Archive for the Artists Category


Assorted Entanglements, Volume 5

July 19th, 2024

Two young women wearing jerseys sit back to back. One with the side of her head braided, smokes a cigarette, the other with multiple ear piercings. They both look off to the right.by Matt Marcus, Staff Writer

Have you ever been on a bad first date? Like, a really bad one? Maybe you neglected to vet the content of the movie you bought tickets for (“I’ve heard good things about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo!”). Perhaps you chose a restaurant that doesn’t take reservations and you arrive to find a two hour wait for the next table (“Who knew this place was this popular?”). Or you somehow left your driver’s license at home so you cannot order any adult beverages (“Curse this babyface of mine!”). Maybe you let it slip that you did a hair too much “research” on your date’s social media profiles. Or what if…the two of you just don’t have any chemistry. Worse, what if that were true and—*gasp*—they were also your boss?

OK, so things don’t get that dire in Assorted Entanglements, Volume 5, but it isn’t far off.

Last time on Assorted Entanglements, we got some real, true character growth from the majority of our Sapphic menagerie. Iori and Minami are still as committed to each other as  ever, Shizuku and Saori are bonding, Heke-sensei and her editor Shinohara are very close to admitting their mutual interest, and Kujou’s obliviousness continues to helpfully shield her from making a serious mistake with her student Sugimoto, for now. Progress!

The large majority of the page-time in this volume, as it were, is dedicated to Best Not-Yet-Couple Heke-sensei and Shinohara-san. Editor-san, hearing Iori’s warning of missed opportunities ringing repeatedly in her ears, invites Heke-sensei to a meatspace date during one of their online meetups. Even though the event on paper was a slam dunk (a live gaming exhibition), the experience is horribly awkward. Heke-sensei was too nervous to speak to her gaming “idol”…but after the two get home and hop onto another gaming session, she admits that she was such a fan of Lala’s that she figured out Shinohara’s day job and intentionally submitted her manga at her company in order to meet her. Instead of a restraining order, Shinohara instead offers that they date—if Heke-sensei can get on her gaming level.

There are more extended chapters of the two awkwardly navigating this “not yet dating” situation, but now that their feelings are out in the open the gags have shifted from Shinohara deflecting her feelings (to Heke-sensei’s chagrin) to the mangaka being an awkward nerd with bizarre priorities that mildly exasperates her cantankerous would-be paramour. It’s an improvement from the “Oh thank god I hid my true feelings at the last second” tropes we’ve seen so far. There is also a nice moment where Iori invites Shinohara over for dinner, with Minami of course doing the cooking. It’s the longest stretch that the manga has gone without a sour note.

The bulk of the remainder are expanded backstories: one about Minami and Shizuku’s time in the childhood delinquent facility and one fleshing out Kujou’s college best friend/crush Akemi. Both are well told and add nuance to the stories we’ve heard the characters tell each other. I found Akemi’s ambiguous feelings toward Kujou to be a tasty morsel of melancholy that was more emotionally nourishing than I typically expect from this series. I half-expect her to reappear near the climax of the Kujou/Sugimoto arc, but I actually wish Mikanuji-sensei shows restraint and leaves her in the past.

The volume wraps with a summer vacation bonus story that reiterates that Iori and Minami are happy together, and that Saori and Shizuku are both miserable about it. Same as it ever was.

All and all, this volume breezes by and avoids nearly all of the pitfalls from the previous volumes. Somehow, online gaming has led to less toxicity; I guess that’s why this is fiction.

Art – 7 At least this time there are no new characters
Story – 8 There’s some actual, non-gratuitous pathos here
Characters – 8 The character-based humor between Shinohara and Heke-sensei earns an extra point
Service – 2 For a drunken college hookup
Yuri – 8 / LGBTQ – 8 Iori effectively comes out to Shinohara

Overall – 8 Feels like the story has moved up in the rankings

Volume 6 of this ensemble story of Sapphic misfits is coming our way in October.

Matt Marcus is a serial enthusiast whose range of appreciations include guitars, watches, and a particular genre of Japanese popular media named after a flower. Outside of writing for Okazu, he cohosts various projects on the Pitch Drop Podcast Network, where he frequently bloviates about video games, anime, and manga. He also hosts a blog Oh My God, They Were Bandmates analyzing How Do We Relationship in greater depth.





The Moon on A Rainy Night, Volume 5

July 12th, 2024

Two girls ride a bus, one with short orange hair, the other withe long black hair. They are conversing on their phones in text, smiling and laughing together.In Volume 4, a number of loose ends are suddenly untangled. Kanon decides to participate in her school festival fully, and Saki helps Ayano see that her behavior was not as awful as she had told herself it was. Now, in The Moon On A Rainy Night, Volume 5, the stage is set…mostly…for Kanon to release herself from the chrysalis she had built around herself as a protective measure.

