Features

My Week in Manga: February 24-March 2, 2014

March 3, 2014 by Ash Brown

My News and Reviews

Last week ended up being surprisingly busy here at Experiments in Manga. The most recent manga giveaway was posted, and there’s still some time left to enter for a chance to win a copy of the new edition of Shohei Manabe’s Smuggler. All you have to do is tell about your favorite assassin in manga. Last week I also posted my review of Hinoki Kino’s manga No. 6, Volume 5. I already knew going into the series that I liked the characters and story, having seen the No. 6 anime, but each volume of the manga is progressively stronger than the last. Over the weekend, I posted February’s Bookshelf Overload for those of you who are interested in that sort of thing. Also over the weekend, I reviewed Real, Volume 1 by Takehiko Inoue. I honestly believe Real to be one of the best manga currently being released in English. The review is part of what I’m calling “Manga March Madness.” Each weekend in March I will be posting a review for another volume of Real. At least that’s the plan. We’ll see if I can pull it off or not.

On to other interesting thing online! The Guys with Pencils podcast posted the second part of their interview with TCAF-founder Chris Butcher. Organization Anti-Social Geniuses has some Advice on Manga Lettering, From Manga Letterers. Khursten Santos wrote about The Silence on Josei Manga on Otaku Champloo, and had some feedback and followup to the post show up on Tumblr. Finally, the Comics Book Legal Defense Fund has an interesting article about the impact government regulations can have on creative freedom–History Repeats Itself: How Korean Manwha Met the Same Fate as American Comics

Quick Takes

Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, Volume 1 written by Ryo Suzukaze and illustrated by Satoshi Shiki. Set some seventy years before the main events of Hajime Isayama’s original Attack on Titan manga, Before the Fall is based on a series of light novels by Ryo Suzukaze (which Vertical will begin releasing later this year). Despite having a different author than the original manga, Before the Fall fits right in with Isayama’s worldbuilding and the tone set by Attack on Titan–there is still plenty of fear and darkness. The most striking difference, which didn’t come at all as a surprise, is that the artwork in Before the Fall is much stronger overall. The story follows Kuklo, a young man who, due to the unusual circumstances of his birth, is feared, abused, and reviled by those around him. It’s not pretty. People who have read the original Attack on Titan will have a slightly better understanding of the world than those who haven’t, but so far Before the Fall seems to stand quite well on its own. Before the Fall has a lot of potential; I look forward to seeing how it develops.

I Give to You by Ebishi Maki. As far as I can tell, I Give to You is Maki’s first and currently only boys’ love manga. It’s not a typical boys’ love story, either. The focus is very much on the characters themselves and their personal struggles and less on romance. The manga addresses what it means to be normal and lead a normal life, which isn’t an option for either of the leads. Ryoichi is being pursued by debt collectors after his ex-boyfriend defaults on a loan they co-signed together. He takes shelter from a storm in a teahouse run by Ren, another young man with a past he’d like to put behind him. The two are very different–despite his financial worries, Ryoichi tends to be fairly warm and happy-go-lucky while Ren is cooler and much more reserved. In the beginning, it’s Ryoichi who needs help and acceptance from Ren, but by the end of I Give to You their roles have almost completely reversed. The evolution of their relationship happens so slowly and naturally over the course of the manga that I was quite impressed with how it was handled. I would definitely be interested in reading more of Maki’s manga.

Knights of Sidonia, Volumes 6-7 by Tsutomu Nihei. For most of Knights of Sidonia, it has been the Gauna who have been adapting and evolving by adopting human strategies, techniques, and even form. In these volumes, it’s the humans who have begun to apply the abilities and characteristics of the Gauna to their own technologies, creating terrifying and powerful human-Guana hybrids in the process. Understandably, not everyone is comfortable with these developments, but humanity is running out of options if it wants to survive. Knights of Sidonia has this odd mix of comedy and creepiness that somehow works. Although by this point in the series he has largely been accepted by the rest of the population of Sidonia and even has a few romantic interests, Nagate continues to be incredibly awkward socially. Because of this he still has a tendency to unintentionally create quite a commotion, often with humorous results. At the same time, Knights of Sidonia is also a horror manga. The Gauna, and now the hybrids as well, have very disconcerting designs that can be both grotesque and beautiful.

Ral Ω Grad, Volumes 1-4 written by Tsuneo Takano and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The primary reason I decided to read Ral Ω Grad was because I’m a fan of Obata’s artwork. Ral Ω Grad is a loose adaptation of the 2006 video game Blue Dragon. The manga definitely has a fantasy RPG feel to it–a young hero with special abilities fights against the destruction of the world by gathering together a party of other gifted individuals around him–but familiarity with Blue Dragon isn’t at all necessary to understand what’s going on. Generally, Ral Ω Grad manages to be vaguely entertaining even though it’s breaking no new ground. I found that I enjoyed the series more when I approached it as a parody rather taking it too seriously. (I’m pretty sure it wasn’t intended to be a parody, though…) Ral’s motivation for saving the world? Because he loves women. And boobs. Consequently, there’s fanservice and groping aplenty, but Ral spends quite a bit of his time running around mostly naked, too. In the end, the series’ highlight really is Obata’s artwork, which is consistently excellent. The story, sadly, is less engaging.

Manga the Week of 3/5

February 27, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, Anna N and MJ 3 Comments

SEAN: Sooooo much stuff. Let’s break it down. Oh, and apologies for last week, the date of Wallflower 32 got shoved back to May after I’d written the post. This is the danger of last minute date-changes. I will discuss it in May, and no doubt Michelle will have the same “it’s still going?” reaction.

MICHELLE: That is probably true.

SEAN: As for this week, let’s start with a Fantagraphics title from Inio Asano, Nijigahara Holograph. This single-volume release is dark, tragic, and creepy, and should immensely please Asano fans. Hey, if it sells well, maybe Viz will take a flyer on Oyasumi Punpun.

ASH: This is one of my most anticipated releases for 2014! I’ve been looking forward to getting my hands on a copy ever since it was announced.

ANNA: I am very excited about this! I enjoy Asano’s works very much, and Fantagraphics editions are always a treat.

MJ: This is definitely a draw for me. Everything about this sounds compelling.

SEAN: Did you enjoy Jiro Tanaguchi’s The Walking Man but wish it took place 300 years earlier? Than you’ll love the same author’s Furari, out from Ponent Mon.

MICHELLE: Ooooh! I really like Jiro Taniguchi!

ASH: It’s always nice to see more Taniguchi.

