Archive for the Yuri Manga Category


Yuri Manga Anthology: Avalon ~bitter~

September 17th, 2018

There’s something to be said for judging a book by it’s cover, sometimes. ^_^ Avalon ~bitter~ is a Yuri anthology of troubling, distressing and bitter stories by extremely talented artists. It’s not that the stories are bad, it’s that this is not the collection for you, if you’re looking for happy endings. 

I found Mikanji’s “Sukininaru nante arienai” to be typical of this collection. A girl who had been a bully, is sexually harassed by the girl she bullied when they were younger. But it’s okay now because they can bully each other. … … …

But the story that encapsulated the whole anthology for me was Shoukabuki’s “Bara bara” about a lesbian and the woman she seduces. The lesbian’s kouhai is a little appalled at her sempai’s casual disinterest in the woman afterwards, but when she hears the woman dismissing the sex, because she’s not really queer, she understands a bit better that people use each other for their own ends.

This volume is pretty much a collection of stories in which people use each other, with some manipulation, sexual harassment and a bit of light betrayal, in a variety of settings, both realistic and fantastic. Overall, both writing and art is very good, which actually serves to increase the bitter flavor of the work. ^_^;

Ratings:

Overall – 8 Although I didn’t enjoy it, per se, it was very good.

The publisher is “girls x garden” which is a new imprint for me. I’ll be interested to get the other available Avalon collection, which seems to have a similar roster of contributors but perhaps a different focus.





Yuri Manga: Oya ga Urusainode Kouhai (♀) to Gizoukekkonshitemite (親がうるさいので後輩(♀)と偽装結婚してみた。)

September 13th, 2018

Today we’re looking at Oya ga Urusainode Kouhai  to Gizoukekkonshitemite (親がうるさいので後輩(♀) と偽装結婚してみた。) by Kodama Naoko. Compared to her last series, NTR: Netsozou Trap, this isn’t problematic at all, but that doesn’t meant there aren’t problems! ^_^;

Machi is a fairly typical office worker. She’s got a male co-worker who keeps regaling her with tales of domestic bliss with his girlfriend and questions about her own future. Doesn’t she want to get married? Machi doesn’t particularly want to get married, but her parents aren’t listening. They are pounding her with eligible men and demanding she do the right thing. Machi is painfully aware that her parents have always demanded she do what will embarrass them least and she’s always acquiesced. But not this time.

Machi’s roommate and kouhai, Hana, thinks she has a solution. Shibuya is now offering same-sex partnership certificates. If they sign up, then Machi’s parents will have to get off her back, right?  Unsurprisingly, Machi’s parents do not feel that this acceptable and they are instead very rude to Hana, which finally forces Machi to take a stand. She demands her parents apologize to Hana, and the two women leave. 

But if the idea of a fake same-sex marriage of convenience isn’t going to bother us, then the idea that the actual relationship between Hana and Machi is horribly unfair, is just fine. (-_-) 

Because Hana is actually in love with Machi. And Machi is, but has no idea she is. Yes, she likes that Hana is there when she gets home, that there’s food and companionship. She’s pleased that Hana’s design business is taking off, but she’s taking her time figuring out that Hana means more to her than just a roommate. 

It’s not until Hana goes out to drink and speak with a former girlfriend that Machi finally groks her own feelings. But now, she’s got to cope with the embarrassment she’s feeling. She’s legitimately embarrassed at how’s she treated Hana, BUT, because if Kodama-sensei can’t make us feel uncomfortable, she’s not doing her job, apparently, Machi’s even more embarrassed because she’s has no idea what a same-sex relationship should be like. When Hana starts to make love to her, Machi immediately reacts with detachment, so Hana backs off. Hana’s the real hero here – she understands Machi in a way that Machi herself has no clue about. And, unlike “nice” guys everywhere, she’s very clear right from the very beginning about her interest in Machi, so there’s no confusion AND she accepts Machi’s boundaries without question.

Slowly, Machi unravels her discomfort, her embarrassment, her emotional armor and Hana’s perfectly content to be there with supportive love. As the story ends, we can see them with a relationship that is no longer a sham.

A second story about an athlete in a slump and the best friend who is there for her is nice, and reinforced the problematic narrative of “just wait and eventually they’ll come around to noticing you.”

I enjoyed this volume, despite the fact that the plot drivers aren’t really appropriate in the real world. 

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters – 9 for Hana
Service – 2 Some light romance/sexual discomfort
Yuri – 7
LGBTQ – 4 Mention of the real-world same-sex partnership certificates, but no discussion around it

Overall – 7

In comparison to her previous work it was a light-hearted gag, a comedy movie, a lark. 





Yuri Manga: Junsui Luminescence (純水ルミネッセンス )

September 10th, 2018

This week, I posted a discussion on the Okazu YNN Podcast about “problematic” themes in Yuri. ^_^ Topping that list was stories in which teachers and students become a couple. Two series I noted as examples in which we were presumed to – and want to – root for the couple, were Hanjuku Joshi (半熟女子) by Morishima Akiko  and Junsui Adolescence (純水アドレッセンス) by Kazuma Kowo. As I say in the podcast, “In series like Hanjuku Joshi and Junsui Adolescence we’re put in the position of rooting for the couple and, realistically how awkward is *that*?” ^_^;

In honor of this theme, I couldn’t think of a better manga to review than Kazuma Kowo’s newest volume, Junsui Luminescence (純水ルミネッセンス).

