Archive for the English Manga Category


Yuri Manga: Yuri Bear Storm, Volume 1 (English)

October 28th, 2019

As Yuri Bear Storm, Volume 1 begins, Kureha is invisible in class, and is desperately afraid people around her whom she believes to be bears.  Until Ginko , a classmate who is definitely a bear and Kureha become friends. Kureha starts breaking out of her shell of invisibility, and find herself part of a much larger and much more complicated story. But, it doesn’t matter to her at all, as long as she can protect Ginko (and Lulu who inserts herself into their story, with an arc of her own that Ginko cannot remember.)

Kureha is not wrong, most of the people around her at school are in reality bears, and so is Ginko. But that no longer matters, as Kureha is falling in love with her worst enemy and best friend the bear princess, Ginko.

No, really, no matter how many times I read or watch this series it really doesn’t make any sense, but that’s okay. I’m just thrilled to pieces to see Morishima Akiko’s art in an English-language manga, with gleefully meaningless storytelling by Ikuhara Kunihiko, presented as a timeless and profound fairy tale which it completely is not. ^_^

Yuri in this volume is surprisingly staid, especially as compared with the anime. Kureha’s discovery of her feelings, Lulu’s public pronouncement of love for Ginko and a few kisses make a gentle counterpoint to the utterly impersonal sexual banter of the Student Council and the casual way Ginko offers her body for Kureha’s safety.

The best way to read Yuri Bear Storm is the same way you first watched Utena….cluelessly, guilelessly. Be an uncarved block and enjoy the story and don’t try to figure out what it means until you’ve finished it…and then you can back into whatever symbolism you believe you’ve parsed. It’s way more fun that way. In the mean time, marvel at the image of one of Morishima-sensei’s adorable pink-cheeked cherubs, aiming down the barrel of a long range rifle threatening to kill all bears. Because that’s a thing you’ll get here.

Tokyopop has done a fine job with the technicals, and I did not envy translator Katie McLendon her job. Making this make sense is a fool’s errand.

The next volume will give us another, even more complicated, love triangle and more bears. I am looking forward to it!

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters – 8 More Yurika, please!
Yuri – 8
Service – 5

Overall – 8

My review of the anime and this first volume in Japanese had me thinking of Picasso. Reading it this time reminded me of Andy Warhol’s famously repetitive imagery. If we just keep saying “Bear” over and over, surely it will come to have meaning.

In the meantime, if you, like me, are a fan of Morishima-sensei’s work, keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming Conditions of Paradise, a manga that does make sense and is kind of sexy, too. ^_^





LGBTQ Manga: Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare, Volume 3 (English)

October 21st, 2019

In Volume 1, we met Tasuku, a high school student who was being bullied for being gay, finally admitting to himself he is gay. In Volume 2, Tasuku reaches out to a young trans kid and ends up hurting and being hurt, depite good intentions.

In Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare, Volume 3 Tasuku must deal with real-world consequences of “being gay” in public. As Tasuku starts to to parse his feelings about a classmate whose erratic behavior leaves him constantly unsure of the intent, he also watches as association with the Cat Clutter group gives him a reputation for being one of the queers. Every time things get ugly, Tasuku has to figure out how to respond in a way that causes himself the least pain without betraying himself and others. In the end, it’s Utsumi-kun who provides him with a role model who understands what he’s supposed to be, and knows that sometimes, as a human, he’s not that.

When things come to a crisis in his own life, Tasuku takes an important step forward, carving  his own space out of his world. He takes a stand with Tsubaki-kun, demanding respect for himself and the other members of the group. Once again, accompanied by magnificent art that blows the borders of the page wide open, Tasuku takes a forceful step out of the closet.

In the final pages, Tasuku finally decides on a direction for himself, and the others of the group. When Volume 4 hit shelves in December, we’re getting a wedding! ^_^

I’ve praised this series so much, but haven’t really managed to convey just how profound and intentional it has been. There’s a lot of emotion uncovered in this series:; from the isolation of queer kids,  to confusion at an unfair society and anger at and pity for homophobic assholes. The art is epic in ways that are usually occupied by music in visual media, forcing us to sing songs inside our heads of discovery, of epiphany…and, ultimately, of joy.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters- 8
LGBTQ – 10
Service – 2 Things that might be considered service exist

Overall – 10

This was and remains one of the most compelling series I have ever read. I keep trying to put it down and failing to do so.