Kanon hasn’t had a fun summer since she became hard of hearing, finding herself equally isolated in crowds and by herself. Having decided to participate in both the class’s school festival events, Kanon finds herself shocked that she hasn’t had time to feel isolated this summer – and of course…there’s Saki. Saki always holds a hand out so they can do things together. As a result, Kanon is feeling more confident and less afraid to try new things. It’s a whole new world. Literally, as Tanabe-san introduces them to cosplay for their class maid cafe.

This volume also takes time to give us Kanon’s mother’s perspective, and a foil in their teacher, who brings his daughter over to ask about piano lessons. These pages are an emotional reminder that the family of a person with a disability, or that has suffered the loss of a family member, also have their own stories and burdens. I’ll spoil a little here – this does come back again in later volumes, because every character is given some time to grow. Including Tomita, the girl I referred to as a bully in early volumes. It turns out that Tomita has a story of her own, as well. And her situation offers Kanon another chance to grow.

And then there is Saki,who has complicated feelings that have been seen and recognized by an adult,  and has been an incredible friend but doesn’t ask much for herself, except to be able to spend time with Kanon. What is Kanon to her? That will definitely need to be addressed.

Twice now this story has provided an antagonist with…not redemption, so much as humanity. That is just one of the many wonderful things about this series. Characters learning to rely on each other, working within their limitations but learning to expand those limits, friends supporting each other, and reaching past misunderstandings. What an extraordinary series. I feel like I’m learning when I read it not just about accommodations for the people around me – and myself – but also how to just provide useful support, rather than prioritizing what I think they need.

This is absolutely a masterwork by Kuzushiro-sensei, and a must-read manga for everyone.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9 (But wait…there’s more!)
Characters – 9
Service – 0
Yuri – 4

Overall – 9

 I’ve started to need a wheelchair at times and I’m so thankful for them when I do, but it is always apparent to me, even when I am fully mobile, how many barriers there are in public places. So – especially when I am fully mobile – I will comment to event runners about the inequities they allow in their set-up. It’s important for able and healthy people to advocate for people who need accommodation, because, in the best of scenarios, we will all become old and need accommodations ourselves.

 





I’m in Love with the Villainess: She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner, Volume 2

July 8th, 2024

A girl with long blonde hair with a red bow and a girl with medium-length brown hair with a baby water slime on her shoulder walk under a parasol,. Both wear red school uniforms jackets and blue skirts. In Volume 1, we once again find ourselves in Bauer’s Royal Academy, where one Rae Taylor upends the school and eventually the entire country in her pursuit of  Claire François. Only this time, we’re seeing it all from Claire’s perspective. That first volume added a ton of new content to the story including a character that was influential, but never seen in the initial series.

In I’m in Love with the Villainess: She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner, Volume 2 of the spin-off light novel series, we once again see things from perspectives other than Rae’s. Claire, Misha’s… even Pepi and Loretta’s,  Claire’s close friends and hench chicks, turn out to have a story all their own. It turns out that their story is – and will continue to be very worth reading. I find I never reviewed it when I read the Japanese edition, d’oh. It was my favorite of the three volumes. How annoying.

I refuse to spoil the why, so you will have to trust me on this. ^_^

In the meantime, this volume does something I find fascinating. By taking two side characters and putting then in the limelight, we’re forced to rethink their motives and actions completely. And this leads to my absolutely favorite scene in the entire series. One I liked so much, I referenced it in my interview with inori-sensei for Yuricon 2023. It is in this novel we truly come to understand Pepi Barlier and her bosom friend, Loretta Kugret. When they follow Claire to Rae and Misha’s hometown of Euclid, their lives change forever. I promise that their story does not just end there, either. Despite the fact that the Revolution arc basically shelves them, here more will happen that will include them…and it will have repercussions.

Once again this book forced me to confront my weakness at stories about the twins, Mei and Aleah. Any time spent with their trauma will always hit me hard. I’ve said that this book is worth reading if you liked the original I’m In Love With The Villainess light novels. I stand by that. It is not mere a “other person’s perspective,” it is a reminder that one person cannot know everything, no matter how much knowledge she has. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Service – 3? 4?
Yuri/LGBTQ+ – We see their relationship from Claire’s side

Overall – 9

 Volume 3, the final volume of the series, (until/unless inori-sensei completes her sequel) will hit our bookshelves in October.

Volume 1 is already available as an audiobook, and Volume 2 is headed our way in that format in August.





Pulse, Volumes 5-7

June 23rd, 2024

by Eleanor Walker, Staff Writer.

Content warning: Volume 6 contains scenes of sexual assault.

A blonde with long hair in an orange dress and a long dark-haired woman wearing a beige top embrace happily.

