Yotsuba&! v. 8-9
Written & Illustrated by Kiyohiko Azuma
Translated by Amy Forsyth
Lettered by Terri Delgado
Published by Yen Press

When I get a new comic, it gets slotted onto the bottom of my towering to-read pile. The exception to that rule is Usagi Yojimbo, which I always read immediately when a new book emerges. If I were to make two exceptions, Yotsuba&! might be the second such title.

Each chapter is titled “Yotsuba & something“, and that chapter follows our youthful protagonist as she, wide-eyed and full of wonder, explores the world around her. With absolutely hilarious results. In these two books, Yotsuba attends a school festival where her friend and neighbor’s class is distributing cake. She flies in a hot air balloon. Opposites, teddy bears, restaurants, typhoons and schedules also find their way into Yotsbuba’s inquisitive, excitable gaze.

Kiyohiko Azuma is a master at blending slapstick timing with innocent, childish enthusiasm. Yotsuba’s continual amazement and delight make her appear too young for her age, but Azuma’s ability to play the rest of the cast off her reactions only makes every situation that much funnier. With its warmth, affection and gee-whiz humor, Yotsuba&! stands out as something totally unique on comic shelves today. It’s easily one of the best books I’m reading, and well worth checking out.

(more…)

Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths
Written & Illustrated by Shigeru Mizuki
Translated by Jocelyne Allen
Published by Drawn & Quarterly

This book is excellent. It is, according to the interview with its author Shigeru Mizuki printed within, the first of his books to be published in English – I can only hope we’re soon flooded by Mizuki translations. I’d like to drown in them.

A veteran of World War II, Mizuki based Onward Towards Our Nobles Deaths on his experiences in the Pacific theatre. Now, there are two types of war stories: tales of noble men (and women) accomplishing amazing things in horrifying circumstances, and sagas showing the ugly futility of it all. I enjoy the former, but my peacenik sensibilities are far more in line with the latter. And Mizuki appeals to my side of the equation very strongly.

With upwards of thirty named characters, Onward doesn’t spend much time getting to know the cast outside of their military roles, but Mizuki spends plenty of time sympathizing with each man within the extreme expectations placed upon them by the military. The ongoing theme of the book deals with the men being ordered into a pointless suicide charge, contrasted against the high-level brass who fret they’ll be made fools when they report the squad killed only to find out that not everyone participated in the charge.

Mizuki threads a little comedy, absurdism, theatrical speeches about the honor of death, through Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths, preventing it from becoming a moribund book. It’s still quite dark, and tragic, but mostly, it’s a reminder that for every hero found in war, there are thousands of senseless losses.

Kenshin fanart by “Tsuyoshi13″

Anime News Network and others are reporting that this week’s issue of Jump Square magazine holds a special announcement for the 15th anniversary of Rurouni Kenshin – a new anime has been greenlit! No word yet whether this will be a new series, OVA, or film, but any new Kenshin will certainly be welcomed by fans.

In addition, if the older material is more your speed, you’ll have a new higher-quality way to watch it soon as well. With Japanese release dates of late August, September, and October (no official word on US release yet), the two Kenshin OVAs and the full length feature will be hitting blu-ray, watchable in high definition glory.

The Kenshin manga spanned 255 chapters, and the original anime series had 95 episodes.

Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs Vol 14
Story and art by Yukiya Sakuragi
Published by Viz Media
Review by Julie Opipari

Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs is another series that always manages to wrestle some very real emotions from me. It’s due strictly to the subject matter, and people who know me personally know how much I love animals, especially dogs. A family isn’t complete without a slobbering, panting mascot to greet you every time you walk through the front door. The thought of not hearing a collar jingle is too awful to contemplate, and even when Buu is an obnoxious Greenie demanding brat, I still count my blessings he’s my dog.

 Suguri, the heroine of Inubaka, is absolutely nuts about dogs. She’s moved from the country to Tokyo, where she works at Woofles, a pet shop owned by Teppei. The series is comprised of short story arcs, centering around the various customers of the store. Suguri is a caring and friendly young woman, and she probably gets a little too involved in the lives of Woofles’ clients. Part of the enjoyment from the series comes from Suguri’s character development. She makes many mistakes because she thinks with her heart instead of her head, but she learns some valuable life lessons from her missteps.

This volume is a bit of a hot button for me. Teppei has a black lab, and it’s his dream to raise puppies to sell in his shop. Suguri has a mixed breed dog, Lupin. She and her family never bothered to get him fixed, and it’s Suguri’s dream to see Lupin’s puppies. Teppei is adamantly opposed to the idea; how will she find loving homes for a bunch of mutts? The two argue over the issue, and despite Suguri acknowledging that Teppei has a good point, she still wants Lupin’s puppies.

 Forgive me for a moment, as I ascend to my soap box. Both Teppei and Suguri need to reassess what they want for their dogs. There are tens of thousands of dogs and cats that are destroyed every year because nobody wants them and because nobody was responsible enough to spay or neuter their pets. I know. I have a dog that nobody wanted. Even being a purebred wasn’t enough to keep Buu in the good graces of his previous owners. He’s a good dog. He knows his basic commands, and he walks like a perfect gentleman on a leash. He knew how to do all of these before I rescued him. He was 50 pounds underweight, he had been abused, and he was very ill. He almost died before I could bring him home. This is a dog that somebody, somewhere in his past, cared enough about to teach him how to sit, stay, and heel. But not enough to provide a home for him for the rest of his life.

 Now, before you start calling me a psycho tree-hugger, let me remind you that a comic book unleashed this torrent of feelings. Inubaka has a very simple premise. It’s about a girl who works at a pet shop. It’s about her learning to become independent, while doing something that she loves. It’s about a cast of odd and wonderful characters, and it’s about that special connection you can have with a dog. Each of the fourteen volumes to date have managed to make me feel something; sadness, happiness, and now even a flash of disappointment. This is another series that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Sure, every now and again there’s that oddly placed bit of fan-service, but the art is engaging and the content is compelling. It’s easy to relate to the characters, even the few I don’t care for, and they all have one thing in common. They all love their dogs, and they all think they are doing what’s best for them. Even if the readers may sometimes disagree.

