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k-on!

Off the Shelf: Beer, cheese, & a bit of fluff

December 15, 2011 by MJ and Michelle Smith 12 Comments

MJ: Hi! Hi. Um… hi. I had a beer.

MICHELLE: I had string cheese!

MJ: Have you had manga?

MICHELLE: I have had! Relatively “fluffy” manga, comparatively, but manga all the same!

MJ: Tell me more!

MICHELLE: Well, one thing I read was the fourth volume of Kakifly’s moe comedy, K-ON!, which is about as fluffy as it gets.

I’m not sure how it happened, but K-ON! has gradually won me over. When I read the first volume of this four-koma series about a group of girls who form a pop music club at their high school, I was not impressed, finding the fanservice awkward and some of the characters gratingly stupid. Now, true, some of the characters are still gratingly stupid, but I seem to have become more accepting of the less-than-perfect aspects of this manga. Or perhaps I’ve simply lowered my expectations. In any case, I have finally come around.

This volume finds the four original band members studying for college entrance exams in an effort to attend the same school. For two of the girls, this isn’t a challenge—in fact, the wealthy girl is never actually seen studying and there’s a subtle implication that she might have a secret “in” on account of her status—but the other two are not very good students, so there is a lot of focus on their comical failures. Meanwhile, the youngest member of the group, Azusa, drops her stoic demeanor and gets weepy at the thought of being alone but is joined by a couple of new bandmates right at the end of the volume.

Okay, you know what? This isn’t the most original stuff out there. There’s also a high school festival involving a performance of Romeo and Juliet, and another instance of the girls giving a concert that happens entirely off-panel. But I kind of don’t care anymore. I like Azusa and I like “seemingly cool yet easily flustered” Mio and, Heaven help me, I even like the slashy potential in this series. (There must be mad troves of K-ON! fanfic!) Reading it cheered me up, and that’s what a comedy is supposed to do.

I guess what I’m saying is that I’ve done a 180º on this series.

MJ: I’m actually pretty glad to hear you say that! I’ll admit that I haven’t yet gotten into the manga (I missed the first volume, and never caught up after that), but I was pretty well enamored with the anime series, so I come to it all with a pro-K-ON! bias. I’m probably still more in touch with my young teenaged self than a lot of women my age (this is likely not a good thing), so I can still relate to these girls, and I suspect I wasn’t much less stupid, even if I was more school-smart than most of them. In any case, I’m happy this has turned into something enjoyable for you!

MICHELLE: Me, too. I’m still sad that we never actually see them playing anything, but a segment in which various members try their hand at writing song lyrics was pretty amusing. I’m not sure whether there’s more of the series or not—I’d originally thought it was complete in four volumes, but it doesn’t seem like it from how this volume ends.

Anyhoo, what’ve you been reading?

MJ: Well, I suppose you could classify my first read as “fluff” as well, but it’s classic fluff, so it has a very different feel. I’m talking about volume one of Osamu Tezuka’s Princess Knight, finally released in this country by Vertical, much to the delight of us here at Manga Bookshelf. I had a good idea of what to expect from this series, especially after Kate’s Manga Artifacts tribute last year, but my own reaction to it was still a bit of a surprise.

As Kate’s article makes clear, this is a lively, swashbuckling fantasy, and it’s very enjoyable as such. She covered the premise too, in which Princess Sapphire is born as a girl being raised as a boy, thanks to a pre-birth snafu that gave her both a girl’s and boy’s heart. I’ll admit, I wasn’t quite prepared for my own reaction to this.

I’m perfectly capable of viewing this manga in the context of its time, yet I’m still jarred by the notion that Sapphire’s strength and bravery are due only to her accidental ownership of a boy’s heart. I get that this may have been the only way Tezuka (or his readers) could deal with the idea of a swashbuckling heroine, but I wish he didn’t feel the need to keep bringing it up. There’s even a fight scene in this volume where Sapphire’s boy’s heart is momentarily removed, rendering her suddenly weak and afraid. Then her bravery and skill returns as soon as she gets the heart back again. That really bothered me, I have to admit.

Fortunately, the issues I’m having with the manga’s discussion of gender roles are largely overshadowed by the likeableness of its lead character. I really like Sapphire, and though she dislikes having to live as boy while her girl’s heart longs for everything she’s not allowed to have, she doesn’t reject the qualities that make her able to pass as male. She wants to wear dresses and she wishes she could crush on the neighboring prince a little more openly, but it’s hard to imagine her enjoying a life without the adventure her “male” role offers her.

Things take an interesting turn in the last few chapters of this volume, and I expect I might enjoy the second volume more than the first, if those chapters are any indication. But even if the premise continues to bother me, I suspect I’ll continue to enjoy this series. Sapphire is just too much fun to let go of.

