Archive for the Yuri Manga Category


Yuri Manga: Maka-Maka

August 31st, 2004

makamaka1One word – wow.

Maka-Maka is a very shounen, adult, and reasonably mature take on the development of a relationship between two friends, Jun and Nene. The subtitle of the manga is “Love Sex Communication” – this is a major theme right from the first chapter.

Maka-Maka is published monthly by Jive, and is available as a Flash issue on the Maka-Maka homepage every month. The first seven or eight issues have been bound into a print volume which is really quite slick. The volume is all-color pages, with character information and an insert of a “psychedelic” poster – one side is Jun, one Nene. There’s a bonus cover on the inside of the jacket as well. All in all, and excellent design, totally worth the money. There are even Jun and Nene dolls available as a premium for people who return the insert card. I sent it in – we’ll see if they bother to send me a doll. ^_^

The story begins as Jun and Nene both find themselves frustrated and dissatisfied by sex and the lack of connection that exists between themselves and their lovers. In the course of schoolwork, they find themselves playing around and the playing takes a sexual turn. As the subtitle promises, they actually *communicate* and as a result, find themselves more and more interested in each other.

As stated, this is a shounen manga, so expect alot of sexual situations, nudity, fanservice, etc. But for all that, it’s never presented in a cheesy manner – in fact, I found myself getting a little nostalgic at some of Jun’s and Nene’s antics.  There’s a sense of reality about Maka-Maka that’s quite surprising.

Of course, nothing is perfect, so there are conflicts..Jun seems to be more needy than Nene, while Nene tends to be a little more inconsiderate than Jun. This only serves to heighten the versimilitude, not to lessen it. It does mean that there are times when you don’t *like* the characters, but that’s not, IMHO, a weakness here.

By the end of the first volume, if you have a soul, you are hooked. ^_^I read the monthly issues with interest and am looking forward to the second collection – maybe I’ll be able to snag that second doll.

Ratings:

Characters – 9
Story – 9
Art – 8
Service – 9

Overall – 9





Yuri Manga: Yuri Monogatari 2

August 3rd, 2004

Well, Otakon is over for another year. It’s amazingly fun spending all day in the Dealer’s Room, watching the con walk by. I’m sure you’ll all be pleased to know that ALC Publishing nearly sold out of what manga we brought in three wild, wild days. ^_^

I want to thank all the folks who stopped by – old friends and new – who supported us by buying our manga, getting hugs, stickers, autographs, etc. and generally being the best part of the con. Next year should be even more fun and I promise that I’ll try and get a Yuri panel set up for once. ^_^

Since ALC’s newest Yuri manga premiered last weekend at the East Coast’s largest anime con, I think it’s ony fair to review it first, before I move onto all the other great swag I have to talk about, including a huge shipment from Japan of tons of new Yuri. But first things first.

Yuri Monogatari 2 is ALC Publishing’s second all-Yuri original English-language anthology. In other words – not a translation. The seven stories in this wonderful manga were created especially for this publication, including a wonderfully funny new story by Rica Takashima, author of Rica ‘tte Kanji, our first Japanese translation.

While Yuri Monogatari is by no means perfect, it is still a pretty darn excellent book and well worth your time and money, even if I do say it myself. And I do. Where else are you going to find original Yuri manga in English? Huh? ^_^

This new volume contains seven stories, written and drawn by people from five different countries: Belgium, Canada, Finland, Japan, and the USA. This gives every story a unique characteristic and completely different look and feel. While one story may not appeal to you, there is sure to be something for nearly everyone…

Here’s a quicky synopsis of the stories:

“Joe’s Haircut” – Funny stuff happens when gay girl Joe gets her long locks lopped. When four different girls hit on Joe after the haircut, she’s definitely thinking that too much of a good thing is too much, period. Big, grinny, happy ending for this one

“Toast” – A quirky scifi parody of being sucked into an alternate universe. You never knew what kind of stuff went on in your kitchen appliances…cool girl-gets-girl ending.

