Archive for the English Manga Category


Otherside Picnic Manga, Volume 1, Guest Review by Sandy F.

September 8th, 2021

Happy day! Not only is it  Guest Review Wednesday here on Okazu, we have a brand new reviewer! Today  we welcome Sandy, who is taking a look at Otherside Picnic, Volume 1 manga, out now from Square Enix! I know you’ll give him a warm welcome. Take it away, Sandy!

I am a huge fan of Iori Miyazawa’s Otherside Picnic series of novels. I enjoy following the adventures of Kamikoshi Sorawo and Nishina Toriko as together they explore the wonders and terrors of the Otherside. And at the same time, they also explore the wonders and terrors of human connection with one another.

When I heard that the novels were bring adapted into a manga, I was so excited that even though I can’t read Japanese, I bought the Japanese editions hoping that at least I would enjoy the artwork…which I did. When I finally got my hands on the English translation, it was worth the wait.

Like the novels, Sorawo is our guide to the Otherside. We are given glimpses of her story as text and artwork combine to introduce us to Sorawo’s first journeys into the Otherside where she will encounter the enthralling Toriko. This will lead into their shared experiences of the Otherside; experiences that will change them both.

For example, I particularly appreciated the depiction of the Wriggler also known as the Kune-kune. Not just the Wriggler itself, but how it acts as the path that will draw Sorawo’s deeper into the world of the Otherside and how this impacts her and Toriko. With this artwork I certainly feel that I am being given a glimpse of the Otherside and its mysteries, but not in such a way where I understand everything.

Overall, the artwork and the dialogue between the characters complimented my vision of these people and the Otherside that Iori Miyazawa had created so vividly in the novels. There are moments of the terror that creeps up on you from the Wriggler and the Eight-Foot-Tall Lady. And then there is the wary banter between Sorawo and Toriko as they take their first steps in learning about one another and helping us to understand what brings them into this world.

As well as the banter, through Sorawo’s internal monologue we are introduced to Sorawo’s emerging and complicated feelings about Toriko. Feelings shaped by Sorawo’s response to the nature of Toriko’s quest to find the mysterious Uruma Satsuki, as Sorawo wonders, what are Toriko’s expectations of her?

There are a couple of minor issues, such as the artwork was sometimes a bit cutesy for my taste. I appreciated the work of the translator, though I did miss some of the colourful British words and phrases used in the novel. There is also a bonus original story that gives us some interesting insights into Kozakura and the nature of her relationship with Uruma Satsuki and Toriko.

Ratings
Story – 9
Character – 7
Service – 4
Yuri – 5
Overall – 9

All in all, I thoroughly recommend reading this manga, but don’t forget the novel!

Erica here: Thank you Sandy! I’ve got this on my to-read list and am looking forward to it even more, now. ^_^ Thanks for whetting out taste for more Otherside Picnic.





The Whole of Humanity Has Gone Yuri Except for Me

September 7th, 2021

Marika idolizes a “normal” life. Meet a guy, get married, have children…the usual. So when she wakes up to find that she is suddenly in a world in which there are no men, and all the people around her normalize relationships between women, she..freaks out. One classmate, Lily, says she believes her, and offers to pretend to be Marika’s beard as she figures out what happens. The Whole of Humanity Has Gone Yuri Except for Me by Hiroki Haruse is half science fiction and half shoujo-ish romance.

The main thing about this series is that it has actually got some great moments, but almost every one of them is sandwiched between thick layers of “D…d…d…date!?” and surprise kiss and rain fevers and, and, and. As I read, I remembered why I had read the Japanese chapters online and just never managed to pick up the series, Watashi Igai Jinrui Zennin Yuri (私以外人類全員百合) in Japanese. It wasn’t bad, but it just never quite managed to be great.

The science fiction just happens to be exactly the same plot as something else I’m reading, which is not surprising as humanity is pretty obviously an extinction event on this planet; but, the flight of fancy for this protecting earth somehow is lost in the physical gags. The romance here is inevitable and the story takes no chances with the ending. I mean, obviously I probably would have enjoyed a more explorative approach to an all-female planet, but this story is not that. It’s a rom-com wearing a lab coat.

Before you think I hated this, (I did not) let me talk about the thing it did get right. Marika’s perspective of “normal” is put into stark light at the beginning of the book, as she is thrust into a world where “normal” is just not within her operating parameters. But that is not what makes her question her own interpretation, nor is it really her relationship with Lily that changes her perspective. Simply by seeing, and living in, a society that has different norms opens her to the idea that her own idea of “normal” is a construct. And that, in a nutshell, is a message I can get behind. Seeing how other people live changes you. Our “normal” is not universal.

I would say that I enjoyed and eyerolled this self-contained 2-in-1 volume in equal measure. I’m ready for “being shocked at the concept of going out on a date” to drop out of manga for anyone over 12 or so, and, as this manga ran on Kadokawa’s Shounen Ace plus service, I’m willing to let it go here, (that also explains the “wow what big boobs!” that happens every other chapter,) but still done with it, as a whole. It’s a date, not a commitment; you’re getting a bubble tea, not a wedding ring. 

Both art and writing were loose and flexible, with occasional flashes of something great. Eleanor Summers had to make sense of a lot of vaguely-formulated theoretical concepts, so props for the translator. Lettering by Erin Hickman was quite good, with a lot of translucent word balloons which allow us to see the background, but also be able to read the text clearly.  Fine job from the team at Yen Press.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 7
Characters – 7
Service – 4 Mostly comments about Marika’s chest. But a fair amount of that.
Yuri – 8

Overall – 7

For a no-stress science fiction about love and the end of the world as we know it, check out The Whole of Humanity Has Gone Yuri Except for Me by Hiroki Haruse. Out now as a 2-in-1 omnibus from Yen Press. 