MICHELLE: Oh man, that fight scene you speak of seems guaranteed to make steam come out of my ears. But still, this is a title I long wished for, despite not knowing very much about it aside from its premise. (I’ve been waiting for the release of volume two so I could read the whole series at once.) I suppose I will try to overlook this aspect, or at least consider it a sign of the times.

MJ: It really is worth making the attempt, and honestly I’m looking forward to volume two. I hope your experience is the same!

So what else have you been reading this week?

MICHELLE: Well…. it’s something I have to be in the mood for, but when I am, it can really hit the spot!

I am talking about Gosho Aoyama’s long-running shounen mystery, Case Closed. This series is pretty unique because its Shonen Sunday stylings—by which I mean largely episodic but with a story-spanning arc that will only really be resolved at the conclusion of the series—make it an ideal candidate for “popping in to see what’s going on.” The first volume I ever read of Case Closed was volume 25, then I went back and read some of the beginning, and then this week was inspired to check out the current happenings in volume 41.

Immediately, one can drop right in and figure out what’s going on. The basic premise of the series is that hotshot teen detective Jimmy Kudo had a run-in with some mysterious “men in black” and is now trapped in the body of a first grader who goes by the name Conan Edogawa. He’s not as able to help the bumbling local police force in this form, but with the help of some handy gadgets, he makes do.

As the volume begins, Conan’s mom (a famous actress) has been sent by her husband to help solve the case of a wealthy widower who’s been receiving threatening letters under his pillow. The culprit is revealed within a few chapters and, as is usual for Case Closed, used an incredibly elaborate murder method. Next, some dude is stabbed. After that, some dude is garroted in a Porsche. Conan always happens to be nearby and always manages to use an adult as mouthpiece for the solution he devised.

If you’re looking for a gritty, compelling murder mystery, you’re not going to find it here. Go read some Elizabeth George or something. Case Closed consistently treats death like a puzzle, and no one is ever too distraught about what has befallen their loved ones. It’s a game, and usually not one that the reader has any chance of figuring out on their own. But man, I really had fun with this volume! I liked that the cases were short and that the volume was nicely seasoned with some stalking courtesy of the “men in black.” Because the series is up to volume 73 in Japan and still ongoing, I don’t really believe anything big will happen with them soon, but that doesn’t prevent me from being really keen to read volume 42!

MJ: I’m not often a huge fan of truly episodic storytelling, but I admit this does sound kind of fun!

MICHELLE: Like I said, it’s all about being in the right mood for it. Really, it’s another manifestation of the “everything is simple” brain-balm effect that I enjoy from some shounen manga.

Anyhoo! Thus concludes my fluff. What else have you got?

MJ: My second selection can’t rightly be called “fluff,” though it does have a slow, gentle quality to it that is perhaps a completely different kind of brain balm. This week, I read the second volume of Kaoru Mori’s A Bride’s Story, beautifully produced and packaged in hardcover by Yen Press. I know I brought up Yen’s production values when I discussed the series’ first volume, but it just has to be mentioned again. This is a gorgeous book, and that alone gives it an air of gravity. Still, there is a lightheartedness here that makes this a really smooth read.

Things take a dramatic turn in this volume, when Amir’s clan returns again to take her back with them in order to remarry her into another tribe. It’s an ugly scene, and not lacking tragedy, but the real outcome of all of it is that Amir begins to view her very young husband as a man, which, interestingly, is more uncomfortable for her than it is for the reader.

Despite the characters’ jarring age difference, the author is clearly allowing them a romance, and is executing it so deftly, it actually doesn’t feel jarring at all. Amir’s new feelings for her husband are really… sweet. It’s quite lovely to watch their relationship grow, and I found that surprising.

The author also has a real gift for teaching us about the story’s setting without becoming didactic or distracting from the story in any way. There is a lovely section in this volume that is entirely about the importance of cloth and embroidery in the lives of the tribe’s women, and it may even be my favorite part of series so far.

Though we’re not allowed into the mind of any one character, there’s an intimacy with the tribe as a whole that reveals the author’s affection for them and helps to draw us in to their lives. Despite the distance in our POV, this is probably one of the warmest comics I’ve read, and more compelling in its quietness than I would ever expect.

Really, I love this series.

MICHELLE: That sounds so lovely. Maybe over Christmas break I’ll actually have the opportunity to read these two volumes, which have been sitting here beside me for ages now. And I definitely think it’s worth mentioning when a publisher has excellent production values; they should be praised for doing something well that other entities (*cough*Kodansha*cough*) can’t seem to manage.

MJ: It’s nice when a beautiful package like this is just as beautiful inside as well. A Bride’s Story was the perfect choice for this kind of treatment.

MICHELLE: Indeed!

