With the remnants of Ida beating at my house, it’s a curl up and read a book kinda day….

Yuri Manga

Let’s see…we already mentioned Comic Lily (which mostly has artists that specialize in infantile Yuri, so my expectations are low to non-existent) and Yuri Shoujo. Have I mentioned yet *another* Yuri anthology, called Shoujo Yuri? Not sure. Well, now I have. As I mention in the comments, I saw a cover, but forgot to save the reference and now can’t find it. Oh well. More info when I find it again.

Also not sure if I pointed out that Tsubomi 4 is out. I’ve been a little disappointed with Tsubomi so far. It’s been pretty lackluster, but Yuri Hime took a while to really get going and it’s only now shifting into territory I really like, so I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt for a few more volumes. It’s just kind of…okay. I finish each volume *really* tired of school girls kind of liking each other a bit.

On a positive note, a series that has a character who actually says out loud that she’s a lesbian, and that I *never* expected to see a second volume of, Poor Poor Lips, Volume 2 is a-comin’. I thoroughly enjoyed Volume 1. While I don’t expect “progress” to be made in the relationship and the one-joke character of the lead was a tad wearing, overall, it had more depth and was a better series than most 4-koma comics.

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Snatches of Yuri

Juji wrote in to let you all know that in addition to the Light Novel Dorobo no Meijin, there are a number of other novels by the same author, all with high likelihood of Yuri.

Dorobo no Meijin ~ Side Story: Itaikena Goshujin

Kimi ga Boku wo ~ Doushite Sora ha Aoi nano? and a second volume slated for a release this coming week.

Another novel with likelihood of something that passes for Yuri is Murasaki-iro Qualia, a story about a humanoid robot with pretty purple eyes and a charmingly doofusy personality that makes her the mascot and object of skinship in her middle school class.

Rousoku-hime has been *all* over the Yuri lists these days. I guess the inside must be better than the cover…. In any case, it’s about the beautiful daughter of a nobleman, Squa, who is sent to a nunnery with her handmaid, “swarthy” Fleure.

Action Comics, which has brought us both Hakamada Mera’s and Morinaga Milk’s work, also offers up Pheromone No.5, which looks like it hits a number of popular tropes – private girls school (check), transfer student (check), glasses (check), pervy female Student Council President (check), “funny” sexual harassment (check.) The Amazon reviews were 5 stars and 1 stars. :-)

And Kate Dacey of Mangacritic informed me that translated manga Dragon Sister has a “predatory lesbian.” It’s on my to-read pile now, thanks to Okazu Hero Martin S. I’ll let you know if she is sufficiently predatory for our tastes. ^_^

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And, 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!

Yuri Drama CDs

Katherine H. is first out of the gate with news for the DCD crowd (which I believe consists of me and her. lol) She wants you to know that there is a Canaan DJCD, which means it is an original recording from the web radio show, not a recycled storyline from the anime.

And, she tells us, there’s a Sasamekikoto Drama CD, as well. Also an original story (according to the Amazon JP write up, anyway.)

But wait, there’s more! (Katherine says in the spirit of early holiday shopping) there’s the Aoi Hana “Sweet Blue Radio CD”, as well. So your stockings can be filled with all sorts of Yuri goodies this holiday season.

And one more from me. There is a Maria-sama ga Miteru Premium CD up for pre-order. It’s also an “Original recording” which could be the actresses talking, one of the un-recorded stories, or a live event and we’ll never know until we buy it and listen. :-)

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Yuri Anime

Media Blasters has announced that they’ve acquired Ikkitousen GG, so fans of Kanu can watch her love for Ryuubi be turned into a dumb gag. :-) And in case Ikkitousen is too high-faluting’ for you, they are also licensing Queen’s Blade.

Mai Hime is due out in Blue Ray format in Japan, and to reward you for spending the money, there will be four new service-filled shorts that will make a mockery of the price that fans paid for such a sophisticated video set up. Or so I imagine. :-)

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Yuri Manga

A pile of Ichijinsha’s Yuri cell phone manga collections are slated to hit the shelves any day!

Gokujou Drops Volume 3, can you believe it? What’s left? The girl got the girl and we’ve run out of upperclassman to sexually harass her. I’m gonna guess there’s a basement apartment in the dorm we didn’t know about or something. lol

Yukemuri Sanctuary is surely going to involve bathing.

Otome Senshi Lovely 5! is, I’m thinking, pretty self explanatory.

I don’t know what Honey Quartet is about, but as it’s a one of the cell phone manga, there’s likely to be sex. That’ll sell, regardless of anything else. lol

And, last up for this month’s releases, we also have Sora-iro Girlfriend.

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Other News

As Simon Jones (blog frequently NSFW) so beautifully put it, here is an article about why people in $4000 suits are starting to look at manga as an advertising tactic. Why am I linking it here? Because understanding the business side of this whole industry is way more important than remembering the name of the third girl on the left in Episode 8 of whatever series.

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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!

Happy Halloween!

