Archive for the English Manga Category


Nameless Asterism Manga, Volume 2 (English)

June 27th, 2018

In Volume 1, we met Kotooka, Washio and Tsukasa, three inseperable friends whose relationship is facing stress from several directions. Washio likes Kotooka, Tsukasa’s got a beau from another school, and Kotooka has a secret that she hasn’t shared with either.

As Volume 2 of Nameless Asterism by Kina Kobayashi begins, to give Washio room to be alone with Kotooka, and because she can’t think of a good reason not to, Tsukasa accedes to Asakura-kun’s request to date. She’s still on the fence, although Asakura is a perfect gentleman. Tsukasa’s twin brother is not on the fence and will go to great lengths to keep loathed schoolmate Asakura away from his sister. But, when Asakura starts to befriend him, Shinobu may end up with another problem.

And Washio, Tsukasa and Kotooka are all convinced that simply pretending nothing is different will be best for the three of them…a strategy that is no doubt doomed to failure. 

The art remains pleasant, on the shoujo side, with an emphasis on cute, rather than beautiful. The story is, as of yet, quite up in the air. I am interested to find out what will happen. My guess is that Kotooka is in love with one of her friends. My money is on Tsukasa, because that would be the most complicated. And I have solid money on Shinobu ending the series with a boyfriend-ish.

In our discussion at TCAF (which I apologize to all of you, I haven’t had a second to write up,) Seven Seas Marketing Manager, Lianne Sentar and I agreed that, while not gay, per se, we’d both put this manga in the “queer” category. While I, as a reader, expect few of the same-sex relationships to make it through the fray, the characters are dealing with affection and attraction and the boundaries that establish relationships as friends and/or lovers. 

Ratings: 

Art – 7
Characters – 7
Story – 7
Service – 1 on principle
Yuri – 3

Volume 3 will be available in English in late October. 2018 is continuing to be a helluva year for queer manga. ^_^





Yuri Manga: Kiss and White Lily for My Dearest Girl, Volume 5 (English)

June 14th, 2018

Volume 5 of Kiss and White Lily For My Dearest Girl, is predicted upon the idea that a promise made at 5 years old is still valid a decade later. Let me assure you that they are not. ^_^

Nishikawa Itsuki keep glaring at Itou Sawa and Sawa doesn’t know why. When Itsuki turns out to be  long-lost childhood friend, the penny still doesn’t drop. Of course, eventually they manage to  figure out how they can face the future together. Phew.

We spend some time with Shirahime and Kurosawa, and finally get insight on what actually drives Ayaka to be so competitive. It’s an emotional and frustrating moment for her and us, but for Kurosawa, it’s a moment of of clarity and she steps up and is just the pillar of strength that Ayaka needs.

I will never be the audience for the lost-childhood dream, but for Ayaka’s arc is very poignant. It also provides the the missing piece to her personality and for that, it’s an important volume.  And if you like poignant, emotional stories, Kiss and White Lily For My Dearest Girl is a series that’s worth reading. 

Art – 8
Story – 6
Characters – 7
Yuri – 8
Service – 1 on principle

Overall – 7

No, seriously. Any promises made in in kindergarten are no longer valid. ^_^





Yuri Manga: MURCIÉLAGO, Volume 6 (English)

June 1st, 2018

Volume 6 of MURCIÉLAGO, by Yoshimurakana, is a particularly nasty volume. Oddly, I found it easier to take in English than in Japanese. I do not know whether that is a function of the translation or simply because I read through the nastiest bits more quickly in my native tongue. 

A bomber is threatening a school and Kuroko and the team have been called in to investigate. What she finds is that a ring of kids have been bullying a girl practically to the point of a psychotic break. The keyword is “practically”. Although Minako is sure that her lover is responsible for her abuse, she’s not all that angry because she’s a “get even” kind of gal. By the end of the series, Kuroko has left Minako with a penchant for domination, a slave and a desire to commit controlled violence. 

The bomber, it turns out, is also looking for revenge for a one-sided same-sex crush gone toxic. All in all, a school full of terrible people. 