When Julie Opipari isn’t mucking around the barn, she can be found trying to make a dent in the massive pile of manga that keeps following her home from the bookstore.  Not wiling to admit she has a problem, she blissfully continues to anticipate the latest releases despite the cries of agony from her credit card.  She cheerfully blames her addiction on the stresses of college and post traumatic work disorder, and is grateful that her family grumbles only occasionally about the amount of time she spends buried in her books. In addition to reading Your Manga Minute every Wednesday, you can read more of Julie’s work on her blog, Manga Maniac Cafe.

Sand Chronicles Vols 1 – 9
Story and art by Hinako Ashihara
Published by Viz Media
Review by Julie Opipari

Sand Chronicles is one of those series that creeps up on you, and once it’s got you hooked, it toys mercilessly with your emotions. I always make sure there is a tissue near at hand when I am reading a new volume, because I always get teary eyed. The series can be agonizingly painful, as the young protagonist, Ann, struggles to deal with the most dreaded experience a young child could ever imagine – the suicide of her emotionally fragile mother.

After divorcing her husband, Ann’s mother Miwako is forced to move back to the rural village where she was born. She moves back home with her parents, and tries to move forward building a new life for herself and her daughter. She can’t hide the fact that she hates the backwater village of Shimane, and that all of her dreams have been brutally shattered now that she’s back. Once she found the freedom of Tokyo, she wasn’t supposed to ever have to endure life in the country again. Caught in a cesspool of despair, Miwako gives up on life, and more tragically, she gives up on Ann.

What Ann’s mother leaves Ann is a lifetime of guilt and remorse. This last, achingly selfish act sends the young Ann spinning hopelessly out of control. It colors her relationships with her grandparents, her classmates, and her closest friends. Ann must grapple with her confusion and her feelings of unworthiness. If even her mother abandoned her, does she ever deserve to be loved?

I loved this series. It’s told in eight bittersweet volumes, with a ninth volume comprised of side stories that nicely compliment the main plot. Ann’s struggles to lead a normal life touched me deeply; it’s rare that book leaves me weepy after every volume, and embarrassingly, some of the tears were because I had reached the last page! Each new installment of Sand Chronicles was special, and I waited to read them until I had the time to savor every page. Though the reading material is certainly heavy and depressing at times, it also has one other element that makes it very, very special. The entire series is also full of hope, hope that Ann will one day overcome the shadow of her mother’s death and learn to live life the way she is meant to – filled with happiness and love.

When Julie Opipari isn’t mucking around the barn, she can be found trying to make a dent in the massive pile of manga that keeps following her home from the bookstore.  Not wiling to admit she has a problem, she blissfully continues to anticipate the latest releases despite the cries of agony from her credit card.  She cheerfully blames her addiction on the stresses of college and post traumatic work disorder, and is grateful that her family grumbles only occasionally about the amount of time she spends buried in her books. In addition to reading Your Manga Minute every Wednesday, you can read more of Julie’s work on her blog, Manga Maniac Cafe.

By Julie Opipari

Kekkaishi Vol 22
Story and art by Yellow Tanabe
Published by Viz Media
Review by Julie Opipari

I just love Kekkaishi. Even when I was getting a sinking feeling in my gut that this story arc was going to wander off into territory that I wouldn’t like, Yellow Tanabe managed to keep me engrossed in the plot. I hate the current villain and find her the worst kind of one-dimensional stereo-type, but I like the other new character, Yugami. Even after hating him at first! Saiko, on the other hand, is just annoying and a very shallow excuse for an opponent.

The thing I like the best about Kekkaishi is how Tokine and Yoshimori interact with each other. They have been together for all of their lives, and they are very dependant on each other, whether they want to admit it or not. Being together makes the other stronger, and even if they occasionally bicker, they always have each other’s back. They are a team, and if one of them is not there, the other is diminished.

When Tokine is whisked off to be interrogated by the Shadow Organization, Tokine’s friends are immediately worried about her. Her questioning is very unusual, and when her grandmother learns that she’s been spirited off to Headless Island, she is very concerned about Tokine’s welfare. When Yoshimori and Hatori arrive at the island with the proper documents to have her released, they stumble upon a scene of chaos and confusion. There is something shady going on at Headless Island, and if they don’t hurry up and figure out what it is, they are all going to get themselves killed!

I love, love, love Yoshimori. He is impulsive and has the temper of a bottle rocket, but he is always ready and willing to put himself in harm’s way to save his friends. And he loves to bake! This guy has got it all! He even has some super-duper panels where he looks and sounds really, really cool! I don’t care what anyone else says, he is clearly maturing and willing to take responsibility for his, and everyone else’s, actions.

It is clear that the troubles with the Shadow Organization run deep, and that there isn’t anyone to be trusted. I am finding this story arc intriguing and suspenseful, even though Masamori is nowhere to be seen. ‘Cause if there is one character who I love more than Yoshimori, it’s his older, much more dangerous brother, Masamori. I hope he shows up again soon! If you enjoy action titles with wonderful dashes of humor, I can’t recommend Kekkaishi highly enough. It rocks!

When Julie Opipari isn’t mucking around the barn, she can be found trying to make a dent in the massive pile of manga that keeps following her home from the bookstore.  Not wiling to admit she has a problem, she blissfully continues to anticipate the latest releases despite the cries of agony from her credit card.  She cheerfully blames her addiction on the stresses of college and post traumatic work disorder, and is grateful that her family grumbles only occasionally about the amount of time she spends buried in her books. In addition to reading Your Manga Minute every Wednesday, you can read more of Julie’s work on her blog, Manga Maniac Cafe.