In Junsui Adolescence we met Nanao, a high school student who falls hard in love for the school doctor, Matsumoto. Nanao is very determined about her interest and her desire and Matsumoto just cannot not be swept off her feet.  They get together by the end of the first story, but what happened to them had to wait ten years to be told in the Perfect Volume, (the review of which is linked to above.)

But first, in Junsui Luminescence we are treated to “Rakuen made, ato…” a series of in-jokes in the form of short-shorts about Nonko, a doujinshi artist and her #1 fan, and lover. Nonko draws BL doujinshi of Rakuen-kun and other male characters from Rakuen Le Paradis magazine. Non-chan and her lover (whose name, I believe, is never given) are super dedicated to getting her work out to events, and equally as committed to testing out plot ideas. They are, overall, a very cute couple, but the story is clearly written for fans of her work from Rakuen Le Paradis. The doujinshi bits are a bit funnier if you know that Rakuen-kun is Nakamura Asumiko’s titular character for an ongoing series in the magazine and that Kazuki and Nagai are from Mizutani Fuka’s Love at Fourteen. 

In “Junsui Adolescence,” the final chapters of the series, (which was originated in Yuri Hime magazine 10 years ago,) Nanao is a senior, and she and Matsumoto are lovers. But. Matsumoto can’t keep her hands off Nanao in school and even though she is well aware that she’ll destroy her life if they are discovered, she doesn’t stop. And so, they are discovered. But the teacher who discovers them is Matsumoto’s friend and promises to not tell.

Whew…talk about problematic! Our skin rightfully would crawl if this was a real story, but here, we’re supposed to be happy about it! Ouch.

So Nanao enforces an embargo until she graduates – no anythinging until that’s over. Immediately Nanao becomes depressed, and avoids Matsumoto, because she hates seen the doctor being cheerful with the other students. Nanao’s friends can see that something’s up. She finally admits that she’s keeping a secret from them but doesn’t say what. In the meantime, her friends are fantasizing about wedding dresses and the future. Nanao decides she wants to marry Matsumoto, but gets a very tepid response to the idea. 

Nanao’s down in the dumps, but as she passes the doctor’s office one day, Matsumoto drags her in and starts to kiss her. Nanao points out that Matsumoto is the one risking everything here, and the doctor agrees, but say she’s been so lonely…. Nanao is actually kind of happy to know she’s not been alone in being miserable. 

Nanao makes herself plain – yes, she wants to marry Matsumoto. She wants plans a trip during spring break to be their honeymoon, before she graduates.

In the end of the volume, we see them for a few pages as Nanao’s grown up. The Perfect Volume ended with the image of the two of them in wedding dresses, which we see here, as well. We then get two new chapters. One, in which Nanao finally confesses her secret relationship to her 4 friends, only to learn that two of them guessed and the two of them were a couple all along (which I guessed). And the two that guessed had all the makings of a couple themselves.

Just to make sure this book is theme appropriate, the final pages show us Nanao and Matsumoto once more, this time in bed. The school doctor has her calendar marked for that trip, and we see Nanao, looking more mature than we’ve ever seen her, thinking, “I want to become an adult.” Well…..okay, thanks for that one last kick in the pants. ^_^;

Ratings:

Art – 9 -Kazuma-sensei’s art has improved so much in a decade
Story – “Rakuen made” is a silly 7 and “Junsui” is a fine, but problematic 8
Characters – 9 Although I sometimes really find Matsumoto vexing
Yuri – 9
Service – Um…yes. The whole premise is creepy service. 

Overall – 9

So yeah, this series is problematic up the wazoo, but I still like it anyway and I’m glad Matsumoto and Nanao get together. So there.





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! 





Yuri Manga: Prisontown e Youkouso! (監獄街へようこそ!)

September 3rd, 2018

Neji’s Prisontown e Youkouso!, Volume 1 (監獄街へようこそ!),  is a Yuri youkai Alice-in-Wonderland-style story about a human, Akari, who finds herself on a late-night youkai train and falls into Prisontown, an otherworld underworld inhabited by demi-humans of many kinds, including her newly assigned “wife” Mary, the frankengirl.

Akari is cheerful about her new circumstances, and would like to be more friendly with Mary, but Mary is reticent, even standoffish. Where Akari is clumsy and fails at her assigned tasks (feeding the basilisk, I understand, but delivering stuff to the hunchback in the bell tower should not be that hard,)  Mary is competent, hard-working and cooks and cleans for the two of them. 

The Cheshire Cat (who naturally calls Akari “Alice”) lets her in on Mary’s secret past, but instead of driving the two apart, it may be the thing that brings them together. At the end of Volume 1, it appears that Akari and Mary have broken past the barriers between them and are now truly “wives.”

This story will be a natural fit for Seven Seas, who has already licensed Neji’s other Yuri demi-human romance as Beauty and the Beast Girl. Ten bucks says that the title of this one will be “Alice in Prisontown.” ^_^

Ratings:

Art – Fun if you like youkai-humans
Story – Slightly handwave-y, but srlsy, who cares
Characters – Akari’s sweet but clumsy, Mary’s competent and aloof. Guess which character I like.
Yuri – 7
Service – Some. A number of the demihumans are seductive-ish,if that’s your boom. Girls with horn, animal ears, tails and body parts, that sort of thing.

Overall – Fun, not my fetish, but as half-humans go, I like youkai over animals, so let’s call it a 7

The story is continuing in Comic Yuri Hime, so it might have to develop a plot, We’ll see.

If Seven Seas is still mining the monster girl vein, they should resurrect Tokimeki Mononoke Gakuen, Volume 1 and Volume 2 from Yuri Hime, for some serious youkai-human Yuri interaction. That series was amazing. And horrifying.