Archive for the Magazines Category


Rakuen Le Paradis, Volume 28 (楽園 Le Paradis)

December 7th, 2018

Rakuen Le Paradis, Volume 28 (楽園 Le Paradis) does not have a lot of Yuri. In fact, this issue has one chapter of one story that can be in any way considered “Yuri.” But this one chapter is worth taking a look at.

Over the years, Rakuen Le Paradis magazine has shown itself open to including Yuri as part of it’s eclectic jousei lineup. Several artists have drawn Yuri stories for the magazine, including some of my favorite Yuri artists, Hayashiya Shizuru and Nishi UKO. Additionally, artists who don’t usually create Yuri have had a Yuri story or two. In recent issues, Nakamura Asumiko, who is best known for BL (and whose Maiden Railways which is a bag of treasures will be released in English in 2019 by Denpa Books,) has turned her pen to a Yuri story, “Mejirobana no Saku.”

Another artist who does not traditionally create Yuri, Unita Yumi (probably west known her in the west for Bunny Drop,) is trying her hand at it. “Moco” is a “girl likes girl at school” story. But what Unita-sensei brings to the page is always a deft touch with the small things – body language, interpersonal relationships – that make their characters pop. “Moco” is the only Yuri in Volume 28, but it was very interesting for several reasons. 

Back in the meh-old-days of Yuri, these kinds of “jousei artist-does a Yuri short” weren’t at all uncommon. My historical collection is full of books exactly like this. A great many of them fall into the “Death or Marriage” trope, in which a character leaves an otherwise happy lesbian relationship to be married for reasons of family obligation – or to “free” her lover to marry – or one character dies, leaving the other “free.” Such a delight to read, as you can imagine. ^_^; Rakuen Le Paradis artists are not immune to this, At least two collections I had mostly forgotten by contributors to this magazine fall into this always dire trope. 

Nakamura-sensei is taking the melodramatic private girls’ school trope as her approach, but Unita-sensei is going for what appears to be a straight up, public school story. 

Kumiko, an average girl, is half-obsessed with Yuki, an unconventional  girl in her school. Kumiko is friends with Nataa-kun, who is Yuki’s friend. 

In this month’s chapter, Kumiko admits to Nakata that she like Yuki; as she does, Yuki walks into the room. Mortified, Kumi runs out, and then spends the next few days avoiding Yuki. Finally Yuki catches up with her and makes Kumi talk with her.

This scene was…lovely. Out on a playground, Kumi pours out her heart, while Yuki, always on the move, is swinging around a pull up bar, finally standing on top of it. When she jumps down, Yuki leaps forward to embrace Kumiko, and accepts her confession. 

Yuki admits she has no idea how she feels, but figures they’ll go out a bit and see what happens. When Nakata catches up to them, he asks if they are going out, and when told yes, says, “Thank heavens,” then looks adorably embarrassed about his relief.

I don’t know where this might go, but this may well be the very first of it’s kind, mainstream jousei-artist-takes-on-Yuri and doesn’t punt. That is worth noting. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 9 Unita’s style is very specific; simple, but not simplistic. I really like it.
Story – 7 Typicalish, but not on the bad-trope side
Characters – 8 Yuki is charming. One can easily imagine that a number of girls and guys have crushes on her. Kumiko is sweet, and thank heavens for Tanaka-kun.
Service – 0
Yuri – 6 Goodbye “Death or Marriage,” we won’t miss you.

Overall – 8

We have a bunch more amazing stuff to review before end of year list time, but I think I am ready and willing to face all the Yuri 2019 is going to throw at us! ^_^





Dengeki Daioh, November, 2018 (月刊コミック 電撃大王 2018年11月号)

November 7th, 2018

It’s not often I review a single volume of a serialized magazine here (although it’s not entirely unheard of), but this review is completely justified, I assure you. ^_^

I’ve subscribed to Dengeki Daioh on and off over the years, since it has been pretty Yuri-friendly and has run some Yuri series. Although Yagate Kimi ni Naru runs in the magazine right now, I’ve got enough on my plate that I haven’t resubscribed again. Nonetheless, as you can see the November issue features Yuu and Touko and it included a clear file for the series as a magazine bonus, so I picked it up.

