Archive for the English Manga Category


Lucky Star Manga, Volume 4 (English)

July 8th, 2010

Lucky Star Manga, Volume 4 has what I consider to be the first glimpse of anything Yuri-like so far in the series. And it comes, not at all surprisingly, in the form of one of the resident otaku making it up in her head. I respect that. ^_^

It’s well established that the Lucky Star franchise is a series of self-referential gags and in-jokes for the folks who read Comtiq, CompAce, Mobile Newtype and who stroll the aisles of Gamers in Akihabara. This series is very much an “us and them” series, with “us” being Konata, her father, her teacher and Hiyori. Everyone else is there to provide straight lines, fantasy fodder and someone to whom we can ‘splain our rituals and behaviors. (You know about ‘splaining, right? It’s short for mansplaining but I see it in every “us/them” group and women are as likely to do it in their areas as men are. It’s that thing, when you say something like, “Oh I just bought a computer with a OCZ SATA SSD drive” and some 20-year old guy says something like, “well, you know, you have to be careful about the kind of computer you choose. Get a Mac, it’s safe from viruses.” And you think – or if you’re me, you say – “come closer, I need to slap you.” ^_^)

Konata ‘splains stuff to everyone who stands still for it in Volume 4. Why “we” buy multiples of certain books. Why “we” wait on line for rare items or signatures, why “we” do any of the things “we” do.

But, to be honest, I have long ago tired of Konata. In the same way that I cannot have a long, fruitful conversation with people I know who are obsessive about one thing, because they have no real interests outside that one thing, Konata is kind of boring. Kagami barely shows up in the manga at all, although when she does, the author helpfully reminds you *again* that she is tsundere, despite that fact that we have never really seen her dere-dere about anything. But we’re good little fans – the author says so, and it fits our delusions.

As I said, I am long past watching them at all. They are one-trick ponies and we’ve seen the trick already. So, in Volume 4, we take our perspective and wander off with it to another otaku-eye view. Hiyori, our resident doujinshi artist provides most of the fodder for this volume. The cover is a nice visual nutshell of the Yuri in Hiyori’s (and Konata’s, apparently,) head. And she even has the decency to wonder how much of it she’s making up. But, being good little fans, now that the author has seeded the idea, I have no doubt that most readers see Yutaka and Minami as a couple. (Hiyori pairs just about everyone up, another highly realistic fan behavior.)

Now that the translation is in the eminently able hands of Bill Flanagan, the humor – where it actually exists – is less difficult to grasp. I still take issue with the editing of the book; it’s clearly phoned in and seems even more so, now that the translation is so good. Mr. Editor – please do your job. Thanks. Love, The readers.

In all honestly, I wish the series had started with Volume 4. By pushing Konata and Kagami back and bring up everyone else all at once, the cast seems much more lively and the gags much less moribund.

If I were to wish this series upon someone, I’d definitely start with this volume.

Ratings:

Art – It is what it is
Story – In small chunks, gag comics can be fun
Characters – I far prefer Hiyori’s delusions to Konata’s
Yuri – Same as above
Service – 10, but not in a salacious manner. It’s just a book for “us” and only “us.”

Overall – 7

Sincere and great thanks to Okazu Hero Albert L. for his sponsorship of today’s review! Albert – please email me to receive your Okazu Hero badge!

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After reviews are posted, most sponsored items are donated to my local Library (which is a major hub in this area,) where they can be enjoyed by many people – so you’ve done a great thing not just for me, you and the readers here at Okazu, but potentially hundreds of folks who get a chance to enjoy that manga or anime! It’s a win-win-win situation!





Hayate x Blade Manga, Volume 6 (English)

June 28th, 2010

In most gag manga, the moments of seriousness are brief and are quickly broken up before they can build to anything threatening the general hilarity.

In dramatic manga, the moments of comedy are brief, breaking up the tension with a soft smile from time to time.

In most action manga, the emotions are brief, building up in a fireworks climax during a battle, driven by the need to win.

In most romantic manga, the action is brief, confined to bursts of energy in order to move the characters from one situation into another.

In Hayate x Blade, Volume 6, none of these are brief. We are sated on action, comedy, emotion and drama and by the end of the volume…we want more. Or, well, I want more!