As a tangent on my review of Sexiled last week, one of the things I like in this volume particularly is how it addresses the anger of queer folks at the aggressive cluelessness of  people who just will not listen to them.  The anger of queer people and the anger of women and people of color and religious minorities in every nation and the anger of any marginalized group in any environment is real. We’re being given a chance to hear that anger expressed. Next up is to change the systems that are responsible for that anger.  Onward, friends. Let us dismantle the master’s house with our own tools of art and words and music and protest and turn that into law and policy that creates a more welcoming world.

 





Yuri Manga: Yuri Life (English)

September 23rd, 2019

Last summer it was my genuine pleasure to read and review a series of short Pixiv webcomics by Kurukuruhime-sensei about couples living together and sharing their lives. Yurigurashi was a fun read, that served as a nice intro to several couples’ lives. Today it is my even greater pleasure to review the English-language edition of this book, fresh from Yen Press, Yuri Life.

Each story in this collection is a short slice-of-a-couple’s-life together. We learn enough about the women to get a sense of their personalities, their foibles and the nature of their relationship. There’s little complication in the chapters, and almost no conflict beyond communication misfires and personality clashes. But that doesn’t meant there isn’t room for whimsicality and weirdness. ^_^

There is no lesbian identity here,  and I’m not entirely sure there’d be a place for it, as the scenes tend to focus on domestic moments…and it’s not like an established couple has to reaffirm their queerness to one another all that often outside bed. ^_^

Taylor Engel’s translation is comfortable and enhances the ease of reading, Likewise, letting by Alexis Eckerman helps ensure this volumes is the authentic manga reading experience fans are looking for. The color palette of this manga is very appealing and adult.  Kurkuruhime-sensei’s art is likewise appealing, with that slight sketchiness I quite like. I consider Kurkuruhime to be an artist worth following. I’m looking forward to future work from them – and indeed, have something new on my to-read pile!

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – N/A
Characters – 8 Are all presented as likable, even the grouchy OL
Service – 3 some nudity, but nothing salacious or sleazy
Yuri – 10

Overall – 8

 

As a series of entertaining slice-of-life webcomics that feature adult women living lives with the women they love, you can’t really beat Yuri Life. (Actually, as an enteritaining life, you can’t really beat living the Yuri life, but that’s a whole other story…. ^_^)

Thanks to Yen Press for the review copy! This was a book I’ve looked forward to for a year and it was everything I hoped it would be. ^_^





Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, Volume 5 (English)

September 3rd, 2019

Volume 5 of Sailor Moon, Eternal Edition is….not what I’d hoped it would be.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful book, with the “holographic cover” and color images that grace this definitive edition…but it’s that this is the definitive edition that sort of bugs me.

One of my big complaints about the 20th anniversary edition was the choice for transliteration of Haruka’s, Michiru’s and Setsuna’s family names. I argued with the translator who rightfully insisted that the transliteration she chose was correct. I equally insisted that it may have been correct, but it is fugly. Sadly, this 25th anniversary edition has continued using them.

Ten’ô, Kai’ô, Mei’ô

Tenoh, Tenou, Tennoh, Tennou, Ten’ou, Ten’oh but… … Ten’ô?  Vile.  It is an abomination. I do not care that it is “technically correct.” I care that it jangles my nerves and ruins my ability to read the story smoothly because it just looks so awful.

Let’s just stop here and take a look how names are transliterated in the real world. You may know the name Ichiro. He’s kind of a famous major league baseball player. His  name is 鈴木 一朗, which is transliterated as Suzuki Ichirou or Suzuki Ichirō and is commonly just written Ichiro in English.

     

The second jersey belongs to 佐藤 友亮 Satō Tomoaki, transliterated as Satoh Tomoaki, a Japanese baseball player with the Saitama Seibu Lions. I only picked baseball players, because they typically have their names on the jerseys, but this applies for most Japanese athletes. Haruka is an athlete.

When we see Haruka in her racing gear in the original anime her name is very sensibly transliterated Tenoh, as it is on this collectible card.

 

 

Ten’ô. There is no sane reason for this choice. 天王 =てんのう Tenou. Frankly for scan, I would have chosen Tenoh, Kaioh and Meioh,, but Tenou, Kaiou and Meiou would have been *fine*. I hate Ten’ô so much, it’s an insult to my eyes every time I see it. It may be correct, but it is terrible.

