MURCIÉLAGO, Volume 14

November 13th, 2020

In Volume 14 of MURCIÉLAGO, we find ourselves revisiting a cast of characters that, perhaps, we had assumed we’d left far behind. Sensibly so, since the last time we saw Rose Marie was hanging from a basement ceiling with a meat hook through her chest. But when Narumi turns up and so do corpses with bites taken out of their necks, we get to see what became of the leader of the Virginal Rose and she’s not looking any better. Grafted literally onto her demonic sibling Rose Marie, they are reduced to haunting the sewers and finding victims to feed their lust for blood.

Of course Kuroko and Urara handle the problem with not much more than the usual difficulty. Narumi recognizes another Virginal Rose alumna, Carina, who is pivotal in the final battle. Narumi, formerly Teresa, is able to thank Gold Marie for having saved her, before she dies.

While this is happening, Hinako and Chiyo-chan are visiting the pool, beating up random folks and For our purposes, Chiyo spends a moment fantasizing about marrying  Kuroko, as unrealistic as that seems. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8 On repeat: In so far as it is conveying horrific violence, I think it’s getting better.
Story – 8 Creepier than usual, which is saying a lot
Characters – 8
Service – 5 less than usual, skimpy bathing costumes
Yuri – 4 Chiyo is the Yuri carrier drug here, and I’m okay with it

Overall – 8

There’s not much one can say about a series that is basically thin plots wrapped around creative ways to kill people.

 



Haru to Midori, Volume 3 (春とみどり)

November 11th, 2020

Haru is a lonely woman. She’s never really moved on with her life, even as she has lived it. There was once a girl who had meant something to her, but Tsumugi left, and had a child and now, Tsumugi is dead. Tsumugi’s daughter, Midori is living with Haru, and they are both struggling a little find out who they are out of Tsumugi’s shadow. But to do that, they need to enter that shadow.

Haru to Midori, Volume 3 (春とみどり), by Fukami Kon, was lovely.

Midori discovers one of the teachers in school knew her mother, but an interview with her leaves the girl unsure of who Tsumugi really was. What does become clear is how much of a effect her mother had upon her guardian’s life. And, maybe, it’s a little more understandable that having a lookalike of the only person Haru ever really cared about in her care, would be awkward. When her aunt sends a letter saying that she has a room free now, Midori decides to go live with her. Not to repudiate anything Haru has done for her, but to avoid complications with legal matters and to give both her and Haru space.

Haru isn’t sure what she wants or needs. She finally admits to herself that she was, genuinely, in love with Tsumugi and that her loss has stopped her from moving on. She decides to be able to see Midori off when she heads off to to live with her relatives and, that she’ll wait for her to come back.

And Midori does come back, when she’s graduated. She’s taller. And she needs a place to stay for university. Haru assures her that she has the space and she’s always welcome. Where Midori had been a reminder of what Haru had never had, now she’s a reminder of what she’s gained.

There were a lot of admirable qualities in this manga. The art was gentle, the storytelling sympathetic. Both Haru and Midori are given plenty of room to make their own decisions about themselves and each other. In the end, best of all, they choose to grow as individuals and as a family. A very satisfying end to this series. It was an enjoyable read – I’m glad I read it. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Yuri – 4 Haru finally confronting her emotions about Tsugumi was cathartic
Service – 0

Overall – 9

For a look at the series, you can read two sample chapters on Pixiv Comics, in Japanese.



Yuri is My Job, Volume 6

November 9th, 2020

Depending on who you feel is the actual protagonist of the story – or whomever you are personally rooting for – Yuri is My Job, Volume 6 by Miman can be hard on the heart.

Let us say, for instance, that you feel Hime is the protagonist, as we’ve been following her since the first page of the series. In that case, Volume 6 is largely her struggling trying to not hurt her former best friend again, while also not hurting her newer best friend and preserving the even newer relationship she’s built with that former best friend.

If you’re rooting for Mitsuki, you’re about to watch her spill her heart and soul out in front of Hime without any guarantee of it being recoverable.

If you, like me, actually sympathize most with Sumika and Kanako, you’re going to be watching as things break and you cannot even help to catch the pieces this time.

