Archive for the Yuri Manga Category


Yuri Manga: Princess Princess

October 12th, 2010

Although I only “discovered” Aoki Mitsue‘s work in 2008 with Papaya Gundan, this incredibly pleasant, fun and goofy artist has been around since the early 90’s. So, when I learned that she’d be drawing for Yuri Hime, I was confident that we’d almost instantly see stories that were appealing. …And that was exactly what we got.

In Princess Princess (プリンセス・プリンセス) the stories may be short, but they are full-bodied (much like the characters themselves) and drawn with the, what’s the word I’m looking for…conviction, that many stories lack.

The title story, “Princess, Princess” covers the well-worn territory of a smart girl and her slightly slower-than-average love interest.

But where Aoki really shines is in stories like “Sweet Room” where she plays with her own fetish of an older woman in love with a younger woman, turns it on its head and makes fun of herself as she does it. (How do I know that this is her fetish? She writes about it *constantly* in her manga, and has mentioned it about a million times on Twitter. ^_^;;)

In “Sugar Complex” a girl stresses over her weight, only to find that that was what her lover loved best.

A gang girl protects her best friend from the evil, obsessed, rich girl, student council president’s lust in the incredibly silly “Bankara Otome Gakuen.” No surprise – I really like this story. ^_^

The last two stories are a mini-series called “Lunch Box” which combine all of Aoki’s strengths – obsessions with food, a younger woman seducing an older woman, and a strong streak of otaku awareness for an incredibly satisfying short that I’d really like to see continue.

Ratings:

Art – 8 (very solid josei stylings)
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Yuri – 9
Service – More underwear than anything – 4

Overall – 8

I like Aoki’s work very much and recommend it highly, as a good example of a josei artist working in Yuri. She brings strength, confidence and a fun, goofball sensibility to every story.





Yuri Manga: Yuri Hime Collection

October 6th, 2010

Yuri Hime Collection (百合姫 Collection) is (surprise!) a collection of short works by current Yuri Hime artists that have not been published in any previous commercial publications. It is an anthology of several artists’ doujinshi.

The anthology contains eight stories, two of which are two-parters. Masaki Miyuki’s chapters falls into a category I’ve just named “Yuri with props.” You know what I mean…when one character has a specific quirk or prop that indicates their personality and we spend a lot of time looking at it or obsessing about it? In this case, one of the girls smokes, which clearly shows she doesn’t care about the rules – or her future health.

Momono Moto’s stories were about the pain and tears that come from loving someone in an untenable situation – like high school – and how being together and being apart can hurt.

This contrasts strongly with the smiling faces and bright sun of Morishima Akiko’s contribution, as two women enjoy sun, blue water and love on an island vacation.

Back into the gloom and rain for a story about love at a distance by Yoshineko and the collection finishes off with some “wacky hijinx” love comedy-style wrapped around a semi-serious story by Yotsuhara Furikko.

In the cases of artists I recognized, one can instantly see these are earlier works. There’s a sketchiness about them that I find common among doujinshi, especially when they are early-ish in an artist’s career. The exception to this is Morishima’s story, but that one was published only a few years ago, and she had been in the industry for a while already. For the rest of this collection, there was a sense of these being earlier in both art and story, both of which had less confidence than one would like.

There is nothing worldshaking in this collection, but if you are a completist or, like me, you like to see where artists come from to understand where they are going to, this is a nice little addition to your Yuri collection.

Ratings:

Overall – 7

Yes, I *was* trying to use the word “collection” as often as possible. ^_^





Yuri Manga: Yuri Hime, Volume 21 (Part 2)

September 23rd, 2010

The second half of Volume 21 of Yuri Hime, begins with a chronological “Timeline of Yuri” which they begin in 1902 with the creation of the first magazine for girls to be published in Japan, “Shoujokai.” (少女界）

This is followed by interviews with and “Top 5” lists from the editors. I pretty much don’t agree with their choices in the top 5s, especially as many of them are Yuri by association or implication, rather than actually having Yuri content, and therefore, not very helpful to anyone looking for suggestions of what to read or watch. But they are an interesting glimpse into the editor’s collective minds.

Color pages highlight some notable Yuri kisses in anime, follwed by coverage pf topics of interest to the Yuri Network, such as the surge in Yuri manga in shoujo magazines and the Live Action Maria-sama ga Miteru movie.

Kazuma Kowo’s “Sayonara Folklore” come to a close in which the original premise of the “Monday curse” is addressed, neutralized and set aside, so that Mashiro and Nanase can live a well-deserved happily every after.

“Sore ga Kimi ni Naru” hits an expected lag, as You realizes how painful her existence must be to Amane and how much she wants to see Amane anyway, while Amane realizes pretty much the same thing about You. Sadly for them and us, they just miss each other and have to keep on wanting for another chapter.

Miura Shion’s essay is once again about a story with which I am unfamiliar, “Nami no Ue no Tsuki.” Time to do some shopping, I think. ^_^ This story has been reviewed by Erin S. on her blog, if you’d like a western perspective. (Thanks for the link!)

“Moso Honey” continues to be a love triangle comedy in which Nonoka, because her eyes are fixed on Nozomu-sempai, fails to see how Kanade looks at her.

The penultimate chapter of “Tokimeki Mononoke Gakuen” in which it becomes apparent to us, Arare and Kiri that poor Pero needs to be returned to the world of the yokai. Will they make it in time? And what will become of Kiri and Arare? The series’ second volume is already out, so you don’t have to wait to find out!

“Lunch Box,” by Mitsue Aoki delves a little deeper into Yukari’s feelings for the woman who makes her her lunches with such care and devotion, with a little side-track into leopard-patterned underwear. :-)

A love letter treated with cavalier unconcern is a matter for contention between a third-year and the second-year school prince in what is quite accurately titled “Kobun Miman.”