MJ: Agreed!

SEAN: You cannot stop the Alice in the Country of Hearts spinoffs! They are endless! Here’s March Hare, a 2nd series focusing on Alice pairing up with Eliot.

ANNA: I can take or leave new spinoffs, but sometimes they are fun.

SEAN: Seven Seas also has the 6th volume of Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends, featuring the tight group of not-friends getting involved in further not-friendship events.

I’ve enjoyed The Sacred Blacksmith far more than I was really expecting, and hope Vol. 4 keeps me happy despite my general distrust of manga fantasy-oriented stories.

Senran Kagura ended up being pretty much exactly what I was expecting, but the 2nd volume should give us more of that as well.

Vertical’s From the New World gives us a 3rd volume as well, speaking of popular titles I try to say as little as possible about.

ASH: I haven’t read beyond the first volume yet, but I have been told the fanservice was toned down considerably in the second.

SEAN: There’s no blood on the cover of Black Bird 18, and the protagonists are smiling, so we must have reached the final volume! Black Bird sold a pile, so let’s give a round of applause to this title I never warmed to but others most certainly did.

MICHELLE: I hear Strong Bad’s voice in my head, going “It’s over!”

ANNA: I’m sure that this was a financially remunerative title for Viz, so that’s nice even though I really never connected with this series.

MJ: Oh, Black Bird… I really won’t miss you.

SEAN: Blue Exorcist is always a treat, and I’m sure Vol. 11 will live up to the anticipation and not advance any of the potential romances I read it for.

MJ: Hee!

I fell behind with D.Gray-Man’s omnibuses, so should see if I can pound through them now that the 3rd one is coming out.

I can’t even remember if this Dragon Ball 3-in-1 is the original series, Z, or the color edition. Or the VizBIG edition. But hey, it’s Dragon Ball, surely someone hasn’t read it yet. Somewhere. Perhaps in outer Mongolia.

Oh hey, look, a new volume of Fushigi Yu– (Sean is trampled by the rest of the Manga Bookshelf team rushing forward to squee.)

MICHELLE: Hmm, did I just step on something squishy?

ANNA: If trampling is the best way to express my love for this series, I will be right back as I need to put on my trampling boots!

MJ: SO MUCH LOVE. Sorry about the trampling.

SEAN: Ow. Moving on to Midnight Secretary? (cheers but no violence) Excellent. Vol. 4 is approximately halfway through this series, and I expect things will take a darker turn round about now.

ANNA: I do enjoy Midnight Secretary quite a bit!

MJ: As do I!

SEAN: Nisekoi continues to try to catch up to its digital releases with the 2nd print volume. Do you like Jump harem comedies? Sure we all do! Well, a good 40% of us, perhaps…

MICHELLE: Now I’m hearing the voice of Sally Struthers!

SEAN: One Piece hits another milestone with its 70th volume. Donflamingo steps up to what seems to be the next ‘big villain’ role here, and it promises to be a lot of fun.

MICHELLE: Somehow I’ve gotten a couple volumes behind on One Piece. Clearly I need to rectify that!

SEAN: Comedy volume of the week has to go to Oresama Teacher 16, which is filled with idiots being idiotic. Each volume takes it to a new level.

ANNA: This manga never fails to make me laugh.

SEAN: License Rescue of the week absolutely goes to Phantom Thief Jeanne, the one remaining Tanemura title that was out of print after CMX went under. Kudos to Viz for picking it up!

MICHELLE: Despite owning the full CMX run (and watching VHS fansubs of the anime long ago), I have not actually read this series. Perhaps the VIZ edition will compel me.

ANNA: This is my favorite Tanemura series, because it is absolutely bonkers. And Jeanne makes failed attempts to turn rhythmic gymnastics equipment into deadly weapons, which is always good for a laugh.

MJ: I’m definitely looking forward to having a chance at this!

SEAN: We’ve hit the 2nd to last volume of Psyren, which is good, as it feels like it’s just about time to start wrapping things up. Given it’s a Jump series, I’m not sure how sudden the ending will be, but…

MICHELLE: Some day I’ve gotta catch up on this.

SEAN: What’s Rin-Ne 14 doing among all these Shueisha titles? Take your Shogakukan-ness to the 2nd week of the month where it belongs! Wait, likely it’s here so that it doesn’t get in the way of that week’s OTHER Takahashi release…

MICHELLE: I’m torn. Do I like RIN-NE enough to cheer for it?

SEAN: Skip Beat! 3-in-1 hits Vol. 7, which I think means it’s still dealing with Black Moon rather than Box R.

Strobe Edge 9 is also a penultimate volume. How much worse can things get than they already are? Well, it *is* a romantic comedy…

MICHELLE: No question about these two. *Cheer!*

ANNA: I’m impatient for Strobe Edge to wrap up, but I do enjoy it!

MJ: Seconded!

SEAN: Lastly, Tegami Bachi has also reached 16 volumes, and as ever I have next to nothing to say about it.

That’s a lot of manga. What will you get this week, and what will you put off?

Manga Giveaway: Smuggler Giveaway

February 26, 2014 by Ash Brown

For being the shortest month of the year, February seems to be lasting a long time for me. But the end is almost here, which means it’s time for another manga giveaway! This month you all (well, mostly all) will have the opportunity to win a copy of Smuggler by Shohei Manabe. Originally released in English by Tokyopop, Smuggler is now available in a new edition from One Peace Books. Because this manga is aimed at more mature audiences, entries are restricted to those of you who are eighteen years of age or older. Otherwise, as always, the giveaway is open worldwide!

Assassins, they’re everywhere you look. Well, maybe not everywhere, especially as many of them generally stay out of sight as part of their job. However, it’s not uncommon to come across an assassin or two in a manga. It tends to be a fairly manly profession, with the likes of Golgo 13 and Yo Hinamura (Crying Freeman), but there are some pretty kick-ass women working as assassins, too, such as the titular Lady Snowblood and quite a few of the women in Black Lagoon. Why am I talking about assassins? Because the dark and violent Smuggler just so happens to feature more than one extraordinarily vicious killer-for-hire, though the manga’s focus is on one of the guys who has to clean up after them (he just doesn’t realize it at first).

So, you may be wondering, how can you win a copy of the Smuggler?

1) In the comments below, tell me a little about your favorite manga assassin.
2) For a second entry, name another manga that features an assassin that hasn’t been mentioned yet by me or by someone else.
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! Each person can earn up to three entries for this giveaway. As usual, you will all have a week to submit your comments. If you would prefer or have trouble leaving a comment, entries may also be submitted via e-mail to phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com. I will then post them in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on March 5, 2014. Good luck!

