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Manga Bookshelf

Discussion, Resources, Roundtables, & Reviews

xxxholic

Did someone say xxxHolic?

January 22, 2010 by Melinda Beasi 4 Comments

Okay, I’ll be the first to admit I’ve been a little obsessed with the xxxHolic Roundtable at The Hooded Utilitarian. I’ll get around to that a bit more in a moment, but first I’d like to point you to our latest roundtable at PopCultureShock in which I join Michelle and the rest of the gang for a discussion on manga gift-giving. It was an entertaining exchange for all of us and I hope it will be for you too!

So, back to the Utilitarians, guest participant Kate Dacey wrapped up the series with her take on the first three volumes of the series, offering up exactly the kind of pithy brilliance I’ve come to expect from her. Also, since a few whiners (and by “whiners” I mean me) made a fuss about the roundtable being limited to the series’ first three volumes, Vom Marlowe posted an explanation (and unnecessary apology) for the roundtable’s breadth of discussion, offering interested parties a chance to open up the topic to the series as a whole. …

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Filed Under: NEWS Tagged With: links, manga, xxxholic

A little Twilight, more xxxHolic

January 20, 2010 by Melinda Beasi 17 Comments

This is just barely link-blogging, since I believe I have only two links. Still, it saves me from being disagreeable all over the internet, something I try to avoid.

First, EW has an exclusive look at the cover for Yen Press’ upcoming Twilight graphic novel, as well as a single sample page. The word floating around Twitter was “hideous” but I admit I think it’s kind of pretty. Not the cover so much (lifeless but inoffensive) as the interior artwork. I haven’t been looking forward to reading Twilight, despite my highly positive take on its announcement, but I gotta admit my inner teen is a tiny bit smitten with that sparkling vampire’s sensitive eyes. Oh, inner teen, must you humiliate me in this way? Must you??

Meanwhile, The Hooded Utilitarian continues their xxxHolic Roundtable with most participants not finding much besides the artwork to enjoy….

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Filed Under: NEWS Tagged With: manga, twilight, xxxholic

xxxHOLiC, Vol. 14

October 20, 2009 by Melinda Beasi Leave a Comment

By CLAMP
Del Rey, 192 pp.
Rating: T (13+)

With a quiet life restored thanks to her wish, Kohane gives her mother the space necessary for her to gain an understanding of how she must change by moving in with the fortune-teller from volume two, who will also take the opportunity to pass on her craft to Kohane. While visiting, Watanuki teaches Kohane to cook and Doumeki reveals to Kohane the reason behind his friendship with Watanuki. As they walk home later that evening, Watanuki startles Doumeki with a confession (no, not that kind) of his own. Back at the shop, a new customer arrives—a young woman with a wish to obtain cooking lessons. Watanuki is (unwillingly) tasked with fulfilling her wish, which gives him some unexpected insight into both Doumeki’s eating habits and the individual nature of cooking.

Though this volume proceeds more quietly than the last, it is filled with wry humor and thoughtful revelation, two of the series’ best qualities. Also notable in this volume is a strong sense of warmth, something that has increasingly become a part of the series. This is particularly evident in each character’s relationship with Watanuki—from Yuuko to the fortune-teller—including even dry-humored characters like Doumeki and Mokona (with whom Watanuki shares an especially sweet moment in this volume). It is the connection between people that makes this series feel so rich, a point made stronger in this volume when Watanuki reveals that it is these connections that have inspired him to continue his own existence. As usual, this volume also provides enough mouth-watering discussion of food to send every reader running to the kitchen (or at least the nearest Japanese restaurant).

With its gorgeous artwork and philosophical tone, xxxHOLiC continues to provide a feast for both the eye and soul.

Review copy provided by the publisher. Review originally published at PopCultureShock.

Filed Under: MANGA REVIEWS Tagged With: xxxholic

xxxHolic, Volume 14

October 20, 2009 by Melinda Beasi 6 Comments

xxxholic14Today I have a short review of xxxHolic, Vol. 14 in a special Tuesday edition of Manga Minis. This series is so wonderfully rich and there is much I might have said about this volume, given more space. I’ll try to include some of it here.

First of all, one of the things I discussed in my mini is the level of warmth this series has taken on. The “sweet” moment I mention between Watanuki and Mokona, for instance, is so adorable one could die, and when Kohane asks Doumeki why he remains with Watanuki, the image Doumeki calls forth–Watanuki by the river on a particular rainy day–is enough to break one’s heart. That this is followed by Kohane asking Doumeki to “Take care of Kimihiro-kun… please?” is truly the final nail in the coffin.

