Archive for the Yuri Manga Category


Yuri Manga: Comic Yuri Hime August 2018 ( コミック百合姫2018年8月号)

July 1st, 2018

Another excellent volume of Monthly Comic Yuri Hime, August 2018 (コミック百合姫2018年8月号) begins with  a new anime announcement…for, predictably, a series I don’t follow. I want to address why this seems to be the norm for me. Let’s talk about the “lowest common denominator,” for second. When we apply this mathematical term in qualitative analysis, as we are doing here, “common,” is used as in “the broadest appeal.” And “lowest” means the bar at which the most people, the most broadly, will find something to like. 

There are certain trends in anime, specifically, that exist to maximize both the audience who will be interest and minimize the time and money that go into making a production. Simplified character art, limited backgrounds, small ensemble casts, and simple storylines tend to make for a good anime. Physical comedy appeal broadly and, of course, every genre has tropes that any reader would expect.

One of the things you’ll see least in anime is manga that runs in women’s magazines. Think about why that might be. Fewer action or blunt comedy series. A lot of people talking, complicated emotional scenarios…jousei manga are made of the kind of material that is used for television series. Anime tends to look for wacky rather than witty, action-packed, rather than dramatic, and loud public displays of emotionality, rather than more contemplative scenes. And I prefer the laterto the former. I can say with confidence that 2DK, GPen, Mezamashitokei would make a slow anime to watch, as we see scene after scene of people inside their heads, churning over emotional complexity. ^_^ So, instead we get wacky, jumpy, grabby, bouncy and cry-y stuff as anime. Which, while it maximizes everything for the production company, leaves me less than compelled. I don’t hold it against Ichijinsha that they have announced Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maoirita! as  an anime. I’m just hoping that something I like gets made into an anime or live drama one day. ^_^

Speaking of Ohsaw Yayoi’s 2DK, GPen, Mezamashitokei, Kaede and Nanami have returned home and Kaede is stressing over having kissed her roommate on the train, while trying to pretend everything is normal. Thank heavens for Koyuki who has fucking had it with these two. ^_^

Miman’s “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto desu!” is cruising for a climactic bruising. Hime wasn’t a particularly interesting character, but both Kanako and Sumika are. I think they will make a good couple, once we work through all the stuff that stands between them.

Hayama-sensei to Terano-sensei ha Tsukiatte iru is a ridiculously cute story about two teachers who are, as of yesterday, dating, and their colleague’s reactions, by Ohi Pikachi. I particularly liked the scene where the school chairman was told and say, “Nice! You’re both young. Have some fun.” ^_^ 

“Oya ga Urusai no de Kouhai to Gizoukekkonshitemita” by Kodama Naoko slams into a confrontation with the annoying parents and, quite probably a happy ending. This looks to be a one-volume over and done story, but I really needed it after her last story.

I love “ROID,” by Shiroshi. I’m a sucker for stories about the nature of humanity as seen through the eyes of an android. 

Hisakawa Haru’s “Yurikkon ~ Girls Wedding Omnibus” offers us a unlikely story with an unlikely ending, but that’s okay, not every chapter has to make sense. ^_^ Next up, pop idols.

“Zenbu Anata wo Tabetai” by Tanaka Rin plumbs the depths of despair and cancer, for an unusual, unrealistic story.

In neji’s “Prisontown e Youkoso” Meari and Akari have a confrontation that ends with mutual confessions. The story is set to continue, so I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes, now that they are a proper couple.

And, predictably, in “Takane no Hana ha Usotuski desu” Yukiho realizes that she’s made a mistake trying to drive Meguru away.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

As I said, a really strong volume. The September volume is available in a couple of weeks!

 

 





Yuri Manga: Endou Yasuko ha Yomaiyochou ni Kakureteru, Volume 2 (遠藤靖子は夜迷町に隠れてる)

June 25th, 2018

Makioka Shizue needs food
The Principal thinks that just rude
Yasuko rides in
And is heroic for the win
But the book ends with a surprising mood.

Endou Yasuko ha Yomaiyochou ni Kakureteru, Volume 2 (遠藤靖子は夜迷町に隠れてる) is the final volume of this goofy, creepy, and yet somehow romantic, series. 

Everything moves fast in this second and final volume of the series. We learn a lot more about Yasuko, who is old enough that she herself doesn’t really remember much of her earlier life. She remembers her dog fondly, but that’s about all. She cannot for the life of her understand why kogal Mitsuru and her henchchicks are stalking her though, until we learn the truth about her identity.

At last, we learn who is responsible for the disappearance of the three missing girls…among other things. And, among those other things, Shizue is kidnapped. Yasuko is devastated. Shizue escapes and runs right into Yasuko’s waiting arms. 

All seems well, but as Shizue approaches graduation, Yasuko realizes that she can’t stay here. She wants Shizue to be able to move on, to grow up, grow old, but she herself will never change.  The end of the book and the series, is surprisingly poignant.

