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New manga, con reports, and Empowered!

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The Manga Bookshelf reviewers make their picks from an unusually slim week of new manga releases.

Meanwhile, Sean Gaffney looks forward to a more bountiful selection next week.

Deb Aoki talks to Adam Warren, creator of Empowered, on how anime and manga have shaped his sensibility.

Tom Langston posts the slides from his sports manga panel at Fanime.

At Manga Therapy, Tony Yao notes the birthday of Bleach sociopath Sosuke Aizen.

David Brothers files his con report on Fanime, including the Shonen Jump panel.

Matt Blind posts the big list of manga best-sellers (online sales) from the week ending March 18.

Ash Brown is giving away the first volume of R.O.D.: Read or Die. Hit the link to find out how to enter.

News from Japan: Neko Ramen creator Kenji Sonshi has started a new series, Neko Tantei, about a cat who is a detective. Aloha Higa has put Shirokuma Cafe on hiatus, apparently to protest the way the anime adaptation was handled; it seems to have worked. Toriko Chiya is launching Clover trèfle, a sequel to her Clover office romance manga, in Cocohana. Minoru Furuya, creator of Himuzu and Ping Pong Club, just debuted a new series, Saruchinesu, in Kodansha’s Young. The French site Manga News has a list of the manga that ended in May, including Negima; only series licensed in France are included. ANN has the latest Japanese comics rankings. And CLAMP will illustrate the cover of the novelization of the movie Blood-C: The Last Dark. (Click image twice to enlarge.)

Reviews: The Manga Bookshelf ace reviewer team greets the week with a new set of Bookshelf Briefs. A Day Without Me reviews 12 Days, a Tokyopop OEL title that isn’t quite what you’d think, at Gar Gar Stegosaurus.

Sean Gaffney on vol. 4 of A Certain Scientific Railgun (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Manjiorin on vols. 1 and 2 of Eternal Sabbath (Organization Anti-Social Geniuses)
Lori Henderson on vols. 1-3 of Free Collars Kingdom (Manga Xanadu)
Rob McMonigal on issue 3 of GEN (Panel Patter)
Zack Davisson on vol. 4 of I’ll Give It My All… Tomorrow (Japan Reviewed)
Lesley Aeschliman on vol. 3 of One Piece (Blogcritics)
Kate Dacey on vol. 1 of Puella Magi Madoka Magica (The Manga Critic)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 22 of Slam Dunk (The Comic Book Bin)
Anna on vol. 14 of We Were There (Manga Report)

Manga the Week of 6/6

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That’s a whole lotta Viz, that is.

Mind you, there is a Vertical title as well. In fact, it came out everywhere but Diamond this week. Vol. 3 of 14 Days in Shonan puts the series at 1/3 complete, but Onizuka’s work has barely begun! He has kids to inspire and adults to castigate! And old… friends?… to reunite with! Who knows, he may even get lucky! (OK, no, that will never happen.)

The big release from Viz, meanwhile, is the final volume of Ouran High School Host Club. And for those who are curious, unlike most harem manga, this one resolves its pairing. Fans have loved the story of Haruhi, Tamaki and the others – enough to bring the anime over here as well – and now we finally have closure. Thanks to Bisco Hatori for so much great romantic comedy.

There are other releases as well. More shoujo! Black Bird 14, which will no doubt continue to sell like hotcakes. Dawn of the Arcana 4, which I am horribly behind on. Devil and Her Love Song 3, which I am greatly looking forward to, as I love snark. Earl & The Fairy 2, which hopefully will improve a bit on its first volume. Kamisama Kiss 9 and Kimi ni Todoke 14, for you romantics out there. And Sakura Hime, for the Tanemura addicts.

This does not mean there is not a giant pile of shonen as well. Bakuman 11, now in its 2nd half! Not one, but two Bleach volumes, which I believe have some great stuff for IchiHime fans! A new Nura and Toriko, which don’t get to speed up as much as Bleach, but have less to catch up on. Slam Dunk 22, in case your daily basketball quotient needed filling. And Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal, the nth sequel to the popular franchise.

That’s a whole lot. An exhausting amount, in fact. Anything for you?

Manga Bestsellers: 2012, Week Ending 18 March

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Comparative Rankings Based on Consolidated Online Sales

last week’s charts
about the charts

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Manga Bestsellers

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon 4 – Kodansha Comics, Mar 2012 [467.0] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Sailor Moon 3 – Kodansha Comics, Jan 2012 [451.7] ::
3. ↔0 (3) : Naruto 55 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [445.5] ::
4. ↔0 (4) : Sailor Moon 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [426.0] ::
5. ↔0 (5) : Sailor Moon 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [385.5] ::
6. ↑7 (13) : Sailor Moon 5 – Kodansha Comics, Apr 2012 [384.8] ::
7. ↓-1 (6) : Maximum Ride 5 – Yen Press, Dec 2011 [354.0] ::
8. ↔0 (8) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [342.9] ::
9. ↓-2 (7) : Black Bird 13 – Viz Shojo Beat, Mar 2012 [340.0] ::
10. ↔0 (10) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [306.8] ::

[more]

Top Imprints
Number of volumes ranking in the Top 500:

Viz Shonen Jump 74
Yen Press 72
Tokyopop 59
Viz Shojo Beat 58
Kodansha Comics 39
Viz Shonen Jump Advanced 36
DMP Juné 21
Seven Seas 20
Vizkids 17
Dark Horse 14

[more]

Series/Property

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon – Kodansha Comics [1,169.5] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Naruto – Viz Shonen Jump [896.2] ::
3. ↔0 (3) : Black Butler – Yen Press [644.0] ::
4. ↔0 (4) : Maximum Ride – Yen Press [615.9] ::
5. ↔0 (5) : Black Bird – Viz Shojo Beat [522.6] ::
6. ↑1 (7) : One Piece – Viz Shonen Jump [472.0] ::
7. ↓-1 (6) : Bleach – Viz Shonen Jump [446.9] ::
8. ↑4 (12) : Pokemon – Vizkids [426.7] ::
9. ↔0 (9) : Negima! – Del Rey/Kodansha Comics [381.8] ::
10. ↑12 (22) : Pandora Hearts – Yen Press [377.0] ::

[more]

New Releases
(Titles releasing/released This Month & Last)

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon 4 – Kodansha Comics, Mar 2012 [467.0] ::
3. ↔0 (3) : Naruto 55 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [445.5] ::
9. ↓-2 (7) : Black Bird 13 – Viz Shojo Beat, Mar 2012 [340.0] ::
12. ↑4 (16) : One Piece 61 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [279.1] ::
13. ↑1 (14) : Naruto 54 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [272.1] ::
14. ↓-2 (12) : Dengeki Daisy 9 – Viz Shojo Beat, Mar 2012 [270.8] ::
16. ↑16 (32) : Bunny Drop 5 – Yen Press, Mar 2012 [255.8] ::
18. ↑15 (33) : Gate 7 vol 2 – Dark Horse, Mar 2012 [250.0] ::
21. ↑10 (31) : Fairy Tail 18 – Kodansha Comics, Mar 2012 [238.0] ::
23. ↓-8 (15) : xxxHolic 19 – Kodansha Comics, Feb 2012 [221.7] ::

[more]

Preorders

6. ↑7 (13) : Sailor Moon 5 – Kodansha Comics, Apr 2012 [384.8] ::
15. ↑10 (25) : Sailor Moon 7 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2012 [264.6] ::
17. ↑6 (23) : Sailor Moon 6 – Kodansha Comics, Jun 2012 [255.0] ::
43. ↑33 (76) : Countdown 7 Days 2 – DMP, Apr 2012 [158.4] ::
47. ↑12 (59) : Negima! 34 – Kodansha Comics, Apr 2012 [154.7] ::
55. ↑20 (75) : Sailor Moon 8 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2012 [142.4] ::
62. ↑10 (72) : Black Butler 9 – Yen Press, Jul 2012 [136.7] ::
73. ↑78 (151) : Warriors SkyClan & The Stranger 3 – HarperCollins, Apr 2012 [123.3] ::
83. ↑23 (106) : Dance in the Vampire Bund 12 – Seven Seas, Jun 2012 [110.7] ::
84. ↑88 (172) : Shojo Fashion Manga Art School Year 2: Draw Modern Looks – F+W Media, Apr 2012 [110.7] ::

[more]

Manhwa

353. ↓-52 (301) : Bride of the Water God 9 – Dark Horse, Oct 2011 [33.2] ::
378. ↑ (last ranked 18 Dec 11) : Angel Diary 7 – Yen Press, Oct 2008 [31.0] ::
566. ↓-283 (283) : Bride of the Water God 10 – Dark Horse, Jan 2012 [18.0] ::
670. ↑772 (1442) : INVU 5 – Tokyopop, Nov 2009 [13.5] ::
840. ↓-150 (690) : Priest Purgatory 1 – Tokyopop, Aug 2010 [8.6] ::
915. ↓-145 (770) : Arcana 4 – Tokyopop, Mar 2006 [6.9] ::
1042. ↓-1 (1041) : Ragnarok 1 – Tokyopop, May 2002 [4.9] ::
1116. ↑484 (1600) : Arcana 1 – Tokyopop, Jan 2005 [4.0] ::
1183. ↓-228 (955) : March Story 3 – Viz Signature, Oct 2011 [3.1] ::
1276. ↓-254 (1022) : March Story 1 – Viz Signature, Oct 2010 [2.3] ::

[more]

BL/Yaoi

53. ↑46 (99) : Maelstrom (ebook) 1 – Yaoi Press, Jun 2011 [148.6] ::
71. ↑23 (94) : Ice Cage (ebook) – Yaoi Press, Feb 2012 [128.3] ::
77. ↑6 (83) : Finder Series 5 Truth in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [120.2] ::
95. ↓-9 (86) : Finder Series 6 Passion within the View Finder – DMP Juné, Jul 2012 [105.7] ::
100. (new) : Treasured Prince – Yaoi Press, Mar 2012 [99.5] ::
107. ↑187 (294) : An Even More Beautiful Lie – DMP Juné, Jan 2012 [96.1] ::
109. ↓-17 (92) : Ambiguous Relationship – DMP Juné, Mar 2012 [94.2] ::
114. ↓-12 (102) : Private Teacher 3 – DMP Juné, May 2012 [91.5] ::
155. ↑ (last ranked 12 Feb 12) : Butterfly of the Distant Day – DMP Juné, Jun 2011 [72.0] ::
159. ↑28 (187) : Black Sun 2 – 801 Media, Dec 2011 [69.5] ::