But wait, there’s more! You’ll notice that little red square on the left of the cover – that is the cover image for Éclair rouge Anata no Hibiku Yuri Anthology. This issue of Dengeki Daioh includes 3 sample comics from that wholly Yuri volume.

And, buried in the remainder of the series, is a lovely little chapter of of Ichigo Mashimaro (which is still chugging along at a few pages every couple of months) in which Miu longs to see Chika and imagines them as the Cow-herder Hikoboshi and Orihime, the Weaver Girl, the lovers of the Tanabata legend.  ^_^

Given this veritable cornucopia of Yuri,  it seemed like you really ought to know about this issue, which is still for sale in Japanese manga stores and online!

Ratings:

This is the Yuriest issue of this magazine I have ever seen.

If nothing else appeals, you’ll get a cool Bloom Into You clearfile. ^_^ 





Yuri Manga: Galette, No. 7 (ガレット)

October 31st, 2018

Galette, No. 7 (ガレット) actually came out back in August but I’ve been, um, busy, so here it is just a few weeks before No. 8 hits shelves in Japan. ^_^; 

There were a couple of very notable entries this issue. First among them was Takemiya Jin’s horror Yuri manga, “Sekai no Owari ni Anata to Futari” in which this case, the end of the world was literal. (O_O)

I had to laugh at Morishima Akiko’s “Motto Hanjuku Joshi” chapter, in which we meet the “female version of a male version of Yae” and it makes perfect sense.

With continuing stories from Morinaga Milk, Kita Izumi and Momono Moto, Amano Shuninta, Yorita Miyuki, Hakamada Mera, Hamano Ringo and Uno Junior, this doujinshi-magazine scratches a whole lot of different itches.

The Petit Galette was full four-color, which felt like a nice bonus. (And the soy smell was not nearly as pronounced this issue as it as last time.)

Of everything in this entire magazine, the one thing that stood above all, was a lovely, color photo of two adult women in yukata at a summer festival. It was just so sweet is left me smiling for days.

Ratings: 

Overall – 9

You can buy Galette in print from Amazon JP, on US Kindle (which I did this time, when I knew I wanted to read this issue before I was going to be able to get the print volume. I really like magazines in digital format – it’s great for reading anywhere or anytime.) Galette is also available on BOOK☆WALKER digitally. 





Yuri Manga: Comic Yuri Hime November 2018（コミック百合姫2018年11月号)

October 2nd, 2018

One of the things I have enjoyed mostabout the recent cover story is the normality of it all. These two girls are clearly typical(ish) schoolgirl-types – throughout this past year, we have seen them enjoying each other’s company doing extremely average seasonal activities together. Here we can see them in school, but we’ve seen them hanging out on a summer day, in a pool, walking, etc. These covers haven’t been amazing, but they are, I think, quite nice. ^_^

Welcome to Comic Yuri Hime for November 2018（コミック百合姫2018年11月号).

Far from “nice,” this issue starts off with a flamboyant bang with a new series “Scarlet” about a vampire vampire hunter and her werewolf sidekick. The series is action-filled and just the right amount of bloody, but Feine and Iris are on the side of good when it comes to the common folk, which makes them okay by me.

FINALLY, in “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto Desu!” Sumika has worn away the very last of Kanako’s defenses and, while the girl is still not letting go of her obsession with Hime, she can at least put  a name to it, at last. I really like Sumika (and totally would have voted for her in the contest, too.) Here’s hoping she manages to convince Kanako to turn her affection elsewhere. You know…this is the first time I’ve seen a “souer” couple where the point of the couple is actually the point of having a “souer” at all – taking udolescent passion and moderating it through platonic affection and admiration. Rock on, miman-sensei for actually doing that.