It is here, too, that I must mention CLAMP’s effective use of paneling, because it is not so much the dialogue that does the work here, but the imagery. Doumeki doesn’t respond to Kohane with anything more than the squeeze of a hand, but the way that moment is built up–with a flashback to Yuuko’s ominous words about hesitation, individual profiles (cut narrowly within wide horizontal panels) of Doumeki and then Kohane, then a single page consisting only of a larger, fuller profile of Doumeki followed by a close-up of his hand squeezing Kohane’s–draws out the moment perfectly, giving it enormous emotional weight. Similarly effective means are used in the story’s next scene too, in which Watanuki confesses his new resolve to remain in this world. The panels are clean and heavy on contrast as is usual for CLAMP (especially in this series) and this deceptive visual simplicity, much like simplicity of language, allows for stronger statements than could ever be made with more verbose visual language.

This volume is filled with foreshadowing, which I suppose is no different than the rest of the series to this point, but at this point the foreshadowing contains a sense of urgency and immediacy that has not been present before, at least to this extent. That a customer arrives in the middle of it all–something we haven’t seen for quite some time–might appear to break the momentum, but it actually seems to be a part of it somehow, with Watanuki taking on Yuuko’s usual role. A later scene with the voices (but not the bodies) of Maru and Moro only strengthens this feeling, and the book’s final scene sets an uneasy, anticipatory tone for the next volume, despite the unearthly calm of its participants. Will it be Watanuki who is able to grant Yuuko’s wish after all, just as he has hoped to do? It seems likely that we will find out soon.

What read as cold philosophy at the beginning of this series has become intimate personal drama fourteen volumes in, and even Yuuko can’t pretend to be detached from the story’s outcome, particularly as concerns Watanuki, whom she obviously loves. Though I think it goes without saying at this point that reading Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle has become an essential part of understanding this series, there is something deep at the core of xxxHolic that stands entirely on its own, and nowhere is that clearer than in this volume.

Click here to read my miniaturized thoughts on the subject (I’m not lying about the food thing; I made rice balls immediately after reading this volume). And please, read xxxHolic. It is truly a thing of beauty.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Filed Under: MANGA REVIEWS Tagged With: manga, xxxholic

xxxHolic 13 + ConBust

March 26, 2009 by Melinda Beasi 14 Comments

Just a couple of quick notes! First of all, I have a new review up at Comics Should Be Good, for xxxHolic volume 13 which I loved very much (Reprinted here after the demise of CSBG). Oh Watanuki and Doumeki, I die. I die. Please check it out and let me know what you think!

Also, I’ll be spending some of the next few days at Smith College’s ConBust, a local sci fi, gaming, and anime convention with a special focus on female fans and creators. I’m really looking forward to seeing what they have to offer!

A question to fellow WordPress users: Have any of you noticed a lot more spam making its way past Akismet lately? Is it just me?

That’s all for the moment!


xxxHolic, Volume 13 by CLAMP Published by Del Rey Manga

In volume twelve, Watanuki’s world began to crumble, as he was pulled from dream to reality and back to dream, without ever being entirely sure which was which. This continues in volume thirteen, but having been reassured that he is at least still human, Watanuki is coming to terms with his new fractured reality, determined to do his best by those who inhabit it whether any of it is real or not. “This may all be just a dream,” he says to himself in the first chapter. “But to me this is my everyday life! It’s important!” His new outlook gives him a fresh appreciation for the time he is able to spend with those he cares about, and he even seems prepared to place Doumeki in that category.

Presented with the news that young Kohane is being harassed for supposedly giving false spiritual readings on television, Watanuki is determined to find her and show his support. Along with Doumeki, he sneaks into the television studio where she is taping just in time to save her from being struck by her mother, whose determination to maintain Kohane’s success as a medium has finally pushed her off the deep end. After a painful confrontation, they bring Kohane back to Yuuko’s shop, where Kohane will finally make a wish.

One of the most poignant things in this series so far has been the nurturing relationship that has developed between Watanuki and Kohane, and in this volume it becomes clear just how much this has affected both of them as people. Having someone to care for and protect has brought out the very best in Watanuki, and being cared for and protected has finally brought happiness within Kohane’s reach. There is a moment at the television studio where Watanuki allows himself to be struck by Kohane’s mother (much to Doumeki’s dismay), and though it has been typical of Watanuki to sacrifice himself for the sake of others, even when doing so actually hurts them more, in this case his choice to do so demonstrates a newfound maturity and thoughtfulness. Learning to care for someone and be cared for, of course, can bring as much pain as it does joy, and Watanuki is finally prepared to open himself up to both.

