Archive for the Yuri Manga Category


Yuritora Jump ~ Ultra Jump Yuri Digital Anthology~, Volume 3 (ユリトラジャンプ～ウルトラジャンプ百合アンソロジー～ Vol.3)

September 25th, 2020

Ultra Jump magazine has put out two different Yuri anthologies, featuring work by creators from their ranks. Both Volume 1 and Volume 2 happened to also include work by my favorite artist. Yuritora Jump ~ Ultra Jump Yuri Digital Anthology~, Volume 3 (ユリトラジャンプ～ウルトラジャンプ百合アンソロジー～ Vol.3)sadly, for me at least,  did not include her work.

More damningly, it featured one too many “clever” stories in which a character was being lead on for some unpleasant reason…revenge, or the other character was a compulsive liar, or or something. The details are all now fuzzy, although I real the issue recently, nothing was memorable enough for me to do more than say, “Oh, at least this one isn’t horrible.”

Anthologies are always hit or miss and every collection will always appeal to different people differently. For fans of Yuri artists, there are a few names which might be recognizable. Most probably American readers will be happy to see work from Dr. Pepperco, creator of Goodbye, My Rose Garden. If you follow the same anthologies I do, you’ll also recognize Miura Kozumi’s name, a creator whose work is often featured in Galette meets collections, and possibly Tsutsui‘s.

Because this is a digital only release, I picked it up on Global Bookwalker. It is also available on JP Kindle.

Ratings:

Overall – 6

As an anthology, it wasn’t terrible, but this is probably a volume I won’t go back to. Needs more Hayashiya-sensei.





Otona ni Nattemo, Volume 2 (おとなになっても)

September 23rd, 2020

In Volume 1 of Shimura Takako’s adult life drama, we met Ayano, a grade school teacher, and sever Akari, who meet and sleep together. It’s only later Akari finds out that Ayano is married to a man. Despite this, neither of them can stop thinking about the other.

It is on this precarious footing that Otona ni Nattemo, Volume 2 (おとなになっても) begins I spent the entire volume angry for Akari, as everyone in Ayano’s life seems to make a point of going to her restaurant in order to size her up. While Akari is trying to figure out what she wants from her own life, Ayano and her husband are unable to process their own problems in private, as family issues pop up and take their time and attention. At the beginning, Ayano’s husband announces suddenly that they’ll be divorcing, but by the end of this volume it’s harder to know what they will actually be doing.

The fact that I felt so vexed is probably a good sign, as it meant that I was engaging with the drama, something that Shimura’s work rarely does for me. I had to laugh, because my reaction to this volume is exactly the same as my reaction to the ending of Sweet Blue Flowers; that is to say, I want desperately to pluck the lesbian out of this story and find her a decent girlfriend! Yes, yes, maybe Ayano will become a decent girlfriend. I remain skeptical. ^_^

We get a long look at an episode from Ayano’s youth, in which she was a tall, boyish girl whose friend clearly wanted more than friendship from her.

As I wrote this review, I considered the art. It took me awhile to figure out what I wanted to say. Shimura-sensei has been at this a long time and I was thinking her art has changed a lot. Her fine art, the water color-style paintings that usually grace her covers and fill her art books are really quite excellent. Even rendered in black and white, her “watercolor” work has improved. I don’t think her drafting has gotten worse, but it hasn’t really made the same strides as her “fine” art. I’m too lazy to scan in the images I’m looking at here, but two chapter pages; one in ink and one painted, really make my point. (Fine, I’ll scan them in. Pardon my shitty, quickly done scans. The pages are the same size, but the first one has a white border, fyi.)

There’s nothing wrong with the first image. Nothing at all. It just lacks some quality that the second picture has, a depth of emotion, even in black and white. All of this is of course, in my opinion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Ratings:

Art – When it’s good, it is so very good, I just wish that were more often.
Story – ARGH
Characters – In a holding pattern
Service – Nope
Yuri – Yes

Overall – 7

So once again, I find myself in a holding pattern with a Shimura series, waiting to see what is in store for our characters, and hoping, despite myself, that she will write them a good story and not just handwave the end, as she has in the past.





A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Volume 3

September 21st, 2020

In a recent conversation about Makoto Hagino’s A Tropical Fish Years for Snow, the participants referred to the primary relationship as “implied.” I suggested that it be  “considering.” ^_^

In A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Volume 3, we learn some key facts, despite the glacier-slow pace. Koyuki is, has always been, help up as a gold standard of behavior, which has alienated the other kids around her. When combined with her tendency to overthink and hesitate to the point of inaction, Koyuki’s paralysis begins to make perfect sense to both us, and to Konatsu. The result is that Konatsu, already hesitant, curbs her own energetic approach to friendship…which is the opposite of what Koyuki needs.

Because of the ultra-slow pace of the main relationship, we’re free to marvel at the small touches, the idea of a school having an “aquarium” club, and the idea of a show for the school festival in which fish swim through hoops. I mean, how cool and ultra-local is that? Hagino’s art is personal, focusing on people over place.

