Things to Read

A webcomic about gay and lesbian robots? Sounds good to me! O Human Star has appealing art, and characters that might as well not actually be non-human, they are so human.

Memoria writes in to let you all know that she has a webcomic called Diexemor that, as she states in the Intro, “this story has lesbians…so don’t read if you hate them.” ^_^

YNN Correspondent David M. notes that the Fantagraphics Spring Season Kickstarter added Wandering Son, Volume 7 as a reward at the $40 level. There are still some of these left.

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Things to Watch

The first 8 minutes of Ghost in the Shell: Arise, Second Border is streaming on YouTube with English subtitles. Just enable the Closed Captions by clicking the CC button.

If you missed the first two waves of anime in the 80s and 90s, you may never have had a chance to see the original Bubblegum Crisis and Bubblegum Crash series. It’s old school and there is at least one arc that is very Yuri. Because it’s also way out of print, there is a Kickstarter to remaster and reprint the Bubblegum Crisis (thanks to Shannon L. for noting that only Crisis – which, admittedly is the better of the two – is being re-issued.). If you’ve come to anime after the year 2000, you might really want to consider getting in on this.

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Things to Think About

It has been noted by several people that the January issue of Comic Yuri Hime has a “Hrm”-making cover. The creator of Kannagi, Takanashi Eri, drew this K-ON! lookalike cover. I’m hoping this is not a new trend.

David M. also points out this item of note: A blog post about girls in anime with Tactical skills.

Comicosity has an interesting Interview with writer and artist J.H. Williams, on Batwoman and LGBT visibility in comics.

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Things to Enjoy

YNN Correspondent Sean G. sent me this link of bad-ass Sukeban Deka Covers.

I am seriously needing these earphone jack Sailor Moon henshin wands.A nd I’m just going to say this out loud – I really do not think we’ll be getting the Outers in this reboot. Not one single new item has included them.

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That’s a wrap for this week! Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge. Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

The random news has been so interesting lately!

Random News

The Osaka Metropolitan government is running a cosplay event in a city-owned facility at which, for some reason, they banned crossplay. A bunch of residents spoke up against the ban and it was reversed. Read the ANN article for one of the most enlightened quotes from unnamed “residents” that you’ll read all week.

Comic Book Resources has an article about Trina Robbins, an important name in Western Comix and an outspoken voice for women in comics, who has spearheaded a retrospective of women comics creators in Pretty In Ink.

This is an ad for Disney Christmas in Japan, but it’s unexpectedly Yuri in nature (as noted by Hayashiya Shizuru-sensei when she linked to it on Twitter. ^_^)

Bleeding Cool reports on a very interesting panel on Gender and Comics that features a friend of mine, Marguerite Dabaie.

Creating an anime-themed drinking game (like, how often Erica mentions “women in comics” as a topic of interest?) Consider using this Bodacious Space Pirates-themed shochu!

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Yuri Manga News

From Pure Yuri Anthology, Hirari, comes Kirei no Ano ko (きれいなあのこ)

From Mangatime Kirara we have Marriage Battle (マリッジ・バトル)

and from Comic Yuri Hime, we have Nekoyama-san to Inugami-san, Volume 2 (犬神さんと猫山さん)

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Sailor Moon News

I’m just going to keep listing the interesting Sailor Moon themed stuff that’s being sold, because I’m endlessly fascinated by the saturation marketing of this 20-year old series to an adult audience that already loves it and does not need to be convinced to buy stuff. ^_^

Here is the cover art for the first volume of the 20th anniversary Sailor Moon manga.

Bandai is releasing a Sailor Moon Tribute album, featuring Momoiro Clover Z, Shokotan and Horie Mitsuko. It will be released in January (presumably, along with the anime.)

For collectors of the 5″ Senshi figurines back in the day, (or those of you who wished for them, but came to the afternarket too long after) Bandai is releasing a new set of the Inners.

My wife sent me a message titled “WANT!!!” with these elegant Moon Wand chopsticks. ^_^

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Yuri Anime News

ANN has more cast news for the upcoming Yuri anime, Sakura Trick.

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That’s a wrap for this week! Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge. Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

I was up very late last night listening to the Hawaiian House debate same-sex marriage, so forgive me, but today will be super terse. /yawn/

Yuri/Lesbian/Other Related Movie News

Swedish Cinemas are adding a Bechdel Rating to movies. The Bechdel Test does not indicate that a movie is feminist or has strong women or is good, just that two women have a conversation about something other than a man. It’s a really low bar that a lot of movies do not reach.

I’ve been reading about an intriguing new piece of lesbian cinema sans controversy: Margarita, available from Video on Demand through Curve, a lesbian culture magazine. Several critics of Blue is the Warmest Color said this was a better movie, FWIW.