Filed Under: OFF THE SHELF Tagged With: a bride's story, case closed, k-on!, princess knight

Bookshelf Briefs 8/1/11

August 1, 2011 by David Welsh, Michelle Smith and MJ 3 Comments

This week, Michelle, MJ, & David check out recent releases from Digital Manga Publishing, Viz Media, & Yen Press.


Entangled Circumstances | By Kikuko Kikuya | Published by Digital Manga – Actually, this stand-alone yaoi tale could use a few more tangles. College acquaintances are reunited in the workplace, and the renewed acquaintance is not a welcome one for Shibui, who seems to despise the flattering attentions of handsome, quirky Himeko. If you’ve read more than, say, five yaoi stories, you’ve probably run across this type of tale at least once, with a character’s reactions and behaviors having more complex origins than the reader is initially led to suspect. Of course, those complex origins don’t vary a lot from version to version, and Kikuya doesn’t do much to break the mold. On the bright side, she draws well, and she’s got a lively sense of pacing. If the characters were just a bit more specific – if they really popped – Kikuya could successfully transcend formula. As things stand, this book is more predictable than likable. – David Welsh

K-ON!, Vol. 3 | By Kakifly | Published by Yen Press – I never thought I would be saying this, but this volume of K-ON! is actually pretty good. The flow of the four-panel strips has improved considerably, and though there are fewer punchlines, it doesn’t really matter, since they were never funny to begin with. Instead, the volume reads in a more linear fashion, and episodes wherein the group tries to accustom Mio (the reserved one) to performing in public by randomly getting hired at a maid café actually turn out to have some bearing on things that happen later. Even the overreliance on seasonal high notes like Valentine’s Day and the class trip doesn’t annoy me as much as it might’ve, though I’m seriously weary of the boob-grabbing gags. – Michelle Smith

Nabari No Ou, Vol. 7 | By Yuhki Kamatani | Published by Yen Press – It’s hard to believe that I ever described this series as “extremely dull,” but it’s true that it took a few volumes to win me over. Thankfully, it just keeps on getting better. Volume seven marks the halfway point of the series, with Miharu, the living embodiment of a secret ninja art, rebelling against his former comrades, making new alliances, and shedding his indifference where the life of his friend, Yoite, is concerned. Add in some rival shinobi hoping to harvest human “ingredients” in order to concoct the only medicine with a chance at saving their chief as well as some pretty significant revelations about a major character, and you end up with a pretty terrific volume. – Michelle Smith

Ôoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 6 | By Fumi Yoshinaga | Published by Viz Media – I know it isn’t much in the way of critical analysis, but I always feel the need to remind people that this series exists, licensed and in English, and that they should really be reading it if they’ve ever publicly expressed a yearning for mature and challenging Japanese comics. This volume of Yoshinaga’s alternate-universe look at Japan’s feudal era addresses complex issues of succession and loyalty, which gives the creator plenty of meaty emotional raw material to twist in her hands. The driving notion of this series – a world where the male population has been decimated by disease – is more than just an attention-grabbing gimmick. It allows Yoshinaga to dig into gender roles and notions of personal power in ways that few creators bother to attempt. It’s also as gorgeous and sexy as it is smart and complicated, which is pretty much everything you could ever want from a mature manga. – David Welsh

Otomen, Vol. 11 | Aya Kanno | Viz Media – As with most comedic manga, I’ve run hot and cold with Otomen over the course of its run. Though the series consistently offers smart, funny commentary on traditional gender roles, this is a trait that doesn’t necessarily lend itself to long-form storytelling. A single joke—even a really great joke—is not infinitely sustainable, and the ability of Otomen‘s core satire to single-handedly carry the series ran out about six or seven volumes ago. Fortunately, mangaka Aya Kanno seems to have realized this as well, as she’s attempted to deepen her message and finally explore her characters as full-fledged people over the past few volumes, both with more success than I might have expected. Though on the surface, a competition between two men over their respective accumulation of Valentine’s Day chocolate may sound like an unlikely vehicle for effective characterization, Kanno somehow makes it work. Still recommended. – MJ

The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 4 | Art by Kairi Yura, Story by Sai Yukino | Viz Media – There’s no denying that The Story of Saiunkoku is a very pretty manga. Filled with dreamy bishounen, period costuming, and long, luxurious hairstyles, it would be easy for a manga like this to glide along on looks alone. Fortunately, much like its smart, resourceful heroine, The Story of Saiunkoku would never consider taking the easy way out. Text-heavy but never tedious, The Story of Saiunkoku provides all the best elements of epic shoujo romance with almost no focus on romance at all, while somehow making the minutiae of ancient Chinese government appear more fascinating than a thousand love scenes combined. Though this volume strays a bit from the main storyline to touch on the history of the Hongs’ bearded houseguest, Ensei, it provides readers with a major payoff near the end, as Emperor Ryuki takes steps to make it possible for Shurei achieve her lifelong career goals. Highly recommended. – MJ

Filed Under: Bookshelf Briefs Tagged With: entangled circumstances, k-on!, nabari no ou, ooku, otomen, the story of saiunkoku

Bookshelf Briefs 4/11/11

April 11, 2011 by David Welsh, Katherine Dacey, MJ and Michelle Smith 6 Comments

This week, MJ, Kate, David, & Michelle take a look at several ongoing series from Viz Media, Digital Manga Publishing, TOKYOPOP, and Yen Press.