Don’t expect to hit the accelerator anytime soon on this series. I have Volume 6 here in Japanese on the to-read pile, and based on the cover, am hoping the story progresses. ^_^

But if you’re content with the pace and quiet drama of this gently emotional series,  A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow can be a respite from a harsh world.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Service – 1 on principle only, there really isn’t any
Yuri – 4

Overall – 7





Comic Yuri Hime, October 2020 (コミック百合姫2020年10月号)

September 16th, 2020

Comic Yuri Hime, October 2020 (コミック百合姫2020年10月号) was such a fast read, that I had put it on the to-review pile and then questioned myself. Had I actually read it already? Really? But in fact, yes, really, I had read it twice through! That’s not uncommon, but upon the third go-round, I had to admit that this was a pretty good issue. ^_^

I’m still loving the cover art by Rolua.

New story “Odoriba ni Skirt ga Naru,” (translated as “The skirt rings at the landing,” which is definitely the machine translation. I found myself spending too much time unsuccessfully trying to come up with a version that sounds more elegant,) was a lovely little intro chapter. I hope I really enjoy this feels-like-a-classic-Yuri-manga about ballroom dancing from Utatane Yu.

“Watashi no Oshi ha Akujyaku Reijou,” was pretty fun, but I’m going to withhold discussing it, until I review the Light Novel…this chapter brought up a few points I want to cover.

I actually laughed out loud at  Taguchi Hiichi‘s “Futari Escape” as a dreamscape and dinner merge to become Sushitaro, the talking sushi.

In “Hayama-sensei to Terano-sensei ha Tsukiatteriru”, Ohi Pikachi takes the opportunity of a class trip to explore seasickness…and tell the story of an older woman who is on her way, after a lifetime of separation, to be reunited with the woman she loves. Two thumbs up for that from me!

Ohsawa Yayoi’s “Hello Melancholic!” takes a major turn, as Minato finally turns to someone else for advice and finds that getting help is a good thing. She admits she’s never had anyone she can talk to, and Ema seems to just the right person to start with.

And “Umineko Bessou Days” ends. No real drama, our protagonist, Mayumi, learns to speak her mind and she gets to live happily every after! I bet that the next story Kodama Naoko does will be chock full of horrible people. ^_^;

Ratings:

Overall – 8

As always, I read most of the stories, except a very few. There is one jarringly explicit horribly conceived porn story that I’d gladly use as kindling, and some other stuff that I won’t miss if it disappears, including the ever-befuddling endless page count of Yuri Yuri and its identical spin-offs. But overall, a very decent volume, with some interesting features.

The November 2020 issue hits stores in Japan this week!





Otome Game no Hametsu Flag Shikanai Akuyaku Tenseishite Shimatta…GIRLS PATCH (乙女ゲームの破滅フラグしかない悪役令嬢に転生してしまった… GIRLS PATCH)

September 10th, 2020

Imagine my glee when I discovered that Yuri Hime Comics was releasing a Yuri manga anthology for My Next Life As a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!. I mean, I was pretty darn gleeful! ^_^

Among the many things I enjoyed about the anime and the Light Novels that I have so far read for Hamehura, the top two qualities that make it an island of tranquility in the midst of 2020 is the gentle, wholesomeness of the thing. “Villainess” Katarina Claes lacks all the qualities of a good villainess – instead she is loyal and good-hearted, a bit of a doofus and, while not cunning, per se, she has flashes of disarming insight into people’s inner nature. The format of the Light Novels, particularly, mean that with any given scenario, we experience it twice, once from Katarina’s perspective and once from the perspective of a person who will be charmed by her.

Otome Game no Hametsu Flag Shikanai Akuyaku Tenseishite Shimatta…GIRLS PATCH (乙女ゲームの破滅フラグしかない悪役令嬢に転生してしまった… GIRLS PATCH) follows this formula in several cases and in others simply revels in the Yuriishness of the “friends” ending of the initial arc. There’s nothing more explicit than a kiss and a bit of drunken “breast pillow”ing, I guess one would have to call it. Instead, the rivalry between Mary, Maria, Sophia and Anne, although she’s less a suitor, for Katarina’s love and attention is featured in nearly every story, with at least one story each focused one of them individually.

I’m honestly glad to report there is nothing sexual in this anthology, which would have set my teeth on edge, nor are there stories where one of the three rivals gains exclusive access for more than a scene. Both of these would have shattered the idyll created by the friendship end. Instead there are yummy sweets and tea and farming and tree climbing, just as there was in the initial anime season. What the scenarios lack in originality, they make up for in verisimilitude.

I recognized only one of the artists’ names, but the rest are new to me. My favorite storywas “Triple Booking” by Peke, the final story of the collection in which Katarina agrees to spend the day with each of her friends and we all end by cheerfully agreeing that Katarina’s a goof and we’ll all spend it together. Happy chuckles all around.

Ratings:

I can’t even say ratings are that variable, as they mostly parrot the series art style, with that harmlessly moe character design.

Art – 7
Story – Not really, but that’s not why you’re reading
Character – 100 THIS is why you are reading
Service – 3, maybe 4, depending on your feelings about Katarina’s face on Mary’s chest
Yuri – The feelings are there, but that’s all we can hope for…let’s call it a 5

Overall – 7

There’s nothing here that takes a single step out of the formula for the show, so if you’re not a fan, you can give it a miss, but if you enjoyed Hamehura, and enjoy doujinshi collections for your fave anime….and can marvel at the thrill of a Yuri Hime doujinshi collection for this series(!), as I do, it’s worth your time.