Archive for the Magazines Category


Yuri Manga: Pure Yuri Anthology Hirari, (ピュア百合アンソロジー ひらり) Volume 6

February 24th, 2012

Yes, yes, I know. I promised I was done with Pure Yuri Anthology Hirari (ピュア百合アンソロジー ひらり)…if there wasn’t any Yuri, because for a “Yuri” anthology there’s been very little sign of it.

So, of course, I’m reading Volume 6 (I said I wouldn’t review it, not that I wouldn’t read it…) and it laughs quietly to itself as there’s actual Yuri to be seen. I guess I should threaten anthologies more often – it worked with Tsubomi, too. ^_^

As always I am skipping any story I didn’t like, don’t feel was notable or just have some resentment towards and want to see suffer. (That is a joke. Don’t get all “See, see? She’s a bundle of barely contained anger at the world!” on us.)

So the second story, “Hiragana-sen, Aiu Eki Yori” is a ridiculous meeting on the train between a cute girl and a “tough” girl that turns out to actually quite like the cute girl and everything that first appeared one way is something much more sensible. Even the title makes sense, eventually.

In “Shiroi koto ga Toi Dress” a girl comes out to her mother and she and her lover discuss their future plans.

“Anata no Tamenara” tells a very overblown story about a girl and her bodyguard. It was actually kind of funny, in a strange way.

Scarlet Beriko’s “Corolla 2” looks fantastic. I mean, visially it appeals to me in every way. Unfortunately, the story, which seems to wrap up with this chapter was kind of more of the same. But, hey, the girl got the girl.

In “Hajimari no Kotoba” Girl A confesses to Girl B, and is rejected but…it was sort of by accident. Paper snowflakes help them mend the rift poetically.

Despite myself, I really like “Under One Roof” the story of a college student and the lesbian whose house she rents a room in. I honestly wish we got a few more pages a month, but it’s not that there’s a story, just moments where Miho is starting to think about Fuuka in a new light.

“Sneaker no Kase-san” follows the title character as she takes her friend shopping for sneakers and a few fraught moments as they become very aware of one another and of the fact that they are on the same page.

The winner of the volume – and I’m just as surprised as you, believe me, is “Tsuki no Shita no Miyabi-chan” by Auri Hirao. The same Auri Hirao that writes Manga no Tsurikata. When Miyabi-chan confesses that she comes from the Moon, it’s not surprising that Neko isn’t convinced. Until, that is, the moon maidens come in through her window, demanding their Princess back. This story was funny, a little touching and just so out there it was hard to not like.

In Hakamada Mera’s “Saromelic,” Salome is painfully aware that she likes Hikari, but may not have the chance to do anything about it.

There were other stories, of course. Please feel free to discover them for yourself. I have no doubt that you will like them more than I did. ^_^ Still, I think this magazine is actually improving. It could still be a fluke. Volume 7 will be out next month and we shall see.

Ratings:

Overall – 7

I will be at MangaNEXT in Secaucus, NJ this weekend. Yuri Panel is 7:00 PM on Saturday night – there will be goodies to give away. “State of the Industry” Panel is at 11AM Sunday and otherwise I will be at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund table. Stop by and say hi!





Yuri Manga: Comic Yuri Hime, January 2012

February 6th, 2012

Having concluded Fukami Makoto’s story about girls and guns in the November issue, the January issue begins inauspiciously with looking in a window at girls getting dressed. This will be the new novel carried in Comic Yuri Hime (コミック百合姫) and in a mere blink of an eye, I was already uninterested in it. The author will be Namori, creator of Yuri Yuri, so that seals that deal. It’s pretty much not for me.

The magazine begins with loads of colors pages, this time, asking us to determine which of the 4 Yuri Danshi type we are and suggesting manga based on that. As I am a Yuri Joshi, this pretty much missed the mark entirely for me, but between that, the cover novel and the many pages about Yuru Yuri, it clearly communicated that I am, once again, not their audience. It was with some genuine relief, then, that I found a number of excellent stories within.

Kazuma Kowo’s “Recalculation” is that moment when you realize that what you thought that the other person thought is not true, and they do like you after all. ^_^

I still have no idea where “Rock It Girl” is going, but this chapter was pretty silly, as all the musicians get together and find they haven’t a single artist/song/style in common.

I’m finally getting the feel of “Kimono Nadesico,” and still pretty much think it’s a Noriko x Shimako fanfic in disguise. ^_^

I haven’t had a moment to read either of the short stories. So far none of them have been to my taste, so I haven’t really made the time, to be honest.

“Cirque Arachne” by Saida Nica has begun and I’m already feeling it’s a cross between one of those women-only 70s scifi books, Kaleido Star and something French and/or Dada. Then again, circuses always make me feel that way.