“Obenkyo Shinasai” – College student Grace spends more time fantasizing about her lover Miki than studying for her chem exam. This story is hysterical…and pretty hardcore, as Grace fantasizes some *interesting* things happening to Miki. Happy ending, but bad grades on the exam. ^_^

“Passing” – A sort of coming out story. I won’t blow the secret, but the art is really lovely and the girl gets the girl. ^_^

“Short Wish List” – Another parody, this time of action/fantasy stories. The magic genie of the toasters will grant wishes and the wishes aren’t what you think. Happy ending with lots of chocolate.

“Flora” – Angsty, poetic, reflective look at love versus lust. No happy ending, but some seriously beautiful sex.

“Night Out” – Girl meets girl, girl does girl and then the real story begins. A sweet and funny look at relationships. Girl has girl all along.

So there you go. Seven really fun stories, each one with a different focus and art style, characterization and story. And all Yuri, all the time.

And last, but not least, the Ratings:

Art, Character, Story, Plot – all variable depending on the story, as with any anthology. Yuri – 10.

This book is 100% Yuri, through and through. I hope you’ll pick up a copy and see for yourself!

Now that I’ve reviewed the newest Yuri manga from here in the West, I’ll start reviewing some of the fantastic new Yuri coming from Japan!





Yuri Manga: Boku Ai

June 9th, 2004

Today’s review is on a one-shot comic, Boku Ai, which ran in Flower Comics’ Sho-Comi, a magazine for older teens. Sho-Comi tends to have off-beat stories that are violent or filled with strange sex and other fetishes. Boku Ai was the first (as far as I know) yuri manga that they’ve ever run.

The story of Boku Ai is a simple one – Sara and Youko were friends when they were young, but now, in high school, Sara runs with the beautiful people, while Youko is decidedly average. When Sara renews her acquaintance with Youko by sneaking into her room one night and kissing her goodnight, it’s a short trip for Youko from infatuated to seriously gaga.

Sara continues her pursuit with some serious kissing and generally pisses off the rest of the student body, who are all now jealous of Youko.

But Sara has an ulterior motive, as Youko learns when she comes home to discover her mother and Sara’s father in bed together. Youko goes running back to Sara, who calls her a fool and rejects her, claiming that her affection was really only a form of revenge.

Lucky for us, Youko’s stronger than Sara thought and she fights back, ultimately gaining Sara’s respect and love.

It’s not a deep story – it’s only a one-shot, so it seems a little rushed – but the kissing is nice. :-) Everything else about it is average, really.





Yuri Manga: Shiroi Heya no Futari (白い部屋のふたり)

June 3rd, 2004

The arguably oldest Yuri is Shiroi Heya no Futari (白い部屋のふたり) which means “Our White Room”. Published by Ribon Comics in 1973 (back far enough that even I was a child), written by Yamagishi Ryooko, this story is the mother of all Yuri that came after it.

And, oh, what melodrama it is!

Shiroi Heya no Futari introduces us to blonde, doll-like “good” girl Resine, as she’s dumped by a uncaring aunt at a boarding school. Because she’s a late transfer, the school puts her in a room with “bad” girl Simone – with the admonishment to not take notice of Simone and, if it gets too much, she can ask for another room.

Unfortunately for the school, Resine and Simone get along reasonably well, even going so far to actually like one another, then really like one another…then really, really like one another. When Simone plays the Prince to Resine’s Princess in the school play, their kiss is passionate – and real.

Their confession of love is overheard by a classmate and soon the entire school knows about them. In denial, Resine begins dating a young man with a vengeance, but her jealousy for Simone keeps pace with Simone’s own dark feelings. When the pressure becomes too much, Resine runs away, leaving Simone to find her own reconciliation, alone. Of course, Simone, high strung and emotional, finds her denouement in a tragic and pointless death.

Resine, having returned home, finds out about Simone’s death many months later and rushes back to the school. All she is able to do is learn the truth of Simone’s death and swear that she will continue living for the two of them, loveless and cold, forever.