It seems like something is going to have to give and Hime decides that that thing…is her. Or, is she just running away again? We don’t know yet. (Frankly, we *still* don’t know in the ongoing serialized chapters in Comic Yuri Hime, either. ^_^;)

Despite Miman’s protestations to the opposite in the author’s note, it seems like the story is very much under control. We, the readers can’t yet predict the outcome….but we can conjecture on the possible courses to lead to the outcomes we want, which is a wholly different thing.I know what I want – it isn’t Hime and Mitsuki as a couple. I expect that is what we’ll get, and that’s jut fine. But it’s not that I want.

Miman’s art is stronger than ever before, backgrounds are really being filled out and characters have more definition. So, when we get the next volume, pay close attention to the background people. They are getting people-ier. ^_^

When the Yuri in this volume lands, it lands hard. ^_^

Kodansha is doing  clean job of the reproduction. And we’re getting people to credit now for that work. Translation by Diana Taylor captures the emotion beautifully, Jennifer Skarupa’s lettering helps keep the story moving along. Logo design and cover design by Phil Balsman and My Truong respectively are terrific and editing by Haruko Hashimoto pulls it all together.

 

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Service – 4 Mitsuki’s cleavage is its own character
Yuri – 7

Overall – 8

Yuri is My Job, Volume 6 is a pivotal – and emotional – volume of a a series that is more than the sum of it’s Yuri trope parts.



Yuricon and Okazu Updates

November 8th, 2020

Although this has been a chaotic time, with pandemic and other uphrevals, we’ve accomplished a lot so far this year with your help. 

Take a look at the full list of what we’ve done, what we’re doing and what we plan on for next year – our 20th anniversary! – at Yuricon and here at Okazu.

https://www.yuricon.com/blog/2020/11/08/yuricon-okazu-updates/

 



Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – November 7, 2020

November 7th, 2020

Yuri Manga

Akiko Morishima’s The Conditions of Paradise: Our First Time is a prequel for Sumi and Sabrina’s relationship in The Conditions of Paradise, coming to you this month from Seven Seas!

Our Teachers are Dating, Volume 2 will be here at the end of January.

Takako Shimura’s Even Though We’re Adults, Volume 1 is heading our way from Seven Seas next February,

Yen Press has Kujira’s A Witch’s Love at the End of the World, Volume 1, coming our way this month!

 

Help us reach our 2020 goals – subscribe to Okazu on Patreon!

Yuri Anime

RetroCrush TV has added Yamibo: The Darkness, The Hat and the Travelers of the Books. ANN’s Jennifer Sherman has details.
This rather mediocre anime has had ridiculously long staying power. It’s quite befuddling.

RetroCrushTV also has announced that they have the Vampire Princess Miyu OVA, which is wonderful. I hope they get the TV series, because it fantastically queer and creepy.

Via YNN Correspondent Megan, Takarazuka-esque revue troop story, Kageki Shoujo, is getting an anime. While not Yuri, it’s a really great story, I hope you’ll enjoy it. Seven Seas has the manga as Kageki Shoujo: The Curtain Rises!.

Otherside Picnic anime gets some key visuals and frankly, I’m a little disappointed at the service. Rafael Antonio Pineda has the details on ANN.

 

Yuri Light Novels

We’ve added I’m in Love With the Villainess Vol. 2 to the Yuricon Store. It has a January release date.

And ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword! is now out in print!

 

Other News

The fabulous Stitch has written about rap artist Megan Thee Stallion’s love for anime and says, clearly, “No one gets into anime for clout.”,  for Teen Vogue. (Lizzo, whose chanteuse voice and flute playing charmed me, is also is a fan of Sailor Moon and that’s just one more of a zillion reasons to love her.)

Legendary composer Yoko Kanno is collaborating with Takarazuka for an upcoming work about the Silk Road, reports Sora24’s Casey Baseel.

The Yagate Kimi ni Naru live-reading of the stage play is happening in Japan, in two parts. Streaming is available for purchase for an earlier version and they have an English language page, which I presume means they allow overseas viewers.

 

Become a YNN Correspondent by reporting any Yuri-related news with your name and an email I can reply to – thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network! Special thanks to Okazu Patrons for being an important part of the Okazu family. I couldn’t do it without you!