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: Smuggler Giveaway Winner

MangaBox: What Is It & What’s Good to Read

February 26, 2014 by Justin Stroman 4 Comments

A few weeks ago, I finally did what a rational manga consumer and someone who attempts to write about manga would do: consume everything that MangaBox has to offer and try and talk to people behind MangaBox. Let’s just say the last part was mostly a pipe dream. But I worked with what I got. In the end though, you probably want to know one thing: is MangaBox worth your time?

YES!

…

My Week in Manga: February 17-February 23, 2014

February 24, 2014 by Ash Brown

My News and Reviews

Two reviews posted last week! First up was Jeffery Angles’ Writing the Love of Boys: Origins of Bishōnen Culture in Modernist Japanese Literature. It’s a very interesting work examining the portrayal of male-male desire in Japanese literature in the early twentieth century. I discovered Writing the Love of Boys while looking for more information about Edogawa Rampo and his writing. The work even briefly addresses boys’ love manga, which I didn’t realize that it would when I first picked up the volume. The second review from last week was of Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Volume 4: Jaburo. I’ll be honest, since I wasn’t already a Gundam fan, I didn’t anticipate that I would be enjoying this series as much as I am. I’ve actually been quite impressed with the manga. Yasuhiko’s artwork is fantastic and the balance between the individual characters’ struggles and the war as a whole has been excellent. And It doesn’t hurt that Vertical’s edition of The Origin is simply gorgeous.

As for interesting things online: Matt Thorn received An unambiguous response from Asano Inio regarding the use of pronouns and has some final thoughts on the whole affair. I had somehow forgotten about Ryan Holmberg’s What Was Alternative Manga? column at The Comics Journal. The latest article examines Shinohara Ushio’s Action Cartooning. In the most recent House of 1000 Manga column, Jason Thompson uses the return of two boxes of manga amounting to 64 Pounds of Porn as a jumping off point to discuss some of the history of the publication of hentai and ecchi manga in English. Manga translator Amanda Haley was interviewed over at Organization Anti-Social Geniuses. In somewhat older news, but Brigid Alverson and Publishers Weekly now have bit more information about it–Digital Manga, Inc. to Publish Tezuka Backlist.

Quick Takes

Gangsta, Volume 1 by Kohske. Other than having seen some of the artwork and having a rough sense of the series’ premise, I actually didn’t know much about Gangsta going into the first volume. It turns out that the manga is Kohske’s first series and it seems to be doing fairly well for her. At the very least, I can say that I’m definitely interested in reading more of Gangsta. Worick and Nicolas are two “handymen” who are brought in to deal, often quite violently, with people and situations that for one reason or another the authorities would rather avoid. The two men have dark pasts, ties to organized crime, and a very close relationship with each other, but only one volume in the details have mostly just been hinted at. I like Nic and Worick a lot, and am particularly interested in learning more about Nic and his background. At one point a mercenary, he’s an incredibly skilled and powerful fighter. He’s also a “tag” with superhuman abilities, considered to be a monster or freak by many. Worick can hold his own, too, though. They’re both badasses with attitudes. The supporting cast is also pretty great.

Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit, Volumes 1-2 by Motoro Mase. In order to encourage the population to value life and increase social productivity, the National Welfare Act is passed. During inoculation, 1 out of 1,000 people are randomly injected with a nano-capsule that will kill them sometime between the age of 18 and 24. The day before they are scheduled to die, they receive death papers–Ikigami–so that they can prepare for their last hours. Ikigami follows those people and how they deal and cope with their impending deaths. It’s a grim subject matter, but handled well. The manga manages to show that even seemingly senseless deaths matter and can have a purpose–people can continue to influence others even after they are gone. At this point, Ikigami seems to be largely episodic. However, there is also an overarching framing story that ties everything together. Kengo Fujimoto is one of the government workers responsible for delivering Ikigami to those who are about to die. He struggles to come to terms with his work and the role he plays within the system as he (and therefore the readers) learn more about it.

The Manzai Comics, Volume 1 written by Atsuko Asano and illustrated by Hizuru Imai. I discovered The Manzai Comics due to the fact that it is written by the author of No. 6. It’s a five-volume series, but only the first volume was ever released in English. I was actually quite surprised by The Manzai Comics; it’s a rather delightful and amusing manga. And touching, too, as transfer student Ayumu struggles to overcome his hikikomori tendencies and is almost forcefully befriended by his new classmates. One of the major running jokes is that almost everything that Takashi says to Ayumu when taken out of context makes it sound like he’s hitting on him. When he’s talking about “doing it” and so on, he’s talking about becoming a manzai duo, not boyfriends. (Although it may very well be that Takashi is gay; it’s left as an ambiguous possibility.) In some ways, The Manzai Comics is like a boys’ love manga without actually being a boys’ love manga. People who are at least passing familiar with manzai stand-up comedy will probably get a little more out of it than those who aren’t, but that knowledge isn’t at all necessary to enjoy the story as a whole.

Swan, Volumes 10-12 by Kyoko Ariyoshi. I am still absolutely loving Swan. The Second Annual Tokyo World Ballet Competition is drawing to a close, but the passion and intensity of the dancers is as strong as ever. They are all pushing themselves to the breaking point in order to give their very best performances. Ultimately the competition is too much for some of the dancers, both physically and emotionally, as they are confronted with their own limitations. These particular volumes of Swan emphasize the importance of a dancer’s personal strength and abilities, but also the importance of a dancer’s partner and their ability to work with, rely upon, and support each other. This extends beyond the realm of dance and spills over into the rest of their lives, as well. Years have passed since the story first began; it’s marvelous to see how much Masumi has changed and developed as the Swan has progressed, not just as a dancer but as a person. I like her even more now than I did the beginning. She’s gone through a lot of trials, pain, and suffering for her art, but she has also experienced great joy and satisfaction because of it.

Gatchaman Crowds directed by Kenji Nakamura. I am only vaguely familiar with the Gatchaman franchise and so wasn’t initially intending to watch Gatchaman Crowds, but after hearing nothing but good things about the series I decided to give it a try. I’m glad that I did because I ended up quite enjoying Gatchaman Crowds. Hajime Ichinose is the most recent member of the Gatchaman team, a group of humans and aliens granted superpowers in order to protect the planet from aliens that would do it and the population harm. She’s an extraordinarily vibrant and optimistic young woman, and at first I thought she was going to be terribly annoying, but Hajime turns out to be a fantastic character and is not nearly as naive as one might expect. Her presence on the team has a huge effect on the other members and they all begin to rethink what it means to be Gatchaman and what their roles as superheros should be. Basically, it’s a series about using your skills and talents to the best of your ability no matter who you are and how even dangerous powers (and technology) can be harnessed for good.