Bunny Drop, vol. 3 | By Yumi Unita | Yen Press – I think this column is a perfect venue for new volumes of series like Bunny Drop where all I basically have to say is that it’s still excellent. This time around, Daikichi deals with the milestone of Rin starting primary school, carries on traditions that his parents observed for him, and adds to the ever-growing list of responsibilities people face when they’re guardian for a child. For her part, Rin adapts to her new school and helps a friend do the same. Unita is such a smart and warm observer of the small moments that make up everyday life and the subtle connections that represent family at its best. I seriously can’t speak highly enough about this book and hope you’re all reading it. I’m thrilled that it received an Eisner nomination. – David Welsh

Countdown 7 Days | By Kemuri Karakara | Digital Manga Publishing – Kemuri Karakara’s latest series, Countdown 7 Days, focuses on the students at the Sheol Soul School — or should that be Schul? — an academy that prepares the recently deceased for the afterlife. Though I’m temperamentally predisposed to like manga with a supernatural theme, I’d be the first to admit that Karakara doesn’t seem to be in control of the material; the characters have no chemistry with each other, and the basic rules of the afterlife are so poorly explained that much of the action in volume one doesn’t make much sense. It’s a shame the plot is more muddle than linear narrative, as Karakara has a flair for drawing the kind of nattily attired men, fancy weapons, and evocative settings that inspire fan fiction and cosplay. -Katherine Dacey

High School of the Dead, vol. 2 | Story by Daisuke Sato, Art by Shouji Sato| Yen Press – The zombie action continues in volume two, but though the apocalyptic intrigue is beginning to ramp up as police and other authorities begin treating even living citizens as acceptable losses, the series’ fanservice has officially lost all touch with reality. While the volume begins promisingly, it later degenerates into unbelievable sexual fantasy, as we’re asked to believe that not only do average young women spend baths together playfully groping at each other’s (amazingly large) breasts, but that they are also keen to prance about in their thong underwear while all the menfolk remain fully clothed. Meanwhile, the avocados of doom have definitely grown. Suitable as wank-fodder only.– MJ

K-ON!, vol. 2 | By Kakifly | Yen Press – So, I have to wonder… am I really supposed to find any of this funny? When Yui, the ditzy lead guitarist of the band formed by the members of the pop music club, suddenly forgets a simple chord, am I supposed to laugh? How about when she acts superior to the new girl, Azusa, whose talent eclipses her own? Worst of all, how about when their faculty advisor, who is fixated on her students’ bust sizes, actually grabs one girl’s breasts? None of this is in the least bit amusing to me. The only reason I liked this volume a little more than the first is the introduction of Azusa, who motivates the girls to actually practice once in a while. Scintillating stuff, that. – Michelle Smith

Neko Ramen, vol. 3 | By Kenji Sonishi | TOKYOPOP – The third volume of Neko Ramen finds Taisho experimenting with “Boomeramen” (it comes back when the customer throws it), dressing as a panda (“They’re trendy,” he explains), and opening a high-end restaurant called Neko Ramen Hills. Though it’s clear to the reader – and to the shop’s only regular customer – that Taisho’s ideas are terribly misguided, the cat cook remains a fierce optimist, undeterred by failure and impervious to suggestion or criticism. That kind of character isn’t always the easiest to like, but Taisho is oddly winning in his dedication to building a successful business; it’s hard not to root for him, even though he never seems to learn from ill-advised promotions or impulsive hiring practices. Highly recommended. – Katherine Dacey

Otomen, vol. 9 | By Aya Kanno | Viz Media – Just days after rashly claiming my disillusionment with Otomen as a multi-volume series, I decided to give it another chance, with somewhat mixed results. Though a sub-plot in which Juta is nearly (but then not) outed as shoujo mangaka Jewel Sachihana only feeds my frustration with the series’ situation comedy setup, this volume’s ramped-up gender commentary has almost won me back over. Whether it’s enough to keep me hooked for more than another volume remains to be seen, but I can’t deny that things look more promising than they have in a while. Of course it doesn’t hurt that Kanno’s sense of humor and artwork are both just as stunning as ever. Cautiously re-recommended.– MJ

Filed Under: Bookshelf Briefs Tagged With: bunny drop, countdown 7 days, high school of the dead, k-on!, neko ramen, otomen

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