Archive for the LGBTQ Category


LGBTQ: Hitori Koukan Nikki (一人交換日記)

February 22nd, 2018

“Dear Nagata Kabi-san, this is Nagata Kabi.”

We left Nagata-sensei at the end of Sabishi-sugi Rezu Fuzoku ni Ikimashita Report (さびしすぎてレズ風俗に行きましたレポ) (which was sold as My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness in English) looking at a building a life in the middle of crushing depression and a debilitating eating disorder. As the pages of Hitori Koukan Nikki (一人交換日記) open, she is still attempting to build that life with crushing depression and sudden, shocking fame. (How much fame? The cover of this book says that her first book has 4.8 million copies in print.) But no pressure.

Nagata-sensei’s journey is a merry-go-round. Left out of the normal development of human emotions and affection, she’s desperate to be loved, to be embraced, but incapable of functioning at the level she would need to build the relationships that provide those things. Torn between needing some kind of stability, and desiring adulthood and freedom, we see her moving in and out of her parent’s house over and over trying to find some kind of balance.

Determined to make it on her own, Nagata-sensei struggles with ever worsening depression – her darkness is very omnipresent in these pages, signified by increasing use of black in the art, as she all-but-literally drowns in her own misery. 

Nagata-sensei, though, really is determined and keeps working at her next book, this time for Shogakukan’s Big Comics Special. Although her story is fully autobiographical, it has enough general appeal to have a major publisher pick her up and run her work in their magazine. More success equals more pressure.

But, just when things seem too overwhelming, she meets someone. Someone who becomes important to her. For the first time in her life, Nagata-sensei is experiencing the kind of emotion she craves. And, miraculously, it’s returned. I won’t spoil the end of the book, because it made the rest of the book worth reading, frankly, and you too will be able to read it this June when it comes out as My Solo Exchange Diary from Seven Seas.

Let me editorialize here for a moment: I am convinced that the reason the first book sold so well was that it had “lesbian experience” in the title AND a relatable story for so many.  I bet this won’t sell nearly as well without the word “lesbian” in it. Why? Because Amazon does not have a Yuri or lesbian manga/comics category. So people put in the keyword lesbian to find stuff they might want. Then they read the description. No one  is going to find Hana & Hina Afterschool when looking for a “lesbian romance” because that phrase is never used in the description. How many people might have loved a cute, sweet lesbian romance? Who knows because the description calls it a “toy-shop romance.” This is why Amazon needs a Yuri category, but also why publishers have *got* to understand how description works and who it’s for. Because I feel so strongly about this, I’ve sent this all to Seven Seas. Update: Seven Seas tells me that they agree, and are putting this volume out as My Solo Exchange Diary: The Sequel to My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness.

Seven Seas does a reasonable job with description, compared with say, Yen, who use the surreally vague Japanese descriptions, but this one is just going to need some help to become as popular as the first volume. And it should be, Because it’s a harder read, but a better book.

It is a harder read. I squirmed during the chapters when her parents read her first book. Crushing depression is crushing, and I was feeling weighted down by Nagata-sensei’s struggle. And when she broke down after kissing someone she liked for the very first time in her life, I’m not ashamed to say I cried, too. Which is why I really liked the ending and very much look forward to Hitori Koukan Nikki, Part 2.

Ratings:

Art – 7 She definitely has a style
Story – 6 
Service – N/A, even when there is nudity
LGBTQ – 9

Overall – 8

I’m fascinated by the (maybe disproportionately?I don’t know) important role in the comics industry held by autobiographical comic essays both in the West and in Japan. 

 





LGBTQ Novel: Flowers of Luna (English)

February 11th, 2018

It is my very sincere pleasure today to be reviewing a creative work by a member of our Okazu family!  I was sent a copy as a gift, but there’s some very excellent elements here that I wanted to share with you.

Primarily set on Earth’s Moon, with a background of thriving solar system-wide colonization, Flowers of Luna, written by Jennifer Linsky, is a romance novel set in this futuristic setting. 

Ran Gray is the daughter of two famous mothers who, when she was an small child, heroically fought pirates who were attacking their mining ship, defeated them and released the pirates’ captives from slavery. As a result, Ran’s name comes with a burden of fame that she’s not in hate with, but would kind of like to get out from under. Ran comes to Sankt Vladimir University on the Moon, to study clothing design. In her first minute there, she is challenged to a duel. 