Manga the Week of 2/26

February 20, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, Anna N and MJ 2 Comments

SEAN: This is a very small end of the month, which is good, as it gives me time to pick out two titles I forgot to mention last week, and one digital only title that made its big debut this Tuesday.

Dark Horse has Blood Blockade Battlefront 5 and Blood-C 3 coming out this week, so they should have been on last week’s list. Honestly, I find both titles so uninspiring that I often forget they exist, which may explain why I didn’t include them. But here they are.

Fairy Tail ended its last volume in a really nasty place, and I’m pretty sure that all the reader is thinking right now is REVENGE. We’ll see if they get it. Also, would Lucy lose quite so many fights if she were a male protagonist? (A reminder that she, and not Natsu, is the protagonist.)

I’m finding that reading The Wallflower is much like reading Ranma 1/2. The moment you take it seriously or hope it is heading into a final arc, you get extremely ANGRY with it. Best just to let Vol. 32 roll off of you and be amusing.

MICHELLE: Man, is that series still going?!

ASH: It is! Though it’s been a while since I’ve read any of it.

SEAN: The big release this week is Vertical’s manga autobiography of Moyoco Anno – or rather, of her relationship with Uber-Otaku and Evangelion overlord Hideaki Anno. Insufficient Direction simply looks like a giant pile of fun, and I have very high hopes for it.

MICHELLE: Oooooh.

ASH: I’m always happy to see more Moyoco Anno manga in English, so I’m very excited for this release.

ANNA: I am also very excited!

MJ: As am I!

SEAN: Lastly, Viz is finally releasing the first collected volume of One-Punch Man digitally. The rumor is that a print release may follow, but I’m not holding my breath. But that shouldn’t matter – you should buy this, as it’s an awesome title that mocks superheroes and shonen cliches in the best way.

MICHELLE: After having read Bakuman, I can’t help but envision this concept being pitched at the Shueisa serialization meeting! It’s good to hear it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

ASH: I’ll hold my breath as long as it takes to get a physical release! (In the meantime, I’ll be reading it digitally.)

ANNA: I’m looking forward to reading this too, it sounds great.

MJ: I’ve been keeping up with Derek’s weekly recaps, so my expectations are a bit tempered, but perhaps I’ll be pleasantly surprised!

SEAN: Any manga plans this week?

My Week in Manga: February 10-February 16, 2014

February 17, 2014 by Ash Brown

My News and Reviews

Not one, but two in-depth manga reviews were posted last week at Experiments in Manga. It wasn’t intentional on my part, though it did make me happy, but both manga deal with queer themes. The first review was for Takako Shimura’s Wandering Son, Volume 6. Even though it can be a somewhat difficult read for me personally since the subject matter often hits very close to home, I’m still absolutely loving this series. The seventh volume of Wandering Son is currently scheduled for release in August, which feels like a long ways off right now. As part of my “Year of Yuri” review project, last week I also took a closer look at Kiriko Nananan’s Blue, the only example of her long-form manga available in English. It’s a sweet and melancholic story of first love which follows the relationship of two young women who are classmates at an all-girls high school. The artwork in particular is very striking.

I’ve come across plenty of interesting reading and news over the last week. Brigid Alverson attended the Angoulême International Comics Festival this year and has been writing several reports on the experience. One of those explores the current state of the French manga market. In other festival news, The Guys with Pencils podcast interviewed Christ Butcher to talk about the fantastic Toronto Comics Arts Festival which he co-founded in 2003. Justin Stroman recently wrote two articles that I found to be particularly interesting: The Great Tumblr Industry Experience for Organization Anti-Social Geniuses and The Legal Manga Reading Sites You Don’t Know About for Manga Bookshelf. Finally, there has been some more movement on the licensing front. Yen press announced three new manga titles (Übel Blatt by Etorouji Shiono, Barakamon by Satsuki Yoshino, and Hiroyuki Aigamo’s adaptation of Accel World), as did Vertical (Gamon Sakurai’s Demi-Human, Ryū Mizunagi’s Witchcraft Works, and Midori Motohashi’s adaptation of The Garden of Words).

Quick Takes

Mister Mistress, Volume 2 by Rize Shinba. It’s been quite a while since I read the first volume of Mister Mistress, but I did enjoy it enough that I made a point to track down the now out-of-print second volume. (Happily, both volumes are now available digitally from SuBLime, though I don’t believe there are currently any plans to continue the series.) Mister Mistress works best for me when it sticks to being a comedy. Shinba introduces a somewhat tragic backstory for Rei in this volume, but fortunately it doesn’t take too long for this to be turned around and played for laughs. The series’ strength really isn’t its plot, but its humor. Fujimaru is a bit of a goofball who can’t quite decide what to do about Rei. He halfheartedly attempts to exorcise the incubus several times, but on occasion he actually appreciates having him around. Though I’m not entirely convinced by their developing feelings for each other, it can be rather convenient for a horny teenager to have a personal incubus to aid in the realization of his sexual daydreams. As such, the sex scenes in Mister Mistress tend to be a little unusual.

Sherlock Bones, Volumes 2-3 written by Yuma Ando and illustrated by Yuki Sato. I wasn’t sure after reading the first volume of Sherlock Bones, but after reading the second and third volumes it appears as though the series will be mostly episodic. Which is just fine and works pretty well. After the basic premise of the series has been established–Sherlock Holmes reincarnated as a mix-breed puppy–the mysteries tend to be fairly self-contained. I was pleasantly surprised by the first volume of Sherlock Bones and, if anything, I think these two volumes are even better than the first. Sherdog seems to always be present when a murder is taking place, so Sherlock Bones isn’t really a “whodunit.” Instead, the series focuses on outwitting the criminals and finding ways to reveal their attempts to cover up what they have done. For the most part this means relying on circumstantial evidence and pressuring the killers into confessing. Although murder seems to be the crime du jour, Sherlock Bones features some more lighthearted and silly investigations as well which take advantage of the fact that Sherdog is adorable.

