Archive for the Galette Category


Yuri Manga: Cotton Candy

April 11th, 2019

Hamano Ringo’s Cotton Candy was the first of the Galette collected volumes to be printed. I feel a little bad that it’s taken me this long to get around to it because, like it’s name, it’s very sweet.

There’s nothing objectionable at all, about the collection but for me the stand out story is the first, the titular “Cotton Candy.” This three-part story follows two girls who share a commute to school. They don’t really talk much, but after one has a run-in with a male schoolmate, and is rescued by the other, they become friendly. Mii often goes to a local coffee shop to talk over her experiences and feelings with the owner, Bun-chan.The older woman is a good confidant and helps Mii figure out how she feels about Hinako, as those feeling amble past friendship into attraction. More importantly, Bun-chan tell Mii that she, too was in the same position, because she likes women. This opens Mii-chan’s eyes and she is able, after some initial hesitation, to make her feelings known. When it turns out that they are returned, Mii brings her new girlfriend to the coffee shop to meet Bun-chan.

For what I think are obvious reasons, I really like this story. ^_^ Adult role models show young people that they are not outliers, not weird, not alone. There is nothing I want to see more of in Yuri than this…not even a sports series. ^_^

Hamano-sensei’s art is old-school cute without being moe. Lots of cute kids and bright smiles, school settings and sweets. It’s all kind of innocent and…nice.

Ratings:

Art – 8 It’s definitely old-school and I like it
Story – 7 School life
Characters – 8 Likable and cute
Service – Not really. 1 but on principle only – the most service-y thing in the book is a filler image of two girls in their pjs.
Yuri – 7 First love, crushes, exactly what you’d expect

Overall – 8

Again, like the confection it’s named after, it’s not filling, but the memory of sweetness lingers.





Yuri Manga: Galette, No. 9 (ガレット)

March 27th, 2019

Galette, No. 9 (ガレット) is just such a genuinely lovely book, that it took me a long time to read it because I kept paging through it admiring the actual thing itself. Every issue the cover illustration by pen just enchants me.

There a quite a few color pages; inside cover, photos and illustrations, including two absolutely charming pieces, of a lovely white lily themed piano duet 2-page spread by  Murasaki Noa (I’m probably wrong on the family name and welcome correction on  that) and Kabocha’s joyful fireworks illustration. These made a terrific mid-issue break.

This issue includes Petit Galette and a comic from the Galette Meets series, in addition ongoing stories from Morishima Akiko, Morita Miyuki, Yatosaki,  Haru Amano Shuninta and others, as well as one-shots by a number of other regular contributors.

It’s a strong line-up, with a nice variety of art, although the story lines have seemed to settle back into school life more often than not. Nonetheless in my opinion, Galette is always well-worth the money I’ve spent supporting and purchasing it. This one I was pleased as punch to be able to buy at Comitia this winter, which just made it that much better. ^_^ I believe in Galette so much, in fact, that I’ve upgraded my support on the Fantia crowdfunding page for the magazine. I quite like the Gold course, as it provides me with PDF versions of the magazine and Meets. (Sorry, Erin, we won’t be next to each other in the credits anymore. :-( )

Ratings

Overall-9

As always, Galette is available digitally on JP Kindle and US Kindle. Volume 8 is available at the end of this month on Bookwalker.

 





Yuri Manga: Galette Meets, Issue 3 (ガレットmeets3)

March 15th, 2019

The third Galette Meets, the doujinshi put out by the folks at Galette Works, is a pretty healthy body of Yuri work.

With 8 stories for 120 pages, some by artists we know and love and others by new folks whose names we don’t yet know, it’s a great way to dip your toes into a wider range of stories featuring the emotional range of women. There’s sweet here and ugly and mean, and kind and romantic all dealt with by varying artists in different ways.

Ogawa Masumi’s story about a toxic relationship was the standout story for me, as it takes a dark path through bullying, and using sex as a weapon, and the extremes of love and lust in a chaotic few pages.

Galette Meets 3 is available in Print and on Kindle from Amazon JP and on US Kindle (in Japanese). It’s not (yet, maybe?) available on Global Bookwalker. 

Ratings: 

Overall – 8

Galette Meets 3.5 will be available in print at the end of this month – which is an interesting little thing, because in the end of Galette Meets 3, it says that the next one will be, naturally 4, and yet, here is 3.5. with 90 pages of content. I’ll be interested to see what “a little sexy and more sweet” stories we’ll get this time. 





Yuri Manga: Philia to Eros no Aida, Volume 1 (ピリアーとエロスのあいだ)

March 8th, 2019

Welcome to the end of “vaguely dissatisfying week” here on Okazu. ^_^ Today we’re wrapping up the week by taking a look at a manga by an artist I like, for a magazine I like,with a series I just have not been able to like.

Philia to Eros no Aida, Volume 1 (ピリアーとエロスのあいだ) by Yorita Miyuki, runs in Galette (ガレット) magazine. This volume is one of the second round of Galette Works collected releases, following Kurumi and Nikaido, a couple that I wish I could be rooting for.

When we meet them, Kurumi still has an interest in a guy, Mishima, but Nikaido is there for her. And Nikaido’s emotional support helps Kurumi  good about herself, which becomes affection towards Nikaido, even though she’s still kind of interested in the guy. Nikaido doesn’t seem to mind, even if her other friends do. Her gentle, persistent “being there” for Kurumi is their bond and Kurumi convinces herself, at least a bit, that she likes Nikaido back.

I don’t see this relationship ending well. If it does, it’ll just be annoying. I’m with Hibiki, Nikaido’s friend who is incensed over this relationship, going so far as to punch Kurumi for having the nerve to pretend to care for Nikaido while pining over Mishima.

Ratings:

Art – nice
Story – argh
Characters – ergh
Yuri – ugh
Service – nah

Overall – 6, but I really wish it was higher.

I’ve enjoyed Yorita’s doujinshi over the years, but like Hibiki, this relationship makes my teeth grind.





Yuri Manga: Galette Meets, Issue 2 (ガレットMeets)

March 1st, 2019

One of the ways artists in Japan build up their professional chops is through doujinshi. Because these self-published or small press books must be completed to deadline and have print runs and sales that can be measured, the comic markets at which they are sold make a very useful proving ground for amateur creators – and a healthy space for self-expression for professionals whose creations must conform to editorial guidance, house style and magazine popularity.

It makes a lot of sense, then that Galette magazine encourages submission of Yuri doujinshi artists for both the quarterly magazine and it’s own doujinshi publication Galette Meets. Galette Meets, Issue 2 (ガレットMeets) is, like Issue 1, all one-shot stories that the editors think are “Just a tad sexy and a little more sweet.”

In my opinion, Issue 2 is much stronger on both art and story than Issue 1. My personal favorite is by Miura Kozumi, a story about a work romance in which the cool, cosmpolitan and apparently worldly sempai who likes women has….no experience with women and is a complete uke in bed, in “Takamine-sempai and Nonchan.” Workplace romance is a popular theme, and so is casual acquaintance, which feels comfortable for this short.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

I like the idea of a Galette having a small proving ground, so to speak, providing other artists a venue for a publication credit.

Galette Meets, Issue 2 is no longer available in print outside Japan, but you can still get it digitally on JP Kindle, US Kindle (in Japanese) and Bookwalker (also in Japanese.)