The Japanese Blu-ray release of Noir, will include the English dub. That is really interesting, don’t you think?

The Madoka Magica: Rebellion movie has made more than 1 Billion Yen in the first 2 weeks.  I had wanted to see that when it was in the theaters, but missed by a few weeks.

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Yuri Drama CD

Here’s an original (non-manga/anime source) Yuri CD series  – Lily Kuru – LIly LYric cyCLE. Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 are all available on Amazon JP. I make absolutely no guarantees that it won’t be cringe-worthy. ^_^

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Manga News

Fantagraphics has had a hard time recently with the passing of one of the co-founders, Kim Thompson. YNN Correspondent David M. points out that they are doing a Kickstarter to “rescue” their spring season of 39 books, including Wandering Son, Volume 7. With almost a month to go they are at 80% or so. Kim would be pleased.

Psycho-Pass manga that focuses on Inspector Tsunemori Akane has 38,000 copies in print (this is the metric du jour).

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Other News

Voice Actress Shimizu Ai (Mikoto in Mai HiME, Tamao in Strawberry Panic! and many others) is making her pro-wrestling debut. O_o

ANN has a photo feature from the Lyon Yaoi Yuri Con event that was held last weekend in Lyon, France.

A new Card Captor Sakura figurine is being offered for sale. Is that the sound of a re-mastered release I hear?

I would totally wear these – 2PM is creating women’s boots inspired by Anthy and Utena’s footwear from Revolutionary Girl Utena.

Speaking of fashion, to congratulate us and Animesols for making the Dear Brother funding deadline, ANN has chosen a few designs so we can dress like Nanako, Mari, Rei, Kaoru or Fukiko. I LOVE this idea! Yay Lynzee of ANN for such a charming idea. I’ll end here, because this was just too cute!

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That’s a wrap for this week! Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge. Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

It’s going to be a datadump kind of day.

Yet another new Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha project has been announced. That makes something like 4 concurrent projects.

YNN Correspondent Danny D reminds you that Seven Seas’ release of A Centaur’s Life comes out next Tuesday.

Here’s a couple of interesting article/reviews to entertain yourself with:

A discussion of the end of Shimura Takako’s Aoi Hana by Kyosuke.

Anne Lee’s got an interesting take on the new Sailor Moon Musical, La Reconquista.

Jared Axelord’s excellent debunking of myths associated with sexual harassment at conventions and other public events. I recommend this to all geek guys everywhere. It addresses things like what behavior you can really expect of yourself and why you don’t “see” harassment.

Once you’re read all the serious things, take a look at J Gray’s Yuri webcomic, Mysteries of the Arcana for some fun reading.

In Memoriam: I’d appreciate it if you’d all take a moment to read the one review my father, who just passed away, did for Okazu on Shin Megami Tensei Kahn. Thanks Dad, you were always game.

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That’s a wrap for this week! Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge. Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

Thinking About Comics Deeply

Ash Brown over at Experiments in Manga put together a look at a lecture on Queer Theory, Japanese Literature and Translation that is worth talking a look at if that kind of thing appeals to you.

Brigid Alverson has written up a nicely comprehensive overview of Carol Tilley’s panel at NYCC about the secret history of comics censorship in the USA over at CBR.

Erin at Gagging on Sexism has written a thoughtful look at Gender Roles in Attack on Titan.

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Yuri Manga

I’ll keep beating this drum until you’ve all bought a copy ^_^ – Aoi Hana Volume 8, (青い花) the final volume of the series, is out. A review will be coming soon.

Mano Moto’s Rainy Song (レイニーソング) has hit the shelves and I can definitely say her work this time has exceeded her debut volume.  I’ve hardly wanted to slap any of her characters recently.

Comic Yuri Hime (コミック百合姫) for November is already out, and the January issue is available for pre-order.

On the Hirari side, Shuuden ni ha Kaeshimasu (終電にはかえします) by Akure Gido will be out next month, along with Kireina Ano Ko (きれいなあのこ) by Yoshidamaru Yuu, and Pure Yuri Anthology Hirari, Volume 12 (ピュア百合アンソロジー ひらり).

XO Comics is joining the Yuri fray with Ashita Mata Kimi no Uchi e (明日また君の家へ). Moe art, who knows what kind of story. Looks like the book is a collection of Kuropa U’s digital comics.

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Yuri Light Novels

For those of you who are looking for reading material to pass the time in public places, if Adachi to Shimamura, Volume 2 (安達としまむら) doesn’t appeal to you, you can try Yuri Gra-doru Yui: Forbidden Girls Love (百合グラドル・優衣 禁断ガールズラブ) A “Gra-doru” is a gravure idol, one of those bikini-clad girls on the cover of men’s manga magazines one sees in convenience stores in Japan.

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That’s a wrap for this week! Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge. Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!