Stone, Volumes 1-2 by Sin-ichi Hiromoto. In 2004, the editor of the English edition of Hiromoto’s short manga series Stone called it a “tribute to all of the fantastic sci-fi/action/fantasy films of the past thrity-odd years.” That seems to be a fairly accurate description of Stone. Hiromoto borrows and remixes elements from many films and franchises along with his own creations to devise something entirely his own. I was frequently reminded of Waterworld and to some extent Dune, and I definitely caught nods to Hellraiser and Star Wars. I get the feeling that there were references that I completely missed, too. Stone is a quickly paced manga with plenty of action set in a post-apocalyptic world in which the planet has been covered in a literal sea of sand. My favorite parts of Stone are the nightmarish sand creatures that Hiromoto has designed. Zizi, a fiesty young woman and the series’ lead, is also pretty great. I did prefer the series’ beginning over its end. As the manga becomes increasingly chaotic as the story progresses. The artwork remains visually interesting and engaging, but the plot makes less and less sense as it goes along.

Two Flowers for the Dragon, Volumes 5-6 by Nari Kusakawa. I have now reached the point in this series where I must lament the fact that the final volume wasn’t able to be released in English before CMX folded. These two volumes form the climax of Two Flowers for the Dragon and include some extraordinarily significant plot developments and betrayals. The direction the story has taken was definitely foreshadowed, but that doesn’t make it any less heart-wrenching to see play out. I thought it was all very well done. One of the things that I like the best about Two Flowers for the Dragon is how well-developed and complicated the main characters are. They all have their strengths and their weaknesses, flaws as well as redeeming qualities. The supporting cast is likewise well-rounded, though at this point the series’ true villain unfortunately seems to be less so. The characters and their interactions are a highlight of Two Flowers for the Dragon, but I’m really enjoying the story as well. I like the mix of action, fantasy, romance, and intrigue. So much so, that I’m tracking down a copy of the last volume in Japanese. I want to know what happens!

Manga the Week of 2/19

February 13, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown and MJ 1 Comment

SEAN: Third week of the month is pretty hefty this month thanks to Yen Press’s pile o’ stuff, plus a few titles from everyone else.

Kodansha brings us the 13th volume of Cage of Eden. The series has now ended in Japan, so we know there will be 21 total. That still leaves us many more volumes of huge killer animals and naked women bathing to go.

And for those of you who are of a more BL disposition, Kodansha also has the 5th No. 6.

ASH: I’m actually really enjoying this series! After a somewhat weak first volume, it keeps getting better and better.

MJ: Ash’s endorsement here makes me feel like I should check it out!

SEAN: Seven Seas debuts a new series whose anime is already famous – or, indeed, infamous. Strike Witches: Maidens in the Sky is known to me primarily as “that anime with the girls who are WWII fighter pilot archetypes and wear no pants.” Let’s see how the manga entertains.

MICHELLE: … So very not for me.

MJ: Uh. Yeah.

SEAN: There’s also Vol. 4 of World War Blue, which prefers to use video game companies for its archetype needs.

We have reached the penultimate volume of Bokurano: Ours from Viz, so surely the cast must be down to only 1 or 2 people, right?

MICHELLE: I need to get caught up with this one!

SEAN: The debut I’m most excited for this week is Gangsta, a seinen series from Shinchosha’s Comic Bunch with 87,000 tons of style.

ASH: I’m very interested in this one, too.

MJ: Agreed!

SEAN: Blood Lad has caught up with Japan, so it’s been a while since we saw it. This 4th omnibus should have Vols. 7 and 8 from Japan. Can’t wait, this is one of my big sleeper hits.

MICHELLE: Woot! It’s been a long time!

MJ: I am so happy to see more Blood Lad! It is one of my very favorite series currently running, and I am so surprised to be saying that.

SEAN: We have also reached Vol. 5 of BTOOOM!, which I understand has finally given its survival game heroine a name.

MICHELLE: I made myself snicker by imagining her name was “Crotchina.”

MJ: ❤

SEAN: Now that The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan has gotten rid of its big plot surprise, can it still entertain while going back to slice-of-life cuteness?

Yen also has Vol. 7 of Is This A Zombie?. I keep wanting there to be a sequel called “Yes, This IS A Zombie!”

MICHELLE: *snerk*

SEAN: Vol. 9 of Jack Frost, one of Yen’s longer-running manwha titles. I lost track of it. Is it Horror? Action? Comedy?

Speaking of survival game manga, we also get Vol. 3 of Judge, which continues Doubt‘s basic themes with a (mostly) new cast.

It’s Pandora Hearts 20! Huzzah! Be warned, I think we’re nearly caught up with Japan. The days of every other month are almost over.

MICHELLE: Waah.

MJ: WOE IS MEEEEE. Though of course I’m happy to see this volume. :)

SEAN: Puella Magi Kazumi Magica 4 continues to ask the question: “How much more money can we earn by putting magical girls through horrible trauma?” The answer. A whole lot.

Lastly, there is the 3rd and final hardcover omnibus of Thermae Romae, Mari Yamazakis tribute to baths and bathing filtered though Ancient Rome. Can Lucius find a happy ending and a nice long soak?

MJ: I’m looking forward to this, if a bit passively.

What’s your manga valentine?

Ready for Some Manga Action

February 12, 2014 by Erica Friedman 2 Comments

It’s the beginning of a new year and we’re all feeling energetic and stuff, right? I can’t think of a better time to tackle Manga Action (漫画アクション) magazine from Futabasha. Manga Action is another one of the manly manga magazines that fills convenience store racks on Japanese street corners.

Like other purely seinen manga magazines, the audience is presumed to be adult males. The protagonists of the story are adult men, the stories told include sexual situations. The stories tend toward slice-of-adult-male-life, with a slight fantasy element thrown in, but the variety is surprising; Manga Action stories include comedy, sex, fantasy, adventure, psychological suspense and more.

Although you might not expect to have heard of any of the manga series running in Manga Action, the late, lamented JManga had a good relationship with Futabasha and was translating Nakua Hakao’s “Masuikai Hana” as “Anesthesologist Hana” and “Odds GP,” Ishiwata Osamu’s sports manga about the short-track bicycle racing known as Keirin.

Originally debuted in 1967, Manga Action was published weekly until 2003, when it was suspended for a time. It is currently released twice a month. At 380 yen ($3.65 at time of writing), each issue includes just over 350 pages of manga, so it’s a pretty good, cheap form of light entertainment for the salaryman on his daily commute. The Japanese Magazine Publisher’s Association puts per-issue circulation at 200,000 for Manga Action during October 2011-September 2012.