Thanks very much to Yen Press for the review copy!





Cocoon Entwined, Volume 3

September 3rd, 2021

When I reviewed this volume in Japanese, I noted that at last, two of the three participants in this love triangle are aware of the fact. But, as strands of hair are cut, braided, tied and woven, the cocoon becomes ever more claustrophobic.

As I re-read Cocoon Entwined, Volume 3 in English, I think I was premature to assume that Hana is looking towards Youko as salvation. She is, finally, looking at Youko, but she’s also looking past Youko at something – someone – else.

For the first time in this series, we see Hana outside the school with her family. She’s really suffering at playing the school Prince, but how does one explain to a family member that light-hearted jests cut like razors? Hana spends this book running, and even when Youko finds her to bring her back, she’s still looking for an escape route.

I half-jokingly refer to Hana as “this manga’s Sei,” and it seems pretty likely that there is some homage there. But both personality and treatment of Hana and Sei are different enough that it’s only a joke. Hana is doing her duty as Prince, but it’s eating at her. And that is what intrigues me, as it does, apparently, Youko. Can Youko be prince to an unwilling prince or will she fail to save her from herself? Tune into Volume 4 of Cocoon, Entwined, which will hit shelves in December of this year.

I adore the cover of this book. It’s everything about this series in one image. Great work by Hara-sensei. Amanda Haley is lifting some heavy weight in the translation. The story and language are simple…but no, they aren’t really. This school is full of ghosts and they walk around built into the clothes, the buildings, the traditions and the ever-present hair. Erin Hickman’s lettering is clean and easy to read which leaves the art plenty of room to do the work it needs to do.

Ratings:

Art – Outstanding
Characters – 8
Story – 7
Service – N/A
Yuri – 7 One side of the triangle is filled in

Overall – 8

Cocoon Entwined is captivating and beautiful, more as a psychological horror series than a school romance. I continue to be surprised at how much I really enjoy this series.

Thanks very much to Yen Press for the review copy!





Yuri is My Job, Volume 7

August 19th, 2021

In Volume 6, Mituski poured her hear out to Hime and instead of bringing them closer, as she hoped, it may have separated them forever.

In Yuri is My Job, Volume 7, everyone at Liebe Café is trying to patch up the rift between Hime and Mitsuki. Except one. Kanako has absolutely had it with what she sees as Mitsuki’s self-indulgent attitude to Hime. She’s not wrong…but she’s not right, either.

Hime has come up against a wall that she has long wanted to avoid. There are only two people in the world she has trusted with her truth and they each need something from her she can’t give them. Hime’s decided to take herself out of the story, in order to keep anyone from being hurt…and thereby hurting them both.

Sumika wants things to stay the same, Kanako’s ready to be there for Hime, Mitsuki wants someone to understand her for once, and Mai, attempting to smooth over the rough areas, causes cracks to appear elsewhere.

This is an extraordinary volume in what initially appeared to be merely a Marimite parody. We are full on in deep emotional drama and although I read this with every issue of Comic Yuri Hime, I have absolutely no idea where it might take us or how we will get there! That’s always very exciting.

Extra chapters here take us a little into Miman-sensei’s life last year and character and café trivia. Everything about this book kept me on my seat. Lots of emotional moments and I’m just so interested to find out what happens!

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Service – 1
Yuri – 7

Overall – 8

Wrapped in old-fashioned school uniforms and Yuri tropes, Yuri is My Job is a compelling Yuri drama, wholly grounded in the present.





Whisper Me a Love Song, Volume 1

August 16th, 2021

Himari is suuuper excited to be in high school and suuuper happy to see the different clubs, but when she sees Yori on stage performing with a band, it’s just too much for her. Moved by the performance, she seeks out Yori to tell her that she’s fallen in love with her!

Yori’s not usually the kind of person to perform in public, but when a really cute girls says this to her, she can’t not feel something, right? Indeed, Yori does feel something. But what Himari feels isn’t love for Yori, she was just so moved by the music. And so, despite the initial misunderstanding, Yori and Himari start to build a relationship. Where it will go or what will happen is still unknown, but the possibilities in Whisper Me a Love Song, Volume 1 by Eku Takeshima are endless.

If you’ve got the print volume of Volume 1 in front of you, you know what I think of this series, it’s right there on the back cover. ^_^ I was indeed charmed from the very first pages. I absolutely adore this series. It is among the several I head straight for when new issue of Comic Yuri Hime has arrived. Yori’s slight introversion, and how adorable she is when she’s trying to be cool, and Himari’s enthusiasm for just about everything, is just too cute to dislike. I love Takeshima-sensei’s art. When she wants Yori to look cool, she looks very cool indeed. The characters have layers, and sometimes you get a glimpse of the adults they will become.

I’m somewhere in what will be Volume 4 in Japanese and I love this series as much now as I did back in Volume 1. For a first-love, high school girl-meets-girl story, that’s pretty amazing.

Before I forget, I think the cover design on this edition is fab. Love the rough background and the spot-gloss image. Well- done Matt Akuginow! Translation by Kevin Steinbach is on point. At one point, Yori said something and I just shouted, “Yed, that was absolutely it!” Great lettering by Jennifer Skarupa and editing by Tiff Ferentini is invisible, which is exactly what one wants in an editor. ^_^ Great work by Team Kodansha on this, one of my favorite series right now.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 8 There is none. It’s very nice.
Characters – 9
Service – 10000 where the “service” is two girls who are having a great time as they learn to love one another
Yuri – 8

Overall – 8

Keep your drama to yourself, this series doesn’t need it. ^_^

Whisper Me a Love Song by Eku Takeshima hits just the right notes for a light-hearted sweet Yuri romance. Volume 2 and Volume 3 are out now from Kodansha!