First, there’s the climax of the A-Team’s nefarious plot to blackmail Hayate into leaving the school, culminating in a 80 vs 8 randori. Maid costumes, ladles, cheesy lines and Michi suddenly being awesome! And finally, the entire A-team slayed where they stand by the appearance of their belove Akira. In a maid costume.

Then, we start to get some insight into the relationship between Ayana and Yukari and even as we are told what we are told…we’re given some hints that nothing in this relationship is what it seems.

And finally, in the middle of a school festival that is full insanity, the Hoshitori bell rings and a very, very serious fight begins.

Speaking as a reader, this is one of my favorite volumes in any language. Artistically, Hayashiya-sensei’s art has really coalesced by now and you can practically feel the impact as sword hits sword.  As a copy editor, this volume was *brutal*. The editor and adapter had a lot of work to do – this is a volume full of really obscure references. But damn, what a volume!

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Yuri – 4 (Ayana x Yukari and Maki x Yukari for the win here)
Service – 4
Overall – 9

I can’t tell you at this point whether we’ll see a Volume 7, but I know that I, at least, hope and pray that we will. If there was ever a fight that we deserve to see the end of, it’s this one.





Yuri Manga: Jormungand, Volume 3 (English)

June 8th, 2010

I think it’s reasonable to say that Volume 3 of Jormungand is as Yuri as this series is likely to get. Which is to say, not really all that much, but enough. ^_^

Volume 3 is more fragmented than the previous volumes, which is either the author’s way of letting us know he thinks we can handle it, or his way of saying “fuck it, I’m going to do whatever I want and if you can’t handle it, then don’t read it, see if I care.” ^_^

To begin we learn a little of Jonah’s background and why he hates arms and arms dealers, and we also see that he has a soft spot for other children, something that seems likely to bite him in the ass. This being Jormungand and not something else, when it *does* bite him in the ass, it’s actually kind of funny.

We then turn our attention, in a somewhat ADHD manner, to several sub-plots that will all undoubtedly come to a head in somewhere, Africa. If you like your tales neat and beginning-middle-end then this volume may pose a challenge, as characters, plot complications and, well, just about everything are thrown at us in a jumble. Works fine for me, but your mileage may vary.

In between the big plot points and obvious set-ups, we do meet a few new characters…and get to spend a little more time with our resident lesbian, Valmet. She has a real name, did you know? Sophie. I’ve always liked that name. I also quite like crazy, violent women who wear eyepatches, so if Valmet ever tires of Koko (and presuming I was a character in this manga,) I’d be glad to pick up the slack. ^_^

Along the way, we meet an unnamed female bodyguard, who will obviously be our next enemy….oh look, she is. We also meet “Dr. Miami” a researcher specializing in butterflies who appears to also have an unrequited thing for Koko. Understandably so.

Fights break out. Guns are shot. People we don’t care about die.

The thing about Jormungand that really makes it stand out from all the other crazy lunatic violent series I read is that it’s…erm…funny. Very little angst here in this world of people who sell guns that kill people for a living. Which is good, because if they were all moping around like they do in Dogs it would be a dire, non-linear pile of crap. But since they are having such a good time, it’s the least I can do to enjoy it. So I do.

And there’s some Yuri. Yay!

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Yuri – 3
Service – 3

Overall – 8

If Valmet ever crossed series to work for Balalaika, I might die of fangirly joy.





Yuri Manga: Gunsmith Cats Burst, Volume 5 (English)

May 17th, 2010

Gunsmith Cats: Burst Volume 5Last year, I was so very pleased to review the final volume of Gunsmith Cats Burst. Now, just a little bit over a year later, it’s my double pleasure to read and review the final volume of Gunsmith Cats Burst in English!

My belief that this was the end that GSC deserved has not changed. The story has a little bit of everything that made GSC a classic series – one that actually stood the test of a few decades of time. Guns, car chases, sexy women…none of this goes out of style.

For this English-language version, Dark Horse provides the kind of work we expect from them – great reproduction, good quality pages, solid translation.

So what is there to say about the English edition that I did not about the Japanese? This. Sean Gaffney asked me to talk about the drug Goldie is selling. It enhances people’s susceptibility to “persuasion.” It’s not a brainwashing drug, just one that makes it easy to convince people to see your point of view, especially when it fits their already preconceived beliefs.