Like most other men’s manga magazines, Manga Action frequently sports a bikini-clad model on the cover and often has other pop culture tie-ins, like gravure photo shoots and girl-group news and interviews. Futabasha has a webpage for Manga Action, but to say it is “sparse” is an understatement. The single page with magazine and series information is more like a press kit than a website. However, there is a substantial Manga Action Webcomic Page, with sample chapters of many of the currently running stories. Manga Action has a dedicated Twitter account, in case you’re looking for updates and news.

Manga Action from Futabasha publishing: http://webaction.jp/action/

The Legal Manga Reading Sites You Don’t Know About

February 11, 2014 by Justin Stroman 19 Comments

You don’t really see it at ANN. You don’t really see it at Manga Bookshelf. You don’t really see these discussed amongst forums and various social media sites. I did list some of them though, because they proved they’re legit somehow. Needless to say though, it feels that’s the only type of exposure they’ve gotten. I’m guessing it’s not true, but it’s just a feeling. And it’s weird. Well, maybe not as weird as expected, since the online manga sites themselves might be the ones with some issues.

…Oh right, I guess I should explain a bit more what I’m talking about.

…

My Week in Manga: February 3-February 9, 2014

February 10, 2014 by Ash Brown

My News and Review

Last week I announced the winner of the Vinland Saga manga giveaway. The post also includes a list of the manga with memorable snowy scenes that were mentioned during the contest. (Just in case you haven’t had enough snow where you are this winter.) And speaking of Makoto Yukimura’s Vinland Saga, I also reviewed the second omnibus of the manga. I’m really loving the series and enjoyed the second volume even more than I did the first. Over the weekend I reviewed Mieko Kanai’s award-winning novel Oh, Tama! which I greatly enjoyed. I know quite a few people who find it to be a boring work, but I found it to be delightfully low-key with a quirky sense of humor.

As for news and interesting reading seen online this week: The fourth issue of the international edition of Monkey Business will be released later this month. I quite enjoy Monkey Business, so I’m looking forward to it. Seven Seas answered a question about some of the decisions that go into licensing manga for omnibus release over on its Tumblr. At Organization Anti-Social Geniuses, Justin posted a great List of Where You Can Buy Anime/Manga in 2014. Hooded Utilitarian’s Ng Suat Tong writes about some of the best online comics criticism of 2013, including some great articles on manga that I hadn’t previously come across.

Quick Takes

Dictatorial Grimoire, Volume 1: Cinderella by Ayumi Kanou. I have a feeling that Dictatorial Grimoire may very well be one of those manga that is so bad that it’s good. The story is admittedly a bit of a mess and sometimes doesn’t even make a whole lot of sense. However, I can’t deny that I had fun reading the manga. It’s all sorts of ridiculous. (I’m not sure that all of it is entirely intentional, though.) Otogi Grimm is the descendant of the Brothers Grimm which turns out to be a rather dangerous thing to be. The Brothers made a pact with demons offering up the lives of their descendants in exchange for the stories that formed the basis of their famous fairy tales. Many of those demons–such as the progenitor’s of Cinderella and Snow White–are now after Otogi in one way or another. He does seem to maintain some control over them, though it’s never explained how he learned, developed, or perhaps inherited this power. I did love that Cinderella is a complete masochist, although that fact is used mostly as a gag rather than for any meaningful characterization. I was, however, amused.

Fairy Tail, Volume 34 by Hiro Mashima. The thirty-fourth volume of Fairy Tail gets off to a good start with the conclusion of Natsu’s confrontation with the Saber Tooth Guild. Then it’s back to the Grand Magic Games for the third day of competition. After a nice buildup to the day’s challenge event, called Pandemonium, Erza’s epic battle is largely reduced to a two-page spread. More time is spent on what basically amounts to target practice for the other teams than on what could have been a glorious combat sequence; it was extremely disappointing. Some of the other fights in this volume fare better, but others are completely rushed through. I’m more interested in the plots going on behind the scenes than I am in the tournament itself, but it seems that to some extent Mashima has given up on the Grand Magic Games. Even the event challenges, which were initially interesting because they required some actual thought and strategy to be put into them in addition to magic and martial skill, have become little more than all-out brawls in this volume. That, too, was a rather disappointing development.

Manic Love by Satomi Yamagata. Manic Love is a prequel of sorts to Yamagata’s Fake Fur; it delves deeper into the back story of Maki Sonoda, an important side character. Yamagata jokes in the afterword that she had challenged herself to write a manga that was half nude scenes, so there’s quite a bit of sex in Manic Love. But it’s actually handled quite tastefully and the sex scenes are an important part of the manga and the themes with which Yamagata is working. As was the case with Fake Fur, Manic Love explores the relationship between romantic love and sexual desire and how they can influence each other. Sex is used as a form of communication and connection between the characters in addition to being something that they enjoy. One of the things that I particularly liked about Manic Love is that each chapter it told from a different characters’ point of view. Maki is in what is probably best described as a sort of love triangle, but it’s one without hard feelings or anger. It’s interesting to be able to see that unusual relationship from multiple perspectives, including one from someone who is outside of that triangle entirely.

Manga the Week of 2/12

February 6, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Ash Brown, Michelle Smith, MJ and Anna N 2 Comments

SEAN: Assuming that you are able to get out of your house and are not snowed in, there’s a lot to like in this 2nd week of February.

Does anyone here remember Hey! Class President from DMP? Vol. 3 came out back in September 2010. Well, here’s Vol. 4, despite the fact that he surely should have graduated by now.

Do you like tournament arcs? Do you wish that they came out in giant omnibuses so that you could get EVEN MORE TOURNAMENT ARC per volume? Then you will love the 3rd Battle Angel Alita: Last Order omnibus from Kodansha.

ASH: Ancient Martian martial arts and space karate! What’s not to love?

SEAN: Do you like tournament arcs? Do you wish that they came out in giant omnibuses so that you could get EVEN MORE TOURNAMENT ARC per volume? Then you will love the 9th Negima omnibus from Kodansha.

MICHELLE: *snerk* Somehow, this has left me wondering when/whether The Prince of Tennis will get the omnibus treatment.

MJ: This whole conversation just made me smile. Though I mostly don’t like tournament arcs. Unless they are about Go. Apparently.

SEAN: Sankarea looks like it may be taking that big step towards full-blown horror, but will it find the time to be silly and have harem antics? Find out with Volume 5.

Blue Morning 4 is filled with tortured embraces and flowers blooming from nowhere.

MICHELLE: It’s so good!

MJ: I’m looking forward to this!