Deadman Wonderland Vol. 2
Written by Jinsei Kataoka
Art by Kazuma Kondou
Published by Tokyopop
Review by Julie Opipari

From the back cover:

As Ganta begins to understand his new disturbing power, he becomes more determined to destroy the Red Man. However, his strange abilities prove to be an obstacle to Chief Makina who is resolute in maintaining peace and order in her territory. With conspiracy and monstrous attacks from every angle, Ganta manages to arrive at Ward G, a mysterious, detached location in Deadman Wonderland where the horrendous bloodbath continues…

This is such a fun series! I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I do, and I am so glad that I decided to read it. Ganta is a wonderfully plucky hero, and even though he is always at a disadvantage, he keeps plugging away at discovering why he was framed for murdering his classmates. He is trapped in a nightmare that seems to have no escape, and reading along as he careens from one death defying episode to the next kicked up my heart rate. I would have keeled over and died of a heart attack if I was stuck in the same situation as Ganta! Once I picked up this volume, I could not put it down again until I hit the last page.

Now, even though I find the series exciting and a thrill a minute, I am not going to say that it always makes sense. There are a couple of times where logic goes completely out the window, but with the proper amount of belief suspension, you too will just breeze over these much too convenient or confusing plots twists. This is a summer action flick in manga form, so just go along with the flow for maximum enjoyment.

I am fuzzy on the whole “Branches of Sin” infection, but it is pretty cool when Ganta and Senji use their blood as weapons. Though it is something that can backfire quickly, as Ganta discovers, honing the ability to use your blood to slash your opponent to ribbons has got to be one of the coolest attacks, ever! Think about it! Just give yourself a paper cut, and you can take down your enemies by fashioning a blade of death out of your own blood! So cool!

The art is another positive of Deadman Wonderland. The action scenes are chaotic and exciting, and the character expressions leave no doubt about how anyone is feeling. Frightened, angry, determined; Ganta experiences a wealth of emotions as he tries to keep from getting himself killed. I love the character designs as well, and feel that they fit the story to a T.

Deadman Wonderland is a non-stop thriller, packed with action and mystery. There is so much going on, you won’t want to put the book down until you hit the last page. Then you will want the next volume. Too bad it’s not due out until the end of September!

When Julie Opipari isn’t mucking around the barn, she can be found trying to make a dent in the massive pile of manga that keeps following her home from the bookstore.  Not wiling to admit she has a problem, she blissfully continues to anticipate the latest releases despite the cries of agony from her credit card.  She cheerfully blames her addiction on the stresses of college and post traumatic work disorder, and is grateful that her family grumbles only occasionally about the amount of time she spends buried in her books. In addition to reading Your Manga Minute every Wednesday, you can read more of Julie’s work on her blog, Manga Maniac Cafe.

By Julie Opipari

This week I am going to talk about one of my favorite manga series – Skip Beat! Author Yoshiki Nakamura has come up with a great premise, and though there are a few times when the series doesn’t feel like it moves along swiftly enough, the comedy and the characters far outweigh the occasional pacing issues.

In Skip Beat!, protagonist Kyoko starts out as a doormat for Sho, the boy she has loved since childhood. Sho is on the fast track to superstardom, and as his star climbs ever higher, Kyoko’s admiration of him rises as well. She has even developed an irrational dislike of Ren, Sho’s rival in show biz. Everyone knows that Sho is far more handsome and talented than that poseur Ren.

When Kyoko discovers how Sho really feels about her, her life is torn apart. He only asked her to come to Tokyo with him to wait on him hand and foot, and to pay the bills so he could concentrate on becoming the latest and greatest celebrity in town. Kyoko is a quiet, mousy girl, who doesn’t care about her appearance because cosmetics and trendy clothing will only eat away at her and Sho’s meager finances. She is already working from dawn until dusk to ensure that Sho has the best of everything, so she has nobly sacrificed her dreams for him. They are soul mates, aren’t they, and after Sho is the biggest idol in Japan, he can start taking care of her.

Things don’t quite work out that way, and Sho unceremoniously dumps Kyoko. She isn’t glamorous enough for him, and she’ll only slow down his career. When Kyoko finally realizes that Sho is only using her, she snaps. Absolutely, completely, and frighteningly goes mental. Say goodbye to the nice, sweet Kyoko, because that weak, pathetic girl is gone forever. In her place is a crazed, demon-exuding nutcase who is going to have her revenge on the pompous Sho. How? Kyoko is going to become a bigger star than Sho. That will show him, right?!

I love Kyoko. Though she is doing everything for the wrong reason, she throws her heart and soul into the world of show biz. She gets a make-over, hits the trendy stores, and becomes someone else entirely. No longer the passive, doting admirer of Sho, she is now a raging beast determined to bring him to his knees. She will have her vengeance, or by God, she will die trying. Kyoko now has tunnel vision, and nothing will do but to become the Number One Idol in Japan.

Kyoko’s journey through the cut throat world of show biz is chronicled with humor, romance, and beautiful, expressive artwork. The character designs are long and lean, with lots of attention paid to fashions and hairstyles. Everyone is gorgeous, everyone has clothes to die for, and everyone has beautiful hair. Just so you don’t think I’m totally shallow, emotions crackle off the pages, enticing the reader to follow along for the 20 volumes that have been released in the US so far (and it is still ongoing!). There is a frantic energy that is addicting, and I look forward to each new volume with a giddy sense of glee.

If you are looking for a fun read with engaging characters and a lot of energy, give Skip Beat! a try. Kyoko is a unique heroine, one who is about one step from going over the edge completely. What is it that Khan said? Revenge is a dish best served cold? In Kyoko’s case, it’s a dish best served kicking and screaming, with little Kyoko demons shooting out of her body. Good luck, Sho, because you don’t stand a chance!

When Julie Opipari isn’t mucking around the barn, she can be found trying to make a dent in the massive pile of manga that keeps following her home from the bookstore.  Not wiling to admit she has a problem, she blissfully continues to anticipate the latest releases despite the cries of agony from her credit card.  She cheerfully blames her addiction on the stresses of college and post traumatic work disorder, and is grateful that her family grumbles only occasionally about the amount of time she spends buried in her books. In addition to reading Your Manga Minute every week, you can read more of Julie’s work on her blog, Manga Maniac Cafe.