Though Kohane’s arc dominates the volume, the most compelling story here is Watanuki’s own personal growth. This has been building gradually throughout the series (especially since volume eight), but in this volume it is made very clear just how far he has come. What’s most interesting about this, is that it has come hand in hand with the loss of so much of his past. With Watanuki’s memories eroding rapidly, he seems to have become more conscious than ever of the present, as well as the value of the few people whose names and faces have not yet faded from his mind. At the beginning of the volume, he and Doumeki encounter Himawari on the way to school, and it occurs to Watanuki that being able to meet her is precious, which he takes care to tell her. It is Himawari, however, who notices the biggest difference–that for the first time ever he does not protest her usual observation that he and Doumeki are friends.

There are so many ways to look at Watanuki’s transformation and everything that is happening around him. How much of his identity is inextricably tied to his memories? Can he create the best version of himself and his world simply by wishing for it? Is it shedding his past that allows Watanuki to fully become the man these people have helped him to discover? This volume offers more questions than answers, but it hardly matters when the whole thing is filled with scenes like this:

Even in a manga as complex and layered as xxxHolic, it is nearly impossible not to be just simply charmed by Watanuki and Doumeki’s reluctant friendship, especially now as it becomes more lighthearted and obviously genuine. Though the true extent of their purpose in each other’s lives has not been fully revealed at this point in the story, it is clear that for better or worse they are stuck with each other, and it is delightful to see Watanuki finally relaxing with that truth.

As in volume twelve, Watanuki’s dream sequences provide CLAMP with the opportunity to play with fanciful imagery, particularly with Yuuko’s butterfly theme, and some of the images are strikingly beautiful. Near the end of the book, too, as the volume’s most dramatic plot points are revealed, the art is both ornate and simply lovely, with charming details (like Kohane’s dropped sandal in the panel below) that make this supernatural setting feel so real. As always, the life and range of expression of these characters is part of what makes the storytelling so powerful, while the curling smoke in Yuuko’s shop keeps the atmosphere thick with suspense.

Del Rey does its usual fine job with this volume. The color pages at the beginning of the book are particularly nice in that they serve as a reminder of Watanuki’s physical bond with Doumeki, which comes in handy part way through after Watanuki loses his glasses to a dream. William Flanagan’s English adaptation provides a wonderful read, and since this volume contains relatively few Japanese cultural references that require explanation, he is able to use some of his endnote section to instead clarify action in the television studio that might otherwise lose meaning.

Like the previous few volumes, more and more the story is made richer by concurrent reading of xxxHolic‘s crossover series, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, and not just because it provides additional insight into the plot. Even characterization is enriched by reading both series, particularly as concerns Watanuki, Yuuko, and, interestingly, Mokona, whose personality is more fully (and delightfully) understood alongside his Tsubasa counterpart’s. Less openly affectionate and demonstrative than Tsubasa‘s Mokona (Soel), xxxHolic‘s Mokona (Larg) keeps his depths hidden under a blanket of teasing and dry wit, showing his true affection and concern only when it really counts. Soel and Larg are the inverse of each other in many ways, and watching their individual roles play out is a real treat.

On the surface, Kohane’s story seems like a digression from the series’ main plot line (though there is no way to know for sure), and since it makes up most of this volume, there is a sense that much of what happens here is tangential to the real drama that lies ahead. The real value of this volume, however, is in the character development, which is substantial. Though the volume will leave readers impatient for the next, what happens here is well worth savoring.

For an introduction to the world of xxxHolic, check out my post, Why You Should Read xxxHolic at There it is, Plain as Daylight.

Filed Under: FEATURES Tagged With: manga, tokiday, wordpress, xxxholic

Losing my mind

March 25, 2009 by Melinda Beasi 13 Comments

I really should send myself notes during the day. I swear I thought of four or five things over the course of the day that I wanted to blog about, but I can’t remember a single one of them.

Human relations have been strained for me the last couple of weeks, and if I believed in things like astrology, I’d be looking for some kind of celestial reasoning for it all. I’ve managed to offend people at nearly every turn, and I’m only grateful to those who have had the kindness to allow me to learn and grow from the experience instead of just walking away. I’ll be glad when this tension eases, however, and I’m once again able to interact easily and peacefully with my fellow humans. Maybe I just need a really good nap.