OMG, Ohi Pikachi ‘s “Hayama-sensei and Terano-sensei are Dating” is just too freaking cute. So, so cute.

Ohsawa Yayoi’s “2DK, GPen, Mezamashitokei” comes to an expected climax and still does something unexpected. I won’t tell you yet, I’ll save it for the review of the collected volume, but if you read it, see if you can figure out what it is. ^_^

Did you know that in Salem, Massachusetts, Halloween is referred to as “The Holiday.” Well, in Neji’s “Welcome to Prisontown” the residents of the underworld clearly feel the same way, and the whole town is gearing up for a festival. Akari and Meari have a beautiful, romantic night, but it all come crashing down when the town headmonster tells Akari that she’ll be returning to our world, tomorrow.

In “Goodbye Dystopia” Mizuki and Asami come perilously close to talking to one another about something important.

Takemiya Jin’s “Itoshi Koishi” continues with Yayoi surprising Hina at her school festival and having way too much fun.

“ROID” by Shiroshi continues to be a favorite of mine. Having established the characters, a plot complication has arisen and, as of yet, we really have no idea what it is that these shadowy people want with Anna and her creators. Stay tuned to read what I hope will be a sci-fi story about AI that moves beyond “what does it mean to be human” into “Anna and her friends get involved with some shit.” You know…a plot.

In “Yurikon,” we circle back to look at two previous married couples and see how they are doing. 

And, as always there are other stories that I have not mentioned. I’m reading about half the current series, skimming through a few more and ignoring about a third for one reason or another. That’s a pretty good percentage for any manga magazine.

Ratings:

Overall – The good is a 9, some of the bad is getting kinda gross. We’ll call the issue an 8, but with an eye to some of the good stories ending and whether we’ll get something suitable to replace them.

December issue will be hitting shelves in Japan mid-month.





Yuri Manga: Comic Yuri Hime October 2018 (コミック百合姫2018年10月号)

September 6th, 2018

Comic Yuri Hime October 2018 (コミック百合姫2018年10月号) starts with a cover embued with picturesque peace and calm, as the recent series of covers have been detailing the daily experiences of a pleasant Yuri couple. This month (which is labeled October, but shipped in August) shows them at the beach. This is followed in the front pages by a bloody horror comic. I don’t mind the blood, I do mind the mental instability tied with Yuri. That’s pretty last century. 

In “2 DK, G Pen, Mezamashitokei” Kaede and Nanami are both lost at sea, suffering from what I call “Jondalar Syndrome.” All they need to do is talk, but. Koyuki’s sick to death of them, and I kind of sympathize with her.

Anna is walking around, pondering the meaning of life as an  android in “ROID” whenshe’s discovered by…someone….who seems to know who and what she is.

Takemiya Jin is back! With “Itoshi Koishi,” a young woman comes to understand love.

In “Goodbye Dystopia” Miyuki is starting to think about someone other than herself for, as far as we know, the first time.

New story “Ririshitoshite Karenna Hana no You ni” began and I have so much hope for it, it looks totally up my alley, but for the first time I can ever recall, the art put me completely off. It’s really not good.

Sumika is still determined to sake Kanako from herself in “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto Desu!”

My new favorite  story “Hayama-sensei to Terano-sensei ha Tsukiatteiru” is delightful, as Hayama-sensei is interrogated by her students in a way that sounds exactly right for young women. ^_^ The actual plot conflict is stupid, but the teachers are adorable together.

And Citrus ends. With a wedding. But I’ve talked about that on last week’s YNN podcast. I’ve got nothing more to say, except Mei still doesn’t look happy. 

A strong volume and I am looking so much forward to “Scarlet” which starts next month. No surprise. Girls in uniforms w/swords! Yay!

Ratings: 

Overall – 8

The November issue hits shelves mid-month and there’s a bunch of stuff I’m looking forward to!