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Subtitles & Sensibility: Seattle International Film Festival 2012, Part One

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The Seattle International Film Festival is my favorite time of year, and by far the best opprotunity to see Asian film in Seattle. In fact, within the festival there is a dedicated program, titled Asian Crossroads, which this year contains 24 features from 13 countries. I am seeing as many as humanly possible, and am excited to share them all with you!

Here are the first four, from South Korea, Cambodia, Japan, and Hong Kong.

* Countdown is the strong first feature from Huh Jung-ho. It’s a character-driven classic action film, starring Jeong Jae-young as a debt collector who learns that he has liver cancer and ten days to live. Naturally, he brings all the skills that make him an excellent debt collector to the task of finding and securing a liver donor. And when he finds her, of course she has ties to gangsters.

Throw in some drama in his past that he can’t or won’t remember, and you have the formula for a well-paced, slick & snappy feature. A side note: if you’ve never seen a South Korean action film before, don’t be surprised at the lack of gun violence. It’s realistic, due to the country’s firearm regulations, and it’s frankly refreshing for characters to have to take each other on one-on-one rather than mowing down rivals in a spray of bullets.
* Golden Slumbers is a documentary on the golden age of Cambodian cinema, which is a challenge because virtually nothing remains of the actual films. Instead, director Davy Chou (grandson of film producer Van Chann) relies on the memories of those who directed, starred in, and watched the films. Together they visit the sites where films were shot and the cinemas they were projected in, which adds another layer to the piece: life in Cambodia today.

The interview subjects are upfront about the quality of the films (or the lack thereof!)pointing out that each had essentially the same melodramatic plot. However, what I found incredibly powerful was the impact they had on the collective memory. Even though the films no longer exist, the songs are still sung and the plotlines are effortlessly recited by people who saw them over 40 years ago. Destruction of art is heartbreaking, but to be so warmly and fully remembered is beautiful.
* Rent-a-Cat is easily the most charming film I’ve seen at the festival this year, and I am not even a cat person. I am assured that if you are a cat person, this film will make you explode with glee. If you are not a cat person, it just might turn you into one.

Rent-a-Cat stars Mikako Ichikawa (who has the best face at SIFF this year) as Sayoko, a lonely young woman who, you guessed it, rents out cats. Seriously. She walks along the river calling “rentaneko neko neko” through a megaphone, and rents cats to other lonely people. As it turns out, a lot of people are in the market for a low-commitment pet.

It’s hard to not watch a movie about what is essentially a crazy cat lady without being at least a little bit concerned. Will it judge her harshly? Will it devolve into a pat romance? Luckily, Rent-a-Cat ends not too cruel, not too sweet, but just right. Don’t forget to stick with it through the ridiculously cute illustrated end credits!
* I wanted to like Romancing in Thin Air, but I found it overwrought & sentimental. The latest from Johnnie To is not his first romantic film, though he is better known for his thrillers. I do remember loving his unconventional romance Turn Left, Turn Right at a previous festival, so this was a disappointment.

It opens with film star Michael (Louis Koo) being left at the altar. He decides to drink himself to oblivion, which turns out to be the Deep Woods Hotel. There he shouts a lot and smashes things, until he slowly begins to heal with the help of the mournful proprietor Sue (Sammi Cheng). She is in pain herself over the loss of her husband Tian, who went missing in the woods seven years ago.

The film does contain some nice ideas. I liked the metaphor of Tian’s piano, which had broken keys when he disappeared that Sue still refuses to fix, plus the whole image of the quiet danger of a forest where compasses do not work is lovely. The scene where locals are creating noise to help people find their way out of the forest is beautiful and will stay with me.

Overall the high drama and the too-pat meta ending outweighed the pretty cast and the even prettier scenery.

Combat Commentary: Fullmetal Alchemist Ch. 91-96 Armstrong(s) vs. Sloth

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I don’t often fall in love with fictional characters…okay, that’s a lie, I do it all the time. Despite what I imagine most people would think, this does not usually happen because the character is drawn with very few clothes, or has over-developed sexuality. No, my feelings are more pure and entirely based on personality (with a small heaping of looks thrown in there).

The thing is, I tend to fall for very specific type of fictional woman—the type that would utterly terrify me in real life. Olivier Armstrong is one of those women. I can’t really explain why this happens, but what I can explain is why she’s a badass, and if she were real I’d willingly be her servant for life.

PS: I was thinking this would make a perfect Valentine’s Special…but…well, it’s a little late for that. So pretend this got published back in February.

What Happened?
As the rebel forces begin their assault on central, Major General Olivier Armstrong makes her move, capturing one of the inner circle generals. The Central forces target her as a high priority target and attempt to take her down. But they are impeded by the arrival of the Homunculus Sloth.

What Happens?
Olivier’s sword does little to no damage to the behemoth, and it isn’t until the arrival of Major Alex Armstrong that they are able to do some damage to Sloth. Just after the sibling pair deal the first serious blow, Sloth reveals his true ability, supernatural speed.

Sloth’s speed turns his body into basically an obscenely heavy bullet, as he is unable to control his trajectory after launching himself. Major Armstrong is able to use this to his advantage, by placing a stone spike right in Sloth’s path. This severely injures Sloth, but not enough to finish him.

The Armstrong siblings are surrounded by Central soldiers, who try to arrest them, but are attacked by the artificial humans. As Sloth breaks free from the spike, more Central soldiers arrive, and Olivier takes command of them. She organizes them to take on the artificial humans, while Alex focuses on Sloth. With his dislocated shoulder, Alex is unable to properly fight. The soldiers urge Olivier to go help him, but she refuses, knowing Alex is tougher than the soldiers give him credit for. He uses one of Sloth’s attacks to pop his shoulder back into place, and is able to start fighting Sloth back.