Volume thirteen of xxxHolic was released yesterday, and I shockingly forgot to pick up a copy then. I finally managed this on the way home from work today, and I’ve had a really enjoyable evening with it. Expect coherent thoughts sometime in the next few days, when I can work my way past undignified squee. I also picked up volume 22 of Fruits Basket while I was there, since I’d intended to purchase it last week, so I have that to look forward to as well.

Hopefully I’ll be back tomorrow with all those ideas that fled from me today. See you then!

Filed Under: FEATURES, REVIEWS Tagged With: fruits basket, manga, xxxholic

Hi. My name is Deanna and I’m a mangaholic.

January 11, 2009 by Deanna Gauthier 33 Comments

It is an honor beyond measure to be invited by Melinda to be a guest blogger. I have such a deep respect and admiration for Melinda’s thoughtful reviews and insightful analysis of manga. Honestly after my initial excitement over the invitation abated a little, I froze for several days in a fit of self-consciousness. But manga means too much to me to pass up this wonderful opportunity to share my love of it with more people.

I cannot promise the eloquence and insight that you have come to expect from Melinda, but as so many of my favorite characters say, I will do my best.

…

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Filed Under: FEATURES Tagged With: introduction, manga, xxxholic

Manga and anime briefs

December 3, 2008 by Melinda Beasi Leave a Comment

Since everything else here requires spoiler warnings, I’ll start with the one item I can place before the jump and go from there!

I just wanted to make brief mention of an anime series we’ve been enjoying, not just for its terrific story and animation, but also for its method of delivery! Eve no Jikan (Time of Eve) from writer/director Yasuhiro Yoshiura (whose Pale Cocoon we also enjoyed), is being provided with English subtitles as free streaming video at Crunchyroll, shortly after each episode’s release in Japan. Episodes can also be downloaded for a small fee.

Eve no Jikan‘s premise is nothing extremely new. We’ve seen plenty of fiction involving the ethics and complications of a world in which human-like androids are employed to serve humans, and what it really means to be human, etc. What I’m enjoying about this series especially, is that the story revolves around an underground cafe where discrimination between human and android is prohibited. The cafe setting, with its set of fixed characters, helps make the story feel more intimate than what I’m used to in fiction with these themes, assisted also by the youthful POV of its protagonist. I’m impressed, too, with its effectiveness, considering that it is being fed to us only in 15-minute increments.

This is probably old news to most people who read here, but just in case I’m not the last person to talk about this, I wanted to pass it along! :) Watch the first episode here!

Now on to the rest. SPOILERS for new chapters of Bakuman, xxxHolic, and NANA, as well as recent episodes of Ef: A Tale of Melodies after the jump! …

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Filed Under: FEATURES Tagged With: anime, bakuman, Ef, eve no jikan, manga, nana, xxxholic

New chapter round-up

November 8, 2008 by Melinda Beasi Leave a Comment

It’s a dim, cloudy kind of morning over here in western Massachusetts, and I can’t seem to shake the grogginess I woke up with today. It’s a perfect day for cozy blankets, grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and manga.

Here are a few brief thoughts on new chapters of xxxHolic, NANA, Bakuman, and Bleach.

SPOILERS after the jump! …

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Filed Under: FEATURES Tagged With: bakuman, bleach, manga, nana, xxxholic

I’ve got a theory, it could be bunnies.

October 13, 2008 by Melinda Beasi 2 Comments

I’ve been a bit stressed and over-taxed lately, and I keep sitting down to try to write something vaguely intelligent about manga for this blog, but as I’ve been pretty wrapped up in Nana lately, everything seems to come out as, “Ode to Nobu.” Heh. This is why I don’t write reviews. I can write passionately about certain aspects of a manga, but I fail at well-rounded, critical writing.

In lieu of brilliant reviews or scintillating commentary, I instead offer up a photo of my husband’s (early) birthday present. It will slay you all with its cuteness and make you forget what this entry sorely lacks.

Her name is Kino.

This also does not amount to “scintillating commentary,” but I guess I will talk a moment about Tsubasa chapter 201 and xxxHolic chapter 167 since they are receiving a sound thrashing in most corners of the internet I frequent, and I’m a bit perplexed about that.