SEAN: Meanwhile, in Crimson Spell 2, our heroes would prefer to merely glare at the reader. Both of these from SubLime.

ASH: I’m still incredibly happy about this license rescue.

SEAN: Knights of Sidonia looks like it may be taking that big step towards full-blown horror, but will it find the time to be silly and have harem antics? Find out with Volume 7.

MICHELLE: Also so good.

ASH: Yes, it is!

MJ: More Sidonia, more!

SEAN: Deadman Wonderland manages to combine the survival game genre with a prison drama, as a young man who is the sole survivor of a brutal massacre is convicted of being the cause and sent to Japan’s Next Top Prison.

MICHELLE: I liked the first volume of this, back when it was a TOKYOPOP title. I’m looking forward to being able to revisit it and hopefully get more of the story.

ASH: I enjoyed what TOKYOPOP released, too, though I preferred the earlier volumes over the latter ones.

ANNA: I also enjoyed the first few volumes of this, and it makes sense that it is going to be reissued, what with the anime tie-in. I really really wish someone would license rescue old Tokyopop titles like Demon Sacred and Sky Blue Shore though.

MICHELLE: Oh, me too x 1000.

MJ: I’m grateful for this one because I missed it the first time around. Count me in on Demon Sacred, though!

SEAN: Hayate the Combat Butler 23 finally begins to get dramatic (no, seriously, it does), but will it be able to actually resolve the Athena plot? Or will we wait another 6 months with a nasty cliffhanger?

The last VIZBIG InuYasha is looking like it may be the last VIZBIG edition period, but it was a nice way to get a very long series.

MICHELLE: I have still not finished InuYasha. One of these days.

SEAN: Our heroes are separated as of the end of the 3rd Magi volume. Can we get them back together in this 4th book? Let’s hope so, I love shonen teamups.

MICHELLE: I’ve been really impressed by Magi so far. Hooray for more.

SEAN: Lastly, the 4th volume of Tiger & Bunny continues to attract a very devoted audience.

MICHELLE: That’s very diplomatic.

SEAN: What’s your poison this week?

My Week in Manga: January 27-February 2, 2014

February 3, 2014 by Ash Brown

My News and Reviews

I only posted one review last week, but there were a couple of other posts as well. As for the review, I took a look at Haruki Murakami’s award-winning Kafka on the Shore. Of the two Murakami novels that I have so far read, this is my favorite. Still, at times I found it to be a rather frustrating reading experience, although there were parts of the novel that I absolutely loved. For the few people who are actually interested, I also posted January’s Bookshelf Overload last week. But, perhaps most importantly, my first manga giveaway of the year is currently in progress! I accidentally ended up with two copies of the second Vinland Saga omnibus, so now you have a chance to win one for your very own! The winner will be announced on Wednesday, so there’s still some time to enter the giveaway.

On to other things online! Matt Thorn has tracked down the interview with Inio Asano that sparked the whole discussion about his gender identity among fandom and offers some of his own comments. Over at All About Manga, Daniella Orihuela-Gruber writes about Hetalia’s Version of History: What Does It Offer Readers?. The fourth episode of Fujojocast has been posted, which takes a look at some award-winning and award-nominated manga. And speaking of honor-worthy manga, Wandering Son made the Rainbow List again this year and quite a few manga appear on YALSA’s 2014 list of Great Graphic Novels for Teens (which is actually a great list of graphic novels for anyone, not just teens). Finally, Seven Seas has had a week full of license announcements, including Vampire Bund doujinshi, Kokoro Connect, and it’s newest yuri acquisition Citurs.

Quick Takes

Attack on Titan, Volume 11 by Hajime Isayama. To be honest, I’ve recently been a little worried reading Attack on Titan due to the sheer number of plot twists that seem to be included in every volume. While this does make for some exciting (and occasionally confusing) storytelling, it also makes the series feel like Isayama barely has it under his control. Fortunately, the eleventh volume of Attack on Titan is relatively the free of any “big reveals.” (At least in comparison to previous volumes.) Instead, the characters must deal with the fallout from some of the most recent developments–there are a surprising number of Titans who have come out of the 104th Corps. So, while there aren’t many dramatic plot twists in the eleventh volume, there is a major Titan battle between Eren and some of the people he once considered to be his comrades. Some nice character development comes out of it, too, as well as some more hints regarding what the Titans really are and who is behind it all. I’m still sticking with the series at this point.

Sake Jock: Comics from Today’s Japanese Underground edited by Adam Glickman. Published in 1995, Sake Jock is described as being “the first collection of Japanese alternative artists to appear in English.” Sadly, this slim volume from Fantagraphics can be rather difficult to find nowadays. Sake Jock collects seven short manga, most if not all of which were originally published in the influential alternative manga magazine Garo. Some of the creators I was already familiar with from other underground comics anthologies while others I was encountering for the first time. I was particularly happy to see a work by Kiriko Nananan included since I love her style. Overall, I appreciated and enjoyed the manga collected in Sake Jock. I’m not sure that the collection will hold much general appeal except to those who already have an established interest in alternative manga; there have since been other anthologies published that would make a better introduction. It’s kind of a cool artifact, though, and I am glad to have it as part of my collection.

Two Flowers for the Dragon, Volumes 2-4 by Nari Kusakawa. It’s actually been a few years since I read the first volume of Two Flowers for the Dragon, but I remember being quite taken with it so I figured it was about time to get around to reading more of the series. I’ve rediscovered that I really enjoy the manga. It’s a wonderful mix of fantasy and romance with great character dynamics. There’s also a bit of court intrigue and some assassination plots for good measure.(And some unexpected gender-bending, too, for that matter.) Shakuya, the princess and heir of the Dragon Clan, has two fiancés vying for her affections. Kuwan is a capable but somewhat arrogant captain of the guard while Lucien is a kind-hearted young man who has lost many of his memories. The two of them obviously care for her dearly and are understandably a little antagonistic towards one another. Much to her dismay, Shakuya has developed feelings for both of them to varying degrees. But trying to figure out the workings of her own heart is only one of her many concerns.