The final letters section is a farewell from the avatars that have shepherded us through so many letters section. The book ends with a two page ad heralding the next phase of the magazine.

And so, hopefully, we set aside our childish things and look forward to the new iteration, the post-adolescence (we hope) of Yuri Hime magazine!

Ratings:

Overall- 8





Yuri Manga: Yuri Hime, Volume 21 (Part 1)

September 22nd, 2010

We’re right on the cusp of the big merge now. Here were are at Volume 21 of Yuri Hime. One more volume of Yuri Hime S and then they will combine like two galaxies, which I’m sure could be a really funky extended metaphor if I had an ounce of energy to do it. ^_^;

This volume begins with a interview with Shimura Takako, creator of hit Yuri series Aoi Hana. Questions about drawing Yuri, love between girls and the BL and Yuri audiences are asked and answered.  It’s very much a public figure interview, so don’t expect massive personal revelations or spoilers for Akira and Fumi, but as interviews go – it was a good one. Most interesting to me was the use of the word “Yuri” to describe the work and the audience. It might not seem like a big thing to you, but it’s been a decade’s worth of work for me. ^_^

“Renai Joshika” starts to tie up loose ends, as Himeno and Shiraha shed some baggage in order to be able to move forward together.

In “Watashi to Kanoujo” two girls are together, while in “Hoshitotsu  Bokuro” two girls are separated.

Shio’s hair is really pretty and Kanako loves to play with it, but when classmates are unkind about their friendship, Shio puts some distance between them, in “Yuri Yuri.” After a short, tense time apart, they decide that they’d actually like to become closer and the other girls can suck it up.

Takemiya Jin’s “Love Aroma” follows a student who can’t get the scent of the new teacher out of her mind.

The Black Cat Mansion series tries something totally different – two adult women! Kumi and Nozomu are a great couple and ought to be very happy together…but aren’t, until a visit to the Black Cat Mansion forces them to have the conversation they weren’t having, but needed to.

Next up is a “commercial message” from Furutsuji Kikka, the creator of Knife-Edge Girl on the critical topic of her characters’ bust sizes. Oh, and don’t forget to buy the book!

“Hime Koi” and “Para Yuri Hime” are both short and forgettable, and the pages that follow outline manga that won the most recent contest held by Ichijinsha. We can expect to see some of the newcomers in the upcoming issues.

Which brings us to “Love DNA Double XX” which is steadfastly not going where I thought it would, for which I am very, very thankful. Aoi and Sakura begin a duel over competing ideas of honorable behavior and do not conclude it quickly at all. In fact, I think I really actually began to like this story, when 20 minutes later they are still fighting – and their audience is getting tired and bored. ^_^  Does the end come in the shining flash of a sword – tune in next issue to find out!

Which brings us halfway and to the “Petit Yuri Hime” 5-year anniversary pamphlet. 5 years. That makes Yuri Hime the longest-running Yuri/lesbian-focused magazine in Japan. Something to be proud of, for sure!

In ten more years, when Yuri Hime turns 15 and Yuricon 20, I wonder what the Yuri landscape will look like?

Short overview today, because it’s been a really long day today. I’ll finish it up tomorrow!





Yuri Manga: Zettai Shoujo Seiiki Amnesium, Volume 1

September 14th, 2010

Most folks, after spending years honing their craft, improve at whatever they set out to do. Some with marginal skills may never be great, but can at least reach “competent.” For instance, I was never going to be a concert clarinetist, but when I was practicing 4 hours a day, I got better.

Some people, though, become less good, for any number of reasons. There may be less of a drive to excel; time crunches, over-extension, professional commitments, life all take their toll on some people. And a few just run out of something to say. You can see this in bands, particularly. They start out life all young and angry and edgy, but by the third album extolling the virtues of fatherhood and married life you’re ready to vomit at the blandness of their work. ^_^

And some people…well, some people just get worse.

All of which is to say that the “creative” team known as Kaishaku has absolutely surpassed themselves in crappily executed crap with the creation of Zettai Shoujo Seiiki Amnesium (絶対少女聖域アムネシアン).

I won’t bother summarizing the plot because, frankly, there is no point. The plot serves as the thinnest possible frame around a series of service-y violence, much of it sexual, against the ever-popular punching bags of Himeko and Chikane.

Amnesium is a blivet of a manga, filled to the brim with fetishes, rape, mostly-nude, but you know, not *totally* nude nudity, sexual harassment, more rape, more fetishes and more sexual harassment.

Kaishaku’s writing has regressed to the point that I either have to imagine them chained to desks, staring helplessly at an editor holding a whip, mumbling, “rape Himeko, okay, rape Chikane, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay” or sitting around in the asylum slavering. Because, frankly, this iteration is just…sad. Himeko had a sister Chikane, but she died and now a person who looks and sounds *just* like Chikane-oneesama, with the name Chikane, has arrived, but isn’t Chikane-oneesama, has unsisterly intentions, but may have been the one to kill her sister. /mumble/okay, okay, okay, okay/mumble/

The art is no better than it ever has been, so any action scene is hard to parse, but since they are all the same – attempted rape, Himeko’s and/or Chikane’s clothes are shredded (crotches are miraculously never visible, of course) fighting occurs, Chikane wins when Himeko commands her to – it doesn’t really matter anyway. Whee.

Ratings:

Service: 10

Overall: 2, but only so there’s somewhere down to go for Volume 2

Today’s book was sponsored by LFB-in-training and Okazu superhero Dan P.! You are so getting these Dan. You need them. You *want* them. ^_^