Ran is not above cashing in on the duel, and she and her challenger end up going out. Which effectively puts an end to the plot of the story, well at the beginning of the book. From this point on, it switches from rollicking adventure tale to slice-of-life josei romance, complete with  misunderstandings and refusals to just sit down and talk. The third time Ran was sulking about something she could have just asked about or accepted that she did not know, I found myself growing weary of her.  

I had one issue with the novel that was completely unrelated to any strengths or weakness of the writing. The story centers fashion, especially the design and creation of clothing, something about which I have absolutely no interest whatsoever. And the characters’ fascination with lingerie is not mine. I found the discussion of clothing (which is a major part of the story,) interminable. Should you enjoy details of cosplay, clothing or lack thereof, I happily recommend this book to you. As I say, this is not a ding against the book, just against this reader. It was all integrated nicely, with no awkward flow – clothing design is as much of who Ran is, as her name. 

Which brings me to my one one genuine criticism of the writing. I have, in my life, read any number of books in which an author integrates something they like or somewhere they live and I am 100% okay with it, unless it’s jarring to me as a reader. Two decades ago, I read Nicola Griffith’s The Blue Place, and was vaguely irritated by the section in which she detailed Taijiquan – not because it was inaccurate, but it literally stopped the story so the author could tell us what she knew. It was only peripherally about building the character. I am comfortable with an author inserting an interest of their own, but it must be done judiciously. When whole passages are given over to the author’s interest, as they are in A Discovery of Witches it does not benefit the reader. In this example, Deborah Harkness runs a wine blog and does yoga, so dozens of pages are turned over to discussion of wine and yoga that does not further the plot, nor does it truly develop the characters beyond fictitious extensions of the author. Which is to say, I feel at the end of this novel that I know a great deal about Jennifer Linksky, but not nearly enough about Ran Gray. It happens all the time, but should be avoided.

On the other hand, the world building in Flowers of Luna is excellent. I could instantly picture the university, its surrounding city, the larger economic system it was part of and the commerce channels. The politics of the system are relatively inapplicable, so we can forgive their absence. As I write this review, I am reminded that one of the things I liked best about the story was the author’s ability to create a world of space-faring travel without needing to use the word “space” as a descriptor for every third noun. The technological background noise is also well thought out, without too much depth. We can understand that matter is recycled as needed. We don’t need the details here. It’s enough to see that it is. And Ran’s world is filled with other people, not just the one woman she’s fallen for. She has friends, erstwhile roommates, team members, family, etc. This world is layered and real-feeling. 

And lastly, the story is very LGTBQ-friendly. Sexual and gender minorities move through the populace in a wholly natural way. Diversity is homogeneous in this future, which includes body-modification on a genetic level. ( I *am* into body-modification, so that interested me. Readers are so fickle. ^_^)

Ratings:

Overall – 7

Flowers of Luna is available in paperback and on Kindle. I whole-heartedly suggest it for a bit of entertaining Yuri-ish reading.

Many thanks to Jennifer for the copy and many wishes for a successful writing career!





LGBTQ Comic: Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Two (English)

February 4th, 2018

Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Two has all the strengths and weaknesses of part of 2 of a 3-part anime OVA in a 78 page comic.

This part of the story is what I call “the storm before the calm.” The team is broken up and become physically and emotionally distant from each other. They will have to pull together for them to win, but they are being assailed on too many fronts to do that right now. As if this isn’t enough, an extra piece is on the board now, making a whole ‘nother set of complications.

Korra is facing opposition from the Triads, the government and the spirits..and now another organized crime leader. As usual, she’s trying to do it all herself and her relationship with Asami is suffering because of it. Everyone is doing their best to help, but they are all isolated in their own verticals. They need coordination. And in this, this issue does two things that made it absolutely worth reading. Asami identifies the perfect coordinator, Zhu Li (although she is thinking on a larger scale than just their immediate needs, which is also a great piece of writing). Placing Zhu Li’s competence at the forefront of the story made me quite happy, and Varrick’s reaction of pure joy at the idea of Zhu Li as President put a period on it. This was a scene I would have loved to see and hear animated.

The color work in this issue is notably excellent. One of the defining characteristics of the Avatar world are the color palettes and art styles of the various kingdoms. This series has had to balance that with a palette of its own in which to tell this particular story. I really like the choices made here. Irene Koh’s work is getting better and better.