Sloth still won’t go down, and he continues to target Alex and Olivier. The soldiers try to hold him back and give the Armstrongs a chance to escape, but Alex refuses. It is at this point that Izumi and her husband show up. They, along with a reinvigorated Alex, give Sloth a thrashing to the point that he finally dies.

(click image to enlarge)

What Does it Mean?
What makes Fullmetal Alchemist stand out is that Arakawa isn’t afraid to break shounen tropes here and there. Usually fights in shounen manga focus more on one on one battles. Team battles like this one tend to be more the rare side. The fight also serves as more than just a way to eliminate one of the enemies. It serves as closure for the relationship arc between the two Armstrong siblings.

While Olivier’s opinion of Alex had been low the entire series, during this fight we see how she works. She may say Alex is worthless, but when it comes down to it she trusts him enough to remain focused on her own job. An effective fight scene needs to accomplish multiple things. At the most basic it needs to be cool to look at, but it also needs to provide this kind of character growth.

In team fights like this it may be tempting to say that one member of the team did more than the other. The bulk of the fighting is done by Alex, which could be construed as downplaying Olivier’s ability as a fighter. But there is no need to pull out the sexist manga card on this one, as the Alex and Olivier both fulfill specific roles that were previously developed parts of their characters.

Alex may not be able to beat Olivier in a one-on-one fight, but he is more suited for fighting with brute strength. And while Olivier has been portrayed as an exceptional fighter, that part of her is not emphasized as much as her ability as a leader. There is no need to give her character arc closure with a one-on-one fight, because her character is much more focused on leadership. And just as Alex gets his good fight, Olivier gets to show off her chops as a leader by taking command of two platoons of soldiers sent to capture her and fully gaining their loyalty.

(click image to enlarge)

The end of the fight is a bit disappointing, because the two are unable to win without being saved by the Curtises. A better ending would have been to go the more archetypal route of having Alex and Olivier pull through to the very end and finish Sloth off. To have two outside forces aid them this far into the battle does unfortunately diminish their success. Fortunately this is a minor complaint, as the moment is executed with plenty of style and comedic callbacks with Alex and Mr. Curtis.

Ultimately the final fight against Sloth works because the bond between the two siblings is more important than their ability to defeat their enemy. They had prior victories, and in the end it did not take a final victory to cement their character arcs. The important development occurred during the fight, so the weak ending can be forgiven.

Manga the Week of 6/13

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Despite my irritation at Diamond for not shipping half of Viz’s releases this week (at least I got Ouran 18…), I am here to tell you about next week.

Dark Horse has the 11th volume of the Evangelion spinoff Shinji Ikari Raising Project. At the rate it’s going it should pass its original source soon in length. I’m sure it will have far more heartwarming romantic comedy moments as well – the original Evangelion manga really doesn’t have time for that these days.

Digital Manga Publishing debuts a new BL office romance, Same Difference. It looks like it might be lighthearted, always nice to see. There’s also the 4th volume of Bad Teacher’s Equation, and the 6th volume of the fancy Deluxe version of Kizuna.

Seven Seas has the first of a new spinoff series from Alice in the Country of Hearts, as this time she ends up in the Country of Clover. The cast seems to be similar, though, and I’m sure it will share the reverse harem datesim genre that its parent series had. There’s also the 12th volume of Dance in the Vampire Bund, which sadly does not seem to feature a cameo from Christie High Tension. :)

There’s also two new titles from Viz’s BL line Sublime. Honey Darling and Three Wolves Mountain come out with covers that make me immediately wary, but perhaps the cute boys are slightly less cat-eared inside the volume. In any case, it’s great to see Viz dipping its toes into the BL genre.

Anything that interests you this week? Or, like me, are you still waiting for half your Viz order?

Nonnonba

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By Shigeru Mizuki. Released in Japan as “Nonnonba to Ore” by Chikuma Shobo. Released in North America by Drawn & Quarterly.

It feels somewhat odd that after reading Nonnonba, a semi-autobiographic epic by the creator of Gegege no Kitaro, the man who is known worldwide for his amazing yokai tales and characterizations, that I found the yokai in it the least engaging part. Oh, don’t get me wrong, there are some spectacular spooks here. My favorite was probably Azuki-Haraki, who looks as if he had been drawn by guest artist Robert Crumb. But though there are yokai and supernatural elements throughout, the reason this is such a famous title – it’s gotten many accolades ever since its first publication in 1977 – has been its human characters, in particular Shigeru himself.

There are several main plotlines that flit through Shigeru’s life as he grows older in this volume. His flighty father’s continued schemes to chase his dream – and unemployment that inevitably follows. The young child gangs that roam the streets, which seem to be undecided as to how serious they are – especially after their new leader has Shigeru ostracized. His grandmother – the titular Nonnonba – moves back in with them after the death of her husband and is very much what you’d expect, dispensing good advice, acting as a nanny/doctor, and occasionally dealing out exposition on yokai.

One of the main things I noticed, though, was the series of girls approximately Shigeru’s age who arrive, seeming to be potential love interests, and then move on. At first this is sudden – “Oh, she died of the measles a week ago”, and you accept it as part of what being a child in 1930s Japan was like. Then we meet a sickly girl who enjoys Shigeru’s drawings, and given she has ‘doomed’ written all over her (if this were a Western comic she’d be dying of consumption), one can briefly raise an eyebrow. Then, in the last third of the book, we meet Miu, a young girl who is part of a ‘family’ moving into a haunted house – and can also sense nature and the supernatural in an almost psychic way. I was fairly sure she would die as well – the color pages at the start made me think they were all going to the land of the dead – but her fate is far more realistic, fitting in with the darker tone of the 2nd half of the book.