Remember when I said back in my review of the first two volumes “does this hospital not have an ethics board?” Never did I predict this statement would come back to bite the way in the way that it has.  The hospital director, who we met at the end of volume 4 is cunning, ruthless and will stop at nothing to get what she wants, which is Mel. They have history together (they are ex girlfriends), and thanks to something Mel did which is never explicitly discussed, although it is covered in flashbacks, she cannot use her hands properly and had to give up being a surgeon. She is quite clearly a sociopath who only sees people as tools to be used and thrown away once she’s finished with them.

Back to Lynn and Mel. At the end of volume 1, they made a bet “If I can get you to fall in love with me within 2 years, will you be the one to operate on me?” It’s now time to call that bet in, or is it? Volume 5 sees Lynn’s condition getting worse, she’s back in the hospital and been moved to the top of the transplant list. But the director steps in, and the donor heart is sent elsewhere. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Lynn has to have another operation to place a device in her heart to squeeze out some more time while waiting for the transplant, and the director bursts into the operating theatre mid surgery and orders Mel to leave the room immediately.

 

A blonde and a dark-haired woman share an intimate moment, as the blonde takes the other woman's glasses off, as she sits on the floor next to a bed.

Because of the situation Mel finds herself in, in volume 6, Lynn overhears some of the other staff talking, concludes that this is all her fault and it would be best to break up with Mel so she doesn’t lose her career. It’s the least convincing breakup ever, but I’m pleased to report that they eventually find their way back to each other via all your favourite cliches, including a reunion at the airport, as is obvious from the frankly adorable cover of Volume 7.

Lynn finally gets a new heart, the director gets her long awaited and well deserved comeuppance, and they all live happily ever after. How far we’ve come from the stone cold woman who doesn’t believe in love, and the journey has absolutely been worth it. I’ll certainly be reading again from the beginning, and at 7 volumes the story is a nice length without dragging itself out too much.

 

 

 

A blonde in a wedding dress and a dark-haired woman in a wedding suit smile at one another happily.

Lynn and Mel continue to be the main attraction of the series, and although you do want to tell them to just talk to each other sometimes, we wouldn’t have a story otherwise. Olivia also deserves a lot of credit for being brave enough to stand up for what she thinks is right.

The art is as attractive as ever, and the erotic scenes are well crafted without leaving much to the imagination. Seven Seas have once again done a lovely job of designing the covers, and the interior printing is of good quality with clean lines.

Hot off the press, Thailand is expected to legalise same sex marriage by the end of the year.

 

Ratings:

Art: 8. As charming as it’s ever been.

Story: 8. Enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and even thinking the unthinkable. The side story with Mel and Crystal at school is also very fun.

Service: 10. Graphic depictions of sex with very little left to the imagination, as always. Also, Mel in a suit.

Characters: 9. Olivia, thank you for doing the right thing.

Yuri: 9.

Overall: 9. As I said for the first two volumes, if you’re looking for something with adult characters and a decent bit of spice which isn’t just porn, you could do a lot worse than Pulse. These later volumes up the drama but if spice is your main thing, you won’t be disappointed.





Otona ni Nattemo, Volume 9 (おとなになっても)

June 13th, 2024

On an orange background, a woman with long blue hair, leaning on her arms, wearing an orange knit or patterned blouse, looks at us with a slight smile.I am currently reading two Japanese series about adults in complicated relationships. Both series are, in equal part, compelling and interesting and annoying as heck. Today we’re looking at Otona ni Nattemo, Volume 9 (おとなになっても) by Shimura Takako.

This story follows a (now-formerly) marries woman, Ayako, and a lesbian, Akari, as they meet, fall in love and come together again, as all the cracks in Ayako’s life come apart. In my review of Volume 8 is commented, “This continues to be such a low-key adult life Yuri that one can hardly think of it as barrelling down on the conclusion of the series…and yet, that is where we are. ” As Otona ni Nattemo, Volume 9 (おとなになっても) progresses, I’m constantly reminded of the other series, which is equally as complicated, but so much less “adult” somehow. I’ll talk about that one tomorrow.

Akari and Ayako are living together, at last. Things are good, or might be, as soon as they negotiate what any of this means to them. They haven’t really dated, and they know that. Did they do this too soon? Maybe, and they know that too, but are really going to try and make it work.

In the mean time, Ayako’s former students have gone from being children to tweens, in the way that children do. Two of them come to visit their former teacher, and marvel at her relationship with another woman. Ayako’s still uncomfortable answering questions, but Akari much less so.

Slowly, steadily, life goes on here. Things change, people change. Wataru has, maybe a new girlfriend, his mother visits the salon to see all these bit players who have completely shaken up her life. And Akari and Ayako find some quiet joy in the idea that they now can actually get to know one another. At last. Until next volume. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Service – 0
LGBTQ+ – 8, as Akari tries to be a good role-model for young women who may well need one.

Overall – 8

Volume 8 of Even Though We’re Adults is out in English and Otona ni Nattemo, Volume 10 is out in Japanese!