In every other way, this volume is just fine, but this was – and will continue to be – such an affront that I actually am considering not getting the rest of this series in this edition and just sticking with the Japanese, which will not irritate me. I was so looking forward to a sensible correction to this hideous choice in what is meant to be a magnificent definitive edition in English. It really scarred what is otherwise a momentous edition, as we meet genderfluid Haruka, her partner Michiru, and Setsuna miraculously comes back to life with no explanation whatsoever, bringing Sailors Uranus, Neptune and Pluto together, with their three talismans.

It’s a great volume about which we could talk for hours. To make me feel better about the name issue, I’ve written a short scene for the the “25 years have passed and *we* understand gender and sexuality differently” version I conjectured yesterday in my discussion of Queerness in Sailor Moon. In this version,after the Outer Senshi are introduced, we get an better answer to a question Usagi asked Haruka days ago:

“I never wanted to upset you,” Uranus’s face took on that look of endless sadness that make Usagi ache for her.

“Your Highness,” Neptune’s eyes were wet, “Uranus is both a man and a woman. She is a Guardian of both, with her attributes and strengths limited to neither.”

“I don’t understand,” Sailor Moon looked back and forth at the two women she wanted so much to fight with, not against.

“I’m genderfluid,” Haruka said gently. “I can present as a man or a woman as I want. When I dress as a man, I am seen as a man, and when I dress as a woman, I am seen as a woman.” She smiled tightly, “When I am dressed as a Senshi, I am seen as a Senshi.”

“Oh!” Sailor Moon nodded, “I understand.”

Michiru continued, “Each of us has…”

THERE. Fixed that scene. I feel better. I was >this< far from setting off yesterday in a complete 21st century rewrite of this entire season to fix all the many, many problems. But instead I wrote about queerness.

Ratings:

Art – 8 Visibly stronger than earlier volumes
Story – 7 Kind of a mess by our standards now, but amazing for the time
Characters – 7 Same. Hotaru becomes incredibly interesting from this point on.
Yuri – 5 Haruka trying to seduce Usagi off her case is something; still needs a real love scene between her and Michiru
Service – Same as above

Overall – 7 with a point off for the name issue. 6

Ten’ô, Kai’ô, Mei’ô must die. It’s just so awful.

 





Yuri Manga: Cocoon, Entwined, Volume 1 (English)

August 30th, 2019

This past winter, I took a look at Mayu, Matou, Volume 1 in Japanese which I had wanted to read before the English-language volume hit shelves. Today, I’m taking a look at the much-anticipated English-language release from Yen Press, Yuriko Hara’s Cocoon, Entwined. Volume 1.

My initial review covered the most visible of the symbols in this volume – namely, hair. More specifically, that hair chews up the scenery in nearly every panel. In my original review I said, “their hair is the main character and the people attached to that hair are merely abstractions.” which is still partly true. The characterizations of both people and place are overtly inspired by Maria-sama ga Miteru‘s Ibara no Mori, with Saeki very clearly a Sei-stand-in. Whether either Hoshimiya or Yokozawa is ultimately her Shiori or Youko, we’ll have to  stick around to learn to find out.

What I was able to enjoy this time around, is the building of a love triangle in which only one participant has any idea that they are participating. This story builds up in non-linear, almost episodic fashion and it’s easy enough to take each chapter on its own without applying it to a macro narrative, but by the final chapter, a very solid whole has been constructed. One finds that there is a backstory; histories, both institutional and personal, and a clear dynamic between the characters and the situations.

I still would caution anyone skeeved by hair as a fetish/major imagery/plot point/conflict that hair takes up a lot of space in both the narrative and on the page. But aside from that, it’s a pretty intriguing story, with solid art. I look forward to the next volume. The translation has been handled smoothly although any added Keigo formality has been stripped from the dialogue by translator Amanda Haley. It makes for a slightly more casual read in English. I feel as if I am reading by looking through a curtain of hair, but the story, I hope, will be worth it.

Ratings:

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

Overall – 8

High marks for this unique look at love and obsession at an elite girls school, the classic Yuri manga trope.

Thanks very much to Yen Press for the review copy for today’s review.

The story has grown on me, and no I will not make a stupid hair joke here. Fill one in on your own time.