Still, the book itself is not depressing. Life is something that has to be accepted, in all its facets. Mizuki is an expert at capturing his childhood in a way unfettered by preciousness or overanalysis. There’s also a bit of eerie prescience here – Shigeru reforming the teen gangs to ‘pacifism’ is all very well and good, but I kept being reminded that this group of kids would be going off to war in a scant few years. This is probably why Shigeru the child has an emphasis on pacifism – and why the ostracized gang eventually joins him over the dictatorial leadership of the stronger Kappa (Kappa being a nickname, he’s not a yokai).

I wasn’t as blown away by this as I thought I would be – Gegege no Kitaro remains the title I want to see here the most – but it was a nice, solid autobiography, mixing reality and fantasy in such a way that each complements the other. There’s a lot of extremely flawed human beings here, including Shigeru, but the overall mood is one of nostalgia and remembrance.

Manga Bestsellers: 2012, Week Ending 25 March

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Comparative Rankings Based on Consolidated Online Sales

last week’s charts
about the charts

##

Manga Bestsellers

1. ↑1 (2) : Sailor Moon 3 – Kodansha Comics, Jan 2012 [446.9] ::
2. ↓-1 (1) : Sailor Moon 4 – Kodansha Comics, Mar 2012 [441.4] ::
3. ↔0 (3) : Naruto 55 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [438.4] ::
4. ↑2 (6) : Sailor Moon 5 – Kodansha Comics, Apr 2012 [419.8] ::
5. ↓-1 (4) : Sailor Moon 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [408.5] ::
6. ↓-1 (5) : Sailor Moon 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [403.5] ::
7. ↑1 (8) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [357.0] ::
8. ↓-1 (7) : Maximum Ride 5 – Yen Press, Dec 2011 [347.4] ::
9. ↑1 (10) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [342.2] ::
10. ↑1 (11) : Black Butler 8 – Yen Press, Jan 2012 [292.3] ::

[more]

Top Imprints
Number of volumes ranking in the Top 500:

Tokyopop 71
Viz Shonen Jump 70
Yen Press 70
Viz Shojo Beat 50
Kodansha Comics 38
Viz Shonen Jump Advanced 36
Seven Seas 22
DMP Juné 21
HC/Tokyopop 15
Vizkids 15

[more]

Series/Property

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon – Kodansha Comics [1,148.1] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Naruto – Viz Shonen Jump [901.6] ::
3. ↑1 (4) : Maximum Ride – Yen Press [668.6] ::
4. ↓-1 (3) : Black Butler – Yen Press [602.6] ::
5. ↑3 (8) : Pokemon – Vizkids [521.3] ::
6. ↓-1 (5) : Black Bird – Viz Shojo Beat [474.8] ::
7. ↓-1 (6) : One Piece – Viz Shonen Jump [453.2] ::
8. ↓-1 (7) : Bleach – Viz Shonen Jump [393.0] ::
9. ↔0 (9) : Negima! – Del Rey/Kodansha Comics [382.6] ::
10. ↑10 (20) : Warriors – HC/Tokyopop [369.0] ::

[more]

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

2. ↓-1 (1) : Sailor Moon 4 – Kodansha Comics, Mar 2012 [441.4] ::
3. ↔0 (3) : Naruto 55 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [438.4] ::
11. ↓-2 (9) : Black Bird 13 – Viz Shojo Beat, Mar 2012 [291.2] ::
12. ↔0 (12) : One Piece 61 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [286.3] ::
14. ↑2 (16) : Bunny Drop 5 – Yen Press, Mar 2012 [273.3] ::
16. ↓-3 (13) : Naruto 54 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [268.8] ::
19. ↑7 (26) : Spice & Wolf (manga) 6 – Yen Press, Mar 2012 [227.6] ::
20. ↑32 (52) : Pokemon Black & White 6 – Vizkids, Mar 2012 [223.7] ::
21. ↓-3 (18) : Gate 7 vol 2 – Dark Horse, Mar 2012 [223.3] ::
22. ↑1 (23) : xxxHolic 19 – Kodansha Comics, Feb 2012 [215.3] ::

[more]

Preorders

4. ↑2 (6) : Sailor Moon 5 – Kodansha Comics, Apr 2012 [419.8] ::
15. ↔0 (15) : Sailor Moon 7 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2012 [270.0] ::
18. ↓-1 (17) : Sailor Moon 6 – Kodansha Comics, Jun 2012 [242.4] ::
34. ↑28 (62) : Black Butler 9 – Yen Press, Jul 2012 [173.3] ::
42. ↑48 (90) : Naruto 56 – Viz Shonen Jump, May 2012 [161.9] ::
46. ↑9 (55) : Sailor Moon 8 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2012 [155.3] ::
48. ↓-1 (47) : Negima! 34 – Kodansha Comics, Apr 2012 [153.6] ::
66. ↑7 (73) : Warriors SkyClan & The Stranger 3 – HarperCollins, Apr 2012 [136.0] ::
68. ↑50 (118) : Bleach 39 – Viz Shonen Jump, Apr 2012 [134.1] ::
76. ↑7 (83) : Dance in the Vampire Bund 12 – Seven Seas, Jun 2012 [120.2] ::