Kuroko gets to kill a few inconsequential children, Hinako gets her kunoichi on, and everyone lives happily ever after, except for the people dead, beaten, abused, raped, and otherwise emotionally and physically traumatized. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 6 
Story – 5 I still prefer adults beating the crap out of one another
Characters – 8 Violently insane, so thumbs up from me
Service – 10 
Yuri – 8  Extra Psycho Lesbians for your money! ^_^

Overall – 8

My review yesterday of Cutie Honey Universe seems to have surprised some new readers. Let me assure you that while I find tiresome service tiresome, I am wholly fine with horrific violence and psychotic lesbians. ^_^





LGBTQ Manga: Claudine (English)

May 8th, 2018

Claudine, by Riyoko Ikeda, is a tragic, yet sympathetic, story about a transgender man. Originally serialized in Margaret magazine, this story is touching and agonizing in equal measure. The story is presented to us as a case study from the perspective of a kind and empathetic psychiatrist who becomes Claudine’s confidant and knows there really isn’t anything wrong with his patient that full acceptance by society couldn’t cure.

The psychiatrist is himself an interesting character and reminded me greatly of the equally kind psychiatrist in Pieta. While this doctor was only able to watch and record Claudine’s life, the doctor in Pieta were able to intervene, allowing Sahako and Rio a chance at happiness. I wonder, sometimes, if Claudine had been written 20 years later, would this doctor have done the same? I feel sure he would have.

Riyoko Ikeda is well-known for the otherworldly beauty of her gender non-conforming characters and anyone who knows Dear Brother or Rose of Versailles, will be used to the character type presented here. Claudine is beautiful and women are attracted to him, but he is not able to maintain a relationship through no fault of his own. And, while there is a Well of Loneliness feel about the conclusion, the end of Claudine’s life is presented not as an inevitability, but a crime committed upon Claudine by society.

For 1978, this was an extraordinary portrayal. It reads a bit old fashioned now, as society moves towards greater awareness and understanding of transgender people, but it’s not stale in the least. 

Of course Seven Seas has done a lovely job of reproductio,n as one expects. I was thrilled to see the talented Jocelyne Allen translating this particular volume. I knew she’d handle it all with skill.  This is a top-notch English edition of a 40-year old classic that I have wanted you all to read for years. ^_^ I recommend it highly. Pre-orders are live; the book is slated for release in late June.

Ratings: 

Art – 8
Story – 6
Characters – 6
LGBTQ – 8
Service – 2

Overall – 7

As I wrote in my 2007 review of the original, “I like to think that, when young Satou Sei was combing literature for reflections of her own feelings and she came across Well, she might have also come across Claudine and, like myself, rejected the tragedy, even as she acknowledged its place in her personal history…. Us Comp. Lit. majors must stick together after all. ^_^”

Seven Seas is branching out into more queer narrative; in upcoming days you’ll also see The Bride Was a Boy, which is a comic essay by transgender creator Chii, as well as My Solo Exchange Diary: The Sequel to My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness. This seems like a perfect start to this week, which will end with TCAF. And, ss we all know, everyone is queer at TCAF! ^_^

Many, many thanks to Seven Seas for the review copy! The original volume of this is one of my prize possessions, it’ll be nice to have it in English!





Hungry For You: Endo Yasuko Stalks the Night Manga, Volume 1 (English)

April 16th, 2018

Makioka Shizue needs food
Endo Yasuko is reasonably shrewd
“Be my back up meal plan
(Although I’ll do what I can)
And I’ll make sure you don’t have to brood”

When she’s given this offer that can’t be beat
Shizue’s mostly swept off her feet
Endo may be a ghoul
Killing girls from their school
But at least Shizue gets lots to eat

The English edition of Hungry For You: Endo Yasuko Stalks the Night, Volume 1 is as much fun as it was in Japanese. As always, Seven Seas has done a fine job of giving readers an authentic manga reading experience. Even when the manga is a really silly vampire at a girl’s school junk food of a story.

Or, as my wife puts it:

Vampires, breasts and Yuri
Now in English without any worry
Is crap for crap’s sake
with nothing at stake
to lose when it comes to the jury.

This was the story that spawned the promise that all probably-a-vampire Yuri stories would be reviewed by limerick from now on. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – An utterly absurd 8
Characters – 9
Service – 5 Vampire-at-a-girls’ school
Yuri – 2, maybe, but you can make it work if you want.

Overall – Entertaining, trashy fun 8

Thanks to the folk at Seven Seas for the review copy!
Volume 2 in English is slated for a release at the end of the year, so I’ll be keeping an eyes out for the Japanese volume. ^_^