“Fu~Fu” strays back into real territory, for a moment. Kina, terrified at the confession by some strange woman that she’s in love with her, runs back to Su-chan’s arms, only to find that her normally together lover pretty much falls apart at the idea of losing Kina. “For an entire year, I’ve been worried,” Su-chan admits. Any of us who look at our lovers/wives and think they are obviously wonderful and desirable may have felt this, so it was kind of charming to see it verbalized.

Amano Syuninta’s series about college women, (with a name I have yet to transliterate, because I am lazy and think of it as “Amano Syuninta’s series about college women”) is not comfortable.  If find that I cannot empathize with anyone, and keep hoping one of the characters will say something that makes me like her. In any case, Remia is starting to find Fueko’s relationship makes her jealous, and Sachi’s boyfriend is really starting to piss her off.

Morishima Akiko wins the world. I give her the Stargazer Lily Award, for telling the realest tale ever about lesbian relationships. Two women, who have been together for ten years, provide comfort and a positive example to a young woman, but more importantly, are the snuggliest couple I have ever seen in manga, which makes them closest to my life and therefore totally true and real. ^_^

The story of Kuro-sempai and Mayu and their online/real life different relationships continues in Takemiya Jin’s “Ki ni Nachatte Gomen Nasai.” Mayu comes to a conclusion that she’s sure will ruin a friendship, but Kuro seems to be more together than that.

Hime Cafe this time is narrated by editor Nakamura-san and Minamoto Hisanori-sensei (Fu~Fu).

A section on “Yuri anime” is really a section on moe anime with some Yuri in it.

“Love Gene Double XX” uses one of the oldest gambits in the world, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, in order to make both Sakura and Aoi even more aware of their feelings for one another. (Oh, shock, oh horror. Two Adams in love.) Erika-sama is obviously going to try and ruin Aoi’s life now.

And I am done with “Yuri Danshi.” It’s, well, not terribly interesting. At least this chapter it actually had some Yuri in it that wasn’t in Hanadera’s imagination. Perhaps if the Yuri plot deepens and the deranged screaming of the Yuri Fanboys is toned down….

As always, there were other stories, but these felt worth mentioning for one reason or another and the rest didn’t. They may, of course, appeal to you, so please remember to support the artists you like by buying Comic Yuri Hime!


Ratings:

Overall – For Morishima-sensei’s story alone, this volume is a 9.





Yuri Manga Tsubomi, Volume 15 (つぼみ)

January 17th, 2012

Volume 15 of Tsubomi (つぼみ) begins with illustrations by Hayashiya Shizuru that, when I saw them the first time, motivated me to tell her on Twitter that they were “stimulating.” A female bodyguard and her charge are seen surrounded by a crowd (opening, awards event, something like it, there are floodlights and photographers and a crowd) on one color page and on the other, black-and-white page, sharing an intimate moment in bed. Really, truly great. Hayashiya-sensei said that she’d love to draw their story one day and I said that I’d love to read it. ^_^

“Hoshikawa Ginza Yon-choume” continues with Minato coming down with a cold…again. Now that I’ve read the whole second volume, I’m kind of cooling on this series, unless it actually goes somewhere that doesn’t make me dislike everyone more.

“Walk Wit Me” [sic] comes to a crisis, and probably a close, as Mallory and Wendy leave their moribund town and the dead souls that live there. In this chapter, it becomes more plain that this is a dust bowl America we’re in. I’d want out too. They end up heading down Rt. 66 to wherever.

Shou belatedly realizes what Chiharu means to her, in “Kurai mori, Shiroi michi.”

Hakamada Mera’s “Higashitotsuka of Eden” is finally starting to take shape, not so much as a Yuri story, but as an otaku story. “Kiku-chan” finds herself outed as a doujinshi author, when the manga research club participates in a comic event.

Hikaru and Megumi go to the ocean with friends in “Prism”. As they kiss, in a corner of the beach away from the rest of the crowd, they are seen by a passing group of people who are rude about it. Later, as they leave the convenience store, they encounter that same group, who proceed to intimidate them physically and verbally. Not surprisingly, this scene is rough. One feels one’s stomach go tense almost immediately, and when the girls are cornered, then harassed, you start to look around the room for help. Luckily for Megu and Hikaru, help arrives and they are freed from a quickly escalating ugly situation. But the feeling lingers for a while. This scene is uncomfortably realistic, which means that the creator has managed to convey the situation well, and make us care about the characters. Another sign of the evolution and maturity of Yuri, we’re getting yet another look at some of the less savory issues a lesbian couple might face. Tsubomi pushes the envelope once again. Kind of a surprise, really, that Tsubomi is the one willing to take that risk, before the older, more established, Comic Yuri Hime.