[more]

Ebooks

3. ↔0 (3) : Naruto 55 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [445.5] ::
7. ↓-1 (6) : Maximum Ride 5 – Yen Press, Dec 2011 [354.0] ::
13. ↑1 (14) : Naruto 54 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [272.1] ::
20. ↓-9 (11) : Naruto 53 – Viz Shonen Jump, Dec 2011 [242.0] ::
25. ↓-7 (18) : Maximum Ride 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2009 [212.0] ::
30. ↔0 (30) : Soulless 1 – Yen Press, Mar 2012 [187.3] ::
32. ↓-3 (29) : Maximum Ride 4 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [182.0] ::
34. ↑12 (46) : Blue Exorcist 2 – Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Jun 2011 [176.2] ::
40. ↑4 (44) : Bleach 37 – Viz Shonen Jump, Dec 2011 [165.4] ::
53. ↑46 (99) : Maelstrom (ebook) 1 – Yaoi Press, Jun 2011 [148.6] ::

[more]

A Certain Scientific Railgun, Vol. 4

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By Kazuma Kamachi and Motoi Fuyukawa. Released in Japan as “Toaru Kagaku no Railgun” by ASCII Media Works, serialization ongoing in the magazine Dengeki Daioh. Released in North America by Seven Seas.

This volume, as the back cover tells you, marks the start of the ‘Sisters’ story arc for Railgun. Which, if you’re only following the manga, means very little to you. But this is not a manga for those who merely read the manga (though it can be read on its own fairly easily, as I have shown). Franchise manga tend to lack the surprising plot twists that original titles may have, simply as they rely on an already existing base. So if you’re buying this 4th volume of the Railgun manga, it’s already expected that you’ll have bought the Index light novels, and the Index manga and anime, and indeed Railgun’s own anime, which is namechecked here. Higurashi does this too – I’ve been coyly pretending not to know who the villain is in my reviews, but of course I do – as did all the readers of the manga when it came out. Expectations are set differently.

That said, this volume has a lot to offer. It’s rather upfront about the way that it manipulates its cast – particularly its heroine, Misaki. We start right off with her being shown a boy with muscular dystrophy, and asked to donate some of her DNA to help fight such things. Which would be fine, if she had parents who were also giving consent, or if the scientist askin g didn’t have an evil leer on his face after she agrees. No, we know we’re going to be getting into evil clones right off the bat. (Well, the cover might have clued us in as well.)

Of course, the evil is debatable – the clone on the cover actually looks rather sad and vulnerable (and mysteriously missing genitalia, in the best time-honored tradition). And indeed, when we first meet Misaka 9982, she is immediately filled with likeable traits. She’s snarky, and intelligent, and deadpan, and talks in the third person (something I wasn’t sure Seven Seas would carry over – it sounds more awkward in English, but does help to set the clones apart from the original). This is contrasted with Misaka herself, who spends the entire volume frustrated and not sure how she should feel. She’s heard the rumors before, but being faced with the actual reality is a bit much.

As we see Misaka meet her clone, and have amusing arguments with her clone, and come to see her clone as a little sister sort of figure – complete with giving her a frog badge she got from a crane machine – we know, instinctively that we’re heading for tragedy, and that this clone is going to die. Of course, the number ‘9982’ after her name might also clue us in – these clones are being created as experimental subjects, and their purpose is to die for the greater good. I suspect Misaka is not going to see it that way, however, and the volume ends with her losing it and attacking the mysterious boy who is responsible.

All of this is handled quite well. The manga flies by, and we get just enough characterization from Misaka 9982 to feel horrible about what happens. And certainly we immediately loathe Accelerator, the young man who seems to be our heroine’s new villain. Ah well, I’m sure he will simply be a minor villain… you see? There I go again, pretending that this isn’t a franchise. :) Definitely recommended.

Pick of the Week: Genshiken, Wallflower, & more

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MJ: There’s not much to choose from at Midtown Comics this week, but making my pick is astonishingly easy, perhaps only because I came so late into the world of manga. The truth is, I’ve always wanted to read Genshiken, and this new omnibus release from Kodansha Comics has finally made it easy for me to actually conceive of doing so. I look forward to finally picking this series up!

SEAN: It’s a very slim week this week, so instead of highlighting something revolutionary or cutting-edge, I will go for one of my comfort manga again. The Wallflower will not win any points for originality—or indeed for resolving its plot—but it’s always so much fun, and I always enjoy seeing what wacky situations the cast will find themselves in this time. Everyone needs a manga that you just turn your brain off and read, and this is a good one. Plus Sunako kicks ass when she wants to.