Some of you may not know this but I work in the pharmaceutical industry and I thought I’d tell you that there is *already* a pill like this. In fact, I smiled through the entire book knowing *exactly* what Goldie is pushing. You know what it’s called? It’s called…a placebo. No, seriously. If I give you a pill and tell you that it’s going to make you relaxed (or tense or hot or full or whatever) chances are, your brain (which is no doubt a finely honed instrument, capable of great feats of imagination) will immediately set you to feeling just that way.

Don’t believe me? Let’s do a little experiment.

Imagine that you are outside in the cold. It’s cold and dry and you enter your home and are greeted with a blast of cinnamon-flavored warmth. Someone is baking in the kitchen. Perhaps it’s cinnamon bread or muffins. You walk into the kitchen where the air is redolent with the smell. You open the oven door and a puff of warm air hits you in the face, and the room is once again filled with the scent of cinnamon.

Now…notice that you are salivating. You are, more than usual just sitting here. (Except for those of you who HATE cinnamon, hah on me.) I know you are, because your mind was imagining eating delicious cinnamon bread and when you do that, you start to salivate.

So, the power to persuade? Give a person a pill or a shot and tell them that it’s going to help them be convinced of your point of view and most people will be *thrilled* to give up their responsibility and let you make the choice for them.

In any case, with May married and in the role of a new mommy, Misty assuaging her desire for Rally with Goldie and Roy moving out to the suburbs, it’s no real shock that Rally decides it’s time to move on.

And now, so can we. With no lingering regrets, the book finally closes on a series that was one of the first to really make an impact here on Western shores.

Farewell Gunsmith Cats – it was loads of fun.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Characters – 9
Story – 9
Yuri – 6
Service – 5

Overall – 9

Today’s review was sponsored by the kindness and generosity of new Okazu Hero Ariella M! Thank you and welcome to the team, Ariella – email me to receive your Okazu Hero badge for proud display on websites and social media profiles. ^_^





Aria Manga, Volume 5 (English)

May 12th, 2010

Aria Volume 5 (Aria (Tokyopop))In Aria, Volume 5, we stop pretending that there is any Yuri and just look at this wonderful world of Neo-Venezia for the simple joys it represents.

For two chapters.

Then Athena shows up and all the Fanboys are at it again, pairing her and Alice because they can’t stop themselves.(On this topic but as an aside, I am watching an anime on Crunchyroll right now that has no romantic pairings at all, but you’d never know that from the comments which are singularly obsessive on that topic. It’s like a broken wire in the collective fandom. One I share, obviously ^_^)

So, Aika, who was our slight delusion of Yuri, has turned her gaze away from Alicia towards Al – and it is good. Except for Al’s bad puns, which are execrable in any language.

Akari has eyes for no one and nothing but the grandeur and artistry of the town she has adopted as her home. In Volume 5, the town officially adopts her in return. I am told, by the way, that Venice really does this – people either love it with all their love, or dislike it. My parents feel deeply and passionately in love with Venice at first sight. They, like Akari, have spent an afternoon on San Marco Square following the sun and drinking coffee and accounted it the best afternoon ever spent anywhere.

For me, the most interesting and best chapter is a chapter in which Alice learns that left hands and sempai may seem clumsy or awkward, but when left to do what they are best at, excel. This chapter has some personal resonance for me, as well as just being a fun, sweet chapter.

I’d like to comment on the translation, as well. I think it is actually very in keeping with Akari’s personality to have her say things like, “What’s shakin’ bacon?” or “Holy guacamole!” Nonetheless, I loathe the choice. It jars with the overall tone and pace of Neo-Venezia, which is old world elegant and sedate. Translators, adaptors and editors ought to keep the big picture in mind, as well as the specific scene or character. There is nothing wrong with these idioms, I just find them irking.

There is no Yuri, as I have said from the beginning, in Aria. There is only delusion and wishful thinking. But, with the winter sun shining on the canals of Neo-Venezia, what better is there to do but sit, drink coffee and engage in some wishful thinking.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Yuri – 0
Service – 1

Overall – 8

It is my sincere pleasure to thank Okazu Superhero Amanda M for her sponsorship of today’s review! It’s always a good afternoon when spent in Neo-Venezia.