[more]

Manhwa

302. ↑ (last ranked 18 Dec 11) : Angel Diary 7 – Yen Press, Oct 2008 [40.3] ::
452. ↓-99 (353) : Bride of the Water God 9 – Dark Horse, Oct 2011 [24.8] ::
525. ↑315 (840) : Priest Purgatory 1 – Tokyopop, Aug 2010 [19.8] ::
696. ↑ (last ranked 4 Mar 12) : Jack Frost 1 – Yen Press, May 2009 [12.5] ::
713. ↑329 (1042) : Ragnarok 1 – Tokyopop, May 2002 [11.9] ::
820. ↑363 (1183) : March Story 3 – Viz Signature, Oct 2011 [8.8] ::
936. ↓-266 (670) : INVU 5 – Tokyopop, Nov 2009 [6.5] ::
1000. ↓-434 (566) : Bride of the Water God 10 – Dark Horse, Jan 2012 [5.5] ::
1160. ↑ (last ranked 11 Mar 12) : JTF-3 Counter Ops (ebook) – RealinterfaceStudios.com, Mar 2011 [3.6] ::
1322. ↓-407 (915) : Arcana 4 – Tokyopop, Mar 2006 [2.3] ::

[more]

BL/Yaoi

45. ↑8 (53) : Maelstrom (ebook) 1 – Yaoi Press, Jun 2011 [155.3] ::
63. ↑8 (71) : Ice Cage (ebook) – Yaoi Press, Feb 2012 [139.5] ::
72. ↑28 (100) : Treasured Prince – Yaoi Press, Mar 2012 [125.7] ::
75. ↑32 (107) : An Even More Beautiful Lie – DMP Juné, Jan 2012 [120.8] ::
78. ↑17 (95) : Finder Series 6 Passion within the View Finder – DMP Juné, Jul 2012 [117.3] ::
119. ↓-42 (77) : Finder Series 5 Truth in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [90.6] ::
121. ↓-7 (114) : Private Teacher 3 – DMP Juné, May 2012 [88.4] ::
135. ↑31 (166) : Little Butterfly Omnibus – DMP Juné, Feb 2010 [78.5] ::
147. ↓-38 (109) : Ambiguous Relationship – DMP Juné, Mar 2012 [73.3] ::
149. ↑1349 (1498) : Vassalord 4 – Tokyopop, Nov 2010 [73.0] ::

[more]

Ebooks

3. ↔0 (3) : Naruto 55 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [438.4] ::
8. ↓-1 (7) : Maximum Ride 5 – Yen Press, Dec 2011 [347.4] ::
13. ↑12 (25) : Maximum Ride 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2009 [276.5] ::
16. ↓-3 (13) : Naruto 54 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [268.8] ::
24. ↓-4 (20) : Naruto 53 – Viz Shonen Jump, Dec 2011 [205.6] ::
35. ↑47 (82) : Amazing Agent Luna 1 – Seven Seas, Mar 2005 [168.9] ::
37. ↓-3 (34) : Blue Exorcist 2 – Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Jun 2011 [167.9] ::
40. ↓-8 (32) : Maximum Ride 4 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [162.5] ::
41. ↓-1 (40) : Bleach 37 – Viz Shonen Jump, Dec 2011 [162.4] ::
42. ↑48 (90) : Naruto 56 – Viz Shonen Jump, May 2012 [161.9] ::

[more]

It Came From the Sinosphere: The Outsiders 1 & 2

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Hi everyone. This is a new column on comics, novels, TV shows, films, and who knows what else from the Chinese-speaking world. As a resident of Taiwan, I’m going to put a disproportionate emphasis on Ilha Formosa, but I’m not going to restrict myself to it. For this first post, I am looking at a Taiwanese idol drama: The Outsiders.

A collage of all of the main characters from The Outsiders (first drama).

Even though The Outsiders is not based on the S.E. Hinton novel, like the novel, it is a story of gang youth getting into more trouble than they bargained for.

The Story

Three orphans, Ah Hao, Shanzi, and Ah Qi, are sworn brothers and have taken care of each other (with the guidance of a sympathetic police officer) since they were children. Ah Hao and another student at their senior high school, Xiao Yanzi, fall in love with each other. The problem is that Ah Hao, along with his sworn brothers, are poor and “delinquent,” whereas Xiao Yanzi is a sheltered piano student from a nice upper-middle-class family.

Things go downhill from there. Hong Dou, a tough girl with a crush on Ah Hao, threatens violence if Xiao Yanzi gets too close to him. Xiao Yanzi’s parents do not approve of Ah Hao, and put a lot of effort into keeping them apart. Shanzi eventually also finds himself in love with Xiao Yanzi. And we’re not even halfway through the plot.

Ah Hao is unusual in that he is a male lead in an idol drama who is poor. For real. He’s not secretly the son of the CEO of some large corporation or otherwise high-ranking man. Even male leads who are merely upper-middle class are not too common in idol dramas. But this is not the only way in which The Outsiders is an atypical idol drama.

In most idol dramas, the main couple runs into a problem and they overcome it and become closer, then there’s a bigger problem and they overcome that and become even closer, and so forth. At first, it looks like The Outsiders is following the same pattern—Ah Hao and Xiao Yanzi run into problems and deal with them. But instead of gaining strength, resilience, and confidence, the very opposite happens. They bond with each other and their faith in themselves becomes more and more precarious. It eventually dawns on the viewer that this might not end well.