KATE: Looking over the final shipping list of the month is like opening a half-empty refrigerator: there’s bound to be something worth trying, but it takes a little imagination to find it. This week, however, the manga offerings are just too meager, so I’m going to recommend the first Wonder Woman trade instead. For me, the big draw is the artwork: Cliff Chiang depicts WW not as a voluptuous pin-up, but as a tall, lean warrior who just happens to look a lot better in a strapless unitard than the rest of us mortals. I don’t have any difficulty imagining this WW kicking ass and taking names.

MICHELLE: It’s not on the Midtown list, but according to Amazon, volume three of GTO: 14 Days in Shonan is due out this Tuesday. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this tale of a former delinquent with a talent for getting through to troubled teens, but it turns out it’s a lot of fun. I enjoyed volume two more than the first, as a matter of fact, which certainly bodes well for this next installment!

Readers, what looks good to you this week?

Bookshelf Briefs 5/29/12

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This week, Kate, MJ, and Michelle look at recent releases from Yen Press, VIZ Media, JManga, and eManga.

Amorous Women of the Floating World: Sex in Old Tokyo, Vol. 1 | By Kaoru Hazuki & Chinatsu Takamura | Leed Publishing Co., LTD – The cover copy for this manga begins, “Did you know that Japan in the 18th century was even more sexually permissive than it is today?” After reading this manga, however, it must be clarified that “sexually permissive” should be appended with”…for men.” This book is for men, of course, but it’s difficult to accept it as harmless sexual fantasy, when it works so hard to try to sell the subjugation of women as female empowerment. The book opens with lessons in “marital harmony.” “It is incredibly pleasurable for your lord to enter your mouth,” a young woman is told on the eve of her wedding night. “Do not deny him!” Later, we learn about the rural practice in which groups of local men set upon households of women in the middle of the night to ask for sex, which we’re told was empowering for the women because they were allowed to say no. While as a history of sexual behavior in Japan, this book offers some interesting information, as sexual fantasy it’s just kind of… icky. – MJ

Black Butler, Vol. 9 | By Yana Toboso | Published by Yen Press – You know the previous arc must’ve been a dark one when a murder mystery set in Phantomhive Manor seems positively lighthearted by comparison! Ciel is compelled by Her Majesty to play host to a distinguished German visitor, but when the man turns up dead (on the requisite dark and stormy night, of course), Ciel is the only one without an alibi. One guest believes in his innocence, however—a medically trained mystery writer named Arthur, whom one can only assume is meant to be Conan Doyle. Arthur narrates the tale, which is kind of neat, and though I don’t believe for one moment that Sebastian has truly become the killer’s latest victim, I must say that I was really bummed out that I didn’t have volume ten immediately to hand.– Michelle Smith

Cross Game, Vol. 7 | By Mitsuru Adachi | Published by VIZ Media – I’ve you’ve been keeping up with Cross Game, you pretty much know what to expect with this volume. The Seishu team has one last chance to make it to Koshien, and this omnibus (comprising volumes 14 and 15 of the original Japanese edition) offers lots and lots of baseball goodness as they make their way through the Tokyo tournament. Meanwhile, there’s a sort of romantic pentagram going on that provides some distractions. I really admire the elegant way that Adachi and co. depict the games—they are effortlessly easy to follow—as well as Aoba’s growing realization of Ko’s various good qualities, and am always left wanting more even after 300+ pages. Speaking of wanting more, I shall avail myself once more of the opportunity to express my wish for another Adachi series after Cross Game wraps in July. Please, VIZ? – Michelle Smith

A Devil and Her Love Song, Vol. 3 | By Miyoshi Tomori | VIZ Media – Miyoshi Tomori captures adolescence in all its messy confusion, addressing pack behavior, frenemies, and faculty bullies. To be sure, other manga explore the same terrain, but Tomori’s work is one the few that can transport an adult reader back to his or her high school days in a vivid, compelling fashion. What makes this series work is its cast: the characters are flawed, inconsistent, and sometimes unlikable — just like real people — but they’re also funny, smart, and occasionally brave in small ways — just like real people. Best of all, Tomori’s heroine is prickly and brash without being cartoonish; chances are, you knew someone just like Maria when you were 15, and secretly admired her candor, too. Recommended. -Katherine Dacey

Don’t Cry, Girl | By Tomoko Yamashita | JManga – Are wacky nudists the latest trend in manga? I ask because Don’t Cry, Girl was the second manga I’ve read that featured a naked character — in this case, Masuda, a bachelor who agrees to provide a home for Taeko, his friends’ chaste but sensible 17-year-old daughter. The story reads like an extended riff on Austin Powers, with Masuda strategically using bowls of fruit, house plants, and vacuum cleaners to block Taeko’s line of sight. It’s a giddy and stupid conceit, sustained by the chemistry between the unsparingly blunt Taeko and the irrepressibly childish Masuda. The volume is rounded out by a second story, “3322,” which explores the relationships among a trio of women who spend a summer living together. The second story is lush and atmospheric but a little disjointed, making it difficult to follow all the plot strands. Taken as a whole, however, Don’t Cry, Girl is a welcome addition to the small but growing body of josei in English. – Katherine Dacey

