Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – February 5, 2022

February 5th, 2022

Yuri Manga

We’re starting off with some truly wonderful news – Seven Seas has licensed a title from Galette magazine! Intelligently, they have picked up Morinaga Milk’s Watashi no Kawaii Neko-chan, which they will release in December as My Cute Little Kitten, Volume 1. I hope this means we’ll be able to see some other titles from Galette Works as well.

Out this week from Seven Seas is Hello, Melancholic!, Volume 1. This story is 3 volumes of high school redemption. Girls, bands, and love and at last a Ohsawa Yayoi title in English!  This series made my Top Yuri list in 2020, so I’m really excited to see it in English!

The Kase-san series continues with Kase-san and Yamada, Volume 2, which brings us up to date with JP tankoubon releases.

Also out this week from Seven Seas are: 

Monologue Woven For You, Volume 1 a college life story. I reviewed Volume 1 in Japanese last year.

I Can’t Believe I Slept With You! Volume 1, a story about a tenant who strikes an uncomfortable bargain with her female landlord.

5 Seconds Before a Witch Falls in Love, a one volume story that follows a witch, a witch-hunter and hijinks ensuing.

Heading our way this week from Viz is How Do We Relationship, Volume 5.  You’ll have to trust me on this – things change a lot after this volume. ^_^

 

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Galette magazine is celebrating a 5th anniversary with upcoming Issue 21! To celebrate they are running a campaign on digital platform Booklive, where you can read Issues 1-10 for free in Japanese! They will be doing multiple campaigns and a 2nd Yuri Matsuri in March.

Hana ni Arashi, Volume 10 ( はなにあらし) is up on the Yuricon store. This first love story is very slow and very sweet, but looks like it’s building towards an end.

 

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From Gangan Online, we have Tokuwotsumu’s newest series, Haru Tsuzuru, Sakurasaku Kono Heya de, a college life story. Sample chapters are available on Gangan Online for free, or all of them with the Gangan app!

Ichijinsha has another entry in the “anthologies I cannot get too enthusiastic about, but you may like” with Nakigao Yuri Anthology (泣き顔百合アンソロジー) an anthology around the theme of crying.

Via Comic Natalie, we have some more details about Canno’s new series, Koudou Ryou no Seizana Hibi (黄道寮の星座な日々). The story takes place in the Ecliptic Dormitory where residents refer to each other by the names of the Zodiac. The protagonist has a reason she wants in, but needs to be accepted as the new ‘Virgo.’ This series will debut in the March issue of Comic Flapper. Links aren’t available for that yet, but I’ll add the Bookwalker links when it goes live.

Also from Comic Natalie, they polled the editors-in-chief of 26 manga magazines to come up with a list of their suggested manga. This 2021 Recommended Manga List includes dark Yuri fantasy Watashi o Tabetai, Hito de Nashi (私を喰べたい、ひとでなし).

 

Anime News

Bodacious Space Pirates is getting a 10th anniversary Blu-Ray set in Japan. Humberto Saabedra has the info on Crunchyroll News.

The Zombieland Saga live event in 2021 now has a digest video up for your enjoyment. Check out Kim Morrisey’s article on ANN for details!

 

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Other News

Shueisha’s Manga Plus app is releasing ALL of their English language chapters for free for the next year. Download the app on on your iOS or Android device and read away it really is that easy. The only catch is that you must read a full chapter at once, because when you close the app, that chapter is marked “read.” and you may only read it once. It’s a stellar way to catch up on manga you’ve been meaning to read but never had a chance. I’m finally reading Spy x Family now and it is as good as everyone says. ^_^

I’m running a translation workshop with the fine folks of Michigan State University right now and, therefore have localization on my mind. This Twitter thread by localizer Cassiel really struck home how many moving parts there are to a translated work. Translation is an art, not a science and there are many stakeholders who have input.

Last up this week, here’s an interesting piece of news, via the Comics Beat, Graphic Novel sales were up overall 65% in 2021. This, even with a logistics and supply chain nightmare scenario. But here’s the wow moment. Manga, which is up 171%, accounts for more then 3/4ths of all comic sales.

Check out this whole article. It’s interesting reading. LGBTQ+ comics were up 40%, which is outstanding.