So, is The Outsiders a tragedy, or is this a setup for a grand climatic recovery where Ah Hao and Xiao Yanzi’s love for each other conquer all? The answer to that question, of course, is a spoiler. But regardless of the outcome, the mere fact that The Outsiders goes so far into dark territory makes it stand out from other idol dramas.

Acting

The actor who stands out the most, to me, is Ady An as Xiao Yanzi. It’s not because of her acting—though I think her acting is alright in this drama—it’s her looks. It’s not so much that she is pretty (she is, of course, pretty) as that she is blessed with looks which light up on camera. She is also blessed with the best role. Out of all of the characters in the drama, it is Xiao Yanzi who grows and changes the most. Come to think of it, her acting in this drama actually is pretty good since I found Xiao Yanzi’s character change convincing.

The actor who I admire the most based on ability is Xie Chengjun as Ah Bao, the main villain. Ah Bao’s dialogue is more like the way TV villains talk than real people, and his sidekick, Laoshu, is quite irritating because of the writing. However, Xie Chengjun managed to make Ah Bao a bit more like a human being with his performance. He sometimes downplays the role, making Ah Bao seem all the more chilling, while punctuating his performance with violent bursts of energy. I think the intensity and believability Xie Chenghun brings to the role saves the character from mediocre writing.

The acting in The Outsiders does not excel as much as the acting in, say, Mars. Still, I think most of the actors generally perform adequately.

The Music

Considering that one of the main characters is a piano student, it should no come as no surprise that music is an important part of this drama. In fact, The Outsiders has the most eclectic selection of music of any idol drama I’ve seen. Naturally, there are many piano pieces throughout the show, well-chosen to contribute to the atmosphere of the drama. Furthermore, the drama includes a Tsai Chin song (Tsai Chin was a very popular Taiwanese singer in the 1980s). I am not a Tsai Chin fan, but I appreciate that the song fits the mood, and I appreciate that they decided to include some older pop music.

The best known song in this drama is most likely the ending song, “Lydia.” It is a song by FIR, one of Taiwan’s most popular pop bands. You can hear what kind of song it is in the first few seconds, where the opening strings are joined by an underlying rock beat. The song breathlessly ascends in pitch … at least the lyrics seem breathless due to the creative use of Mandarin. For example, here’s a part of the lyrics:

He left (you still) bear, not having left, your own heaven
After the wind-drying there can remain rainbow tear light

If the translation does not make sense, it’s because the lyrics in Chinese do not entirely make sense to me and I tried to keep the translation as literal as possible. For people who are really interested in the song, there is a gloss of the lyrics into English at Chinese Tools.

The song fits the story, as it expresses passion rising, without pause, pushed by a strong beat, just as Xiao Yanzi and Ah Hao are pushed forward at a pace faster than they can handle.

Fighting

I really like the violence in The Outsiders. Yes, romance comes before action, but the action is still pretty good. First of all, I like the free, raw, unrestrained energy. It really feels like violence. One reviewer claimed that the fights were not choreographed. As someone who knows a few things about fight choreography, I know the fights actually are choreographed, but they feel like they are not. I also like the atmosphere—broken windows, dark alleys, abandoned buildings. The best thing, of course, is that the characters are vulnerable. Many action flicks forget to include the vulnerability. The fighting in The Outsiders is short and to the point, but a short fight in which Xiao Yanzi (the piano student) gets hit by a baton makes a deeper impression on the viewer than 30 minutes of inconclusive fighting by invincible heroes.

If you want to get a feel for the fighting, watch the opening to Outsiders 2 – it shows quite a bit of fighting.

And, of course, people who cannot watch brutal violence on screen should avoid this drama.

Outsiders 2

Much of what I have to say about The Outsiders also applies to The Outsiders 2, so I will stick to comments which only apply to Outsiders 2.

The problem with making a sequel to The Outsiders is that the ending does not lend itself to a sequel. The writers get around this problem by setting The Outsiders 2 during the 5-year gap in The Outsiders. However, this setup limits what they can do with the story since they have to keep things consistent with the first drama. For example, they cannot do much to get the characters from the first drama to grow and change beyond what is shown in the first drama. Because of these limitations, The Outsiders 2 largely revolves around some new characters. Because I know the new characters do not show up in The Outsiders, I figured out pretty quickly that things do not end well for them.

In a way, the constraints are good, because they forced the writers to be more subtle about how they handled the characters. Considering the constraints in place, I am impressed that the main characters had as much development in The Outsiders 2 as they do. Nonetheless, Outsiders 2 does not manage to have the resonance of the first drama.

Huīsè Kōngjiān (“Gray Space”) is one of my favorite idol drama theme songs. It’s the song I linked to in the “Fighting” section. It is not so much the song itself as the way it fits the clips chosen for the opening and the way it fits the overall atmosphere of The Outsiders. The ending song, Nǐ Shuō (“You Say”), is also lovely. Whereas “Lydia” is the more popular song, I like that these two songs are quieter and feel more melancholy.

Overall

For all its flaws, The Outsiders is one of the most memorable idol dramas I have seen. I think what makes it stick out more than anything else is that it has some truth. I am not saying that it is realistic—it is most certainly not—and I’m not saying all of it is true (the villains in particular are not true to life). But there is enough truth to make an impression.

First of all, The Outsiders is almost entirely filmed in humble, ordinary neighborhoods (even the neighborhood of Xiao Yanzi’s faimly feels very ordinary). Many idol dramas are set in posh houses or tourist destinations. That’s not a bad thing—I have a lot of fun trying to identify locations—but it reflects fantasy, not the way most people in Taiwan live.