Black Bird
Story & Art by Kanoko Sakurakoji
Published by Viz Media – Shojobeat
Review by Julie Opipari

Black Bird is one of those series that I am on the fence about. It’s a fantasy romance with lots of action and magic and a heroine who is constantly in danger, but it teeters on the edge of oh so wrong! Kyo is a tengu, and he is the leader of his demon clan. He is hot. I guess that kind of makes up for the fact that he might or might not be planning to eat the protagonist, Misao. She is the bride of prophecy, and all of the demons want to possess her. Why? Eating her flesh grants eternal life. Her blood gives incredible powers. Just keeping her alive promises whoever has her tremendous abilities, but I guess the allure of immortality makes everyone pretty much forget about that!

Misao is a high school student, and before Kyo moved in next door, she thought she was your typical high school student. Nope, that was wrong, wrong, wrong. After her 16th birthday, a flood of demons starting hunting her, because they all want to live forever. I don’t know much about the lifespan of a demon, but I bet it’s already fairly long without eating all of the helpless young women in the neighborhood. Too bad for Misao that a long time isn’t long enough for some of those greedy demons. It’s a constant hassle for her fighting off the annoying things. Most of them are low level demons that cause grief more than anything else, but after Kyo comes knocking on her door, the stakes are upped considerably. Now it’s the most powerful demons that are after her. Makes it hard to study for exams when you are constantly worried about becoming someone’s dinner.

This brings me to the reason that I have trouble with the series. Poor Misao. Everyone is trying to kill her, eat her, or rape her. I don’t think that’s very romantic. Being brutalized at every turn isn’t something that I enjoy reading about. Look at the cover. Misao is clutched in Kyo’s possessive embrace, and it certainly doesn’t look like she is enjoying herself. She looks terrified and is crying. And, she’s got blood splatters on her kimono. Probably from Kyo, who looks like he’s about ready to maul her. I don’t care how hot a guy is, if there’s a possibility that he might kill you and then devour your corpse, I just have a hard time finding that romantic. Call me weird or something, but I don’t find that very appealing. The level of violence is at times off-putting as well.

When the story focuses more on the relationship between Misao and Kyo, I enjoy the title more. Sure, Misao is a damp rag next to Kyo’s demanding presence, and that is another annoyance, but I can usually overlook that. Strong, assertive men can be appealing, as long that they aren’t trying to eat you. There are times when Kyo’s possessiveness borders on scary, but Misao doesn’t seem to mind. While I would feel as though I was suffocating, maybe some girls like being treated like a treasured jewel. Besides, if you have a guy as hot as Kyo around, it’s not like you would need to have other male friends; he would take up all of your time, so there wouldn’t be a reason to make him feel jealous, and it would only complicate things more.

In between the melodrama and the failed attempts at turning Misao into dinner, Kanoko Sakurakoji throws in some action to keep things moving breezily along. The action scenes are fun, even if Misao usually does something less than intelligent to get herself in to these life and death predicaments. Kyo works hard at saving her from herself, so I am convinced that he’s not out just for her blood and a hearty meal. Even though Kyo and his vassals look silly in their battle gear, the fights convey a convincing sense of movement and suspense.

Though flawed, Black Bird is a title that I find myself following, almost against my will. It sucks me in, admittedly kicking and screaming at times, but once I pick up each new volume, I find myself reading until the end, usually in one sitting. I guess I am invested enough at this point to at least find out how Misao is going to get a happily ever after, without ending up on some demon’s dinner plate.

When Julie Opipari isn’t mucking around the barn, she can be found trying to make a dent in the massive pile of manga that keeps following her home from the bookstore.  Not wiling to admit she has a problem, she blissfully continues to anticipate the latest releases despite the cries of agony from her credit card.  She cheerfully blames her addiction on the stresses of college and post traumatic work disorder, and is grateful that her family grumbles only occasionally about the amount of time she spends buried in her books. In addition to reading Your Manga Minute every week, you can read more of Julie’s work on her blog, Manga Maniac Cafe.

By Julie Opipari

I picked up The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service to spotlight because it is fairly episodic, and you don’t  have to read it in order.  I have read the first volume, and then several later in the series, and didn’t have any trouble following along with the story of this second volume.

The title is character driven, and writer Eiji Otsuka manages to sneak in cast introductions, so you won’t feel lost if you pick up a random volume and give the series a try.

It is a very unique title, peopled by a bunch of misfits who, try as they might, just don’t blend in with the rest of society.  They all have special “gifts” which set them apart and keep more normal people from wanting to hang out with them.  I mean, who wants to pal around with a bunch of peeps who can talk to the dead?  Or are experts at embalming?  Or better yet, talk to sock puppets?

The reason I love The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service so much is because of the weirdos who make up the main cast.  There’s Karatsu, who can communicate with the recently deceased; Numata, who finds not gold but dead bodies by dowsing;  and Ao Sasaki, who I want to say is the most normal because her gift is finding things out, but personality-wise, she might be one of the biggest oddballs in the group.  Then there’s Makino, who is a licensed embalmer, which, okay, isn’t all that strange, but let’s face it—she gets a little too excited at the thought of getting down to work with the latest corpse that they encounter.  My favorite characters are Yata, a self-proclaimed channeler, and his dirty sock puppet, Kereellis, who is incredibly foul-mouthed and claims he’s from outer space.  As if!

Our dysfunctional little group met at their Buddhist university, and since they probably chased off all of the normal students due, I am sure, to their preoccupation with the dead,  they kind of got stuck hanging out together.  Most of them are also unemployable, because who wants to hire a guy who can find dead bodies, or even worse, one with a foul-mouthed sock puppet alien permanently attached to his hand? Yata could never work in customer service because Kereellis would be screaming obscenities the whole time.  I guess being an alien isn’t some kind of crime, but add in that evil temper and nobody wants to be your friend anymore.