…

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Filed Under: FEATURES Tagged With: kino the bunny, manga, nana, tsubasa, xxxholic

Quick check-in

September 25, 2008 by Melinda Beasi 4 Comments

Heading out shortly to the train station for travel to NYAF! I’ll be staying with a dear friend in Brooklyn, and have plans to inundate her and her daughter with anime while I am there, specifically Princess Tutu, Mushishi, and/or Kino’s Journey. I’m also trying to work on getting her daughter interested in manga (she doesn’t read a lot, but I thought maybe comics would help her enjoy it more). I guess we’ll see how it goes. I’m not exactly sure what to try to start her off with. She’s ten, but has spent a lot of her life hanging out with adults, so she’s definitely not typical ten. She’s the kind of girl who would (and did) dress up for Halloween as “Dorth Vader,” a cross between Dorothy (from The Wizard of Oz) and Darth Vader. If you have suggestions, bring ’em on!

I’ll be at the con all three days, from opening to whenever I get too tired, so if you see me wandering around, please say hello! Just got my hair cut. Look approximately like this.

Just a quick note on xxxHolic chapter 166 before I go. …

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Filed Under: DAILY CHATTER, FEATURES Tagged With: nyaf, xxxholic

Bleach ch. 322, xxxHolic ch. 163

August 23, 2008 by Melinda Beasi 1 Comment

It’s a beautiful day, and I should be taking advantage of that, so this will be a brief post. I just had a few thoughts regarding new chapters of Bleach and xxxHolic released this week.

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Filed Under: FEATURES Tagged With: bleach, manga, xxxholic

Why you should read xxxHolic

August 20, 2008 by Melinda Beasi 45 Comments

Once upon a time in my secret fannish life, sad and frustrated with the small size of the xxxHolic fandom, I created a so-called “persuasion post.” Its purpose was to inspire friends to begin reading the series, write lots of fanfiction, and join in on all my xxxHolic glee. I think, however, that this post deserves better than being hidden behind a fannish identity, so I have unearthed it from the clutter and reworked it for a broader audience. Behold, the new (de-fandomed) xxxHolic Persuasion Post:

Let your wishes be granted.

First of all, this post is specifically about the manga. The anime is nice enough in its way, but it can’t even begin to compare to the manga and I think it is better to watch it if you’ve already read the manga, so that you can fill in the blanks with your own mind.

…

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Filed Under: FEATURES, persuasion posts Tagged With: manga, persuasion posts, xxxholic

Random, happy, confusing, exciting

August 18, 2008 by Melinda Beasi 1 Comment

First of all, many thanks to those who have been leaving BL recommendations for me here! I’ve started looking a bit at some of the recs, and will report back in more detail soon. So far, the series I’ve looked at are Shout out Loud!, Let Dai, and Totally Captivated, and I’ve liked at least *something* about each of them, though I still have some reservations.

Random: This made me laugh for an entire day. Seriously.

Happy: I have at last acquired a scanner, which means that my next installment of the Fullmetal Alchemist Read-a-Long will include scanned pages from the Viz editions, rather than scanlations which I’d resorted to originally. I’ve also updated the previous entries (vol. 1 & 2 | vol. 3 & 4) with the proper pages. I’m also thinking of posting some version of my massive xxxHolic post in this blog (previously posted in fannish places), now that I have proper scanned pages, as I have a pretty much constant urge to try to draw people into that series.

A bit of navel-gazing to follow: …

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Filed Under: DAILY CHATTER, FEATURES Tagged With: fullmetal alchemist, manga, navel-gazing, star wars, writing, xxxholic

Links, links, & Wish volume 1

August 13, 2008 by Melinda Beasi Leave a Comment

First off, a few interesting links from the non-manga portion of my blogroll (yes, I do care about things other than manga):

Wil Wheaton says we should try to stop MTV from remaking The Rocky Horror Picture Show. W. T. F? I agree. Sign the petition here. AmyM has posted a list of writing contests of many kinds. Very cool, and also a strong reminder that none of us have an excuse to be sitting on our asses. Neil Gaiman is not blogging but links to the Coraline promo video-a-day. Coraline is one of my favorite books, and though I’ve been a little suspicious of the way it’s being put on the screen, I remain cautiously optimistic.

Okay, this is actually from my LJ friends-list (and *is* about manga), but ashura-sama has posted her translation of this week’s xxxHolic spoilers, and I admit I’m a bit giddy. Her cut tag jokes that “-This- should be chapter 104” and okay, yes, I ‘ship Doumeki/Watanuki, what can I say? Note: Link contains spoilers for xxxHolic chapter 163. Click at your own risk.

On other CLAMP-related subjects, I am still catching up on older series, and finally picked up volume 1 of Wish from the used shelf at my local comic shop (Modern Myths, by the way, a lovely store indeed*), and read it last evening. …

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Filed Under: FEATURES Tagged With: coraline, links, manga, wish, writing, xxxholic

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