Also notable was a narrative buried in the story of President Raiko’s handling of the refugees which leads to Zhu Li considering a political campaign. There was no doubt in my mind at all  that this section contained a clear rebuke on current politics, especially in reference to Puerto Rico’s sabotaged recovery after Hurricane Maria. Over 400,000 Puerto Ricans are still without power and the emergency management there under our current administration has been openly corrupt and incompetent.

The fast pacing is not helping this comic. This arc needs time to develop and time for us to have some relief from the multiple tensions of the emotional and physical conflicts. It’s almost a shame that it’ll have to wrap up next issue and so we’ll get the cathartic ending we’ll need, without the appropriate pacing for any of it. It’s all too rushed. Every four pages is another episode of this super-dense narrative. Yes, Korra and Asami will b reunited but, will they be given time to talk about what’s happening with them? Asami is so much emotionally mature than Korra. The Avatar’s going to have to be given the chance to do the work to get to Asami’s level. I hope so, at any rate.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Service – 0
Yuri – 10

Overall – A very solid 9

Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko and Irene Koh have a lot on their plate to make the third volume of this comic work. I have to believe they are up to the challenge. ^_^

Today’s review was once again sponsored by the kindness and generosity of Okazu Superhero Eric P.! Thank you very much for the chance to read and review this series!





LGBTQ Comic: Bingo Love

December 13th, 2017

Sometimes, all you really want to read is an adorable story about a timeless love winning over intolerance and other people’s opinions. On days like that, I heartily recommend Bingo Love, the triumphant graphic novel by Tee Franklin with art by‎ Jenn St. Onge ,‎ Joy San and‎ Genevieve FT. 

Hazel and Mari met at a bingo night back when they were young. Although they fell in love, they were separated by family and society not ready to accept them for who they were. Decades passed and they each went on to marry, have children and support their families, but when they are reunited, their love rekindles. Whether society – and more importantly – their families, can accept them as they are, is the body of this story.

There are many things to like about Bingo Love. Available in print and as a digital comic, this story about two black American women, living lives with roots in church and family, finding true love despite everything, is something that the world of graphic novels was ready and waiting for. That Bingo Love is also a real-life success story of a team of women of color, who built the book through crowdfunding, eventually licensing it to a large national publisher, is worth celebrating. This is the money that mainstream comics companies are passing over in favor of retread Batman and Avengers narratives. It’s worth saying this and, if we care about comics, it’s worth listening to. These stories, these creators, deserve the limelight and deserve our support.

Even more importantly for us here at Okazu, Bingo Love gives us something we rarely get a chance to enjoy – the after “happily ever after.” It’s a rare look at adult women in love, dealing with real-world issues that queer women actually have to deal with. For that, this would be a must-read, but Bingo Love is so much more.

Ratings:

Art – 7 Utterly squee
Story – 9
Characters – 8 Even the ones that make you angry, you can’t really hate.
Service – Not really
LGBTQ – 10

Overall – 9

In this holiday season, there’s no better idea for us to highlight and support women of color creators telling the stories they want to tell. And in return you’ll get a sweet love story that spans American history and looks forward to a better future for all the Hazels and Maris out there.





LGBTQ Comic Essay: The Big Book of Bisexual Trials and Errors

December 11th, 2017

Elizabeth Beier’s The Big Book of Bisexual Trials and Errors strikes that rare balance between self-reflection and redemption that we so desperately need in 2017. Equally importantly, this tale of bisexual life is honest, and eschews the kind of apology or explanation that make other books about bisexuality tiresome.

By eschewing explanation or teaching, Beier allows readers to immerse themselves wholly in her experiences, and learn who Elizabeth Beier is through her own eyes. (I want to make that plain, because the Elizabeth Beier I know is, unsurprisingly, more attractive and vivacious than the one she sees.) And, to some extent this book is less about dating than it is Beier opening up the choose-your-own-adventure that is her life to us for our entertainment.

Beier’s art highlights the beauty and nobility of the people she draws except, almost predictably herself. Her best moments are reserved for others…until that linchpin moment on stage, when she discovers her own radiance. (a moment made even more triumphant by the loathing with which she had previouslyregarded herself. ) It’s uncomfortable to see that deeply and intimately into a person’s head  – moreso when one knows and likes that person. For that reason, I found the book uncomfortable from time to time, but no more than any other equally navel-starring, autobiographical comic essays. 

Ultimately, Beier’s tale of self-acceptance and the beautiful renderings of the people around her make this book an absolute joy  to read.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

When Beier flies, she soars. A fantastic first book and here’s hoping that she’ll soar even farther now that she appreciates her own wings.