 

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Posted in Yuri Network News | No Comments »


The Executioner and Her Way of Life, Vol. 3: The Cage of Iron Sand

February 4th, 2022

There are two decent aspects to the The Executioner and Her Way of Life, Volume 3. One of these has been pretty consistent through the series, and one is newish.

In Volume 1, we met Menou, a skilled executioner whose job it is to rid the world of intruders from our world, among other things. We also met her obsessed and ultra-violent trainee, Momo, and an otherworlder, Akari, who seems to be a complete ditz.

In Volume 2, we added the Princess Knight Ashurna, who is not traveling with them, but they seem to run into her very often.

Here in Volume 3, we’ve added a new cast member, but, she’s also kind of obviously not really an ally.

Menou’s task is to kill Akari, but we already have seen that this will not be possible, as Akari has the ability to reverse time. Menou’s plan to travel with Akari is suspect but…much more relevant to us, the reading audience, we have seen who Akari really is.

So what was decent about Volume 3? The magic remains the most interesting part of the story and, in this volume, we have seen a new aspect to it; one that would obviously mean something to us, but not to the characters. I won’t spoil, because there is so little to really enjoy here that this is the one genuinely interesting thing. This leads to a second foreshadowing that really ought to be mind-blowing, but kind of isn’t, because it’s the only thing that makes sense.

Also on the positive side, I like Ashurna and Momo together. The fact that Momo hates Ashurna makes me like her more.

Both story and art are adequate, but not good. The story has an unfortunate tendency to just tell itself rather dully. “The meeting place was a white-painted pension in front of the waterfront.” The world building still remains so dire that the idea of trees anywhere is too much stimulus to handle. I still think the upcoming anime will have backgrounds that this narrative doesn’t deserve.

The art is likewise fine, without being particularly appealing. Breasts are constantly squished in ways that would be uncomfortable if I cared. Although the final battle illustration was exceptional for the series as it illustrated an actual scene, rather than just creepily proportioned lolicon women.

Unlike Roll Over and Die, the level of grotesquery is within my tolerance, so I’m pretty sure I’ll keep reading this series for something simple and brain-numbing to read, but will probably switch to digital. It’s very hard to justify the $15.00 for art and writing that is, at best, okay. Jenny McKeon does a very good job with the translation, and possibly gives it more color with decent character voice.

Ratings:

Art – Composition and body structures are all over the place
Story – This volume has less grim and more fighting
Characters – Still 7, except Akari, who gets 7.5
Service – Squished tits and not-adult bodies
Yuri – Everyone loves Menou

Overall – 7

Everything being a “guiding” whatever, as now lost much of it’s charm, but the new narrative pathway may make that relevant.

Posted in Light Novel | 2 Comments »


Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna, Volume 2 (作りたい女と食べたい女)

February 3rd, 2022

Because I loved Volume 1 so very much, I ran out immediately after reviewing it, and bought Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna, Volume 2 (作りたい女と食べたい女) as a digital release (because as has become increasingly common, my copy was sitting in a storage unit in Japan.) But now that it has arrived and I’m taking time to read it again, I wanted to let you know all about it!

Nomoto-san and Kasuga-san are starting to open up to one another as people now. Nomoto is struggling about not going home for the holidays…well, no, she’s perfectly fine not going, but is fending off her mother and concerned that Kasuga might be. Kasuga confides that she never goes home and her story is very sincere and very her.

But while hanging with Kasuga, Nomoto is finding herself thinking things like…the other woman is cute when she’s eating with such gusto. When she once again is too sick to make food for them, she has a slightly disturbing flashback. This is the chapter that comes with a content warning, as it contains scenes of online harassment and other feelings of societal and internal homophobia and confusion. Kasuga comes over with food and medicine and her kindness is just so sincere that Nomoto thinks to herself how glad she is that likes the other woman. The implication that she like likes her.

They celebrate the holidays together, they make food and eat it. Nomoto and Kasuga playing house is my new hygge. ^_^ I’m all in on iyashikei, feel-good manga. But, more than just a nice manga, this volume has some laugh out loud bits, too Like the night that Nomoto buys Chinese take-out containers and they binge fried rice and fried noodles while watching the America Barbecue Showdown on Netzflix. ^_^

Or the time that Kasuga suggests making fruit sandwiches and Nomoto practically squeals, “What the what? That sound so fun!”

