrote some random musings on Wrapping Up the Blade of the Immortal Monthly Review Project.

And now for a few interesting things found online last week. SciFi Japan has a great interview with Zack Davisson, the translator for the recently released Showa: A History of Japan by Shigeru Mizuki. The School Library Journal’s Good Comics for Kids has an interesting roundtable on Gene Luen Yang’s Boxers & Saints. Takako Shimura’s Wandering Son, Volume 4 is one of the nominees for the 2014 Rainbow Book List. (As is Julie Maroh’s Blue Is the Warmest Color, for that matter.) And finally, Kodansha Comicss participated in Reddit’s Ask Me Anything. I haven’t had the chance to read through all of the comments yet, but what I’ve read so far has been interesting.

Quick Takes

Battling Boy by Paul Pope. I have enjoyed Paul Pope’s work in the past and so I was very excited for the release of Battling Boy, his most recent graphic novel. What I didn’t realize was that it was the first volume in what will be at least a two-volume series, not including the recently announced prequel The Rise of Aurora West. It was a little frustrating to reach the end of Battling Boy just when things were really starting to pull together only to discover that it stops without any sort of conclusion and not even much of a cliffhanger. Still, Battling Boy is a tremendous amount of fun and I did enjoy it. I appreciate Pope’s offbeat humor and slightly surreal and absurd storytelling. The artwork’s pretty great, too. Following the eponymous demigod Battling Boy as he struggles to complete his coming-of-age ceremony and become a hero, the graphic novel is Pope’s original take on the superhero origin story. While he brings his own touch to the genre, there are plenty of influences from other comics (such as Batman and Thor to name two) that can be seen in the work.

Endless Rain by Yuuya. I’ve not had particularly good luck with the boys’ love that I’ve been reading recently and Endless Rain hasn’t changed that. I can’t say that I enjoyed this one-shot much at all. Despite having a happy ending (which I am not at all convinced would happen) the manga isn’t particularly pleasant and includes what basically amounts to forced prostitution. The plotting is sloppy, the narrative is difficult to follow and at times doesn’t make any sense, and the characterization is inconsistent. With Hyougami’s vendetta against the Kasuga family and the bad blood between Akira Kasuga and his father Endless Rain had some potential, but Yuuya doesn’t quite pull it off. Maybe if the manga was a little longer it wouldn’t have been such a mess. As it is, Yuuya tries to cram in too much and it ends up rushed. The only part of Endless Rain that I really liked was Iwao–a scarred and severe-looking yakuza who dotes on Akira’s younger brother. Contrary to his appearance, he’s actually a very sweet guy. Unfortunately, he only briefly shows up as a side character.

Missions of Love, Volume 5 by Ema Toyama. Although I am familiar with the basic premise of Missions of Love, I haven’t actually read any of the series until this volume. When I heard the manga described it seemed so trope-filled that I just couldn’t muster up any interest in it despite the rather provocative covers. But now I’m kind of sorry that I missed out on the earlier volumes. Yes, there are quite a few tropes being used, but the twisted romantic relationships are mesmerizing even if they aren’t particularly healthy. None of the characters are really very nice people and their interactions are a mess of lies and manipulation. Missions of Love is very suggestive and scandalous even though all that really happens in this volume (well, except for the emotional exploitation) is a bit of ear nibbling. I can see why others call Missions of Love addicting; I know that I want to read more. The only thing that really annoyed me about Missions of Love is how Yukina’s glasses are drawn (or rather how the aren’t drawn)–the lines used are so minimal that they barely seem to exist at all.

Silver Spoon directed by Tomohiko Ito. Based on the award-winning manga series Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa (which was in part inspired by her experiences growing up on dairy farm), the Silver Spoon anime adaptation is quite well done. The series is very forthright and honest about where food comes from, including the raising and slaughtering of animals for meat. I know that particular subject will distrub some viewers, but I think it is something that is important for people to understand and the anime does handle it very well. Many of its characters are also conflicted over it. One of the major story lines of Silver Spoon has to do with Hachiken, the protagonist, trying to come to terms with what it is he eats. However, life and the taking of it is treated with immense respect in the series. I myself grew up in a farming community among the cows, corn, and soybeans (my neighbors actually happened to be dairy farmers), and so I could appreciate Silver Spoon‘s realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by those who make their living caring for animals and crops.