In an effort to earn a few bucks, the gang decided that it’s their duty to help the dead find closure and move on to the afterlife.  A commendable goal, but dead men don’t pay very well!  When your clientele is comprised of penniless corpses, it’s hard to pay the rent.  You can bet that Karatsu eats a ton of instant ramen.  The situations the cast find themselves in are creepy and often dangerous, as they try to help the spirits of the dead resolve any lingering regrets keeping them from passing on.

In addition to very crisp and precise line work, the series entertains because of the characters.  Their interactions often have me laughing out loud, both at the clever dialog and at the outrage behavior that plays out during the course of each new adventure.  Volume 2 actually contains a one-volume story arc, with key moments that had me cringing.  The creators don’t shy away from gruesome shocks, and that is one of the things that keeps me so engaged in the series.

In this installment, Sasaki realizes that their latest corpse is the man who murdered her parents when she was a child.  As events unfold, we learn more about her tragic background.  The thirst for revenge against the perpetrators of violent crimes is also explored, with an unflinchingly brutal outcome.

If you enjoy edgy stories with quirky characters, give The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service a try.  I can’t recommend it highly enough, and I bet you haven’t read anything else quite like it.  Alien sock puppets?  Yeah, right!

When Julie Opipari isn’t mucking around the barn, she can be found trying to make a dent in the massive pile of manga that keeps following her home from the bookstore.  Not wiling to admit she has a problem, she blissfully continues to anticipate the latest releases despite the cries of agony from her credit card.  She cheerfully blames her addiction on the stresses of college and post traumatic work disorder, and is grateful that her family grumbles only occasionally about the amount of time she spends buried in her books. In addition to reading Your Manga Minute every Wednesday, you can read more of Julie’s work on her blog, Manga Maniac Cafe.

By Julie Opipari

DC Comics announced that they are shuttering CMX, effective July 1, 2010. What awful news! CMX was one of my favorite publishers, and they offered a wonderful variety of titles. Some of my favorite series are CMX titles. Nari Kusakawa is a must buy artist, and now I sob at the thought of the premature end to all of the CMX books that I have come to love. They will never receive the ending they deserve here, and that makes me very unhappy. More importantly, I am very sorry about the lost jobs that this announcement brings. CMX employees were always so wonderful to work with, and I wish them luck in the future. My heart goes out to them.

This news has really got me down. First, Viz eliminated 40% of their work force last week. Now DC Comics is completely shuttering the CMX offices. I am terribly worried about the future of manga. So many companies have closed up shop, and each is a loss to the industry that I love. With fewer companies publishing manga, there are fewer choices on bookstore shelves, and publishers will be very, very hesitant to license anything remotely chancy. All of the little gems that don’t get much buzz will remain buried, like undiscovered treasure. Last week I was looking for a silver lining. Today I am looking for my tissues, to blot away my tears. This is a bitter pill to swallow, and I wonder where it will end?

With CMX out of the picture, the manga landscape looks pretty bleak. Sure, Viz releases many series that I enjoy, but they are, for the most part, just variations on the same theme. We have the fighting manga and the high school romance manga, and until Viz gathered up a little courage and started giving us the Viz Signature and Ikki imprints, that was about it. I love Bleach and Vampire Knight, but there are times that I want to read something a little more cutting edge or intended for an older audience. Something that I can relate to, something that speaks to me.

Now here’s the scary thing – what other publishers are in a hurt box, and weighing the same decision. To keep trying to make a buck in this challenging economic environment, or to call it quits and give up. CMX had DC’s might behind them, but they have always been treated like the red-headed step-child in that house. Not much effort went into trumpeting their books. Worse, book store availability has always been an issue. I personally have never had an issue buying their titles, but I purchase 99.9% of my books online. It takes a raging fire to get me into the not-so-local Borders, and the disorganization of the shelves always sets my teeth on edge.

So, Dark Horse, DMP, Vertical, TOKYOPOP, and Yen Press, what are you doing to make sure you aren’t the next victim in the manga publisher bloodbath? DMP has slowed output way down, and has tried to shift their focus more to online offerings. If Apple and Adobe were friends and my iPad ran Flash, I would be all over DMP’s eManga.com website. Dark Horse and Vertical seem very cautious with licensing decisions, and they only release a few choice selections every month. TOKYOPOP discovered the danger of flooding the market with too many releases each month; there are only so many dollars to go around, and when a company is sniping it’s own sales, life gets difficult very quickly. Yen Press has an interesting catalog, and they aren’t afraid to adapt some high profile titles into a graphic novel format. They did axe Yen Plus magazine. And I wonder how profitable the Twilight GN really was for them.

So here we are, and I am feeling more pessimistic about the future of manga in the US than I have in a long, long time. Like every other hobby, strained leisure spending is taking its toll on an industry that was flying high just a few short years ago. Or was that all smoke and mirrors, much like the financial markets that have brought this once mighty economic machine to its knees? How much worse are things going to get, before they finally do get better?

When Julie Opipari isn’t mucking around the barn, she can be found trying to make a dent in the massive pile of manga that keeps following her home from the bookstore.  Not wiling to admit she has a problem, she blissfully continues to anticipate the latest releases despite the cries of agony from her credit card.  She cheerfully blames her addiction on the stresses of college and post traumatic work disorder, and is grateful that her family grumbles only occasionally about the amount of time she spends buried in her books. In addition to reading Your Manga Minute every Wednesday, you can read more of Julie’s work on her blog, Manga Maniac Cafe.

By Julie Opipari

I know that pre-orders are due pretty quick if you order your comics from your local comic store, so I thought it would be fun to troll through the latest issue of Previews together. I order most of my graphic novels from Right Stuf or Amazon, because most of my local comic stores have closed. There is one that remains, but they treat me like I am an alien, so I try to avoid it other than for emergencies. I’m really not that weird – trust me on that!

Here are some releases that I am looking forward to, and why. And you will see, based on these titles, that I am really not an alien!