Rin-ne, Vol. 9 | By Rumiko Takahashi | VIZ Media – The latest volume of Rin-ne features several ghost-of-the-week stories. Some have a loopy charm: in “Ramen Kaedama,” for example, Rokudo’s feckless father teams up with another damashigami to open a noodle shop, while “The Wig’s Regret” features a possessed prop from a long-forgotten school play. Other chapters, however, feel like something that Rumiko Takahashi could produce on autopilot: the stories are pat and predictable, with magical elements that feel overdetermined. The artwork, too, lacks the detail and personality of Takahashi’s earlier efforts; the backgrounds are uncharacteristically sparse and bland, while the figure drawings look like pallid imitations of characters from Ranma and InuYasha. It’s not bad, just tired; we’ve seen Takahashi tell these kind of stories before with more spark and wit. -Katherine Dacey

New SJ series, more on American manga creators

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The newest addition to Viz’s Shonen Jump Alpha lineup is Kōhei Horikoshi’s sci-fi manga Sensei no Baruji (Barrage).

This really shouldn’t be news, but somehow it is: ICv2 reports that Bizenghast creator M. Alice LeGrow will be paid for the eighth and final volume of the series, which is being co-published by Tokyopop and RightStuf.

Sean Gaffney looks at the coming week’s new manga releases.

The Digital Manga Guild will expand its reach to light novels and doujinshi, Digital Manga, Inc., representatives announced at Fanime this past weekend.

Deb Aoki continues her series on Making a Living in Manga with a look at publishers vs. self-publishing and webcomics—and whether you should just move to Japan.

And here’s an interview with a working manga artist: Laur Uy posts parts 3 and 4 of her interview with Cassandra Jean, the illustrator of Beautiful Creatures, published by Yen Press.

The Manga Moveable Feast, which focused on Oishinbo and food manga, is over, but you can read all the posts and check the links at host blog Otaku Champloo. A few late entries: Ed Sizemore has some things to say about food manga at Comics Worth Reading, and he and Johanna Draper Carlson discuss the topic with Deb Aoki and Michelle Smith in the latest Manga Out Loud podcast. Meanwhile, Ash Brown muses on Oishinbo and the Romance of Food at Experiments in Manga. And Kate Dacey looks at seven mouth-watering food manga at The Manga Critic.

And Michelle Smith and Anna Neatrour will co-host the next MMF at their blogs, Soliloquy in Blue and Manga Report, respectively. The topic: The works of Takehiko Inoue.

Erica Friedman rounds up the latest yuri news at Okazu. She also points to the English translation of Kimino Tamenara Shineru, a gag manga set in the Heian era, which is now available on JManga, along with an essay on the Heian Period that she co-wrote with translator Erin Subramanian.

Patrick Markfort takes to video to discuss the work of Naoki Urasawa.

Comics Alliance has an excerpt from the manga section of The Comic Book History of Comics, by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey. Check it out for a snippet of the history of manga told in comic-book form.

Connie continues her commentary on the Eroicaverse with a look at the art book Plus Ultra.

Black Sun manga-ka Uki Ogasawara will be a guest at this year’s Yaoi-Con.

Megan Purdy reports on the scene at TCAF at Manga Bookshelf.

Matt Blind has the manga best-sellers (online sales) for the week ending March 11.

News from Japan: Three Steps Over Japan takes a look at the newish manga magazine Miracle Jump. W-Juliet creator Emura will launch a new shoujo manga, Idea no Hana, in the August issue of Bessatsu Hana to Yume, and D.N. Angel manga-ka Yukiru Sugisaki’s 1001 (Knights) debuts in the next issue of Asuka. Galaxy Angel creator Yūko Ōtsuki (a.k.a. Kanan) has a new series, Shōjo Ren-ai Hen-i (Girl Love Variation), in Shogakukan’s Club Sunday magazine. Manga adaptations of the anime ‘K’, the Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor game, and the Mini-Skirt Uchū Kaizoku light novels are in the works. Berserk is back for a three-chapter run in Hakusensha’s Young Animal. The high school version of K-ON will end in the June issue of Manga Time Kirara Carat.

Reviews: MJ and Michelle Smith discuss some recent yaoi titles in their latest BL Bookrack column at Manga Bookshelf. Ash Brown wraps up a week’s worth of manga at Experiments in Manga.