It’s evil of me to say this, but it’s actually a pretty amusing ending, merely by being so hyper-melodramatic.

The story (as you might be able to guess from the names) is set is France, which fits well with the overblown melodrama of the story. The setting was current for it’s time – early 70’s – so the clothes are a scream and there’s underage drinking going on in very French-looking clubs.

Of course this has a tragic ending. Could we expect anything else? Not in the 70’s, no. But the love and physical attraction Resine and Simone had was real – not just akogare/admiration, but actual desire, which made it groundbreaking stuff.

I recommend reading this manga, if only to see one of the mama of Yuri manga and to appreciate our historical roots. Plus, the story’s soap-opera fun. You can still find copies in secondary markets like Amazon JP marketplace and used manga stores.

Ratings:

Art – very 70s. Give it a 8
Story – 8
Yuri – 10
Character – 10, just for Simone’s brooding Heathcliff-ness. ;-)

Overall – 9





Yuri Manga: Houkago or "After School, Part 2

June 1st, 2004

Well, last week I told you that I’d tell you if Houkago was worth your time – and now, after a fortuitous trip to the manga store, I can safely say that it is. ^_^

Houkago, if you remember back a few days, is running in Cookie monthly, and was the story of Itoi, a girl who was finding herself alientated from the people around her at school. When she is invited to go shopping in Shibuya by Ariyoshi, a cool, loner girl in her class, Itoi’s “friends” want to come along. When Ariyoshi denies them the right, they retaliate by bullying Itoi with increasing viciousness. To escape this, Itoi and Ariyoshi find themselves together more and more, until one day, they simply decide not to go back at all. That was the end of Chapter 1.

Chapter 2 finds them hanging out in Shibuya, closing the shops, then the cafes, and ultimately having to avoid police and unsavory types who stalk the night. They find short-term refuge with a girl gang in a bathroom, and after that, a late-night cafe. When morning comes and the trains start again, they can’t bring themselves to go home, so they rent a karaoke box. Ariyoshi starts to look bad, and get woozy, so Itoi uses the last of her money to get them a hotel room.

In the sex-charged atmosphere of the room, and given the tension between them, it’s natural that they should kiss and that the kiss might become something more…but one of them leans on a button which starts a stereo blaring and they’re both scared witless and collapse on the bed with exhaustion once they manage to turn the noise off.

Although their “moment” has passed, they admit that they do love one another and decide to be together as long as they can. In the first chapter, it was Itoi who broke down and admitted that she was unhappy – in this chapter Ariyoshi is the one who opens up and cries.

When they finally return to school, rumors abound, but both of them, buoyed by their love for one another, make light of the rumors…and show the bullies that they simply don’t care anymore. In the end, they will spend their days at school waiting until it’s over – then go out and have fun, together.

There are several notable qualities in Houkago…most important, the angst in this story is not about their love. Not one ounce of it. The girls’ attitude is very much “fuck ’em if they can’t take a joke.” Any angst resides completely with their dissatisfaction with school life and the people they are forced to endure. There is no sense of the ephemeral here, either – unlike Blue, we can actually believe that maybe Ariyoshi and Itoi have at least a while together, even thought that’s not important – this story is not about one single perfect moment, nor is it about forever. And it does not link lesbianism and mental disease.

There’s a very emancipated, modern feel about the love in Houkago. The girls aren’t shocked by it, they aren’t traumatized or terrified. They *are* relieved by it, and draw strength from it and ultimately, find immense happiness, not even in a sexual way, but in a close bonding way, in their relationship. So for that, Houkago is a kind of groundbreaking work. It’s a LOOOONG way away from Shiroi Heya no Futari and not just in years.

Maybe that should be the moral of today’s story: Houkago may not read like a groundbreaking piece of work, but the fact that none of the usual stereotypes apply is a sign that things have changed. Perhaps is is a quiet sign that things will never again be the way they were and from now on, we’ll see more and more of this “happy ending” thing in our Yuri.

I guess we’ll just have to stick around and see. ^_^