Bride of the Water God v6: When Soah is sacrificed to the Water God during an devastating drought, she expects to meet a very painful end. Instead, she is rescued by Habaek, the water god, and she becomes his bride. She is quickly caught up in the jealousies and intrigues of the water god’s court. Torn between Habaek and the handsome Mui, Soah struggles to find her place in her new home. This is a series with stunningly lovely art, but a convoluted plot that made little sense until the fifth volume. That’s ok, because the eye candy alone makes it worth the purchase. There isn’t another series being published right now that looks as beautiful as this one.

Gantz v13: When Kei and his friend are killed by a train, they don’t expect to wake up in a room with other accident victims or bossed around by a large, mysterious sphere. They are forced to fight in deadly battles against aliens, all seemingly for the amusement of Gantz. This title is violent and exciting and good old brainless fun. It’s a sci-fi adventure with horror elements, and I love it when Kei is duking it out with his terrifying alien opponents. It’s when the action drifts into the background that I get a little restless reading this series. Kei doesn’t have many of the qualities that I look for in a hero, and I don’t like him when he’s not blasting everything in sight and proving how brave he is.

Fire Investigator Nanase v5 is a series that doesn’t get much love. Nanase is a clever, resourceful heroine, and she matches wits with arsonists and murderers. The blazing fires make for an exciting backdrop in this suspenseful series. I could do without the fan service, but the story is solid enough that I overlook the needless panty shots.

Animal Academy v5 is a title that has caught me by surprise. The first volume didn’t really hook me, but I stuck with it, and I am so glad that I did. It skews to younger readers, but I am finding it a satisfying read. Fune is the only human at Morimori, and she has to keep that a secret. All of her classmates are magical shape-shifting animals who are learning to blend into human society. Fune has a lot to learn herself, and the biggest lesson is what it really means to be human.

Kekkaishi v22: If you aren’t reading this series, you are missing out on a treat. At its core, it’s a fun action/adventure title, but it has so much more to offer. Yoshimori is a hero you can’t help but like, and his fellow guardian, Tokine, is likeable too. The teens are the guardians of a sacred site, which just happens to be located on the grounds of their high school, and they spend their nights warding off supernatural threats. Trying to keep up on your studies when you work all night is tough, so Yoshimori spends a lot of his day trying to sneak in a nap or two. The series keeps getting better and more complex, so give it a try if you haven’t taken the plunge yet.

Skip*Beat v21: Kyoko is a girl out for revenge after she’s dumped by the love of her life. Sho was just leading her on, so she would pay all the bills and do all the housework while he struggled to make it big in show biz. After Kyoko learns the truth, she snaps! She and her little Kyoko demons are going to get back at Sho if it is the last thing she does! She is going to become a bigger star than he is, and laugh at him as her popularity eclipses his. I love the humor, I love that Kyoko is a spaz, and I love Ren, the new man in her life. Unfortunately for Ren, Kyoko is so consumed with getting back at Sho that she doesn’t even notice him! There are some pacing issues, but overall, this remains one of my favorite titles.

Hikaru No Go v20 is about a boy who likes to play go. Yes, this series is about a game that makes little sense to me, and to many others, I’m sure, but I still get caught up in all of the excitement as Hikaru works to become the best go player in Japan. The title is character driven, and the personalities are strong enough, and well-rounded enough, to make the book work.

Now that you know what I’m ordering, what’s on your list?

When Julie Opipari isn’t mucking around the barn, she can be found trying to make a dent in the massive pile of manga that keeps following her home from the bookstore.  Not wiling to admit she has a problem, she blissfully continues to anticipate the latest releases despite the cries of agony from her credit card.  She cheerfully blames her addiction on the stresses of college and post traumatic work disorder, and is grateful that her family grumbles only occasionally about the amount of time she spends buried in her books. In addition to reading Your Manga Minute every Wednesday, you can read more of Julie’s work on her blog, Manga Maniac Cafe.

By Julie Opipari

There is more bad news for the manga industry, as Viz Media as announced a 40% reduction in staff, according to a story in Publisher’s Weekly. Forty percent! That is staggering, and considering that Viz is one of the stronger publishers in the industry, disheartening as well. Yen Press announced a few weeks ago that they are going to cease publication of Yen Plus magazine, and it appears as though Go! Comi, the pub that introduced me to some great artists, has closed shop as well. There is so much bad news that it’s hard to stay positive about the hobby right now.

I remember during the manga “boom” how exciting it was to go to anime conventions and attend publisher panels. License announcements were a highlight, and energy pulsed through the convention center. In contract, last year’s Anime Expo was so disappointing; there was hardly any industry presence, and new licenses were few and far between, and everything was more muted and subdued. The economy was still in freefall, and with job losses mounting, most people were more concerned about making their mortgage payments than buying things.

(more…)

By Julie Opipari

Some girls just can’t seem to get enough of bad boys. I’ll admit that there’s a certain allure to a naughty boy, but I have to admit that I prefer a guy who treats me like a princess. It’s not like I’m exactly high maintenance or anything; just bring me an occasional graphic novel or ten, and for extra brownie points, toss a pony or two into the equation. Some girls are a little needier, and they have to have a guy pay constant attention to them. Even if it’s of the negative kind. Here’s an introduction to some manga series with really bad boys. Don’t bring these guys home to meet your mother!

Hot Gimmick by Miki Aihara features the ultimate bad guy, Ryoki. Ryoki has one thing going for him – he’s stinking rich. Ok, so he’s not bad looking, either. His money and his looks must be enough for Hatsumi, because she put up with his bullying and brow-beating for 12 volumes! First she was his sex-slave, though they barely got past first base, and then she graduated to his girlfriend. Kinda. He still acted like a petulant school-boy, but at least there was some development in their relationship. It is not Hatsumi’s fault that she remained a wet dish cloth the entire series, despite my hopes that she would eventually grow a spine. Seriously, I did enjoy this series until the final two volumes, so if you decide to dive into it, just stop at volume ten!