Matthew Warner on vol. 6 of Arisa (The Fandom Post)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 14 of Black Bird (The Comic Book Bin)
Sesho on vol. 1 of Bloody Monday (podcast review) (Sesho’s Anime and Manga Reviews)
TSOTE on vol. 3 of Case Records of Professor Munakata (Three Steps Over Japan)
Rebecca Silverman on vol. 3 of Dawn of the Arcana (ANN)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 4 of Dawn of the Arcana (The Comic Book Bin)
Anna on vol. 3 of A Devil and Her Love Song (Manga Report)
Carlo Santos on Dororo (omnibus editions) (ANN)
Connie on vol. 1 of Doukyusei (Slightly Biased Manga)
Manjiyorin on vol. 1 of Drifters (Organization Anti-Social Geniuses)
Connie on vol. 2 of Fist of the North Star (Slightly Biased Manga)
Alexander Bustos on issue 11 of GEN magazine (Comic attack)
Rebecca Silverman on vol. 18 of Higurashi: When They Cry (ANN)
Lesley Aeschliman on vol. 1 of Hoshin Engi (Blogcritics)
Connie on vol. 9 of Kamisama Kiss (Slightly Biased Manga)
Kristin on vol. 9 of Kamisama Kiss (Comic Attack)
Sweetpea616 on Kitchen Princess (Organization Anti-Social Geniuses)
John Rose on vol. 5 of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya-Chan (The Fandom Post)
Connie on vol. 7 of Natsume’s Book of Friends (Slightly Biased Manga)
Lori Henderson on vol. 1 of Neko Ramen (Manga Xanadu)
Lori Henderson on vol. 1 of Oishinbo A La Carte (Manga Xanadu)
Ash Brown on Oishinbo A La Carte: Ramen and Gyoza (Experiments in Manga)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 62 of One Piece (The Comic Book Bin)
Chris Beveridge on chapter 1 of Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration (The Fandom Post)
Drew McCabe on chapter 1 of Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration (Comic Attack)
Carlo Santos on vol. 5 of Saturn Apartments (ANN)
Kristin on vol. 7 of The Story of Saiunkoku (Comic Attack)
Connie on vol. 6 of Tyrant Falls in Love (Slightly Biased Manga)
Snow Wildsmith on Young Miss Holmes Casebook 1-2 (Good Comics for Kids)

Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Vol. 1

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The opening pages of Puella Magi Madoka Magica suggest a dreary retread of Sailor Moon: Kyubey, a talking cat, appears before Madoka Kaname, a perky yet otherwise unremarkable school girl, and asks her, “Would you like to change destiny?” Our first clue that Puella has something nastier up its be-ribboned sleeve occurs midway through the first chapter, when transfer student Homura Akemi confronts Madoka with a dire, if cryptic, warning: “You should never consider ‘changing yourself’ in any way,” she tells Madoka. “If you choose not to heed my words, those things that you hold dear will all be lost.” Homura then attacks Kyubey, accusing him of using “dirty tactics” to persuade Madoka to make a contract with him.

Though all the trappings of a traditional magical girl manga are in place — the costume changes, the cute familiars, the teamwork — Puella charts a darker, more violent course than other translated examples of the genre. Homura and Madoka operate in a world where magical girls routinely die; though their powers are formidable, magical girls are worked to the point of emotional and physical exhaustion. Moreover, their contracts are signed under duress; Kyubey frequently appeals to girls in desperate circumstances, using their vulnerability as leverage. (In exchange for battling witches, he explains to Madoka, “I fulfill one wish. Any wish you want!”)

In short, Puella manages to have its cake and eat it, too, faithfully adhering to the genre’s conventions while offering an explicit critique of its underlying message of courage and selflessness. The story is the antithesis of a wish-fulfillment fantasy: the powers that Kyubey bestows come with responsibilities that are too difficult for a young, inexperienced person to bear. Throughout the manga, we see examples of magical girls who have become competitive or embittered by their experiences, at risk of becoming witches themselves. We also meet girls who regret the haste with which they made their contracts, as their wishes were fulfilled at the expense of friends and family members.

As sharp as Puella‘s genre critique may be, the artwork is a disappointment. The character designs are faithful to the original anime, but the magical elements look smudgy on the page, the product of too much dark grey screentone. The anime’s surreal fight sequences have lost their visual punch as well. Creatures that looked strange and menacing in color have been defanged, reduced to cute video game monsters floating above the picture plane.

Most of the fight scenes have been compressed into a few pages, further curtailing their impact; we barely have time to register who the opponents are before one of the magical girls has eliminated the threat. As a result, the volume’s climatic scene lacks emotional resonance. Though the characters have repeatedly discussed how dangerous their vocation is, the fight is so fleeting and impressionistic that the stakes seem too low to yield such a devastating outcome.

If the artwork lacks the personality of a Magic Knight Rayearth or Cardcaptor Sakura, however, the actual story is on par with the best translated examples of the magical girl manga. Like the aforementioned CLAMP titles, Puella Magi Madoka Magica treats the magical girl as a character worthy of complexity and genuine interiority; the Puella girls may engage in magical combat, but they’re painfully aware that saving the world can be an ugly business — even if they’re wearing smart costumes.

Review copy provided by Yen Press.

PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA, VOL. 1 • STORY BY MAGICA QUARTET, ART BY HANOKAGE • YEN PRESS • 144 pp. • RATING: OLDER TEEN (16+)

Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Vol. 1

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The opening pages of Puella Magi Madoka Magica suggest a dreary retread of Sailor Moon: Kyubey, a talking cat, appears before Madoka Kaname, a perky yet otherwise unremarkable school girl, and asks her, “Would you like to change destiny?” Our first clue that Puella has something nastier up its be-ribboned sleeve occurs midway through the first chapter, when transfer student Homura Akemi confronts Madoka with a dire, if cryptic, warning: “You should never consider ‘changing yourself’ in any way,” she tells Madoka. “If you choose not to heed my words, those things that you hold dear will all be lost.” Homura then attacks Kyubey, accusing him of using “dirty tactics” to persuade Madoka to make a contract with him.