Most idol dramas are a retelling of Cinderella—humble girl gets swept up by wealthy guy and he takes care of her problems. However, most women, Taiwanese or not, are not going to get swept up by princes, let alone have their problems solved by them. This does not stop Ah Hao from trying to be Xiao Yanzi’s prince.

And that is the core conflict in their relationship. Ah Hao wants to be Xiao Yanzi’s prince, but Xiao Yanzi wants to be his partner. Their relationship gets even more strained when it becomes apparent that Shanzi wishes to be Xiao Yanzi’s partner, and a girl who really wants Ah Hao to be her prince appears. This is a problem that happens in real life, and it is this aspect of the story which stays with me the most.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to legally watch The Outsiders with English subtitles. Somebody ought to license this drama.

Next time: The Book and the Sword (novel)

Sara K. is not sure whether or not she will be able to make witty remarks about her life every week, but she will try. Since she is recovering from a cold, she certainly does not feel very witty right now.

Bookshelf Briefs 6/4/12

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This week, Michelle, Kate, and Sean look at recent releases from Viz Media, Yen Press, and Sweatdrop Studios.

Ai Ore!, Vol. 5 | By Mayu Shinjo | Viz Media – Ai Ore! in its fifth volume is pretty different than its first. Almost entirely gone is Akira’s manipulative/disturbing behavior (though he’s still fixated on making Mizuki “his”), which is definitely a good thing, and the series has settled into a fairly generic romantic comedy groove. Unfortunately, it seems like Mayu Shinjo may already be out of ideas, since we’re treated to yet another “Mizuki thinks Akira has secretly been gay all this time” bout of melodrama. I continued to be disappointed that Mizuki, who occasionally looks ravishingly boyish, is not a cooler and stronger character, but it’s pretty much a lost cause at this point. Still, even though I stop short of calling Ai Ore! good, it is compulsively readable, and I see myself finishing out the series, though I’m not looking forward to the beachy hijinks advertised for the next volume. – Michelle Smith

Bamboo Blade, Vol. 13 | By Masahiro Totsuka and Aguri Igarashi | Yen Press – There’s some big surprises here, though many of them were signposted earlier. TV Savant Erina is not who she appears to be, and it’s her backstory and growth that is the focus of this volume. The reason that it’s her, by the way, is that Tama loses – genuinely and honestly. This is exactly what her coach has wanted all along, and now we get to see what she will gain from it. Tama has always sort of done kendo as it’s expected of her. Now she sees true kendo passion – both from Erina and from Ura Sakaki, whose delusions of sentai are finally thrashed out of her in one of the most awesome sports battles I’ve seen in a long time. So we’ve one volume to go, and I’ve no doubt that volume will have Tamaki finally seeking the real reason she fights kendo matches. Highly recommended. –Sean Gaffney

Oresama Teacher, Vol. 8 | By Izumi Tsubaki | Viz Media – I sense that Tsubaki-san was told be her editors at Hana to Yume around this point in the manga that the series was a success, and in no danger of ending soon, so it was time to break out the new characters and plot complications. There’s a sense of gearing up for the next big battle here. Unfortunately, as always, Tsubaki’s plotting always seems flaky and scattered. So we get a chapter giving a bit of depth to the main villain, then some background for Takaomi, then a whole passel of new minor villains (some even female – gasp!) are introduced, and then Mafuyu’s two suitors find out about her relationship with Takaomi. There’s some fun stuff here – I was, as always, laughing a lot throughout – but Tsubaki needs a stronger editor than the ones Hakusensha provides. –Sean Gaffney

Soul Eater, Vol. 9 | By Atsushi Ohkubo | Yen Press – Soul Eater is another title, like Oresama Teacher, that is finishing one plot and getting ready to gear up for another. It, however, handles this much better, with plot threads from Vol. 6 onwards just now starting to pay off. The focus here is on our three meisters, rather than their weapons, and I was impressed with how the manga handled Black*Star, everyone’s favorite insufferable talented jerk. We get a lesson seemingly set up for teaching him humility and learning to hold back for the sake of the others – then it turns out this is a fakeout, and that it’s Maka who has to learn not to hold her fellow student back. Finally, our team goes off on its next big battle, where they’re acting as backup for an increasingly unstable Doctor Stein – and they promptly disobey his orders and charge in to the rescue. Kids, sheesh. Good shonen fun. –Sean Gaffney

The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 7 | By Kaira Yura and Sai Yukino | Viz Media – The ongoing hazing and abuse of Shurei and Eigetsu sort of percolates along through this entire volume, driving many plots but not quite coming to a head – no doubt that will happen in the next volume. Instead, we get to see that ‘slow and steady wins the race’ seems to be the moral lesson for the entire cast – the villains always seem to overplay their hands by overdoing things and making fast, impetuous choices. Our heroes, meanwhile, are the picture of calm and serenity, even when they’re being arrested for favoritism or held captive so as not to testify at a trial. Of course, one can be *too* serene and unreadable – there’s a great story here about Koyu’s frustration with his lord, and being unable to tell the difference between not caring and not wanting to hold back. It’s all about the small, quiet moments here. –Sean Gaffney

Sun Fish Moon Fish | By Morag Lewis | Sweatdrop Studios – Set in the fictional kingdom of The Thousand Island Archipelago, Sun Fish Moon Fish tells the story of Anciarin, a court mage who’s falsely accused of murdering Archipelago’s royal family. The premise is certainly ripe with potential, but the execution is wanting; Morag Lewis’ character designs have a faintly unnatural quality to them, with enormous, wide-set eyes and perpetually surprised expressions. The dialogue, too, tacks between medieval formality and modern-day casualness, with one character demanding, “What’s your beef?” and another making reference to “teams,” as if he were a S.W.A.T. captain. If the art and dialogue are sometimes amateurish, Lewis shows considerable promise as a writer; Sun Fish Moon Fish is briskly paced and skillfully plotted, giving equal time to Anciarin and Iashar, the soldier tasked with bringing the mage to justice. An ambitious, though uneven, work. – Katherine Dacey

GTO: 14 Days in Shonan, Vol. 3

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By Toru Fujisawa. Released in Japan by Kodansha, serialized in the magazine Weekly Shonen Magazine. Released in North America by Vertical.