The Tyrant Falls in Love, Volume 7-8 by Hinako Takanaga. Volumes seven and eight of The Tyrant Falls in Love form the last story arc in the series although Takanaga does promise that she hasn’t completely abandoned the story and characters. She plans on creating more manga–side stories, epilogues, and so on–but The Tyrant Falls in Love forms a complete story on its own, even considering the fact that it was a sort of follow-up to her debut series Challengers. Throughout The Tyrant Falls in Love, Morinaga and Souchi’s communication has been absolutely terrible. Their relationship is an extraordinarily rocky and volatile one; I honestly wasn’t sure what sort of ending Takanaga was going to go for. Overall, I was very satisfied with the series’ conclusion and I think it works. The only thing I wasn’t entirely convinced by is the direction that Masaki’s relationship with Morinaga’s older brother seems to be taking. Granted, that particular development did set in motion a pretty critical realization on Morinaga’s part.

Manga the Week of 2/5

January 30, 2014 by Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Ash Brown, Anna N and MJ

SEAN: Hey, for a first week of the month, this isn’t too bad! It’s under 20 titles! That’s practically nothing!

Kodansha brings us the 30th volume of Air Gear, which I haven’t read in about 27 volumes, but I seem to recall this may be around the point that they introduced President Obama as a character. Sadly, I doubt this hits the highs of the unlicensable Legend of Koizumi, but it tries.

MICHELLE: Man, it seems like Air Gear has been coming out forever.

ASH: Oh, Legend of Koizumi! I would totally read that.

SEAN: Alice in the Country of Joker: Circus and Liar’s Game has been hands down my favorite of the innumerable Alice spinoffs we’ve seen over the past 3 years. Volume 4 is out from Seven Seas this week, and I can’t wait.

ANNA: I enjoyed the first two volumes of this series!

SEAN: A Centaur’s Life turned out to be a bit less creepy than I was expecting, and seems very interested in its world building. We’ll see how much in can build in Vol. 2.

ASH: So far, the world building has been great in this series.

MJ: I’m trying to figure out whether “less creepy than I was expecting” is an actionable recommendation.

SEAN: New Seven Seas debuts always fill me with a combination of delight and dread, which resolves into one or the other once the title is read, like a Schrodinger’s Box. Light novel series, fantasy, loser protagonist, tsundere lead girl… we’ve seen these elements before – indeed, more than once – from Seven Seas licenses. We’ll see how Dragonar Academy goes.

On the other hand, a new volume of Toradora! cannot possibly make me happier. This is a great story with a top notch adaptation, funny characters and knows when to use humor and heart. An absolute must read.

Bleach. It’s Volume 59. It’s running through its final arc. Which may actually take 15 years. Recommended for Bleach fans.

A Devil and Her Love Song has only hit Volume 13, and yet this is its finale. I enjoyed this series with its blunt and broken lead couple and a good deal of humor with its darkness. An excellent Shojo Beat title.

MICHELLE: I’m definitely looking forward to reading the conclusion of this series.

ANNA: Me too. This was a great, slightly edgy Shojo Beat series.

SEAN: If you enjoyed Dragon Ball, and then enjoyed it again in the huge VIZBIG editions, well then why not buy it again in full color? Dragon Ball Full Color 1 actually appears to be Dragon Ball Z, meaning I’ve no interest in it. (I like my Goku goofy). But DBZ fans should greatly enjoy seeing it again with bright colors.

Happy Marriage?! 4 would appear to be the volume that reminds us this is a Petit Comic title, and earns its M rating. Good to see the couple finally getting close.

ANNA: Yay for shrinkwrapped josei!

MJ: Agreed!

SEAN: I somehow missed High School Debut when it first appeared, so am delighted that there is a 3-in-1 release so I can appreciate it again. Its heroine is apparently dense enough to rival Special A and Voice Over. I like cute but dense in my fictional manga heroines.

MICHELLE: I love, love, love High School Debut. I’d definitely rank its heroine about the one in Voice Over!.

ANNA: This is a wonderful series. It deserves to be reissued!

MJ: I adored this series and its heroine!

SEAN: Kamisama Kiss 14 takes us back to the past, as a new crisis forces Nanami to go back and find out how Tomoe got to be the way he is.

MICHELLE: It is my goal to get caught up on this soon!

ANNA: Another series from Shojo Beat that I adore.

SEAN: Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan keeps chugging right along. Here’s Vol. 19.

One Piece’s 3-in-1 finally hits the end of Alabasta with Vol. 8.

Sakura Hime comes to an end with Volume 12. Does this mean we are in some strange world with no ongoing Tanemura manga? Well, next month should take care of that problem.

MICHELLE: What, is there a new one? I do not keep up with Tanemura.

ANNA: Is that the reissue of Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne!? My favorite Tanemura series EVER!!!!!!

MICHELLE: Oh! Right! I still have my CMX volumes, so the VIZ version wasn’t really on my radar. I have very fond memories of the anime, too.

SEAN: Toriko also keeps chugging right along. Here is Vol. 20.

And Voice Over: Seiyu Academy is at Vol. 3, and I have a sneaking suspicion will continue to have its heroine want to sound cute and adorable.

Anything here tickle your fancy?

Manga Giveaway: Vinland Saga Giveaway

January 29, 2014 by Ash Brown

The end of the January is drawing near, which means it’s time for the first manga giveaway of the year! In my excitement for its release, I accidentally managed to end up with two copies of the second omnibus of Makoto Yukimura’s Vinland Saga. But my mistake is your gain–this month, you all have the opportunity two win a brand new copy of the volume! Already it’s one of my favorite manga of the year. As always, the giveaway is open worldwide.

So, where I currently live in Michigan, it has been an extremely cold and snowy winter. It’s seems oddly appropriate then that Vinland Saga, Omnibus 2, with the snowstorm on its cover, was released this season. Perhaps it shouldn’t be too surprising, seeing as the series is about Vikings and all, but there’s actually quite a bit of snow in Vinland Saga. It’s not just there to look pretty or save on inking, either. Snow, and winter, has a significant impact on the story itself as battles are waged in the cold and people going about their day-to-day lives simply try to survive the elements. This got me to thinking about other manga that I’ve read in which snow plays an important role. CLAMP’s Shirahime-Syo: Snow Goddess Tales, series like Baku Yumemakura and Jiro Taniguchi’s The Summit of the Gods, and some of the stories in Yuki Urushibara’s Mushishi immediately spring to mind, but there are definitely more snowy manga out there.

So, you may be wondering, how can you win a copy of Vinland Saga, Omnibus 2?

1) In the comments below, tell me about your favorite scene in a manga that either involved or was set in snow.
2) 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).

It’s really that easy. For this giveaway, each person can earn up to two entries. There will be one week to submit comments. Entries may also be sent via e-mail to phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com and I will post them in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on February 5, 2014. Best of luck to you all!

Contest winner announced–Manga Giveaway: Vinland Saga Giveaway Winner