Though all the trappings of a traditional magical girl manga are in place — the costume changes, the cute familiars, the teamwork — Puella charts a darker, more violent course than other translated examples of the genre. Homura and Madoka operate in a world where magical girls routinely die; though their powers are formidable, magical girls are worked to the point of emotional and physical exhaustion. Moreover, their contracts are signed under duress; Kyubey frequently appeals to girls in desperate circumstances, using their vulnerability as leverage. (In exchange for battling witches, he explains to Madoka, “I fulfill one wish. Any wish you want!”)

In short, Puella manages to have its cake and eat it, too, faithfully adhering to the genre’s conventions while offering an explicit critique of its underlying message of courage and selflessness. The story is the antithesis of a wish-fulfillment fantasy: the powers that Kyubey bestows come with responsibilities that are too difficult for a young, inexperienced person to bear. Throughout the manga, we see examples of magical girls who have become competitive or embittered by their experiences, at risk of becoming witches themselves. We also meet girls who regret the haste with which they made their contracts, as their wishes were fulfilled at the expense of friends and family members.

As sharp as Puella‘s genre critique may be, the artwork is a disappointment. The character designs are faithful to the original anime, but the magical elements look smudgy on the page, the product of too much dark grey screentone. The anime’s surreal fight sequences have lost their visual punch as well. Creatures that looked strange and menacing in color have been defanged, reduced to cute video game monsters floating above the picture plane.

Most of the fight scenes have been compressed into a few pages, further curtailing their impact; we barely have time to register who the opponents are before one of the magical girls has eliminated the threat. As a result, the volume’s climatic scene lacks emotional resonance. Though the characters have repeatedly discussed how dangerous their vocation is, the fight is so fleeting and impressionistic that the stakes seem too low to yield such a devastating outcome.

If the artwork lacks the personality of a Magic Knight Rayearth or Cardcaptor Sakura, however, the actual story is on par with the best translated examples of the magical girl manga. Like the aforementioned CLAMP titles, Puella Magi Madoka Magica treats the magical girl as a character worthy of complexity and genuine interiority; the Puella girls may engage in magical combat, but they’re painfully aware that saving the world can be an ugly business — even if they’re wearing smart costumes.

Review copy provided by Yen Press.

PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA, VOL. 1 • STORY BY MAGICA QUARTET, ART BY HANOKAGE • YEN PRESS • 144 pp. • RATING: OLDER TEEN (16+)

BL Bookrack: May 2012

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Welcome to the May installment of BL Bookrack! This month, Michelle takes a look at est em’s Apartments of Calle Feliz (JManga) and the first volume of The Scent of Apple Blossoms (SuBLime), while MJchecks out western BL webcomic Honeydew Syndrome. In Brief: Doukyusei from JManga, and My Sweet Home from the Digital Manga Guild.


Apartments of Calle Feliz | By est em | Published by JManga – It seems that every time I turn around I am thanking JManga for something these days, and this quirky set of interconnected short stories from est em can now be added to the list!

Life’s not going well for aspiring novelist Luca. His editor is dissatisfied with his work, and he’s just been kicked out of his home because his boyfriend found a new guy. When he responds to a flyer advertising a room for rent, he ends up living with the landlord, Javi, instead. Luca’s intrigued by Javi, but keeps telling himself not to care about him, because it seems obvious that Javi has ousted a past lover from his apartment and Luca knows what that feels like.

Still, Javi is an inspiration, and his suggestion that Luca write stories with happy endings for the tenants of the apartment building—located on Calle Feliz (or “happy street”)—results in the tales included here. Residents include Dino and Salvator (a fashion designer and his nudist recluse boyfriend), Noe and the Twins (a man unable to decide which of a pair of twins he prefers), Matias and Pepe (a boy who reminds a puppetmaker of his lost love), and Jose and Eva (a hard-of-hearing guy and a crossdresser with a bunch of noisy roommates). A story about Javi and Luca and Javi’s past rounds out the collection.

The stories themselves are generally fun and charming—though I was disappointed that the Jose and Eva story seemed to end so abruptly—but what’s even more intriguing is wondering how much of this actually happened and how much is Luca’s imagination. Did Pepe’s lover really return to him? Did the designer and the nudist resolve their problems and live happily ever after? It’s nice to imagine they did, but est em floats the possibility that maybe things didn’t actually turn out so well, which is a narrative trick I just love.

This may not be as dramatic a collection as something like Seduce Me After the Show or Red Blinds the Foolish, but it is definitely worth reading all the same.

– Review by Michelle Smith


Honeydew Syndrome, Vol. 1 | By New Shoe | Rated Teen – A while back, I got an e-mail asking if I’d be willing to take a look at a North American comic called Two Keys from the creative team New Shoe (Chloe Chan and Aliena Shoemaker). I agreed. Included in the package when it arrived was the first print volume of the duo’s older BL webcomic Honeydew Syndrome, which immediately stole my attention with its sparse, melancholy cover art and manga-influenced character designs. I couldn’t help but read it, and though its promising first impression was marred somewhat by a small rash of typos and lettering mishaps, the truth is, I found myself rushing to my computer the moment I finished in order to read the rest (and I’ve just purchased volume two, which promises a bonus chapter and some prose stories). It’s just that charming.