Pick of the Week: Mostly Sunny

November 18, 2013 by MJ, Michelle Smith, Anna N, Ash Brown and Sean Gaffney Leave a Comment

MJ: Once again, there’s quite a bit on this week’s shipping list, including a new volume of the much beloved Yotsuba&!, but one title stands out clearly from the crowd for me. That would be volume two of Taiyo Matsumoto’s Sunny, due out this week from Viz. From my review of the first volume: “The book’s structure and pacing seem so in tune with a child’s sense of time—that feeling of impatience on top of the endless landscape of imagination. These kids have more reasons than most to escape into their fantasy worlds, but they spend just as much time being shuffled along the familiar routines of childhood. Meals, school, sleep, play—their daily lives are similar to most young kids, but with an edge of anxiety most of us were privileged to do without. And it’s these points of anxiety that make Sunnyfeel moving and real, and not a nostalgia piece in the slightest.” Yes, I will be buying this. I really can’t wait.

MICHELLE: I’m with MJ on this. I reviewed volume two for this week’s Bookshelf Briefs and it was every bit as masterful and moving as volume one. Perhaps more so. Really, I find words inadequate to describe its greatness, so just go read it already.

ANNA: I’ll have to join in on the love for Sunny, this is clearly the standout title for the week.

ASH: It’s Matsumoto’s Sunny for me this week, too. I had the pleasure of being at TCAF for the series’ English debut, and I’ve been looking forward to the second volume’s release ever since.

SEAN: I’m picking Yotsuba&!, because I dislike unanimity, and also it’s hella fun.

What looks good to you this week?

Random Musings: Wrapping Up the Blade of the Immortal Monthly Review Project

November 16, 2013 by Ash Brown

Hiroaki Samura’s Blade of the Immortal was one of the first manga that I ever read and it was the first series that I made a point of collecting. Even before I started writing at Experiments in Manga, I was reading and reviewing Blade of the Immortal. However, I wasn’t very consistent or timely with those reviews. And so, early in 2012, I began a monthly review project in which, beginning with the seventh volume, I would read and review one volume of Blade of the Immortal every month.

Nearly two years later, I have reached the twenty-seventh volume and my reviews have finally caught up with the English release of the series. I also plan on reviewing the new volumes of Blade of the Immortal as they are published. Assuming Dark Horse continues releasing Blade of the Immortal as it has been, there should be a total of thirty-one volumes in the English-language edition and we’ll see the end of the series in 2015.

Deliberately focusing on a single series month after month was an interesting experience and one that I enjoyed. I believe that it allowed me to see overarching plots and themes more clearly; it forced me to really look at what was going on and I noticed details that I might not have otherwise. Overall, I found it to be a valuable exercise in reviewing. So much so that I’ll soon be taking up a new monthly review project. I’m putting it up to a vote, too, so be on the lookout!

The links to all of my Blade of the Immortal reviews have been conveniently collected below, including the links to my reviews of Samura’s Blade of the Immortal artbook and the novel based on the manga written by Junichi Ohsako. (Some of the older reviews were written before I had read much manga and before I really knew what I was doing; I find them rather embarrassing, so please be forgiving.)

The Art of Blade of the Immortal
Blade of the Immortal: Legend of the Sword Demon

Manga the Week of 11/20

November 15, 2013 by Sean Gaffney, Ash Brown, MJ, Anna N and Michelle Smith 4 Comments

SEAN: Another one of those weeks that brings something for everyone.

It has been a year and two months since the last volume of Berserk from Dark Horse. (This is the fault of the Japanese author, let’s note, whose reputation for breaks is limitless.) Now, at last, we have the next volume.

ASH: YES! Berserk is one of my favorites. Well, early Berserk is one of my favorites. But I’m always happy to see a new volume of the series released.

MJ: I have never read Berserk, but I’ll admit that Dark Horse’s announcement about the new volume made it all sound very exciting.

SEAN: Oh My Goddess 45 contains one of the most amazing, ballsiest retcons I have seen in ages. It set fandom alight, and I look forward to reading it in this new volume, also from Dark Horse.

Fairy Tail’s speedup is nearing the end, but not quite there yet, so here’s Vol. 32, which is still at the start of the Grand Magic Games arc.

Sherlock Bones also has its 2nd volume, which will feature more from the sort-of love interest of the boy (the dog does not, as far as I know, have a love interest).

ASH: Well, there is Takeru’s sister who reminds Sherdog an awful lot of Irene Adler…

SEAN: Picturebox is having a busy month. This week we get the second in their Ten Cent Manga series, featuring a well-known name – Osamu Tezuka, with The Mysterious Underground Men, one of his very first works.

ASH: I’ll admit, I’m a little burned out on Tezuka, but the Ten Cent Manga series is pretty great.

