Energized by this week’s Kickstarter for an English-language version of creator-owned, crowdfunded quarterly Yuri manga magazine, Galette, (which has now surpassed it’s 3rd stretch goal with more than 3 weeks left to go!) I wanted to get back on my soapbox and start shouting again. ^_^ Issue No. 31 just came out, so I’m more than a year behind. Galette, No. 26 (ガレット) came out in May of 2023, right as I was struck with Long Covid. It’s been a lot of year between me and when this volume came out, but I’ll try to make time to catch up. ^_^

Morinaga Milk’s Watashi no Kawaii Neko-chan takes a turn for the serious – something is very wrong with Rena. Yun is at her wit’s end, as her lover suddenly is sleeping constantly. If this were not fiction, I’d recommend getting tested for mononucleosis. But there is no chance that this will be handled with any gravitas in this story. ^_^

This issue has a full slate of school life stories, including more than one about a girl who is not confident about herself, her ability to communicate, or of, course, her looks, and is quickly seduced by a charming, confident classmate. This also includes at least one adult story…actually, two, one by Inui Ayu that I hope will resolves with coworker gaining her wings, even if the relationship doesn’t work out.

A love triangle makes a refreshing change, and so does Tamamushi Okau’s story about a woman who wakes up and finds a naked girl in her bed. It’s uncomfortable humor, but the characters carry it off.

Hakamada Mera’s “Aikata System” continues, as the kouhai contemplate the graduation of their admirable, yet toxic sempai.

This issue features the 140-character stories solicited from fans a short story and an interview with Yuri manga artist Oku Tamamushi to round it out.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

Popular Yuri manga artists making manga for themselves! What’s not to like?

Issue. No. 27 came out in January 2024,  so that’s next up for me!

Galette No. 24 came and went and I kept falling further and further behind! Mea culpa, I’ve had some stuff on my plate. ^_^

This volume was released during one of the Comitia events, and a collaboration with Yuri Cafe Anchor, which was pretty cool. I’m sorry for myself that I haven’t been able to return to Japan yet for any of the cafe collabs. They’ve been pretty proactive about getting signings and events together.  This volume include art for the Galette lottery they held last year. Very cute little SD character cards of ongoing series.

This volume has several things I really want to address. One…I am very done and over stories about children being abused, manipulated or bullied. I know that this is a very real reality especially for queer kids. But I am reading Yuri manga for entertainment, and I just cannot. So, I’m calling time out on any story in which bullying is a plot point. Your mileage may vary of course, but I’m noping out for at least a while.

Secondly…I will not name the manga in this issue that I’m about to refer to, because – it has hit a wall. I know there is no editorial staff per se on this magazine, and let me tell you, when a famous artist just keeps writing a different version of the same chapter over and over…it feels like it. I know why no one would say anything, but wow, these characters need to have some other thing to worry about. It’s been like 5 years of them having the same one conversation, then worrying about not being able to have the same one conversation again. 

Lastly, I do want to extoll Hakamada Mera’s “Aikata System,” for having the guts to take on the most problematic character and have her…maybe begin to realize that she is the problem. Abiko-sempai has been a pile of conflicts waiting to happen, Ibuki-sempai has been entirely too passive. Nao and Kairo are bouncing between the two older girls in a way that has not been goof for them…and they’ve had enough. I still hope to see the four of them destroy the Aikata system at the school.

Ratings:

Overall – 7

Volume 25 is sitting on my desktop in digital format ready to be read….I’m hoping that the roadblocked story finally opens up, but don’t have faith…and am looking forward to where “Aikata System” and other stories lead!

Let’s start with the important stuff. I purchased Galette No.23 (ガレット) through the Galette Booth account, so I could get it with a bonus clearfile. Because I’m like that. If you are also like that, (and I assume you are ^_^) check out that link option on the Yuricon Store.

So this issue of Galette came with a pretty mini clearfile with art by Morinaga Milk featuring Yuna and Rena from her series, “Watashi no Kawaii Neko-chan,” which is now out in English from Seven Seas as My Cute Little Kitten, Volume 1. ^_^ This is a very pretty series, and I like both the characters, but the narrative has very much banged into a wall repeatedly, until this chapter.  There wasn’t a lot of conflict, so most of what drove this story was misunderstanding, caused by refusal to just have a conversation. If know me, you’ve heard me refer to that as Jondalar Syndrome (after a character from The Clan of the Cave Bear series.) It’s not my favorite plot complication, to be honest. But, finally they have at least one part of the conversation, phew!

In “Liberty,” Liz is going to implode, I think. She’s got a head full of anxieties and won’t rely on Maki or anyone else. Also a frustrating plot complication, but unlike Rena and Yuna, Liz is absolutely that kind of person, and all we can ever do is just wait for Liz to snap and Maki to glue her back together. Momono Moto’s art is especially good this issue.

I have come to realize that I have been reading Yorita Miyuki’s “Houkenshitsu no Ano Onna” waiting for it to wrap up. It just seemed like it was a one-shot, then a two-shot, then three and so on. I have stopped reading it like that and am hoping this story about two teachers in love keeps going for a while. Duh, me.

Hakamada Mera’s “Aikata System” continues, this time doing a bit of a core sample on Izumi. Honestly, I keep wanting to run into the scenes with Kairo and scream, “Do it! Break this system!” I hope she brings the system to the ground like a statue of a confederate general. ^_^

As with every issue, there were other stories I read and enjoyed, these are some highlights. I always look forward to Galette.  I’d love to see some new growth in the number and kind of stories we’re getting. It’s a bit schoolgirl heavy for me right now, but I have hope that the new year will bring change. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – 8

Volume 24 is available in print and digitally, as well as to all backers on their crowdfunding sites, Fantia and Pixiv Fanbox.

Galette No. 22 (ガレット No.22) begins with another strong cover illustration by pen. This is followed by a comic report by Morita Miyuki of the Galette 5th anniversary event!

Like other recent issues, this is split into two section – short continuing and one-shot stories and the continuation of Hakamada Mera’s Aikata System, presumably because Dgenzaka Shobor has pivoted away from Yuri towards only BL. A loss, I think, because they had some quirky titles. I did review Volume 1 and Volume 2 of Aikata System ~ Gakuen ga Eranda Unmei no Onna no ko~, but not the story has move past the chapters I previously read.  Let me spend a second on this second half of the book for a second, because while the premise of this story seems very much an easy Yuri premise – that is, when a student gets accepted into this school, they are assigned an “aikata” a partner, perhaps lover. But by now in the story, we can see that the system is quite broken and can easily be toxic. Two first years are watching their aikata hurt and be hurt by their former partners. Kairo is ready to see the system burnt to the ground. The reason I am taking time to mention this  is because I would love to a see a story that destroyed the hoary old, unhealthy tradition that binds the characters.

Morinaga Milk’s “Watashi no Kawaii Neko-chan” has fall into a rut. I don’t really understand why the two characters can’t just have a conversation, but both of them feel that the other doesn’t love them any more, for various reasons. Once again, I am reminded that Morinaga-sensei’s strength in narrative is just before a couple gets together. I don’t know where this can go and, at the moment, it feels like it’s going nowhere.

Of the remaining shorts and chapters, I really liked the very first one-shot “Natsukashii Mirai no Kimi e” by Asube Yui. It’s a great little fiction about memory and love and loss. Really solid. A sad, but lovely story.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

Issue No. 23 is out with the return of “Liberty,” another story I’m not sure where it’s going, but I;m here for the ride. If you buy it from Booth or Melonbooks, it comes with a clearfile by Moringaa Milk!