This two-volume series had a three-volume impact. Of all the probably-a-vampire Yuri manga I’ve read so far, this one is by far and away, the best – even with the service.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – Still absurd, still 8
Characters – 9
Service – 7 It gets a couple of boosts
Yuri – 6 Definitely

Overall – An entertaining, still trashy 8

Luckily, you too will be able to enjoy this goofy-creepy vampire Yuri series when Volume 2 of Hungry For You: Endo Yasuko Stalks the Night comes out in English in December! Yay!





Yuri Manga: Comic Yuri Hime July 2018 (コミック百合姫2018年7月号)

June 21st, 2018

The July issue of Comic Yuri Hime was so good, I read it twice. I’m following more stories and liking them more than I have in some time.

Hisona’s “Goodbye Dystopia” remains the standout series for me, although it turns away sharply from the apparently abandoned, overgrown (post-apocalyptic) world it had inhabited to a thriving town, a mall, shopping for shoes and an Internet Cafe. It was so stark a change that it took me aback quite a bit and I had to reread it to make sure I was not imagining it. ^_^ So, they are doing walkabout in our world, then?

“ROID” by Shiroshi was poignant, as Anna encounters a used and abused robot and helps him, only to have him rebel against the First Law of Robotics and force her to save his abusive master from certain death. Anna has to confront the needs of self-willed AI beings and the limitations of being built, rather than born. I fucking love this story.

“Yurikkon” by Hisakawa Haru follows the two little girls from the end of the last chapter through their mother’s divorces, reunion and eventually marriage, and the not-sisterly love that they feel for one another. The next story will follow someone returning home from abroad hoping to pick up where they left off.

I still have no idea at all what “Prison Town e Youkoso” by neji is actually about, but I’m happy wansdeing the strets with Akari, who seems as puzzled to be there as I am.

“Kimi ha Shoujo” ended suddenly, strangely and incongruously, with a shift into the future and the city, dragging the entire story with it. I’m sorry that that Nanatsufuji didn’t have time or means to give it a better ending.

Hamuro Kei’s “Tsurezure Biyori” was a nice episode in a young couple’s life, rather than a dramatic moment.

And, among the one-shot,s was a story by Tanaka Rin, whose work I haven’t see since 2012! I was unsurprised to see it was a creepy Yuricest story. That’s what she does. ^_^; While Usui Shio’s “Jewel of You” tells a story of unrequited love that becomes requited. Classic stuff. ^_^;

Ratings:

Overall – 9

The August issue of Comic Yuri Hime has hit shelves and I am heading right to the next chapter of “2DK Pen, Mezamashitokei!” ^_^





Yuri Manga: Onna no ko Ichiban Yawaraka Iitokoro (女の子のいちばんやわらかいところ。)

June 18th, 2018

Miyata Waltz’s collection Onna no ko Ichiban Yawaraka Itokoro (女の子のいちばんやわらかいところ。) is a comfortable example of a collection by a Yuri artist who has not yet matured their work out of the well-worn paths of Yuri storytelling. 

Set in a school, the girls in this collection experience love and loss and jealousy and kindness for the first time. The art is solid, if not outstanding, but I feel that there is potential there. I say this, because at this point, it’s surprisingly hard to tell where an author will go,once they have gotten their iteration of “I drew it because no one else (that I know of, without actually looking to see if I’m right,) is.” And, realistically an awful lot of artists once they get this out of their system don’t have a “there” there. After the tried and true they look deep within themselves and find only the trite and tropey. 

In this particular collection, my favorite stories were the “Bara to Ichigo” mini-series about a transfer student and the aloof girl with whom she becomes friends.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 7
Characters – 7
Service – 0 really not
Yuri – 6

Overall – 7

Right now Miyata-sensei’s work seems to be split evenlyish between Yuri, BL and straight school life stories. The art now is definitely tighter than in this volume, but not more nuanced. OTOH, I admit to a very real personal bias against shoujo-style art in favor of looser, sketchier manga art style.)

I haven’t read a collection like this – a “first time artist” collection in a long time. It kind of felt nostalgic, maybe?





Yuri Manga: Kiss and White Lily for My Dearest Girl, Volume 5 (English)

June 14th, 2018

Volume 5 of Kiss and White Lily For My Dearest Girl, is predicted upon the idea that a promise made at 5 years old is still valid a decade later. Let me assure you that they are not. ^_^

Nishikawa Itsuki keep glaring at Itou Sawa and Sawa doesn’t know why. When Itsuki turns out to be  long-lost childhood friend, the penny still doesn’t drop. Of course, eventually they manage to  figure out how they can face the future together. Phew.

We spend some time with Shirahime and Kurosawa, and finally get insight on what actually drives Ayaka to be so competitive. It’s an emotional and frustrating moment for her and us, but for Kurosawa, it’s a moment of of clarity and she steps up and is just the pillar of strength that Ayaka needs.

I will never be the audience for the lost-childhood dream, but for Ayaka’s arc is very poignant. It also provides the the missing piece to her personality and for that, it’s an important volume.  And if you like poignant, emotional stories, Kiss and White Lily For My Dearest Girl is a series that’s worth reading. 

Art – 8
Story – 6
Characters – 7
Yuri – 8
Service – 1 on principle

Overall – 7

No, seriously. Any promises made in in kindergarten are no longer valid. ^_^