MJ: I’m with Ash here, but I’ll still probably read it.

SEAN: The longest Alice in the Etc. series to date comes to an end with the 7th and final volume of Cheshire Cat Waltz. Will Alice and Boris live happily ever after? Is happily ever after really a desirable result here? We shall see.

ANNA: I have to say, I don’t care very much about this series, but I just started Alice in the Country of Joker. That’s one thing to be said for all the many Alice in series, something for everyone.

Sickness Unto Death wraps up with its second volume. I reviewed it here.

Hey, remember Dogs? It’s at the ever popular yearly release schedule (not due to sales – Japan has a yearly schedule as well), and is sure to be stylish.

Sunny was a nicely introspective manga when the first volume landed in the spring, so I am quite looking forward to Vol. 2.

ASH: As am I! It’s a beautiful, deluxe release, too.

MICHELLE: Me, too! I’m reviewing it for the next Bookshelf Briefs, in fact!

ANNA: I very much enjoyed the first volume of this series and the deluxe format makes a nice holiday gift!

MJ: I really can’t wait to read this. Michelle & I adored Volume 1.

SEAN: I have run out of things to say about Yen’s BTOOOOM!, so I will note that since this is Volume 4 I added an extra O to the title.

MICHELLE: *snerk* I gave up after the craptacular second volume.

SEAN: A quick detour to the manwha side, as Vol. 8 of Jack Frost is out. I lost track of this back at the start. Is the girl still getting decapitated constantly?

MJ: Probably.

SEAN: Soul Eater 17 contains one of the most popular sequences in the entire series. I won’t say anything more, other than: Rule 63.

Lastly, speaking of yearly releases, it’s Yotsuba&! time. Featuring Halloween, camping, and Asagi’s friend (and that’s all she is, despite yuri fans everywhere wishing it were otherwise) Torako. Ever volume of this series puts a smile on my face.

ASH: I can’t believe how far behind I am with Yotsuba&!. I should address this issue immediately.

MICHELLE: Yay, Yotsuba&!.

ANNA: I am terribly behind as well.

MJ: New Yotsuba&! is always a welcome sight!

SEAN: What appeals to you most?

Blade of the Immortal, Vol. 27: Mist on the Spider’s Web

November 15, 2013 by Ash Brown

Creator: Hiroaki Samura
U.S. publisher: Dark Horse
ISBN: 9781616552152
Released: September 2013
Original release: 2010
Awards: Eisner Award, Japan Media Arts Award

Mist on the Spider’s Web is the twenty-seventh volume in the English-language edition of Hiroaki Samura’s Blade of the Immortal manga series. Released by Dark Horse in 2013, Mist on the Spider’s Web is more or less equivalent to the twenty-sixth volume of Blade of the Immortal published in Japan in 2010. Blade of the Immortal is an award-winning series. Over the course of its long publication history the manga has earned Samura a Japan Media Arts Award and an Eisner Award among other honors. Blade of the Immortal is also a series of which I am particularly fond, so I am glad to see Dark Horse sticking with the manga through to its end. Mist on the Spider’s Web takes place during the fifth and final major story arc of Blade of the Immortal. The previous volume, Blizzard, was particularly good and so I was very interested to see where Samura would take things next with Mist on the Spider’s Web.

While Rin, Manji, and the others are recovering from their final confrontation with Shira, the hunt for the remaining Ittō-ryū swordsmen continues. The main group is well on its way to Hitachi under the guidance of senior members Abayama Sosuke and Kashin Koji. Before making their escape they hope to reunite with their leader Anotsu Kagehisa who has been delayed after his attack on Edō Castle. The three other Ittō-ryū fighters who also took part in the strike are either dead, missing, or severely wounded. Habaki Kagimura is in pursuit, chasing down the Ittō-ryū and its allies. He and his Rokki-dan warriors–death row convicts with little choice but to aid Habaki in his quest–are charged with annihilating the rogue sword school. The pressure on the Ittō-ryū continues to mount as more and more of Anotsu’s enemies draw ever closer.

If it wasn’t already apparent, Mist on the Spider’s Web makes it very clear how far the Ittō-ryū has fallen since its glory days. The most talented swordsmen are slowly being killed off, the new members are few and inexperienced, and the group has had to abandon some of its core ideals and principles just for the chance of survival. It is becoming increasingly likely that the Ittō-ryū may simply cease to exist in its entirety. The sword school is a mere shadow of what it once was. The Ittō-ryū, which destroyed so many other martial groups and caused so much chaos, is now faced with its own demise. However, its members are prepared to fight to the very end and by any means necessary. Despite the questionable methods that the Ittō-ryū has employed to reach its goals, Anotsu wasn’t entirely wrong in his ambitions. It is a little disheartening to see the Ittō-ryū’s idealism fading away.