So here’s the setup: High school student and emo-in-denial Metis (yes, like Athena’s mother, for those of you who are into Greek mythology) accidentally witnesses popular jock Josh being dumped by his cheerleader girlfriend, which somehow lands him in the way of Josh’s angry fist. To make things worse, he then gets paired up with Josh for a major school project. Though Metis is initially afraid for his well-being, fear soon turns to anger as he realizes that Josh has no idea who he even is, let alone that he recently punched him. Since this is BL, we know that teen angst and misunderstanding ultimately lead to love, but in romance, of course, it’s all about the journey, and this one is pretty delightful all-around.

Though romance is definitely the destination, what makes this series’ journey so worthwhile is its focus on friendship—specifically that between Metis and his collection of outsider friends, and especially his long-time best friend, Charles. Metis and Charles, with their impenetrable universe of two, embody all the best parts of teenage outcast friendship, including all the conversational shorthand, unspoken loyalty, and weirdly casual sexual tension that so often comes with the package. Other standouts include quietly colorful Jay and witheringly honest Sarah (who appears in later chapters).

New Shoe’s artwork lacks polish (at least in this early work), but it’s also unfailingly expressive, and the visual storytelling is solid. The characters’ emotional trajectory is crystal clear, panel-to-panel, even in the artwork’s most uneven moments. If I had the opportunity to register only one complaint regarding Honeydew Syndrome, it would be that there simply is not enough of it. The series ended abruptly in 2009 amid discontent on the part of both fans and creators, as evidenced by comments posted to its fan community at the time. But whatever controversy the series once generated, the existing work is well worth reading.

With its character-driven approach and thoughtful storytelling, Honeydew Syndrome holds its own alongside my small collection of Japanese and Korean favorites. Recommended.

– Review by MJ


The Scent of Apple Blossoms, Vol. 1 | By Toko Kawai | Published by SuBLime – I have yet to meet a Toko Kawai manga I didn’t like, and The Scent of Apple Blossoms proves to be no exception.

Born in America, salesman Haruna Mutsuki is a little more uninhibited than most, and when he meets the intriguing grandson of a sake brewery master during the course of business, he’s pretty forthright with his interest. The grandsom, known for most of the volume only as Nakagawa, presents a cold demeanor, but proves to be kindly in certain situations. I swear, never has the act of remaining sober so as to drive someone else home had so much sweet, romantic significance.

While this is definitely a romance, Kawai gives the story space to breathe and allows her characters ample time and opportunity to establish their personalities. While Haruna looks like the stereotypical uke, for example, and requires a bit of nursing on several occasions, he’s actually a pretty confident guy who’s very capable at his work. Nakagawa, meanwhile, is a ringer for the stereotypical gruff but sweet type who will come around eventually, but he’s actually got some legitimate reasons for shying away from Haruna’s romantic advances.

When the two eventaully get together (not really a spoiler in this sort of story), it’s a big leap for both of them that Kawai’s storytelling has allowed readers to really understand and appreciate. Although I get the sense that she was fine where the story ended in this first volume, The Scent of Apple Blossoms is actually a continuing series. The third volume was just released in Japan earlier this month, and though SuBLime’s digital release calendar doesn’t show volume two yet, I am hoping the wait won’t be too long.

– Review by Michelle Smith

In Brief:

Doukyusei | By Asumiko Nakamura | JManga | Rated Teen Plus – As far as I’m concerned, when it comes to romance, the more awkward the better, and that goes double if the characters are teens. Fortunately, Doukyusei gets this exactly right, and really so much more. Emotionally offbeat in the vein of Rihito Takarai & Venio Tachibana’s Seven Days series (but without the contrived setup), Asumiko Nakamura delicately explores the awkwardness of first love with a kind of frank delicacy, aided greatly by her unique art style and gangly character designs. The story’s themes and school-based situations may be standard genre fare, but Nakamura’s storytelling is decidedly not. Highly recommended. – MJ

My Sweet Home | By Kai Nanase | Digital Manga Guild | Rated Mature – This BL one-shot about a young real estate agent who finds himself showing luxurious apartments to an ex-lover sounds promising to start. (Adults with jobs? Check. Workplace awkwardness? Check.) Unfortunately, the book’s summary is its highlight, leading quickly to rushed, unsatisfying romance, incoherent plotting, and artwork so generic that only the change in main character names really distinguishes the book’s title story from the shorter one-shots that follow. Digital Manga Guild localizing team Kaedama Translations does their job, but there’s only so much that can be done with a clunker like My Sweet Home. With so much BL manga now flooding the market by way of the DMG, mediocre fare like this holds very little appeal. – MJ

Review copies provided by the publishers.

Disclosure: MJ is currently under contract with Digital Manga Publishing’s Digital Manga Guild, as necessitated for her ongoing report Inside the DMG. Any compensation earned by MJin her role as an editor with the DMG will be donated to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

Other recent BL reviews at Manga Bookshelf: Apartments of Calle Feliz (JManga), Working Kentauros (JManga), Devil’s Honey (Sublime), The Boyfriend Next Door (Digital Manga Guild)