I’m really rooting for these two. I don’t know if there even could be romantic partnering in this relationship, but I’m okay with this story either way. This friendship between women bonding over food is everything I need right now.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Service – Still saying that the food here are the money shots
Yuri – Let’s edge it up to 4, now that we know Nomoto is in like.
Food – 9 It all look so good. What the what, I could make a fruit sandwich!

Overall – 9

Somebody license this manga, and just inject it into my veins.

Posted in TsukuTabe / She Loves to Cook, She Loves To Eat, Yuri Manga | 5 Comments »


Comic Yuri Hime, February 2022 (コミック百合姫2022年2月号)

February 2nd, 2022

Comic Yuri Hime, February 2022, was full of surprises, not the least of which there were no excruciating boob mechanics in semelparous. Not one. But there was a lot of new stuff and old stuff and good stuff!

It begins with another great faux-collage portrait by Isshiki, of two unnamed protagonists who tell us not to decide if it’s requited love or not on our own.

The book opens with a surprising chapter of inori’s “Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou.” The tone of the story shifts from love comedy to political intrigue as we meet the commoner movement against noble privilege and income inequality. Following this is the first chapter of the new edition of the original Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou. -Revolution- (私の推しは悪役令嬢。-Revolution-) now out from Ichijinsha!

Takashima Eku’s “Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau” is always a breath of fresh air, as Himari and Yori go one a date in between their various obligations and the members of Lorelei talk over their pasts…and their futures.

BIG question answered in this chapter of “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto desu.” We get the beginning of the story when Nene and Youko met. Youko also likes women she says and offers to be a sounding board for Nene’s unrequited like for (an entirely clueless) Sumika. We know this will end in chaos. But at the end of the chapter, in the present day, we see Youko’s text to Nene that she misses her…and Nene’s response that she does too.

Toribami begins to understand that her job as lead in the dance is going to have to be outside the dance too, as Kiki continues to doubt herself – and their partnership – in “Odoriba ni Skirt ga Naru.”

Sempai closes the gap in Usui Shio’s “Onna Tomodachi to Kekkonshitemita,” bringing both Ruriko and Kurumi back on the same page about simply enjoying each oher’s company…and money and other big decisions.

In ” Lonely Girl ni Sakaraenai,” Sora celebrates quite probably her first happy Christmas party with Ayaka’s family and their friends…and is a little overwhelmed by it.

There are no weird boobs bouncing or painted on clothing in “semelparous” and more people are smiling in “Citrus+.”

And Kon-san remains magically sensitive to Inui-sensei’s needs in “Kyou no Htitotsu no Shita.”

Ohi-sensei draws her and Fuuka’s first meetup and their subsequent first time hanging out for a while together in “Pillow Talk ha Fuku o Kite.”

As always there are many stories I have not mentioned, some of which I enjoyed, others I didn’t. You may notice I almost never mention the 18+ content that is running in the magazine. I’ve kind of gone off porn, but that doesn’t mean its bad. So far it hasn’t been for me. But Comic Yuri Hime is holding steady at 500 pages, three out creators and a lot of great stuff for just about all tastes.

Ratings:

Overall – 9 An excellent volume. Here’s to a year of excellent Yuri!

The March issue is in stores now in print and digital. ^_^

Posted in Comic Yuri Hime, Magazines | No Comments »


Interview with Ada Palmer on Yuri Studio

January 30th, 2022

This week we have a special episode of Yuri Studio! A few weeks ago, I did a short video with reading recommendations for fans of Revolutionary Girl Utena. Among the recommendations was Ada Palmer’s Terra Ignota series. (See below for links)

Today I am able to share my interview with Ada Palmer herself on world- and character-building in Terra Ignota, the works of Tezuka Osamu, historical LARPing and, of course, Revolutionary Girl Utena!

We range pretty far and wide, so I hope you’ll tune in for what was an amazing conversation.^_^

 

 

Please consider giving us a like on Youtube, a kind comment and subscribe, if you haven’t, because I have way more planned for Yuri Studio!

The Terra Ignota Series, by Ada Palmer
Too Like the Lightning
Seven Surrenders
The Will to Battle
Perhaps the Stars
(links to Amazon, but these are available at any bookstore or site)

Posted in Yuri Studio | No Comments »