Mist on the Spider’s Web has some fantastic action sequences, but there’s also quite a bit of standing around and talking, too. It can be somewhat tedious at times, but it does make sense within the context of what is going on. In general the focus of Blade of the Immortal on the Ittō-ryū has been directed towards its fighters, but the group also has members that rely more on their mental capacities rather than on their martial capabilities. Anotsu has always been shown to be a particularly impressive strategist in addition to being a skilled swordsman, but in Mist on the Spider’s Web it is old man Kashin who demonstrates his worth through his devious intelligence. He doesn’t need physical strength to overcome his enemies, only careful thought, thorough planning, and little bit of time. Of course, time is one of the things that the Ittō-ryū has less and less of these days.

Blade of the Immortal: Legend of the Sword Demon

November 13, 2013 by Ash Brown

Author: Junichi Ohsako
Illustrator: Hiroaki Samura
U.S. publisher: Dark Horse
ISBN: 9781595823380
Released: January 2010
Original release: 2008

Hiroaki Samura’s Blade of the Immortal was one of the first manga series that I began reading and it remains one of my personal favorites. When I learned that a novel based on the manga had been written I immediately picked it up. However, it did take me quite some time to actually get around to reading it. Blade of the Immortal: Legend of the Sword Demon, written by Junichi Ohsako with illustrations by Samura, was originally published in Japan in July 2008–the same month the anime adaptation of Blade of the Immortal began airing. I don’t know much about the author (Legend of the Sword Demon is the only novel by Ohsako to have been released in English), but I do know that Ohsako is a fellow fan of Blade of the Immortal. The English-language edition of Legend of the Sword Demon was translated by Camellia Nieh and released in 2010 by Dark Horse. Unsurprisingly, Dark Horse is also the publisher responsible for releasing the Blade of the Immortal manga and artbook in English.

Rin was the only daughter of Asano Takayoshi, the head of the respected Mutenichi-ryū sword school. A few years past he was brutally murdered before her very eyes, her mother was raped and abducted, and Rin was abandoned and left alone to fend for herself. Her family was destroyed at the hands of a group of renegade swordsmen known as the Ittō-ryū and their leader Anotsu Kagehisa. Now Rin is seeking her revenge, hiring an outlaw known only as Manji as her bodyguard. Rumored to be immortal, Manji has vowed to kill one thousand evil men to atone for hist past misdeeds. But is the Ittō-ryū truly evil? Whether it is or isn’t, Manji and Rin aren’t the only ones seeking the group’s demise. This complicates matters a great deal and it becomes difficult for Rin and Manji to determine who are friends and who are foes. Any alliances made in the fight against the Ittō-ryū can only be assumed to be temporary.

Legend of the Sword Demon is a very quick read. The story is a re-imagining of the early part of the Blade of the Immortal manga series. While the novel has some unique content of its own, including a dangerous enemy not found anywhere else, many of the scenes will be familiar to those who have read the original. All of the most popular characters make an appearance in the novel as well. (This was actually one of the conditions set by the publisher when the novel was initially commissioned.) Legend of the Sword Demon mostly focuses on the action of the story. Very little descriptive detail is given and the characters aren’t particularly fleshed out, either. It is interesting to see a slightly different take on Blade of the Immortal, but Legend of the Sword Demon almost requires that readers have a fairly firm grounding in the original series to really appreciate what Ohsako is doing with the story and characters. There might be enough in the novel to entice new readers to pick up the manga, but I am not at all confident of that.

In the end, I was actually rather disappointed with Legend of the Sword Demon. I can’t really recommend the novel to anyone but those who are Blade of the Immortal completists (a group of people to which I admittedly belong). Ultimately, Legend of the Sword Demon is a very insubstantial work and somewhat shallow, lacking the depth present in the manga series. It feels as though the novel is nothing more than tie-in promotional material. Ohsako may be a devoted fan of Blade of the Immortal but Legend of the Sword Demon isn’t long enough nor complex enough to really establish itself as noteworthy. It’s fun in places, but Legend of the Sword Demon is largely forgettable. The real highlight of the volume is Samura’s cover art and the handful of full-page illustrations that he created specifically for the novel. Otherwise, Legend of the Sword Demon is something that most people probably won’t regret passing over.