Yuri Anime

According to Anime News Network, Pre Cure Fresh anime is being made into an Online Game, which mimics the “anime’s world of Clover Town, and users (primarily children) can create their own avatars to experience life there and interact with Love Momozono, Miki Aono, Inori Yamabuki, and the other anime characters.”

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Yuri Manga

From Sylwia, we get a link to a Polish lesbian comic book anthology – this anthology contains nine stories and one pin-up, all about lesbian love, life, coming out and other things. All the authors are from Poland. The official relase date will be 20th of November. We’re looking forward to seeing it, Sylwia!

And finally, there’s a link for Rakuen Le Paradis – and at least a few of the stories are Yuri. I’m so hoping it’s a cut above Tsubomi, that’s for sure.

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Other News

Anime News Network also reports that the 5 actresses that voiced the “Inner Senshi” of Sailor Moon, will be reuniting for an event to celebrate the DVD box release. How I wish I could be there….

Writers Residence did an interview with me as an editor, about query letters and rejection and all that kind of reality stuff.

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Snatches of Yuri

In case you haven’t had a chance to wallow in Amano Kozue’s newest Yuri Goggle-busting manga full of women who are affectionate, but not romantic,
Amanchu!, Volume 1 is out and ready for you to enjoy.

Gakko No Sensei – I’m super lazy today, but I’m pretty sure this is about a girl who likes her teacher. I could be wrong, but I’m too lazy to actually read the description. Update: I was indeed wrong! Wai tells us that it’s about three girls who *become* school teachers and it is indeed Yuri. Thanks Wai!

Bamora has high school girls on the cover. I’m guessing at least one likes the other.

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That’s a wrap for the 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!

There is getting to be *so* much Yuri news, that I’m thinking about developing a form, to standardize formatting… :-)

Yuri Manga

Bruce P has written me with what well may be the piece of news that is the *most* interesting to me. He tells us that the Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (Yokohama Shopping Log) manga is being reprinted in Japan. Why is this interesting to us? Because Kodansha USA is finally up and running…and they’ve started with two old classics, Akira and Ghost in the Shell. (Interestingly, they’ve reprinted Dark Horse’s editions, and in the case of the latter title, used the censored version, so no gratuitous lesbian sex for Americans from Kodansha.) I’m not saying that YKK being reprinted in Japan has any direct bearing on Kodansha USA…just that now would be an exceptionally good time for them to consider it.

In any case, Bruce P. says, “the first two volumes will be released on 10/23. This is great news since many of the original volumes are no longer available through Amazon.co.jp. Now if only they would reprint the art book.” Here are links to the reprinted Volume 1 and Volume 2.

Shelia was the first of several to point out that Nakamura Chin, creator of Gunjo, has a short story collection out called Chinman. If you love her art, as I do, I hope you’ll support her work.

Also, Sheila and Erin both mentioned that there is yet *another* Yuri anthology planned, called Comic Lily, while the publisher who put out Sakuraike’s work’s new anthology has changed it’s name to Yuri Shoujo – and it appears to be planned for a November 19 release at Comitia, so not necessarily a bookstore release. We’ll see.

Waaahhh. Such drama over a title.

Here are some recent and upcoming manga releases:
Comic Yuri Hime Magazine

Gokujou Drops 3 by Mikuni H.

Otome Senshi Lovely 5 by Jonouchi Nene

Honey Quartet by Tokoro Kemeko

Also on December 4th Mori Natsuko will be releasing a new novel called Futari no Hitori Asobi.

And Yuri Hime Wildrose 4 is due out in December.

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Yuri Anime

George and I are on the same page, wanting to let you know about some Yuri anime this season. Kampfer is not going to win any awards, but there is a strain of Yuri running through it, as a country might say there’s a strain of virus running through it. :-)

Also no less ridiculous, but somehow more fun, To Aru Kagaku no Railgun has a major Yuri character, played for laughs and pathos.

Also, George and several others noted that first episode of Hidamari Sketch x365 Tokubetsuhen aired last week.

I also want to say – when are we gong to see a Yuri anime from Ichijinsha? They were the one who unleashed Loveless on the world. I think it’s time for them to provide us with the same kind of virality. Here’s today’s question – which Ichinjinsha (Yuri Hime, Yuri Hime S, Comic YH) series would *you* like to see as an anime?

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Other News

This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure of moderating a Queer Manga Panel at NYU as part of their Pride month. The panelists were Ivan Velez Jr., June Kim, Hiroki Otsuka and the always fabulous Mari Morimoto. One of the attendees, James Leung, did a great write-up of the panel, so I’ll let him tell you all about it on his blog, Random Access Information.

And last, but very much not at *all* least, I want to draw your attention to an amazing piece of investigative reporting by YNN correspondent Bruce McF. This is not Yuri, but it is *huge*. Because of some interesting circumstances, Bruce began to look at where pirated streaming anime was served from and he uncovered the fact that the largest percentage of illegally streaming anime in America is served from properties owned by Rupert Murdoch. Go read the article – it’s absolutely fascinating.
Rupert Murdoch is the Biggest Pirate of the US Anime Market.

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Well, we began with a Bruce and we ended with a Bruce. That’s a wrap for the 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!