After an action-packed 2nd volume of GTO, it’s time to take a breather and get back to some lighter stuff before we gear up for the next broken teen who Onizuka has to save. And hey, didn’t Shiratori-san say that there was someone else who worked at the White Swan? Who was even prettier than her? Could this possibly be the overture to… some romance?

Well, no. This is Eikichi Onizuka, so whenever romance rears its ugly head, he turns into the immature idiot that he is. (Yes, he’s also a heartwarming badass, but hey, facets.) First he tries his hand at seducing Shiratori-san via some red wine, which is a little creepy but it becomes clear that he’s not really going to follow through on it unless she’s awake and willing… okay, no, it’s creepy no matter what. Then when she falls asleep, he falls back on peeping on the other caretaker in the house, who we haven’t met before… or so we think. Much to his surprise and ours, the other caretaker turns out to be his old not-girlfriend Shinomi Fujisaki, who is, as you might imagine, displeased at Onizuka ogling her nude.

It’s great seeing Shinomi back in the storyline, as she makes a good love-interest contrast to Azusa Fuyutsuki from the GTO series proper. Whereas Azusa tends to be ‘he’s sort of a weirdo, but I can see the good heart inside of him’, Shinomi is very much in the ‘I’ve always seen the good heart, but WHY IS HE SUCH A FREAK’ school of lovers. As you might expect, Onizuka walking back into her life after disappearing years ago confuses the hell out of her, and she responds via violence in the best tsundere way. (Onizuka, who is very similar to her, responds by changing the subject and being over the top goofy, which we’ve already seen tends to be his way of avoiding serious issues.) I don’t expect much to be resolved here – this takes place during GTO proper, which didn’t resolve any romances – but it’s sweet to see them reunite.

As for the rest of the manga, we’ve resolved the parental problems that Miki had, and now that we know that she was merely the easiest ‘villain’ to take down, we know it’s only going to get worse. So we get a flashback to another resident of the White Swan, Ikuko, and her abusive mother, who was so bad social services had to step in. This is probably one of the best written parts of the entire volume, as it really gets into the ambiguous feelings kids have when their loved ones abuse them – and the stoic acceptance that it’s their fault for not being “good enough”. I’m not sure we’ll see more of Ikuko’s life later on, but I do hope that she manages to come to terms with her upbringing.

Then there’s Seiya, who would appear to be the next ‘project’ for Onizuka to fix. And once again, we see how Onizuka works – forcing the kids to ‘go too far’ in order to show them that deep down they really don’t want to take the final steps towards darkness. All of these manga – GTO, Shonan Jun’ai Gumi, and this spinoff – stem from the same genre of Japanese manga, which are about teenagers and family, and how much they feel abandoned and helpless. If Onizuka can help these kids reconnect emotionally, on any level, he’s going to do it. And it would appear that the fourth volume will be another action-filled one.

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

##

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.

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

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)

Manga Bestsellers: 2012, Week Ending 11 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. ↑1 (2) : Sailor Moon 4 – Kodansha Comics, Mar 2012 [485.3] ::
2. ↓-1 (1) : Sailor Moon 3 – Kodansha Comics, Jan 2012 [467.7] ::
3. ↑2 (5) : Naruto 55 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [446.9] ::
4. ↔0 (4) : Sailor Moon 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [404.3] ::
5. ↓-2 (3) : Sailor Moon 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [400.8] ::
6. ↔0 (6) : Maximum Ride 5 – Yen Press, Dec 2011 [385.5] ::
7. ↑7 (14) : Black Bird 13 – Viz Shojo Beat, Mar 2012 [376.3] ::
8. ↔0 (8) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 2 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2011 [356.5] ::
9. ↓-2 (7) : Black Butler 8 – Yen Press, Jan 2012 [336.7] ::
10. ↔0 (10) : Sailor Moon Codename: Sailor V 1 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2011 [311.1] ::

[more]

Top Imprints
Number of volumes ranking in the Top 500:

Viz Shonen Jump 78
Yen Press 70
Viz Shojo Beat 58
Tokyopop 51
Kodansha Comics 43
Viz Shonen Jump Advanced 34
DMP Juné 19
Vizkids 18
Dark Horse 17
Seven Seas 17

[more]

Series/Property

1. ↔0 (1) : Sailor Moon – Kodansha Comics [1,190.0] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Naruto – Viz Shonen Jump [941.1] ::
3. ↔0 (3) : Black Butler – Yen Press [722.9] ::
4. ↔0 (4) : Maximum Ride – Yen Press [719.9] ::
5. ↑1 (6) : Black Bird – Viz Shojo Beat [607.1] ::
6. ↓-1 (5) : Bleach – Viz Shonen Jump [550.7] ::
7. ↑7 (14) : One Piece – Viz Shonen Jump [492.3] ::
8. ↑1 (9) : Fullmetal Alchemist – Viz [438.0] ::
9. ↓-2 (7) : Negima! – Del Rey/Kodansha Comics [429.9] ::
10. ↓-2 (8) : xxxHolic – Del Rey/Kodansha Comics [416.0] ::