The rest of this volume was of less interest to me, but might be high interest of you, so do consider buying this magazine and showing your support for the Yuri creators that are working quite hard to bring you stories of interest.

Ratings:

Overall – 7





Yuri Manga: Tsubomi, Volume 14 (つぼみ)

January 10th, 2012

Tsubomi, Volume 14 (つぼみ) starts off with a very interesting story. “Walk Wit Me” [Sic] takes place in the Dust Bowl of America during the post-WWI area. This is not entirely apparent in this first chapter, but the abandoned oil rigs and clothing are a big hint in that direction. I’m not sure what Wendy’s mother’s issue is, but nonetheless Mallory and Wendy face issues of class, and of course acceptance.

In “Hana to Hoshi” Hanaii is made aware of Hoshino’s relationship with her sempai and this shock is compounded when a male classmate confesses he likes her.

Kiku-chan is drawn into the Manga Research Club in Hakamada Mera’s “Higashitotsuka of Eden.” This seems like it’s a good thing, but Kiku-chan certainly doesn’t appear all that happy with it. That may be more because she just doesn’t know what to do with her rich, attractive, neighborly next-door neightbor, Hiyoshi-san’s outgoing personality.

Another one of those series that I took a long time to getting around to noticing is “Prism” by showhigashiyama. Once I noticed it, I suddenly realized that I actually liked it. Hikaru and Megumi have a shockingly normal and realistic relationship. I look forward to seeing this in collection now, so I can retrace the story of two very real young ladies in love.

“Kuraimori, Shiroimichi” isn’t heading anywhere fast, but I want to believe that Shou will realize her feelings for the blind woman who has intruded into her life.

“Candy” continues with an entirely unrealistic, but very cute chapter, in which Kanan and Chiaki commit a minor piece of school vandalism in order to have an intimate moment together.

And that was it for stories I liked this month. Less than half but there’s probably something in there for you, so please, remember to support Yuri when you can with actual money. Downloading scans doesn’t pay the artists. Thanks. ^-^

Ratings:

Overall – 7

 





Yuri Manga: Rakuen Le Paradis (楽園 Le Paradis), Volume 7

December 21st, 2011

Hrm. So, if anyone asked me how to build a Josei magazine that men might also read, I’d say, get lots of top names to draw stories that are refreshingly different in that they are pretty much the same as everywhere else, except that the women are slightly more in control of their lives. Add in some Yuri, in the form of already-proven artists, and then mix in some stories about guys. I’m not saying that’s what Rakuen Le Paradis (楽園 Le Paradis) had in mind, but that’s what it’s doing.

Volume 7 hits the Yuri fandom hard right at the front of the magazine, with Nishi UKO’s “Collectors,” which begins with a backstory about Takako in high school. The bridge between these two chapters made me extremely happy, with frames of Shinobu and Takako playing with each other’s hair in a beautifully intimate scene as they talk. This is exactly the kind of thing I’m looking for – adult intimacy, without it being porn. This series is pretty much the series I keep talking about wanting to read – after the happily ever after. When this series comes out in a collected Volume, it’s instantly Number 1 for the year.

Then we get the backhand with something many manga readers have long wanted – another overtly Yuri story by Hayashiya Shizuru-sensei. In “Heart Cooker” popular actress Nasu Renge is invited to be on a cooking show. The hosts of the show are Barahara Ruriko, an older, very Dame Edna-ish character and Shiohara Satsuki, a young, attractive host. Right from the first moment Renge walks on stage, Ruriko notices a certain…tension…between Renge and Satsuki. And, as they introduce Renge, it turns out that Satsuki and she attended the same school. Satuski was a year younger, but had always admired Kawakami-sempai (Renge’s real name) as she practiced for track and field. At first Renge doesn’t remember Satsuki, but then she recalls a day when she passed the ball back to an energetic underclassman in the softball team, who she was instantly attracted to…. The entire time this is going on, the production staff is frantically looking to get the cooking part of the show moving along, but Renge and Satsuki start to fade off into their own little world, so Ruriko steps in to save the day and make the dish, and let’s the two women have their moment. As Ruriko finishes the dish, Renge asks Satsuki out for a drink and Ruriko smiles in satisfaction at the results of both cooking and matchmaking.

And last, but definitely not least, for Yuri readers, Takemiya Jin’s “Omoi no Kakera” continues, as Mayu struggles desperately to get her feelings for Mika in order and to deal with her best friend’s snarky, but accurate assessment of those feelings.

So, lets just turn around for a moment and survey the landscape. Three Yuri series, two about adults, all by women, two of which have actual lesbians.

Ratings:

Overall – 9

Le Paradis, indeed. I think I’ve died and gone to Yuri heaven.