I am so on the fence about Black Bird by Kanoko Sakurakoji. I really want to like this series, because it has demons, but I am having a really tough time with romantic lead Kyo. He’s a bird demon, and he’s the head of his clan. He’s handsome, dangerous, and has an ability that should make him the most popular guy in town. He can heal. With a lick. He’s singled out Misao, and that’s probably a good thing, because she keeps getting attacked by supernatural beings. Kyo’s talented tongue comes in handy. Does it matter that he is insanely jealous when another guy even looks at her? Probably not, when demons the world over want to eat Misao because it will give them eternal life. So that leads to the question of whether Kyo will be content with a little lick here and a little lick there, or is he eventually going to want to gobble her up?

Vampire Knight by Matsuri Hino is a series that has taken me a long time to warm up to. Probably because Yuki is such a pushover with the men in her life. There’s dark, dangerous Kaname, a powerful, deadly vampire, and not so dark but just as dangerous Zero, a vampire hunter. Both of these guys profess to want only the best for Yuki, but they both keep getting her into mischief. Like a vampire is going to kill her mischief, and like, another vampire is going to kill her mischief. With friends like these, does she really need any enemies? I think that there should be a couple of requirements for any potential love interest. They should be human, and they shouldn’t have an overpowering desire to drink your blood. Both of these guys = FAIL!

I really like The Name of the Flower by Ken Saito. I just don’t think it’s a good idea to fall in love with a guy who is one popsicle short of a full package. Chouko should have gotten a clue when her dour new guardian, Kei, barely spoke a word to her after she moved into his quiet home. Then she should have gotten another one when he started getting weird when she started to get a life. There are demons that threaten to consume him, and his growing attachment to Chouko seems to bring out the worst in him. Of all of these bad boys, Kei is the most unstable. He teeters over a black abyss of desolation, and it’s going to take a lot of inner strength and determination from Chouko to pull him back from the brink. Where will one shy, gentle young woman find the courage for that? Just do yourself a favor, Chouko! Fall for Akiyama instead!

So there you have it, just a few examples of getting caught in a bad shoujo romance. If falling in love with one of these guys doesn’t land you in a mental institution, count your blessings!

When Julie Opipari isn’t mucking around the barn, she can be found trying to make a dent in the massive pile of manga that keeps following her home from the bookstore.  Not wiling to admit she has a problem, she blissfully continues to anticipate the latest releases despite the cries of agony from her credit card.  She cheerfully blames her addiction on the stresses of college and post traumatic work disorder, and is grateful that her family grumbles only occasionally about the amount of time she spends buried in her books. In addition to reading Your Manga Minute every Wednesday, you can read more of Julie’s work on her blog, Manga Maniac Cafe.

Editor’s Note: When manga, anime and fan culture hits the blogosphere, what time is it? You guessed it — Your Manga Minute, making its epic return to Newsarama! Leading the charge on this brave new venture is Julie Opipari: You’ve seen her on Manga Maniac Cafe, Mania.com and When Fangirls Attack, as she writes reviews and helps cover the latest manga hits. With the seconds ticking and the books flying fast and furious, tune in every Wednesday for your latest dose of Your Manga Minute! And now, we’ll let Julie take over the show, as she starts her tenure with a look at anime cons — and their surprisingly similar equine counterparts.

By Julie Opipari

Hi! I’m the new kid on the block, and I thought I’d dip my toe in the water with a post that compares my two favorite things – manga and horses. Now, before you start thinking that they have nothing in common, let me point out that they are more alike than you would think. There are these grand outings planned by both comic fans and horse enthusiasts that are the pinnacle of fandom. In the manga world it’s known as an anime con, and to horse folk, it’s called a horse show. If you haven’t attended either one, you should! Shows, whether they feature manga or ponies, are a great way to network with other fans. There isn’t another venue where you can meet people who are as excited to talk about your hobby as you are, and better yet, they listen to what you have to say! None of that zoning out from your significant other when you start blathering on and on about the latest happenings in Bleach or how you finally perfected the sitting trot. Still not convinced? Read on for proof!

Cosplay: Just as anime fans feel the need to celebrate their favorite series by spending hours crafting the perfect costume, cosplay abounds at horse shows. I’m mystified as to why it’s necessary to dress up like fox hunters or a reject from a Kenny Rogers movie in order to ride a horse, but it’s generally required to wear these outlandish costumes in order to participate in the festivities. Driving classes demand fussing up in dresses or sparkly tops, which makes about as much sense as wearing flip-flops to either show. Besides getting nasty blisters walking around the dealer hall at a con, who knows what you’ll step in at a horse show.

Gender-bending: Gender-bending doesn’t only exist in manga! Check out the local saddleseat show for proof that it happily exists in real life. Look at all of those women decked out in their Sunday finest. Wait, why are they all wearing suits? And ties? Like many an anime series, this ritual makes little sense, but it sure gives you a feeling superiority knowing that your Double Windsor looks so much neater than everybody else’s! And, with your spurs and your riding whip, you feel strong and confident, almost like you are striding along in a mecha, ready to take on the world!

(more…)

Yotsuba&! vol. 6 & 7
Written & Illustrated by Kiyohiko Azuma
Translation by Amy Forsyth
Lettered by Terri Delgado
Published by Yen Press

Oh, Yotsuba, it’s a treat to have you back. Life is poorer when you’re without a publisher.

When the series’ original English publisher discontinued Yotsuba&! in 2007, many readers were (including Caleb and I) were left devastated. What other comic offers anything approximating Yotsuba&!? Strips such as Dennis the Menace have explored similar territory, those gosh-darn kids and their crazy antics, but Dennis only touched Yotsuba&!’s hilarity during Hank Ketchum’s best days, and frankly never offered the witty, believable supporting cast or the innocently inquisitive scenarios that Kiyohiko Azuma has dreamed up for his heroine. And Calvin & Hobbes was more concerned with its lead’s inner world; Yotsuba’s presence on her family and friends is more pronounced.