[more]

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

1. ↑1 (2) : Sailor Moon 4 – Kodansha Comics, Mar 2012 [485.3] ::
3. ↑2 (5) : Naruto 55 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [446.9] ::
7. ↑7 (14) : Black Bird 13 – Viz Shojo Beat, Mar 2012 [376.3] ::
12. ↑108 (120) : Dengeki Daisy 9 – Viz Shojo Beat, Mar 2012 [292.4] ::
13. ↑6 (19) : Sailor Moon 5 – Kodansha Comics, Apr 2012 [292.3] ::
14. ↓-1 (13) : Naruto 54 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [285.5] ::
16. ↑15 (31) : One Piece 61 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [279.4] ::
19. ↓-2 (17) : Bleach 38 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [253.3] ::
30. ↑30 (60) : Soulless 1 – Yen Press, Mar 2012 [198.1] ::
31. ↑72 (103) : Fairy Tail 18 – Kodansha Comics, Mar 2012 [198.0] ::

[more]

Preorders

23. ↓-1 (22) : Sailor Moon 6 – Kodansha Comics, Jun 2012 [246.2] ::
25. ↓-4 (21) : Sailor Moon 7 – Kodansha Comics, Sep 2012 [232.8] ::
72. ↑8 (80) : Black Butler 9 – Yen Press, Jul 2012 [126.7] ::
75. ↑8 (83) : Sailor Moon 8 – Kodansha Comics, Nov 2012 [125.5] ::
86. ↑21 (107) : Finder Series 6 Passion within the View Finder – DMP Juné, Jul 2012 [117.7] ::
102. ↑7 (109) : Private Teacher 3 – DMP Juné, May 2012 [102.5] ::
103. ↑47 (150) : Naruto 56 – Viz Shonen Jump, May 2012 [102.2] ::
105. ↑ (last ranked 4 Mar 12) : Novus Karma (ebook) 1 – MangaMagazine, Aug 2012 [101.2] ::
106. ↓-18 (88) : Dance in the Vampire Bund 12 – Seven Seas, Jun 2012 [100.7] ::
144. ↓-5 (139) : Naruto 57 – Viz Shonen Jump, Jul 2012 [75.3] ::

[more]

Manhwa

283. ↓-29 (254) : Bride of the Water God 10 – Dark Horse, Jan 2012 [39.3] ::
301. ↑7 (308) : Bride of the Water God 9 – Dark Horse, Oct 2011 [37.5] ::
690. ↑ (last ranked 2 Oct 11) : Priest Purgatory 1 – Tokyopop, Aug 2010 [12.4] ::
770. ↑129 (899) : Arcana 4 – Tokyopop, Mar 2006 [9.7] ::
955. ↓-335 (620) : March Story 3 – Viz Signature, Oct 2011 [5.7] ::
1022. ↑756 (1778) : March Story 1 – Viz Signature, Oct 2010 [4.6] ::
1027. ↓-172 (855) : Toxic (anthology) 1 – Udon, Jul 2012 [4.6] ::
1041. ↓-347 (694) : Ragnarok 1 – Tokyopop, May 2002 [4.4] ::
1059. ↑720 (1779) : Jack Frost 4 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [4.2] ::
1122. ↓-371 (751) : Jack Frost 2 – Yen Press, Nov 2009 [3.5] ::

[more]

BL/Yaoi

83. ↓-29 (54) : Finder Series 5 Truth in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Dec 2011 [121.1] ::
86. ↑21 (107) : Finder Series 6 Passion within the View Finder – DMP Juné, Jul 2012 [117.7] ::
92. ↓-11 (81) : Ambiguous Relationship – DMP Juné, Mar 2012 [113.3] ::
94. ↑7 (101) : Ice Cage (ebook) – Yaoi Press, Feb 2012 [111.5] ::
97. ↓-21 (76) : Seven Days Friday-Sunday – DMP Juné, Sep 2011 [109.1] ::
99. ↑3 (102) : Maelstrom (ebook) 1 – Yaoi Press, Jun 2011 [107.9] ::
102. ↑7 (109) : Private Teacher 3 – DMP Juné, May 2012 [102.5] ::
173. ↓-50 (123) : Private Teacher 2 – DMP Juné, Jan 2012 [62.9] ::
178. ↓-1 (177) : Finder Series 4 Prisoner in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Aug 2011 [61.8] ::
187. ↓-43 (144) : Black Sun 2 – 801 Media, Dec 2011 [60.0] ::

[more]

Ebooks

3. ↑2 (5) : Naruto 55 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [446.9] ::
6. ↔0 (6) : Maximum Ride 5 – Yen Press, Dec 2011 [385.5] ::
11. ↑5 (16) : Naruto 53 – Viz Shonen Jump, Dec 2011 [303.4] ::
14. ↓-1 (13) : Naruto 54 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2012 [285.5] ::
18. ↓-3 (15) : Maximum Ride 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2009 [270.2] ::
24. (new) : SIN 1 – MangaMagazine, Sep 2011 [236.9] ::
26. ↑9 (35) : Maximum Ride 2 – Yen Press, Oct 2009 [227.1] ::
29. ↑3 (32) : Maximum Ride 4 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [198.1] ::
30. ↑30 (60) : Soulless 1 – Yen Press, Mar 2012 [198.1] ::
40. ↓-4 (36) : Maximum Ride 3 – Yen Press, Aug 2010 [183.0] ::

[more]