Thankfully, Yen Press has stepped into the breach and begun translating new (and old, if you missed them the first time around) tales of Yotsuba. The move of publishers goes off almost flawlessly; Yen manages to explain the small handful of cultural jokes clearly in margin notes without unduly slowing down the pace of Azuma’s narrative. The characters’ voices remain consistent with the earlier translations, so readers won’t be jarred. The only bizarre change is that Yen’s translators have Yotsuba referring to herself in the third person; without knowing the Japanese, it’s hard to call this a “wrong” choice, but it’s a decision that often makes Yotsuba appear unintelligent. Although Yotsuba is easily described as innocent, gullible and utterly naïve, Azuma never portrays her as stupid.

The series follows five-year-old Yotsuba and her adopted father Koiwai, who live in a small Japanese town, where the precocious and inquisitive Yotsuba explores life for the first time. Many experiences should be within the worldview of even a five-year-old, but Yotsuba treats every single day with wonder and awe. In the sixth and seventh volumes, she attempts to recycle unwanted household items into useful products, gets her first bicycle, decides to deliver milk to her neighbor at the nearby school, and visits a working ranch.  Where she punches a sheep and makes her family applaud a cow.

Uncovering each new discovery with wide-eyed wonder, Yotsuba invites readers into a world of exciting novelty, where experiences astound, and friends and family offer good-natured teasing and similar astonishment at Yotsuba’s enthusiasm and energy. Azuma puts Yotsuba through emotional rollercoasters that only add to the cuteness and hilarity. The expressive exaggeration in Yotsuba’s regret and culpability when she “breaks” a bicycle in the bike shop (She pulls the seat out of the frame.) achieves the rare double play of tugging the reader’s heartstrings while producing out-loud laughter.

The supporting cast, Yotsuba’s slacker dad, family friends Jumbo and Yanda, and the family next door, don’t display tremendous range as characters, but each offers a new perspective designed to elicit a reaction from Yotsuba. The entire cast is grounded to recognize Yotsuba’s outlandish behavior, but then many of them encourage in their own ways. While they teach her about the world, Yotsuba often inspires ludicrous fun in her family.

Azuma’s open, emotive artwork perfectly captures Yotsuba’s vigorous awe, full of simply drawn, expressive exaggeration.  Each character is immediately recognizable and creatively designed to offer a range of befuddlement and bemusement at Yotsuba’s antics.

It’s just a crazy fun, cute, utterly wonderful series. Man, I’m really glad Yotsuba&!’s back!

Yōkaiden vol. 2
Written & Illustrated by Nina Matsumoto
Published by Del Rey

Yōkai are creatures from Japanese folklore. If you’ve seen any Hayao Miyazaki films, you’re probably somewhat familiar with the concept – the kodama spirits seen in the forest in Princess Mononoke, those of the rattling heads, are yōkai. The comic series Yōkaiden follows a young boy (in true manga fashion, I kept thinking he was a young lady) named Hamachi who journeys from his reality into the land of the yōkai in pursuit of a creature he believes killed his grandmother.

Although I jumped into the saga without benefit of the introductory volume, Yōkaiden vol. 2 is very easy to follow. Building on Japanese folklore traditions, Yōkaiden manages to be immediately accessible by remaining true to its inspirations. Folklore tales are basic narratives, simple examinations of human foibles and tales of cleverness and wit. Creator Nina Matsumoto adheres to this basic structure, which keeps each chapter focused and accessible.

With each chapter adding to the sum of Yōkaiden, the overall shape of the series quickly comes into focus without detracting from the immediacy of each installment. By continually injecting a new and bizarre creature into Hamachi’s path, Matsumoto provides a puzzle for him to solve or offers a means for us to gain greater insight into the complexities of the homespun lore of these magical characters. Perhaps due to my relative unfamiliarity with Japanese folklore and yōkai, the stories all seem fresh and surprising, with shocking and slightly absurdist twists.

Though it rarely achieves outright laughter, Yōkaiden is definitely an upbeat, light-hearted series. I’d liken it to a film like Back to the Future, which treads near to comedy but remains just barely this side action/adventure boundary. Tiptoeing carefully along this paper-thin boundary is, of course, extremely difficult, but it’s also exactly where I like my adventure fiction, and Matsumoto manages the balance very, very well.

Artistically, the character designs are strong, particularly the more outlandish creatures. Her layouts are generally effective, though sometimes the action is lost in the angular shots and tilted panels. On the subject of the yōkai themselves, my only experience is having seen similar creatures many times in Usagi Yojimbo, but Matsumoto’s manga-inspired designs and focus on the creatures themselves provides a very different look at them.

The most enticing characteristic of the book, to me anyway, are the one-page post-scripts at the conclusion of each chapter, wherein Matsumoto describes the lore behind one of the yōkai featured in the preceding chapter. That research and context enhances the experience, building the reader’s understanding of the plot twists, the creatures’ intentions and relationship with humanity, and the history of the culture.

Yōkaiden is silly, adventurous, well drawn, and lots of fun to read.  I haven’t read as much manga (even OEL – Original English Language – manga, which isn’t really manga since it’s not from Japan, but I digress) as I’d like, largely because so many series seem to run for years upon years upon years, long after the freshness has worn off (and, no, I don’t follow many superhero comics, for the same reason), but Yōkaiden is off to a very good start and I’m quite interested in seeing how it develops.

What can I say? The man gives good quote. This time, it’s from an interview rather than a Phonogram issue.

“I could make – say – the Buzzcock’s “Spiral Scratch” be a God, in that it’s a record which was as much as a movement (begetting the postpunk indie scene in Britain), and movements are just ideas with their radical activist clothes on.“

The whole interview is lovely–especially for a music geek like me. It’s at a modern pagan magazine, and as such discusses the magic in Phonogram from a more serious perspective.  But from both ends, it’s an excellent read. Gillen takes the magic in music very seriously, and the interviewer isn’t interested in pushing paganism on readers, just in pulling apart the comic.

The above quote resonated with the activist in me as well as the music junkie. I like the thought of ideas taking shape out of a record or a thought, taking physical form, having power.  Like the line from V for Vendetta, “Ideas are bulletproof.”

Whether the idea is something as simple and neat as a pop single or as huge and expansive as the social justice movements of the 60s, ideas do have power.

Read the whole interview. It’s good stuff.